Single handed cruising

[christopherc]

Been looking for views on single handed cruising and size of boat. Wondered what people think is a practical maximum for coastal cruising in a modern boat? I'm not talking long hops, just normal coastal sailing stopping at ancorages/marinas etc. Strikes me a restriction on practical size only applies in marinas and the like where moving about can be quite tricky, so I would have thought 30 to 35 ft. Any views from the experienced (which I am not)?

 

[Talbot]

Size of the boat is of less importance than the equipment and how the boat is set up. Providing you have modified the boat in a way that makes it suitable for single handing, there should be no real limitation other than keel depth. I see absolutelt no reason why a 35 ft boat should not be feasible, nor a 40 ft one.
If you are a bit unsure about marinas, you can always ask for some help when you as for a berth saying that you are single handing.

 

[christopherc]

Thanks, I'm sure 40' would be achievable, I was thinking comfort zone really, think I've answered my own question.

 

[bedouin]

Size matters in lots of ways - the bigger the boat, the greater the forces and so the more work it is to manage it - and the greater the distances between places (such as helms and sheets...)

With the right equipment you can sail single-handed in almost any boat, but why go for anything bigger than you need? In my view you are right that the low 30s is the right sort of size.

 

[Wansworth]

The smaller the better a 32 footer is perfect with a furlig jib ad inner fore stay with a working/storm jib hanked on.A decent anchour winch.Big boats are fine in light conditions but problems expand to the rower of two when its not so nice!

 

[BAtoo]

Its not just size its layout in the cockpit & on deck - for instance being able to reach the mainsheet/traveller etc from the helm - often impossible on a wheel steered boat. Also weight/power increases by the cube of the length and by the time you get to 38-40' there is a lot of power in the boat to deal with.

 

[Slow_boat]

I sail single handed most of the time on a Macwester26 with no problem. No anchor winch but don't need one at that size. Reefing is at the mast but that's not a problem either: I heave to to reef and sometimes just for a bit of thinking/decision making time.

The most useful bit of kit for single handing is the auto helm.

Simply plan well ahead, be prepared, keep a good lookout and be comfortable.

Have fun.

 

[Searush]

I sail my 32' Westerly Pentland ketch single-handed most of the time. Autohelm helps, but it cannot cope with strong tides in the Straits. Plan manouvres (mooring/ berthing etc) well in advance, set up fenders/ warps in plenty of time. Take your time & always have a fall back plan - even if it's only go round again.

Passage plan in advance, have a chart plotter/ paper chart & compass to hand and always know approximately where you are (lemain says you need to know exactly where, but I do not think that necessary or practical in most situations).

Have drinks, and finger food/ snacks ready to hand and don't forget you will need to go to the loo from time to time. Oh, and have a book handy for long slow passages, it can help pass the time & stop you dozing off in the sun when bored out of your skull on a long trip.

My concern about a biiger boat would be based on setting/ managing sails that were much bigger, anchor handling (I don't often use the windlass on mine as it is very slow) and holding her against a strong current/ wind when picking up a mooring (remember there will be no-one on the helm/ engine controls if you mis-judge it).

For berthing, I set up a bow stern line & bring them (outside verything) to the centre of the coach roof where they are coiled. I place the boat where I want it, engine out of gear, and then step ashore with both coils. This gives me control of the boat while I am not on it. Easy peasy - mostly!!!

 

[dylanwinter]

The smaller the better - 19 foot. I would get lost in a 35 footer

Dylan http://uk.youtube.com/user/KeepTurningLeft

 

[earlybird]

I don't see any real problem in sailing a largish boat in open water, but neither can I see a lot of point in going much over say 9 or 10m. This gives plenty of space for one person with potential for reasonable sailing ability and the gear and sail handling certainly gets heavier with increase in LOA . Although help in coming alongside pontoons is often available, I wouldn't like to be in the position of needing to ask for it. I think that an important factor for pontoon berthing is reasonably low freeboard, esp. if you're not so agile as you once were.

 

[jonjo]

I singlehand my 35ft yacht and for those passages I would prefer a 31 footer. 80% of the challenge is in the first and last 30 meters from the berth or mooring. Sailing is the easy bit.

My perfect coastal single-handed’s yacht would include the following:

Smallish diameter wheel helm, with push button engage, under-deck autopilot .
Throttle mounted at the helm.
4 tons displacement.
Non skittish traditional fin and skeg hull design with good underwater grip in forward sections.
Electric anchor winch with foot operated switches.
Self stow anchor bowsprit design.
In-mast furling main = more time sailing.
In-cockpit VHF.
Medium 4“-7” plotter display mounted at helm.
Bow thruster. I know overkill at 32ft but it will get you out of trouble and encourage heading out in marginal windy marina conditions.

 

[Dyflin]

Have to say, I think the optimum size for coastal sailing singlehanded would be in the 26'-28' range. Not the biggest boat you can afford, but the smallest you can live with. Even trading up from our 23 footer to a 27 footer I am surprised by the differences in forces on lines and difference in steering.

 

[homa]

Cockpit layout

Personally I would look at the layout of the cockpit first.

As others have said, being able to reach the main and jib sheets from the helm would be a must for me. When sailing you would need to be able to dump either sail in a gust. Relying on just luffing up is not always the best solution.
I sail half my time singlehanded and I would say personally I much prefer a tiller. Reasons are, as a past dinghy sailer I like to sail with tiller between legs when adjusting the sheets and tacking. My present boat has been converted from tiller to wheel and can be a pain when winching in the headsail, I can't quite reach the helm and wind the headsail in at the same time, have to do it in 2-3 goes, and am therefore reliant on the autopilot quite a bit which I don't like, also loose a bit of the feel through the wheel. This is ok in open water, but means short tacking is difficult to say the least. Advantage of the wheel over a tiller is that it frees up space in the cockpit when you do have a crew.

Other things to consider are self tailing winches are a great help, particularly for the head sail sheets. A good autopilot is a must, mainly for setting and reducing sail & when under power. Roller headsail makes things easier but not a must, is great for sailing on/off a mooring. My first 2 boats had hank on headsails so required a bit more planning, and involved more time to set and reduce sail when single handed.

Entering/leaving a marina is all about preparation before you enter/leave. Before entry I always rig fenders both sides, and have lines fore and aft made fast and ready to throw ashore if required. I believe the ease of entering/leaving a marina depends more on how the boat handles under power rather than how many crew are onboard.

All IMHO of course.

 

[Slow_boat]

For single handed mooring in a marina I have bow and stern lines set up but the first line ashore is from sheet winch ( I would prefer a midships cleat of fairlead) to the first cleat on the pontoon that i come to. Loop over, pull tight, leave motor in slow ahead and steer into the berth. That holds her well into position while you step ashore and calmly make the bow and stern fast.

And when picking up a mooring, don't forget ferrygliding onto it amidships is much easier than hoping to stop the bow in the right place and racing along the sidedeck with a boathook.....I speak from experience! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[christopherc]

Thanks everyone. I think I'd agree that around 30' feels ideal. It sounds like a comfortable, practical max is considered mid 30's. I sail with my family of 5; wife and 3 daughters, so they need the comfort offered a by larger boat, our previous 32' just couldn't cope! I'm also very keen to try single handed. Sound like there is some overlap in the mid 30's between the needs of 5 of us and those for single handed sailing. Made the right choice at 36' then!

I'm hoping that mainsheet traveller on the coach roof isn't going to present a problem when single handed, auto helm should help. I'm assuming that so long as I keep it well reefed/reefed early it should be ok. I think its better on the coachroof for family sailing anyway.

 

[christopherc]

[ QUOTE ]
The smaller the better - 19 foot. I would get lost in a 35 footer

Dylan http://uk.youtube.com/user/KeepTurningLeft

[/ QUOTE ]

Dylan, you make me laugh! I'm a big fan of the series and looking forward to more. I'm afraid I'm in the french volume boat category, the letter of the month in June YM explains perfectly.

I'd like to buy you a beer when you get to Plymouth, although that could be quite a while!

 

[Slow_boat]

Reef as soon as you think 'I wonder if I should reef' and you can't go far wrong. The great thing about sailing alone is that you can go at your own pace, and if you need to anchor 'cos you missed the tide gate there's no one to complain!

A change of plan is never an admission of failure.

 

[christopherc]

I have used the midship cleat method before, works a treat!

Can you say more about 'ferrygliding'? You lost me there and it sounds a helpful tip.

 

[SirSnoozalot]

Anyone remember the Frenchman with the three mast schooner Vendredi? 117 feet - single-handed.

I wonder what special tricks he had for going in Marinas...

 

[christopherc]

A loud hailer?