Docking: The Rabbit Hole I Dove Into

It’s true that docking is just one skill among many in sailing, but it’s practically its own discipline. Sail trim, points of sail, tacking — those are glamorous parts of sailing. But docking is different. It’s gritty and humbling. Docking is where nerves meet nuance.

And after my gawd-awful dock-job a couple of weeks ago, I realized that if I want to grow as a sailor, this is one rabbit hole I need to dive into.

Docking is like a test — like a freakin’ final exam, every time!”

~ Becca

The Nature of the Beast

The thing about docking is that you don’t get to opt out. Every sail ends with it. Unlike crew overboard drills or heave-to practice, you can’t just skip docking. The boat must come in. 

It’s also unpredictable. The same slip can feel like a whole new test depending on the wind, the current, the boat’s momentum, and the peanut gallery sitting on their decks with cocktails, watching you come in. It’s never the same exam twice.

The silly paradox is that it’s one of the hardest things to get good at — partly because it’s just hard, but also because at any given outing, you get one shot. It would be great to pull off 20 dockings in a row to build muscle memory. But I promise you, getting the boat into the marina, weaving through a stream of other boats, and sliding into the slip without crashing into something is an excruciating process.

Lessons From the Rabbit Hole

After my recent rough docking, I did what any sailor with Wi-Fi does: I went down the YouTube rabbit hole. And I found something a little comforting — even the pros talk about docking as its own beast.

Patterns emerged:

• “Slow is pro.” Always.
• Feather the throttle.
• Know your boat’s pivot point.
• Pilings are your friends! Use them!
• Have an exit plan.
• Don’t be ashamed to back out and try again.

It was humbling, but also strangely encouraging. My struggles aren’t unique. Docking is a puzzle, and frankly, it’s a different puzzle every time. 

The Long Game

Something I realized too is that this rabbit hole I’m in – that we’re in – is bigger than just docking. Sailing is vast, there is always more to learn. And honestly, that’s perfect for us. Our eight-year retirement plan (2033 – fingers crossed) sometimes feels like a long stretch of time. But when I zoom out, I realize it’s not long at all. Just docking alone could keep me busy for years — testing, practicing, refining — and we’re going to take this time to do it so that we can be prepared.

Closing Reflection (Docking this blog post, if you will)

This lengthy learning curve can be emotionally draining. There are days when I step off the boat and think, I really need a break from this. But I inevitably find myself back at it because each time, I come away having learned a little something, and that gets us closer to the goal.