Re: Which side to tie to dock in a wind?
you tied up correctly. Your boat should not be against the dock. You can't worry about "if a line comes loose" any more than "if a through-hull fails and the boat sinks." You just have to do your best to have the right equipment and know how to use it (in this case, know your knots). And so what if the boat does swing in the unlikely event your line comes loose in the few minutes you are there?
Bond-o makes a good point, that redundancy can be important. However, I would not have 4 lines out for a few minutes' drop off. When I tie up in preparation for a storm, everything is triple tied.
It's all situational. A short-term tie-off is not the same as an unattended overnight. Remember, things can change--in your case, wind direction, and maybe waves. I have to deal with tides and currents as well as wind. Also, what if? if I am alone in the marsh and my boat is my only means of transportation, I will be a lot more careful on tying, than if I have options.
There are also ways to tie a short line and a long line when you have a current/wind parallel to the dock, so your boat stays off.
It is usually better to approach your dock or other object against the wind/current, for one thing, so that if you lose power you won't hit the dock. It is better not to have the boat touching any structure, than to use fenders or rely on your rub-rails.
