SAILING

Emergency Heaving Line Drills

On July 12, 2022
By Kimberly

Emergency Heaving Line Drills

Someday you are going to feel like you need a very long line to reach out and connect with a dock that is not very close to you. And you’re going to want to “nail it” on the first throw. This is partly due to efficiency – the faster you get the line “there,” the faster other things can happen or stop happening. The second reason is because once you throw that line and it lands in the water; it gets heavier. When it gets heavier; it gets harder to throw. So, let’s look at the steps to a successful heaving line procedure. You can practice this anywhere!

Avoid This

What you do not want is to throw a wad af line that flies out a foot or two from your boat, and drops into the water. Wasted time and effort.

Do This Instead

Attach the bitter end of the line to your cleat, running it outside lifelines so it will fly clear to the dock.

Coil your long line in your “weak” hand. Keep loops the same length, coil clockwise, and keep twists and turns out of the coils.

As you coil, line each successive loop on your hand in the order you are coiling. No crossovers. Aim for about eight coils.

Judging Coils

You don’t want the coils so small that you end up with more than eight coils – or whatever your hands can hold.

However, you also don’t want coils so long that you can’t clear the deck, rigging, shrouds – anything in your swing arc.

Split the Coils

Once you have all those coils in one hand, put both hands under the mass of coils, fingertips touching, and split the coils in half.

Put about four coils in each hand.

The bitter end will be in your strong hand.

Right Handed / Left Handed

If you are right-handed, you will throw with your stronger, right hand.

If you are left-handed, you will throw with your stronger, left hand.

Look Where You Want the Line to Go

Your goal will be to make that bitter end fly far, far away from the boat, the entire line stretch out straight, and the end land in the water on the other side of the dock.

This is so anyone helping can step on the line and grab it, or maybe even catch it as it drops across the dock.

Staging the Line

If you are right handed, rotate both wrists to the right – as if you are trying to point to your right with both thumbs. Your left palm will face down. Your right palm will face up. If you need to lay the line down to throw later; set them down just like this so you can pick them up ready to throw.

If you are left handed, rotate both wrists to the left – as if you are trying to point to your left with both thumbs. Your left palm will face up, your right palm will face down. If you need to lay the line down to throw later; set them down just like this so you can pick them up ready to throw.

Clear Your Area for the Throw

Now, time to throw.

First, get a decent distance between both your feet. Pay attention to the motion of the boat and make sure you have a really good, solid stance.

No matter if you are right- or left-handed; look over your shoulder on the side of your strong hand, where you will wind up for the throw.

Make sure there are no impediments or items that will catch your lines. Make sure you are not going to smack your crew in the face.

The Windup

You are going to wind back, twisting your torso away from the dock to build momentum. Allow your strong hand to follow your torso away from the dock to gain momentum. Your weaker hand will follow at a safe distance.

The Release

With a smooth motion, twist away from the dock, then twist rapidly toward the dock. Release the line in your strong hand, keeping your eyes on the spot you want to “hit.” Your weaker hand will follow, and almost “push” the middle of the line across the dock.