Single handing can be a pain in the butt (literally) on a voyage

[Sailingsaves]

22ish foot boat, long keel, old boat, outboard stuck on transom (anchors become very important).
Started from East coast, having to cross the Thames estuary (all those sandbanks and traffic), turning the corner, becoming tired, preferring to be at sea and nap rather than enter harbours, especially in dark, (stop watch alarm always on, sleeping in cockpit (napping) and very careful near any fast ferry routes) AIS receiver on alert. Two red lights at night or two black balls if napping for ten minutes. Deciding whether to go to Channel Islands or West Coast.

Then suffering diarrhoea and the head is on starboard side which can put one at a funny angle on starboard tack (just to be on safe side) (stomach bug, not seasickness). 10 motions a day (and I'm not talking sea motion).

Cat 5 first aid kit comes in handy even if some of tablets are a bit out of date (gp told me that the tablets would just be less effective, not dangerous to take).

The amount of kit and water needed !

Knocks and bangs and fatigue can be quite a pain. Outboard on transom is a real pain and makes marinas very difficult, but sheltered rivers and harbours ok.

Just remembering to take usual medication becomes a pain.

Can't remember much else, but I know there were lots of times I wish I had crew. Did wonder at times: "why? Is this worth it?"

Weather was great, scenery terrific. No mishaps (always a good thing)

Will need to think hard to make life easier next time.

 

[GHA]

Maybe not much of an option to most but long passages it's nice to go anchor out of the way for a couple of days to get tidied up and make sure you haven't picked up a bug before heading out into the deep blue yonder
Must admit coastal solo really isn't much fun, much better off the continental shelf with a copy of the long way.

 

[Sailingsaves]

Maybe not much of an option to most but long passages it's nice to go anchor out of the way for a couple of days to get tidied up and make sure you haven't picked up a bug before heading out into the deep blue yonder
Must admit coastal solo really isn't much fun, much better off the continental shelf with a copy of the long way.

Couldn't agree more.

Land is scary. Sea room is safe. Doing deliveries I always felt calmer and safer well out to sea.

Next year maybe I shall set off and just sit in the Atlantic for 3 months (with lots of tool boxes and water) and work on the boat at sea. Just go back and forth enjoying the long keel ploughing straight lines, and drifting on moonlit nights (if no swell - fat chance, but still a chance).

Need a Maurice Griffiths type boat for coastal cruising or at least bilge keels. But beggars can't be choosers.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Whilst I understand while you might want to put NUC lights and day shapes up, you are not really NUC according to IRPCS and in the event of a problem you might end up on the wrong side of any investigation.

I too enjoy doing maintenance at sea, but lots of jobs need stability and a quiet creek to anchor in?

 

[Seajet]

Years ago in Weymouth we met a chap on his own who'd short-tacked all the way from Grimsby, taking cat-naps in the shipping lanes; " I 'ad this 250,000 tonner, and 'e wouldn't give way..."

That became our catchphrase for the year.

 

[Triassic]

Then suffering diarrhoea and the head is on starboard side which can put one at a funny angle on starboard tack (just to be on safe side) (stomach bug, not seasickness). 10 motions a day (and I'm not talking sea motion).

You're failing to take advantage of one of the many advantages of single handing in this situation, there is no need to confine yourself to the head or to incumber yourself with unnecessary preparatory activity. Just saying......

 

[Seajet]

Including the heads business - and dehydration so Dioralyte is very handy, about £4.50 for four sachets - I always say the no.1 enemy is FATIGUE.

 

[Sailingsaves]

Whilst I understand while you might want to put NUC lights and day shapes up, you are not really NUC according to IRPCS and in the event of a problem you might end up on the wrong side of any investigation.

I too enjoy doing maintenance at sea, but lots of jobs need stability and a quiet creek to anchor in?

Yes, I have googled and see you are correct. NUC examples are making way but loss of engine power (motor vessels only), loss of rudder, etc.

I understand I may be found to be on the wrong side of an investigation, but I have always said I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. I will however re-think this?

What lights do Vendee Globe sailors show when they cat-nap? Anyone know? Just the usual lights and rely upon their superior electronics?

Regard maintenance: If I am becalmed in the Atlantic I would become bored and that would be the perfect time to catch up on jobs. Like Dylan Winter, I would rather sail than fettle hence my boat looks rough because I don't sit at anchor in creeks and do the fettling because I'd rather sail out of the creeks. My boat never comes ashore, however, so maybe during winter I could do the fettling then with an oil lamp etc for heat (plus co alarm)

 

[Sailingsaves]

You're failing to take advantage of one of the many advantages of single handing in this situation, there is no need to confine yourself to the head or to incumber yourself with unnecessary preparatory activity. Just saying......

Good point.

 

[Seajet]

I think we need a new ' snoozing ' signal; ' ZZZ ' ?

 

[Sailingsaves]

Including the heads business - and dehydration so Dioralyte is very handy, about £4.50 for four sachets - I always say the no.1 enemy is FATIGUE.

Fatigue is the killer as you say and that was when I put into rivers or harbours. I can only do 24 hours nonstop before I start to wilt. Still talking about sailing here.

 

[[70521]]

Do you not have a bucket onboard? 99p from B&Q gets a nice orange one.

 

[jimi]

Solo across the North Sea I pulled on a reefing line with one hand expecting a hard pull and it came very easily such that I ended up on my @rse in the cockpit and I've a nice bruise on my bum. If I'd used both hand it'd probably be a bigger bruise ;-)

 

[Seajet]

The mainsheet traveller on the Anderson 22 is on a beam halfway along the cockpit; the original Barton track had a plunger stop to set each side of the sheet block; the tops of these plungers came off rather easily revealing a stainless steel spike...

One day ( in fairness it was our first season ) I was on the cabin top when wash from a speedboat hit us, I did a complete somersault and landed @rse first on this spike.

I'm told by girlfriends I still have the scar, it certainly made my eyes water. :ambivalence:

 

[lpdsn]

Would it not just be easier to find crew? The rest of the human race can't be that bad surely.

 

[iLens]

My answer to fatigue is a kitchen timer. Depending how far offshore you are, get 10 or 20 minutes sleep, pop up on deck, check all remains well, repeat till rested.

 

[mjcoon]

Would it not just be easier to find crew? The rest of the human race can't be that bad surely.

Was it a sailor who said "Hell is other people"?

Mike.

 

[GHA]

My answer to fatigue is a kitchen timer. Depending how far offshore you are, get 10 or 20 minutes sleep, pop up on deck, check all remains well, repeat till rested.

One of these -

 

[Sybarite]

Do you not have a bucket onboard? 99p from B&Q gets a nice orange one.

I saw one of these metal expedition type boats. In a corner of the pushpit there was a loo seat and and a waterproof container for the paper.