A Guide to Sail Haven

Thanks for joining Sail Haven and welcome! We look forward to sailing with you. The following information will help you get the most out of your membership and have a positive experience. Please email sailhaven@canaldock.org with any errors or omissions.

General Operating Hours

The following are general hours of operation. Be sure to check the calendar before coming down to make sure we’re open. Summer: Sail Haven is open six days a week. We are closed on Fridays. Weekdays we’re open from 3 PM to 7 PM and weekends and holidays from 1 PM to 7 PM. Fall: Sail Haven is open from 1 PM to 6 PM on weekends and holidays and is closed during the week.

Additional Fitness Activities

As part of your membership you also have free access to land-based fitness activities like yoga and dry-land rowing (erging). Visit the calendar of dry land fitness events for more information and times.

Lockers and Bathrooms

Lockers are available in the boat bay for day use. Bring your own locks to secure items. Bathrooms are also available.

Parking

Parking is available across the street from the boathouse on the street. Parking is limited and can be congested on the weekends and during private functions at the boathouse. Please do not park in any adjoining private parking lots.

Entering and Exiting the Building

All of Sail Haven’s activities take place in the boat bays. To enter and exit the boat bays, use the door indicated by the arrow or via the boat bay garage doors facing the harbor. Do not use any other entrances or exits in the building (except in the case of an emergency) as they are reserved for the other tenants of the Canal Dock Boathouse.

Alcohol and Other Substance Use

The use of alcohol and other substances is expressly forbidden anywhere on the Canal Dock property and while using our boats.

What to Bring / Wear

  • Bring a reusable water bottle (no plastic or single-use bottles)

  • Wear sun-block, sunglasses, hat, and other sun protection

  • Wear layered clothes for cooler temperatures on the water

  • Bring a change of dry clothes and a towel - you can change in the restrooms

  • Wear old sneakers or aqua socks that can get wet

  • Tight sandals with a toe/ arch strap are OK (no flip-flops or slides)

  • Don’t bring jewelry, electronics, or anything that you value - we have storage lockers (bring your own lock)

  • Sail Haven/Canal Dock Boathouse is not responsible for any lost, broken, immersed, or stolen items

  • Coast Guard approved Type III life jacket - we have a large selection of life jackets and you may use your own

Getting Ranked

Ask the dockmaster to evaluate you. Weekdays are preferable as they’re less busy. Visit the Skill Levels page on the website for more information.

Sailing Area

Visit the Sailing Area page on the website for more information.

Open Sailing Procedures

  1. Sign in when you arrive and sign out when you leave. This is very important as the # sign-ins and # sign-outs need to be the same at the end of the day. You must sign in your guests and they must sign the online liability waiver.

  2. Put on a life jacket. The life jacket rack is located at the harbor end of the building.

  3. Note the color of the flag on the flagpole. Green means everyone can sail and red means have a conversation with the dockmaster to see if your skills are up to that day’s conditions.

Preparing a dolly-based boat for sailing:

  1. Consult the whiteboard in the boat bay to see which boats are operational. Please select your boat from this list.  Boats not on this list are known to be in need of repair or maintenance.

  2. Pull a boat out of the boathouse. All of its pieces should be with the boat.

  3. If you’re taking a 420 out its sails and rudder can be found in the boathouse.

  4. Take it down the ramp to the floating dock.

  5. Rig it. Have rigging questions? Ask another member or the dockmaster.

  6. Chock the dolly wheels ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WHEELS and launch it.

  7. Tie it off to the dock.

  8. Move the dolly out of the way onto the end of the floating dock not being used on either side of the ramp.

  9. Hop in your boat and have fun.

Returning a dolly-based boat to the dock:

  1. When returning to the floating dock always approach the dock by heading into the wind and then tie the boat’s bow line to a cleat.

  2. Furl the jib (as needed), lower the mainsail, raise the rudder and centerboard / daggerboard.

  3. Ask the dockmaster if they want you to leave the boat for others to use or if they want you to return the boat to the boathouse.

Returning a dolly-based boat to the boathouse:

  1. Get your dolly

  2. Chock the wheels

  3. Pull your boat onto the dolly

  4. Move out of the way

  5. Down rig the boat as you found it

  6. Bring the boat up to the platform outside of the boat bays

  7. Rinse the entire boat and accompanying equipment with fresh water from the hose inside of the boat bay

  8. Drain the water from the boat

  9. Return the boat to the boat bay or in the case of the 420s return to the platform by the ramp

  10. Inform the dockmaster about any maintenance issues

  11. Going home? Return your life jacket and sign out.

Preparing a mooring-based daysailor for sailing:

Note: these are basic guidelines - please ask the dockmaster about any need-to-knows regarding the specific daysailor you’re taking out

  1. Ask the dockmaster for a ride out to a daysailor

  2. Bail out rainwater

  3. Lower the centerboard

  4. Lower the rudder

  5. Remove the tiller keeper

  6. Raise the main

  7. Unfurl the jib

  8. Unhook the mooring clip

  9. Pick up additional passengers on the dock.

  10. Sail away and have fun

Returning a mooring-based daysailor:

Note: these are basic guidelines - please ask the dockmaster about any need-to-knows regarding the specific daysailor you’re taking out

  1. Sail up to the mooring, grab the mooring clip, and clip it to the bow eye. DO NOT use the threaded sleeve to lock the shackle closed.

  2. Pull the white mooring pick up buoy on deck and secure it.

  3. Furl the jib. Use the tie on the clew of the jib to secure the jib so it can’t unfurl.

  4. Lower and furl the main.

  5. Raise the centerboard and rudder.

  6. Pull all sheets taut.

  7. Secure the tiller with the tiller keeper.

  8. Hail the dockmaster and get a ride back to the dock.

In the Event of a Problem on the Water

Capsizing:

Stay with the boat! The current can be very strong making swimming difficult. Do not try to swim to shore. All boats have flotation and won’t sink even when full of water. Don’t stand on top of a capsized boat, as your weight may force the mast into the mud. Speed is the key to recovery success.

Person Overboard:

If anyone falls out of the boat, watch their position constantly and return to pick them up immediately. It is difficult to find a person in the water once you have lost sight of them. The person who falls overboard should signal they are ok by waving their hands above their head. The person overboard should be approached from downwind so that the boat can stop which allows time for the person to get back on board. 

Grounding:

Stay in the boat! There are many underwater obstructions that you cannot see near shore. Some can cut right through your shoes. Raise your centerboard, lower your sail, or remove your rudder to free yourself from the obstruction. Give all shorelines a 50-yard min. buffer zone.

Equipment Failure:

Notify the dockmaster upon discovering an equipment failure e.g. frayed line, broken rudder part, sail tear, absence of any equipment or leak in any part of the boat. We want to keep the fleet in tiptop shape. Please say something if you see something! And we’re not concerned with who did it.

Medical Emergencies:

If a person requires emergency medical care, immediately signal the dockmaster to call 911 and come out to the boat. Note: if the person is hit in the head  (usually by the boom) they may think they’re ok but often won’t be. We  require an examination by a qualified medical professional to rule out the possibility of internal head injury. This is not optional.

Member Portal

Sail Haven’s member portal is located at canaldock.wildapricot.org.

Once logged in you can view member-only content, sign up for events, and interact with other members through member directories and discussion forums. You can also perform self-service functions such as updating your profile, paying invoices, and renewing your membership.

The member portal also has a discussion forum feature. You can start new threads, reply to existing ones and subscribe to individual topics, so that you receive email notifications of updates. After receiving the notification, you can visit the forum to view the new topics or replies.

For more information about the discussion forum feature visit Wild Apricot's support website. For a complete guide to the portal’s functionality visit Wild Apricot’s Guide.