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You are here: Home1 / Tall Ships & Schooners2 / Learn To Sail A Schooner3 / Learn To Sail A Schooner No.3

Learn To Sail A Schooner No.3

Docking And Undocking Using A Spring

About SchoonerSail’s Learning To Sail A Schooner Articles

John, Trinovante’s skipper started writing these articles after some Trinovante guest sailors asked for more information on the fundamentals of schooner handling.

None of these articles are invented theory, instead John has simply written about specific situations that have arisen over the years.

No.3  is a standard manoeuver we are doing it all the time.

Seafaring is an ongoing learning process and John cautions against set piece manoeuvres. You need a plan but it needs to be flexible because things don’t always go according to plan.

Sail Training involves learning ‘HOW’ to safely handle ropes, some basic knots and using winches among other things. The ‘WHY’ is so that we can carry out slick manoeuvres under sail or power.

Full knowledge of the ‘why’ is not essential to be a useful member of the crew, so please only dip into these ‘Learning To Sail’ articles as you will and enjoy them. When you sail with us you will be fully briefed at the time – don’t feel under any pressure to learn anything in advance.

   Print Learn To Sail A Schooner No.3 (full article below)

Docking And Undocking Using A Spring

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You are still in time to book a sailing holiday in 2024!

It is too late to book with us but, if you hurry, Classic Sailing's fabulous range of sailing ships and destinations still have availability for 2024.

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Learn To Sail A Schooner, Docking And Undocking Using A Spring image No.1

Image 1

Lines 1, the bow line and line 4, the stern line, hold the boat into the quay. Line 3 is the head spring and 2 is the back spring. The head spring stops the boat from going ahead and the back spring stops it going back.

Together they prevent Trinovante from surging ahead and astern in the berth. Individually they are invaluable in close quarters manoeuvring.

Learn To Sail A Schooner, Docking And Undocking Using A Spring image No.2

Image 2

All the lines have been taken in except the head spring No 3.

In slow ahead with starboard rudder applied the ship is in a stable position held into the quay by the tension on the head spring and the prop wash deflected from the rudder.

Now only one line is left for the crew to cast off

Learn To Sail A Schooner, Docking And Undocking Using A Spring image No.3

Image 3

The engine is then taken out of gear and the crew ease some slack in the head spring so that it may be cast off from ashore. We can also use a slip line if there is no handy passerby.

The line is then hauled in by the crew.

The ship will now blow sideways away from the quay with the bows tending to fall off the wind first.

This can be corrected if necessary with a short burst of ahead with full port rudder.

Learn To Sail A Schooner, Docking And Undocking Using A Spring image No.4

Image 4

We return to the same berth but with vessels moored either side. We can get close enough to pass a head spring ashore.

With starboard rudder and steady power applied the ship will be bowsed in to the quay. The spring is surged as necessary to exactly position the vessel in the berth. This line will be heavily loaded and in the charge of an experienced crew member.

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