I would be very interested with any suggestions for safety and sail handling people use to sail single-handed a CD25.
Thanks
Tom
S/V Stardust CD25#444
Tomb5050@aol.com
Single handed sailing CD25
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Will W.
Re: Single handed sailing CD25
I single-hand Suzi Q 95% of the time I sail. As far as safety goes the standard things are all I do. Wear a life preserver. Make sure your equipment is in good shape and replace anything you do not trust with your life. If your ship is in shape you only have to worry about yourself making a mistake. Have a VHF and make sure the battery stays charged. I recently bought a handheld VHF that is submersable. I put it in my pocket of my foulies if things get ugly, in case I fall over board. I am going to buy an EPIRB soon as well. Two anchors is a good idea, consult other sailors in your area to see which kind you are likely to need. And of course have all the flares, flags, fire extinguishers, floatation etc required by the Coast Guard.
I made two improvements this year that I feel have vastly increased my safety while single-handing. A roller furler and I routed the halyards and reefing to the cockpit. Being able to control the sails from the cockpit is much better than jumping around on the foredeck in heavy seas.
.
As far as sails goes. Plan ahead. You will want to do as much as you can before you leave the dock since even on nice days changing sails alone is a drag, remove sail covers and get all lines in order. If you have hank on sails, select your sail and secure the tack and run the sheets through the blocks, then hold the sail in place with a bungee cord until you are ready to raise it, that way it wont blow overboard. If you think your main sail will need to be reefed, set it up at the dock then lower the main until you are ready to raise it. This is also no fun since you usually want to reef when things are not so calm, tieing the reef points etc at the dock is much easier and if you discover you don't need the reef once you get out there it is much easier to let the reef out than to put it in.
.
When under sail I like to run the jib sheet in use from the leeward winch to the windward winch and cleat it off on the windward cleat. This way I don't have to get up to adjust the jib sheet.
.
You will want to figure a way to self steer. I use a long bungee cord wrapped around the tiller and secured to the cleats on the coaming boards. It is not perfect but I can usually take my eyes off it long enough to make lunch or releive myself or whatever. Most of the sailing books I have describe a way to do this with the jib sheets but I have not done it yet.
Have fun! Where do you sail?
Will Wheatley
Suzi Q
CD25
Sailing from Chesapeake Beach, MD
willwheatley@starpower.net
I made two improvements this year that I feel have vastly increased my safety while single-handing. A roller furler and I routed the halyards and reefing to the cockpit. Being able to control the sails from the cockpit is much better than jumping around on the foredeck in heavy seas.
.
As far as sails goes. Plan ahead. You will want to do as much as you can before you leave the dock since even on nice days changing sails alone is a drag, remove sail covers and get all lines in order. If you have hank on sails, select your sail and secure the tack and run the sheets through the blocks, then hold the sail in place with a bungee cord until you are ready to raise it, that way it wont blow overboard. If you think your main sail will need to be reefed, set it up at the dock then lower the main until you are ready to raise it. This is also no fun since you usually want to reef when things are not so calm, tieing the reef points etc at the dock is much easier and if you discover you don't need the reef once you get out there it is much easier to let the reef out than to put it in.
.
When under sail I like to run the jib sheet in use from the leeward winch to the windward winch and cleat it off on the windward cleat. This way I don't have to get up to adjust the jib sheet.
.
You will want to figure a way to self steer. I use a long bungee cord wrapped around the tiller and secured to the cleats on the coaming boards. It is not perfect but I can usually take my eyes off it long enough to make lunch or releive myself or whatever. Most of the sailing books I have describe a way to do this with the jib sheets but I have not done it yet.
Have fun! Where do you sail?
Will Wheatley
Suzi Q
CD25
Sailing from Chesapeake Beach, MD
Tom wrote: I would be very interested with any suggestions for safety and sail handling people use to sail single-handed a CD25.
Thanks
Tom
S/V Stardust CD25#444
willwheatley@starpower.net
-
JimL
Re: Single handed sailing CD25
Here are some things that have worked for me....my apologies to all who already know these things, learned long before my time.
One of my first additions was jackline mounts. You can see how I set them up on my website link, below. The key here is to wear the harness (often with a lifejacket when it's rough), always (especially for me....I can't swim due to great fear of water). I wear the harness under the lifejacket and UNDER any windbreaker or coat. It makes it easier to get cleared away to use the cabin or head compartment.....the harness stays on, ready to clip on. A note of caution. Experiment with a line across between the jacklines, just forward of the mast. Taking the whole safety harness tether all the way forward can lead to the tether looping over the foredeck cleat. You don't quite make it back to the cockpit, while in a big hurry, when it comes up short! Practice at the dock.
Another item that helps is lazy jacks or my "clip on boom jacks" (see 2nd page of website how to build/use them). Getting the sails down, single-handed, must be handled with caution. Take great care to prevent any lines or sails getting over the side to foul prop or rudder. I practiced at the dock, to get it right.
When flaking the jib, bring one sheet inboard of the shrouds/lowers (on one side) to pull the tack of the sail back along the deck. Now you can square up the flakes, at the headstay, and it'll roll neatly for the bag. Another tip....a bungee used to hold the jib in the bow pulpit. Another bungee is wrapped tightly around the headstay, just above the turnbuckle, with the ends hooked on the pulpit verticals. This keeps the hanks from slipping down onto the swedge and jamming when trying to hoist the jib.
About hoisting the jib....if you switch to rope halyards (I did) the mast mounted winch needs to be invert-wound (to keep it from overriding while hoisting).
Will's bungee cord steering idea works well. I have a pair of very small eyelets bolted on the face of the cockpit seats, just for this purpose. You can single wrap a bungee around the tiller, then make adjustments to get the boat running fairly straight for a while.
Learn to reef by yourself. I overtrim the jib, then use a bungee looped around the tiller to give a little windward pull. The main is eased so the end of the boom is just past the lifeline. Drop the boom onto the lifeline as you pull down the forward reef while easing the halyard. I have an S hook on my Cunningham, which has a long enough line to serve as the forward reef (I just move it up to the reef hole). The aft reef line is routed through bail eyes to a cleat near the front of the boom. Pull in that reef 2nd. Once the ends are reefed, the ties are easy. ALWAYS do this work with the safety harness clipped to the windward jackline.
Spend some time creating a secure cabin. Things that fall over, fall off, etc. are a real distraction when you're busy by yourself.
Have an emergency ladder available, from the water, to get yourself back on board. I have a small, collapsable rope/plastic unit that lashes to a stern pulpit post, at deck level. On a CD25 it can be reached from the water....a taller boat will need a release tether over the side.
ALWAYS have some sweet snacks, like granola bars, to eat when you're losing temperature. Your body can build heat with sugar much faster than pouring hot coffee or tea into it. How do you know when you're losing core temperature?.....when you find yourself urinating frequently. The body reduces blood flow to the arms and legs, to protect the core. Excess blood builds in the abdomen, so the body gets rid of the water volume as quickly as possible. You'll see this really fast with kids....if they're hitting the porta potti often, get some sweets in 'em, clothes on 'em, and into the cabin if it won't make them seasick.
Tender subject....here goes. Always have liquid Immodium AD on board. It'll stop the problem faster than anything else. Use half dose and you'll be ok to keep your body going. The pills take too long.
I guess I've gone on too long, but I hope you'll find some of this useful. CD25s are a joy to single hand!
regards, JimL
leinfam@earthlink.net
One of my first additions was jackline mounts. You can see how I set them up on my website link, below. The key here is to wear the harness (often with a lifejacket when it's rough), always (especially for me....I can't swim due to great fear of water). I wear the harness under the lifejacket and UNDER any windbreaker or coat. It makes it easier to get cleared away to use the cabin or head compartment.....the harness stays on, ready to clip on. A note of caution. Experiment with a line across between the jacklines, just forward of the mast. Taking the whole safety harness tether all the way forward can lead to the tether looping over the foredeck cleat. You don't quite make it back to the cockpit, while in a big hurry, when it comes up short! Practice at the dock.
Another item that helps is lazy jacks or my "clip on boom jacks" (see 2nd page of website how to build/use them). Getting the sails down, single-handed, must be handled with caution. Take great care to prevent any lines or sails getting over the side to foul prop or rudder. I practiced at the dock, to get it right.
When flaking the jib, bring one sheet inboard of the shrouds/lowers (on one side) to pull the tack of the sail back along the deck. Now you can square up the flakes, at the headstay, and it'll roll neatly for the bag. Another tip....a bungee used to hold the jib in the bow pulpit. Another bungee is wrapped tightly around the headstay, just above the turnbuckle, with the ends hooked on the pulpit verticals. This keeps the hanks from slipping down onto the swedge and jamming when trying to hoist the jib.
About hoisting the jib....if you switch to rope halyards (I did) the mast mounted winch needs to be invert-wound (to keep it from overriding while hoisting).
Will's bungee cord steering idea works well. I have a pair of very small eyelets bolted on the face of the cockpit seats, just for this purpose. You can single wrap a bungee around the tiller, then make adjustments to get the boat running fairly straight for a while.
Learn to reef by yourself. I overtrim the jib, then use a bungee looped around the tiller to give a little windward pull. The main is eased so the end of the boom is just past the lifeline. Drop the boom onto the lifeline as you pull down the forward reef while easing the halyard. I have an S hook on my Cunningham, which has a long enough line to serve as the forward reef (I just move it up to the reef hole). The aft reef line is routed through bail eyes to a cleat near the front of the boom. Pull in that reef 2nd. Once the ends are reefed, the ties are easy. ALWAYS do this work with the safety harness clipped to the windward jackline.
Spend some time creating a secure cabin. Things that fall over, fall off, etc. are a real distraction when you're busy by yourself.
Have an emergency ladder available, from the water, to get yourself back on board. I have a small, collapsable rope/plastic unit that lashes to a stern pulpit post, at deck level. On a CD25 it can be reached from the water....a taller boat will need a release tether over the side.
ALWAYS have some sweet snacks, like granola bars, to eat when you're losing temperature. Your body can build heat with sugar much faster than pouring hot coffee or tea into it. How do you know when you're losing core temperature?.....when you find yourself urinating frequently. The body reduces blood flow to the arms and legs, to protect the core. Excess blood builds in the abdomen, so the body gets rid of the water volume as quickly as possible. You'll see this really fast with kids....if they're hitting the porta potti often, get some sweets in 'em, clothes on 'em, and into the cabin if it won't make them seasick.
Tender subject....here goes. Always have liquid Immodium AD on board. It'll stop the problem faster than anything else. Use half dose and you'll be ok to keep your body going. The pills take too long.
I guess I've gone on too long, but I hope you'll find some of this useful. CD25s are a joy to single hand!
regards, JimL
leinfam@earthlink.net
-
Warren Kaplan
Re: Single handed sailing CD25
Tom,Tom wrote: I would be very interested with any suggestions for safety and sail handling people use to sail single-handed a CD25.
Thanks
Tom
S/V Stardust CD25#444
I had the same concerns with my CD27. I expect to be doing alot of single handed sailing this year. Along with what others have already mentioned here are a few modifications I made. This spring I installed 3 heavy duty Wichard folding padeyes around my cockpit. They fold down when not in use so no shins are scraped moving around the cockpit. All 3 are thru bolted with heavy backing plates and fender washers. One each on the vertical surface of the port and starboard cockpit lockers and one thru bolted into the cabin just to starboard of the companionway so I can clip in coming out or when working with the starboard cabintop winch. I use these to clip into with my safety tether that is attached to my inflatable PFD safety harness..which is ALWAYS attached to me when I single hand. If I'm out alone, the harness/autoinfalteable PFD goes on. I actually have a double tether so if I have to move around, one is always clipped in while I'm moving the other hook.
I also brought 3 lines aft to the cockpit. I installed a Dwyer halyard organizing plate under the mast step to which I attached swivel blocks. I also installed a triple deck organizer, a triple rope clutch and a self tailing Andersen winch on my starboard cabintop. I brought the main halyard, the tack reefing line and the clew reefing line for the first reef back to the cockpit. I've got lazy jacks for the mainsail and a Furlex heavy duty furler for the headsail. I can raise and lower all sails and reef them, all from the security of the cockpit. I can also rig jacklines to the bow if I need to. My intent, when single handing, is never having to leave the safety of the cockpit under ordinary sailing circumstances which includes the wind getting up a bit. You never know when an accidental jibe, a quick unexpected gust of wind or just slipping on a wet deck can throw you off balance and possibly over the side...with nobody around to help you out. So, the main safety concern when sailing alone (to me anyway) is staying aboard. Being clipped into the cockpit and staying there goes a long way to insuring that.
Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27
Oyster Bay Harbor, NY
Setsail728@aol.com
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Gary L.
Re: Single handed sailing CD25
Tom,Tom wrote: I would be very interested with any suggestions for safety and sail handling people use to sail single-handed a CD25.
Thanks
Tom
S/V Stardust CD25#444
I single handed my CD26 with rare exception, all the time. I agree with both Will and Jim about the equipment, I learned the hard way, but survived anyway. The key is to plan your moves, listen to the weather and plan your sails accordingly. I also purchased an auto pilot, after spending from 5AM to after midnight at the tiller. It held a course better than I did, and allowed me time to go forward, make sail changes, personal relief trips to the head, and get out of the rain, make a meal, etc. I also kept my anchor at the stern (see earlier posting). There are a few tenents that I hold: 1) don't panic (I have fallen overboard so wear the harness); always plan your moves on deck, one hand for safety the other for the chore; and practice, practice, practice, even if it is just playing "what ifs".
Good luck.
Gary Lapine
Red Witch III
CD30C, #339
Somerset, MA
dory26@attbi.com
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michael phillips
Re: Single handed sailing CD25
Just another two-cents... Before selling Brigitta (Gary & Diane, I sure hope you're having fun with her!) I sailed solo most all of the time except when racing. I also hated motoring so the outboard lived on the cabin sole and I usually sailed in and out of my slip and marina. One trick I used: when I would go forward to drop the jib, I would also unhitch the main halyard but leave one wrap on the winch and then bring it back to the cockpit. That way I could sail as close I needed to fetch my slip and not have to panic when it was time to drop the main. Of course, I also would get the paddle out into the cockpit just in case... 
I almost feel like I've "lost something" since KAYLA, our CD28, "spits out her butt" and I haven't even thought about sailing her to her slip! She also has roller furling which I don't know how I lived without on Brigitta!
Enjoy!
-michael
s/v KAYLA
CD28 #318
Bluewater Bay FL
michael@bbsc.com
I almost feel like I've "lost something" since KAYLA, our CD28, "spits out her butt" and I haven't even thought about sailing her to her slip! She also has roller furling which I don't know how I lived without on Brigitta!
Enjoy!
-michael
s/v KAYLA
CD28 #318
Bluewater Bay FL
Tom wrote: I would be very interested with any suggestions for safety and sail handling people use to sail single-handed a CD25.
Thanks
Tom
S/V Stardust CD25#444
michael@bbsc.com
-
tomb5050@aol.com
thanks
Thanks for all your good comments and suggestions
tomb5050@aol.com
South Dartmouth, MATom wrote: Thanks
Tom
S/V Stardust CD25#444
tomb5050@aol.com
-
Neil Gordon
Re: Single handed sailing CD25
>>Learn to reef by yourself. I overtrim the jib, then use a bungee looped around the tiller to give a little windward pull.<<
You can also try backing the jib/genoa, and heaving to, lashing the tiller to leeward. The boat will settle down nicely and you can reef the main in the lee of the jib.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com
You can also try backing the jib/genoa, and heaving to, lashing the tiller to leeward. The boat will settle down nicely and you can reef the main in the lee of the jib.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com