Sailing single-handed; what does the First Mate say?

[Joe]

Let's add this question: Has anyone, while single-handing, had a situation arise where they wished crew aboard?

Yes, when the Auto pilot quit on me.... but I dealt with it... that's what makes single handing so rewarding.. figuring things out ahead of time so the true emergencies are rare. The biggest issue with single handing is how to get enough sleep.
Here's the deal.... keep your wife happy... invest in a good harness and tether.. wear it.. stay clipped on... even in the bay or marina. Invest in as much anti collision gear as you can afford... an AIS system for instance. Keep a handheld waterproof VHF radio clipped to your pfd.. besides a good quality fixed mount. .....
For your wife's peace of mind... invest in a personal locater device such at a SPOT

If you don't have roller furling... rig a jib downhaul. Practice reefing at the dock..

By all means... invest in a reliable auto pilot. Might be the most important piece of equipment you'll own.

 

[jssailem]

Figures it's better than if I go with my girlfriends.

Typical cat statement. Cats are so independent and free.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Well, back before my ex and I split, she would occasionally take the boat out for a few days single hand herself, so she really didn't say much about me.

And when we took off to go cruising for several years, due to some last minute family problems I had, she sailed from here (Matagorda Bay), to the Louisiana line single hand. I joined the boat 13 days later.

Sure miss having that crew

 

[Terry Cox]

The admiral says to either wear your PFD or she will take the boat away. That put the fear of God in my bones.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I was single handing when I met my wife and continue to do so. I have been on the water for all 50 years of my life, first time at sea I was a week old, 5 years in the Coast Guard doing boarding's in all kinds of weather and have never had a crew person on any boat I have been on fall off. The rule I was taught is "If you fall off the boat you are dead!"
With that in mind it is about training, experience, common sense and preparation. Make sure the boat is easy to handle, rig all lines to the cockpit, reef early, use the jib instead of the genoa, wear GOOD shoes & have a way to manage steering while working sails. Oh and make your lunch before hand, I once passed a foot from a buoy while making a sandwich down below.

 

[Gunni]

My wife and I sail together but we are fairly new boat owners. I'm an experienced boater, but a fairly new skipper.

When I first met my funny-little-honey I wanted to initiate her into my watery world, so I hired a swimming coach to get her swimming skills up to speed, and then I took her on a winter vacation to the Bitter End Yacht Club and had the guys teach her to sail in paradise. The sailing lessons worked pretty well, the swimming lesson not so much. So I got her a very stylish Lotus Designs PFD which she wears in lieu of a top! God Bless American Girls!

 

[Justin_NSA]

That's it. I'll be imagining this all day. You just killed my productivity today Gunni.

 

[jssailem]

Gunni
A picture is worth a thousand words, and will help destroy my productivity for the rest of the day....

 

[Jackdaw]

When I first met my funny-little-honey I wanted to initiate her into my watery world, so I hired a swimming coach to get her swimming skills up to speed, and then I took her on a winter vacation to the Bitter End Yacht Club and had the guys teach her to sail in paradise. The sailing lessons worked pretty well, the swimming lesson not so much. So I got her a very stylish Lotus Designs PFD which she wears in lieu of a top! God Bless American Girls!

NO WAY you're getting away with that without pictures.

 

[thinwater]

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.

It is far simpler and more realistic in most cases to realize you are fully single handing when sailing with unskilled crew and not fall off. No "it could happen" cop out. It can't happen.

My wife knows I might call once a day, I might not, and I might not answer the phone. We grew up without cell phones and won't be bond by them. Additionally, there are places in the Bay without coverage. Which is fine with me.

I don't care much for PFDs. What good does floating in cold water do me? Do I actually believe that someone is going to find me in less then a few days? Not on a week day, no in remote areas, and not in poor weather. Move carefully and use a tether (short) if there is any question. I did a lot of rock climbing (still do), some without a rope, and there is such a thing as not falling. Just don't fall off.

Yes, my wife is 100% comfortable with it. Some times we go out for weeks together. Sometimes I go alone, either for the day or a week. I think it is healthy for couples to be comfortable both together and on their own.

 

[topcat0399]

Typical cat statement. Cats are so independent and free.

I resemble that...

 

[Justin_NSA]

If I had a dollar for everyone in sports related activity that said " it won't happen to me" and did anyway, I wouldn't be sitting here at work.

 

[SFS]

...So I got her a very stylish Lotus Designs PFD which she wears in lieu of a top! God Bless American Girls!

@Gunni -

 

[IH82BL8]

Do I actually believe that someone is going to find me in less then a few days?

IMHO you won't float in the bay for more than a few hours. You would just swim to the nearest shore.

Also, I'd be interested in knowing where there's no cell signal on the Bay. This is not because I'm a slave to my phone, but so my wife won't freak out if she tries to call me and I don't answer.

 

[IH82BL8]

Actually, you'd swim halfway and wade the rest of the way.

 

[ITMaster]

I sailed the Chesapeake Bay and its' tributaries plenty of times singlehanded. She was comfortable with it. I would go solo lots also. If you are good with your boat and your skills why not go for it?

 

[Gunni]

I hope you guys appreciate that I had to dig through 2 shoeboxs full of old photos to find this:

My little dog paddler!

 

[jsalley]

IMHO you won't float in the bay for more than a few hours. You would just swim to the nearest shore.

Also, I'd be interested in knowing where there's no cell signal on the Bay. This is not because I'm a slave to my phone, but so my wife won't freak out if she tries to call me and I don't answer.

First, the part of the Bay where I sail (southern) is 15-20 miles wide in some places. With currents, chop, ships, etc., no one is going to swim to shore. Second, there is no cell service once you're more than a few miles from the western shore throughout most of the lower Bay, and only spotty and unreliable service along most of the southern eastern shore. Verizon has the best coverage, but there is none once you're out of sight of the western shore.

 

[Bob Mc]

I single hand almost exclusively and my wife is pretty comfortable with it. She knows I always wear my PFD, leave her with a float plan, know my limits, touch base frequently and made me promise never to pee over the stern while underway. I'll tell you what took her comfort level up a notch was sailing with me after I installed an autopilot. She saw how it slowed everything down to a nice manageable pace and took away those times that end up being a bit frantic, greatly increasing the safety factor.
On the Chesapeake out of Worton Creek.
Bob

 

[agprice22]

I want my first mate along. She is a great companion. My Admiral handles the sheets and halyards, but, even though she earned her ASA Bareboat Skipper Certificate on a 40 ft Beneteau, she hates when our 272 heels! It took me a while to work it out, but we worked together, and we first tried converting to wheel steering, and we then moved to a trimaran for next season. So, I could singlehand, but I don't wanna. She is just too sweet!