Solo Sailing

[griffin40m]

Hello,

Any ideas of how to keep the into the wind and to give you time to hoist the main sail single handed?

Thanks

[K9Kampers]

Lazyjacks & lines led aft can make it easier and safer while singlehanding. That said, I don't have either on my , and still go up on deck when singlehanding. Organization, speed, and agility are what I rely on.

[Rick Westlake]

Lazyjacks on the main are, IMHO, simply a "must". However, they aren't foolproof, and I've gotten the battens tangled up in my lazyjacks an average of once per sail-raising. I may try tying them off so I can drop 'em in a hurry just before I raise the main.

You could get the boat settled on course, then use a bungee cord wrapped around the pedestal to lock down the wheel for the short time it will take to raise the mainsail. This works on the M pedestal.

My ultimate answer was expensive and took a lot of work to install it - "Otto," my S-1 wheel pilot.

[argonaut]

Lazyjacks & lines led aft can make it easier and safer while singlehanding. That said, I don't have either on my , and still go up on deck when singlehanding. Organization, speed, and agility are what I rely on.

Singlehanding it's safer to stay off the deck. I used to scramble forward to raise the main when I singlehanded.
Tripping and nearly going for a swim once on a choppy day convinced me of the value of being able to work from the cockpit.
Leading the main halyard to the cockpit is about the most worthwile project I can imagine.
Now I simply slow the motor, head into the wind, pull the main halyard line through the clutch I bolted onto the cabin, let out some jib, point down wind, switch off and raise the motor and I'm sailing. I can do all that seated a little forward of the console in the cockpit.
Awesome mod.
Even if you trailer either mod is doable. I added the double line clutch and a simple reefing system and it's no big deal to step the mast, just run the main halyard through the block.
Example Rope Clutches


Another way to skin that cat is to use a bolt on camcleat that can be attached to the mast and run the main halyard through that. To raise sail you pull the line, to drop sail you uncleat ... all from from the safety and convenience of the cockpit where you can steer, operate the OB, keep your beer from spilling, etc.

Mast Attached Camcleat

That said I want to say I used to "heave to" by backwinding the jib, then dealing with the main... but it's been a while so I can't swear that works. Even if it does you're still climbing up on the cabin, not a great idea. I'm much happier with the main halyard led aft.

[tonymi]

Leading the main halyard to the cockpit is about the most worthwile project I can imagine.
Now I simply slow the motor, head into the wind, pull the main halyard line through the clutch I bolted onto the cabin, let out some jib, point down wind, switch off and raise the motor and I'm sailing. I can do all that seated a little forward of the console in the cockpit.

This works for me, too. Standing in front of the console, it's easy to reach back and correct course if the boat starts to drift off the wind while you're hoisting the main. It also helps to keep the mainsheet uncleated while you hoist so you don't start sailing prematurely.

[Russ]

I've got my main halyard back in the cockpit and attached to a cam cleat like this one.


Point into the wind and pull it up quickly. What I have had trouble with is the main halyard getting tangled on the mast hardware and I end up going up there to pull it down.
Lowering...just speed an agility sans Lazy Jacks which I don't have. Pull it down as fast as possible.

Jim (c130king) has a VERY clever mechanism on his main.
link to discussion
See video


And a roller furling jib is a must on almost any boat over 14' IMO.

--Russ

[grady]

Autopilot?

I installed mine this winter. it made single handed sailing soooooo much easier and fun. Not to mention it works just as well and makes it more enjoyable when you are not single handed sailing.

[Trouts Dream]

I continue to look for the most verastile style of lazy jacks from all the contributors. Its also obvious that a mainsheet downhaul is needed to stay off the deck.

[Oskar 26M]

Hello,

Any ideas of how to keep the into the wind and to give you time to hoist the main sail single handed?

Thanks

An autopilot is an enormous help for keeping the head to wind when sailing solo. IMHO it is also essential to have all lines led aft to cockpit, a down-haul on the main and lazy jacks.

[NiceAft]

I don't have any of the newfangled gadgets mentioned. I simply put Nice Aft into the wind, or best aproximation, and yank the sail up. I have a musclehead, so it is sensitive to anything more than a light breeze. It just takes practice. You will get the hang of it. No need to buy anything.

Ray

[waternwaves]

most of the boats I sail on are 26 to 54 ft., and now mostly on the 40 singlehanding, While I can say that an AP or crew can make the job easier, I dont think it is necessary, as the 5 boats I sail the most on dont have AP. But a down haul and halyard led aft are critical components. AP doesnt watch the wind, and most crew arent that good at paying attention to that for more than a minute or so anyway.

I have moved away from lazyjacks and sail caddies for just that reason also. When I am by myself I am least able to fix a tangled mess. But I cheat anyway, since most of my sails are triple reefed and I can crank them down easily. With the mac it helps to pull the two reefs in from the cockpit, then I only have 11 ft or so to bring in which comes down pretty quick, at least enough to get the sail ties on.

Go with the downhauls and lines led aft. at most you might need a couple of turning blocks and a camcleat, best investment for hauling the sail up and down quickly.

[WHRoeder]

Hello,
Any ideas of how to keep the into the wind and to give you time to hoist the main sail single handed?

Raise the Jib. Bring it in just enough to move the boat. That will keep the boat pointing close enough for the main.

I have roller furling and main lines lead aft. I partially unfurl, kill the engine so guest can be heard. I can then go on top and remove the main cover, etc. safely. Then back to the cockpit and raise main, unfurl rest and gone.

For dousing, I heave to, drop main, go on top and secure cover, etc. Finally start engine and furl.

[Russ]

For dousing, I heave to, drop main, go on top and secure cover, etc. Finally start engine and furl.

A habit of mine since forever is to start the motor before dropping canvas. If something goes wrong I've got a backup to get me out of trouble. This goes against all the "pure" sailors I've met. One in our marina insists on sailing into the slip and dropping just before. Seems silly to me.

--Russ

[Catigale]

ne in our marina insists on sailing into the slip and dropping just before

There is something queer in the sailing community that breeds people like this - Ive not quite come across this in any other endeavour to the degree that I do in sailing circles.

The phenomenon that there is ONE way to do something and only that way....with contempt for anything else. I recall a posting where someone had a sailing instructor that would not the motor be started for docking - it not only had to be done under sail, and the backup couldnt even be considered.

Ive found once I discover this mentality, several nautical miles distance between us is the best strategy.

Im 50, and have finally figured out Ill be learning the rest of my life...if you know it all already, please get out of way so you dont stop me from learning...

[Trouts Dream]

Why have 50 horses (or 90 in my case) if I don't use it once in a while. Had one of my clients (maintenance consulting) that was a traditional sailor on my boat and I explained that although i didn't want to, I had to run the engine everytime out for lubrication and also had to run WOT once in a while to keep it from carboning up. I'm sure he believed me because he nodded as he rolled his eyes.