A wise philosopher noted:  “Nothing lasts for ever”.

Another wise philosopher noted: “Some things can be avoided”

UN-RACKING AND RE-RACKING

1.      Make sure the crew has adequate strength to lift the boat and place it in the water or lift it out of the water without dropping or banging the boat on other boats, the ground or the dock. Position the crew with the stronger and taller people at the ends and the shorter – weaker people in the middle. Do not fail to call for help if needed.

2.      When Un-Racking, avoid contact with riggers of the boat racked above.

3.      When putting the boat into or taking it out of the water, the people at the STERN end should take extra care that the ‘finn’ or ‘skeg’ (at the stern), and the Rudder (if it has a rudder), does not come into contact with the dock.

4.      When entering the boat at the dock, keep the riggers OFF the Dock. If you have correctly entered on the leeward side (see #1 below), the wind will blow you away, so you do not need to be close to the dock in order to shove off. Be patient and let Mother Nature help you.

5.      When Re-Racking, take care that the weight of the boat is resting solely on its gunnels, and not on a rigger or the splash guard (the V shaped device at the front of the cockpit).

6.      Tie the boat securely. (High winds have been known to blow untied boats off of racks).

UNDOCKING AND DOCKING

1.      When going to water – place the boat on the “leeward” side of the dock so that wind will assist your departure.

2.      When returning to a dock, dock the boat on the “windward” side of the dock. As you approach allow for the wind, by aiming wide and then letting the wind push the boat to the dock.

3.      The stronger the wind and the slower the boat the more the wind determines the direction of the boat. When the boat is not moving the wind is the sole determinant of your movement and direction. So don’t stop and don’t hesitate or Mother Nature will get you. Plan your docking strategy ahead of time, taking wind conditions into account, remembering, that the stronger the wind, the more important is for you to keep a sufficient velocity on the boat, in order to control its direction.

4.      If the dock has no space because of other boats, wait, keeping the boat upwind of the dock. Wait well out in the lake not close to the dock.

5.      Do not approach docks at acute angles – any angle wider than 10 degrees results in the bow contacting the dock and the rowers unable to touch it with their arms. Then the wind takes over. If you are on the leeward side, it blows you away from the dock.

6.      As the first rigger approaches the dock, lean away from the dock to prevent the rigger from hitting the dock.

When Boats of Different Characteristics Meet

The general rule is that a boat that is more maneuverable must give way to a boat that is less maneuverable. Since rowing shells are less maneuverable than sail boats, the sailboat must “GIVE WAY” to the rowing shell. So Hold Your Course and Speed – DO NOT STOP and sit without way on and confuse the sailor about your intentions. The most likely cause of collision is hesitation by the boat with the “right-of-way”.

When racing, sailboats use a triangle course with one mark ‘directly upwind’ of the Start finish line, (where there is a flag and the committee boat), one mark ‘directly downwind’, and one ‘offset mark’. The boats race (by tacking), from the start line, towards the windward mark. Then they race to the ‘offset mark” or towards the downwind mark. Then they may race towards the windward mark, again, and/or maybe to the offset mark or the downwind mark (depending on the COURSE the race committee has called). Then they finish the race upwind across the start – finish line. So when the sailboats are racing try to stay “outside” of the triangle formed by the 3 marks. If you were racing you would not want to alter course to avoid someone who is not racing.

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