Thanks John, that helped, I guess its a case of having a few techniques up your sleeve dependant on conditions.

Really enjoy your channel. This film was great. But as a solo sailor of a 50’ sailing barge. Can l suggest you get on before you untie the last lines. I normally make them loops over the cleats and back on board. So it’s impossible for the wind/tide to take the boat and leave without you. Also if you need to abort your departure. You will be ready to lasso the cleats again and tie up fully before getting off the boat. Kind regards Chris

Very useful John, thank you. Getting out of our particular berth in the River Dart shorthanded is sometimes quite challenging what with the current and propwash etc., and we are still exploring various techniques that we can use with the assistance of a local RYA instructor. Basically we use a running bridle rigged amidships and a floating line to control the stern until we get steerage way, or the crew walking aft along the the deck with a slip line, but we're still experimenting. Sometimes we just have to wait until near slack water or until the wind is more favourable!

Great, thank you for sharing! The amount of space you have to work with is fantastic - I just finished a sailing course here in Vancouver, Canada, where a shoehorn was pretty much to wedge in our Dufour 31. My own boat (single-handing) is only 24 feet, but I'm planning to spend a lot of time on a friend's Contessa 32 over the next couple of years. I've been watching since about mid- to late-rebuild and am very much enjoying the content. Cheers!

I like your technique for coming alongside, and I do much the same myself. I think your method for leaving could use some work. Ideally you should not be off the boat as you're undoing lines, especially not the last one. Also, on a larger boat, you can't just push it away from the berth. You could take off all the lines bar one while motoring ahead and leaving only a looped spring going from somewhere amidships to a cleat on the dock level with your stern. Slip the engine into neutral or even start motoring astern gently and pull in the last spring without leaving the cockpit, then return to the helm to complete the exit from the berth.

Very nicely demonstrated.

Very useful, indeed - thanks! I find that getting off of the pontoon is the easy part (usually); it's coming back in on my own that gives me grey hairs, especially since I'm not used to tiller steering yet. 😱