Advice for a Solo Sailor?
- Thread starter jviss
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The latest edition is also available on Amazon. It has more info in it than in the online edition which is here:
Just one comment. I singlehand many times on longer trips, albeit just in the Chesapeake. I have a newer (2005 
) Hunter with a beefy arch over the cockpit, so I rig a jackline from a padeye on the arch just over the pedestal, so that it heads directly to the mast (maybe 2 feet off the deck at the mast) and then bends over to one of the bow cleats. It's rigged so that it would be almost impossible to fall overboard when clipped in. It's centerline to the mast, and then angles off to a bow cleat, so sure: I could fall overboard when I'm forward of the mast, but I'm almost never up there when single handing.
For the sake of full disclosure, I mainly rig the jackline when it's pretty hairy out there, like 17 knots and up. On longer (for me) trips of 8-10 hours, I usually don't even have a life vest on unless it's pretty windy. I just don't leave the cockpit.
Unfortunately, "what we should do" vs. "what we actually do" are often very different things.
) Hunter with a beefy arch over the cockpit, so I rig a jackline from a padeye on the arch just over the pedestal, so that it heads directly to the mast (maybe 2 feet off the deck at the mast) and then bends over to one of the bow cleats. It's rigged so that it would be almost impossible to fall overboard when clipped in. It's centerline to the mast, and then angles off to a bow cleat, so sure: I could fall overboard when I'm forward of the mast, but I'm almost never up there when single handing.For the sake of full disclosure, I mainly rig the jackline when it's pretty hairy out there, like 17 knots and up. On longer (for me) trips of 8-10 hours, I usually don't even have a life vest on unless it's pretty windy. I just don't leave the cockpit.
Unfortunately, "what we should do" vs. "what we actually do" are often very different things.
Only some of it was solo, if you don't count a 6 year old girl as crew. Wife left the kid & I for a mini van and white picket fence, half way around. After the circumnavigation, I solo sailed when necessary. I did the first year on Skipping Stone solo. I don't like it, but when I had to do it, I did it.
wireless windlass control! A must have for me. When it's time to drop anchor, I can control the boat at the same time as I'm paying out chain. on retrieve, I can throttle forward as needed as the windlass brings up the chain without loading it.
Did I mention an electric windlass?
Did I mention an electric windlass?
Except for the auto pilot and electric windlass the best addition to my 38-ft for single handing is something called a halyard parking bracket. It’s basically an up-side-down cam cleat in a bracket that you fasten to the mast just below the exit of the main halyard. You can stand at the mast and hoist the mainsail to near full, “park” the halyard in the bracket, then get back to the cockpit to complete the hoist using the winch. Far, far better than winching up the mainsail all the way while in the cockpit. You can also use it to stop the sail from coming down all at once if you need to get it down a just a bit to attend to something.
As for jacklines and tethers, the best use is probably while sitting at the helm or otherwise in the cockpit where the tether is fastened to a padeye or short jackline on the cockpit sole. In other words, it’s there to keep you from being washed out of the cockpit. B/c it is attached to the sole, there is not enough scope for you to go fully overboard, etc. So no dragging. I question a tether’s utility while walking the side-decks attached to a long jackline. If you trip and go over the side while the boat is underway you’re likely doomed. Hardly any chance of reboarding. Some recommend always having a very sharp knife with serrated blade to cut you free of the boat. The best practice it seems is “one hand for the boat.” And keep low when going up forward, etc.
As for jacklines and tethers, the best use is probably while sitting at the helm or otherwise in the cockpit where the tether is fastened to a padeye or short jackline on the cockpit sole. In other words, it’s there to keep you from being washed out of the cockpit. B/c it is attached to the sole, there is not enough scope for you to go fully overboard, etc. So no dragging. I question a tether’s utility while walking the side-decks attached to a long jackline. If you trip and go over the side while the boat is underway you’re likely doomed. Hardly any chance of reboarding. Some recommend always having a very sharp knife with serrated blade to cut you free of the boat. The best practice it seems is “one hand for the boat.” And keep low when going up forward, etc.
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a few thoughts: attack a knotted line to the boarding ladder. The ladder should be secured in such a way that it can be pulled down but not flop down. Jack lines should only afford enough slack to get to your task and back. Climbing ascenders are a great tool. You can shorten or lengthen your line as needed. ALWAYS carry a sharp knife..
Yes, that's one habit I have always had. And, it's not a folder, it's a fixed blade knife in a sheath on my belt, and sharp as a razor.
So, the tether is meant to keep you on the boat, but if you go overboard the idea or preparation is to cut free of it? I suppose we’re focused here on the solo situation. If you go overboard and cut free quickly but if there is crew aboard, the boat can return for the MOB rescue. Or, maybe stop and get you back aboard if still attached, etc.
Alone, however, in the water and cut free? Not clear there is much that can be done except wear the PFD, have a PLD, and try to minimize loss of body heat until someone finds you, etc.
Alone, however, in the water and cut free? Not clear there is much that can be done except wear the PFD, have a PLD, and try to minimize loss of body heat until someone finds you, etc.
I have been using a Milwaukee M28 right-angle drill with a winch bit to raise my mainsail. It makes raising the sail really fast, which is great when I am sailing solo. I can hold the drill in 1 hand and tweak the lazy jacks a little left or right as the sail is going up.
Last year, I broke my drill trying to use it to raise someone up the mast…burned up the switch
I really missed the help raising the mast the last few months of the season
Over the winter, I replaced the switch and now have the “winches” back in business… I forgot how nice it is for raising the mast when sailing single-handed.
One of my best investments for single-handing…
Last year, I broke my drill trying to use it to raise someone up the mast…burned up the switch
I really missed the help raising the mast the last few months of the season
Over the winter, I replaced the switch and now have the “winches” back in business… I forgot how nice it is for raising the mast when sailing single-handed.
One of my best investments for single-handing…
I too love this tool...I hoist my main in the same manner.. So far zsevefral club mates have followed suit and acquired on.. I both the aluminum bit over the stainless steel.. Figured the weak place should be the cheapest to replace...I have been using a Milwaukee M28 right-angle drill with a winch bit to raise my mainsail. It makes raising the sail really fast, which is great when I am sailing solo. I can hold the drill in 1 hand and tweak the lazy jacks a little left or right as the sail is going up.
Last year, I broke my drill trying to use it to raise someone up the mast…burned up the switch
I really missed the help raising the mast the last few months of the season
Over the winter, I replaced the switch and now have the “winches” back in business… I forgot how nice it is for raising the mast when sailing single-handed.
One of my best investments for single-handing…
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+1 on these. I had them on all of my inflatable jackets when we went off shore.If you are going to be in near shore waters and in a crowded area, a PLB is not a good choice. The boat that will rescue you is the boat nearest you. Most (all) boats near you will not have the ability to receive the signal. A far better choice is the Ocean Signal MOB1 or their new PLB3. Both of these devices have AIS and DSC which will send out distress signals on VHF and AIS. The PLB3 includes a SARSAT distress signal.
RescueME MOB1
The Ocean Signal rescueME MOB1 AIS Man Overboard Beacon is the ultimate solution for marine safety, specifically designed to aid in SOS situations.oceansignal.com
Of course, many singlehanders go alone, in part, because they don't want to syncronize their plans to any location or state their plans. Or as the Hogarth in the "Iron Giant" said, "I'm GOING OUT!"
People singlehand for many different reasons, and each of them feels differently about how to manage it.
Yes ... but I would say it is better to base you plans expectations on a worst case. For example, if you went over because you got clocked by the boom, or you tagged a stanchion hard on the way, you are also injured. The weather is probably bad (which is why you fell off) and there are not many boats out. Plan for the worst and assume your survival odds are minimal.Correction: I should have said "personal locating device" not "personal location beacon". Where I sail, a waterproof hand held VHF might even be better since most of the small pleasure boats around here carry VHF radios but few have AIS and most wouldn't know how to use DSC if their life (or in this case mine) depended on it.
I don't disagree with the "consider the edge of your boat a 500 foot cliff" but I don't agree that if you go overboard solo you're dead. I assume you are being drammatic. By that logic I assume when you are solo you don't wear a PFD. Why prolong the misery? Better yet, put some rocks in your pocket to make it quicker. Your sentiment may be true for BC or even San Fransisco Bay but it is not universal and certainly not here in the Bays and offshore in South Carolina
Like Real Estate the key is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Both from a water temperature standpoint and from a presence of of someone to find you. Where I live (Beaufort SC) during most of the time I sail solo the survival time is "reasonable for recovery if you can be found". If you are less than 12 to 15 miles offshore there are boats going by (sometimes too close for comfort) on a frequent basis unless it is the middle of the night.
Below are some links for survival time in water and average temperature for where I live.
Cold Water Survival Time Calculator | Good Calculators
You can use this quick and simple cold-water survival time calculator to approximate how long someone can survive in very cold water. This online calculator computes the anticipated survival time using methods that were presented in the Xu & Giesbrecht and Hayward studiesgoodcalculators.com
Ocean water temperature in South Carolina in May
What is the water temperature in South Carolina in May. The average and max/min water temperatures in May over the past few years. Water temperature graphseatemperature.info
Just don’t overload it (trying to raise someone) with it. I first tried it on a single speed cabin top winch…no go, and it puffed a puff of smoke before the operator let goe of the trigger.
The I put it on a 2-speed primary, a Barlow 23 I think…. Still not enough power to raise my 200#.
Finally tried it on a Barlow 27 primary, low gear setting, and I raised a guy 130#. Thought it was working great, but about 1/2 way up my 40’ mast, the drill crapped out. I thought it was the battery, but the switch actually burned out. It is not a basic on/off switch….it also reverses the motor depending on the position of the fwd/rev switch.
Hated to spend $70 for the switch, but I knew that was what was burned out, and the drill is a $300 paperweight without it…
Also, I first tried a bit that went into the chuck. I broke a few of the set screws that hold the chuck from rotating on the shaft, because my cabin top winch was a single speed, and the drill had to run in reverse. That meant that the screw took some torque, and broke.
After that, I returned the chucked in it, and bought one thst replaced the chuck….screws right on to the drill shaft. reduced some weight, and rock solid now….
Very happy mine is back in working condition.
Greg
I would further argue that a frequent singlehander will build jacklines from materials that can be left permanently rigged. If you wait until you need them you will be rigging them WHEN you need them, or will just forget or do without. Instead, make them a perminat fixure. You are also more likely to learn to use them smoothly before you need them.Just one comment. I singlehand many times on longer trips, albeit just in the Chesapeake. I have a newer (2005
For the sake of full disclosure, I mainly rig the jackline when it's pretty hairy out there, like 17 knots and up. On longer (for me) trips of 8-10 hours, I usually don't even have a life vest on unless it's pretty windy. I just don't leave the cockpit.
Unfortunately, "what we should do" vs. "what we actually do" are often very different things.