Sail it like you rented it...

I have learned (through two gelcoat touch-ups) that you need to leave the centerboard down when docking and/or low speed maneuvers (like getting on the trailer).

Otherwise it's like trying to steer those saucer/dish thingies Clark Griswald had in "Christmas Vacation"

Docking made simple:

1. Come in to the dock on a beam reach with enough distance between you and the dock to head up and "run out".
2. Come up pretty hard and make sure your sails tack over (allows you sail out away if you do not have enough momentum to reach the dock).
3. The distance traveled after coming up is dictated by how hard you come up and moving crew weigh forward and aft (too many times I've seen people rush forward to tie off to the dock and it kills their momentum - this may not be as big a factor on your trimaran, but is a big deal on lightweight cats).

Obviously, it gets harder the windier it is and the more crowded it is.

As is flying the saying goes, "If you can walk away from it, it was a good landing!"

interesting thoughts Tom. might have to try that once I upgrade my fenders

does it work for non-displacement craft that seem to slow down quite rapidly once the wind is off the sails?

It does Jay, you just have to know how far from the dock to be (depends on wind strength and the ability of the boat to carry momentum) before you start heading up (btw, don't trim the sails to close hauled as you head up, just leave them where they are and uncleat the sails once they go slack). You can practice this on any crab pot buoy in open water to get a feel for it. Many sailing schools teach this method. I've done it on beach cats, Lasers, Flying Scots, Thistles and J22s. Remember to tack the sails, that is your exit strategy.

I've never sailed a trimaran, will it turn quick enough and provide some run out before losing momentum? I figured if a beach cat could, then the tri could.

And yes, you want as much board down as you can get in low speed maneuvers.

You know it is legal to carry a paddle, right?

And the second part of that saying is;

"If you can use the airplane again, it was a GREAT landing!"

You should see the looks on people's faces when I tell them I can't dock well, and they insist it's a piece of cake and to "just go for it;" then I crash into the dock and/or the next boat...

The docks at Sail Newport are quite tight and very often crowded. Not to mention, surrounded by great big rocks.

I've learned not to be talked into this (as often) anymore.

Mike