super excited for my first offshore singlehanded sail!

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benlui

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At Athens airport now, waiting for my flight home to sail my own boat down to the Isles of Scilly single handed. To some, might seem like a bore, but to me, its a big thing!
Ive done lots of coastal single handed over the years, but never to foreign grounds and the thought of about 30hrs at sea (offshore) alone is somewhat daunting, but very exciting!
Im finally working on making my dream happen, Cork Isles of Scilly this year, Cork La Corna next year and back, and the Jester in 2014 which is what i'm aspiring towards!
As i work away all year, and i'm lucky to have a good friend who cares well for my boat at home, so heres hoping to no delays in me setting off next sat night/sun morning!
i am heading there on a mini flotilla (cruise in company) so perhaps this is cheating a little bit? But, since my boat is 6ft smaller form the next smallest boat, i guess i will be out there alone so what the hell! Weather so far looking OK, abait looks like i might have a beat for the final part. still and all, im excited!
Any of you formites in that direction over the next week or so for a few Cornie pasties and stout?
 
I was chatting with the new owner of Jester a couple of weeks ago. He seems very much out of the same mould as Blondie and Mike Ritchie and will be taking part in the eponymous race again.
 
Good luck, how exciting- my one and only solo sail was only Brighton to the Isle of Wight, (quite challenging, especially in a very busy Solent actually!) but I loved it and would like to do more. Very jealous. Also Isles of Scilly are fantastic- you'll love it.
 
benlui said:
At Athens airport now, waiting for my flight home to sail my own boat down to the Isles of Scilly single handed. To some, might seem like a bore, but to me, its a big thing!
Ive done lots of coastal single handed over the years, but never to foreign grounds and the thought of about 30hrs at sea (offshore) alone is somewhat daunting, but very exciting!
Im finally working on making my dream happen, Cork Isles of Scilly this year, Cork La Corna next year and back, and the Jester in 2014 which is what i'm aspiring towards!
As i work away all year, and i'm lucky to have a good friend who cares well for my boat at home, so heres hoping to no delays in me setting off next sat night/sun morning!
i am heading there on a mini flotilla (cruise in company) so perhaps this is cheating a little bit? But, since my boat is 6ft smaller form the next smallest boat, i guess i will be out there alone so what the hell! Weather so far looking OK, abait looks like i might have a beat for the final part. still and all, im excited!
Any of you formites in that direction over the next week or so for a few Cornie pasties and stout?
Click to expand...

Have fun Benlui. I've been 5 times to the Isles of Scilly but never solo. Great place.
 
Minn said:
You will enjoys yourself hugely, and wonder why you ever had a crew.
Click to expand...

I'll second that! Been solo sailing most of my life, it don't suit a lot of folk, but I love it. Best of luck and fair winds.:)
 
Very best wishes. You'll love them when you get there...

....don't bump into any of those frackin' great gas platforms some eedjit has plonked down right in the way! :D
 
WITH a crew, I once entered Hugh Town, St Marys under the impression that I was entering Falmouth* .

Not a mistake that you will be making!

One of the delights of singlehanding is that, with nobody to distract you, you make fewer mistakes.


*(In fog, following a fast passage down Channel, it was before radar and GPS or SatNav, steel boat, iffy Seafix RDF, Walker log with knackered bearings and a crew member had muddled up two lights the night before)
 
maxcampbell said:
Best wishes - recently singlehanded my boat for the first time ever - I'd love to do a longer trip - in fact since that first SH trip, I feel like going further SH than crewed.

What's the boat? Obviously small. Any pics?:)
Click to expand...

Hmmm, well I'm guessing she's a Shipman 28 as there's a Ben Lui registered on this year's JAC.
If I'm right, I'd love to speak to you about the 2014 Jester, I also have a Shipman 28 that I've been working on getting ready for the 2014. Be great to swap notes.

EDIT - I am right, view public profile.
 
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My main regret soloing across the Irish Sea was scooting past the Scillies and heading direct for Falmouth.

Hope you have a 1am dolphin pod visit like me, I found that rubbing a wet Croc along the cockpit gelcoat made a squeaking noise that got the 7+ dolphins particularly interested.

Don't fight sleep, schedule it.
 
G12 said:
Hmmm, well I'm guessing she's a Shipman 28 as there's a Ben Lui registered on this year's JAC.
If I'm right, I'd love to speak to you about the 2014 Jester, I also have a Shipman 28 that I've been working on getting ready for the 2014. Be great to swap notes.

EDIT - I am right, view public profile.
Click to expand...

I sent you an email some time ago G12. Yes i'm working towards this 2014 jester, my heart is set, and i think finally i can swing it with work! I was hoping to have gone this year bit a change in work circumstances left me hanging.
I also think that its great that another shipman 28 will be doing this. This adds to the excitement. Im planning 9 weeks off work. The thought of no mobile phone, and work emails, sounds like heaven. pure bliss! ive been upgrading the boat for a while now, and this winter she will have a lot done again. The list is endless, and as i work abroad, its also slow and costly, as i don't get to do most of it myself and have to rely on others which is a real downside! Would love to exchange ideas/swap notes! Would love to discuss in particular wind steering, have you any ideas, perhaps you have it already?

As for the SH trip to the Isles of Scilly this weekend, weather totally not suitable, so debating at the minute. Looks like we might give it a shot, but 30hrs on the nose, with 25knts might be a bit too enduring for my first offshore SH. and of course, the return trip, would be the same! Typical! Perhaps somewhere more towards the UK mainland, Wales, or even swinging the compass right around for Dingle in West Ireland. The next 24hrs will tell a lot. But ill be gutted not to make Tresco, nonetheless ill be happy to get out where ever i end up!
 
benlui said:
I sent you an email some time ago G12. Yes i'm working towards this 2014 jester, my heart is set, and i think finally i can swing it with work! I was hoping to have gone this year bit a change in work circumstances left me hanging.
I also think that its great that another shipman 28 will be doing this. This adds to the excitement. Im planning 9 weeks off work. The thought of no mobile phone, and work emails, sounds like heaven. pure bliss! ive been upgrading the boat for a while now, and this winter she will have a lot done again. The list is endless, and as i work abroad, its also slow and costly, as i don't get to do most of it myself and have to rely on others which is a real downside! Would love to exchange ideas/swap notes! Would love to discuss in particular wind steering, have you any ideas, perhaps you have it already?

As for the SH trip to the Isles of Scilly this weekend, weather totally not suitable, so debating at the minute. Looks like we might give it a shot, but 30hrs on the nose, with 25knts might be a bit too enduring for my first offshore SH. and of course, the return trip, would be the same! Typical! Perhaps somewhere more towards the UK mainland, Wales, or even swinging the compass right around for Dingle in West Ireland. The next 24hrs will tell a lot. But ill be gutted not to make Tresco, nonetheless ill be happy to get out where ever i end up!
Click to expand...


I'm afraid for whatever reason I've not received your email - Maybe it was kindly put in the junk mail folder by hotmail. That does happen sometimes but I do check it.
Great to hear from you here anyway. I will PM you with my email address again and we can swap ideas there.
I've been looking at the GRIB data for Cornwall/IOS this weekend, seems to be mainly Easterly 20kts and then not quite making it's mind up on Sunday. If you have an iPhone then there is a great little app called weathertrack..... It's not cheap but it IS good. Best £11 I've spent I reckon!
I'm hoping to launch on Tuesday, get a little shakedown done and then I have to head back to work at the end of the week. Let me know if you're in Penzance, Falmouth or Newlyn anytime before the end of the week.
 
Two things to bear in mind when singlehanding - It is essential to think through and prepare for every move in advance - you can't just yell 'pass me the winch handle'. And it's always much more difficult to do long passages in coastal waters as you can't leave the self-steering to do the job while you get some kip. Out on the open ocean it's much easier.

Wherever possible schedule a rest stop for a few hours. On a longer passage such as you are planning you can probably cat-nap in areas you are unlikely to encounter traffic but most of us can cope with one night without sleep, a second night without rest is dangerous.
 
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