Getting in and out of a tricky finger berth 

Thank you for the helpful tips. When reversing, I prefer to step to the forward side of the wheel as opposed to stand aft with my back to it.

Excellent video.. Love the graphics.. Well explained.... Lots to take in... Bravo 👏⛵

I like the idea of backing past the slip then motoring bow into it. One could also cleat off and spring the midship line with leeward rudder (tiller up or wheel down) and idle forward. The stern will sit nicely against the finger and you can take your time doing the rest. And of course you can warp your way in with more rope action, but less to nil helm work.

Thanks for the information and your dedication to sailing. I appreciate the details you provided just need to wait for spring now to practice. Thanks again 👍🏼👍🏼Happy Holidays

I come into the slip astern. I struggle when the wind is blowing me down onto my slipmate to leeward. He comes in bow first and has solar panels hanging off the stern pulpit. I sail solo a bunch. I have 2 rudders so no prop wash but have a bow thruster. I try to walk the boat forward and use the thruster to kick the stern to windward.

Thank you very much for this video! I am new to boating and I had this type of berth assigned to my boat. When I came in it was windy and I could not get my boat docked at all after three attempts. I wish I had seen this video first, it would have help me a lot!

Out club requires backing into the slot after passing it

I'm always approaching with my stern towards the wind. It's always easier to manoeuvre and the wind isn't affecting your stern that much because it's a lot heavier than the bow. It's also easier to judge the turn and distance.

If you have a Bavaria and the slip is narrow, simply wind on the cap shrouds and reduce the beam by 10-15 centimetres. Same if they're trying to charge you for a 12 m berth and it is a bit pricy. Haul on that backstay and reduce LOA by up to 90 centimetres.

Hmm reversing into the wind is standard, not with it like in this vid, too much risk of the bow getting blown off

Great video and clearly explained! Thank you. I agree that it's easy to do this going into the wind. The only small suggestion I have beyond your excellent advice, is that rather than lassoing the cleat, you could possibly mount a hook at the end of the dock and leave the aft spring line on the hook. While you make the approach the crew can use the boat hook to get the spring line and attach it to the midship cleat.

Hm.. why not pass the berth and go backward against the wind? Would be my favorite option

Thank you for the helpful hints working with an inexperienced crew.

Great videos, was trying to berth in Largs on the weekend with a strong easterly, and it was not easy! Some reflection on how to make it smoother been done since.

whenever there is wind i think - go backwards into the wind! so much more control not having the bow being blown off. Best is to practice driving and docking backwards on a reg basis (when there is no wind)

Good video. You're dealing with momentum rather than inertia. Often confused, although related.

Go backwards in a fresh breeze from the bow can be tricky if the bow catches wind. In that case pass the berth in forward then reverse in.

Well explained! I would have just recommended backing into the slip, for the same reasons - better visibility and better steerage.

Thank you for a well explained situation and how to handle it. When I’m leaving the dock, I really do struggle. I got a single space, finger berth, 3,8 meters wide and the boat is 2,5 wide. I got an Albin Vega 27, which have a semi long keel. At the rear of the keel comes the rudder. And the comes the propeller😅 As you may see, this is almost impossible to move astern. On top of that I have no gearbox, just variable pitch, so the propeller will spin as long as the engine is running. And the prop walk is quite heavily to port. So I’m always enter the berth with the bow first, which is no problem at all. But when I’m leaving the berth, I have to go astern to starboard, the opposite way the prop walk works on the boat. This makes it very hard to get the bow out to port so I can leave the berth. Especially when the wind is pushing the bow to starboard. If you have any good suggestions, please help 😊

I always approach my berth stern to wind. in this situation it also provides a better approach angle. Can you discuss this approach?

Thanks for sharing, these videos, they really are helpfull. I am facing that exact situation described in the video, but backing is not really an option in my long keel Nauticat 38 . Also my slip is almost at the end of the fairway and consists of two pillars (only one boat between the pillars). So if you are forced into the impossible situation do you have any cheats?

Great video, but you need to illustrate more of what you are saying -> Show don’t tell.😊

Ge=reat information. Talks too fast, making it hard to understand some times