Singlehanding - why do you do it?

[Greenheart]

Thing with a yacht is you can't jump out when you get to shallow water and pull it onto the trolley.

Indeed not, however many crew one chooses to sail with. So it doesn't much relate to singlehanding - unless one needs the company, to bolster confidence about avoiding shoals?

Pulling a hefty two-hander dinghy up a steep slipway is the only time I've found singlehanding really disagreeable. I'm still working on a solution.

 

[Poignard]

Was it Wainwright who reckoned a walk with someone who kept chattering, was utterly ruined? He had a point, even though he comes across as having been a grumpy old sod.
.

I think that came about after he did a walk with Eric Robson (currently presenter of Gardeners' Question Time).

 

[jesterchallenger]

- Singlehanding - why do you do it? -

If you have to ask this question, you'll never understand the answer.

There's also a world of difference between daysailing without crew and ocean-crossing alone.

 

[ganter]

- Singlehanding - why do you do it? -

If you have to ask this question, you'll never understand the answer.

There's also a world of difference between daysailing without crew and ocean-crossing alone.

I have to say I'm not sure I agree with that - though based on your Username I'm quite ready to happily bow to your superior knowledge - I think the only significant difference is time.
When one sails alone one must place the same degrees of reliance in one's planning, execution and resources, one must be equally aware of one's boat, its equipment and her habits and nuances and one must venture with an equal degree of care and thoughtful process whether one is crossing thousands of miles of ocean or a few miles across an estuary.

 

[Greenheart]

In my experience, the slightly more complicated job of singlehanding & the comprehensive readiness one acquires when this is learned, makes sailing with newcomers far more relaxing - you can show them what to do if they want to learn, but you're never reliant upon their ability to understand instructions, because you already had the whole system in hand.

 

[Searush]

As a lone walker I notice others are accompanied by either a spouse (or possibly a mate), camera/pair of binoculars, or dog. Rarely more than one of those and even more rarely all three!

Mike.

I carry my binoculars in my pocket when I walk with SWMBO & dog.

 

[Lakesailor]

Walking with SWMBO is quite a lot like sailing with her. She's scared stiff of climbing hills, can't keep up with a pace I think is okay, and is always asking when we'll head back.

I think she regards being outside as an ordeal - possibly worth taking-on as a physical challenge, but rarely to be enjoyed in the process.

I remember as a teenager going on long, barefoot bike rides into the Sussex hills on summer days, never, ever in company - sometimes my sister would come because she felt she needed exercise, but much less for appreciation of the beautiful places. SWMBO's the same (that's about all they share).

Was it Wainwright who reckoned a walk with someone who kept chattering, was utterly ruined? He had a point, even though he comes across as having been a grumpy old sod.

The best bit of singlehanding is surely never having to consider the preferences of anyone else. Worth writing up the high points in a log though, for the like-minded to appreciate.

Funny that. When we ran the B&B in Bowness we very often had couples come to stay who were going fell-walking. Most weekends and often during the week. There weren't many who were equally keen on a good, stiff walk. Some partners, in fact, were terrified and more than one told us they had sat down and refused to carry on.
Like many things, I think men and women (and I think it's justifiable to split it along those lines) have different requirements and perceptions of a walk on the fells.
It's not unreasonable to think the same about sailing.

Thing with a yacht is you can't jump out when you get to shallow water and pull it onto the trolley. OTOH I wouldn't fancy trying to right my inverted Solo with the traffic in Southampton Water

When I started sailing a Solo dinghy I got a friend to come out in the motor boat and supervise my capsize drill (he is a long distance open water swimmer).
It was on Windermere and wasn't very busy. After righting the dinghy the second time (so we had been in the same spot for about 15 minutes) a hire-rowing boat actually crashed into the Solo!

 

[Greenheart]

I think men and women have different requirements and perceptions of a walk on the fells...not unreasonable to think the same about sailing...(and it's justifiable to split it along those lines)...

Did you mean split-up, Lakey? I don't believe she nor I want that. Much easier if I just go sailing singlehanded!

 

[30boat]

It's been a long process with me and I'm still not too sure about the concept.My wife,then girlfriend and recently ex wife,encouraged me to buy a boat when we were living in Macau.I got the cheapest,scruffiest Peterson 30 for sale at the Yacht club.She was very enthusiastic about the boat and we had huge fun.Then I was forced to completely rebuild the boat which took three and a half years.Again we had loads of fun and were on the water at every opportunity.After a few years I had the boat shipped to Spain and she came along for the trip to Lisbon.This was in 94.We were on the boat on every weekend and sometimes during the week as well.Then our son came along and things changed.At first I understood that that there would have to be less sailing but with time her enthusiasm for the boat went away.Lately she wouldn't get out of port ,it was either too cold or too hot or too windy etc.Now that she's become an ex I must singlehand wether I like it ot not.I'd much rather do it with a girlfriend so I could share the experience ,I guess I have to be patient and someone will come along.In the meanwhile it's singlehanding or nothing.

 

[chinita]

- Singlehanding - why do you do it? -

If you have to ask this question, you'll never understand the answer.

There's also a world of difference between daysailing without crew and ocean-crossing alone.

Wow.

Award for most pompous answer.

Special award for most immodest username.

We look forward to reading your JC exploits.

 

[Lakesailor]

No. You don't understand. People who sail on puddles or dabble around muddy creeks are nothing to do with "proper" sailing and are an inferior breed.

 

[chrisb]

I enjoy sailing long distances fast. Haven't come across many who want to do this in the manner that I want to do it so I do it alone. Enjoy taking myself to limit . Then again happy to cruise foreign shores with my wife (who accompanies me on all but passages over 1500nm) and friends . The solitude of single handed sailing thousands of miles from land allows time to reflect and to enjoy the luxury of company when it is offered

 

[mikeinkwazi]

No one has said it so I will. Being alone at sea means you can 'hear' the boat talking to you. These are wonderfull responsive constructions, balanced with wind and water and they do chatter away if you care to listen! I like sailing with my wife or other interested friends, but communing with my boat is even better.

 

[Dipper]

I had been sailing with my husband every sommer for 24 yrs and loved every minute of it. When he died last year I couldn't bear the thought of selling the boat which had been such a big part of our life together and our second home. So I thought I'd give single handing a try and so far I haven't regretted it. I don't do marinas and harbours just sail to anchorages with lots of space for mistakes. My boat is in Greece. Here's a selfie video of a day of single handing.
http://yachtswoman.blogspot.se/search?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=2

Loved the video and your approach to life.

 

[chrisb]

No one has said it so I will. Being alone at sea means you can 'hear' the boat talking to you. These are wonderfull responsive constructions, balanced with wind and water and they do chatter away if you care to listen! I like sailing with my wife or other interested friends, but communing with my boat is even better.

Agee with being at one with the boat and sea is one of the great things

 

[PhillM]

I work in a small office and employ 5 people. We are a small unit and know each other really well. We make a great team.

I have five kids and most live at home, except 2 who are at uni but most weekends one or the other, or a kids mate is here. So the house has at least 5 and usually 7+ people in it.

SWIMBO likes large dogs and has 2 German Shepherds.

I HATE being alone at home or even in the office. Its just wrong. It means someone is missing.

I love to sail with family. But I also like to sail alone. I also like just being on board in the marina alone and sometimes sleep on board mid-week. I love being alone on board. When I am, I turn off the phone too.

 

[Greenheart]

...the house has at least 5 and usually 7+ people in it...and has 2 German Shepherds.

Jeepers! Sounds like the birthplace of a determined ambition to singlehand. I can understand using the berthed boat as a place to go which isn't echoing with somebody's footsteps.

 

[Topic]

Re-joining the boat is just so good as a singlehander; relax and know the boat is back in your hands. No hassle, your control and schedule, your catering, totally your call. I just feel family tensions draining away. I love my boat. I really enjoy the challenges of navigating, anchoring or berthing. I know now the limits of isolation; 40 days and I was talking to the clock and making unreasonable decisions but that was totally out of contact in the Indian Ocean, it was enough! Now 48 hrs at sea is a real tonic!

Topic
La Rochelle

 

[charles_reed]

It's easy!
No problems of things being done wrong.
Nothing hidden after use.
No interfering domestic problems, causing emergency landfalls.
No boring, annoying, tedious habits.
Washing up done properly.
Reasonable water usage, so you aren't having to search for a tap.

Not that I'm a misanthrope, but I'm never bored by my own company.

 

[Uricanejack]

I prefer to sail with someone so I rarely sail alone. So far I have not yet sailed my current boat alone. For no particular reason.
My wife comes just for the ride in many ways I am sailing single handed. Just not alone.
I used to sail my old boat with just my kids, it was a lot like single handed, they are bigger now and often have other things to do.
I single hand the boat out to the mooring, and I go out to the mooring and single hand back to he dock to pick up my wife. She doesn’t like boarding from dingy.
I single hand from time to time for convenience if I want to take the boat some where.
I prefer to have some one with me to share the experience with.
I nobody wants to come. I go myself.