Single-Handed, This Time Full Main

Status
Not open for further replies.
JerryA

JerryA

.
Oct 17, 2004
549
Tanzer 29 Jeanneau Design Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie
Ok I tried single handed sailing with a full main today. I had 11-12 mph North wind. I admit that I started with it reefed. I guess everyone is right... it's not too bad. I didn't spend much time relaxing though, but it was fun. I sailed in the bay for about three hours this afternoon. A huge lake freighter came in while I was out there. Pretty impressive when I'm in a 170. I'll have to remember to turn off my cell phone, although I'll bet the Coast Guard was impressed that I was sailing single handed while talking on my phone. JerryA
 
T

Tereza

.
Jun 10, 2005
185
Hunter 146 Candlewood Lake, CT
Another milestone!

I GOTTA put in the reefing hardware on mine! Hey - I hope you were using your hands-free while single-handing!! Can the CG pull you over for that? ;) You know, I lived in Germany for a while - they passed a law while we were there making it illegal to operate a vehicle while using a cell without handsfree - $60 if you're in a car - and - yes, $15 if you're on your BICYCLE! I never sailed while there - but now you make me wonder... :) Well, I guess if they allow you to drive 150mph on the autobahn, they want to make darn sure you're not distracted...I guess until they can sail boats that fast...
 
JerryA

JerryA

.
Oct 17, 2004
549
Tanzer 29 Jeanneau Design Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie
Good Question

I'm not sure if it's ok or not. At the time I was on a starboard tack and our two courses were going to intersect. The Coast Guard vessel turned and went to my port side. They were within shouting distance when we passed. They all waved back when I waved, so I guess I was fine... which is better than being fined. It was definitely a first for me. The first time I ever fixed a WAN network problem while sailing single handed, and no I wasn't hands free equipped. Tereza what did you do in Germany?
 
M

Mike

Cell phone/ VHF use

Hi Jerry and Tereza, Here's my two cents on the cell phone thing (OK or not OK) -- I often use a handheld VHF radio (looks like a big walkie-talkie) when sailing our 170 on the intercoastal (to hail bridge tender, marine boss, etc.) and that's a perfectly kosher practice with the USCG. So I'm assuming use of a cell phone would be too. It's a very similar usage (using one hand to hold up the walkie-talkie style radio, and so on). Tereza, that's interesting about cell phone use without hands-free in Germany. Didn't NYC recently pass an ordinance/law?? like that?? Best, Mike G.
 
T

Tereza

.
Jun 10, 2005
185
Hunter 146 Candlewood Lake, CT
Jerry- Heidelberg and the Autobahn....

Hi Jerry and Mike...hope y'all had a great sailing weekend! Here, was super busy Saturday, so no sailing, and today, well, for MOST folks would've been a PERFECT sailing day, but...winds were really brisk, and I don't have my reefing rigged up yet, and the alternative to reefing while single handed (my hubby as extra ballast), just would not come out! WHY dd Hunter give me a sail with reef points, but not prep the mast and boom with the appropriate hardware?? Especially frustrating, as this weekend is the first in ages without pouring rain!!!! (Please don't tell Phil I called him "ballast! Could that be why he doesn't come sailing??) Also, my sweet little sailboat has had to compete with my brandie new Mini Cooper S ragtop on any sunny day...;) Anyhow, I went to Germany on a job opportunity with a software company to help start up their European ops. Went for a year, stayed for 3. Was a fantastic time!! Career-wise, and personally - an amazing experience. Though I didn't get to sail, I DID get to drive big powerful German cars on the Autobahn as fast as I could (which was plenty fast, I don't mind admitting!). FIrst time passing a cop doing 110mph - what a rush! Lived in Heidelberg - which was a lot like living in Disneyland. In a next life, will have a sloop on Lake Constance - a lake formed by the Rhine on its way from the Alps, bordering Germany, Switzerland, and Austria - gorgeous place, with snow-capped Alps on one side, gorgeous villages, scenery, and food on the other. Is there a limit on how long a post can be? I can go on forever about life there! Even learned a smattering of German. If anyone wants vacation tips, let me know! Alles gute!
 
G

Glenn17427

.
Mar 8, 2005
193
Hunter 170 Ventura, California
single reefing line :)

Saturday I rigged my new single reefing line, it was easy, just added one block to the boom and new line, :) I left the dock reefed and on main alone, to sail around the marina. My wife was not enjoying the cold weather (65 degrees overcast, winds at 10) and after about 30 min of sailing I dropped the main, powered my honda 2hp up and motor around the marina and back to the docks. We de rigged the boat, went over to Andrea's (our favorite fish and chips place) at the marina and enjoyed ourselfs with large cups of Mocha Coffee and fish and chips . Hey, at least I got on the water :)
 
G

Glenn17427

.
Mar 8, 2005
193
Hunter 170 Ventura, California
single reefing line :)

Saturday I rigged my new single reefing line, it was easy, just added one block to the boom and new line, :) I left the dock reefed and on main alone, to sail around the marina. My wife was not enjoying the cold weather (65 degrees overcast, winds at 10) and after about 30 min of sailing I dropped the main, powered my honda 2hp up and motor around the marina and back to the docks. We de rigged the boat, went over to Andrea's (our favorite fish and chips place) at the marina and enjoyed ourselfs with large cups of Mocha Coffee and fish and chips . Hey, at least I got on the water :)
 
T

Tereza

.
Jun 10, 2005
185
Hunter 146 Candlewood Lake, CT
Pix, Glenn, pix...

Aw come'on, Glenn - don't make me beg! Pix of that please! Where do you cleat that line? Do you hook the new clew to the pin that holds the "normal" clew? Picture, or drawing, will suffice. ;) Great you made it out - combination of too windy and too busy for me this weekend. :( Perhaps can sneak out during the week, but a tropical storm threatens to send us foul weather midweek.
 
G

Glenn17427

.
Mar 8, 2005
193
Hunter 170 Ventura, California
Followed earlier post !

Hi Tereza, I followed the picture instruction on an earlier post I sent you that Danny H. posted some time ago. I have two cleats on the mast, I use the top one for the reefing line. I also put a clam cleat on the mast to secure the Halyard, this frees up the cleats and I like using the clam to secure the halyard and the lower cleat for the excess line. The reefing line starts at the back of the boom, there is a small ring on the port side that I tied the line to. the line goes up and thru the reefing hole, back down to the block on the starbord side, thru the block forward to the small ring near the center boom cleat to the new block I istalled, inline under the reefing hole (about 2 inches from front end of boom) back up thru the reefing hole and back down where I tie it off on the top mast cleat where I normaly secure the halyard. It works great. the only thing I didnt do right was to buy enough line, I bought 20 feet, I sould have gotten 25 feet of line. when you want to reef, you just loosen the halyard to the point you want( I marked my halyard with a black felt mark so I know instantly where to stop at) secure the halyard, pull on the new reefing line in and everything is nice and tight. I have a couple of reefing ties that I leave on the sail and just tie them off when needed. I think Next weekend I will be working on my boat at home, If I can remember I will take a couple of pictures. The block I bought mounts flat against the boom with two screws. by the way, I think you should open a bed and breakfast place, your place is perfect, the lake across the street,boat slip, beautyfull fall colors, and your ablity to prepare gourmet meals.....sounds perfect :)
 
T

Tereza

.
Jun 10, 2005
185
Hunter 146 Candlewood Lake, CT
B&Bs and mobile offices

Glenn...Ah yes - in fact a month back, I went to sailingobsession.com, and even wrote to Danny, because the image is no longer avialable! Never did get the image. I wonder if the 170 comes with more blocks then the 146. I think I would need to add a ring or bale and 2 blocks on the boom, and another cleat on the mast, if I am picturing this right. So you do NOT re-pin the clew of the mast through that pin at the end of the booom - you just leave it in place? Makes sense. Hey - a B&B sounds great! Could you guarantee me enough "occupancy" to allow me to quit my job? One problem, though - what if you don't LIKE the people that come stay? Do you HAVE to engage in polite conversation, and entertain them at breakfast, no matter what? I think if I could get the folks on this forum as guests, it would be perfect! Maybe I could trade rooms for sailing tips! Jerry - my husband's a network consultant - he's done troubleshooting in some pretty strange places, but usually not while moving! Ain't virtual offices grand?
 
JerryA

JerryA

.
Oct 17, 2004
549
Tanzer 29 Jeanneau Design Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie
Virtual Offices

Virtual offices are wonderful... and Germany sounds like a ton of fun. JerryA
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom