Singlehanding

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LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners

Me too

Singlehanding is bittersweet for me, most of the time. I really enjoy sharing the experience with someone else but usually have a hard time finding crew when I'm going out. My favorite singlehanding experience so far (out of a handful total!), was when I solo'd up to Government Island for the night. Sailed most of the way, kicking some major butt. I was about 1/2 a mile away when the wind died completely so I cranked up the motor. Putt putt putt sputt.. What? I checked the gas tank and OOPS! Almost out of gas! Please please please let me make it to the dock! Just as I was pulling up, a powerboat (@
 
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Richard Pipan

One is the onliest number that you'll ever do...

My day-to-day professional life as a professor of education is intensely social: wonderful, challenging, sometimes exhausting. I am, at heart, a rather solitary being: I love solitude, cherish intimacy, highly value autonomy and freedom. Yet, I desire and cultivate relationships and community. When I singlehand, I find "elemental relations": earth forces, technological inventiveness, human conceptualizing, a dance among many, many dimensions. I venture forth as beneficiary of so many others' contributions: every intelligence and skill that were brought to bear to produce the craft transporting me through water worlds. I come closer to becoming an earthling, when transiting bended surface waters. Night lantern, black midnight swim.
 
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Dave

Second Best Solution

Even though the solitude is nice from time to time, I typically prefer to take others along. However, if I waited for a crew, I would miss a lot of good wind. The season in Wisconsin is too short to not take full advantage of the available opportunities. Single handing the O'Day 222 is a breeze (no pun intended). With a single reef, its easy to avoid getting overpowered. The lake I sail on is a bit puffy which can make it fun in strong winds. However, I always wear a vest when going forward. At some point, I will bring the main halyard back to the cockpit. The boat sits on a mooring and I have gotten pretty good at picking up the hook even in strong winds. Sailing solo is much better than not sailing at all!
 
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Ramsay Selden

I Do It Occasionally

I sail an H-34 in the mid-Chesapeake. I have single-handed for 3-4 days at a time. It's not easy: the hardest part is flaking and furling the main, but I don't have lazy jacks or anything else. I find that docking is okay--usually there is someone who lends a hand with the lines. I wear a harness and clip the tether whenever I leave the cockpit, no matter what the situation. My main reasons for doing it are lack of crew and liking being on the boat by myself. I'd do more of it if it was a little more manageable, and I AM put off by what would happen if I got hit with a squall or something.
 
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Bernie P

Sometimes!

When we moved up from a 27 Hunter to a 35.5, I though single handling would be more difficult. The boat is bigger, but the autohelm makes sailng a real joy. Docking is still the biggest problem when the wind picks up. When I feel that it might be to stiff or from the wrong direction, I dock the boat bow first. Better to be safe than sorry.
 
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Joris Hitt

naturally solo in san diego

I really enjoy the solo missions I'm able to embark on. I can handle the boat under way no problem up to about 20knots or so. h37's are tall rigged so if I'm not reefed earlier it becomes work. I've never sailed with a harness but have vowed I won't solo without it again.(Especially after reading some of these stories) The most difficult part is backing out of a shared slip when the wind is blowing above 8 or so. I'm to windward of my neighbor and the freeboard catches breeze quickly often before I can be powered up enough to have solid control. I know there is a way to rig something, just haven't found the right solution yet. I'm stuck at the dock if it blows 15 abeam, that's when I get the friends down there. Joris Offshore Options
 
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Bob F.

Not since I am trailering

I have a 75 model Catalina 22 and I find that handling the boat is not a problem EXCEPT on and off the trailer. There is no way that I could single hand get it on and off the trailer. I really need the motor to position it on the trailer and someone one on the ground to capture the bow and secure it to the trailer. With my Precision 16, I can wade it up to it's trailer and single hand it no problem, but the Catalina just draws too much water and is too heavy to muscle around.
 
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Lori

Beats thinking about it!

I did it to be able to sail my Catalina 22 more when my VERY short crew list (my son) is unavailable, and to make sure I could do it successfully. I picked a perfect day for my first attempt at the end of last summer and loved the exhilarating feeling! The hardest part was that my lines were not yet run to the back of the cockpit, so that's been my winter project, along with a better tiller tamer arrangement. While I'll still tend to prefer company, I will be pretty comfortable adding singlehanding as a very decent option on a day that begs to be sailed and there is no crew to be found.
 
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Jenny

We are out there!

The females are out there, but there are, sadly, so few of us who own and sail our own boats without reference to significant others of the male persuasion. It is such a great leveler because a woman with determination can easily design her rig to accommodate her physical limitations and singlehand with grace and ease. The worst part about soloing is getting lunch made - or using the head - while underway. And Cam Whetstone's point about singlehanding with others aboard is well-taken, too. My husband is purely a passenger on my boat - he only goes to keep me company and pass the refreshments. It's not that he doesn't like sailing, he just doesn't live and breath it, and feels that he's too old to become a seadog.
 
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Steve

Stick it Out There!

I single-handed my Cat 30' on the Colombia River 2 weeks after buying her and my 3rd time out. I figured the best way to face my fear was to just "do it". The scariest part is docking, but I go VERY slow and use the advice I got in my basic sailing courses. Other than docking, I find single-handing in the river pretty easy as the Cat 30 is a beamy, stable boat. The only down-side is being at the helm and needing to be alert ALL the time. Next time - I think I'll anchor somewhere and take a snooze. Fair winds and stay safe! Steve @ Tomohawk Bay
 
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k bottomley

psycodic reaction

you know and I know theres a million and one things that can be said about this, bottom line is and should be safety!!! your safety! as in every day life. so when you've learned enough and feel confindent and consider all the posibilities and then just do it. for me theres a great feeling while sailing and even more so once I've sailed right back into the slip just like that psycodic reaction.
 
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Robert Stammerjohn

Single-Handling

If I had to wait for a crew, there would be only weekend sailing - sometimes. As a single hander I can leave my dock at anytime and go. Its busy fun. I enjoy the challenge and solitude. My auto pilot is my second mate and serves me well most of the time. The greatest challenge is during transition stages such as taking down sails while entering port or hoisting sails in a brisk breeze. Occasionally anchoring can be a problem. However, with good planning and always allowing for an escape if things do not go right most of these more intense exercises can be safely accomplished. Its certainly better than just looking at your boat from your dock. Just get out and do it.
 
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Ronald Thomas

I singlehande for all of the above reasons. If I want to sail I just go. I need not wait for others. In some respects I would rather sail by myself rather than take a non sailing crew. I feel safe and confident looking out for the boat and myself, not so safe when I need to pay attention to the boat and some green crew member(s). I recall sailing across lake Erie, in the conditions that were bad with a sea sick crew and 8 to ten foot steep waves. I would rather have been by myself. In all honesty, I would rather sail with a seasoned crew for sharing the work and saftey. As to what is difficult about singlehandling, I guess sail handling can be tricky in high winds. I do not have roller furling so I need to rely on my auto pilot. The center cockpit of the 37 makes it easy to throw on spring lines when docking. My last dock (on a river) had a pretty good current during spring and as luck would have it, the wind was always blowing in the wrong direction. After being knocked out of my boat while singlehandling a few years ago while sailing in lake St. Clair fron a freak jibe, swimming for 2 hours to shore, hiching a ride from a friendly speed boat and finding my boat that did not seem to care too much that I was not at the helm (the boat is balanced well) I became reglious about using my harness and jack line crew or not. I could have killed myself in 12 feet of water 3 miles from shore. Well me and the boat "menuki" are safe and sound here in Chesterfield Twp. MI. I have the boat in my back yard for a refit. We will be back in the water in 2003! Ronald Thomas singlehandler@earthlink.net
 
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Ronald Thomas

I singlehande for all of the above reasons. If I want to sail I just go. I need not wait for others. In some respects I would rather sail by myself rather than take a non sailing crew. I feel safe and confident looking out for the boat and myself, not so safe when I need to pay attention to the boat and some green crew member(s). I recall sailing across lake Erie, in the conditions that were bad with a sea sick crew and 8 to ten foot steep waves. I would rather have been by myself. In all honesty, I would rather sail with a seasoned crew for sharing the work and saftey. As to what is difficult about singlehandling, I guess sail handling can be tricky in high winds. I do not have roller furling so I need to rely on my auto pilot. The center cockpit of the 37 makes it easy to throw on spring lines when docking. My last dock (on a river) had a pretty good current during spring and as luck would have it, the wind was always blowing in the wrong direction. After being knocked out of my boat while singlehandling a few years ago while sailing in lake St. Clair fron a freak jibe, swimming for 2 hours to shore, hiching a ride from a friendly speed boat and finding my boat that did not seem to care too much that I was not at the helm (the boat is balanced well) I became reglious about using my harness and jack line crew or not. I could have killed myself in 12 feet of water 3 miles from shore. Well me and the boat "menuki" are safe and sound here in Chesterfield Twp. MI. I have the boat in my back yard for a refit. We will be back in the water in 2003! Ronald Thomas singlehandler@earthlink.net
 
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Dave Conley

The Bridle?

Tim, The bridle sounds like a good thing to have, but I couldn't quite understand. Can you elaborate? Thanks. Dave
 
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Dave Conley

No choice

Go single handed most of the time because wife is working (and not interested in sailing) and kids are either in school or too busy. Once in a while one of them will come along, which is fun. But if I waited for company, I'd never get to sail. Decided I just had to learn to go by myself, and mostly it has been terrific. Although there have been a couple scary times, I've learned alot and always made it back. Sails are usually only two or three hours on the Navesink River in relatively light winds. I'm learning, dontcha know. Grabbing the mooring on first shot is about the greatest thrill I've known. Whatever else was going on, I'm back, safe and can really feel the accomplishment of having had a great free ride. Have learned alot from the other posts. thanks to all. Dave
 
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SailboatOwners.com

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 3/17/2002: Do you singlehand your boat?   54% For the intimacy of being alone with my boat and the water 22% For the challenge of handling the boat on my own 16% Only when I can't find crew 7% Never have 1038 owners participating, and a record 96 discussion contributions!
 
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dockdog

Bridle for a slip

Dave, et.al. I could be wrong and frequently am. I think Tim is docking in a rented slip. Bridles are very common at most marinas. They are lines tied to the dock and fingers that help guide a boat into the slip. Sometimes they act as a shock absorber. They are a good thing. I dry sail my boat and have a painter tied off on the bow cleat running aft to the stern on the port side. My motor is on the port side and this is where I sit operating the motor. I creep up to the dock with just enough speed to maintain way. Usually I can loop the painter around a dock cleat without having to leave the cockpit. Have fun, singlehand. dockdog
 
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mark gullickson

trying to contact jim willis

a note to jim willis and others who have made passages single-handed: if you would be so kind, i am trying to get info from persons who have made single- handed passages. my email is in the directory and C
 
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Elaine

Me too.

I did it, once, just to prove to myself that I could and it was great fun. I waited for just the right weather, hopped aboard about 3 pm after work, and sailed till sunset. Didn't tell my husband till I was out on Lake Erie then called him by cell phone. Believe it or not, a friend sailed by and I have an 8 x 10 of my first solo sail. Elaine
 
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