Single handed

spottydog

spottydog

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Is single handing less stressfull than having a crew?
No one to question ( to themselves usually ) your descisions, no one to compromise your ideal anchorage, no one to worry about when it cuts up rough, no one to explain to when it becomes obvious the decision taken was one you will put down to gaining experience, no one to get back to their home when the day has been so perfect and you don't want it to end.
No one to apologise to when it goes totally t*ts up.
If you want company it's there in the marina bar!
Oh dear since passing the half century do I like my own company too much /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Hmmm, It's nice to have someone to helm when tuning sails or to pick up mooring while I handle controls, or carry warps up ladder to quay while I stay on board in case she drifts away on a gust or current - someone to share the sunset/ scotch with is also nice. Providing me with sausage sarnies, hot coffee & biscuits when helming is also good. But she can get under my feet when tacking as she doesn't have the strength to get the sheets tight and isn't interested in passage planning other than saying which beach/ pub/ harbour she wants to go to.
On thinking about it I enjoy both, but nothing is perfect!
 
. . . and no-one to stand around trying not to look bored as you rush round doing all the putting to bed tasks and worrying about not being a good enough skipper to delegate some of them.

My sympathy. On balance though, it's good to have crew on board to question some of you less-than-perfect decisions.
 
Depends on crew. I would rather sail with one of my sons than alone but would rather sail alone when they aren't available. Telling other people what to do gets on my nerves. The lads just know what to do!
 
Swings and roundabouts. On the practical side there's no doubt that having a crew that knows what (s)he's doing is a great boon for complicated manoeuvers. On the other hand a pre-arranged system can be arranged for covering most things single-handed, and there's never anyone standing in your way or blocking the view. When single-handing I tend to use the Autohelm 99% of the time and act as skipper and crew rather than helmsman.

The harder issues are more to do with relationships and whether or not you're happy with your own company. The times I most miss company are when things are especially good; dolphins visiting say, or a particularly fine sunset, and there's no-one to share it with.
 
The problem is that with crew I always buy the first pint on arrival.

Single handed I also buy the second.

And the third.

etc. etc. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
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, it's good to have crew on board to question some of you less-than-perfect decisions.

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No way! Navigation by committee is the worst of all in my book.

Chucked my crew overboard years ago after he put my breakfast egg in water that was already boiling.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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...No one to apologise to when it goes totally t*ts up.
...

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And nobody to BLAME and <span style="color:red">SHOUT</span> AT
 
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Depends on crew. I would rather sail with one of my sons than alone but would rather sail alone when they aren't available. Telling other people what to do gets on my nerves. The lads just know what to do!

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Same here!
Only difference - my favorite crewmember is my daughter.
What's more: she enjoys sailing more when it's just the 2 of us.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Chucked my crew overboard years ago after he put my breakfast egg in water that was already boiling

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1 If eggs in fridge leave out overnight
2 Pierce blunt end
3 Bring water to boil & immerse egg
4 Cover & simmer for 4 mins = runny, 5 = firm, 7 = hard

Who said "When my wife left I couldn't boil an egg"?
 
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Navigation by committee is the worst of all in my book

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Better PM Fireball then in case he misses this - he knows no other way. The definitive statement was "You don't need a Skipper on a day sail to Cowes."
 
I don't ... you may not know any other way ... but I do - single handed, experienced team or novice crew ... diverse man - it's never to late ... or perhaps your too long in the tooth - whats the saying? "Can't teach and old dog new tricks" ... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Re: Single Handed Sailing

I thought all solo sailors had an imaginary friend/crew ?
 
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