Docking Training
ON SAILBOAT OR CATAMARAN
Practical docking & maneuvering training on a sailboat or catamaran with a professional instructor, focused on repeatable skills you can use immediately on charter, including:
Stern-to docking (Med mooring)
Crosswind approaches and abort plans
Side-to docking
Buoy pick-up drills
Tight-space turning and slow-speed control
Crew roles, lines/fenders setup, and clear communication
2-3 DAYS
PUNAT, KRK
4-6 PARTICIPANTS
9-17 DAILY
SALONA 45 / LAGOON 38-39
DOCKING TRAINING ON A
Sailboat (Monohull)
SAILBOAT DOCKING TRAINING designed to prepare you for the hardest part of a charter week: leaving the berth and returning to the marina, with a focus on prop walk, momentum control, and precise rudder use in reverse so you can dock confidently even in stronger winds.
Duration: 3 days
Location: Punat, Island of Krk
Daily schedule: 9:00–17:00 (8 hours/day – 1h lunch brake)
Group size: 4–6 participants
Sailboat: Salona 45 (2003)
Level: Beginner-friendly, no prior experience required
Price: 500€ (shared cabin)
Docking & close-quarters handling (Sailboat / Monohull)
- Low-speed control in forward and reverse
- Prop walk control and precision turning in tight spaces
- Stern-to docking & casting off (Med mooring): approach, setup, execution
- Side-to docking and safe departures using spring lines
- Wind and current management: stable approaches and safe abort plans
Buoys & anchoring
- Picking up a mooring buoy (bow & stern approach, crew roles, safe line handling)
- Anchoring basics: approach, chain length, holding checks, safe departures
Charter-ready routines
- Fenders and lines setup (what, where, and when)
- Clear crew roles and communication during maneuvers
- Berth planning: angles, speed control, and stop points
Day 1: Boat-handling fundamentals
Low-speed drills to understand rotation and stopping distance, prop walk, inertia, “time without control,” and drift—so you can predict what the boat will do before you start docking.
Day 2: Simple docking drills
Structured docking practice with clear routines: controlled approaches, speed management, line/fender setup, and easy stern-to departures/returns.
- Side-to docking
- Anchoring
- Mooring buoy pick-up
Day 3: Full docking simulations
Complete “from approach to secure” sequences under realistic conditions: berth planning, crew roles and communication, crosswind management, safe abort plans, and repeated full runs to make the process consistent and confide
Instructors
The docking training is led by one of our local professional skippers and docking coaches. The instructors teach on the same charter boats you will charter in Croatia. The instructors have docked in most marinas across Croatia during their careers, so they know what to expect and how to prepare you for real charter docking situations.
Sailboat – Salon 45 (2003)
It is a stable, spacious cruiser with predictable handling and relatively narrow stern (compared to modern cruisers). Due to it’s deep single rudder it stays responsive when maneuvering in reverse, which makes it an excellent platform for repeated stern-to docking practice and close-quarters drills.
What’s included
- Onboard accommodation (single or shared cabins)
- Bed linen (sheets, blankets and pillow)
- Professional instructor throughout the course
- Home-base marina berth and standard mooring costs during the training
- Fuel and cooking gas
- Tourist taxes
- Course completion certificate
- Final boat cleaning
What’s not included
- Food and drinks during the course
- Travel to and from the departure marina (parking, transfers, flights)
RESERVE 3 DAY SAILBOAT DOCKING TRAINING
Price per person (shared cabin)
500,00€
DOCKING TRAINING ON A
Catamaran
CATAMARAN DOCKING TRAINING designed to prepare you for the hardest part of a charter week: leaving the berth and returning to the marina, with a focus on twin-engine control and pivot turns so you can dock confidently even in stronger winds
Duration: 3 days
Location: Punat, Island of Krk
Daily schedule: 9:00–17:00 (8 hours/day – 1h lunch brake)
Group size: 4–6 participants
Sailboat: Lagoon 38/39
Level: Beginner-friendly, no prior experience required
Price: 500€ (shared cabin)
Docking & close-quarters handling (Catamaran)
- Twin-engine low-speed control in forward and reverse
- Pivot turns, sideways adjustments, and holding position in tight spaces
- Stern-to docking & casting off (Med mooring): approach, setup, execution
- Side-to docking and safe departures using spring lines
- Crosswind control: managing drift, stable approaches, and safe abort plans
Buoys & anchoring
- Picking up a mooring buoy (bow & stern approach, crew roles, safe line handling)
- Anchoring technique for catamarans: approach, chain length, holding checks, safe departures
Charter-ready routines
- Fenders and lines setup for wide beam (placement, spacing, protection points)
- Clear crew roles and communication
- Berth planning for beam and visibility limits: angles, speed control, and stop points
- Post-maneuver checks: securing, bridle/lines protection
Day 1: Twin-engine control + “Catamaran physics”
“drive” the boat with the engines, not the steering wheel:
- differential thrust (pivoting and sliding the boat), short power bursts, neutral timing, and wind management on a high-windage platform.
- Anchoring
- Mooring buoy pick-up
Day 2: Full docking simulations
Hands-on marina work focused on real charter situations: stern-to (Med mooring) and side-to berthing with a wide beam, spring-line techniques for controlled departures/arrivals, and crosswind strategies using the 2 engines
Instructors
The docking training is led by one of our local professional skippers and docking coaches. The instructors teach on the same charter boats you will charter in Croatia. The instructors have docked in most marinas across Croatia during their careers, so they know what to expect and how to prepare you for real charter docking situations.
Catamaran – Lagoon 38/39 (1013/2017)
For the course we use catamarans with the helm position on the side and low at cockpit level (not on a flybridge), which gives excellent visibility toward both bows and both sterns. These models are also relatively compact cruising catamarans, making them an ideal platform for beginners to build confident twin-engine control.
What’s included
- Onboard accommodation (single or shared cabins)
- Bed linen (sheets, blankets and pillow)
- Professional instructor throughout the course
- Home-base marina berth and standard mooring costs during the training
- Fuel and cooking gas
- Tourist taxes
- Course completion certificate
- Final boat cleaning
What’s not included
- Food and drinks during the course
- Travel to and from the departure marina (parking, transfers, flights)
RESERVE 2 DAY CATAMARAN DOCKING TRAINING
Price per person (shared cabin)
500,00€
Q&A
DOCKING TRAINING (SAILBOATS + CATAMARANS)
Is this course suitable for beginners?
Yes. The course is designed for first-time and early-stage skippers who want structured, repeatable practice in real marina scenarios, without pressure and without guessing at the helm.
What will I learn on the course?
You will train the core close-quarters skills used on Croatian charters: controlled approaches, speed control, line and fender setup, crew communication, and the most common berthing types, including stern-to (Med mooring) and alongside docking. The course also includes anchoring and mooring buoy pick-up basics.
Do you train stern-to docking (Med mooring)?
Yes. We practice a consistent routine for stern-to berthing, including approach planning, speed management, crew roles, and securing the boat correctly once you are docked.
Will I practice docking in wind and tight spaces?
Yes. We train narrow-space marina scenarios and use the best available weather conditions to practice crosswind techniques whenever possible. Wind cannot be guaranteed on specific days, but in the Kvarner region bura is common, so there is a strong chance that part of the training will take place in windy conditions, especially in spring and autumn.
How practical is it? Do we do a lot of theory?
It is predominantly on-water repetition. Briefings are short and directly tied to the exercise: plan, execute, debrief, repeat.
How many students are on board, and how much helm time do I get?
Groups are kept small, maximum 6 students, with structured rotations so every student gets repeated turns on the helm and equal repetitions in key docking roles.
What should I pack?
Grippy shoes, layered clothing and a windproof jacket, baseball cap or wide brim hat, sun protection, and sunglasses. Make sure you have enough water and any personal medications.
What is/isn’t included in the course price?
The course price covers your onboard accommodation (shared cabin or saloon), professional instruction, and all boat-related expenses, including fuel, gas, marina berths, taxes, and final cleaning. It does not include food, beverages, or the cost of travel to and from the departure marina.
SAILBOAT (MONOHULL) DOCKING TRAINING
Will we cover prop walk and reversing control?
Yes. You train the typical single-engine behaviors that matter for docking, including prop walk, momentum management, and consistent reverse control into a berth.
Do you teach spring line techniques?
Yes. You practice spring line use for controlled departures and arrivals, including holding position safely when wind or limited space makes a standard exit difficult.
CATAMARAN DOCKING TRAINING
What is different about docking a catamaran?
The biggest difference is how you control the boat. On a sailboat you mainly “drive” a boat with a helm(steering wheel) and manage the approach in smooth arcs. On a catamaran you mainly “drive” with the engines using two throttles, while the helm is locked during docking. That lets you pivot the boat with sharp, controlled turns, including turning on the spot, which is a very different docking technique from a monohull.
Do we train twin-engine handling and differential thrust?
Yes. You learn differential thrust to pivot, slide, and hold the boat precisely, often with no helm input, using short and deliberate engine bursts.
Do you cover catamaran anchoring and mooring buoy routine?
Yes. You practice a clean, repeatable routine for anchoring and mooring buoy pick-up on a catamaran, including crew roles and bridle setup basics for secure holding.
Have more questions?
Contact us directly at info@skipperhotline.eu
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