Ferry Gliding

[CaptainForce]

Originally Posted by Jim H

I will admit, but a bit of embarrassment, that I think this was called "fairy gliding" until I read this post...

Fairy gliding sounds more exotic,- I'd keep it! The gliding part is new to me. I always heard the tactic as ferrying.

[deniseO30]

I've a fair amount of doing the "ferry" when on canoes trips. I can honestly say I've used the current in the river here (tidal Delaware riv) to easily move my O30 across the river. under sail or power it works well. I don't know about in tight quarters however although I've used it a few times to pull into finger slips by turn the boat 90* port or starboard and with a slight turn to the current the boat would ease very slowly in and against the finger slip.

[sarafinadh]

worked great with the almost flat bottomed chris craft of my youth, but not so easy with a keel boat... I don't know why and haven't the energy to figure out the geometry in my head... but somehow a keel seems to make it more difficult...

[Boasun]

Well I've never heard of it being called "ferry gliding."
But then I have always crabbed a vessel sideways using the current to my advantage.

[davidpm]

Originally Posted by Jim H

I will admit, but a bit of embarrassment, that I think this was called "fairy gliding" until I read this post...

Yes will the bar in that case is not a sand bar.

[St Anna]

Originally Posted by Boasun

Well I've never heard of it being called "ferry gliding."
But then I have always crabbed a vessel sideways using the current to my advantage.

Me too, I've heard of 'para vaning' which may be an aero term. I last used it to tie up along a ship to refuel (near Cape York). The ship paravaned to turn around in a channel its own length. It was a great bit of seamanship and I photographed it.

I still maintain its easy without eddies or breeze - unfortunately, always have a bit of both and 17+tonnes.
Happy NY guys

[JohnRPollard]

Not while docking, but we've used a similar technique to hold position while waiting for bridge openings.