singlehanding - and courage

[Bosun Higgs]

I wonder if anyone else feels like this?

I sail with a crew through the winter, whatever the weather. Over the 20 years I've been sailing big boats as opposed to dinghies I've sailed the UK south and east coasts many times, the french coast, the spanish coast, crossed Biscay etc. I'm a yachtmaster offshore. I'm not Slocum but I am competent.

But I have never single handed and tbh am a bit frightened of doing so. The ridiculous thing is that most of my summer sailing has been with SWMBO who, despite being competent, is disinterested so I am effectively single handing in company.

But be that as it may I am about to call off the first serious cruise of the season because all my mates are busy sailing their own boats and I'm getting agitated about single handing.

 

[Mark-1]

I wonder if anyone else feels like this?

I sail with a crew through the winter, whatever the weather. Over the 20 years I've been sailing big boats as opposed to dinghies I've sailed the UK south and east coasts many times, the french coast, the spanish coast, crossed Biscay etc. I'm a yachtmaster offshore. I'm not Slocum but I am competent.

But I have never single handed and tbh am a bit frightened of doing so. The ridiculous thing is that most of my summer sailing has been with SWMBO who, despite being competent, is disinterested so I am effectively single handing in company.

But be that as it may I am about to call off the first serious cruise of the season because all my mates are busy sailing their own boats and I'm getting agitated about single handing.

Just do it. Assuming you're normally mobile around the boat it's a doddle. I suspect you already know that. If you have lazy jacks and autohelm you're effectively sailing 3 up anyway!

 

[snowleopard]

I take it you aren't talking about long-distance stuff so sleep isn't an issue. Unless your boat is rigged for a big crew everything on board can be done by one person. It is essential to have an autopilot or other means of holding a course so you can go below to the heads or to brew up. You might prefer to heave to. Once clear of harbour traffic nothing is going to come over the horizon and hit you in the time you need for pee, brew or chart check. Just get in the habit of a careful scan of the horizon every time you go below.

You need to be more careful about falling overboard so never leave the cockpit without clipping on with a short tether that will prevent you from slipping under the guardrails. A centre-line jackstay is better than the usual ones running along the side decks. A personal EPIRB in your pocket is a good idea.

The tricky bit is mooring singlehanded. For picking up a buoy a line tied to a bow cleat and run aft to the cockpit will avoid the sprint forward as you lose way. For pontoons, practice the midship spring technique.

Check your insurance covers singlehanding and go for it. Maybe start with a trip round the bay to reassure yourself first.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I too have a lot of experience and my first single handed was concerning. Today all my single handed sailing is still concerning! However I enjoy it and I look confident, allthough inwardly concerned.
Just do it, I suspect you know how to prepare yourself and boat anyway.
Being nervous is natural, use it as healthy tension to stay on your toes and be safe and conroled.

 

[Ubergeekian]

But be that as it may I am about to call off the first serious cruise of the season because all my mates are busy sailing their own boats and I'm getting agitated about single handing.

I was terrified the first time I sailed the Jouster on my own, but I fairly soon got used to it. Same on Jumblie - I sail with a crew member who can helm reasonably but at 4 years old isn't really ready for the heavy stuff yet.

The tricky bit is mooring singlehanded. For picking up a buoy a line tied to a bow cleat and run aft to the cockpit will avoid the sprint forward as you lose way. For pontoons, practice the midship spring technique.

Agreed on both. You can also use the engine when mooring or anchoring.

I think the most important thing to remember is that nothing on a boat happens as fast as you think it does. Even on the Jouster - 21' long and twitchy - there's time to round up to a mooring, walk forward, kneel down, grab the buoy and tie up (or lower the anchor) before anything untoward happens.

OP, you'll be fine. Absolutely fine.

 

[webcraft]

.
I am in exactly the same position - the only time I have actually singlehanded the boat is from one mooring in Balvicar Bay to another. I have however left Craighouse and woken SWMBO half an hour before picking up the mooring at home.

It's all in the mind. I have been toying with the idea of breaking my singlehanding cherry and my nervousness about the big Offshore by doing the Azores Jester next year, but this is very hypothetical at the moment and I don't know if I will ever find the bottle or other resources to get Fairwinds to the start line.

For daysailing though if I wanted to go I would now - as you say, you are effectively singlehanding much of the time. Even if you don't enjoy it as much as sailing in company you will undoubtedly get a great sense of personal achievement from it.

- W

 

[25931]

Being single-handed is great - nothing to worry about in decent weather. My only problem is parking the cat. in a cross wind.

 

[SJF]

I wonder if anyone else feels like this?

But be that as it may I am about to call off the first serious cruise of the season because all my mates are busy sailing their own boats and I'm getting agitated about single handing.

I've certainly felt like this but agree with the others. You just need to go for it! I've just returned from a weekend singlehanding in the Solent (like you no crew where available), if I can manage it over a busy bank holiday weekend at only 29 without getting into any mischief then I'm sure you can too. Even managed to get into a stupidly busy Yarmouth Harbour and raft up without any assistance, followed by a beautifully peaceful night anchored in the Beaulieu river.

Just prepare everything well in advance, be cautious and always have an alternative safe haven (just as you normally would anyway). Don't be too adventurous to start with, go to places you are familiar with and give yourself a chance to adapt your techniques for being on your own.

Finally, take a good book and relax!
Simon

 

[sighmoon]

I found it easy enough off a swinging mooring but the thought of doing it in and out of a marina leaves me nervous.

 

[Poignard]

The only things about single-handing that worry me are how to get in/out of some tricky marina berths and how to cope with loneliness.

The latter can be dealt with, to some extent, by following Dr Johnson's advice:

'If you are idle, be not solitary; if you are solitary be not idle.'

 

[SHUG]

Singlehanding is very much a frame of mind!!
You automatically do a risk analysis on every move you make. Sounds a bit analytical but it becomes a reflex action after a while.

 

[Poignard]

You automatically do a risk analysis on every move you make.

And so do the people in adjacent berths

 

[ms.lau]

i'm another one in the same boat, so to speak i've never single-handed anything bigger than a dinghy but (think i) would love the sense of self-reliance it would bring. my boat is new to me so i think i need to get to know it well before trying. all the above advice sounds very good and one thing i've heard time and again is to

'plan ahead and take it slowly'.

good luck, and please let us know how you get on, laura

 

[LeonF]

What's wrong with using the classic hove to ? Tack and don't move the foresail over. Maybe ease the main a little or sheet in really tight. Gives you time to nip down for a cuppa etc. And if you are single handed then keep a bucket in the cockpit and you can sit on it while helming in an emergency ! I sailed my Sigma 33 single handed, but admit I never had the guts to take it into a marina. Much easier with the Vic. If it's difficult leaving a berth, warp her around so you can head straight out if possible. When arriving at a berth, you can always mentionethat your single handed, and the marina staff will usually walk down and give you a hand if needed. Anchoring, picking up a buoy was OK.. Single handed can be a lot simpler than issuing intructions to an inexperienced crew. I'd be interested to read other posters suggestions for coming into a berth, transiting a lock single handed. The midships cleat technique works well, providing you are confident about not missing it, and the pontoon cleat is a cleat and not a ring etc.

 

[Slow_boat]

As above. It's all in the mind and in the planning. Think ahead, what I call a state of healthy paranoia, so when plan 'A' fails, you have have plans B,C and D. Have what you need in the cockpit to start with. I have;

Auto helm, bottle of water, maybe flask of tea, nibbles, oilskins and jumper in easy reach, binoculars, HB compass, handheld GPS, correct charts in order on chart table, passage plan, logbook, spare pencils, HH VHF, keys in ignition.

Lots of fenders, both side and I have two big ones hanging horizontally over the bow as a bumper, which inspires confidence and means you can get a breast line on, helm over and put the bow against the pontoon while you sort yourself out. Let berthing masters know you're single handed and they will either help or give you an easier berth.They don't want it going wrong anymore than you do. Have lines ready boath sides, just in case. Get the feel of your prop kick and use it. Picking up bouys or anchoring is easiest, if it doesn't go right first time, just have another go.

Some sort of self steering is a must, heaving to is a way of buying time or just having a break. I've been single handing coastally for years and love it. Like you, even when swmbo is there, she's virtually a passenger. I can quite happily have a week of sailing and anchoring and speak to no one, but maybe that just means I'm anti-social.

 

[WindyOut]

I've gone from beginner to single-handing my HR35 in 5 years, so it's possible. My tips:

1. Get a good autopilot,
2. Know what you're going to do. Have a Plan A and a Plan B,
3. Stay in port during bad weather.

You'll love it. A totally different experience. And as you sit comfortably at anchor with a glass of red wine in your hand watching a glorious sunset, you'll know you did it all yourself.

Windy

 

[davidwf]

I'm single handed most of the , and have an Oceanis 31, only real issue for me is berthing in my home marina Woolverstone and then its only really an issue with a following tide and wind blowing me off the berth. My neigbours know to leave me to my own devices in calm weather as I actually find it easier to berth on my own as I don't loose concentration figuring out what they are up to. But I am always happy to accept help in adverse conditions from my neighbours. If they are not around the marina staff are always available and happy to help.

When sailing I have no issues really, as boats got good autopilot and a lazy bag, I heave too or use the autopilot if I want to go below. Its really a matter of planning and getting confidence.

 

[Athene V30]

The only things about single-handing that worry me are how to get in/out of some tricky marina berths and how to cope with loneliness.

I love singlehanded sailing.

I hate marinas as I have a long keeled boat so astern power is at best limited and at worst unpredictable (well predictable in that I have no idea where the boat will go!) So I avoid marinas when I can but when I have to use them I rig fenders and lines both sides and ask for an easy berth if there is one! If it looks dodgy, go round again!

As for lonely - no way. The boat is there for company!

 

[chinita]

Some excellent advice already posted here.

IMO, singlehanding is the essence of seamanship. Take it very slowly, plan, plan and plan. Learn how to heave to properly to buy time if you need it.

Take no notice of others watching as you leave/arrive, they are just secretly admiring you.

The best bit is when you are safely tucked up after your first exploit. You will sit down below, grin, then smile, then laugh.

You will feel great

 

[EdWingfield]

When coming in to a marina let them know you are s/h and would like someone at the berth to grab you.

It's no loss of face, it's common-sense.