Single-handed sailing
- Thread starter Scott T-Bird
- Start date
Thanks again to Foolish for that wonderful book. I've already thanked him over on www.cruisersforum.com.
Steve Henderson has also written another good Singlehanded book.
Between either or both of them, you can't go wrong.
I just returned from two nights & three days (Anne Heche, anyone?
)
on our boat, alone.
I end up doing a LOT of cleaning and maintenance work, as well as down time reading.
As most of us have learned, and as Bennie pointed out quite eloquently, we all "singlehand" a lot more than we think we do when other folks are onboard.
I singlehand, anchor out, pull the anchor (no windlass), literally most of the time. My wife and son both a accompany me often, but I'd say that I singlehand more than 75% of the time, since I go out for two nights as often as I can, usually two or three times a month, which is almost every week.
My wife joins me for local Catalina 34 Fleet cruises. My son likes ocean sailing, so we do Half Moon Bay and the Farralones/Drakes Bay trips. I've singlehanded with our fleet to Monterey via HMB, Santa Cruz and Monterey.
One of my favorite remembrances was this one cruise returning from Monterey to Santa Cruz. It's a four hour trip across Monterey Bay. Once clear of the harbor I set the sails and headed north on port tack, reefed main with a 110 jib, sitting comfortably on the starboard cockpit seat with my back to the coach house, for three glorious hours. Because Monterey Bay is so deep (3,000 feet), there are no crab traps or fishermen. A fantastic day.
Last year I had the pleasure of being the first C34 skipper ever who prevailed in a sanctioned C34 race singlehanded, two days, three races, 2:1. Not overnight, but that's coming up soon.
Once you singlehand, you learn sail trim, because you realize that having the autopilot fighting makes NO sense, so you trim. Read Don's book.
I also recognize that docking is one of the hardest things to do yourself.
So, I accumulated these handy tips:
Single Handing 101 http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5445.0.html
Single Handing 101.1 Midship Cleats Pictures http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4921.0.html
Single Handing 101.2 HOPPING OFF THE BOAT IS UNNECESSARY
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5445.msg33766.html#msg33766
ENJOY.
Steve Henderson has also written another good Singlehanded book.
Between either or both of them, you can't go wrong.
I just returned from two nights & three days (Anne Heche, anyone?
)on our boat, alone.
I end up doing a LOT of cleaning and maintenance work, as well as down time reading.
As most of us have learned, and as Bennie pointed out quite eloquently, we all "singlehand" a lot more than we think we do when other folks are onboard.
I singlehand, anchor out, pull the anchor (no windlass), literally most of the time. My wife and son both a accompany me often, but I'd say that I singlehand more than 75% of the time, since I go out for two nights as often as I can, usually two or three times a month, which is almost every week.
My wife joins me for local Catalina 34 Fleet cruises. My son likes ocean sailing, so we do Half Moon Bay and the Farralones/Drakes Bay trips. I've singlehanded with our fleet to Monterey via HMB, Santa Cruz and Monterey.
One of my favorite remembrances was this one cruise returning from Monterey to Santa Cruz. It's a four hour trip across Monterey Bay. Once clear of the harbor I set the sails and headed north on port tack, reefed main with a 110 jib, sitting comfortably on the starboard cockpit seat with my back to the coach house, for three glorious hours. Because Monterey Bay is so deep (3,000 feet), there are no crab traps or fishermen. A fantastic day.
Last year I had the pleasure of being the first C34 skipper ever who prevailed in a sanctioned C34 race singlehanded, two days, three races, 2:1. Not overnight, but that's coming up soon.
Once you singlehand, you learn sail trim, because you realize that having the autopilot fighting makes NO sense, so you trim. Read Don's book.
I also recognize that docking is one of the hardest things to do yourself.
So, I accumulated these handy tips:
Single Handing 101 http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5445.0.html
Single Handing 101.1 Midship Cleats Pictures http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4921.0.html
Single Handing 101.2 HOPPING OFF THE BOAT IS UNNECESSARY
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5445.msg33766.html#msg33766
ENJOY.
In the words of Glenn Shorrock...."If there's one thing in my life that's missing, it's the time that I spend alone. Sailing on the cool and bright clear water..."
And I'm right with you....I love sailing with Colleen and Sean and I love taking people, especially new ones, out for a ride. But there is something about depending on yourself for everything. Went out one day and had engine failure coming out of the Absecon Inlet filled with fishing boats. Getting through it and out a few miles for some sea room and diagnosing and fixing the issue by all alone was an amazing feeling. That Landshark and cigar tasted extra better that afternoon! And she gets mad too, when I do everything! My job makes me very self-reliant so I think that's part of my psychology...or psychosis!
Added that book to the list for summer reading!
When are you coming down, Scott??
Stu, Thanks for the links. They are quite helpful. I learned long ago about docking with a mid-ship spring-line and have used them extensively. Following your links gave me ideas of adding a stiffener and snubber to my docking line. I think adding some sort of stiffener will make catching the cleats a lot easier and a snubber will reduce the strain on the hardware.
Andrew, great book. I go back to it fairly regularly. And I recommend it to anyone who even thinks of starting solo or even shorthanded. Thank you for making it available.
Yes, thank you Andrew, I downloaded it a couple years ago and still go back to it also.
I love for my family to go out with me but I don't sail the way I do when I am alone. When solo I love to test not only the boat but my sailing skills. When finally the sails are trimmed (what I think is right) with the tail tails all flying and the boat is heeling 10-15 degrees and the boat is at or close to max hull speed, all is right with my world for that time..
I love for my family to go out with me but I don't sail the way I do when I am alone. When solo I love to test not only the boat but my sailing skills. When finally the sails are trimmed (what I think is right) with the tail tails all flying and the boat is heeling 10-15 degrees and the boat is at or close to max hull speed, all is right with my world for that time.
."When finally the sails are trimmed with the tail tails all flying and the boat is heeling 10-15 degrees and the boat is at hull speed, all is right with my world for that time."
Sailorladyliz: Read the last two sentences of the last paragraph of the book one more time. You have come to understand why I wrote Chapter 16, "the spiritual side to singlehanded sailing." I am able to achieve this state nearly every time I leave the dock. All the troubles of the world melt away.
Thanks to all of you for your comments. I was out yesterday afternoon for a 5 hour sail in Haro Strait, crossing the yellow line on the water between BC and Washington. Life is good, just so long as the wind is greater than 10 knots.
Sailorladyliz: Read the last two sentences of the last paragraph of the book one more time. You have come to understand why I wrote Chapter 16, "the spiritual side to singlehanded sailing." I am able to achieve this state nearly every time I leave the dock. All the troubles of the world melt away.
Thanks to all of you for your comments. I was out yesterday afternoon for a 5 hour sail in Haro Strait, crossing the yellow line on the water between BC and Washington. Life is good, just so long as the wind is greater than 10 knots.
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The best part for me when single-handed is once the sails are set and the boat seems to be on the right track, I can take a quick look around and then just close my eyes. The sound, the smell, knowing it is just me and the sea. There ain't nothing no better that that right there!
For me handling the boat by myself is pretty much standard protocol. I enjoy it and it keeps my mind from wandering too far. The biggest single handing to date was from Williamsburg Virginia to Fernandina Beach Florida the winter of 2014-2015 where I was joined with my daughter to help me bring the boat on around to Port Charlotte. I was most grateful for her presence since I was tired by then and needed someone that knew something about sailing to relieve me.