I grew up with the tradition of using both a bow line and a stern line when coming alongside a dock as the first lines taken ashore. Even with just two people aboard, or even singlehanded, I/we have always been agile enough to get both lines ashore and I haven't had too many docking disasters during my sailing career. But I've come to the conclusion that taking a single aft spring line ashore, securing that with the engine in forward and helm turned away from the dock, might be a safer, more controlled way to dock in many or most circumstances. Lynnie and I started practicing it recently here in the UK. Once you get the aft spring secured, put the engine in gear and helm turned seaward, the boat rides comfortably against the dock and you can take your time as you get all the other lines secured.

The one problem we're having is when Lynnie takes the aft spring ashore and secures it, our bow swings strongly into the dock before the boat returns to a relaxed alongside position. It isn't the worst thing in the world, but it doesn't look very pretty and if there was a piling in the way it wouldn't make our pulpit look any prettier. But I do think this is a safer and more controlled way to dock, as you need only get the one line secured.

Does anyone here use this technique, or have any online references? And isn't this one of the beauties of sailing, you can never stop learning.