Singlehanding - why do you do it?

[spilt-my-tea]

Singlehanded - why?

100% reliability on oneself.
If I make an error then only I shall pay the consequences.
If (when) it breaks, you fix it, no matter the circumstances.
But when it works, when it's all balanced, then so too are you.

not that any of the above are exclusive to being solo though, only I've never sailed with anyone else so I can only comment on being single handed.

 

[Malcb]

Singlehanded.................

sometimes I just like being in my own space..........................alone

 

[Greenheart]

My wife comes just for the ride in many ways I am sailing single handed. Just not alone...

Good point. I really needed SWMBO's ballast and assistance with rope-handling; but it was quickly obvious that she's appalled by a sailboat's inclination to heel, and she isn't interested in learning how or why I need her to trim the genoa sheets; so I had no option but to plan for singlehanding. I anticipate that now, when she'll only be there for the ride, she'll enjoy it more. Either way, I'll cope.

 

[jesterchallenger]

Chinita - you wrote [Wow.

Award for most pompous answer.

Special award for most immodest username.

We look forward to reading your JC exploits.]

Sorry if my response upset you Chinita, it wasn't meant to sound pompous, only honest. It's a question I get asked regularly and the honest answer is 'Because it's fun'. This usually elicits a response along the lines of 'Are you kidding! Fun!? You must be mad!' Bearing in mind that an average JC/OSTAR/similar event across the N Atlantic in a small craft will probably involve at least 4 weeks of beating to windward in quite rough conditions which most people don't find terribly amusing, so they don't understand when you say... 'because it's fun'.

Heading offshore on your own for a week or two is really quite different from singlehanded daysailing, which is why the recommendation for anyone considering taking part in a JC is to get a 500 mile non-stop trip under your belt first (it is a condition of entry for almost all ocean races, but the JC has no rules, only recommendations). Daysailing is not about endurance, though I would readily admit that it is a lot busier than being safely offshore, with mooring, anchoring, land proximity, traffic etc giving you plenty to do. Any trip in coastal waters longer than 24 hours can be very challenging - sailing my Rustler singlehanded non-stop from Levington to Plymouth for the JC10 start (44 hours, in case you wondered) was harder than the Challenge itself.

My forum moniker, 'jesterchallenger', was originally chosen to participate in the JC Forum elsewhere on this site - sorry you don't like it. Immodest? Yup, honest as well. I'm actually quite proud of what I've done because of the Jester Challenge. It has encouraged me to have a go at some reasonably adventurous sailing and taught me a great deal about self reliance at sea. I shall continue to participate in future Challenges, though sadly not this year due to circumstances beyond my control. The start of the Jester Challenge is on Sunday 11th May - all visitors welcome at QAB, you might meet some interesting people, neither pompous nor immodest.

 

[mikeinkwazi]

Chinita - you wrote [Wow.

Award for most pompous answer.

Special award for most immodest username.

We look forward to reading your JC exploits.]

Sorry if my response upset you Chinita, it wasn't meant to sound pompous, only honest. It's a question I get asked regularly and the honest answer is 'Because it's fun'. This usually elicits a response along the lines of 'Are you kidding! Fun!? You must be mad!' Bearing in mind that an average JC/OSTAR/similar event across the N Atlantic in a small craft will probably involve at least 4 weeks of beating to windward in quite rough conditions which most people don't find terribly amusing, so they don't understand when you say... 'because it's fun'.

Heading offshore on your own for a week or two is really quite different from singlehanded daysailing, which is why the recommendation for anyone considering taking part in a JC is to get a 500 mile non-stop trip under your belt first (it is a condition of entry for almost all ocean races, but the JC has no rules, only recommendations). Daysailing is not about endurance, though I would readily admit that it is a lot busier than being safely offshore, with mooring, anchoring, land proximity, traffic etc giving you plenty to do. Any trip in coastal waters longer than 24 hours can be very challenging - sailing my Rustler singlehanded non-stop from Levington to Plymouth for the JC10 start (44 hours, in case you wondered) was harder than the Challenge itself.

My forum moniker, 'jesterchallenger', was originally chosen to participate in the JC Forum elsewhere on this site - sorry you don't like it. Immodest? Yup, honest as well. I'm actually quite proud of what I've done because of the Jester Challenge. It has encouraged me to have a go at some reasonably adventurous sailing and taught me a great deal about self reliance at sea. I shall continue to participate in future Challenges, though sadly not this year due to circumstances beyond my control. The start of the Jester Challenge is on Sunday 11th May - all visitors welcome at QAB, you might meet some interesting people, neither pompous nor immodest.

Well said

 

[chinita]

Chinita - you wrote [Wow.

Award for most pompous answer.

Special award for most immodest username.

We look forward to reading your JC exploits.]

Sorry if my response upset you Chinita, it wasn't meant to sound pompous, only honest. It's a question I get asked regularly and the honest answer is 'Because it's fun'. This usually elicits a response along the lines of 'Are you kidding! Fun!? You must be mad!' Bearing in mind that an average JC/OSTAR/similar event across the N Atlantic in a small craft will probably involve at least 4 weeks of beating to windward in quite rough conditions which most people don't find terribly amusing, so they don't understand when you say... 'because it's fun'.

Heading offshore on your own for a week or two is really quite different from singlehanded daysailing, which is why the recommendation for anyone considering taking part in a JC is to get a 500 mile non-stop trip under your belt first (it is a condition of entry for almost all ocean races, but the JC has no rules, only recommendations). Daysailing is not about endurance, though I would readily admit that it is a lot busier than being safely offshore, with mooring, anchoring, land proximity, traffic etc giving you plenty to do. Any trip in coastal waters longer than 24 hours can be very challenging - sailing my Rustler singlehanded non-stop from Levington to Plymouth for the JC10 start (44 hours, in case you wondered) was harder than the Challenge itself.

My forum moniker, 'jesterchallenger', was originally chosen to participate in the JC Forum elsewhere on this site - sorry you don't like it. Immodest? Yup, honest as well. I'm actually quite proud of what I've done because of the Jester Challenge. It has encouraged me to have a go at some reasonably adventurous sailing and taught me a great deal about self reliance at sea. I shall continue to participate in future Challenges, though sadly not this year due to circumstances beyond my control. The start of the Jester Challenge is on Sunday 11th May - all visitors welcome at QAB, you might meet some interesting people, neither pompous nor immodest.

Thanks for that.

I already knew a bit of it; having been Entry No 7 on the first JC in 2006.

 

[dimdav]

Thanks for that.

I already knew a bit of it; having been Entry No 7 on the first JC in 2006.

Wow, and the award for the most rapier like reply to an immodest post goes to Chinita

 

[Greenheart]

Afraid I can't be bothered to re-read all previous posts here. Just thinking again about how one benefits in terms of preparedness, from familiarity with doing all tasks alone oneself...

...if one hasn't had to judge which of two similarly vital jobs (occurring simultaneously) to prioritise, then the necessity to decide (and to jury-rig one task so it can be deferred while you deal with the other) is less likely to have a seamanlike solution. Even if one rarely has to do everything oneself, it's pleasant to know one could, and to know how, instinctively.

If you only ever go to sea with the ideal crew complement, you can hardly know from practice how to deal with somebody suddenly being unable or unwilling to perform their duties. Whereas if you've set things for coping singlehanded, even if doing so is less efficient, any passengers can still enjoy helping to do what you'd be doing yourself if they weren't aboard.

Why singlehand? Shouldn't the question be, Why doesn't everyone practice singlehanding, ready for times it can't be avoided?

I spent some of last week watching people reversing trailers in constricted space. Some lowered their windows and waited for instructions from mates, who stood behind the cars...

...but others, who'd done it all alone, just knew what to do. No help, no additional perspective required. Rather difficult to argue that singlehanders aren't just more competent.

 

[BelleSerene]

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.

So nice to hear of someone who feels similarly. The love of my life (er - SWMBO) loves sailing, and we sail a lot as a family, but she finds it strange (or even insulting) when I want very occasionally to sleep on the boat alone. I feel as you do about it. I think ultimately it's a man/ woman thing.

FWIW, most of my single-handing is to or from family sailing venues: typically across the channel or over to Poole etc.

 

[30boat]

Good point. I really needed SWMBO's ballast

Does she know you call her that?

 

[Modulation]

+1

I don't - I have no doubt I could singlehand the boat in open water, but I also know that every time I came into port, I would make yet another hole in the hull!

 

[pyrojames]

Not with sufficient planning and a good bit of experience! I have always done a fair it of single handing, but plenty of crewed time as well.

Starting single handing from scratch on a 45 footer will concentrate the mind!

 

[Birdseye]

I don't want to risk anyone else's neck. Same reason as I ride a motorcycle alone.

I dont single hand - I much prefer company and sailing isnt risky anyway. As for the bike, I can occasionally get swmbo to pillion but she doesnt like the way modern bikes have pillion seahts higher than the rider

 

[Birdseye]

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.

What a nice way of life

 

[chubby]

I single hand because I am a sad git who is getting more intolerant of others poor time keeping. I have to run to a strict schedule at work and I am so sad it is ingrained in the system and I can`t shake it off , for example persuaded SWMBO to come out last weekend for the day, I am normally up at 0630 on a work day so had a lie in until 0730 then was ready to go by 0800, could have been at the yard by 0830 and cast off the mooring by 0900. As it was SWMBO not ready until 1000 then had negotiated not to late a return by mid afternoon, result we barely got to the harbour entrance before it was time to turn back. Likewise today spent the day ferrying family around and whatever time you agree they are ready up to an hour late and the event drags on for an hour longer than predicted, at least being SH I can go when I want to make best use of tides etc, how sad is that.

 

[jerrytug]

That's not sad Chubby, I'm the same. "Late" means "feck you", it was drummed in to me and it's hard to alter.

To catch a tide, just start lying about it. If you think she will be 2 hrs "late", bring the tide forward by 2.5 hrs!

But yes, one pleasure of sailing solo is never being late for yourself.

 

[Norman_E]

Not with sufficient planning and a good bit of experience! I have always done a fair it of single handing, but plenty of crewed time as well.

Starting single handing from scratch on a 45 footer will concentrate the mind!

I did just that. It is not too difficult, but the important thing is to plan all manoeuvres carefully, particularly getting all fenders and lines ready before coming into a berth.

 

[Greenheart]

That's not sad Chubby, I'm the same.

+1. Actually I'm routinely late for things myself - not inexcusably, but I'm still often not on time. But, as long as I know my boat can be sailed by me alone, the freedom to ignore any other fool's timetable is an absolute boon. After all the hard work and expense which goes into getting a boat afloat, what could be more infuriating than suffering from your passengers' daft delays or penchants?

 

[PhillM]

What a nice way of life

Thank you, I turned away from a very successful business life that was in danger of killing my family life. I make a lot less money than I might have made, but I'm really happy.

Adding the boat (present from SWIMBO) was the ultimate reward.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Why?

I rather suspect Barnard was asking himself the same question during this video...