Docking a PRESTIGE 590S - Single Handed

ShaneAtSea

ShaneAtSea

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Cool video of a Step by step walk through of docking a 60 foot yacht. He made it look easy.

I guess its alot easier with the SkyHook or the Volvo Penta 'Dynamic Positioning System'

Ive always been told that solo sailing is dangerous.

Anyone regularly go out on their own?

 
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I have a Sunseeker Predator 57 (60 feet) and regularly use it single handed ... whether going out completely on my own, or with someone who doesn't want to or isn't able to help.

Departing is obviously no problem and as long as you have a plan and prepare the lines in advance, docking is also easy unless there's a lot of wind. With Med mooring, once you back into the berth and stop the boat it should stay more or less where it is and then you can loosely tie off the lines at the stern, drag the lazy line forward and tie off at the bow, and then worry about adjusting everything later. Mooring alongside is more of a challenge, but I can use the proportional thrusters to pin the boat gently to the quay and then step off to do the lines ... stern first, and then bow. If its windy (say above 15 knots), I usually call the capitainerie and ask for help.

This year, I added a Yacht Controller system with a remote control which has transformed the experience. What was previously OK but perhaps a little stressful is now easy. I can manoeuvre the boat from wherever I am, so if it moves while I'm doing the lines I can correct the position. I can also step off without worrying about the boat drifting away and can raise and lower the anchor from the bow.

Regarding the safety issue, I think you just have to be sensible ... I always tell someone where I'm going and when I'll be back, I take more care when moving around the deck, I'm a little more cautious about checking the weather and sea state, and I try to remember to keep my phone in my pocket or close at hand in case I fall and need to call for help.

Here's a link to an MBY instructional video on how to berth single handed ...

MBY How To: Berth Single Handed
 
Can see DAWs pov with his experience his locality and the extra widgets employed .
Popping out of Cap D Ail across to St Jean cap Ferat to anchor up+ swim etc amongst 100s of other boaters with associated traffic de risks it down to acceptable.

When I moved marinas from near Cannes to Loano a good 100 miles +
Wife had to drive the car across .I did not fancy going it alone .Familiar with the waters , it was the weather slight unpredictability. Lovely round Cannes does not mean the same passing into Liguria.
That and the fact I was cruising quite far out ( pots + locals prattling about mitigation) .
Its just if an alarm or something happened having no helper while I wrestle in the hot ER , or don dive gear to clear fouled stern gear .
So I flew my daughter a final y student into NCE , she a accompanied me ( cronked on the rear sun pad asleep ) .
Trip was uneventful btw .But I wasn’t to know that .
A few days later popped her on a flight from Genoa ( 1 hrs drive ) back to London .

On the del trip we were way laid in Corsica my mate and I bailed out by plane back to the U.K. leaving the del skipper .
At his request i funded a mate of his to fly in from Rome to accompany his crossing the 100 miles or so up to Cannes .
They both elected to take the train back to Rome , I would have funded flights btw .It was late Nov , cooler and less light etc than a summer jaunt .

Insurance wise iirc there is a clause it’s not onerous , something like 16 hrs ? Single handed cover .I guess that covers marina / yard hopping during daylight.

By and large it’s not the marina manoeuvring bit , like DAW says if organised and you know how to move your boat it’s a none issue .Esp if you radio the marinaros and Med berth .

For me it’s alone at sea and a “ what now skip “ situation occurs .

Actually find a second pair of eyes fwd cruising at 30 knots help full .

So in answering the Q = No .
 
Totally agree with Porto's comments about safety on passage. I was referring to taking the boat out a short distance and anchoring in a busy area surrounded by other boats. I wouldn't consider going any significant distance offshore, travelling long distances or heading out in marginal sea conditions when I'm alone.

FWIW ... My insurance permits single handed sailing for up to 24 hours continuously, with no limitation on distance from land or travelling at night.
 
ShaneAtSea said:
Cool video of a Step by step walk through of docking a 60 foot yacht. He made it look easy.

I guess its alot easier with the SkyHook or the Volvo Penta 'Dynamic Positioning System'

Ive always been told that solo sailing is dangerous.

Anyone regularly go out on their own?

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It’s a nice video, experienced guy and lovely boat but it’s very far removed from our reality. I also am docked in a river, but I have about one inch room either side of me and a thousand boats (yes, that is the correct number) coming straight for me when I’m trying to turn left. And that’s without his magic controls and a boat half his size
 
It's not difficult with practice and lots of fenders! I have taken a 50" on shafts with a bowthruster in and out loads of times. Go through it in your head, work out in advance what you will need to do in what order. Preparation of ropes in advance, consider the wind and tide carefully, maybe drive/control from a different position. If I am alone I take the boat to the fuel dock standing outside and operating the throttles through the window by the helm. I have a rope prepared at my feet ready to drop over the first suitable bollard . If it's windy from the wrong direction, either don't do it or ask marina for help. If it doesn't work out or looks like its going a bit t@ts up. Stop, back a long way away and try again.
 
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ShaneAtSea said:
Cool video of a Step by step walk through of docking a 60 foot yacht. He made it look easy.

I guess its alot easier with the SkyHook or the Volvo Penta 'Dynamic Positioning System'

Ive always been told that solo sailing is dangerous.

Anyone regularly go out on their own?

Click to expand...
its not like the Burnham on the Crouch Lol
 
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