I did my first solo sail. - Page 4

tenuki · #31 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007

Congratulations, single handing is a huge step!!

When I went out of the club on Catalina 25s with my family (essentially less crew than single handing if you know what I mean) I used to shank on the jib before I left harbor, and usually reefed the main too (those boats sail fine with reefed main, maybe lose a knot or so in lighter winds). I put the loose jib stuff in a bag tied to the pulpit and left open and facing up, that way it is out of the way but lets the jib go up when it's time, sort of like a spinnaker bag. Never had to go forward cause the halyards were all led back and I was already reefed.

My new old boat has roller furling, so that solves that problem nicely. I'm thinking of adding jiffy reefing.

Giulietta, you must live at cold water, I'm in puget sound area and am paranoid as heck about going in the water too. This time of year you only have about 15 usable minute to save yourself if you are lucky.

sailingdog · #32 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007

Giu's point was that if you fall off a boat going 10 knots... you'll never get back on board... if you're singlehanding...the boat is gone...

He's on Portugal...and the water there is not particularly cold...

rbaroni · #33 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007

Interesting discussion. I am a new sailor, sailing in the Northwest, Lake Pend Oreille. Water temperature right now is probably about 38-42 degrees F. So, going overboard and not being able to get back on the boat reasonably soon would be fatal. I would like to have a harness and tether, but I am not entirely clear what is the best. If the boat is going 10K, then it sounds like it would not be possible to pull yourself back on the boat because of the force of the water. If you have a short tether that does not allow you totally to go into the water, how do you regulate the length of it to keep you out of the water and partially in the boat as you move around the boat? Any recommendations as to types and brands. Thank you in advance for any comments, I appreciate it. These forums are very informative.

sailingdog · #34 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007

For harness, I use an integrated PFD/harness by Spinlock, called the Deckware Pro Harness. For the tether, I use one of the dual-leg tethers from West Marine, with the elasticized legs, and Wichard hooks on the boat end, and a snap shackle on the body end.

The WM tethers have been highly rated by PS magazine...

tenuki · #35 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007

what do you latch on to saildog, do you use jacks or just hardpoints on the boat?

nk235 · #36 (**permalink**) 04-12-2007

I am fairly new to sailing and in the process of buying my first boat a Mark 25 that I do hope to single hand down the line. Correct me if I am wrong but wouldn't buying an autopilot be one the biggest things one could do to make single handleing easier? Can't you just lock in the compass heading (and of course you would lock it into the direction the wind was coming from) then you could raise and lower the main or the jib without having the lash the tiller with line and having to run back and make adjustments every two seconds. But I am new and havn't done this yet but it just seems like this would really help?

sailingdog · #37 (**permalink**) 04-12-2007

Tenuki-

I have two jacklines running from the aft end of the bow pulpit to the aft cleats on my boat. No hard points yet, but I might install some in the cockpit and on the foredeck for making anchoring and steering tasks easier...

NK235-

Yes, an autopilot can be very helpful for dong those types of tasks. However, in some areas, where the wind is less predictable or the terrain has some interesting "magnetic" anomalies, an autopilot can make life very interesting too.

sailortjk1 · #38 (**permalink**) 04-12-2007

An auto pilot does help, but on my old Cal 25-II, I was able to single hand with out an auto pilot and that boat's haylards terminated at the mast base. Belive me it can be done. Most times, unless I was overpowered by the wind, it was fairly easy. You have to be able to balance the boat at the same time your raisng the sails. Takes some pratice, but can be done. A good boat helps. I very rarely used a lashing on the tiller. If your properly balanced, the boat will sail itself.

Planb835 · #39 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007

The only thing I would add is you can never hit the dock going to slow! Reverse is your friend. More times than not I've put it into reverse to slow down the momentum. This way I've eliminated a lot of current and wind pushing me into the dock.