Single handing with out a motor

[Joe CD MS 300]

Looking for tips on motor less single handing.

The Single Handing thread is very instructional for those with a motor but I have been trying to do without the outboard on my Typhoon this season. So far so good, but it has always been with a mate.

I have been trying to keep the Typhoon as simple as possible, no roller furling head sails, no motor, no electrics, no winch handles. The addition of a jib down haul along with the sheets seems to tame the jib from the cockpit well enough. Dropping the main usually it results in it filling the cockpit with sail. Are lazy jacks common on Ty's?

The biggest concern about single handing would be picking up the mooring while under sail with only one sail. So far have been sailing up to the mooring with the main only. Usually I'm working the tiller and the mate is grabbing the mooring from the front of the boat, laying across the bow. I guess if I was single handing I could grab it from the cock pit: sail up, release the main while grabbing the mooring?. Is there more to it than that? I was thinking that adding a float to the end of the mooring pennant would provide a larger target to pick up while approaching the mooring. What techniques do other motor less single handers use? Maybe I should try jib only also. Is that common?

Alternate means of wind less propulsion is another issue. I have been towing a little Puffin hard dinghy when there is a good chance the wind will die and there is no one on the motor sailor with a RIB to come to the rescue. Paddling from the bow did not seem to work well for long distances. Maybe better from the cockpit?

Thanks

Joe

[John Stone]

Joe
I applaud your efforts to sail engine-free. Engine-free is the normal configuration of the Far Reach though she is 36' and about 18,000 lbs loaded. To be fair we do have a 9.9 hp outboard we use on occasion ... when we take it with us.

The technique I use for picking up a mooring ball single handed is to use an extended snubber line attached to the bow cleat and run outside all the rigging back to the cockpit. Sail the boat upwind to the mooring ball leaving it on the windward side. Ease the main out as you approach to reduce speed. Snag the mooring pendant with a boat hook as your momentum slowly carries you past and attach your snubber to the mooring pendant. You don't have to leave the cockpit till you are secure. Once connected, walk forward, drop the mainsail, and proceed to the foredeck and haul in on the snubber till you have the right amount of line out and you are done.

You are right about a Jib downhaul--very important thing to have with a hank on Jib. I have relied on our to get our Jib down when the wind is up both coastal and offshore sailing.

I continue to improve my ability to scull the FR with a single oar over the transom. It requires narrow conditions to work (wind less than 6-8 knots), a bullet proof oarlock system, and reasonable skill to be effective but would be much easier on a Ty. Also, you could row a Ty with set of oars fisherman or traditional style. You have lots of options.

I have sculled the FR into and out of a slip a number of times and have sculled her about a mile in flat calm to get to where I wanted to anchor.

[Gary M]

Hi Joe,

Here is how I keep the main out of the cockpit when I drop.

This system has been working great for me for a long time. I now have a main down haul as well as a jib down haul and can drop sails in less the 30 seconds.

It works on my 22 and should work well on your Ty

Gary

http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic ... =main+sail

[Ben Miller]

I haven't tried picking up my mooring singlehanded under sail yet (the marina doesn't allow sailing in or out if the boat has some other form of propulsion...but I might do it anyways) but it's pretty straightforward with my little trolling motor, and I don't think having a sail in the mix would make it too much more complicated. I cruise in at a couple knots using the trolling motor, loop around so that I'm approaching the ball into the wind, and cut the power when I think I have just enough momentum to reach the ball but not overshoot it too much. Then I just walk up to the bow and grab the mooring pendants with a boat hook. No muss, no fuss.

I think adding a boat hook might make things significantly easier for you (and your crew). The telescoping models store compactly but have a long reach, and then no one has to lie down on the bow. Plus you have a little more room for error when you gauge your approach.

I'm doing this in a protected harbor under generally mild conditions, so your mileage may vary!

[steveg]

Here are a couple of techniques that can be used to make picking up the mooring while single handing under sail. This assumes current is not a factor.

It is a little easier if you douse the jib before the approach. Sail well upwind of the mooring before dousing jib so you will still be well to windward of the ball. Head down wind to the ball. Pretty close to dead down wind is ideal once you are close. Pass about fifty yards to the side of the dingy, the sail is fully eased for sailing down wind. Don't worry about speed as you will slow down when you round up. Do a 180 degree turn rounding up so you are heading up into the wind. The turn coupled with the wind will stop you from running past the ball. The main will begin luffing and when you get to the line between the dinghy and ball aim straight and scamper forward to hook the line with the boat hook. If you are not easily able to get the loop of the pennant over the bow cleat just get the line secure to the cleat so you can drop the main.

It helps if you tie the dinghy bow line, use as much as you find helpful, to the mooring pennant. This gives a longer target to hit vs tying the dinghy to the float.

I find the combination of a longer line between the dinghy and the mooring ball and using the upwind approach rounding up straight into the wind which stops you enable consistent comfortable recovery. It even works when the wind is blowing quite hard, but don't ask how I know that.

[Joe CD MS 300]

Joe
I applaud your efforts to sail engine-free. Engine-free is the normal configuration of the Far Reach though she is 36' and about 18,000 lbs loaded. To be fair we do have a 9.9 hp outboard we use on occasion ... when we take it with us.

The technique I use for picking up a mooring ball single handed is to use an extended snubber line attached to the bow cleat and run outside all the rigging back to the cockpit. Sail the boat upwind to the mooring ball leaving it on the windward side. Ease the main out as you approach to reduce speed. Snag the mooring pendant with a boat hook as your momentum slowly carries you past and attach your snubber to the mooring pendant. You don't have to leave the cockpit till you are secure. Once connected, walk forward, drop the mainsail, and proceed to the foredeck and haul in on the snubber till you have the right amount of line out and you are done.

You are right about a Jib downhaul--very important thing to have with a hank on Jib. I have relied on our to get our Jib down when the wind is up both coastal and offshore sailing.

I continue to improve my ability to scull the FR with a single oar over the transom. It requires narrow conditions to work (wind less than 6-8 knots), a bullet proof oarlock system, and reasonable skill to be effective but would be much easier on a Ty. Also, you could row a Ty with set of oars fisherman or traditional style. You have lots of options.

I have sculled the FR into and out of a slip a number of times and have sculled her about a mile in flat calm to get to where I wanted to anchor.

John thanks for your applause but having a Motor Sailor probably disqualifies me as a sailing purest. Do you have any pictures of the oar lock set up for FR? I've given some thought to sculling or a rowing set up but was hesitant to do any alterations until I have explored other options that don't require any mods to the boat.

Joe

[Joe CD MS 300]

Hi Joe,

Here is how I keep the main out of the cockpit when I drop.

This system has been working great for me for a long time. I now have a main down haul as well as a jib down haul and can drop sails in less the 30 seconds.

It works on my 22 and should work well on your Ty

Gary

http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic ... =main+sail

Gary that is an interesting system. Unfortunately I don't have any reefing points on the main. I guess the PO used the rotating boom to reef. I haven't tried that yet.

Joe

[Joe CD MS 300]

Here are a couple of techniques that can be used to make picking up the mooring while single handing under sail. This assumes current is not a factor.

It is a little easier if you douse the jib before the approach. Sail well upwind of the mooring before dousing jib so you will still be well to windward of the ball. Head down wind to the ball. Pretty close to dead down wind is ideal once you are close. Pass about fifty yards to the side of the dingy, the sail is fully eased for sailing down wind. Don't worry about speed as you will slow down when you round up. Do a 180 degree turn rounding up so you are heading up into the wind. The turn coupled with the wind will stop you from running past the ball. The main will begin luffing and when you get to the line between the dinghy and ball aim straight and scamper forward to hook the line with the boat hook. If you are not easily able to get the loop of the pennant over the bow cleat just get the line secure to the cleat so you can drop the main.

It helps if you tie the dinghy bow line, use as much as you find helpful, to the mooring pennant. This gives a longer target to hit vs tying the dinghy to the float.

I find the combination of a longer line between the dinghy and the mooring ball and using the upwind approach rounding up straight into the wind which stops you enable consistent comfortable recovery. It even works when the wind is blowing quite hard, but don't ask how I know that.

So far I have been sailing right to the mooring and easing the main to reduce speed. I'll need to test the Ty to see how much momentum it carries after the 180. My motor Sailor carries a lot. I'm usually in neutral as I pass the mooring ball before rounding up a fair amount.

Joe

[steveg]

If you have too much momentum and overshoot the ball, begin you turn further downwind of the dinghy the next time. Once you get the feel for where to begin the turn, it is surprisingly consistent how it works in varying wind speeds. It works well even with both sails. The head sail does complicate a little the pick up of the line.

[casampson]

I sail without a motor on my Typhoon and always have done so, for a number of reasons. My technique is to tack around downwind of my mooring to get into position and then turn upwind when I am within coasting distance of my pick-up buoy, releasing the sheets on both sails as I do so. I then walk to the bow as I coast up to the buoy, pick it up, and secure it. I then drop my jib and my main. Works almost every time, but occasionally I miss and have to go around for a second shot. I used to do this with my Bullseye and had a lot of trouble, as the main sheet would inevitably get stuck on something and I would start to sail around once I had picked up my mooring. I don't have this problem with the Typhoon.

[Joe CD MS 300]

I sail without a motor on my Typhoon and always have done so, for a number of reasons. My technique is to tack around downwind of my mooring to get into position and then turn upwind when I am within coasting distance of my pick-up buoy, releasing the sheets on both sails as I do so. I then walk to the bow as I coast up to the buoy, pick it up, and secure it. I then drop my jib and my main. Works almost every time, but occasionally I miss and have to go around for a second shot. I used to do this with my Bullseye and had a lot of trouble, as the main sheet would inevitably get stuck on something and I would start to sail around once I had picked up my mooring. I don't have this problem with the Typhoon.

How do the Typhoon and Bullseye sailing characteristics compare? I looked at a few along with Ty's when I was looking for a day sailor. If I remember correctly the Bullseyes' do not have a self draining cockpit. Sometimes leaving the boat for several weeks un attended pushed me to the Ty with its self draining cockpit.

[shavdog]

I've sailed without a motor for 8 yrs.....mostly with a cd 22 but now with a typhoon....couple of points:

Most importantly I always have an eye towards the sky for potential weather issues

I have a 7ft alum. oar that I use for minor corrections

I have a line from side to side with a single wrap around the tiller to keep it steady

I usually drop the main first then about 50feet(depending on wind) I bring in the head sail and use the oar when needed....a roller furling head sail makes it a lot easier...I have a snap furl on the typhoon and had a cdi on the 22...if you have too much speed you need to do a uturn into the wind to stop the boat.....not a good idea to attempt going down wind....too hard to stop the sailboat

I have never missed.....thanking my lucky stars...

Just for reference....I never get more than about 2-3 miles from home....If I plan on going further....I put an outboard on....common sense safety

My application is for an inland lake....very different from coastal conditions....

[John Stone]

Joe, I don't see how having a motor sailor disqualifies you from anything. I have an outboard powered aluminum skiff we love and would have another if I could. I love all kinds of boats. If you are exploring sailing engine free then it is what it is. Awesome.

I don't think you would have to alter your Ty much if at all depending on your imagination. I have drilled two holes on the fantail to secure the oarlock gudgeon and two holes in the cockpit foot-well for a padeye to which I secure the oriental lanyard. The lanyard is an essential component many people overlook. It is run from an eye bolt in the loom about 18" back of the handle. The lanyard is run from the eyebolt vertically down to the padeye. It keeps the loom from rising up and helps induce proper twist into the oar blade.

I'll send you some better pictures after we relaunch the FR this week.

I am sure there are less intrusive ways to accommodate a sculling oar.

A few pictures below--the gudgeon is installed in a piece of bare teak through bolted to the fantail. It's next to the dorado.

[Steve Laume]

I often sail Raven on and off of her mooring. Our moorings have two, three strand, nylon pennants that don't float. To aid in their pick up I tie a net float to each eye. I paint these white and one of them has reflective tape on it so I can see it better at night. Not only do these little floats make it much easier to snag the pennants with a boat hook but I can pick out my mooring much easier in all sorts of conditions; day or night.

One more thing to consider is that just heading up into the wind will not depower your boat, once the pennant is made fast and she falls off the wind. You need to make sure the sheets can run absolutely free, especially in high winds and tight mooring fields.

I had one terrifying experience, where it was blowing hard and I was rather proud of myself for making a perfect pick up, single handed, right in front of the couple on their Hunter next to me. Then the bow came down, the main powered up and Raven started charging for a perfect broad side Tee bone. Our moorings are close and there was no time to get back to the helm as I watched my own fear reflected in the couple's eyes. It would have been disastrous for the Hunter but the mooring line went taunt and tacked Raven back to a safe direction as I went back to calm her down. I promised, never again, to come into the mooring under sail when the winds where high. It was a learning experience and all ended well. There is far more room around me now so it isn't much of an issue.

It is great to practice on a mooring that has a pick up stick. It doesn't have to be yours and you don't actually have to pick up the mooring. Doing this will give you a good idea of how far your boat will glide. I find it varries a great deal. In calm conditions with light winds the boat will glide forever. With high winds and choppy seas you have to make your final approach with some power.

Just make sure the sheets can run, Steve.

[rorik]

I used to scull an engineless `59 Frisco Flyer. Pretty easy once you get used to it. Sailing in/out of the marina in the morning/early afternoon was easy enough, but coming back in the late afternoon/evening with higher winds was more difficult. So I'd tie up at the transient dock until the wind died a bit and then scull across the marina to my slip. Sometimes, it was fun really early on a windless weekend morning to grab coffee and scull around the entire marina looking at boats from a different angle.