170 singlehanding-I'm in the same boat-haha
David, Like yours, my wife (and dog) also ends up staying home while I trailer-sail the 170. Your post doesn't go into rigging (e.g. whether you rig for the season and keep the boat at the dock, on a lift or on a mooring) but if you step the mast/prep the boat each time you go out, I'd first recommend using the topping lift, brought 'round front to a bow mooring cleat to hold the mast up when first stepped--- then use the trailer winch to tension the mast (clamp the winch hook to the main halyard D-shackle--again, bringing the halyard around to the front of the boat--since no first mate is there to help) when attaching the forestay/jib. A couple cranks on the winch gives enough slack on the forestay to make it easily attachable to the furling drum. Also, Johnson lever shroud tensioners are cheap to buy and helpful installed on the upper shrouds, and allow drumtight, fast tensioning of the rig. I recommend prepping reef lines before leaving the dock, even if it seems the breezes will be easy that day. I head up and reef the moment I begin to see that the wind might be building beyond manageble blow. Also I recommend furling up the jib if the breeze is building and questions of continued enjoyment (as opposed to trepidation and fear of capsize) of your sailing day come to mind-- that is, whether you'll be able to maintain plenty of control of the boat (avoiding overpowering leehelm). I'm not afraid of getting wet (I sail Lasers too!) but I just worry about dunking my outboard, lunch, gear, etc.!!!! I douse the jib earlier than later-- let's say 15mph breezes or higher. The full mainsail (not reefed) pulls plenty well on its own and can be spilled (mainsheet eased) with a flick of the wrist in big puffs. My post about being capsized and turtled by a violent down-burst/squall (my fault, not the boat's) has been removed from this site by the administrator, but I would also recommend powering up your aux. power (if you have it) and dropping all sails when questionable weather is seen close-aboard. Better to motor for 10 minutes (and to safety if it turns bad) than to suffer a knockdown at the hands of a sudden blast of wind! I've read on this forum (although I haven't done it yet) that leading the main halyard aft into the cockpit is quite helpful, as my boat doesn't stay pointed to wind when ever I go forward to raise the halyard. Also I've read that the addition of a boom kicker is very helpful and frees one from fussing with the topping lift during sail raising. One other thing related to the topping lift: I recommend tying its bitter end to a chainplate on either side of the boat. If yours is not equipped with a mast float, and you capsize to turned turtle, you'll want that masthead line to tie to a assisting powerboat's line. Enjoy, and please let me know if any of this is actually helpful! Best, Mike G. in "Lil Sport" Alachua, FL
