90-45-20 TECHNIQUE FOR DOCKING FOR MONOHULL SAILBOATS ⛵️

Captain Paul Sullivan

DOCKING DAY IN BOSTON! 🛥️ 
Today was all about docking practice with students at Charlestown Marina in Boston, MA 🇺🇸🌊 We focused on the 90-45-20 technique for monohull sailboats — learning how to use momentum, prop walk, and line handling like pros 🚤💨🪢 Here’s how to: 🧭 90-45-20 DOCKING FOR MONOHULL SAILBOATS 🔹 STEP 1: 90° – PERPENDICULAR SETUP * Line up with the dock at a 90° angle ➕ * Bow should aim roughly where your stern will end up 🎯 * Approach slowly in idle forward 🐢 * Be ready to shift into neutral to control speed ⚙️ ✅ PRO TIP: Shift to neutral when you can confidently say,
“I have enough momentum to get the rest of the way there.”
Slow ➡️ Controlled ➡️ Steerable. 🌬️ Compensate for wind or current drift as needed. 🔹 STEP 2: 45° – MID-APPROACH & REVERSE SETUP * Turn toward the dock to approach at a 45° angle 📐 * Aim for the midpoint or forward section of your slip 🎯 * Shift into idle reverse to slow forward motion 🔄 * If your boat has prop walk, it will begin swinging your stern in this phase 🚶‍♂️ * Stay on this 45° angle until you're about half a boat length or closer from the dock 📏 🔹 STEP 3: 20° – FINAL GLIDE & ALIGNMENT * Turn the helm to bring the bow in to about a 20° angle 🔄🧭 * Bow should now aim toward the start of your slip or the stern of the boat ahead 🚢 * Gradually increase reverse like a crescendo to stop the boat 🎵🛑 * This helps slow your forward motion while enhancing stern control via prop walk 🌀 ✅ CREW TIP: Crew should step onto the dock — not jump! 🧍➡️🛳️ 
Brief them ahead of time on which cleats to lead lines to 🧵🪢 🚤 Most cruising monohulls: 
Stern line first ➡️ then bow ➡️ then spring line ✅ CAPTAIN TIP: Stop the boat with your engine, not your dock lines ❌🪢 🚫 Beware of well-meaning “dockside helpers” —
If they grab or tie a line without knowing your plan, it can ruin a perfect landing 🎭👎
Especially dangerous: Tying the bow line forward of center while you're still moving ⚠️