First Time Singlehanding

[arknoah]

I was looking at the NOAA forecast and just fuming! It talked about all the thunder, lightning and terrible storms during the weekend, and I just about gave up on even going to the marina. But, when I got up in the morning, and there seemed to be a little wind. Could it be enough to go out?

It was! And I did it single handed. Not too bad, actually. Leaving and returning to the dock was a little harder without assistance, and I still have difficult keeping the boat into the wind to raise the main successfully. (I could write a book about how tough that can be!) I actually tried raising the main three times before giving up. Then, I got the jib unfurled and started moving. After a few minutes, I gave the main one more try and got it up. So, for the next couple of hours, I sailed back and forth across the Patuxent, changing direction, and having a cup of coffee while I was doing it. I got a rhythm going with the jib so I actually didn’t make too many mistakes.

My wife will tell me (she’s been at the Kennedy Center all day) that I shouldn’t have gone out by myself, and when I get the jackline and tethers in the mail, I will use them with my harness, but I just didn’t want to waste what turned out to be great day and success on the water.

Definitely the best day since I bought the boat last year.

[c130king]

Congrats! The first time single-handed was a little nerve wracking. But now I really enjoy going out solo.

Cheers,
Jim

[Hamin' X]

Exciting, isn't it! True sailing at it's best. Congrats.

~Rich

[Chinook]

After cruising our boat for several years and considering autopilot an expensive luxury, but hardly an essential item, I installed a Raytheon wheel pilot to our boat before this year's trip. I've completely revised my thinking regarding autopilot. While I'm not singlehanding, I am frequently getting underway with sails while Sandy is busy down below. Being able to set the autopilot to hold us into the wind while raising the main is just one of many benefits of the autopilot.

[mastreb]

@arknoah--Weather reports are about as reliable as weather.
@ chinook--I'm almost entirely talked into the autopilot. Raymarine SP1? Interesting that you say "Raytheon" when they never use that trademark in their commercial boating... Are you former military?

[Oskar 26M]

arknoah:
Congrats on single-handing and on having a safe trip. Well done!

IMHO there are five things that make single-handing easier (and safer) They are:
* Main halyard led aft to the cockpit - gives you some access the the helm and much less hazardous than clambering up on the cabin top ;
* Sail slugs - so the main goes up and down easier
* Downhaul - for when the main does not want to come down (also led aft to the cockpit)
* Lazy jacks - so you don't have a loose main flogging around after its lowered; and of course
* an autopilot.
A jackline is also a good idea, but its but better to avoid leaving the cockpit if you can.

[Chinook]

Good catch, Mastreb. Raymarine SmartPilot X-5 wheel pilot is the model I have. The drive wheel is a bit large for the small diameter steering wheel on our 26X. Instead of going with a larger steering wheel, I shimmed the drive wheel out about 1/2 inch, and it works fine, with plenty of space for gripping the steering wheel.

[bscott]

I also singlehand alot, even when my wife is aboard
Anyway, I go to a "hove to" and raise the main--the "hove to" wind bocks the main so there is no stress on the sail.
Same for dousing--no stress, no pain

Make sure your CB/DB, engine and rudders are fully down.

Bob

[arknoah]

I also singlehand alot, even when my wife is aboard
Anyway, I go to a "hove to" and raise the main--the "hove to" wind bocks the main so there is no stress on the sail.
Same for dousing--no stress, no pain

Make sure your CB/DB, engine and rudders are fully down.

Bob

You know, I thought about using a heave to for some things the last couple of times out, but haven't done it yet. Are you saying I should unfurl the jib, then put the rudder over hard into the wind, then try to raise the main?

[tomchitecture]

I also had great success recently single-handing my first time out. My secret was that I picked the right day. No clouds and a steady 5-10. If I made a mistake, the wind was light enough that I could correct it before it got too bad. Admittedly, hauling and dousing the main was the hardest part. I probably had 3 attempts on each before I got it. After a few tacks I got into a rhythm on the jib. I almost prefer tacking by myself now.

Good job.

t

[arknoah]

After a few tacks I got into a rhythm on the jib. I almost prefer tacking by myself now.

Good job.

t

I feel the same way. While it probably took me longer to tack than if I had a crew, it began to flow after awhile, and I enjoyed being able to control the boat successfully.

[DaveB]

Are you saying you shimed the space between the wheel spokes and the drive disk to get your fingers in between?
I bought a S1 and returned it because of the stearn rudder control sencer now they don't have that but I also wanted the stock wheel and the there wasn't enough room to put hands/fingers around the wheel. I didn't think of any spacers pulling the wheel aft and if there is enough room on shaft.
Maybe the Smart Pilot is diffrent.
Do you have pictures?
Dave

Good catch, Mastreb. Raymarine SmartPilot X-5 wheel pilot is the model I have. The drive wheel is a bit large for the small diameter steering wheel on our 26X. Instead of going with a larger steering wheel, I shimmed the drive wheel out about 1/2 inch, and it works fine, with plenty of space for gripping the steering wheel.

[bscott]

arknoah--"hove to/heave to" Unfurl the jib and tack the boat so the jib is backwinded--you don't have to fully unfurl a 150 as 30/40% will work-- and let the main free--as the boat comes to a stop, the furled main will fall to the leeward rail. The jib works against the C/B, rudders and engine--I have my engine running in neutral--stalling the boat. It is a little un-nerving at first as the boat will find its neutral position as you adjust the wheel then keep the wheel hard over. and heel to lee. Wait a few seconds as the boat settles in, then raise the main. You will learn how much you can pull your main towards midship so the slugs freely slide up the mast. It helps to run your main halyard thru a Harken 140 swivel cam cleat riveted to you mast as you can work the main from almost any location on the boat. I use the same maneuver to reef and shake out the reef.

I don't worry about a perfect douse in big winds--I save the "ship shape" stuff for later.

Bob

[Lloyd Franks]

Docking is easier if you arrive on the windward side and let the wind push you to the dock, and do the opposite when departing. The wind will help even w/o the sails.

[arknoah]

arknoah--"hove to/heave to" Unfurl the jib and tack the boat so the jib is backwinded--you don't have to fully unfurl a 150 as 30/40% will work-- and let the main free--as the boat comes to a stop, the furled main will fall to the leeward rail. The jib works against the C/B, rudders and engine--I have my engine running in neutral--stalling the boat. It is a little un-nerving at first as the boat will find its neutral position as you adjust the wheel then keep the wheel hard over. and heel to lee. Wait a few seconds as the boat settles in, then raise the main. You will learn how much you can pull your main towards midship so the slugs freely slide up the mast. It helps to run your main halyard thru a Harken 140 swivel cam cleat riveted to you mast as you can work the main from almost any location on the boat. I use the same maneuver to reef and shake out the reef.

I don't worry about a perfect douse in big winds--I save the "ship shape" stuff for later.

Bob

I used this method in reverse to take the main down last night and was surprised how easy it was. Since I don't have a boom kicker or topping lift, I've got to figure out how to raise it when the clip that attaches to the boom to the back stay is unhooked. When I lowered the sail last night, I started to do so with the boom unhooked, then hooked it when the boom started to "fall." In any case, the main came down very easily.

This is going to be my new easy lowering method. I know it's not new to most of you, but I'm still getting the hang of this.