Best book for single handed sailing

Graham_Wright said:
I've read Frank Mulville's book but found it a little bit behind the times.

GPS and solar panels apparently were not around.

I would welcome suggestions on a more modern treatise please.
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More modern? What do you think has changed?

I would say 'A world of My Own' by RKJ...

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If you insist on judging a book by it's year of publication, then 'Short Handed Sailing' by Alistair Buchan (2006)

GHA's link is also good

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Graham_Wright said:
Sail handling - e.g. in-mast furling.
Nav aids.
Battery charging - solar panels
Position fixing - GPS
Emergency recovery - EPIRBs.

There is an awful lot of common sense in Frank's book but it certainly does not address advances.
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Those things have certainly changed within sailing generally - not sure of specific relevance to single handing?

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Buy any book about sailing, then spend your time figuring out to adapt the "crewed" techniques with your own solutions and practice them.
You will be more comfortable with your own way of doing things on your own boat in your own time.
I have singlehand for the last 14 years and part of the challenge is figuring things out for myself having got the basic techniques for crewed mooring etc. from magazine articles, crewing for other people, and watching others.
Keeps the old grey matter working.....just :)
 
Francis B Cooke - "Seamanship for Yachtsmen" 1923 - unfortunately just a bit before new fangled idea of an auxiliary engine, but full of helpful advice all the same. Even if you think it's of limited contemporary application, it's immensely entertaining for it's social attitudes.
 
I'd suggest ' Down Channel ' by RT McMullen, the Victorian father of yachting / singlehanding.

Seamanship and technique ( I was taught ' the laziest - ie most prepared - sailor is the best ' ) is what helps singlehanders; electronics & batteries etc need to be learned for oneself if solo or with a crew fit for a square rigger.
 
eddystone said:
Francis B Cooke - "Seamanship for Yachtsmen" 1923 - unfortunately just a bit before new fangled idea of an auxiliary engine, but full of helpful advice all the same. Even if you think it's of limited contemporary application, it's immensely entertaining for it's social attitudes.
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Good suggestion.

Also 'Small Boat Sailing' (1901) by E.F.Knight. In his case it really was single-handed, after he lost an arm in a war.

These books are still valid today because if you can handle a boat entirely under sail, single-handed, you remain in control of the situation when the electronics and engine let you down.
 
you do not need a book if you know how to sail
If you have already sailed your boat with a crew you should already know how she handles
All you need to do is adjust a few lines to make things easier for SH sailing such as reefing & sail hoisting/lowering self steering etc & you are off
The difficult bits are:-

1) leaving harbour/marina
2) getting in fenders, hoisting & setting sails
3) getting sails down & getting lines & fenders ready to enter port
4) entering ports & tying up- more so if a strange port
5) Basic sail handling ie tacking/reefing etc
6) Avoiding self injury
7) avoiding other yachts/ships etc
8) general duties, ie-navigation, food, using the loo etc when it is rough & you need to be near the helm & getting rest

I always consider items 1-4 the most dangerous item 3 being the top of the list for danger esp if it is rough or at night etc & when I am getting tired. I advocate as much being done from the cockpit as possible to avoid going on deck but sail dropping & stowing has to be done at the mast ( except for in mast reefing )
item 6 can be high on the list & depends on ones own fitness
Item 7 is no real problem when you are wide awake & are keeping a proper lookout but , in my case, complacency can lead to problems
Item 8 just needs a bit of pre plannng, ie set the GPS but have a good picture of where you want to go in event of failure, keep notes of things like tides,port entry details including ports you may not intend to go into except in emergency. It is extremely difficult to go below , find charts/reeds get details of a port etc in rough weather or at night when something is not working right.( I make notes on a plastic board in advance - VHF channels etc)

I started out by just leaving the marina on a light wind day & motoring about for a bit & practicing returning & tying up etc then hoisting the sails & dropping them again when there is a bit of room to experiment.
It seems a bit strange at first but i soon found single handing adictive. I do over 1500 miles a year SH & I cannot be bothered to keep arranging crews . I find that hard work
Perhaps it is because nobody likes me !!!!!!

I am a marina berth holder so the "swingers" amongst us will have slightly different views of the above
 
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Graham_Wright said:
I've read Frank Mulville's book but found it a little bit behind the times.

GPS and solar panels apparently were not around.

I would welcome suggestions on a more modern treatise please.
Click to expand...

Here's a few from my book shelf:

They are not 'how to do it' books but you can glean many helpful tips and insights not to mention a few laughs and are 'real world' stories

Three ways to capsize a boat by Chris Stewart
A voyage for madmen by Peter Nichols
Once is enough by Miles Smeeton
Just sea and sky - Ben Pester
Sailing Solo alone - JJ James

No doubt you've read Chichester and Slocum's circumnavigations. The latter was surprisingly 'modern' considering when it was written (late 19th century)

Sorry, assumed possibly incorrectly that you meant long distance single handed.
 
Singlehanding is certainly a lot easier than it was, thanks to;

1 Auto pilot
2 Chart plotter (though I still can't use one properly)
3 Lines to the cockpit
4 Lazyjacks

I find small carabiners on the fenders and permanently rigged bow and stern lines make a lot of difference.

Oh, and heaving to whenever I feel like it, either just for a rest or for reefing.
 
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