Advice on yacht for short handed sailing

I have only had Mirage (Bav 40) for a year, and have yet to venture out properly single handed (I have the3 kids and 1st mate on board for most cruising). She is set up for single handing with a very good auto pilot, roller main and genny and beefy winches. The bit that did concern me, with such a heavy boat with windage (she gallops to leeward when not driven) was mooring up and getting the lines on. I've sorted that with a pretty awesome £4 Mooring aid and now mooring is easy in most weather.

What worries me is how you plan for the unplanned. I went out with my nieces and sister (who is an experienced sailor) two weeks back when it was gusting 30 knots, a fun, reefed sail, in the sheltered River Medway. I didn't want it to be too scary for the girls who had not been out before (12 and 14). As we turned to head back up wind, up river, I saw the squall pass across the bows, however, I thought it had missed us. I was wrong!

With the main heavily reefed already, the genoa had a little too much out to make the now gusting 40 knots comfortable, so with my sister on the helm, we turned into the wind so I could take a few more turns. I took the reefing line off with the sail flogging... I should have put it around a winch as the line was promptly ripped from my hands and from having half the genny out we went to full genny! The starboard sheets figure of eight had shaken out (I shall now be replacing the figure of eights now with something more bullet proof), so over went the sheets. I quickly furled away the whole of the genoa with the sheet winch, however, without enough main up, we just were being blown onto the lee shore without enough steerage. I could not start the engine at this point as the sheets were over the side. I romped up on deck, retrieved both lines, back to the cockpit and turned on the engine to turn us into the wind and stand us off the lee shore whilst we sorted the genny out.

Singled handed... I guess the process would have been no different, my sister was on the helm... so the auto pilot could have stood in, but it was nice having another set of hands should I have needed it...

Some learnings taken from that - make sure you bin the figure of eight as a stopper knot and don't overestimate your strength when reefing your main and use a winch as a backstop :D
 
MagicalArmchair. As you say, you were fine and got learnings from that. I have had 40kt squalls 2 or 3 times this year when solo. Couple of thoughts
- to furl the genoa try to bear off downwind, which shelters the sail and reduces apparent wind, rather than heading upwind which does the opposite. This is also where an electric halyard winch helps on bigger boats - in a squall I will put 2 turns (only, and NEVER in the self trailer) on the electric winch to start the furling
- with a fully battened mainsail and lazybag, plus lots of McLube on the sliders, I can turn to close hauled course and blow the main halyard and the sail will instantly drop into the lazy jacks. I have a short downhaul rope to get down the last 10 feet or so, but not essential in a squall.
After dumping the jib and main in a sudden squall off Arran, sailed on under bare poles at 6+ knots and made a cup of coffee.
 
A Starlight would be near the top of my list for because I sailed on one several times. However, its one big problem was that the chain would pile up in the locker as the electric winch wound it in. If you weren't there to poke the pile with a stick, it would jam up and be an absolute bugger to free off. Not what I'd want in a crowded anchorage, but I've no idea if it was just that one or all of them. that apart, It was great - decently quick, comfortable and handled bad weather well. The owner did the ARC with it.
 
What an intriguing question from Handsolo. We owned and sailed a Starlight 39 for several years and were very pleased with her performance. On one memorable occasion the cups on the masthead wind instrument were blown off with wind strengths hitting 50kn in Scapa Flo AND we were still sailing in a controlled fashion with three reefs in the main and totally furled headsail! What caused us to change was the high bridge deck and consequently reduced height access when going below.
Our current boat is a Sweden Yachts 390 (currently for sale) which is an absolute delight to sail. Compared to the Starlight it is very much more suited to singlehanded sailing. All controls are within reach of the helm, there is an excellent ram driven auto helm, and she has a ‘row away’ beauty that is the envy of many.
I note that Handsolo is changing from a more racing orientated boat. From our experience the SY390 far surpasses performance of the Starlight. Enjoy your research! PM me if you want any further information on my comparison.
 
I can't advise on the choice of boat, but I've been single handed sailing for most of my life, and certainly since I started cruising in the late 1980's. I often sail single handed, with crew on board, because many of the friends and family I sail with have zero of very limited sailing experience, so I always assume that I'm single handed when plan a trip or maneuver.
I started with a Jaguar 21, progressed to a Parker 275, then a Dufour 40 and I'm now sailing a Souther 46.
My experience tell me that sailing a bigger boat single handed is no more difficult the sailing a small boat if it is set up from single handed sailing. But as has been said by other in this thread, the loads get bigger and you really have to ensure that the boat is set up to handle them, and that you don't put yourself in a position where the only way out is to manhandle the boat, in any sort of wind, the loads are just too high. I've pulled or strained to many bits of my body trying to do that.
The Southerly is set up with electric winches, electric windlass (with a cockpit remote which includes chain counter) and a good under deck autopilot and control system. The boat also has a self tacking foresail and the two asymetrics are setup with top down reefing, with the reefing lines lead back to the cockpit, as are the reefing lines for the foresail and the three slabs reefs in the main.
I can tack by just turning the wheel, reef without leaving the cockpit, and if I set-up an asymmetric before I set off, I can set and recover an asymmetric ( and the big asymetric is 2,000 sq ft) without leaving the cockpit.
So my bottom line is, get the biggest boat you can (they are, in general, faster, safer and more comfortable to live on) that is effectively set-up for sailing single handed. You have accept the fact that as the size (and loads) increases you have to get the right gear, and that generally means either and older boat or most likely a more expensive boat.
 
GingerAl said:
What an intriguing question from Handsolo. We owned and sailed a Starlight 39 for several years and were very pleased with her performance. On one memorable occasion the cups on the masthead wind instrument were blown off with wind strengths hitting 50kn in Scapa Flo AND we were still sailing in a controlled fashion with three reefs in the main and totally furled headsail! What caused us to change was the high bridge deck and consequently reduced height access when going below.
Our current boat is a Sweden Yachts 390 (currently for sale) which is an absolute delight to sail. Compared to the Starlight it is very much more suited to singlehanded sailing. All controls are within reach of the helm, there is an excellent ram driven auto helm, and she has a ‘row away’ beauty that is the envy of many.
I note that Handsolo is changing from a more racing orientated boat. From our experience the SY390 far surpasses performance of the Starlight. Enjoy your research! PM me if you want any further information on my comparison.
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GingerAl, great to read your comment. I’ve just started to look for a bigger boat for double handed fast, comfortable cruising and the Starlight39 is top of the list. Saw the SY390 online and she looks a lovely machine and beautifully fitted out below, but our principle concern is getting on and off a dinghy without the handy stern platform. Would be very interested to hear your experiences.
 
Iliade said:
Pop a 'traffic cone' in the anchor well.
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Interesting suggestion as we have to do the stick thing as well, although not a problem 2 up I am always looking for ideas to make the boat easier.

Chris

Edit: my wife says it won’t work on our boat and she’s generally right! (I might try it anyway when she’s not looking)
 
KompetentKrew said:
I singlehand a fin-keeled tiller-steered 40'er......................

- I much admired the Sun Fast 3200 that was berthed next to me in Plymouth, but a Westerly Fulmar is more in my budget, and I liked that a lot too.
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Indeed, if you have, and need, a 40ft boat then sailing alone is fine, out of necessity. If you are choosing a boat to singlehand you have to ask, do I really need the aggravation?
If that Sun Fast was bright red, I know the owner and he sails alone most of the time, it's a very sporty boat. The boats you mention are not only less of a headache in a marina but have tillers, as you recommend:- cheap light, easy, space saving, quick at close quarters and lets you helm from the forward end of the cockpit, out of the weather.

FWIW, I think of the larger boats mentioned the Starlight 35 looks attractive on the water. It has plenty of space, In the modern idiom, without taking virtue to stupid lengths.

.
 
I would only suggest to the op that on consideration about some of these boats is that there are very few available. As far as I can see there are no Starlight 35s or Typhoons available. I think both were under 50 production run. So there will be a balance of the ideal boat and what can actually be purchased at the time!
 
The Dehler 35 had everything lead back to a central winch in the cockpit could be worth a look.

self tacking jib would be high on my wish list
 
roblpm said:
I would only suggest to the op that on consideration about some of these boats is that there are very few available. As far as I can see there are no Starlight 35s or Typhoons available. I think both were under 50 production run. So there will be a balance of the ideal boat and what can actually be purchased at the time!
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That is true of almost all boats, except for the sub £20k sector at the moment in the UK. Few active buyers, few active sellers and a stock, particularly of more recent boats, depleted because of heavy buying from the EU in the last 3 or 4 years. Look at brokers' listings, most are seriously depleted. examples Yachtsnet have 11, Clipper 9, Schmidt 17 (mostly in Scotland!), John Rodriguez 9 sailing yachts in the UK, typically half or less than normal. I chose those because they list mostly in the higher value, £30k+ where the OP will be looking. There are currently just 2 Bavaria 34s available in the UK - this was probably the biggest volume selling yacht in the UK in the years 1999-2004 and asking prices are between 15-20% higher than what boats were selling for 4 or 5 years ago (£40k+ compared with low 30s ). My 33 is 5 years old and the two similar boats that have sold in the last year were at prices representing depreciation of less than 20%. Not surprising when a new boat to the same spec is now nearly 40% higher

Good time to sell if you are exiting the market, but not if you are buying. Not just the raised prices but the limited choice.
 
jwfrary said:
The Dehler 35 had everything lead back to a central winch in the cockpit could be worth a look.

self tacking jib would be high on my wish list
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I loved my Dehler 35CWS, 3 years of solo and double handed cruising and racing, just been thinking of going back down to one post Covid as I'm getting older...

Round the Island double here:

RTI_ORV small.jpg
 
Iliade said:
Something I didn't realise the importance of until a little late in the game is the clear walk forrard, with minimal steps or stub/trip hazards and easy cockpit access from the deck, i.e. not too deep. Lots of standing rigging is nice for handholds.

Have granny bars now and wouldn't want to go back to a less cluttered mast.

A large midships cleat or at least a fairlead, notwithstanding the stub/trip hazard!
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Concur absolutely with the above except I do like a deep cockpit.
I don't have granny bars but would very much like them. I have nothing led aft and do not find it a problem at all but that is dependent on a good autopilot. With wheel steering a linear mechanical drive is ideal. Should the autopilot fail reefing is readily done while hove to. (preferred method, actually)
A good electric windlass is essential, controlled both from the cockpit and locally. A pile-free chain locker is pretty important too.
Anchor - three or four links of chain - swivel to ensure it comes aboard the right way up!
Centre cleats essential.
Marina mooring is often awkward and sometimes impossible where you want to go in strong crosswinds, you need to have a fallback plan. I usually just go to a different empty berth and take it from there if I have to. Mooring aids like pole-deployed snap-carabiners are worth investigating.
There's nothing wrong with lines led aft as long as (imho) they are always 'outdoors' and never hidden under panelling as some AWBs do but some boat designs simply don't encourage a practical layout or routings. I wouldn't have single line reefing, there is too much opportunity for excess friction and snarlups. A trip to the mast is necessary but makes matters a great deal less heavy and more reliable but not all agree. Suggest colour-coding reefing cringles and reefing lines, it is surprisingly easy to get the wrong ones set up together when hard-pressed and makes throwing the correct one off more certain of you have two reefs engaged simultaneously.
A tender and outboard light enough to handle solo is important. Thought needs to be given to methods of launching and recovery.
A comfortable and secure seat out of spray and weather is essential, a companionway sling-seat or similar under a good sprayhood works well to allow you to monitor the boat from some kind of shelter and doze at deck level if needed. I really believe you need to be reasonably weatherproof when solo for long-term comfort and thus safety.
A thermos food flask.
Radio setup that works effectively from the cockpit.
I wouldn't buy a boat that didn't allow me to stretch out full length in the cockpit. That is non-negotiable for me as a solo sailor. How else do you get any rest on a night when an anchor watch is required?
Try to avoid buying a wet or tender boat - it's far more comfortable, safer and easy on you.
Proper keel choice is important too - will the boat sail in reasonable balance unassisted for at least a minute or two? Thus modern high-aspect keels are probably out, long fin at the very least for comfort.
I've found my cutter rig has its disadvantages. The inner forestay makes it very difficult to tack the yankee (let alone a genoa). I'd avoid that another time. Self-tacking jibs are a real boon, and as they tend to be smallish back it up with a cruising chute and snuffer for light air reaching.
Above all I suggest a boat that is first and foremost easy to handle, seakindly, dry and fairly stiff, speed is really not that important unless you're racing, sporty boats are all very well but not generally kind on the crew.
I have a 35ft long-keeler (all 10 tons of it) which is a right handful in marinas and not regarded as fast by any means but I usually arrive on long daysails before my companions and invariably much fresher and less frazzled, the more so the heavier the weather. Give me a steady, unglitzy mature ride any day, not some excitable squirrely double-handful of racing-snake!
 
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Since you have a racing background a look at the AZAB boats could be useful. Rustlers and to a slightly lesser extent, Bowmans , stand out as comfortable but reasonably quick - 'classic' rather than old-fashioned. I sail my R42 with just two of us anywhere, Arctic to tropics and seas in between. R36 should certainly be added to your list of possible boats.

Edit: the cutter rig makes the Rustlers particularly ideal for short-handed cruising. Easy sail handling in very strong winds easily outweighs slightly more work when short-tacking. The trick to getting the yankee across is always have the staysail hoisted, so a roller for the staysail makes all the difference.
 
roblpm said:
Any more details from owners of these boats about the best auto pilot setups? I know people dont like tiller pilots but the EV100 Tiller Pilot looks pretty good and then spares, fixing it would be easy?
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I have a Hanse 311. In hindsight I would liked to have bought 35 ft. for single handing. I sail 2000 miles P annum 90% SH & it is excellent for that.
However, my comment is really re the EV100 ( edited)tiller pilot - IT IS A DEATH TRAP- If the boat is on a broad reach with a quartering sea of 1.5 meters or more & F5 or more the boat can quickly round up. The autopilot responds too slow, so the boat can soon get off course by 70 degrees. Then it cuts out. The instument shows "autopilot failure" & bleeps weakly, leaving the tiller hard over. If I cannot get to it in time the boat then comes back on course then goes into a dangerous crash gybe.
Sometimes the thing just gets tired & packs up for 45 mins & I have to wait to re set it, hand steering in the meantime.
The real annoying thing with tiller pilots is that they cannot "think". If I am sailing in a quartering sea I just tweak the tiller as the wave comes & the boat stays beautifully on course. If I leave it a bit late (like an autopilot) It becomes really hard work to get it back. It is not a case of sail balance, but really one of sea state.
With the old Raymarine ST 2000 ( now on the 3rd one) it did at least bring the boat back on course then straighten the tiller. Although once it decided to veer 20 degrees , put be aground so I lost my rudder 600 miles from home.
I also have an aeries & although it is not much use for down wind, it does bring the boat back on course. But that course can be a bit "S" sometimes. At least it keeps trying & i can trust it to work in a consistent manner.
 
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KompetentKrew said:
Do you mean the EV-100?

I'm surprised to hear that older models seem more capable. The EV's brains should be more sophisticated.
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sorry E V 100--------- I will edit post
It is not really more capable a such but that i wanted to make the point that it does not cut out like the EV 100
The Simrad TP32 lasted a lot longer than any of the ST 2000's ( all changed under warranty)
 
Tranona said:
That is true of almost all boats, except for the sub £20k sector at the moment in the UK. Few active buyers, few active sellers and a stock, particularly of more recent boats, depleted because of heavy buying from the EU in the last 3 or 4 years. Look at brokers' listings, most are seriously depleted. examples Yachtsnet have 11, Clipper 9, Schmidt 17 (mostly in Scotland!), John Rodriguez 9 sailing yachts in the UK, typically half or less than normal. I chose those because they list mostly in the higher value, £30k+ where the OP will be looking. There are currently just 2 Bavaria 34s available in the UK - this was probably the biggest volume selling yacht in the UK in the years 1999-2004 and asking prices are between 15-20% higher than what boats were selling for 4 or 5 years ago (£40k+ compared with low 30s ). My 33 is 5 years old and the two similar boats that have sold in the last year were at prices representing depreciation of less than 20%. Not surprising when a new boat to the same spec is now nearly 40% higher

Good time to sell if you are exiting the market, but not if you are buying. Not just the raised prices but the limited choice.
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OK so the perfect time to buy will be in about 3 years when lockdown is over, people are poor and they have to sell up as a holiday to spain is cheaper than running a boat!
 
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