Single Handing

[Neil Gordon]

>>One does not have to always motor into the wind before raising or lowering the main as the boat is quite willing to
round up if the tiller is free.<<

As Mike said. If you get the main part way up, the boat will round up head to wind.

[John Stone]

I have done a fair amount of single handing the Far Reach. I can think of no reason for running control lines to the cockpit other than to induce friction and adding clutter to the cockpit. We do have a tides marine strong track and lazy jacks which is very helpful in taming the mainsail. We don't run on the boat. Adding complexity to our boats often create problems of their own.

I think there are three key ingredients to low stress singlehanding: 1, know your boat (in as many conditions and points of sail as possible); 2, don't singlehand into places that exceed your ability beyond your current skill set; 3, install and use a reliable windvane or auto pilot.

Cape Dorys are, as a rule, remarkably docile boats. They are well suited to singlehanding. But they do have a few quirks that should be known and mastered in order to singlehanding them in a competent low stress and seamanlike manner. There is simply no substitute for sailing as often as possible. Every time I sail the FR I learn something new.

[Neil Gordon]

I think there are three key ingredients to low stress singlehanding: 1, know your boat (in as many conditions and points of sail as possible); 2, don't singlehand into places that exceed your ability beyond your current skill set; 3, install and use a reliable windvane or auto pilot.

In the category of "know your boat," I'd include practice ... tuck in a reef when you don't need to... heave to in light air... sail into a wide open anchorage... sail out of a wide open anchorage... try different sail combinations... navigate using paper charts and by looking around. You'll be less terrified when faced with something a bit beyond your experience.

[Tom Keevil]

As for fear of falling overboard with the autopilot on - use a tether. We mounted a padeye on our mast, under the boom, and always clip in while working at the mast. It makes any work there more relaxing. Clipped on to the mast, even if you fall, you won't go overboard.

[fmueller]

Jerezana: CD 27; single hand most of the time - This last spring I moved my topping lift forward on the boom. When I bought Jerezana, the lift was secured to a cleat about 18" from the end of the boom. The forward position has put all mainsail lines "at the mast" including my two reefing lines which run back to cheek blocks on a boom track. I secure the tack when reefing with the erstwhile cunningham, which is a simple short line/pad-eye/cleat arrangement. I have lazy jacks.

Most of the time I'll slowly motor into the wind with the tiller pilot to raise and lower the main. I don't seem to have as easy a time getting my boat to stay head to wind as some report, but I am working on that. You need a surprising amount of room with the boat slowly moving under power. Same technique for dumping the main.

I can reef/un-reef either by heaving-to or motoring into the wind slowly with the pilot. It's a question of available seaway. Heaving-to is preferred, less apparent wind, boat motion, and flogging. I'm getting more comfortable with it all the time. New to CD owners should get comfortable reefing as soon as possible. Our boats really like that first reef at 15 knots true.

I would like "in theory" to be able to stay in the cockpit but just can't imagine having all those lines in the cockpit which is after all not a very spacious place in my small boat. Just the main, two jib sheets, two tails from my Harkin traveler, and intermittently, roller furling line, is quite a tangle. I can't really see the utility in a partial solution. So its "at the mast" for me.

Once at the mast I generally feel pretty safe but may add a d-ring I can clip too. I have a pending project to put external grab bars on my dodger - it's the trip past the dodger where I feel most exposed in choppy conditions.

This has been a useful thread - thanks

Fred

Edit: 1/15/2021. I’ve joined Neil, John, and others in using my motor less and less for all things related to hoisting, dropping, and reefing sails ... all my lines are at the mast. The 27 is small enough that I can just sit on the coach roof and reef ... one leg hooked around the mast.

[Steve Laume]

Fred, my set up and reasoning is much the same as yours. I don't have lazy jacks. I do have a spinnaker pole track on the mast and a big forged bail on it that I trust with my life, when I get to the mast. I also have pin rails or butt boards on the lower shrouds. These add an immense amount of security once you have gotten to the mast and start to work.

When reefing I don't generally alter course. I will ease the main sheet or the traveler and put the reef in, then trim back up. When raising sails, whether at the mooring or while motoring with the auto pilot, I let the sheets run free. When raising or lowering sails I always try to keep the boat 10 to 15 degrees off the wind so I am sure the boom stays to port. I don't want the thing pushing me off the boat backwards.

I also added a little snubber winch to the boom to help tension the clew line. Since I am not head to the wind with the sails flogging, there is still some tension on the clew line when I reef.

I have had a lot of reefing practice, Steve.

[Joe Myerson]

In line with Neil's post, I practiced heaving-to and reefing over and over. I also usually hoist my main, often with one reef in it, before leaving the mooring.

And, in the seldom-mentioned but very important personal sanitation department, I keep an empty wide-mouthed detergent bottle within reach.

--Joe

[gates_cliff]

I will second what John Stone said above "Every time I sail the FR I learn something new." Although I don't sail offshore like he has, but I do sail alone most of the time, and each time adds a little something I hadn't known before. Several years ago I sailed up the Chesapeake in 25 knot wind, gusting to over 30 (according to the weather). I had reefed before I left the slip, and had a bit of trepidation going out. However, I gained a lot of confidence in my CD, and had a glorious sail. Last year I added roller furling, and learning how to calculate and control how much sail is out has been a learning experience in itself and something I'm still working on.

I have crewed on a couple of offshore trips down to the BVI and helping bring another boat up from the USVI and even though those weren't single handed I've often reflected on those trips on how I'd handle some challenges.

[Neil Gordon]

Several years ago I sailed up the Chesapeake in 25 knot wind, gusting to over 30 (according to the weather). I had reefed before I left the slip, and had a bit of trepidation going out. However, I gained a lot of confidence in my CD, and had a glorious sail. Last year I added roller furling, and learning how to calculate and control how much sail is out has been a learning experience in itself and something I'm still working on.

LIQUIDITY slogged 30 miles to windward on Sunday, with 10-15 knots gusting to 25, and a small craft advisory. Seas were 2-4 ft. I left Red Brook Harbor with a reef in the main, had a great sail to the Cape Cod Canal, motor sailed the canal (light air since the NW wind is blocked), then got the NW wind on the Cape Cod Bay side. The reefed main and 130 Genoa were just about at the limit (without being over powered) in the gusts, just about right at 15 kts, and not quite enough at 10 kts (or less).

Overall, it was a good, one day lesson on sail combinations:

At 25 knots, the full Genoa made for good speed and an exciting sail but I'm not sure I'd want to go all day that way.

At 10 knots, I wanted to shake out the reef... glad I didn't, since it wasn't long until the gusts came back and kept coming (contrary to the forecast; the NW wind never backed to the W, either).

Reef early, and don't be too tempted to shake it out until you're sure.

Also, a cockpit winch makes it lots easier to furl the Genoa while still going to windward.

[gates_cliff]

Great point about a cockpit winch for the furler, had given that some thought and came to the conclusion that it was worth investing in.

On the day I mentioned, I was using just a working jib, pretty sure more head sail would have been a little too much.

[Steve Laume]

I could easily run my furler line to one of the cockpit winches but I am very reluctant to do so. I had a jamb up once and tried the winch but it certainly didn't help in that situation and could have made things worse. I am only trying to furl a high cut yankee so it is a relatively small jib. It is difficult to haul in at times but I like to be able to feel how much tension I have on the thing. I suppose it would be fine if I showed some restraint but I just don't trust myself or the gear with the power of a winch, Steve.

[hinmo]

My foresail is on a roller and my main's halyard routes to the cockpit. I love it, never have to hit the foredeck except the final flake.

[Neil Gordon]

I had a jamb up once and tried the winch but it certainly didn't help in that situation and could have made things worse.

We agree completely on that one. If something should be easy to haul and it's hard, there's a reason. Don't force it until you know what's causing the problem.

[Joe Myerson]

I could easily run my furler line to one of the cockpit winches but I am very reluctant to do so. I had a jamb up once and tried the winch but it certainly didn't help in that situation and could have made things worse.

Reefing my genoa while underway was difficult in a high wind, and the furling line would wear away the teak combing. Instead of installing a winch, or using one of my standard winches, I bought a ratcheting block for the furling line and installed a short piece of half-round brass as a rub strake. The system works very well. The ratchet costs a lot less than a winch, and it does not jamb.

-Joe

[Neil Gordon]

The ratchet costs a lot less than a winch, and it does not jamb.

-Joe

Sure, but where's the mechanical advantage I need to get the furler furling when the Genoa is flapping in the wind?