I'd agree with Jared on all points. The PFD and strobe are pretty much required if you're singlehanding. I'd also recommend a good tether and jacklines. The floatplan and
VHF are a good idea too. The cell phone isn't quite as useful in an emergency for many reasons—point-to-point, limited coverage, no way to contact other boats directly.
One other good idea for singlehanding is having a boom preventer or boom brake.
__________________
Sailingdog
Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity (slightly edited)
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