Alone again, naturally

[Bob]

On the Chesapeake

I often solo on my Mac 26X. Reefing in a wind is the greatest challenge, but when I am alone in weather I only have to worry about myself and not finicky crew (my wife). I have never felt overwhelmed by the boat, but I don't try to test outerlimits. While I enjoy the sailing alone, it is more fun to have company, especially when at anchor or ashore.

 

[Earl Johnson]

Singlehand Sailing

I bought the Macgregor because I wanted the largest boat that could be sailed singlehanded, with water balast and also trailerable. Its the perfect boat for me.

 

[dan]

depends

on my mood. sometimes I like the Rolling Stones, sometimes some old Jimmy Buffet rings true. but, I never let not having a crew stop me from going out!

 

[Andy]

Solitude!

I single hand most of the time, and feel that most of thime I am unwinding, thinking, relaxing and just plain enjoying mother nature at its best. Roller furling and auto-pilot makes my 31 easy to handle -- never been in trouble. Guests and company are nice, but usually the intent is entertaining...and we all enjoy our time sailing together. Heading out by oneself is truly self-centered, which we need at times.The world can be such a rat race..sailing solo is my antidote.

 

[Robert]

I sail singlehanded out of necessity

I purchased my first sailboat...a Hunter Vision 32 in May of this year. I have rarely had the pleasure of company when I sail. I vividly remember the first time I raised the mainsail, having read all of the books and the pleasure I had at actually moving, powered only by the wind! I am teaching myself to sail, so every voyage is an adventure. The most difficult part for me, is docking at a strange pier. I don't seem to have enough hands, but each time, someone has been on the pier to lend a hand. In heavy winds, it's sometimes difficult to raise or lower the sails properly, even with auto-pilot. And leaving a crowded pier with just a few feet seperating your bow and stern from the other boats has been challenging as well. Spending nights on the hook have been especially gratifying, as has getting "unhooked" by myself when I finally leave. But, when the winds are fair, and the sails full....I feel closer to nature, and knowing myself, than I have ever felt before.

 

[Tom Chastain]

Just to sail

I just traded up from an H34 (1983 - GREAT BOAT) to a H 356 partly because of the time I sail solo. This boat has furling for the main and headsail and is the easiest boat to singlehand that I can imagine. I take friends, and girlfriend with kids when possible. Her three teenagers and my teenager have too many social conflicts to ever plan a sailing trip.I have even hired a crew. But all that is not alway possible and I just go solo and love it. I have never taken a long trip solo but several responses here have made it seem more possible.

 

[Ed]

Take charge

I've been sailng for years, the last 3 years with my Dufour 24, with an inboard diesel. Went out on a day motor run by myself..about 6 mile out into the Chesapeake...and the engine warning lights and horn sounded, (turned out I sucked up a baby eel into my cooling line), so rather than call a tow, turned off the engine, tied off my tiller, and raised my sails...........Got home great, learned alot, have been testing myself all this year leaving and returning alone under sail alone!!!! Must admit I have hit a few things on both leaving and returning, luckily no major damage..... There is alot to be said about learning to sail without an engine or crew.....a major ego booster and self confidence!

 

[Michael W. Jones]

Yes! I like to single hand my H 36 foot sailboat

1. I often enjoy just dropping the lines, motoring out of the marina and unfurling the sails on nice evenings or days after work or on days off.2. I don't usually have problems getting crew. I have the opposite problem. When folks along the dock see me getting ready to head out, I often get requests to go with me. I suppose I have a reputation of being a pretty good sailor and the words out that I give pretty good free lessons in docking/undocking and sailing. Night sails are often requested so I can teach night lights aboard boats, ships, barges and buoys. Sometimes I'd rather be without the company...3. I find the most difficult manouever being sailing back into the harbor and into my slip. Without engine and no brakes, I find it challenging to get the speed just right to land in my berth yet not so fast that I hit the dock hard.4. My most exciting sail was single handed down to Santa Barbara and back in less than 10 days with 3 days in Santa Barbara and 8 hour stop overs in Santa Cruz and Red Rock. Long hours at the helm with freezing weather were lessons learned to get an auto pilot! In retrospect, another person on board would have been much less stressful. Having my radar fail on the way down and finding someone had ripped off my anchor at my dock were also unfun events. I got by, finished the trip but was definitely glad to be back to San Francisco!

 

[mike morris]

sailing alone

As my wife and family are non sailors it was up to me to acquire the boat and skills that would allow me to sail alone.  The boat of choice is a VN23 cutter. I made a mast raising kit,rigged single line reefing, jiffy furling for the main,self tending for the staysail,a tiller tamer,and rearranged the jib sheeting. I have been caught out in weather alone when I should not have been and because of the reworking I have done was able to survive. The cutter rig allows many sail configurations allowing the boat can continue as weather turns bad without having to change headsails.Reefing is quick and simple. While I enjoy being alone on the water its always nice to gather at the dock or anchorage at days end. mike

 

[Frank]

"Hold the tiller please", "why me?"

I started with a new Chrysler 22, in 1977. Two boys, 8, and 10, with a wife that did not see the joy of sailing like I did. Sailing on lake Erie is neat because there is room to move around. When I would go top side to raise or lower the sails, the question was who wants to hold the tiller, from the boys, "Why me?". The next season I had an Autohelm, called it Armstrong. Still using it today on our 1977 Chrysler 26. I keep the boat on a trailer, and launch when I want to go sailing, a lot of times alone. My wife says that I brought this on myself because I was a Captian Blygh.

 

[Roger]

Essence

Sailing socially with friends and family shares excitement on a day sail or short cruise. Sailing with sailors for crew and companionship deepens commitment, and broadens understanding. Both are great! But sailing solo is essence. Boat, wind, waves and weather. All the responsibility for the safety of you and your boat, but no responsibilities for anyone, or anything else. You sharpen skills in departing and returning; choosing your course; finding your way; setting the sails; looking ahead to plan for the unexpected. And when the unexpected comes unplanned for, you just have to figure out how to deal with it! When standing at the tiller going to windward, cutting through chop, on 20 degrees of heel, just you and your boat- I can’t stop smiling.Roger& Mabel C27 #5012Cape Cod

 

[Mike]

I'm a single handed sailor

I’m alone but I’m not lonely. I show all the signs. I talk to myself, sing to myself and occasionally tell myself a joke and even chuckle at the punch line. But I am not lonely. I have the sea, the wind and my boat to keep me company. All of which are very high maintenance friends and lovers. Anyone of them can and sometimes all 3 will gang up on me and give me the ride of my life. Therefore I am not lonely.With her crystal blue waters flowing beneath me carrying me to my next destination, the sea shows me just how small I am. She is so vast that while she is treating me like her child on a cool November evening I know somewhere else she is giving another sailor complete hell and sometimes even taking his life. She doesn’t need a reason and she can change her mind anytime and in very short span I can become that sailor. Keeping a sharp eye on her is merely one reason why I am not lonely.As she runs her fingers through my hair I feel the softness of her. Her smell is like no other. She fills my sails and guides me to where it I need to go. The wind can be a gentle as sleeping kitten, as mean as a ferocious man-eating tiger or as elusive as water in the desert. Just as quick as you figure out where she is going she will change her mind and move off in another direction or leave completely. I know I can never completely take my eyes off her as the price will often an expensive one. I am not lonely.With 24 feet of water line and the lines of a true beauty she dances across the water like and angle. She alone has some ability to tame the others but she knows that her beauty can only go so far. I have faith that she will get me to the next port and we have an understanding that both of our needs will be tended too. When it’s cold her engine will keep me warm and when it’s hot her canvas will shade me. At night she comforts me in her berth and sings me to sleep with sounds of waves lapping at her hull. I tend to her needs and watch her for signs of stress. When she creaks or groans I tend to what’s ailing her. When she’s been tied up too long I take her out to stretch her legs. She asks a lot but she gives me much more so I am not lonely.But with all of these there is still one love that can never be replaced. She too asks a lot but she gives me much more that I will ever be able to give her. She lets me do things many guys only dream of, and she is always there when I need her. If I am sick she cares for me and if I’m excited she gleams with me. She doesn’t care for my other loves but she understands that I need them. I am not lonely; I am a single-handed sailor.

 

[Bill Georgi (aka the mad monki)]

seleively single-handing

I sail single-handed because I can't find a crew that measures up to my minimum expectations...

 

[Louise M.]

Captain and Crew = 1? Yep!

I love having a crew aboard, but I really do enjoy being out on the lake by myself. I have an O'Day 26 and just installed a roller furling 150 genoa. A Lazy Jack is coming shortly.The solitude, the challenge of having only yourself to rely on and the feeling of accomplishment when you come back in and snuggle up right next to the dock. And let's not forget the looks from the stink-potters who see a solo female Captain (of all things), just sailing along having a good time.Yep....this is good stuff!

 

[Kris]

Love sailing alone!

We just learned how to sail this year and 3 months after putting the sails up for the first time, I took off on my own. I loved it! Nothing beat being out there alone just you and the wind!That was our 22, we just moved on to a 25. Might be a little harder to sail alone next year.

 

[Alex]

back at the helm

I am the proud new owner of an Irwin 34 (1987), and have not yet even taken her out. She's still sitting at her slip at the boatyard while I finalize the purchase. I haven't been sailing since my teenage years (pre-GPS), but its been in my blood all these years. Singlehanding is definitely on the agenda, once I get a feel for the rig (no self-furling jib -- that could be a challenge).

 

[Craig]

Best of Both Worlds

I cannot mislead you, I have an Autotiller. It is soooo nice to set the heading into weather and raise the sails unencumbered. I also have a lovely First Mate who loves to organize the food and soak up the sun on the foredeck. Beleive it or not, she also likes foul weather and all the thrills that weather brings to sailing. When called upon she will turn to and do anything asked of her. She has completed a sailing class and likes to take the controls from time to time, but she doesn't push it. NO! She is not for sale at any price. The autotiller and the ultimate first mate might disqualify me in the World Series of Single Handing, but MAN!, I'm having one helluva good time.

 

[Tony Russell]

A commitee of one.

I make my beer money teaching for Pacific Sailing her in Ventura so it is a treat for me to not have to explain everything I do. We are blessed with five beautiful islands, two of which can be reached with a good daysail or one can overnite at a choice of good and interesting anchorages.My friendly 25' and I like to go and just do whatever we and time allows. Alone you are really getting away from the cares of the real world. I have no radio (Other than VHF) or TV. Wouldn't have it any other way.All lines go aft and she can be easily reefed without leaving the cockpit. No more sitting on the cabin with my legs around the mast while I belatedly reduce sail.

 

[B. H. Ace Roberts]

Poor Man's Autopilot

I have a Santana 20 which I sail and race on the weekends with my son, Patrick. Since I'm now retired, if the wind is favorable I go sailing solo during the week. I have a tiller tamer but until an old time sailor showed me a modification, I had a problem tacking and gybing. The trick is: substitute bungee cord for the cord/line in the tiller tamer - that way you can move and hold the tiller over ("hard alee") with your legs straddling the tiller while you use your hands on the sheets (Gennie, Main, and Traveler) - then when you've tacked/gybed through the turn, you move your legs/knees, releasing the tiller, so it will automatically snap back to 0 degrees (to the centerline of the boat). Then you can continue adjusting the lines to achieve the proper trim while the tiller tamer keeps the boat on a steady course. This is truly a "Poor Man's Autopilot" - all it takes is a "tiller tamer" available at most sailing accessory stores and a length of bungee cord with two hooks cut to a sufficient length so there will be adequate tension to 'snap' the tiller back to the neutral position after tacking or gybing.  Hope this will help someone else in single-handing their boat. This is the best time of the year for lake sailing in North Alabama and with my "Poor Man's Autopilot" I try to get out on the lake every day I can!

 

[Dick Armstrong]

Know yourself so you can teach others *box

I've just now moved to inland waters. I bought the boat I did because it was the largest I felt (then) that I could sail alone if I had to.My greatest joy is being a captain who helps others grow in the sport, and I've done OK as that.To calmly understand when to encourage, when to instruct, when to direct and when to take the helm, I believe it's crucial to know how it feels to do it all yourself. To supplement competent intruction, the experience of single or short handed sailing is probably the best way to know your skills.I love sailing. I love it when my family and friends join me. But I hope I'll never not sail if the only separation is that I don't have company or crew.