Northern Breezes Sailing School - Lake Minnetonka Docking Endorsement ...Safe, fun, learning...

This two-day or four-evening course is designed to teach basic docking skills for boats with single inboard or outboard engines. It covers the theory and hands-on techniques needed to dock and undock boats in an efficient manner and without damage or injury. Topics covered include:

-Prepare boat and crewmembers for docking and undocking including assessment of boat condition, dock and fairway configuration, routes of exit and entry, water depths, wind and current direction and strength, potential hazards, docking/undocking plan, crewmember assignments and instruction, and emergency abort options and procedures.
-Demonstrate a standing turn maneuver in a confined space; turn boat through a full 360º of rotation while remaining in a circle not exceeding two boat lengths in diameter.
-Dock parallel to a dock with wind blowing towards dock; demonstrate proper use of spring lines and tie up to the dock.
-Undock with wind blowing towards dock; demonstrate proper use of spring lines to avoid other boats moored fore and aft.
-Dock bow into slip with a cross wind; demonstrate proper use of spring lines.
-Dock stern into slip with a cross wind; demonstrate proper use of spring lines
-Demonstrate proper tying of cleat hitch, bowline and round turn with half hitches plus proper method for heaving a line.