Standing with your back to the bow while reversing

[cmedsailor]

I have read in many forum discussions and books that standing with your back to the bow while reversing is a sign of good seamanship. I really cannot understand what the advantage of this is. Whenever I back up my boat to my position in the marina (or in general) I always want to look at the bow in order to make sure that my boat is reversing parallel to any boats next to it. If I look behind and ignore the bow (which I tried a few times) I feel ….blind. I just see water and hope that the rest of the boat follows in exactly the same direction (straight line) I am backing up. But how can you tell whether and how much any cross winds affect the boat if you don’t look at the bow also?

 

[Talbot]

The reason for this recommendation s that the problems some people have with working out which way to move the wheel to achieve a turn in the correct direction. If you stand with your back to the bow and the wheel in front of you, the steering is exactly as you would experience when travelling forward, thus any turn is intuitive.

 

[Elemental]

I don't know whether (or why) it's good seamanship, but I was taught that you could do this to help avoid errors turning the wheel or tiller the 'wrong way' when reversing. If you turn back to bow and stand on the 'bow side' of the wheel then the direction of roation for a required change of direction (relative to the helmsman) whilst reversing is the same. Basically, just drive...
For tiller steering it might give you a more powerful grip on the tiller to counter the tendancy to snap to full deflection I suppose...

 

[bitman]

i use this technic also as we had to reverse the boat in her berth but good seamans ship is having your eyes everywhere. i had some sailors with me who were getting confused to which way to steer and indeed facing the aft is a good way to do but i told them to keep an eye on the bow too. it's all commonsence IHMO.

so yes, you can do it this way but keep an eye on the bow too!

 

[ianat182]

I think it is a case of steering where you're going and controlling the amount of rudder angle as you move to port or starboard.
A long keleed yacht will be reluctant to fall away from the wind, and reluctant also to change direction, so that narrow angles are essential to initiate the turn and increasing only slightly more after the flow has been diverted over the blade from the hull, then judicious use of throttle and prop walk will maintain the turn or correct it.
I used to demonstrate manoeuvres under power to new owners of the various sizes of Moody yachts ( Yes I know they are not long keeled) and the facing aft technique was a more natural method the customers adapted to, whether wheel ,or tiller steering ,and aft or centre cockpit steering positions.
The demo included figure of eight reversing around two buoys, two boat lengths apart, that customers were amazed they could do more or less first attempt - facing aft. At some point they would be in a position where the bow would be in the falling away position but after being made aware of it, they made due allowance.
Practice of this method is easily done, and then it is up to you if it works for you,or not.

ianat182

 

[Searush]

Dear Cmed,

To look in one direction only on any point of sail is bad seamanship & silly anyway. When travelling forwards, one should always be looking behind - especially when manouvreing at close quarters.

Others have explained the benefits of facing in the direction one is travelling, but please don't think that should prevent you from looking around - and especially behind you (ie toward the bow of the boat in this case)

 

[ianfr]

Dear Cmed,

To look in one direction only on any point of sail is bad seamanship & silly anyway. When travelling forwards, one should always be looking behind - especially when manouvreing at close quarters.

Others have explained the benefits of facing in the direction one is travelling, but please don't think that should prevent you from looking around - and especially behind you (ie toward the bow of the boat in this case)

Hear Hear! Standing looking astern does not stop you looking around as well

Ian

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I thought that standing with your back to the bow whilst going astern is for old gits........

like me who have a very arthritic neck and can't get to see round otherwise.


Well I suppose the real reason is for those who are inexperienced and need a fullproof method. However..........
I was recently onboard a boat where the skipper was going astern into his berth and possibly due to his reversed physical position, got the steering right but then pushed the gear lever astern rather than for'ard and crunched the boat behind him.... oops!! :-(