Conference unifix::sailing

    When trying to beat out of a crowded harbor, never duck under a moored
    boat. They always seem to line up in rows, and once you duck the first
    you have to reach under twenty others.
    
    It's much better to pinch like crazy and go nowhere.

    How about a tow......................?	
    Pete

    
    
    	Used to keep my 22 footer in the far end of Hingham Harbor (read 
    	mud pit) and would always try to sail on & off the mooring. Had
    	only 1 bad experience in 6 years; had to run her aground to avoid
    	smacking somebody. Just a minor bruise on the ego. 
    	The biggest thing was visibility. Stinkpotters, for the most part,
    	couldn't comprehend that I couldn't jam her into reverse on a 
    	moment's notice, so that's the way they drove... stopping RIGHT
    	in front of me, etc.etc.  So being able to see `em a ways off is
    	necessary. Don't bother calling for rights, many don't know the
    	concept, and all it ever got me was views of their manicures.
    
    	Anyhow, one day, two of us took off the dock and set the chute.
    	It was blowing less than 5; no death wishes! Actually had to heat 
    	her up fully just to keep way on. So some jerk gets RIGHT in the
    	way. Guess what, the jerk had blue lights on! That's right, the 
    	Assistant Junior Harbormaster decided to make up a rule, then and
    	there; no sailing! He's yelling at us while we're trying to douse 
    	the chute and not hit him. Well, after a tirade/lecture, he leaves,
    	with a open ended threat if he sees the sails up again...
    	Sails go back up, a nice twilight ghosting.
    	Bringing her bach to the dock, guess who barrels up?!? Well now
    	deputy dawg is pissed. Sez it's impossible to safely sail down
    	this channel (?) to the dock and he better see me using that 
    	motor next time.
    	No more trouble after that- saw the real harbormaster's mom at
    	the store, ask who this guy is- she laughs, sez not to worry.
    
    	Moral: keep the sails up, speed down, and when in trouble,\
    	consult mom. She usually knows best!
    
    	Scott.
    

As one who sails in and out of Marblehead on occasion ..... You do have 
to be very careful and plan far ahead. Try to always leave yourself 
somewhere to go, by falling off, gybing, or tacking. Sadly, many of the 
"sailors" in the harbor do not always observe the rules of the road. I
have been forced into dangerous situations both by boats sailing and
boats under power. Watch out especially for kids in dinghies. They may
not know how to sail very well, and they are very vulnerable in a
collision. 

Pinching to go between boats and moorings is quite risky. The wind
shifts and bends around a lot in the harbor. You can easily be headed
with no control and nowhere to go. Sail with minimum sail up -- just a
main if you can. I have seen irresponsible idiots (which is the correct 
term) sail well into the harbor with a spinnaker up. You need to be able
to tack or gybe as quickly as possible with minimum risk of something
going wrong. We sail in/out under main and staysail. This minimizes our
speed and maximizes our manuverability. When tacking, we backwind the
staysail, which forces the bow around very quickly. 

Once you can sail in/out of Marblehead, you know how to handle your 
boat. There was an article in one of the sailing magazines some time ago 
on sailing in crowded waters. The photograph illustrating the article 
was of Marblehead.

    On my particular boat, I have a rather large main, and a tiny jib, so
    that ought to fit your criteria, Alan. But the jib is absolutely
    necessary for tacking - boat won't tack without it, I am told. It is
    something I have to play with out in clear water.
    
    Gregg

    You kow, when I look in various books for this, I find usually very
    short schrift "Point the thing into the wind so that it comes to a dead
    stop right at the mooring."
    
     While that certainly is the goal, there is a wealth of knowledge and
    experience necessary to gain that simply stated ability.
    
     One book suggestes having 2 pennantsconnected in series:
    
    			B
    			|
    			|            wind
                        P1            |
    			|            \/
    			|
    			|
                        P2
    
    And that you should shoot for the first pennant (p1) and use p2 as a
    backup in case you undershoot.
    
    Gregg
    

    We view the harbor cruise at the end of a day as our birth right. :^)
    
    Never had a problem in M'head harbor.  We nearly always reduce sail to
    a headsail, not a main.  Much less sail (in our case) and easier to
    control.  When we've not been racing all day, we sail onto the mooring
    and off too.  Plenty of room for us to do it in a 40 footer.
    
    On the other hand, some bozo nailed our buddie's boat while we watched
    from the front porch of the YC.  He simply clipped the stern (the boat
    was on the mooring and the freind wasn't onboard) and sailed away!  We
    got the launch driver to take us after him.  He tried to outrun us!
    Got his boat name and home port even though he turned on his engine to
    augment his speed. We tracked him down and he tried to deny it!  We got
    the harbor police involved and he changed his story back to the truth.
    
    THOSE kind of people SHOULDN'T sail in the harbor.  
    
    Dave

	Having spent a couple years at Sandy Bay in Rockport with a
catamaran (point ability is only fairly better than the proverbial barn
door), I found the following. 

	1. In gusty weather, let the travlers out to keep the heeling down.
	you will be busy enough.

	2. when cutting between lines of moored boats, keep a sharp lookout
	for windsurfers. They think as long was they don't hear motors,
	everything is ducky. And they are so low in the water, they're
	vision is blocked by the ships they are sailing through.

	3. Keep two paddles in case one goes over the side. Always have one
	ready coming into the harbor. One never knows when one will need to
	put up into the wind to stop momenteum. They you need help to get 
	started again.

	4. Know your harbor. There ussally is room on the sides of the harbor
	at certain parts of the tide. Know where they are and how to use them.
	Know where dangers lurk. A Bit of time with a chart followed by
	a recon mission on those light air days when the water is clear can
	present some new "short-cuts" home.

	5. Keep an eye out for unexpected surprises. I have come home to find
	my main cut in half 20 feet up the mast. My brother ducked under a
	sport fishing boat with a huge bow pulpit on it. He left plenty of
	room, but he didn't notice the harpoon sticking out another 10 feet
	from it.

	6. As mentioned earlier, never use a spinnaker in a crowded harbor.
	Too many bad things could happen. 

	7. Try and time your departure and arrival to avoid any boats that
	you have never seen before. This is really important on weekends and
	holidays. I waited 40 minutes to exit rockport one morning in light
	airs, Only to have some out of towner come crawling up my butt as I
	tried to tack out of the harbor. When I "inquired" what they were up
	to (no sails up, under motor), some air head goes "We are in neutral".
	My crew then informed them to find reverse before we took their boat
	physically, then legally. 

  Then best thing is to pratice out in open water to know exactly what your
  vessel can do (start, stop, turn, pinch, etc). Nothing is more satisfing
  then to bring it in on a light air day with a minimum of noise and effort.

	john

As an owner of two wooden boats (16' and 28') I sailed Naragansett Bay,
Buzzards Bay and Block Island Sound for 8 years with no engine.  Here are
a few tricks that I learned along the way.  The only time I ever regretted,
was one windless night when we had to paddle 2 miles (4 hours) to get back in.

When tacking upwind, I found that having more sail was better than less.
You can always ease the sheets if you are going to fast, but if you need
extra power to maneuver, its there.  My boat also did not sail well without
a jib and therefore I would always keep my main and jib up when I was going
upwind.

If conditions permitted, I would oversail my mark so I could approach it from
a broad reach or downwind under reduced sail (see below).  This way I could
get at least one sail furled before approaching my mooring or the dock.

When on a broad reach or sailing downwind in crowded conditions, there were
two sail combinations that worked well depending on wind speed:

 1. Jib alone - Going downwind to my mark, I would furl the main and run under
    the jib alone.  This gave me enough power to maneuver and allowed me to
    concentrate on steering rather than sail handling.  This worked best for
    higher wind speeds and when you are relatively sure you do not have to go
    upwind again.

 2. Jib and main sheeted tight - By sheeting in the jib and main tightly
    amidships while going downwind, you reduce the sail area to a bare minimum
    without having to furl.  You will be surprised how much control this gives
    you and you still have the option of turning and heading upwind without
    touching the sails.

The only other advice I can offer is to practice.  The better that you know
the limitations of your boat, the more comfortable you will feel about sailing
in crowded conditions.  (Even though I have moved up to a 36' fiberglass boat,
we still sail in and out of harbors all the time.  The last time we sailed
through the fleet at Newport, we got applause from several boats as we passed
by under full sail).

Larry Gomes

    Larry,
    
     When you sheeted in, did you notice a lack of response - delayed
    actually - from the tiller?
    
    Gregg
    
    p.s. thanks for all the info - keep the comments coming!

    The best training for picking up moorings in Marblehead Harbor is to do
    it first in Manchester Harbor.  Now, that's REALLY crowded!  Or if
    you're in the mood for serious character building, do it in Rockport
    Harbor.  They moor bow and stern there so you can't rely on the wind to
    help stop the boat.  I had to be bailed out by the harbormaster there
    once and this was on a boat with a motor.
    
    A narrow beam, heavy displacement, long keeled boat with a blade jib
    (that should describe an S-boat as well as an E-22) has some handling
    peculiarities that may invalidate some of the conventional wisdom about
    close quarters maneuvering.  The chief limitation is their wide turning
    radius.  Don't get into a situation that requires spinning the boat. 
    It can't be done.
    
    The corollary to this is that the boat needs all the help in can get 
    when you do want to turn it.  Therefore, LEAVE BOTH THE
    MAIN AND JIB UP.  Especially the jib.  And don't let anyone talk you
    out of it no matter how apoplectic they get.  If it's breezy, blade out 
    the main and overtrim the jib but, in any case, leave it up.  The
    reason for this the lack of windage on the bow of a heavy low freeboard
    boat.  The jib is there to push the bow around if you miss the mooring. 
    Without it, you'll often have to sail backwards or fend off to avoid
    hitting neighboring boats.  The windier it is, the more important it
    is that the jib stay up.  The second benefit to leaving it up is to
    keep the person picking up the pennant from slipping on it and falling
    into the water.  
    
    As for what to do under some real life scenarios, here's what what
    works for me:
    
    TACKING THROUGH THE HARBOR - go as close as you want to the sterns of
    the boats to weather.  Keep a good distance from the bows of the boats
    to leeward.  Remember where your mast tip is.  In puffy winds, leave
    enough room to leeward so your mastip can't foul the rigging of the
    boat below.  
    
    Try to tack in the clear spots between moored boats.  This is only
    possible about 50% of the time.  If there is no clear spot ahead, reach
    off until you find one large enough to tack comfortably in.  While
    you're there look for the clearest line upwind that can be sailed on a
    close reach rather than a beat and go for it.
     
    At some point you will have to tack up between a very narrow line of 
    boats no matter how hard you try to avoid the situation.  There are two
    choices.  Bail out by falling off or short tack repeatedly.  It may be
    so narrow you feel you can't fall off without hitting something.  Here
    is where you need the jib.  Back the jib to weather to spin the boat
    with minimum forward motion to fall of.  Or to tack, get as close as
    you dare, shoot upwind and watch your stern to make sure it doesn't hit
    anything, and back the jib when clear to quickly get on the new tack.
    
    RUNNING INTO THE HARBOR - No problem.  The boats are facing you bow on
    and there are clear lanes everywhere.  Put up a chute if you feel like
    it.  But if it's windy and you want to control speed, trim in both main
    and jib.  But keep your head low for the accidental jibe.  If it
    happens, just let it.  It'll sound dramatic but the boom won't be
    moving very fast. 
    
    REACHING INTO THE HARBOR - Not so many clear lanes but you still have
    the advantage of being able to maneuvering wherever you want.  To make
    life easier, enter the mouth of the harbor as upwind of your
    destination as possible.  This gives the clearest lanes and maximizes
    maneuverability.
    
    PICKING UP THE MOORING - Do it from a run. Boats like ours go too fast
    upwind and it's hard to avoid overshooting.  
    
    HEAVY AIR - Run past the mooring about two lengths away with main and
    jib strapped in to minimize speed.  When the stern is 1.5 - 2
    boatlengths past the mooring, Jibe, let out the jib, and aim for the
    mooring.  When you grab the pennant, leave the main strapped in to cock
    the boat upwind and avoid sailing aroung the mooring.
    
    LIGHT AIR -  do the same but jibe when the stern is 5 boatlenghts past
    the mooring.  Backwind the main to brake to a stop at the mooring. 
    Then trim the mainsheet quickly to cock the boat to weather as before. 
    Believe it or not, heavy narrow boats carry their way much farther in
    light air than heavy air.
    
    GETTING OFF THE MOORING - It's hard to sail foreward right off the
    mooring and there's often no room to sail backwards because of the
    boat moored right in back.  Put both main and jib up, pick the boat
    whose stern you want to take and push the tiller toward it while
    backing the jib to the opposite side.  The boat will spin with little
    stern way and you go off on a beam reach.
    
    IRRESPONSIBLE IDIOTS WITH CHUTES UP - yep, that's me.  Haven't hit
    anyone yet doing that but I've had some real epics with just my main
    up. 
    
    - gene

    Well we've heard from catamarans, cruisers of moderate displacement,
    light and wide racers and the opposite, Gene's Etchells.  All require
    different strategies.  I tried to shoot the mooring in Gene's boat and
    shot right past it!  His boat carries momentum much farther than our
    larger boat does.  We would NEVER approach our mooring from off the
    breeze.  Always hard on the wind and then shoot from less than two
    boatlengths.
    
    Two other good practices:
    
    First, stand up!  Use a tiller extension or whatever you have to, but
    get as high as possible!  Look around constantly.  Let the other folks
    chat it up.  Pay attention.
    
    Second, turn the stereo down.  Can't hear others pointing out obstacles
    or other boats hailing you.  The obvious exception is on the Fourth of
    July when the Stars and Stripes Forever must be cranked up to volume 8
    out of 10.
    
    Dave

 
>     Well we've heard from catamarans, cruisers of moderate displacement,
>     light and wide racers and the opposite, Gene's Etchells.  All require
>     different strategies.

Well, I've sailed a 470 out of harbours more than I care to remember (used
to own one...great fun boats).  Very manouverable little suckers, all I had to
do was keep my eyes open and I could go anywhere and fast.  No Spinnaker
flying in crowded area, we never got that good, but it sure was fun to pretend
the stern of a boat was a windward mark and tack right around it (making sure
not to foul the rigging--important safety tip).

>     First, stand up!  Use a tiller extension or whatever you have to, but

Not on a 470 unless the air is fairly still and you're on a run, or you'll be
going for a swim!

F.

    In talking to one of the mooring service people it was mentioned that
    the new harbormaster will be re-arranging moorings to accomodate about
    100 additional boats in the harbor.  He's using Manchester harbor as
    the example to emulate.  If you think it's fun now, wait until next
    year.  Maybe I'll forego the new sail and order bigger bumpers instead.
    
    - gene

    Oh well, ....
    
    I will be in Salem harbor next year (unless miracles occur). I hope it
    is somewhat less crowded.
    
    Gregg

    After reading all the notes here about picking up a mooring under sail,
    I have a question.  Why do it under sail anyway?  I mean if the harbor
    is so crowded as to be dangerous and if you have an engine, why risk
    using sail?  I sail out of a marina, which forbids the raising of sail
    until you are well outside the marina. I can understand that rule for a
    marina.  But I remember one crowded weekend during the Newport Sailboat
    Show, when a guy in a 40 footer insisted on sailing around Newport
    Harbor under full sail with about 12 knots of wind. His only purpose
    was to get a good look at the show. The ruckus he caused as everyone
    under power tried to get out of his way bordered on disaster.
    
    So why sail at all when power would be safer, easier, less stressful,
    etc?
                                                                 

    Re: .16
    
     Some racing boats have no motor. Same is true for some small sailboats
    (which have smaller problems in this arena.).
    
    Gregg

    
    
    	Ah, Zen and chutes? When is it dangerous? Who's irresponsible, and
    	who's a plain idiot?
    
    	I can see power boaters calling anyone who sails in an idiot, cuz
    	of course, the defense mechanism has to defend powering. Also the
    	beginner should practice around, say, lobster pots, not Manchester.
    	Also, how very inconvenient, giving way to anyone, or anything!!
    
    	Sailboats are lousy powerboats, that's the way it is. I know
    	EXACTLY how fast I'll spin/tack/etc under sail, but the diesel
    	has only vibration for feedback. And the old chestnut.. If I wanted
    	to power, I'd buy a powerboat. It's very satisfying not starting
    	the motor all day.
    
    	Now that ALL the harbors, it seems, are getting clogged, this is 
    	less and less possible, especially singlehanding. In fact, after
    	pullin this year, I found the leading edge of my rudder really
    	beat up from my neigbor's swivel on top of the float! When one of 
    	us is out, the other can float around, onto the mooring. But
    	we are in a river basin, so we have strange current/wind effects.
    	Next year I shall complain loud & long if we're that close.
    	It's more than just being able to sail in.
    
    	In closing, one last defense: If you never sail to your mooring,
    	and the (gasp) motor fails, what do you do?
    
    	I'd say call Gene. I bet he's cheaper than Sea Tow and I know
    	he's more congenial than most Coasties |8*}
    
    	Scott
    

    re .16
    
    Some boats handle poorly under power.  Especially high freeboard ones
    that don't have the prop in front of the rudder to allow steering with
    the prop's wash.  
    
    I used to sail Pearson 26's at the Boston Harbor Sailing Club.  These
    had a heavy outboard on the stern with no remote control.  When picking
    up a mooring I had to sit in the back with one hand on the
    throttle/shifter and one hand on the tiller.  The combined weight of
    the motor and myself tipped the bow up.  That combined with my low
    stance made for awful visibility.  Maneuvering was done blind with
    verbal guidance from the person on the bow.  But in a breeze it was
    hard to hear.  The slightest miscalculation and the bow would blow off
    and we'd have to start again.  
    
    On one memorable occasion one of the attendants saw me struggling and
    yelled "back up to it".  Surprisingly, it worked.   However, it was a
    struggle to get the pennant from the stern back up to the bow.  I
    eventually got into the habit of leaving the main up and sheeted in
    until the boat was hooked up.
    
    - gene

    Re: Why do it at all?  The ONLY trouble I've ever had in M'head harbor
    was motoring.  We snagged a line floating in the harbor and jammed our
    prop.  We got a sail up quickly and got under way again.
    
    That's not to say we don't motor around too.  Just that there is so
    much more satisfaction in having the iron genny off.
    
    When in Michigan, we had occasion to sail into our slip at a marina.
    Our engine died (as they are known to do) and we really had little
    choice.  After planning the move out we tried it and had no problem.
    
    Time was when it was considered poor seamanship to motor off your
    mooring in Marblehead.  This was when I was a kid.  We NEVER, EVER,
    motored off.  I am saddened by the prevailing attitude that you don't
    need to and shouldn't need to know how to or practice it.
    
    Buy a Chris Craft.
    
    Dave

The topic of this particular note is one that I feel necessary to 
respond  to.  But first let me introduce myself. My name  is  Joe 
Howarth  and I have a Hunter 30 (Mary Ellen) that I  have  sailed 
for the last 11 years; Boston Harbor for 7 and Fairhaven/Buzzards 
Bay  for 4 years. During this period of time, I have witnessed  a 
dramatic increase in congestion in all harbors. For example, when 
I  first  started sailing my Hunter, one could pick up  a  "free" 
town  mooring at Vineyard Haven; slips were always  available  at 
Cuttyhunk, even on week ends with electricity for $.30/ft  ($9.00 
for my 30 foot boat). 

Moorings are now expensive, crowded and attract large boats  with 
almost  no room for swing. In addition to moorings, most  harbors 
are  jammed with with traffic from small dinghies , sail  boards, 
day sailors and so forth, many with young children on board. What 
the  harbors  don't  need are Captain  Macho  Sailgoods  trekking 
through  the  fleet, heeled at 15+ degrees,  maneuvering  between 
moored/anchored boats. 

When  I  am on my moored boat, I would prefer  common  sense  and 
courtesy  from my fellow sailor rather than to look down his  bow 
mounted  35 pound plow anchor approaching me, under sail with  no 
way  to avoid hitting me, my dinghy or my anchor rode  should  my 
boat  swing in his way. I suggest that when you are in a  harbor, 
use your motor and minimize the risks of danger to other people's 
property and lives.

My honest feelings on the topic--

Joe Howarth

    There is an elegance in seeing a boat smartly maneuver to a mooring
    under sail.  I have a fond memory of an  instance where we did this:  
    
    Four of us were returning from Bermuda on Mistral, Dimitri Antoniadis' 
    Beneteau 345.  Our landfall was Noman's Land, and we decided to stop at
    Cuttyhunk for the night.  With a favorable wind, and under main only,
    with Dimitri steering, we sailed into the Cuttyhunk inner harbor, made
    several passes up and down the tightly packed rows of moored boats,
    and, finding no empty moorings, picked a barely large enough open area,
    came head to wind, backed the sails, and dropped anchor.  People nearby
    clapped.  
    
    That's only event that I still recall from that entire passage six
    years ago.  That, and the two dozen oysters, cherrystones, and shrimp
    we then ordered from the raw bar boat that came by moments later made
    the entire event something I won't forget. 
    
    
    Don
                                               

    When we first started sailing we had a mooring in Stonington CT which
    we sailed off of and on to at every occasion. For the entire season we
    used less than 6 gallons of gas for the outboard. It was great. This
    beginning was probably one of the reasons we bought a boat to live
    aboard and have for the past 15 years.
    We have had to sail into our slip on various occasions and although I
    would not do it "just because" I'm glad I had the experience and the
    confidence that experience gave me to do it.
    A good skill to have, you should know how to do it even if it is not a
    regular occurance.
      

    re .22
    
    And what would you have done if a kid in a dinghy suddenly darted out
    from behind one of the moored boats in Cutty pond and directly in front
    of you?  You have little maneuvering room without ramming a moored boat
    and no brakes.  At least I can throw my transmission in reverse and
    ease the impact if nothing else.  I too enjoy sailing on and off my
    mooring, but I leave the engine ticking just in case.

    re .24
    
    I've had far more problems in mooring areas with boats
    under power rather than sail. I think it's because a sail in highly 
    visable, you're alerted to the other boat sooner. Boats under power have
    surprised me many times, the bare mast blends in with the background.
    
    My brother was run down by a power boat in the Newport mooring area
    several years. NO ONE was at the helm of the powerboat. Hard to
    believe, but true. The power captain had gone to the rear of his bridge
    to hail a dockmaster for a slip. Too much effort to stop. 
    
    I'll take a mooring area full of sails anyday.
    
    Paul
    

Another $.04:

REFLECTION:

For some of us, wending our way through a crowded anchorage can be sport 
as well as practical seamanship.  Though it was undoubtedly less crowded 
than today, Marblehead's resident fleet years ago always used to have a 
large contingent that wouldn't think of motoring on or off.  My father 
recalls with amazement his teenage years as a sometimes guest aboard Mr. 
Blanchard's 86' yawl, which had no engine, and was moored off the 
Corinthian YC.  One pick-up he remembers with particular awe was made in 
30kts breeze.

SOAPBOX:

Whether in your mind weekend conditions in your particular anchorage make
motoring or sailing there appropriate, anyone in charge of a sailboat
should be able to sail on and off a mooring, and through the harbor
congestion to get there, as a minimum.  Engines do fail occasionally. 

The other alternative (IMHO) is to keep an anchor ever at the ready, and
be sure your VHF won't fail when you have to call for assistance from
others.  That's what powerboaters do. 

J.

    re .22
    
    That would not have been a problem:  the wind was light -- about 8-10
    kn, and we had just enough way to be in control. The wind angle was
    favorable, such that we were reaching.  Furthermore, visibility was
    excellent, and we had a very strong crew of four, so we could respond
    in a wide variety of ways:
    
    first, the engine could have been started within a couple of seconds. 
    We had the option of turning, and even of backing the main if need be.
    Lastly, we were carefully looking for such boats.  
    
    Look, with a good crew, and knowing your boat, maneuvering in a crowded
    harbor while under sail power is not a big  deal.  I've done it many,
    many times, without ever having had an accident (on boats that did not
    have motor power).  About a quarter (a third?) of the boats in
    Marblehead harbor are such things as Echells, or IODs, or US1s, or
    smaller boats, none of which have engines.  
                                                                
    Part of good seamanship is knowing when you can do such a thing, when 
    you shouldn't, and how to do it when you have no alternative.
    
    Don Nelsen

    RE: .10
      Gregg, In answer to your question - When the main and jib are sheeted
      in tight admidships and you are going downwind, the helm response is
      based mostly on your boat speed.  The main will tend to shift from
      one side of the wind to the other and you will have to compensate
      with a minor course adjustment, but it does not adversely affect the
      steering.
    RE: .22
      I'm impressed - Going into Cuttyhunk's inner harbor is tough for me even
      under power since I have a heavy displacement cruising boat.  Under
      sail in that harbour anything bigger than a Sunfish is a real feat.
                                                                         

    I had to think a bit as to why Marblehead is considered by some as a
    "crowded" harbor.  Having sailed out of Marblehead for so many years,
    I honestly don't think of it that way.  Now sailing among the moorings
    in Manchester is more exciting, I must admit.
    I agree with almost all that has been said on this subject, except that
    I must agree with Alan  (only the second time in five years, Alan!):
    Pinching is risky.  In fact when teaching I (and others) teach "go for
    the sterns, not the bows" as the safe way to approach moored boats in
    Marblehead (and elsewhere). Wind dying, or wind-shifts in a harbor can
    leave you in an awkward position, whereas, you can almost always
    "fall-off".
    As for sailing in Marblehead, I feel it would be a sad day if it were 
    not possible to take a quiet sail in Marblehead, especially when it may
    be screeching outside, or when I may have nervous or new-to-sailing 
    people on board.
    As others have said, know your boat and use appropriate sails.
    

       As I read the comments on how to safely bring a sailboat thru
    crowded harbors I think it boils down to how one drives on the
    highway.       You adjust to the conditions .     You get to know
    how your vehicle (in this case vessel) handles under different
    conditions.   You work with-in your skill limitations.
    
       Having sailed in the New England area for a number of years, I
    can attest to the increase of boats in harbors and decrease of general
    manners on the water.
    
       I sail both an auxiliary and non-powered boats and some times I 
    have the engine on and sometimes I sail on and off the mooring; it
    all depends on conditions in the harbor at that time.
    
       One point on mooring and the pick-up gear.    It is a lot better
    to have a proper sized pennent and easy to grasp pick-up floats when
    coming in to moor.      I have seen many a good approach go sour when
    the person forward had trouble with the pick-up or getting it on the
    cleat.
    
        I agree with playing with the boat in "bumper drills" in open
    water until you know how your specific boat will handle in different
    conditions.    Engines are never to be depended on 100%.
    
       The other thing I have ready is the anchor on deck, ready to let go
    fast.     Saved me a major problem once when the engine quit going
    thru the Wood Hole passage , I was able to drop the hook fix the
    engine rather than fend off rocks.   (you can sail thru Woods Hole
    some times and other times current, wind and TRAFFIC make it wise
    to motor or head for Quicks hole)
    
       This is a great forum for exchange of ideas to make boating more
    enjoyable and safe; keep it up !
    
    Frank 

    Re: -1
    
    On the subject of pickup bouys; we think they're great and we don't
    have one.  Why?  Because every time we put one on it is either a)
    STOLEN or b) destroyed by power boats.  Those bouys ain't cheap and we
    went through six two seasons ago and did not even bother this year.
    
    Our boat hook looks much the worse from the wear and some of our crew
    swear their arms are longer than before the season began, but until we
    can stop this destruction and larceny we'll do without.
    
    Anybody else had this problem?
    
    Dave

    
    This was my first year as owner/operator of ground tackle, and had to
    buy the whole mess. At the end of the season damage assesment, found
    about a half dozen major prop digs in the float, a few in the pickup.
    All chain rode, so I still HAVE these things. Nobody swiped the pickup,
    but I make a point of scuffing up all new stuff, the logic being if
    there's a prettier item nearby, maybe mine will be left. Also the
    security is better; if you're snooping around this anchorage, somebody
    will usually see. `Course this brings no comfort to the few that were
    ripped off of outboards, electronics, etc. Marblehead hits me of more
    of a mix of club, private and transient moorings... correct assesment?
    The other thing I notice is that your floats seem huge enough to sit
    on!  This big target makes for easier bumping-up, I'd suspect. Still
    nicer to grab that glass whip, tho, `specially singlehanding!
    	Scott.

    We had our pick up whip shotened by about 3 feet one weekend last year
    and could only surmise it was done in by someone's prop.  We put a new
    one on this season and it lasted all season.  Our main problem was that 
    our bow is so high off the water, one needs to crawl over the windlass,
    around the furler and under the pulpit to reach down to grab it even 
    still it is a long reach.  I always fished for the line with an 8' hook 
    instead.  Just as effective and alot less work.  
    
    Two areas that always gave me concern were going into and out of Block
    Island and Wood's hole.  I agree it is just like driving on the
    highway.  Someone was always trying to crawl up my butt or occupy my
    spot without waiting for me to vacate it!  
    
    Brian

    Re risk of pinching in a crowded anchorage:  I have to agree, although
    I have not always followed that advice.  No moral to the story that
    follows, but I still chuckle at the memory.
    
    Some number of years ago, we were taking a few socialites for a sail
    around Jakarta roads. Showing off in light airs and heavy brew, we were
    threading our way in and amongst the commercial fleet.  We were sailing
    a 36 foot plastic boat. We were trying to make the bow of a 500 ton
    fishing vessel when we got a bit of a header.  This caused us to miss
    our mark by some 20 feet. We hit the vessel in what turned out to be
    the fo'c'sl (sp?) at about three knots.  Fortunately, we were carrying
    two plows on our bow, so we suffered no damage.  But we sure did raise
    the boys sleeping below on the fishing vessel in a hurry! 
                                                              

    re: .31,.32    Someone steeling pick-up wands and mooring balls seems
    to be a problem in many places.    With the cutbacks in town funds
    (harbormaster patrols) expect to have more theft.
    
    Best to engrave the mooring ball (router bit, name and mooring #) also
    you can make pick up wands out of the inexpensive lobster floats with
    a piece of 1/2" pvc down the middle(any length you need)
    
    For the ballast attach a pvc adapter that goes from 1/2" to 3/4 or 1"
    pvc tube.    Cement the larger diameter tube on and fill if with 
    cement or lead(scrap iron potted in epoxy, etc)
    
    If these get cuffed they are easy to spot.
    
    Frank

    Cheaper yet is a milk or antifreeze jug or two tied onto the pennant
    with several feet of cheap polypro line.  You'll still need a boat hook
    but the added length makes for a larger target which can be useful if
    the wind and waves are knocking the bow around.
    
    I tie a dinghy, which has its own painter, onto the end of my mooring
    pennant.  That gives a combined length of about 25' including the
    dinghy's own length.  Hard to miss that on a pickup.  But that's not to
    say we can hang on if we come in too fast.
    
    - gene

    I sail a Morris 36 down in the Buzzards Bay area, we have a mooring
    in Mattapoisett, and always sail off and on the mooring, unless
    we are not going to make the last launch. Mattapoisett is easy, lots
    of room etc. But I also sail in Hadleys, Edgartown, occaisionally
    Cuttyhunk, and always Woods Hole, unless the current is to strong for
    the wind.
    
    Basically sailing in these situations is a test of your skills, as
    well as the additional challenge. I do not want to always depend on
    my motor, and feel using sail in those situations will be important
    for the time when I can't use my motor. I will admit that my wife
    often REQUESTS the motor be on for her peace of mind, or at least the
    main power switch be on.
    
    One thing I do not think anybody mentioned was the dinghy problem.
    About 15 years ago on my 23 footer out of Marblehead, I sailed into
    Scituate on a strong SW wind. I always did it in Marblehead so why not.
    The dinghy was left out on the end of its pennant and it hooked the bow
    of a boat we were sliding by. I went back and spoke to the owner and 
    recieved a proper piece of his mind. Fortunately no damage. Learning
    bring the dinghy in good and tight.
    
    Another item to be noted, when sailing down the channel at Cuttyhunk,
    check out the Seaplane. If he is lineing up for his run he has right of
    way. Take it back around the bell and let him go by.
    
                           Bill

>>>    Another item to be noted, when sailing down the channel at Cuttyhunk,
>>>    check out the Seaplane. If he is lineing up for his run he has right of
>>>    way. Take it back around the bell and let him go by.
    
That is certainly prudent, and if he's taking off, you probably are 
required to keep clear ;-), though I don't remember seeing such a rule per 
se.  Keeping clear as he's taxiing around certainly is prudent, but not 
legally required as I recall.  Seaplanes have about the lowest priority 
right of way.

This little mantra (with appropriate qualifiers one must remember) covers 
it neatly and efficiently, from greatest right down to least:

			Overtaken
			NUC/RAM
			Fish 
			Sail
			Power 
			Plane

J.

    	Regarding the Seaplanes, I'm surprised that they would get such
    a low priority for right-of-way (excepting take-off's of course).
    I'll have to look up my Harbour reg's.
    
    The Cessna design (floats as opposed to floating hull) are in fact
    sometimes very difficult to maneuver in a strong breeze.  Compared to
    their above water surface area, their rudders are quite small.  When
    they are about to take off, they even retract those!
    
    It's amazing though, you still get some bone-heads in high powered speed
    boats that will turn into your take-off path without even seeing OR 
    hearing you (happened to a friend once with me on board, almost ran
    into him!).  I guess maybe they think its "fun" to dodge in front of
    an airplane!
    
    Regarding the main topic, I can appreciate the challenge and skill
    involved.  In a keel boat though (as opposed to Sunfish types), I
    like using the engine for maneuvourability and visibility (me seeing
    them) reasons.
    
    I don't know the harbours you folks are talking about, but when it
    comes to having to tack around moored boats, there is too
    much of an element of surprise in occasionally shifting winds near
    shorelines to make it safe.
    
    If the engine dies though, I always have my jib furler for a expanse
    of sail if I need it.
    
    Just a for interest note:  In a lot of harbours, the regulations
    "prohibit" using sails in the entrance channels.  Of course this
    is also widely ignored...
    
    My 2� worth
    
    Bob Halsey

    I believe some of the best advice I have been given over my years
    of sailing is: 
    
    Don't get into a position that you cannot sail out of; (to be
    grammatical; Don't get into a position out of which you cannot sail..)
    
    Sort of covers much of this conversation.
    
    Ciao, Ed

    
    re: .11, .29
    
        gee, I always try to avoid coming too close to anybody's stern out
        of concern that a sudden puff on a close-hauled course will cause
        the boat to round up before I/crew can react.
    
    /Jim
    

re .41:

Another exampe of 'master, know thy boat'. A well-mannered boat should 
not round up in a gust. Many boats do, though. It took a moderate bit of 
rig tuning to reduce our boat's weather helm to well-mannered. Our mast 
is raked slightly forward of vertical, in fact (Bob Perry admits a 
design mistake). We had to have both the headstay and forestay shortened
to do this.