Single handed dinghy sailing has a special pleasure and a challenge which some find uniquely satisfying. Perhaps major concern is falling overboard and having boat sail off into sunset without you. Shorthanding alan lucas looks at seamanship skills that. Take a look at cruising worlds 2012 roundup of books to bring aboard. Yes, there are engineering solutions for almost every problem however, will the solution go into effect quickly enough when the feces are being distributed by a turbine. Lowering sails single handed sailing forums, page 1. If you can properly flake on board, i take my hat off to you and would love to know the secret. Once i motor out of my marina i have some difficulties raising the mainsail when single handing. I can vouch for a 40 being another level compared to say a 3436 for single handing. This book will be a godsend to anyone sailing single or. These seem to be the advantages, performance is going to be less. May i suggest that you get an experienced multihull sailor to assist you in rewriting the bit about multihulls.
Here at rs sailing, we provided the best single hander for. When i made my first canvas project, a mainsail cover, i cut out the pieces using scissors as usual. Even as a sailing couple you are actually a single handed sailor half the time. Ive been having someone push that batten cap up with my tiller extension while i pull the halyard hard at the same time to get the sail all the way up so i can lock it in.
Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. Best adventure books with or about sailing 61 books. Mar 30, 2016 what makes a short handedsingle handed vessel. Sail repair and boat canvas books sailmakers supply. Best mainsail if ease of use single handed were your sole criterion would be junk rig. What are the many problems with shorthanding a large. In the old days, your sailmaker offered you one kind of mainsail, and sailors. There are a number of single handed dinghy classes available and which class is the best depends on personal preferences, abilities and sailing venues. We originally had some problems raising the mainsail. Oh, shell take the tiller if i ask her to in light winds while i attend to. For those looking for a more comfortable cruising yacht the tofinou 10, grand soleil 46lc, dehler 34 and xyachts xc45 are all set up to be run by a skeleton crew.
This is something i looked at in my singlehanded tips book. It has clear information to assist others wishing to make similar voyages and is written in a clear, entertaining style that everyone who loves ocean voyaging will enjoy, whether you are a fellow sailor or an armchair voyager. If i try to motor slowly into the wind while i go forward to raise my mainsail the prop pops out, i lose headway, and i cant raise the main. Roller, slab, jiffy and single line reefing are among the choices. If you own a daysailer or weekend cruiser and you just want add a few rigging upgrades to your sailboat, those arent the books for you. Shorthanded sailors should reef their sails early and often, as the old rule advises. Shorter vertical battens, on the other hand, can leave the sail. Popular sailing books showing 150 of 2,900 sailing alone around the world paperback by. The best of sail trim by sail book and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. First a single reef them still to much sail up to go through the night, demonstrating how to put in the second reef to balance the boat so the auto pilot. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch.
Single handing a catalina 22 sailboat owners forums. Ive got the amazing suzanne here to help me, so i have some crew and i love that. Most reefing systems are designed for full crews, but there are things you can do to make reefing the main single handed much easier. All my previous sailing has been with wheel and inmast furling. Let off one line, pull another and the mainsail should disappear like.
Sailing single handed, tips and ideas christine demerchant. My guess is that as our boats get older the sail slot in the mast begins to pit and wear making. In this video we show you some of the problems that can occur whilst you are trying to hoist a main sail, and. For me, there was just too much talking about racing. The cruise of the islander dover maritime pidgeon, harry on. Know your limits and consider any sail with inexperienced sailors a single handed operation. Best adventure books with or about sailing going for contemporary authors here, what fiction books have you read that feature sailing, sailors, rascals, pirates, and. Update your reefing traditionally, all sailboat mainsails were reefed by simply pulling down the reefing lines through cringles in the luff and leech of the mainsail, then securing the reefing pennantsoften permanently attached to the mainsail to the boom to tidy the sail up. For a large mainsail, raising it single handed can be hard work, the aframe can get around that.
I recently saw a solution that addresses all these problems and makes single handed mast raising on the water or on the trailer a fairly simple procedure. Theres a great book called mainsail trimming by felix marks that goes into this in great detail. Weve sailed our boats for years making both offshore passages and coastal daytripsmost of the time single handed. Efficiency, safety, and ease of use have always been top priorities. That way if you get distracted or nod off, youll be rudely reminded. Is single handed sailing something the average person can. But like most books, there are always good things you can take away from them and this book certainly has that.
Even so mundane a task as hoisting a mainsail takes on a new dimension when youve got to time it just right so the batten ends dont get caught in the lazyjacks. Sailmakers supply sells books for sailmaking, marine canvas, canvaswork, boat canvas, sails, outdoor cushions and diy projects for your boat or yacht. Pull the halyard down by hand until the luff is tight. Buy singlehanded sailing sailmate 2nd revised edition by richard henderson isbn. But one thing does trimming the mainsail using the mainsail telltales. Singlehander andrew evans learned the hard way how to sail and race alonewith lots of mishaps, including broaches and a near tumbling over a waterfalland in singlehanded sailing he shares the techniques, tips, and tactics he has developed to make his solo sailing adventures safe and enriching. This system was in use on a precision 23 sailboat, but can be used on any small sailboat. Single handed solo sailing 2017 part 1 suffolk to scotland duration. The mainsail is raised up the mast by the main halyard, a rope or wireline that rises from deck level to the masthead, through a block, and down to a shackle that connects to the top corner of the mainsail, the head. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The mainsail is primarily set and controlled using the mainsheet, kicker vang and traveller.
While still alongside, take off the mainsail cover and clip on the mainsail halyard. Without a topping lift of some sort you cant take the load off the mainsail while raising, lowering or reefing it making these evolutions more difficult and putting a strain on the mainsail that will stretch and distort it, possibly tear it. Roller, slab, jiffy and singleline reefing are among the choices. The perfect solo mast raising system for small sailboats. I spend about a half an hour talking about the gear that i use for basic anchoring in the next few episodes i hope to remember to talk about the techniques that i use for single handed sailing while med mooring. Shorthanded sailing is going to happen and it should happen. Ive been sailing on catalina 22s and a choy lee 27 now for about a year, usually with a couple people, but id like to get into single handed sailing. It was on the shores of hanalei bay, shortly after i finished the singlehanded transpac in july, 2016. Last year i installed a cdi furler which necessitated raising and lowering the mast several times on the water. I will never forget meeting carliane johnson for the first time. There are many variables here, like your starting point, the direction and strength of the wind, so lets take a closer look. Designs such as those by ian farrier are excellent single handers and are definately not extreme. Ive been having an issue raising my main where it seems that one of the batten caps gets stuck. Assuming you have organically internalized the sailing skill set, single handed sailing is actually easier than crew sailing.
Are you thinking of making a single handed passage. Singlehanded sailing by andrew evans overdrive rakuten. Single handed sailing has become a major competitive sport, and there are a number of prominent single handed offshore races. However, as soon as the mainsail is hoisted, the boom topping lift line should become slack allowing the sail tension to take over this roll. I have single handed sailed my last boat, a sea wolf 40, but in the protected waters of puget sound and salish sea. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Ive mentioned here several times in passing that i sail primarily single handed. Had set whisker pole and was on wingandwing going great in about an 8.
Singlehanded or onehanded sailing means to sail a sailboat or a sailing yacht all by yourself. I lock the tiller in a straight position by a piece of rope, i named the tiller rope that is nothing more than a rope tied between two cleats on the each side of the stern of the sailing boat. The same could be achieved by raising the halyard, but its a lot easier. What i mean is, when im ready to raise the sails, what should be my sequence of events. As a result i am slowly developing techniques and set ups to allow me to safely sail single handed. A lot of it doesnt apply to dinghies travelers, for example. Right now based on our setup we need someone pulling at the mast to hoist it and someone else pulling the main halyard from the cockpit through the rope clutch and the winch. A tutorial with hints tips and techniques to make it nice and easy duration. Of course, other factors may come into play, not least of which would be that your masts isare probably in the wrong place for it. When a single handed boater gets off the boat the only way of controlling the boat is by using ropes.
The halyard may also rise up through the mast to reduce windage aloft, as in the boat shown in this photo, and exit at a point near the deck. There are also variations in the use of a hook, or reefing horn, at the forward reefing point on the sails luff. With 12 to 15 knot winds and slight seas i sailed her single handed for the first time this weekend but i found it difficult to maintain control of the boats head to wind whilst raising and lowering the mainsail. The perfect solo mastraising system for small sailboats.
How to step a mast single handed with or without using the boom as a gin pole. Usually, the first mate is with me but shes the handsoff type. I am particularly unlucky with my friends and family. Main sail trim by the tell tales cal sailing forum. Whichever route an rs sailor opts for, they can expect. Folding sails single handed onboard sailing forums, page 1. Raising the mainsail is one of the first steps in setting sail. I ised to muscle it up but find that its too dangerous to do single handed. This simple set up allows the single handed sailor to do two things. Single handed reefing a mainsail sailing wisdom duration. Joshua slocum shelved 112 times as sailing avg rating 4. In their book the art and science of sails, authors tom whidden and michael.
The end result is that you should be able to competently sail a 20 to 30 ft boat single handed in light to moderate weather. For 18 of my 37 years of sailing i have owned, cruised, raced and single handed fractional rigged cruising boats from my folkboat in the 1970s to my current boat which i have owned now for 12 years. Single handed does not imply nonstop, so a single handed circumnavigation counts as such even with stops, as in joshua slocums voyage. Racers, on the other hand, like the first reef to be small, just enough for. I have bought many books and researched weather and sea conditions best i can, but personal experience of others would be the best source. In mast furling mains the good, bad and ugly cruising.
The autopilot is a useful aid for single handers, but never turn your back on it especially when you need it most in heavy seas and winds. Short note on stories, i collect them and my experience tells me that most really good sea stories come from a seed of really bad seamanship. We know how difficult it is to find solid answers to your. Hasler is known as the father of singlehanded sailing, owing to his invention of the first practical selfsteering gear for yachts. We created this comprehensive basic sailing video series just for you. Shortening sail single handed practical boat owner. Either they are phobically afraid of the water, are extremely busy or hate the idea of sailing. Ease the mainsheet and vang and then tension the topping lift. My outboard is a short shaft which works fine on calm seas while im sitting at the back of the cockpit. Best books for sailors, sailing, and cruising cruising world. This title on single handed sailing examines such topics as how to choose your selfsteering, how to adapt rigging and gear, what stores to take and how to stow them and how to prepare for bad weather. Of course the mainsail is the main driving sail on a fractional rig and modern gear allows the.
How do you step the mast on your trailerable sailboat, with a gin pole. A listener wrote in and asked me to talk about the gear that i use on my boat when i have it set up for single handed sailing. Association forum raising mainsail single handedcatch 22. The leading edge of the mainsail is called the luff. The book is about singlehanded racing and not that useful for single or short handed cruisers. I do know to point into the wind, but im only guessing at the rest. In my case i replace cheap autopilot and add reverse mainsail halyard. The single handed community is fairly small and a few names are well known.
Reading while sailing, reading about sailing, reading about sailing while sailing. This book is an excellent example of its genre, a salty tale about adventure on small boats crossing oceans. Folding sails single handed onboard and other sailing discussion in the seabreeze general forums, page 1. Jan 05, 2015 i cruise single handed, but ive never single handed overnight so i cant comment on sleep deprivation. Offer to help other shorthanded sailors with their next sail or delivery, ask questions and ask for advice. Mainsail recovery system lazy jacks, lazy bag, furling mainsail allows operation from the cockpit. Singlehanded reefing a mainsail sailing wisdom duration. Feb 15, 2018 here at rs sailing, we pride ourselves in designing sailboats that will capture the hearts of young and budding sailors at the very beginning of their sailing journey, and through our range of training and racing dinghies, pave the way for whatever pathway they choose. Most of our sailing has been done double handed but now with a baby, its closer to sail single handed and i have an issue with our main halyard. Single handed sailing is filled with the pleasures of selfreliance, responsibility and challenging situations, foremost amongst the latter being the ability to establish a balance between good watchkeeping and adequate sleep. By the way, there are great books for single handed sailing, which also have many tips for single handed sailing, read them and try out some things beforehand.
Foolish book is excellent, and you will get a lot of good. Watch my first ever single handed sailing adventure, as i raise the sails on my own. You need be able to slow, hold steady and move your boat using ropes. Jan 08, 2017 this feature is not available right now.
Know your limits and consider any sail with inexperienced sailors a singlehanded operation. I routinely sail 10 or 12 hours single handed though and my top tip is to get yourself a reliable timer and to get into the habit of setting it to go off every 15 minutes. But i also know from reading some technical book on sail theory the name of which i cannot recall at this moment that lower aspect, long boom rigs are superior for offthewind sailing and tall rigs excel for upwind performance. This video explains how to raise the mainsail on a cruising sailboat. Will raising sails, reefing etc be easier, will all around simplicity be a plus. In order for any mainsail reefing system to work correctly with a mast that has a slug opening for bending on the mainsail, there should be a way to. This book is dedicated to my wife sharon, who tells me to go sailing every time i get underfoot.
Single handed boating, how to safely enjoy canal boating on your own. Wind speed increases and frees a little with height. Sailing alone isnt usually quite that difficult and once youre out there, the sailing part of singlehanded sailing is relatively simple. Handy when you are approaching the dock and there are a bunch of powerboats milling around or when the winds pick up quickly and you need to get the sail down now. Top ten books about sailing nonfiction paraskevidekatriaphobia. I stupidly broke my scaphoid wrist bone which works the thumb on a family mountain bike trail just spicing up the ride, i thought, as i peddled. What is more daunting is what happens when you get closer to land, or need to come alongside, and carry out the sail handling jobs on board which usually take a full crew.
The book sail abebooks abebooks shop for books, art. This book is only available as a free download from the singlehanded sailing society at. Why sit at the dock pining for a sail because you have no crew when you could be out on the water. I suggest you read a book written by dodge morgan on amazon paid link.
There was also an efficient deck layout as standard, including an optional selftacking jib and single line mainsail reefing. The kind of reefing system depends on the boat and the mainsail. Tiller steering was fitted as standard, which also helps short handed crews as you can steer with your legs while trimming sails. Alan lucas looks at seamanship skills that keep short handed sailors safe. Weve used a slab reefing main as found on many boats, but inmast furling and single line reefing mains will obviously make life easier, although these systems do have their drawbacks. Judy bs catalina 27 website a complete refit of a 1977 catalina 27, from mast head to keel. I must admit it there were scary moments that left me slightly panicky. I have always liked lazyjacks in theory, but in practice ive found them to be a total pain in the backside. This week its how we fly a spinnaker single handed. But the joy of solitude is not the same as singlehanded sailing.
Feathering up vs dumping wind on a potter when a gust hits the boat, what do you do asymmetric spinnaker for a p19 its new, so i dont have a lot of pics yet. This makes carrying, raising, sheeting and handling much easier as the sails are. If you think about this in reverse, it is the best way to put a reef into the main sail. Larger boats often have a doubleline system, in which a second reefing line is added on the other side of the boom to the second higher set of reef points. Notable recent launches for those looking for a fast but easily managed short handed boat include jeanneaus sun fast 3600, the j11s, rm970 and pogo 36. Individual ties work fine to snug the sail to the boom, but the process is laborious and less practical for the singlehanded sailor. Upgrade your sailing skills to enable single handed coastal or short offshore passages. Their combined affect is to adjust the sail angle to the wind and the amount of twist in the sail. I have owned, cruised, raced and single handed masthead rigged sloops and cutters. Perhaps i would learn this myself in time, but it would be helpful to know if theres a correct order for getting started. Hello, i am preparing to get a sailboat and single hand cruise the caribbean in about 4 months.
In 1960, hasler competed in the first observer singlehanded transatlantic race ostar, from plymouth to new york. The boom topping lift holds up the back of the boom. Im happy to announce that my latest ebook doityourself small sailboat rigging is available for purchase starting today. This book does an outstanding job of condensing the rather large topic of sail trim and rig tuning into one concise, illustrated book.
Much of the book is dedicated to gear that is just not practical outside of high end racing and techniques that a cruiser would never do, stacking comes to mind. Jun 23, 2017 our first film on sailing single handed was so well received that we thought we would do another. Techniques for singlehanded sailing and single handed. One is to lower the jib to the deck from the cockpit. That might not seem obvious but from experience its most often the case.
Now in preparation for sailing i have to get out in open water using my kicker. The telltalls are on the leech back edge of the sail, and when sailing upwind from a beam reach and forward when. Through difficulty in finding a crew or preferring it, it suits some people to sail alone. Oday 192 mast raising my 2 cents jc192 i owned an oday 19 for about 10 years and i now own an oday 192. Key life moments that occurred on board his beloved boat, pilar, from celebrations with friends and romantic liaisons to the dissolutions of marriages and alcoholmarked withdrawals from society. Its a 12 hour course that will teach you all the fundamentals of sailing.
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