Single handing question
- Thread starter AADIVER
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I single hand all of the time. I have cruised out on the Chesapeake Bay for 10-14 day trips by myself. Even when I have crew, they don't do much more than put the boat in reverse when I anchor or they stand watch while I do something else really quick.
A good auto pilot is a must. Control lines lead aft aren't really that big of a deal but my mainsheet, and halyards are lead aft. My reefing line is on the boom and on the mast. I don't have lazy jacks and I flake the main by myself all of the time too.
Don't over think it. It is not hard to do at all.
A good auto pilot is a must. Control lines lead aft aren't really that big of a deal but my mainsheet, and halyards are lead aft. My reefing line is on the boom and on the mast. I don't have lazy jacks and I flake the main by myself all of the time too.
Don't over think it. It is not hard to do at all.
Good point, requires that the outhaul be brought back, then.
Halyards and reefing line(s). If your mainsheet isn't already back, then you have a very strange boat.
We have: cunningham, boom vang, reefing lines, main halyard and lazy jacks.
The jib halyard doesn't have to brought back if you have roller furling.
For safety going forward, a boom to grab if you slip and fall. And BTW, all of the Catalina 36's in the Congressional Race have loose footed mains.
Loose footed main provides better sail shape - not a place to grab in case you are about to fall. You must always walk on the windward side of the boat so that if you fall you will fall into the boat and you must always use one had to steady yourself. Crawling is not out of the question for safety.
I'd been unaware of the safety benefit you mention that a loose foot may provide, and I was puzzled by the requirement for a loose foot.
I think there is more risk getting in your car and driving to work every day at 55 mph than climbing around on a boat doing 5 knots. I took my boat out the other day single handing. My mainsheet is in the cockpit, I have a tiller (no autopilot yet, but on my list for those boring no wind days, mostly) and my boat is so old school, I still have hanks on the jib and all my halyards at the mast.
I personally like a loose footed main simply because the sail sets better and doesn't collect as much water in the shelf that will spill on my head in the rain.
Falling overboard is a real concern if you are by yourself. Get a good comfortable harness and jacklines if you are too far out to swim to shore. However, then you have to be able to pull yourself back in the boat as it sails along. At least with a tiller or non-autopilot driven boat, it should round up and stop...an autopilot boat would just keep on sailing until it ran into something hard.
I guess my point is, having everything all in one spot is not always an advantage, nor does it solve all the problems you are trying to solve...more stuff to trip over on deck too. The ONLY line I have running on deck is the foreguy for the kite, and it is only rigged when I intend to have the kite up. A clean deck is probably safer than all the lines run aft to trip over & clutter the cockpit floor, etc.,etc.
That is all just my opinion though. Good luck...there is a great feeling of accomplishment doing it by yourself.
I personally like a loose footed main simply because the sail sets better and doesn't collect as much water in the shelf that will spill on my head in the rain.
Falling overboard is a real concern if you are by yourself. Get a good comfortable harness and jacklines if you are too far out to swim to shore. However, then you have to be able to pull yourself back in the boat as it sails along. At least with a tiller or non-autopilot driven boat, it should round up and stop...an autopilot boat would just keep on sailing until it ran into something hard.
I guess my point is, having everything all in one spot is not always an advantage, nor does it solve all the problems you are trying to solve...more stuff to trip over on deck too. The ONLY line I have running on deck is the foreguy for the kite, and it is only rigged when I intend to have the kite up. A clean deck is probably safer than all the lines run aft to trip over & clutter the cockpit floor, etc.,etc.
That is all just my opinion though. Good luck...there is a great feeling of accomplishment doing it by yourself.
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