[cabron99]

We all know the drill. "You have a sailboat? I'd love to go sailing... give me a call!" You make the call and some (probably legitimate) excuse arises.
While I love to sail with people, the fact remains that I love to sail. Last Saturday was my last day of self-induced enslavement to other's whims. After making invites to a couple of buddies well in advance and getting last minute negative responses, I loosed the bonds that held me and took off by myself. I have been sailing for a few years, but never got around to doing it alone. My new to me C30 was just a little intimidating. Now the invitation reads: Leaving the dock around 10AM. If you would like to spend a pleasant day sailing, please be there by 9:45. I will have a nice day, anyway.
What a great feeling freedom is!! New found at 62!

 

[AjariBonten]

GOOD Job!

 

[AE28]

Welcome!!!

 

[IslanderGuy]

AHHHH!!! I am pounding my fabric covered cubicle walls in massive amounts of frustrated jealousy!

Good for you! My day will come, sooner then is practical if my boss wonders by about now.

May you enjoy many, many days of freedom and fun to come, and may you keep us updated to keep us going through another day of our enslavement.

 

[xort]

Amen. I've ran into that many many times. Good way to handle it.

I plan on sending out an e-mail this spring to all friends and relatives.
It will be an open invite...and it will be the last communication I make. The ball will be in their court and if I only sail with the admiral, that's just fine with me.

 

[timebandit]

I think it is a Southern California thing.

You would think with everyone with cel phones that they could al least call.

When crewing for a friend when his guests called 10 mins. late saying they were on the way----90 miles away.

AND

They still had to stop for gas, drop the kids off at grandma's and stop at the store to shop and fill the ice chest.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

More single handers than you know -

Last Saturday on San Francisco Bay the Singlehanded Sailing Society held their annual 3 Bridge Fiasco Race that you enter either single or double handed. It is indeed a fiasco because it is a pursuit race which means the start is staggered according to your rating and you can cross the line in either direction, round the marks that represent the 3 major bridges of the bay in either direction or on either side and this year there were about 350 boats entered. Fiasco indeed!

My point is I did this race singlehanded on my Beneteau 42 and had a blast. You don't do things fast, you must anticipate way in advance, you are really engaged thinking what if this what if that and what would I do if and you get a great workout!

The main thing is to stay safe and do not put yourself in situations that alone you can not handle.

That being said I believe there are tons of sailors out there that single hand even with others on board. "Single handing with wife (mate)" is the common term!

I am very close to your age and I really enjoy a great group of friends aboard and sharing the experience but for the pure pure pleasure of it nothing beats being alone, in tune with the wind and the boat, perched on the lee rail with one hand on the wheel having a great conversation with all the forces involved and grinning like a 12 year old Christmas morning.

Enjoy!

P.S. Check out this photo taken on Vallejo Race last year and made of cover of Latitude 38. Not exactly grinning but perched on the lee rail and loving it.

 

[Bene505]

I'm planning on picking a few weekends this spring and opening them up to friends, before we sail off to Montauk, which is 100 miles away. We'll see how well it works.

 

[WanderingStar]

It's the reason I usually sail alone. None of my friends have the same passion for it that I do. I got tired of being declined, I just go out alone. get used to people saying "you sail by yourself? isn't it dangerous?" You just need to think ahead a bit more, and keep a little in hand.
I intend to single hand my ketch when I get her home. (though my new sailnet friends wil provide good crew at times)