Sigma 33 viable for single handed cruising?

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NigelCraig

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Just wondering whether this is worth adding to the usual suspects when looking for a boat for singlehanded cruising that is reasonably fast, good upwind and generally good seaboat across a spectrum of conditions. Budget will likely be 45-50K for boat including all replacement/rectification.

Had a Sigma 33 charter in the Solent for a weekend 4 yrs ago but blowing F6-8 and crew not keen on going out v.far so I don't have much recollection of cockpit layout. I don't mind having to reef early if it's set up to do it from the cockpit (which would I guess be a retrofit on most Sigmas).

My criteria include:
1. Layout conducive to sprinting out of the cockpit onto side decks quickly
2. Centre cleat fitted (not sure how easy to retrofit)
3. Space to fit electric windlass
4. primary winches s/t and close to helm position
5. Reefing from cockpit
6. Not too much of a handful under power in tight spaces (which obviously also includes windage issues)
7. Engine accessibility (so that it doesn't need 2 people to change an impeller)

It's just that I think they are one of the best looking boats and some comments in forum about qulaity of layup good compared to their peers. OTOH, most Sigma 33's have probably had a hard life.
 
Yes they can be sailed single handed. I have done so on a few occassions delivering one around the Firth of Clyde.

1. Layout conducive to sprinting out of the cockpit onto side decks quickly YES
2. Centre cleat fitted (not sure how easy to retrofit) CAN DO
3. Space to fit electric windlass YES
4. primary winches s/t and close to helm position YES but ST not standard, use winchers
5. Reefing from cockpit NO you still have to go to mast for pennant winch, but SL Reefing could be retrofitted
6. Not too much of a handful under power in tight spaces (which obviously also includes windage issues) YES not much of handful, very well behaved under power
7. Engine accessibility (so that it doesn't need 2 people to change an impeller) YES - Good Enough

Download the tips book on singlehanded sailing from: www.sfbaysss.org/tipsbook
 
Like most David Thomas designs they are a bit on the tender side and suffer from a lack of rudder area. Also, the galley is one of the worst layouts ever conceived.

For the money you are thinking of spending how about a Jeanneau One Design, some of them have water ballast too, or a Figaro 1?

These guys are worth getting in touch with too.
 
Sigma 33, excellent choice.

Will Sayer bought his 33 as a wreck with his student grant. He refurbed it brilliantly, won the OSTAR and is now cruising with his girlfriend. Say no more guv.
A 33, either the cruising or the standard, excellent for what you want. The price will reflect the hardness of life, by no means all have been hammered. You will need a modern engine, if you are sensible, and some hot water plus a fridge. All easily fittable and it will be perfect.
If you can stretch to a 36, better still. Again look at the last OSTAR.
 
doris said:
Will Sayer bought his 33 as a wreck with his student grant. He refurbed it brilliantly, won the OSTAR and is now cruising with his girlfriend. Say no more guv.
A 33, either the cruising or the standard, excellent for what you want. The price will reflect the hardness of life, by no means all have been hammered. You will need a modern engine, if you are sensible, and some hot water plus a fridge. All easily fittable and it will be perfect.
If you can stretch to a 36, better still. Again look at the last OSTAR.
Click to expand...

check-out the floor matrix too :eek:
 
michael_w said:
Like most David Thomas designs they are a bit on the tender side and suffer from a lack of rudder area. Also, the galley is one of the worst layouts ever conceived.

For the money you are thinking of spending how about a Jeanneau One Design, some of them have water ballast too, or a Figaro 1?

These guys are worth getting in touch with too.
Click to expand...

The OP said he wanted to cruise. SORC are about single handed racing.
A JOD or Figaro 1 are not remotely cruising boats. In fact no sane person with any experience would go near the former.
 
A1Sailor said:
Why on earth is this be one of your considerations? Am I missing something? When I sail I try to avoid sprinting, and the main consideration is staying in the cockpit.
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Because shite happens! It was one of the parameters I considered too 'cos I had sailed on boats where high coamings/spray hoods/etc. made the activity feel perilous in bouncy weather. Going forward quickly may not happen often but the less rapid need often arises for things like storm jibs, anchors, at mast reefing, mooring pick-up, spinnaker work, etc. and an unfettered route out of the cockpit is a good thing.
 
awol said:
Because shite happens! It was one of the parameters I considered too 'cos I had sailed on boats where high coamings/spray hoods/etc. made the activity feel perilous in bouncy weather. Going forward quickly may not happen often but the less rapid need often arises for things like storm jibs, anchors, at mast reefing, mooring pick-up, spinnaker work, etc. and an unfettered route out of the cockpit is a good thing.
Click to expand...

OK - thanks. I don't sail single handed with a spinnaker up, and haven't ever felt the need to sprint. So I am missing something!
 
Nigel would be really interested to hear how this goes if your pursue this route. I too have been considering a sigma 33 as a boat to cruise and occasionally race. There seems to be a few out there currently who have used them mainly for cruising. Usually, people warn against this type of boats due to what is considered a hard life racing and they warn about not being able to close hatches and internal doors etc due to over tensioning the rig for racing performance.. They also warn about dishing on the coach roof.
However, I have a slightly different take on this. I suspect a boat that has been regularly raced also has been regularly cared for with updates as they go along. There are a few sigmas out there with roller reefing and used as family boats so I suspect they will be easier enough to sail alone.

If you go ahead with this plan, I would be interested in hearing how it works out.

H.M
 
NigelCraig said:
Mooring
Click to expand...

and other reasons when things go pearshaped. You can do lots from the cockpit when everything goes as planned but often it doesn't:

anchor/cable snags somehere on roller
jibsheet snags on mast when going about
i want to adjust car tracks for jib sheets

"sprint" may be an exaggeration particularly with safety line attached but its about general configuration, particularly width/slope/rel. height of side deck just f'ward of cockpit. Whether you can jump out of cockpit with sprayhood up in heavy weather is also an issue.
 
Everyone worries about handling the boat at sea, but when I singlehanded my sailboats, my biggest problem was getting the boat in and out of the marina without causing damage. Trying to get the boat in and out of the slip singlehanded was sometimes a real challenge. I'd actually favor a smaller boat for this reason.
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
Yes they can be sailed single handed. I have done so on a few occassions delivering one around the Firth of Clyde.

1. Layout conducive to sprinting out of the cockpit onto side decks quickly YES
2. Centre cleat fitted (not sure how easy to retrofit) CAN DO
3. Space to fit electric windlass YES
4. primary winches s/t and close to helm position YES but ST not standard, use winchers
5. Reefing from cockpit NO you still have to go to mast for pennant winch, but SL Reefing could be retrofitted
6. Not too much of a handful under power in tight spaces (which obviously also includes windage issues) YES not much of handful, very well behaved under power
7. Engine accessibility (so that it doesn't need 2 people to change an impeller) YES - Good Enough

Download the tips book on singlehanded sailing from: www.sfbaysss.org/tipsbook
Click to expand...

Fair enough but as an ex owner I always needed a second person to drag me out through the cockpit locker from behind the engine when finished adjusting the stern gland and I was a lot more supple then.
Sturdy sea kindly boat and I enjoyed single handed passages on ours.
 
Quandary said:
... the cockpit locker .....
Click to expand...

IIRC the cockpit locker lid made the opening look larger than it really was. I was a light weight boy back then and remember thinking this whenever fetching something from the bottom of the locker.
 
interloper said:
Everyone worries about handling the boat at sea, but when I singlehanded my sailboats, my biggest problem was getting the boat in and out of the marina without causing damage. Trying to get the boat in and out of the slip singlehanded was sometimes a real challenge. I'd actually favor a smaller boat for this reason.
Click to expand...

Which is why I prefer a swinging mooring
 
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