Is your wife comfortable with you sailing single-handed? I'm particularly interested in hearing from folks on the Chesapeake Bay.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Sailing single-handed; what does the First Mate say?
- Thread starter IH82BL8
- Start date
Even with my wife right there in the cockpit, I'm essentially single-handing.
Seriously, you may need to develop the safety procedures that gives your wife assurance, and then be diligent about following them. Her fear isn't irrational since you can't eliminate all risk. If she can trust that you are taking care of yourself, she should be accepting. If not, then you may have a problem that has no solution.
Good call. I also try to keep my wife involved in order to alleviate her other fear, the chance that I fall out and she has to execute an MOB. Or at a minimum, she understands how to stop the boat.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,534
These responses are right on the money. Sailing with my wfe is sailing almost solo. She is learning about helm steering. Will take the helm and steer into the wind while I raise, lower or adjust the sails. I wear a life jacket, carry a portable vhf radio, use a tether and jack lines to help stay on the boat. All of the tools used by solo sailors. Experiencing the way I work the boat has helped my wife to feel better about my solo sailing. We have a sailing plan, and confirm by text when leaving and arriving in port.
The Chesapeake Bay is a big body of water. I can understand your wife's concerns. The fears are likely never going to go away, but understanding and knowledge of your sailing skills will help to make them managable.
The Chesapeake Bay is a big body of water. I can understand your wife's concerns. The fears are likely never going to go away, but understanding and knowledge of your sailing skills will help to make them managable.
LOVE IT! Glad to here my experiences are similar to others. My wife loves to go sailing with me because she finds it RELAXING to sit in the cockpit and read magazines. She likes being on the boat but is not really interested in making it go. She complains when I start the engine because it disrupts the quite... "me: but honey there is not wind"... "her: I feel a slight puff". To her credit, she does like to prepare a nice lunch spread while me and the kids are swimming .... and she is always game to go exploring a new ghunkhole.... and if there is the possibility of finding good crabcakes... she books the trip. But I have to count on the kids if I want help sailing the boat.
On life insurance..... I once got a chance to go to Kittyhawk for a weekend of hang gliding lessons for only $35. It was a package deal through work.... My wife SHOWED me the clause in my life insurance that stated it did not cover sky diving, hang gliding or scuba diving accidents. She said I could go if I purchased a rider.
On life insurance..... I once got a chance to go to Kittyhawk for a weekend of hang gliding lessons for only $35. It was a package deal through work.... My wife SHOWED me the clause in my life insurance that stated it did not cover sky diving, hang gliding or scuba diving accidents. She said I could go if I purchased a rider.
She is wise to read the fine print ! After I was discharged from the Marines I had no insurance while I was heading off for school on the GI Bill. I had this hair-brained idea to take my Kaw 750 to the drag strip for some fun. Long story short: my bike picked up a high speed wobble at 114mph and I crashed. I got a severe case of road rash! Fortunately, the entrance fee at the drag strip provided insurance, so my week stay was covered. After 4 years with hardly a scratch during my tour of duty.On life insurance..... I once got a chance to go to Kittyhawk for a weekend of hang gliding lessons for only $35. It was a package deal through work.... My wife SHOWED me the clause in my life insurance that stated it did not cover sky diving, hang gliding or scuba diving accidents. She said I could go if I purchased a rider.
Wife likes to go sailing, but like said above: she doesn't really develop sailing skills beyond steering if asked. I do wear an inflatable lifejacket boating alone. I have had my boat at a marina at beautiful Bodega Bay for about 6 months this year and she came over once for a couple weeks. Chief
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,534
Skipper. There is a solution for that. A 4 ft power boat wake.
She does look comfortable.
She does look comfortable.
Having been in a number of blows with me, my wife tends to overestimate my sailing skills. I don't. As I've gotten older, I've tried to learn how to sail smarter and take fewer chances, particularly when solo sailing. I reef earlier, or drop sails when I feel overpowered. I use the engine more. I've also learned to stay in port when it's really howling. And, I call home to reassure everyone that I'm ok.....
I get a lot of these: "You haven't used the boat in a week, when are you going out again?"
Beats the alternative ::: a guy I know who said his wife "wouldn't let him" go out by himself. I could never figure out why he didn't say: "Try to stop me!" But maybe he really couldn't singlehand.
Beats the alternative ::: a guy I know who said his wife "wouldn't let him" go out by himself. I could never figure out why he didn't say: "Try to stop me!" But maybe he really couldn't singlehand.
I don't sail without my wife. I have singlehanded and found it very boring without Cindy. Parts of it were actually easier but it just wasn't the same without the Adimral. She makes it fun and I would not do it without her.
Sam
Sam
A couple of weeks ago I went to the boat on Saturday afternoon for storm preparation. But I also felt like anchoring out (rather than sleep at the slip) even though the weather was crap. I finally arrived at anchorage (totally deserted) in wind, rain and total blackness. I had some tense moments and had to improvise when my handheld gps lost too much juice for the backlight to function. Finally, I anchored & changed out of soaked clothes, feeling nice and cozy down below. I saw that Sue tried to reach me 3 times in the past hour on my cell phone, so I called her back to report that all was well. Where are you?!?! she demands. "I decided to anchor out and I didn't have an opportunity to hear the phone because I was busy", I responded.
She responds that it's annoying when she can't get in touch with me. Monica (her sister) was over and they wanted to watch a movie on bluray but they couldn't figure out how to use 4 different remotes for all of the devices. So, you see, she does need me for something!
She responds that it's annoying when she can't get in touch with me. Monica (her sister) was over and they wanted to watch a movie on bluray but they couldn't figure out how to use 4 different remotes for all of the devices. So, you see, she does need me for something!
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I think if I went sailing w/o my wife, she'd effing divorce me!
The reason we got into chartering was because it gets us off our butts and sailing a lot more. Sometimes it's really hard to leave that anchorage with the best French bakery in the Antilles or a beautiful, calm, empty anchorage that no one else has found, when you have no need to do so.
The reason we got into chartering was because it gets us off our butts and sailing a lot more. Sometimes it's really hard to leave that anchorage with the best French bakery in the Antilles or a beautiful, calm, empty anchorage that no one else has found, when you have no need to do so.