'Boat Handling in Marinas' by Rob Gibson - and how to get it reliably
by Nancy Knudsen on 7 Jul 2014
It's getting dark, there's a high wind forecast, the berth allocated is right at the back, difficult. I'm nervous. SW
'I have no trouble sailing the boat in the ocean - it's getting it into the marina that scares the living daylights out of me.' The confession, after several rums at the end of a great day's sailing, impressed me with its frankness and struck a chord with me too. It's true isn't it? Coping with wind and waves in the ocean will rarely scratch your topsides, but the wrong wind in a marina can be fatal to your paint-job, or worse. That's why this e-Book is a winner, and we are reprinting this story because of the many people who had problems obtaining it the first time...
Yes, entering and berthing, particularly in a strange marina in a non-cooperating wind when you're tired at the end of a passage can be more than a little stressful.
And it's not only the challenge, it's the watching experts, all already berthed successfully. All those shiny expensive yachts so easy to scratch.
The wind is pushing from astern; the tide is swirling through the pontoons and the voice on the radio, who clearly doesn't realise that our boat has severe prop-walk, has allocated a berth that is at the end of that narrow, dead-end fairway.
But it doesn't have to be like that...
As with most aspects of boating, a bit of planning, an understanding of the forces involved and the application of a few basic techniques will turn those nightmares into daydreams and take the stress out this close-quaters boat handling challenge.
In this fully illustrated eBook, Rob Gibson, Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner, accredited with the RYA, takes a look at the forces at work on a moving boat as well as the basic controls we can use to turn those forces to our advantage.
In Rob's fully illustrated eBook you'll learn:
How to use the throttle and tiller together to accurately position your boat for the approach;
How to maintain control when going astern;
How to take account of tidal stream and currents;
How to use the current to master the 'ferry glide' technique to move the boat sideways;
How to use the wind to your advantage;
Why you should pick up a berth lying on the 'outside' of your turning circle;
How to use your boat's natural 'prop walk' to your advantage;
How to use the boat's momentum when entering a windward berth;
The benefits of using a midships spring;
How to safely reverse into a finger berth;
How to deal with an awkward downtide entry;
How to leave a leeward berth;
How to make an upstream exit using the ferry glide;
How to master the Mediterranean moor;
And much more!
So how much does 'Secrets of Boat Handling in Marinas' Cost? It costs around $5.00 and will be the best money you ever spent!
Here is a reliable link for obtaining this book:
http://www.sailboat-cruising.com/boat-handling.html
This original link has proved very unreliable, with many complaints:
http://www.books-for-sail.com/ebooks/seabooks/94-secrets-of-boat-handling-in-marinas.html
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/123697