The Marinervideo
Solo Docking an 80ft Yacht Without Use Of The Auxillary Engine
26 May 2026 · 39 min · 25K views · Lunenburg Harbour
Sailboat glides under moonlight, water shimmering at night.
What this video covers
Chris sails the 80-foot Mariner into Lunenberg Harbour, Nova Scotia, at night, solo and without engine power after discovering 18 hours earlier that the propeller is not working.1:28 The approach requires repeated tacking up a narrow channel at three to four knots — the minimum speed needed to maintain steerage — while avoiding a mud bank to starboard and a red channel light that must be left to starboard.8:04 Fender boards are rigged outside standard fenders to bridge the gap between the hull and the large wooden-column New England deep-water jetties.3:01 Chris rigs a forward running spring and an aft running spring, ties them together into a single giant loop with bowlines, and carries that one combined line onto the dock as the boat comes alongside the Zwicker dock corner.30:48 The jib halyard is pre-set with minimal winch turns and the jammer fully open so the sail drops instantly on command.29:32 The boat is steered left-right on the wheel to scrub speed in the final approach.10:50 The docking succeeds.34:41 Chris also confirms the boat has qualified for the Global Solo Challenge, with a planned departure in December 2027.1:09 Sail trim in engineless harbour work demands constant light-handed balance — over-tensioning the jib pushes the bow down and kills the height needed to clear channel marks.8:26
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