First solo

snowdawg · #1 (**permalink**) 07-24-2011

After twenty years of reading and dreaming about it and two years learning to sail my boat. I took to the wind by myself yesterday. Beautiful sunny day up in Howe Sound B.C. Winds were light but a few gusts got me up to 5.5 knots and there was a few calms as well where I could make some adjustments to the rig.
Had a moment while tacking where a jib sheet came undone which really surprised me. I have never ( until now I guess) had a problem with bowlines. but I just hove to and fixed it up and retied the other one just to be sure.

What I found really nice about yesterday was I wasn't trying to explain anything to anyone or look after anybody else. It was just me and the boat and doing everything myself I seems to get a better feel about what was happening. I think I even got the sails balanced for the first time.

To sum it up the day was nothing like I thought it would be.
It was a thousand times better!

Can't wait to go again

Cruiser2B · #2 (**permalink**) 07-24-2011

Congrads! I used to sail alone in my 16 daysailor all the time(on a small lake). I am currently working on setting up my Alberg 30 to single hand. I'm almost there. Working on Safety now. I am working on putting the jacklines on. I hope to be single handing her by the fall.

Congrads again! Nothing like a nice peaceful sail!

Sublime · #3 (**permalink**) 07-24-2011

Congrats! That's a big accomplishment!

I enjoy taking other people out, but none of my friends/family know how to sail. They like to do more leisure flat sailing. I like to test things. I also enjoy my quiet time. Solo sailing is when I decompress.

An impromptu sail is the best. Just freaking go rather than try to work around schedules.
I've got about $200 in parts I need before I've got the Hunter set up to solo.

rbrasi · #4 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011

Hopefully, that will be me by the end of August.....

rockDAWG · #5 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowdawg

After twenty years of reading and dreaming about it and two years learning to sail my boat. I took to the wind by myself yesterday. Beautiful sunny day up in Howe Sound B.C. Winds were light but a few gusts got me up to 5.5 knots and there was a few calms as well where I could make some adjustments to the rig.
Had a moment while tacking where a jib sheet came undone which really surprised me. I have never ( until now I guess) had a problem with bowlines. but I just hove to and fixed it up and retied the other one just to be sure.

What I found really nice about yesterday was I wasn't trying to explain anything to anyone or look after anybody else. It was just me and the boat and doing everything myself I seems to get a better feel about what was happening. I think I even got the sails balanced for the first time.

To sum it up the day was nothing like I thought it would be.
It was a thousand times better!

Can't wait to go again

Congrats, single handed is challenging, fun and rewarding. I have prepared myself for solo voyage for a few years now. It is much more preparation both mentally and physically.

Sailing solo is not an option for me, but a necessity. Fortunately, I find comfort when sailing alone, but yet I don't feel alone. With today's electronics, we are not really sailing into the unknown

montenido · #6 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011

Snowdawg,
Now you are ruined. You are going to go sailing whenever you wish, rather than only when you are able to find crew members. Trust me, that is why I sail solo most of the time. You can try new things, rigging, manuevers, etc., without worrying what people will think.

Enjoy your new-found freedom.

Cheers, Bill

zibadun · #7 (**permalink**) 07-25-2011

Congrats! I've only gone single handed a few times and I can understand your excitement . On some boats when you balance the sails perfectly you can leave the tiller and go sit on the rail for a while or stand at the bow and just let her sail. If you have a tiller pilot then it's even easier. the feeling of freedom is incredible.

snowdawg · #8 (**permalink**) 07-26-2011

Thanks guys.
Solo sailing is an option for me at the moment as I don’t have any problem finding crew. However it was really nice to have the boat to myself for a change. I really do like the peace and quiet and I am planning some long solo trips for the future.
I do have an auto tiller and although I had to wrestle for control once or twice
(User error) it worked really well.
I also had a few problems to work out as well so this was a good learning experience.

Montenido I was ruined when I bought the boat. Now I have just made it worse

HDChopper · #9 (**permalink**) 07-26-2011

Must be great ! congrats ...........

BentSailor · #10 (**permalink**) 07-26-2011

I can remember the first solo sail, it was a Laser but it was the hook I'd been gearing up for. Did that for a while, moved up to a Maricat for the experience in a larger boat (and to ensure it was good for my eldest son) and am now working on my skills to take the Corsair out solo (winter being a minor, but not total, damper on those plans).

Grats on getting the time and the courage to do it on your boat mate!