Why single-handed?

[RupertW]

I haven't often sailed alone - probably a couple of weeks in the last 10 years, but they have been some of the most memorable and enjoyable times I've had. First alone one was crossing a blustery Thames estuary from Felixstowe Ferry to Ramsgate, and another great one was a few days in 2010 going from Weymouth across Lyme Bay to Torquay, Brixham then Dartmouth.

I've always fancied doing more but time is short, a boat bought 5 years ago is too big for me to feel comfortable singlehanding in and also needs so much DIY I spend my time doing that when my wife isn't available to sail.

My preference is very much to share the sailing with just two of us, now both experienced sailors and at living in close quarters. But for a few days here and there it is enormous fun having a few guests even if that means catering for different food tastes, having at least every other night somewhere they can step off to shore, and having to flush their loo discretely after they have failed to do so.

Re-reading the above, I think I just basically like being on a boat no matter who else is there. Just get different kinds of enjoyment out of it.

 

[jbweston]

I love it when people use the expression 'anti-social' to describe people who enjoy their own company. You could just as easily say 'anti-solitude' or 'incapable of managing without help' about people who like to have others around. The truth is that all of us are different and have different degrees of tolerance or liking for company or lack of it. I'm no psychologist but I think this is what in Myers-Briggs terms is called the characteristic of 'introversion-extraversion'. Neither is better, we're talking about preferences.

I accept that sailors don't or can't always follow their own preferences - the dad who'd like a week sailing by himself but is overrun with his much-loved teenage children, or the skipper who'd like to have some lively crew to keep him company but has no friends who are free when he is in the middle of the week.

I like sailing with other people and like sailing alone.

Why do I like being by myself? Time to reflect. No obligation to entertain. A feeling of self-sufficiency and the pleasure/burden of having to find my own solutions to problems. Freedom to leave at three in the morning if I want without having a crew conference to approve it or coming it the Captain Bligh to impose it . . .

Why do I like sailing with others? Like-minded company, the chance to catch up with friends, having fun together. In my case almost never the need to have more than me to crew the boat. That's because she was bought and set up to be managed alone - the only time I need crew (rather than just enjoying having crew) is when the passage is more than 12 hours or so and I need time off watch.

For the last two seasons and again for this coming one, I've been careful to book a fortnight to sail by myself.To put that in perspective, I sail six to seven weeks a season, so it's about one third singlehanded to two thirds crewed. I enjoy both.

 

[Seashoreman]

Well said jbweston. I sail alone most of the time because I cant rely on people coming along when the tides and weather are right. Also have been in a muddle trying to rush back to mooring to keep to another persons schedule.
I really enjoy 'getting away from it all' and whatever people may think of me, that is usually alone. Also, if I had to rely on people to 'crew' for me I would never had gotten around to buying a boat.

 

[Georgio]

I enjoy sailing solo and with friends. Had the best of both worlds last year when I arranged a solo week with a mate. He was solo on his boat and I was solo on mine (identical boats too).

We had a great time, company when we wanted it and me-time when not, we did about 500 miles in 8 days.

Doing it again next year but I think there may be three boats....

 

[oldharry]

I used to work in a job that made many demands on my time and energy. I dveeloped the habit of solosailing as a release from the pressures. I could choose to do or not do what I wanted, without interruption. On holiday the family came too, and again it meant we had quality time together (until the boys retreated to the forecabin with their computers!) we could rarely get at home.

Nw the boys are gone, Swmbo's arthritis means sailing is literally a pain for her if it gets at all bumpy (my kind of sailing!), but since I retired there is not the need to escape. But even so the challenge of passage making or even day sailing on my own is still there.

Old habits die hard I guess. I find nowadays if there's anyone else on board they are in the way...... sign of old age maybe?

 

[LadyInBed]

I sail alone because I can't find crew who can take the time off / away for the same length of time that I want to be away.
They obviously put other things ahead of sailing, lawn needs mowing, cat needs worming, car needs servicing, wife will miss me / won't let me go. I don't even bother with folk who are still working for a living!

 

[wotayottie]

I sail alone because I can't find crew who can take the time off / away for the same length of time that I want to be away.
They obviously put other things ahead of sailing, lawn needs mowing, cat needs worming, car needs servicing, wife will miss me / won't let me go. I don't even bother with folk who are still working for a living!

You lot must have some funny crews or maybe it is that most of you sail from marinas not clubs. I sail all year round, always with a crew and all are other saillors often boar owners. Plus swmbo who has her various sailing tickets.

 

[pyrojames]

I sail alone, singlehand with children and with crew. I enjoy all of them, all have different benefits. Although I have to admit when with crew they tend to be the same ones who know the boat and can take sole charge or it is a race crew who know what they are doing. I rarely sail singlehanded with novice crew, I don't find that relaxing, and the boat is for fun!

 

[Tam Lin]

Well you do have smart kids!!.My own son who's still 16 but loves maths ,physics ,bilology and loads of other branches of science is actually my only hope for company aboard.I fear though that he'll be too busy at uni to come sailing with me so I'll have to come with terms with the idea of sailing alone.My problem is that my activity as an artist means that I see practically no one during the week so the idea of further isolating myself is not very appealing.Girlfriend works the hardest during the sailing season so either I find another one or I'll have to reprogram my brain in order to enjoy singlehanding.

Two girlfriends, one just to go sailing with, great idea! (Wonder if SWMBO would mind?)

 

[wully1]

I enjoy sailing alone- for a while. Nothing is quite like being totally alone with yourself, far away from other people.

Then again sailing just with just that one special person far away from everyone else is a very, very nice place to be.

sailing with good friends is also special.

Just being on the water is special, why else would we do it?

 

[Dave-Shafa]

I made a charming little video a la Keep Right .....

Sailing Round the World Singlehanded

 

[Babylon]

My problem is that my activity as an artist means that I see practically no one during the week so the idea of further isolating myself.

I used to work alone as a creative, so I completely understand your sense of isolation. Now that I teach in my own workshop, I sometimes yearn for time and space to get on with things alone!

boat bought 5 years ago is too big for me to feel comfortable singlehanding in

Perhaps this is a common problem (worth a poll on a separate thread)? I sail a 27-footer, that's now become practically a second skin so I don't thing twice about single-handing.

I love it when people use the expression 'anti-social' to describe people who enjoy their own company

Like at school, if you hadn't watched the latest Top of The Pops you were deemed a loser. My view was always that the 'crowd' were the sad ones.

what in Myers-Briggs terms is called the characteristic of 'introversion-extraversion'.

I'm an introverted extrovert. Completely happy with my own company, but also capable of spending extended periods with others: I work intensively with between three and six people at any time during the week, but spend evenings and the odd weekend alone when I don't have my son or am seeing my GF.

The problem arises when I can't get away from others for at least a few hours a day or evenings after work, or a few weeks a year - then I lose my own centre.

In 2012 I spent five weeks single-handing down to the West Country and back. Completely at ease with the boat and with myself.

In 2013 I managed a few weeks split happily between a chum, my GF and my son.

Last summer I managed much less. I was exhausted after an intensive teaching year (plus a load of carp from my mad ex and unnecessary court hearings etc) and found myself feeling utterly exhausted and claustrophobic on my small yacht with two chums who were expecting a great week crossing to Alderney and then onto the North Brittany coast. I just wanted to sleep and bob about on my own until I'd recovered my energy, so cut the thing short - and felt bad for my chums!

After a week back home, my GF joined me for a fortnight - but the weather was too lousy to get out the Solent (for her, not me) and then she fell ill with a serious kidney infection.

Not a good year.

 

[LadyInBed]

You lot must have some funny crews or maybe it is that most of you sail from marinas not clubs. I sail all year round, always with a crew and all are other saillors often boar owners. Plus swmbo who has her various sailing tickets.

Not from Marina or Club. SWMBO hung up her sailing boots several years ago.

 

[westhinder]

Like many on here I like different kinds of sailing for different reasons. The common denominator is being able to enjoy being on the boat and sailing, be it with family, friends or on my own. Sometimes you share it with the people you hold dear, sometimes you have it all to yourself.

 

[BlackPig]

I do not have an erratic life so cannot make even medium term arrangements. This makes finding a crew difficult.

 

[Contest1]

I like th epeace and quiet of sailing alone, and I enjoy the company of sailing with friends on board. I never sail with crew.

Amen!

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I like all sorts, but mainly sail alone which I am comfortable with for whatever reason.

I think the format I like the best is sailing alone but in company with other single handers and their boats.

You can aim for a rough destination. Put up whatever sail you want and choose your own route. At night you can raft up together and eat and wander together. It's great fun nattering on the VHF all day and sharing the good, or bad, current conditions.

Some boats are of course faster or slower than others. This anomaly can be fixed by a rule that we all get there at whatever time we happen to make it.

 

[mick butterworth]

in the 80s when i started sailing i sailed with others or as deckhand on fishing boats just to be out on the water. in the 90s every chance to go sailing i took even if it meant sailing alone especially 2 weeks summer holidays so it dosnt matter if there's people on board or not the pleasure of sailing is what counts

 

[Poignard]

Sailing alone is OK but drinking alone or eating alone in a restaurant is pretty depressing. But Long Keeler's idea is good, sail individually and get together for meals/drinks ashore.

 

[xeitosaphil]

I like all sorts, but mainly sail alone which I am comfortable with for whatever reason.

I think the format I like the best is sailing alone but in company with other single handers and their boats.

You can aim for a rough destination. Put up whatever sail you want and choose your own route. At night you can raft up together and eat and wander together. It's great fun nattering on the VHF all day and sharing the good, or bad, current conditions.

Some boats are of course faster or slower than others. This anomaly can be fixed by a rule that we all get there at whatever time we happen to make it.

+1

This is what I have done for the last 5 years or so and can recommend it. Ok when we both had H22's but now I have a H30/90 and he has just purchased a Sadler 26 so this year will be interesting with regards to passage times. In the past we would decide where to make for, each has our own agenda and plan to meet up for socialising in the evening, either just drinks and nibbles when the sun is beyond the yard arm, or to eat together. Had some great times with no pressures to keep up or make destinations on time. You can come and go as you please, be it destinations or time scale.

Kids have left home and set up their own families out of the area, and wife doesn't sail but uses the dog and seasickness as an excuse to stay ashore!

I enjoy being on the boat whether in harbour or sailing. The later being the best, even for just a day sail. :encouragement:


Philip