If you single-hand, how big is your yacht?

[Babylon]

Prompted by another thread on 'why' people single-hand, I wondered what 'size' yachts such people sail.

 

[PhillM]

I felt it important that I was confident handlong my boat lane, because then I could help the family relax, enjoy and learn.

 

[roblpm]

Thats quite interesting. I have been out on my own a few times on my 28 foot boat and plan to do as much as i can this coming season.

But planning ahead as i do i will buy a bigger boat in the future. So far not many over 35 feet. So as the future boat needs to do everything, 35 foot maybe looks optimum. Now just to decide between sporty or sturdy!!

 

[Tranona]

Thats quite interesting. I have been out on my own a few times on my 28 foot boat and plan to do as much as i can this coming season.

But planning ahead as i do i will buy a bigger boat in the future. So far not many over 35 feet. So as the future boat needs to do everything, 35 foot maybe looks optimum. Now just to decide between sporty or sturdy!!

35'+ modern boat, particularly with in mast, powerful winches and autopilot is no problem in normal sailing and for more athletic younger person even in poor conditions. Biggest problem is parking and unparking. My next boat, if I get one will be 32' rather than 37,but now nearly 70 and lower horizons.

 

[westhinder]

First boat was a Rival 34, solid, seakindly and perfectly manageable on my own. I had sailed her for a good number of years before I plucked up the courage to go out on my own. I found that not only did it improve my self-confidence, it made me a better sailor.
Current boat a Starlight 39, quite a bit more powerful than the Rival, but I have singlehanded from the first year as she is perfectly set up for singlehanding. She has no bowthruster and does not need one.
Size is not what matters, but the way the boat is set up. A good autopilot at the press of a button, a good reefing system and midships cleats are essentials.

 

[yoda]

As they say, 'size isn't everything'. What is important is ensuring you set the boat up in a way that suits you. I deliberately chose a boat with a 3/4 rig to keep the genoa size down but of course boats with self tacking jibs take that one step further. You also need to consider how you control the boat under auto pilot, I have to do that without the need to quickly get back behind the wheel because of the cockpit layout. Every boat is different. A friend of mine sails a 45ft boat singlehanded but of course physical limitations start to limit you as age creeps on and even he has now fitted an electric winch to aid his sailing.

Yoda

 

[roblpm]

Good to hear of some larger boats being single handed. However before i get carried away i have to remember i can't afford the sails, berthing, everything else for a bigger boat!! So the excuse of keeping it smaller for single handing will make me feel better about it!!

 

[pvb]

In some ways, larger boats can be easier to single-hand, if they're properly set up. Larger boats have more inertia, so react more slowly and feel more stable.

 

[Searush]

I have to say that distribution seems to owe much to the average boat size regardless of how many crew. Size is pretty much irrelevant if you can handle the gear & that's more about the way the boat & gear are set up. With a powered anchor winch & multi-sail rig you can handle a really big boat solo. Don't try holding a big boat by hand against a strong tide or wind, either go round again, use lines or go somewhere else.

Wasn't it Tabarly that took a 70' tri on an OSTAR & there have been plenty of others, Ellen Macarthur went solo around the world in a big boat too.

 

[Dab]

I have to say that distribution seems to owe much to the average boat size regardless of how many crew. Size is pretty much irrelevant if you can handle the gear & that's more about the way the boat & gear are set up. With a powered anchor winch & multi-sail rig you can handle a really big boat solo. Don't try holding a big boat by hand against a strong tide or wind, either go round again, use lines or go somewhere else.

Wasn't it Tabarly that took a 70' tri on an OSTAR & there have been plenty of others, Ellen Macarthur went solo around the world in a big boat too.

There is a very low parking to sailing ratio involved with that.

 

[Nikia]

I've voted in the 36-40 box as I sail a Tayana 37.
But............. as I have a bowsprit, and an Aries on the back the marina calls it a 43 footer.

 

[pyrojames]

I have single handed for as long as I can remember, from dinghies, then a folkboat, then a 34 foot classic and now a 50 foot classic. Is has been a natural progression over many years. There is no great secret to single handing it is only planning and practice. Marinas are the greatest challenge, so I mostly sail form a swing mooring, but have the advantage that with a large boat I frequentlyonly fit on a hammerhead, or easy to access berth. When cruising anchoring off is fine and the size makes choppy waters tolerable.

 

[prv]

Kindred Spirit was 24 feet and good for single-handing. Mostly because you could work everything from one position. The tiller meant you naturally sat well forward in the cockpit, and all the sheets and halyards and other lines were then close at hand. And a tiller can be operated with knees or bum while hands are occupied with something else.

Ariam has a wheel, so the helm sits right at the back of the cockpit behind an obstacle that separates him from most of the sail controls. The extra ten feet and three tons don't help when berthing, but it's the wheel and the size of the cockpit that do most to make single-handing more difficult.

I used to happily sail KS in relatively tight spaces on my own, because I always felt fully manoeuvrable and in control. I'm much more reluctant to do the same in Ariam because I don't have instant control.

Pete

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I find that the biggest problem with 'one man and his boat' is maintenance and not so much the sailing and parking.

Not many can afford a newish boat and there is always a long list of things to do.

I suppose the answer is a smaller simpler boat for both single handing and maintenance. Then some may not like the quicker movement which can be tiring.

If money was no object, I would have a big boat with thrusters , write cheques for maintenance and bring my butler along when cruising.

 

[prv]

I find that the biggest problem with 'one man and his boat' is maintenance and not so much the sailing and parking.

Not many can afford a newish boat and there is always a long list of things to do.

How many people who sail with others manage to rope those others in to help with the maintenance?

Actually this year my dad has started to show an interest, and has helped out with a couple of small jobs. But every other year, the refit work has been very much a single-handed effort on my part even though the sailing isn't!

Pete

 

[dombuckley]

Mine's small (24'), but heavy (5 tons), which means that she has a much more comfortable motion than the average for her size, more like a 35footer. Her small size and basic electrics mean there's less time spent on maintenance. Small cockpit means everything is close to hand, and a cutter rig keeps sail-handling light.

I got her as a small first boat, anticipating that I would trade up in size after a while. Been 17 years now, and yet to feel the need for anything larger.

 

[Dave-Shafa]

I looked and looked but could not get anything smaller for 85,000 quid.

Willing to trade down below 18' SEE http://www.davehighland.scot/index.php/sailing/shafa-2

 

[basic]

My last boat was a Twister. Lovely boat to sail single-handed but after living aboard for 3 years I felt I needed something a little bigger so bought my Barbican 33. Had her for 10 years now and cannot think of one good reason to change her for anything bigger. Fact is if I did decide to change her I would probably go for thirty footer.

 

[Cloven]

My last boat was a Twister. Lovely boat to sail single-handed but after living aboard for 3 years I felt I needed something a little bigger so bought my Barbican 33. Had her for 10 years now and cannot think of one good reason to change her for anything bigger. Fact is if I did decide to change her I would probably go for thirty footer.

Started single helming with 20ft boat, more like a big dinghy as was used to a Wayfarer. After that had a 27ft and now a 32ft, both with self tacking rigs, all lines led back to the cockpit. Very easy to single hand & would not want anything bigger

 

[underdog]

When looking for my current 32 ft boat one of the deciding factors was the 3/4 rig with self tacking headsail. A previous 26 footer a Verl 790 had a masthead rig and a large headsail which was hard work to sheet in. I don't use the self tacking headsail at the moment, as the small area reduces light weather performance.
I have installed a furlex and self tailing winches which makes single handed sailing a pleasure. As the years advance and I become more feeble I can revert to the self tacker.