singlehanding - and courage

[Slow_boat]

Re-reading the OP it seems bosun higgs is experienced and competent, maybe it's the worry of lonliness he's worried about.

As I said earlier, I sail round the east coast solo a lot and just love being alone up a creek, pottering around, cooking, reading, watching the seals, painting, making music etc. No one to break the magic, see.

As for longer passages, I've done a few of over the week solo and once you are clear of soundings and settled into a routine, the worry goes, though the healthy paranoia stays. The biggest challenge is sleep. I'm not sure if I'm fit enough or cocksure enough to do it now but I can tell you there is a great difference between lonliness and being alone.

 

[doug748]

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 find leaving a Marina berth is the worst thing;
Can I make it?
Will the bow come round?
What if the spring jams?
Will the bow blow off?
That boat looks close?
If you do have a marina berth you are facing the hardest bit right at the outset.
It is very public, and you can get into a position where there is no way out, except drifting into the scrum with no one to fend off.
Going into a marina the adrenalin, inertia and blind ignorance tend to spur you on, with no time to worry. Swing mooring and anchoring are easy

Anyway, I would follow the advice already given and take a number of tiny trips. With each trip your aversion to setting off will grow less. Consider getting off the pontoon for a couple of weeks and taking a swinging mooring, that way you can do 4 or 5 trips in a single day - away from the gawping (or even worse, helpful) throng.

I believe you will take the longer trip in your stride - that is the easy bit.

 

[Searush]

I suspect the OP's problem is not about solo sailing, but that he had planned a "serious cruise" of around 100m & that's a big step for the first solo trip.

My advice stands, just potter locally if solo - it's just as much fun & just as satisfying. You can do the bigger one later when you know you have sorted out any minor solo sailing issues that may crop up initially.

 

[andytrombone]

Dylan? No comments?

I was expecting to hear from Dylan on this thread, after all he seems to do a fair bit of solo sailing into places new to him.

Come out, come out wherever you are......

 

[electrosys]

I wasn't going to tell you lot this, for fear of being thought stupid and reckless, but here goes anyhow.
[...]

What you describe is known as 'gaining experience' - and you seem to have gained a tad more than average for a first outing. But - next time, you'll be that much better prepared.

Think - if the day had gone without a hitch - what would you have learned ?

 

[Slow_boat]

Yep, experience is something that can't be beat.

Unfortunately, it's also something you get just after you need it.

 

[Searush]

Yep, experience is something that can't be beat.

Unfortunately, it's also something you get just after you need it.

Yes, but once you recognise it, you can use it over & over again.

 

[Poignard]

What we need is a YBW single-handed rally. Then we could sail single-handed and socialise on arrival.

Also, the most skilled and those having manouverable boats could arrive first and help those of us to berth who have no idea what we are doing and/or have long-keelers.

 

[sighmoon]

What we need is a YBW single-handed rally. Then we could sail single-handed and socialise on arrival.

Also, the most skilled and those having manouverable boats could arrive first and help those of us to berth who have no idea what we are doing and/or have long-keelers.

Perhaps it would be easier if everyone goes on one boat?

 

[Searush]

Perhaps it would be easier if everyone goes on one boat?

But can you imagine the rows when anything needs doing - sail trim, anchoring, ship to be avoided, you name it there would be huge discussion & nowt done!

 

[mattonthesea]

Bosun

my surveyor told me to be sure the boat will be OK and sail itself, because I needed to be awake and not tired. He was right: the self steering meant I could rest when I needed and eat drink etc. My first solos were along the Spanish coast and then across to Madeira. Wonderful go for it

 

[Poignard]

Perhaps it would be easier if everyone goes on one boat?

..with only one person allowed to do anything and the rest watching?

 

[dylanwinter]

my experience

I was expecting to hear from Dylan on this thread, after all he seems to do a fair bit of solo sailing into places new to him.

Come out, come out wherever you are......

thanks for asking - not sure I have much to contribute - the slug is little more than a big dinghy with a reliable diesel inboard.

I try not to sail with too many time constraints - so that lets me avoid taking chances with the weather and the tides

I have only been frightened twice on the journey so far - anyone who has watched the films will probably know when

but I got seriously lost crossing the thames on an ebb tide with rising wind forecast and light fading. I had 18 inches under the keels and had no idea where the channel was

the second time was coming out of wells

I would have been just as scared if with other people - actually probabaly worse because I would feel responsible for their safety

Roller reefing is a great comfort - and an engine that starts when you press the button is wonderful

I would love a gear shift that really worked - as opposed to deciding which of the blue or red ropes to pull - but that is just for getting into marinas - and the slug is small enough to paddle

I love going to new places though - not knowing what is around the corner - nothing like it

I might feel very different if I was trying to sail a 30 footer offshore - but I assume I would soon get used to that

having the GPS to tell me where the next mark might be is wonderful

the other day, while raking through the garage stuff I came across one of the radio direction finders - aaaaaagh!

thank god for technology

Dylan

 

[PeterGibbs]

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.

Loads of considerations but really only three:

1. You must have an effective means of stabilising the tiller - an autopilot is what I use - whilst you do other things.

2. When making or leaving port, you must be prepared to wait or stand off until conditions are suitable, not even "right", just so you have unimpeded passage when moving slowly and liable to windage. It can be necessary to saw back and forth to maintain control and steerage until the window of opportunity opens.

3. You will need a good range of fenders to take the close encounter / pontoon.

And if you are travelling on the continent, I will add a fourth: have a cleat amidships so you stabilise the boat on landing / coming alongside a lock / rafting.

There is a satisfaction that passes any crewed adventure when you do it yourself. It is a very intense personal experience you will remember in more detail than a crewed trip. For long trips have a radio in the cockpit with earpiece to listen to the news, or even the cricket if that makes your day complete!

PWG

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Well thanks for all the comments folks.

In the end I have called the trip off and instead am going into hospital for a hernia op rather than spend all season treating myself with kid gloves for fear of strangulation and peritonitis. At least thats what I tell myself but its also a handy reason for not singlehanding. Certainly I am not at all agitated about the op whereas I was about the sailing. Stupid really.

The reason it was a 100 miles trip originally proposed was that I am based in the Bristol channel and sail a deep fin boat so to get where I wanted to get there simply are no places to call in and shorten the journey.

But isnt our mental make up funny? Rationality often comes a poor second to gut reaction. In my case high risk activities ( motorcycling or microlights for example) cause no fear but what rationally is low risk ( single handing the boat or long distance travel) causes apprehension.

 

[Little Five]

Well thanks for all the comments folks.

In the end I have called the trip off and instead am going into hospital for a hernia op rather than spend all season treating myself with kid gloves for fear of strangulation and peritonitis. At least thats what I tell myself but its also a handy reason for not singlehanding. Certainly I am not at all agitated about the op whereas I was about the sailing. Stupid really.

The reason it was a 100 miles trip originally proposed was that I am based in the Bristol channel and sail a deep fin boat so to get where I wanted to get there simply are no places to call in and shorten the journey.

But isnt our mental make up funny? Rationality often comes a poor second to gut reaction. In my case high risk activities ( motorcycling or microlights for example) cause no fear but what rationally is low risk ( single handing the boat or long distance travel) causes apprehension.

This was a good thread Bosun Higgs and I admire your honesty. I am sure that someone of your experience would have no problems with the nuts and bolts of sailing on your own but you are right about the apprehension which I always feel and it does detract from the sailing experience. One cannot help but worry about what if this or that should happen.
Good luck with the medical sorting. Do give the solo a try at some point, there are great personal rewards from it.

 

[Tranona]

On a practical note this thread prompted me to check my insurance on the Bavaria - and found not covered. Quick phone call to Bluefin and added it. No cost for coastal daylight hours only and must have an autopilot.

Another step toward giving it a go!

 

[SolentBoat]

Inspired by this thread, I may well give singlehanding a try tomorrow.

If I summon up the nerve, I'll report back. As someone pointed out upthread, it's getting off the pontoon at the start that's proved to be the real stopper in the past.

 

[Tranona]

Inspired by this thread, I may well give singlehanding a try tomorrow.

If I summon up the nerve, I'll report back. As someone pointed out upthread, it's getting off the pontoon at the start that's proved to be the real stopper in the past.

Getting off is usually technically easier but casting the last warp is a "now or never" moment. Getting back in always seems worse when you are tired and the wind always seems to be stronger! Soon got used to it in my 26 footer, but the 37 is a lot of boat - although actually much more maneouverable.

 

[maxcampbell]

Courage, mon brave

I started a similar thread recently, for similar reasons. I read the encouraging replies, with one or two tips, and got to the point where I was looking forward to getting out alone, then brother phoned - "I can do Thursday to Saturday", so missed my chance.

Despite still trying to break my SH duck, now believe it will happen when balance of desire falls towards it happening - ie you've got to want to. I reckon I actually do want to now.