Best for singlehanding

[Tranona]

Realistically, as new old boats are somewhat difficult to find, a new or newish Arcona 34 or 37 with a proper inboard autopilot. And even my present Sun Odyssey 35 would be OK, again given a new and better autopilot than a wheel ST4000+

Effective single handing is as much a state of mind as a choice of boat. Clearly some boats are more forgiving than others, but the key thing is to adjust your expectations to the boat and the type of equipment you have. Clearly with experience you find better ways of doing things and better equipment, but the key thing is always to try and keep within your and the boat's capabilities.

 

[doris]

Old boats v. new

Why does everyone,well almost everyone, have a sixties design as their favourite solo boat. These are all old with all the inherent wear and tear probs plus they are pigs down wind. Modern boats are much nicer to sail. Does one really want a shagged out Mk 1 Sierra 1.3 rather than a modern Mondeo??? I single hand a 39 footer and if it is lumpy she is marvellous.

Also may I point out that the Ostar last year was won by Will in a Sigma 33 cruising that he rebuilt totally himself. If you have to have an old boat at least rebuild it first.

ps. Will also won this year's Fastnet 2 handed class followed by Charles in a Sigma 36 that won it class in the Ostar. This is also a very rebuilt boat.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Windvane self-steering.

On passage you can sit with a cup of tea and read a book.

 

[Seajet]

Why does everyone,well almost everyone, have a sixties design as their favourite solo boat. These are all old with all the inherent wear and tear probs plus they are pigs down wind. Modern boats are much nicer to sail. Does one really want a shagged out Mk 1 Sierra 1.3 rather than a modern Mondeo??? I single hand a 39 footer and if it is lumpy she is marvellous.

Also may I point out that the Ostar last year was won by Will in a Sigma 33 cruising that he rebuilt totally himself. If you have to have an old boat at least rebuild it first.

ps. Will also won this year's Fastnet 2 handed class followed by Charles in a Sigma 36 that won it class in the Ostar. This is also a very rebuilt boat.

Remind me, what sort of boat was it which won the Round The Island Race overall this year ?

 

[Tranona]

Not everyone has a budget for bigger, more modern boats. If you only have say £10k to spend and want to undertake reasonable off shore passages on your own then all that is available is old (both in age and style) boats. Trick is to find one in good condition that does not need major work and expenditure.

 

[doris]

Remind me, what sort of boat was it which won the Round The Island Race overall this year ?

Not single handed it didn't and it was a rebuilt one.

 

[Slow_boat]

Must 'sail herself', be capable of taking the rough stuff, everything on the 'KISS' system, ie, slab reefing, transom hung rudder, tiller steering, a decent self steering system, not to big, less than 30 foot for sure, good reliable engine, reasonably quick and solid. Comfortable bunk. Sea kindly and row away factor.

That's my Sadler 29, then!

 

[GlennG]

Why does everyone,well almost everyone, have a sixties design as their favourite solo boat. These are all old with all the inherent wear and tear probs plus they are pigs down wind. Modern boats are much nicer to sail.

You mean the modern boats with the fat backsides, high topsides, that need reefing at 12kts (broachtastic man!), and are a liability to moor singlehanded?

Let me contrast that with my Contessa 32... Low freeboard so I can reach down to clip a line onto a mooring buoy or marina cleat; unparalleled sea keeping capabilities; large fin keel that is fast, responsive and shrugs off lobster pots; skeg-hung rudder with shielded propeller (aforesaid lobster pots); small enough rig for me to handle even in a blow; forgiving character should I push her too far (which is often!); safe and compact cockpit; small enough down below to not get thrown across wide open spaces; good manners to heave too; self-steering (also see manners)... Need I go on?

Now, which modern boat are you referring to? You can pretty much discount all the mass-market boats as they're the opposite of the above. I once chartered a Bavaria 32; fantastic for the three adults to have separate cabins, but rubbish at sea.

AFAICS there aren't many boats made these days that are suitable for single-handing.

Proof of this is that I, and others in our 60's/70's era boats, regularly go out when the weather's keeping the AWB brigade in their marina berths -- I shudder to think of the challenge that manoeuvring a modern boat with a combination of high wind, high freeboard and scrawny keel.

Thinking of a couple of months ago when I sailed through the Solent from Newhaven to Lymington on a Sunday with 35kts on the beam, with the second reef in and a reasonable amount of headsail. What an amazing sail; where were all the other boats? I probably saw a dozen others of which a couple were 'modern' (and motoring). OK, that day (see the picture), I was sailing with another. But I would have been happy to have done it on my own.

Going back to the original questions - what makes a good single-hander - see the above.

 

[Seajet]

Te fact the Contessa 26 was not singlehanded and had been refurbished hardly affects her performance & handling.

GlenG

I suppose a Mystery, Victoria or Rustler would be modern boats with those qualities - they just happen to be designs based on forms which evolved when treble aft cabins weren't a priority...

Then again as they're making Contessa 32's again, does that make her a modern boat ?!

 

[GlennG]

I suppose the issue is that all boats are a compromise. The modern fashion is for comfort and volume which tends to preclude single-handing. That and the trend for ever bigger boats.

OK, when I'm at anchor I do envy people with space and showers...

Not sure about the Rustler: excellent boat -- I'd love one -- but a tad on the large side for single-handing.

What was the 'classic' boat at the London Boat Show this year? Had a 60's feel to it but a lobster-pot-friendly saildrive. Couldn't help thinking that the Contessa 32's a better boat though!

 

[prv]

Not sure about the Rustler: excellent boat -- I'd love one -- but a tad on the large side for single-handing.

They have a 24' and a 33' as well as their bigger boats. Ok, the 24 is a day-sailer with no cabin, but 33' doesn't strike me as impossibly large.

I would have instead said "a tad on the expensive side"

Pete

 

[Tranona]

Going back to the original questions - what makes a good single-hander - see the above.

Your long description of YOUR style of single handed sailing means your boat is well suited. In just the same way that it would be well suited to a bigger crew who revelled in sailing in challenging conditions.

However, not everybody wants to sail like that and it is perfectly possible to single hand bigger newer style boats - see my earlier post. Sailing is a state of mind. You can get pleasure out of all kinds of sailing including enjoying the time at anchor or in a marina. If you do it on your own you just adjust your horizons to what you can do safely - and the more you practice the more you can tackle.

 

[photodog]

Well as a AWB singlehander I have to say very few of the boats mentioned would appeal to me..... Vancouver 34..nice boat... not the best boat to singlehand if you live in a marina..... Contessa 26.... great if you are a Submariner... Contessa 32... slightly less wet, but you wont pull any babes with that heads....

Here's my list...

1) Mainsheet in the cockpit...
2) Easy access to genoa winchs from the helm...
3) Easy and predictable in a marina...
4) Efficient rig...
5) FUN!

I also like a few comforts.. a comfortable berth, decent heads for guests... a good fridge and galley...

And I want to enjoy the sailing... which means for me easy daysailing.. if I am by myself I want to have a good entertaining days sailing, followed by a comfy night and a decent meal.... long passages are dull on yer own... so why be arsed... I want a boat that handles like a big dingy and will keep me entertained.

I also like a few challenges... so a modern boat with its high topsides means I have to think abit in relation to picking up a bouy... (But anchoring is easy with a leccy windlass and the hook on the bow roller...) or comeing onto a berth... but it isnt a stress... I spent the second week in August picking up bouys and never once didnt get it on the first go..... same cant be said for a crewed boat...

So, A 1999 Bavaria 31 is a good boat for me... great fun short tacking up a river.. easy to manage the rig...

Would like a Mystery 35 though..... or a pilot cutter....

 

[TQA]

OK, when I'm at anchor I do envy people with space and showers...

Not sure about the Rustler: excellent boat -- I'd love one -- but a tad on the large side for single-handing.

Not sure if you are right about a Rustler being on the large side for single handing. I spent 7 years as a cruising liveaboard on a 37 foot HEAVY steel ketch 3 years wers single handed and included sailing from Trinidad to the Chesapeake via the Bahamas.

My current boat which I single hand at age 64 is a 44 foot cutter. I would have prefered a ketch as I grew to like the option of dropping the main and having mizzen and headsail as a balanced sailplan.

Oh yes you would envy my shower, it is the largest I have seen on any sailboat, a shower with a friend is a definite possibility two friends even.

 

[Tranona]

Thinking of a couple of months ago when I sailed through the Solent from Newhaven to Lymington on a Sunday with 35kts on the beam, with the second reef in and a reasonable amount of headsail. What an amazing sail; where were all the other boats? I probably saw a dozen others of which a couple were 'modern' (and motoring). OK, that day (see the picture), I was sailing with another. But I would have been happy to have done it on my own.

Suspect the reason why you saw few boats is that most people don't get particular pleasure out of sailing in those conditions. Lucky for you if you do because you have the sea to yourself!

 

[GlennG]

Suspect the reason why you saw few boats is that most people don't get particular pleasure out of sailing in those conditions. Lucky for you if you do because you have the sea to yourself!

Quite frankly it's days like that which make the unbearable tedium of an average UK summer worthwhile. It gives you the inner glow which you can call on when "sailing" with people who don't like sailing -- SWMBO for example.

Apologies to the Rustler brigade; I was thinking about the 36 and didn't realise there were smaller ones. In my experience, it's the take-off and landing which is a little tricky when singlehanding; similarly managing a boat in a lock. In this case a low freeboard and longer keel definitely help especially if there's some wind blowing.

But lets face it, people singlehand very large yachts very successfully, right up to the Ellen sized boats. But then again she didn't have to moor it!

And finally, it does matter what one means by singlehanding. Is it going out for a day/weekend sail around the coast, or longer trips? For the longest trips, ocean crossing, larger boats will be perfectly acceptable possibly with a few adaptions.

As has been said, for my version of singlehanding -- day and weekend sailing -- I find the Contessa 32 to be perfect, especially if it's a bit exciting.

 

[mattonthesea]

Back to the OP What kind of boat? I think that's a subjective question, based upon what you want out of a boat and what you can afford. I saw Wales Challenger effectively being single handed into Mermaids Quay, Cardiff but not sure about sailing it solo!

Attributes?

Blue water cruising: able to go in a straight line while you sleep; long fin and skeg or long keel. Windvane steering (taking down the spinnaker was a lot better with Aries than with my brother at the helm!)

Simple rigging: cringle and clew line slab reefing. lines to the mast. Reduces knot problems With this is the ability to go to the mast easily so wide decks and good hand holds. I went up to the mast in F9 surprisingly easily

Comfort in a sea berth.

Day sailing: autohelm compatibility, good vis from helm

Two things I wouldn't be without solo: a clip on boat hook thing and a hand controlled mainsheet. The third would be roller reefing genoa but they don't furl as quickly as dropping a hanked or slotted one. Oh! and a midships cleat

 

[prv]

Two things I wouldn't be without solo: a clip on boat hook thing and a hand controlled mainsheet.

"Hand controlled mainsheet"? As opposed to what?

Pete

 

[GlennG]

Oh! and a midships cleat

Definitely. In fact the most important thing for mooring or negotiating locks; once the centre line's on, you've got her.

 

[zarathustra]

An old-style S&S Swan 36 that had been forgotten to be commissioned and launched when new and left in a shed since 1970. Failing that a She 36 is similar condition.

Realistically, as new old boats are somewhat difficult to find, a new or newish Arcona 34 or 37 with a proper inboard autopilot. And even my present Sun Odyssey 35 would be OK, again given a new and better autopilot than a wheel ST4000+

Why an old Swan, wouldn't the 1980's onwards Swans be similar to handle. The Swans are a pretty yacht. I thought the boats of the 1970's weren't really designed for singlehanding, with the tendency for smaller mainsails and larger headsail, isn't the reverse considered easier to handle for smaller crew?