It is always best to lie head or stern on to a dock if you intend to remain long or over night. Always run out an anchor to hold her off in case the wind shifts, or if for any reason you have to haul out. In making your head fast be sure to allow length enough, if in a tidal harbor, or you will be hung up when the water falls.
Clubbing:
This is one way of getting down a narrow fairway when a swift current is going with you. By employing it you will be able to keep off the banks and to dodge anchored vessels. Send a man forward and let him heave in on the anchor until it breaks, then let him keep it trailing along the bottom, checking the vessel whenever needed, by paying out enough slack cable to make the hook bite. The skipper at the helm can then shear her with the rudder to port or starboard, as he wishes. The current moving faster than the boat will give her steerageway. Instead of an anchor you can use a heavy chain to drag along the bottom.
Sailing in a current:
If bucking a strong tide or current a vessel will answer to the slightest touch of the helm, but if going with the stream she will steer slowly and badly. This must be looked out for in running narrow entrances between jetties and bars. Sometimes it is better to go out stern first, if the wind is blowing directly in, letting the vessel sail slowly before the wind and drop back faster with the tide.
Sailing against current:
In going against a strong current to windward you can force a vessel through, no matter how strong the tide is, if you can lay up close enough to get the wind on one bow and the tide on the other. The pressure of opposing forces will drive the vessel ahead. You will often see schooners get through the Long Island Sound Race in this way against a strong ebb, running over 5 knots.
IN HARBOR, DRYING OUT.