Getting the Boat Into and Out of the Water
(or: why launching is where most drama happens)
Sailing books spend pages talking about points of sail, wind shifts, and race tactics.
They devote very little time to the moment when most mishaps actually happen:
Getting the boat into – and out of – the water.
On a river like the Thames, with narrow slipways, variable stream, slippery algae, and boats that always seem heavier than last week, launching and recovery deserve proper respect.
This is the unglamorous bit of sailing.
It’s also the bit that decides whether the day starts with a smile… or a soggy shoe and a bruised ego.
Before You Launch: Preparation Saves Embarrassment
Most launching problems start before the boat even reaches the slipway.
Do these checks away from the water:
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Bung in (yes, really – check it again)
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Rudder and tiller ready but not dragging
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Painter attached and long enough
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Sails sorted so nothing can escape mid-launch
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Trolley wheels rolling freely (they won’t improve once wet)
If you’re using a trailer or winch system, this is also the moment to:
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Check straps are off
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Make sure the boat can actually slide
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Confirm nobody is standing behind it “just in case” (boats do not stop politely)
Launching: Slow Is Smooth, Smooth Is Fast
Slipways are rarely flat, clean, or forgiving.
The golden rules:
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Keep control of the boat at all times
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Keep feet clear of wheels
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Never rush because someone is watching
If the slipway is steep or slippery:
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One person controls the boat
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One person controls the trolley
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Nobody improvises heroics
On rivers, the stream will often grab the bow before you’re ready.
That’s what the painter is for. Use it.
Once the boat is floating:
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Hold it head-to-stream or head-to-wind
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Remove the trolley calmly
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Only then climb aboard
Launching should feel boringly controlled.
If it doesn’t, something is wrong.
Coming Ashore: Where Fatigue Bites
Recovering the boat is harder than launching:
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You’re tired
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The boat feels heavier
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The slipway hasn’t improved since this morning
Key recovery tips:
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Approach slowly, preferably into wind or stream
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Step out before the boat touches hard objects
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Get the trolley under the boat before lifting
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Lift together, not heroically
If the boat stops half-on, half-off:
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Pause
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Re-position
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Try again
Most damage happens in the final metre.
Trailers, Winches, and Gravity
Heavier boats (and aging sailors) benefit hugely from:
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Electric slipway lifts
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Letting physics do the work
Gravity is free.
Backs are not replaceable.
If you can winch the boat gently instead of hauling it, do so.
Your future self will thank you.
The Real Lesson
Launching and recovery aren’t the boring bits between sailing.
They’re core skills.
Done well:
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The day starts smoothly
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The boat stays undamaged
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Everyone stays dry (mostly)
Done badly:
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The sailing is remembered only as “that bit between disasters”.
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