Up to what Loa boat would you consider it practical to singlehand?

I've done a lot of solo sailing in new waters, ports and places around the Atlantic and Med.

You need to be able to do it yourself and without thrusters imo if you are considering solo, forget marina staff or a second crew because when you are on your own, you are on your own. However, getting comfortable doing stuff with additional crew on board is a good way to build confidence to start with, but instruct them to be passengers unless you need them.

I had a 9 tonne long keel ketch, 40', skeg hung rudder, which was a dream to park once I got my head around it and found a method that worked for me. I met a lot of sailors around UK and France who thought this was too long. I completely disagree.

I found a 57' Jenneau in strong (F8) cross winds to be about my limit of comfort. However, I would go longer and heavier with the right set up.
 
Don't forget most marinas will send someone down to catch your lines if you give them a shout first on CH80.

We do this whenever it might be tricky, narrow berth, wind blowing you off etc

And we always create an open berth for ourselves after reviewing the marina plan vs the "bow in starboard side to" from the dock manager.

We tend to swap the sides over as we generally moor stern to with a large fold down bathing platform for access. Sometimes get caught out by those filleted pontoon fingers but the ball fender pops in there or just go bow in. Google maps satellite view helps in this respect as the pontoon shape is usually visible, eg

Screenshot_20250914_085606_Maps.jpg
 
The nightmare scenario for me is a med moor, reversing in backwards (because I can't park with 16 ft of bowsprit hang over the dock, and there aren't any of the mini catwalks between boats) and it in a strong head wind.

A tail wind is easy, a cross wind is easy enough - just timing to wait for the bow to blow off to the right angle. But I can't do anything with a strong head wind without a tug.
 
Obi said:
I'm pretty sure I have been to dozens of marinas where there are no staff to help. Relying on this as a solo sailor is not best practice imv.
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I agree. If you sail solo, you have to be able to manage solo.

As for managing a bigger boat with lots of clever electrical kit, Murphy's law is waiting for just the right moment to spoil your day, and the more complicated stuff you have, the more opportunities Mr Murphy has. I'm not advocating doing away with the toys, just being leery of having to rely on them.
 
Concerto said:
As a single handed sailor, I can certainly say the first few 100 meters and the last few 100 meters are the most difficult parts of any voyage. The rest of the journey is easy by comparison as it is usually in open waters.
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Alain Colas sailed the 236-foot (72 m) four-masted schooner Club Mediterranée in the '76 OSTAR .... I reckon he felt the same!! :D ;)
 
geem said:
A friend sails a 37 ft Moody singlehandedly. Across the pond, around western Europe, UK. It's probably about as big as a person can manage alone.
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Why the limit at 37ft? Away from a marina, slightly bigger is often easier to sail as boat is steadier and autopilots often more robust.
I do agree that dontbwant to.be so big can't cope manually when things break. But certainly don't see anything problematic sinhlegznding a 45 footer or so - it's just that Byrd bigger you go the less places you can visit.
 
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Also on competence of marina staff in allocating you a berth you will fit -I remember(with crew) having been crossing from Portland arriving Torquay marina, reserved berth ,called up and fendered up etc only to discover on arrival at slot to find berth occupied. With a crewreversing up and refendering etc a hassle but not impossible but doing that single handed (as per Concerto advice we were all prepared and fendered and lines on etc ) would be more serious. No apology of course from the marina staff but it just shows how even best laid plans can fall apart. After circling around for 30 mins they sorted it out eventually but it just shows how even market leading marina can let you down
 
ashtead said:
Also on competence of marina staff in allocating you a berth you will fit -I remember(with crew) having been crossing from Portland arriving Torquay marina, reserved berth ,called up and fendered up etc only to discover on arrival at slot to find berth occupied. With a crewreversing up and refendering etc a hassle but not impossible but doing that single handed (as per Concerto advice we were all prepared and fendered and lines on etc ) would be more serious. No apology of course from the marina staff but it just shows how even best laid plans can fall apart. After circling around for 30 mins they sorted it out eventually but it just shows how even market leading marina can let you down
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I think it was La Rochelle at the end of a long tiring passage. I'd requested a port side (prop walk), for 40'. I got a s/board side finger pontoon about 8-10 foot long (IIRC) and less than 2 foot wide. Thankfully a helpful member of the staff was there to help. I don't quite know how I would have handled it on my own. Maybe a run and a Fosbury Flop over the pullpit onto the quayside warp in hand.

To add to the discussion. Solo sailing is one of my favourite things and well worth it, I won't waffle on about why, but it's ace. To begin with it was a little stressful, and I don't think I often fully relaxed unless I was in familiar waters. But travelling with the yacht, heading south every day provided a different and unknown challenge. But at least when it goes pear shaped you will know who was responsible. Experience and knowledge are your best friends. Maybe do the RYA YM 'zero to hero' for a 4-6 month deep immersion on a near 24/7 basis. You'll be on the water or dockside every day, around people who sail, repair, know, you'll get to embed your learning and knowledge day on day on day, if you are like me, that is a good way to learn rather than a weekend every week or few months. It was also a very welcome change of pace to my London software career. Life changed from tube trains to pontoons :-)
 
dunedin said:
Why the limit at 37ft? Away from a marina, slightly bigger is often easier to sail as boat is steadier and autopilots often more robust.
I do agree that dontbwant to.be so big can't cope manually when things break. But certainly don't see anything problematic sinhlegznding a 45 footer or so - it's just that Byrd bigger you go the less places you can visit.
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Simply because I know several skippers who sail 37/38ft boats singlehanded. They do it successfully, without stress. I don't know a singlehander routinely sailing anything bigger. These are boats without bow thrusters. They rely on the skill and ability of the skipper.
We sail a 44 foot boat. Offshore, it is routinely sailed singlehandedly, but in shifts. There is just me and the wife onboard. We do 5 hour watches at night and unless the weather is particularly bad, we don't get the off watch crew out of bed to reef. This isn't the same as bringing the boat into a tight marina where we are glad to be 2 handed. A heavy boat can't be manhandled when it's blowing hard. Pushing a shoving into a marina berth isn't going to work. You need to get it right first time. This would be difficult singlehanded. Marina staff are not always available to assist
 
geem said:
Simply because I know several skippers who sail 37/38ft boats singlehanded. They do it successfully, without stress. I don't know a singlehander routinely sailing anything bigger. These are boats without bow thrusters. They rely on the skill and ability of the skipper.
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Pretty sure if you look hard enough you will find plenty of single handers in larger boats, particularly more modern boats than a Moody with aids such as bow thruster, in mast, good autopilot etc. No different from the change in average boat size for families where 30 years ago a 10m boat was luxury and no a 12m boat commonplace.
 
My insurance company limits single handed sailing, by default to 35'. I sail a 41' yacht and asked for singlehanded sailing to be included, which they agreed to, with no fuss.

For any boat, ease of sailing is key, and more so for singlehanded. This does not mean everything lead back to the cockpit, but rather everything works smoothly and efficiently without undue stress and strength. Fitness is very important, as well as stamina, health and mental resilience, the latter especially important for prolonged single handed sailing.
 
Tranona said:
Pretty sure if you look hard enough you will find plenty of single handers in larger boats, particularly more modern boats than a Moody with aids such as bow thruster, in mast, good autopilot etc. No different from the change in average boat size for families where 30 years ago a 10m boat was luxury and no a 12m boat commonplace.
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Maybe in your world, but the guys I am referring to have all sailed oceans singlehanded. Like me, they tend to beleive that conveniences like bow thruster, in mast reefing and electirc winches are great whilst they work but you have to be able to manage the boat when they don't. I don't frequent the south coast marina scene so couldn't comment on a singlehander sailing bigger boats there
 
capnsensible said:
Depends largely on the experience and confidence of the skipper.....
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Apart from when on my pals twister, I pretty much always singlehanded, both the little 18footer and the 31ft westerly ketch, though definitely a bit out of practise now, it will come back.

I’ve always had lines and fenders rigged on both sides for coming into any harbour/marina as I have no idea which side I will dock, and I’ve always used a line from the midships cleat to slow and stop the boat on the pontoon/ wall ladder, then taken the other lines ashore to snug her up.

I’m more concerned with docking a bigger boat than handling it at sea, as Concerto mentions, the first and final 100m are usually where the problems are.

Some of them seem a long way away from the wheel to be able to reach the pontoon cleats :)
 
ashtead said:
Also on competence of marina staff in allocating you a berth you will fit -I remember(with crew) having been crossing from Portland arriving Torquay marina, reserved berth ,called up and fendered up etc only to discover on arrival at slot to find berth occupied. With a crewreversing up and refendering etc a hassle but not impossible but doing that single handed (as per Concerto advice we were all prepared and fendered and lines on etc ) would be more serious. No apology of course from the marina staff but it just shows how even best laid plans can fall apart. After circling around for 30 mins they sorted it out eventually but it just shows how even market leading marina can let you down
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Good example of why its good practise to prepare fenders and lines on both sides.
I leave the other side prepped even when docked, ready for leaving in case something goes tits up as I go and need to dock on the other side in a hurry.
 
I would approach this from a completely opposite point of view, and ask what is the smallest yacht that would satisfy my requirements; those being:

- Seaworthiness

- Ease of handling

- Able to be properly maintained by me

- Standing headroom in the main cabin

- Pleasing appearance

- Active class association

The minimum size to achieve that would be 28-30 feet loa.

Something like this:


At Arradon.jpg
 
My limit was my J44 some 13.5 metres 20 odd years ago, my limit since then is 12.4 metres since that's the length of the boat I own, as mentioned above, berthing in inclement weather takes forward planning ( my new boat has a bow thruster - how exciting ! ) but the sailing is pretty straightforward. The most important thing for me solo has always have two or three backup plans and plan your actions well in advance
 
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