Preparation for leaving harbour.
If you are leaving a harbour that you are not familiar with it can be a good idea to walk out on the sea wall or near the entrance to identify the initial marks and directions to be taken.
At the same time a good impression can be gained of the likely sea state and weather conditions.
Remember that even if you have only entered the harbour on the previous day, when you depart the marks will be completely different when the vessel is heading in the reverse direction.
The first 20 minutes or so of any passage are some of the busiest. The skipper needs to deal with the pilotage, shipping, raising sails and any factors relating to the crew. Anything the skipper can do to make the first few minutes easier can reduce the work load considerably.
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