I would appreciate any tips or suggestions from those of you who have singlehanded a 320. Did you sail under main alone? How did you route the mainsheet to the helm? What changes have you or would you make to improve the boats ability to be effectively singlehanded? Thanks in advance, Gary
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Bill Byrd
Autopilot...Definately!
I currently single hand a C-30, and have singlehanded others before, both in nice and not-so-nice weather. The single most helpful thing that you can do for yourself in singlehanding is get an autopilot. Not only does it give you the available time (and positioning) to man the sheets, but it will give you the opportunity to take a break and not have to concentrate as much on your compass. It will not abslolve you of the responsibility of keeping a watch, but it will make life much easier. Fair Winds.... Bill Byrd S/V Eagle's Nest
I currently single hand a C-30, and have singlehanded others before, both in nice and not-so-nice weather. The single most helpful thing that you can do for yourself in singlehanding is get an autopilot. Not only does it give you the available time (and positioning) to man the sheets, but it will give you the opportunity to take a break and not have to concentrate as much on your compass. It will not abslolve you of the responsibility of keeping a watch, but it will make life much easier. Fair Winds.... Bill Byrd S/V Eagle's Nest
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Gary Jensen
single handeling
If you want to single handle your boat, it is accomplished very easily by the use of an autopilot...If you want to go on deck and fly a spinnaker (with a pole) while single handed, then get the remote autopilot...If you were down in the 27 foot range you could do it without the autopilot, but 30 foot and over with any wind would need an autopilot..If its a cruising spinnaker then just a remote would be sufficient..Good luck
If you want to single handle your boat, it is accomplished very easily by the use of an autopilot...If you want to go on deck and fly a spinnaker (with a pole) while single handed, then get the remote autopilot...If you were down in the 27 foot range you could do it without the autopilot, but 30 foot and over with any wind would need an autopilot..If its a cruising spinnaker then just a remote would be sufficient..Good luck
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Gary
Single handing - how are lines lead to helm
An autopilot sounds like a good though expensive solution. Has anyone changed the standard configuration of mainsheet or jib sheets to support single handling? For example has anyone moved the jib winches further back, added winches accessible from the helm or routed the mainsheet to the helm? How is the 320 under mainsail alone? There are some boats like the j32 that sail very well with just the mainsail. Gary
An autopilot sounds like a good though expensive solution. Has anyone changed the standard configuration of mainsheet or jib sheets to support single handling? For example has anyone moved the jib winches further back, added winches accessible from the helm or routed the mainsheet to the helm? How is the 320 under mainsail alone? There are some boats like the j32 that sail very well with just the mainsail. Gary
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Stan Rogacevicz
Sometimes Worse than Singlehandling
Gary, This reply is a variation on the singlehandling theme, which is handling the sailing while the first mate reclines against whichever bulkhead happens to be on the high side or in the shade of the dodger. This make the mainsheet traveler lines inaccessable without risking decapitation of the relaxing first mate. My fix to this over the winter to be tested within the next 2 weeks is to bypass the cam cleat and route the control lines around the hand rails through a fairlead on a dodger upright to a block/cam cleat combo back at the stern rail. I also use the same type of block/cam cleat combo on a swivel for the reefing line because it's easier to keep proper tension on the sheet while cleating the furling line, than wrapping it around the standard horn cleat. As for the mainsheet to the helm - on my c28 (good picture on this site) I used to have it loosely led to a cam cleat on the pedistal, which being a small, but strong guy worked ok, but on the c320 it almost jerked me across the cockpit - I have to go forward and use whichever winch that the first mate is not blocking (double ended mainsheets are Great !). I have also replaced the standard genoa lead cars with the Garhourer adjustable leads so I can adjust them from the helm instead of sending the reluctant first mate forward to move them - which is guesswork with no load, and impossible with load on them. I also added a foam luff pad to help keep a good shape on the genoa because I partially furl a lot just to be able to see under the genoa to dodge lobster pots without having to crawl all over the cockpit as the only forward looker. Maybe the firstmate/major financeer will agree to an Autohelm this year which will complete her relaxation/enjoyment of sailing. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
Gary, This reply is a variation on the singlehandling theme, which is handling the sailing while the first mate reclines against whichever bulkhead happens to be on the high side or in the shade of the dodger. This make the mainsheet traveler lines inaccessable without risking decapitation of the relaxing first mate. My fix to this over the winter to be tested within the next 2 weeks is to bypass the cam cleat and route the control lines around the hand rails through a fairlead on a dodger upright to a block/cam cleat combo back at the stern rail. I also use the same type of block/cam cleat combo on a swivel for the reefing line because it's easier to keep proper tension on the sheet while cleating the furling line, than wrapping it around the standard horn cleat. As for the mainsheet to the helm - on my c28 (good picture on this site) I used to have it loosely led to a cam cleat on the pedistal, which being a small, but strong guy worked ok, but on the c320 it almost jerked me across the cockpit - I have to go forward and use whichever winch that the first mate is not blocking (double ended mainsheets are Great !). I have also replaced the standard genoa lead cars with the Garhourer adjustable leads so I can adjust them from the helm instead of sending the reluctant first mate forward to move them - which is guesswork with no load, and impossible with load on them. I also added a foam luff pad to help keep a good shape on the genoa because I partially furl a lot just to be able to see under the genoa to dodge lobster pots without having to crawl all over the cockpit as the only forward looker. Maybe the firstmate/major financeer will agree to an Autohelm this year which will complete her relaxation/enjoyment of sailing. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
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Stan Rogacevicz
Main Only Sailing
Gary, I forgot to comment on your question about main only sailing. From what I have done on my c28 and c320 the answer is slow, but ok in at least 8-10kts. of wind. I do it a lot following the theme of my previous post because its easy and requires no first mate assistance or interruption of relaxation. This agrees with postings I have read here and elsewhere that basicly say that the "main engine" of a masthead rig is the genoa. I have spoken to many Catalina sailors who do a lot of genoa only sailing and say it's fast and efficient - but it's not easy alone. One reason being you don't have the main to help you through the tack. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
Gary, I forgot to comment on your question about main only sailing. From what I have done on my c28 and c320 the answer is slow, but ok in at least 8-10kts. of wind. I do it a lot following the theme of my previous post because its easy and requires no first mate assistance or interruption of relaxation. This agrees with postings I have read here and elsewhere that basicly say that the "main engine" of a masthead rig is the genoa. I have spoken to many Catalina sailors who do a lot of genoa only sailing and say it's fast and efficient - but it's not easy alone. One reason being you don't have the main to help you through the tack. Stan "Christy Leigh" c320 #656
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Mike Hagerman
You're Not Alone!
You're not alone on the 1st Mate front. To aggravate matters, we have a Cat 30 with a tiller (makes for a roomier cockpit). My otherwise very intelligent 1st mate has a difficult time with right and left on land which makes for exciting time when she mans the tiller for anchoring etc. If I tell her to go right, she admits she looks at the tiller and pushes RIGHT. I'm going to fool her this year and tell her which direction to push the tiller not the bow. We also sail with 1 or 2 of our Labs (out of 4) but they haven't gotten the hand out of sail trimming or tailing a winch yet. Mike Hagerman S/V Labrador Xpress
You're not alone on the 1st Mate front. To aggravate matters, we have a Cat 30 with a tiller (makes for a roomier cockpit). My otherwise very intelligent 1st mate has a difficult time with right and left on land which makes for exciting time when she mans the tiller for anchoring etc. If I tell her to go right, she admits she looks at the tiller and pushes RIGHT. I'm going to fool her this year and tell her which direction to push the tiller not the bow. We also sail with 1 or 2 of our Labs (out of 4) but they haven't gotten the hand out of sail trimming or tailing a winch yet. Mike Hagerman S/V Labrador Xpress
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