First single handed sail

[Gordy M]

I am feeling very proud at the moment, went out by myself for first time yesterday, I didn't go far, just from Southampton town quay to the Hamble entrance and back.
My head is now getting into cruising mode, previously I have always been reliant on others, and most are up for a day sail but not an overnight stay

Happy
Gord

 

[zikzik]

Good for you. I remember my first solo trip, and still enjoy being single handed, even on longer runs across the channel.

 

[Kelpie]

My first singlehanded trip (on a yacht) started when my crew literally jumped ship. I was cruising in company and the other boat needed some help, so stole my crew!

 

[Sidedrum]

It's a great feeling. My first singlehanded trip was over 20 years ago now and started with a 70 year old singlehander casting off my lines - I'd taken her's as she came in to the pontoon at Campbeltown, so she saw me off when I left shortly thereafter. Seemed a good omen and I've happily singlehanded since. Enjoy it!

 

[Searush]

It can be a great pleasure having company to share the fun with, but no longer being reliant on others to go sailing is a huge benefit. AND, when you do have people able to come with you, you enjoy their companionship & help so much more.

 

[JumbleDuck]

It can be a great pleasure having company to share the fun with, but no longer being reliant on others to go sailing is a huge benefit. AND, when you do have people able to come with you, you enjoy their companionship & help so much more.

It's also a great relief - to me, anyway - to know that while help from crew members is welcome, I don't actually need it.

 

[BlackPig]

My first yacht solo was St Vast L Huge France to Isle of Wight. Untested/new to me boat, Stupid, by hay survived and got better quickly.

 

[LadyInBed]

Well done, I still remember that my biggest trepidation was being able to pick up my mooring buoy on my return.

 

[eddystone]

Yes well done my only single handed voyage so far was from mid river pontoon in the Itchen to Kemps for alift out but that was a cop out as id tied the coiled bow line to the pulpit for someone to take - lassoing test yet to be passed!

 

[Concerto]

Well done, bet you felt chuffed.

My first singlehanded sail was on my father's Northerney 34 (CR Holman design like a big Twister with a counter transom) when I was about 16. He let me do a singlehanded pursuit race of about 15 miles on the Medway. That was a long time ago at the end of the 1960's.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Well done, I still remember that my biggest trepidation was being able to pick up my mooring buoy on my return.

+1
That was back in the 60s in the Percuil River mooring area - very crowded. Just as I was approaching my mooring I saw/heard the "old salt" who taught me to sail say to his young pupil,
"You see that man there (I was about 18!), I taught 'im to sail".
My bowels turned to liquid as I imagined making a complete hash of the pick-up in front of old Les.
Fortunately, I managed without a problem.
PHEW!

 

[Plum]

Welcome to the single-handers club! I remember my first time, a long time ago now. I have started a website where I have shared some of my tips for the skipper contemplating a first sail alone. www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Neil]

Single-handing, for me, is a process of finding what works for various situations, learning about your boat and thinking ahead and getting everything ready in plenty of time.

In particular:

A midships cleat! and motoring against a midships spring when the wind is blowing you off your pontoon
A tiller pilot is useful: keeping head to wind to sort sails, motoring against strong currents when you want to haul anchor by hand etc.
Heaving-to to give yourself space and time to sort stuff out and do things
Keeping safe - I always carry a HH VHF on my life jacket and clip on when leaving the cockpit
Keep well rested and don't push too hard - we're meant to be enjoying ourselves!

 

[Jim Schofield]

Good on you Gord,

I've begun single-handing myself, so I can appreciate your satisfaction. Two weeks ago out in Dublin Bay, got it to steer from the jibsheet, saw no other boat around, felt great.

But we have a lot to learn.

Jim

 

[Sandy]

Well done, it is always a thrill when you cast off and head out single handed.

 

[Neil]

It's an even bigger thrill to plan your pilotage in to a strange port and tie up successfully without hitting the bottom or anything else - switch the engine off and "Phew, I made it"

 

[Robert Wilson]

Good on you Gord,

I've begun single-handing myself, so I can appreciate your satisfaction. Two weeks ago out in Dublin Bay, got it to steer from the jibsheet, saw no other boat around, felt great.

But we have a lot to learn.

Jim

That is something I haven't mastered yet.

Any tips for OP and all other S/H folk out here?
Is it better to use the jib sheet, or the main sheet?

 

[Jim Schofield]

Kay Sarah Sarah,

I just tried the simplest system I found online. Run a line from your jib to a block on the same side near the tiller, then across to another block on the opposite side and then to the tiller. I didn't even have a bungee cord since the wind was light. I was amazed it worked, but my weight shifting on my little 19 footer threw it off ! More trials to follow.

I saw it on Webb Chiles site here :

http://inthepresentsea.com/the_actu...4/18_Opua__sheet_to_tiller_self-steering.html

You have nothing to loose.

Jim

 

[Dave-Shafa]

Well done. My first singlehanded trip (on a yacht), I had sailed many dinghys, was 2002, Tayport, River Tay.
The Tay has a very fast flow and seemed as wide as the Atlantic. Pepper a yellow wooden ply Waarschip 19'.
Eventually I did the 3 Scottish canal circuit.

 

[Gordy M]

That is something I haven't mastered yet.

Any tips for OP and all other S/H folk out here?
Is it better to use the jib sheet, or the main sheet?

I used the jib as it is furling and I could raise it from the cockpit, whereas my main halyard is secured at the mast, so to raise the main I have to leave the cockpit, and on this first occasion I was trying to avoid leaving the cockpit as much as possible.