I have an H26 and have sailed "Molly" here in Puerto Vallarta's Bahia de Banderas for several years. I have had other sailboats, one bigger and several smaller also over the past 25 years and have sailed in a variety of conditions. But always in a big boat with crew, or in my old Toro or Laser. No crew needed. I'd like to be able to singlehand Molly when taking out non-sailors for a day sail. But leaving the tiller unattended while I raise, lower sails, or put in a reef, is not an option. I've read in this forum about guys singlehanding comparable boats. How? I have a primitive tiller tamer which will hold the boat into the wind for a minute or so, but when a sail is taken in or hoisted up, the boat's balance is affected and she falls off. I've yet to try heaving to. Has anyone done that with an h26? So far, my solution to boat handlng is my wife, who is also and experienced sailor. But when she's not aboard, I'd like to be able to handle Molly alone. Thanks David King
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Terry
Hi David, the Raymarine ST4000+ on our...
H28 made it very easy to sail shorthanded and/or solo. Terry
H28 made it very easy to sail shorthanded and/or solo. Terry
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Bill O'Donovan
Here's the trick
As you head into the wind to raise the main by yourself, wait for a lull in the wind. No matter how blustery the day, there's almost always a cyclical lull every 10 or 15 minutes. Next trick once you have it raised is to tie it off at the mast or use a jam cleat attached to the mast for just this purpose. Then you can carefully move aft to pull in the slack and raise the last foot or so of the main. Wear a PFD and harness and keep yourself tethered to the boat at all times, preferably at spots in the center of the boat. That way if you fall you won't go overboard. I single-handed yesterday on my Hunter 29.5 and it was great. Solitude is wonderful on a breezy day on the water. The more you practice, the better you'll get, and more confident. Just don't get over-confident and reckless.
As you head into the wind to raise the main by yourself, wait for a lull in the wind. No matter how blustery the day, there's almost always a cyclical lull every 10 or 15 minutes. Next trick once you have it raised is to tie it off at the mast or use a jam cleat attached to the mast for just this purpose. Then you can carefully move aft to pull in the slack and raise the last foot or so of the main. Wear a PFD and harness and keep yourself tethered to the boat at all times, preferably at spots in the center of the boat. That way if you fall you won't go overboard. I single-handed yesterday on my Hunter 29.5 and it was great. Solitude is wonderful on a breezy day on the water. The more you practice, the better you'll get, and more confident. Just don't get over-confident and reckless.
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Warren
Solo sailing
While I prefer to sail with friends, I love to sail alone when no one is available. The rewards are great. I had a previous boat that sounds similar to your H26 in that is was relatively light displacement and controlled by a tiller and Tiller Tamer. It was OB powered. I would head the boat upwind under power and make sure all the sheets were free. I would then unfurl the main from the boom.When the boat was dead upwind, I would lock the Tiller Tamer and keep the engine speed just high enough to keep the boat pointed upwind. I would then go up to the mast and raise the sail (I always wore a PFD at these times) and then return to the cockpit to trim the main and shut down the engine. I could normally do this is just a few minutes. When it was time to take the main down, I would center the boom and point the boat upwind. I let the tiller stay free. The wind pressure on the centered sail would keep the boat upwind. I then went up to the mast and dropped and furled the main. With a little practice in calm conditions, you'll develop your own variations on this theme and love sailing alone even more!
While I prefer to sail with friends, I love to sail alone when no one is available. The rewards are great. I had a previous boat that sounds similar to your H26 in that is was relatively light displacement and controlled by a tiller and Tiller Tamer. It was OB powered. I would head the boat upwind under power and make sure all the sheets were free. I would then unfurl the main from the boom.When the boat was dead upwind, I would lock the Tiller Tamer and keep the engine speed just high enough to keep the boat pointed upwind. I would then go up to the mast and raise the sail (I always wore a PFD at these times) and then return to the cockpit to trim the main and shut down the engine. I could normally do this is just a few minutes. When it was time to take the main down, I would center the boom and point the boat upwind. I let the tiller stay free. The wind pressure on the centered sail would keep the boat upwind. I then went up to the mast and dropped and furled the main. With a little practice in calm conditions, you'll develop your own variations on this theme and love sailing alone even more!
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Jerry Clark
Singlehanding 260
I had a 1998 260 with wheel. My main halyard led back to the cockpit and my roller furling jib also led back with a cam cleat. Had a 9.9 honda 4 stroke. I installed a wheel brake and would head into the wind with power. Untied the sail ties and just let the sail float with the wind - this made the boat move off center. Make sure the sail slides are well lubricated or better, get a ball bearing system that will move without being directly in the wind. Back in cockpit, would raise sail with one hand on the wheel, gripping the halyard with the other. The boat is a bear to keep straight. I didn't have my outboard linked to the wheel - that would have made it a little more stable. You need about 6 hands, but with a LOT OF PATIENCE and being on the edge of control, you can do it. After the main is up, sheet it directly to the centerline and it will help you steer while getting the jib out. With roller furling, the jib was much easier, but I generally just fell off the wind and let the jib unfurl. I made sure I had plenty of manuerving room before sails up or down! Getting the sails down was the reverse. It was always very difficult, and my family feared I would fall down the companionway and break something! I would get an autopilot if you plan on keeping the 260. I traded for a 356 last year and it is a snap to single hand.
I had a 1998 260 with wheel. My main halyard led back to the cockpit and my roller furling jib also led back with a cam cleat. Had a 9.9 honda 4 stroke. I installed a wheel brake and would head into the wind with power. Untied the sail ties and just let the sail float with the wind - this made the boat move off center. Make sure the sail slides are well lubricated or better, get a ball bearing system that will move without being directly in the wind. Back in cockpit, would raise sail with one hand on the wheel, gripping the halyard with the other. The boat is a bear to keep straight. I didn't have my outboard linked to the wheel - that would have made it a little more stable. You need about 6 hands, but with a LOT OF PATIENCE and being on the edge of control, you can do it. After the main is up, sheet it directly to the centerline and it will help you steer while getting the jib out. With roller furling, the jib was much easier, but I generally just fell off the wind and let the jib unfurl. I made sure I had plenty of manuerving room before sails up or down! Getting the sails down was the reverse. It was always very difficult, and my family feared I would fall down the companionway and break something! I would get an autopilot if you plan on keeping the 260. I traded for a 356 last year and it is a snap to single hand.
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Darren Mayes
Autopilot helps immensely
My biggest issue when single handing was getting the main DOWN and tied while trying to keep the boat headed to the wind. I have purchased the Simrad WP30 and installed it and it is so much help when singlehanding. My next purchase (non-cruising luxury) will be some type of lazy jack system... Darren
My biggest issue when single handing was getting the main DOWN and tied while trying to keep the boat headed to the wind. I have purchased the Simrad WP30 and installed it and it is so much help when singlehanding. My next purchase (non-cruising luxury) will be some type of lazy jack system... Darren
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