FYI: Single handing Alberg designed sailboats

[Kurt Lyons]

There is a characteristic of an Alberg design that makes them pariticularly easy to single hand, especially when setting/striking the sails. I first learned of this when I owned and sailed my Alberg Sea Sprite from 1972 thru 1992. The same characteristic is true of my current boat, a 1985 CD26. Simply put, Alberg sailboats will self-steer into the wind when motoring under power after the mainsail is hoisted and with both the tiller/mainsheet secured amidship. Once the boat is trimmed to these conditions, a single hander can reef the main, raise or lower the jib, change headsails or anything else and the boat will continue to motor directly into the wind until you run out of fuel. Try that with a fin keel hull or a Crocker Stonehorse and you'll be motoring (and jibing) in circles.



klyons1@us.ibm.com

[Harris]

I am a long term SS owner as well. going on 20 years. The thing that I have noticed as time goes on is that I use my motor less and less. Of course sailing off a mooring in Barnegat Bay has something to do with this. Also having no currents or bridges to deal with helps......just a 28 mile run of the best sailing in the US. My comment is based on the previous post refering to motoring upwind single handed. Granted....this is a characteristic of the SS although I want to state not ultimately the most desirable of the boat"s performance charms. The highlight of the design (and it ain't speed!) is how the boat rounds up into the wind when unattended. This I feel is the ideal way to hoist and reef. I feel that letting the boat motor while you run around the side and foredecks is an invitation to disaster. Why risk falling in and being struck by the prop? Keep in mind that I just sat through 2 wonderful presentations by Larry and Lin Pardy at the AC sail show.
When the SS is drifting under bare poles it can be coxed to turn far enough into the wind where it stays long enough to hoist the main. The boom may have to be out fairly far but it never fails to go smouthly. Now with the boom sheeted tight and the helm left unattended the boat will head up enough to not go in irons but stay stalled and gently go from on tack to anotherThis is an ideal condition to hoist the jib. The boat is at it's most stable...almost like hove to. The beauty is that the SS will always round up if you fall in. Under power you can wave goodby to your boat! I realize the suggestion deals more with self steering up wind.which is useful. I am just advocating that for sail change and such while alone the boat is steadier and it is safer to shut off the motor if the boat does infact head up like mine. I am always shocked when people start motors in preparation of lowering sails and entering a marina. I always find an area with enough room to drift.....lower and furl the sails.......straighten the boat out......hit the head...........have a snack........change clothes etc........then fire up the motor. I'm not in a rush to get in! Part of the charm of having an Alberg designed boat.

There is a characteristic of an Alberg design that makes them pariticularly easy to single hand, especially when setting/striking the sails. I first learned of this when I owned and sailed my Alberg Sea Sprite from 1972 thru 1992. The same characteristic is true of my current boat, a 1985 CD26. Simply put, Alberg sailboats will self-steer into the wind when motoring under power after the mainsail is hoisted and with both the tiller/mainsheet secured amidship. Once the boat is trimmed to these conditions, a single hander can reef the main, raise or lower the jib, change headsails or anything else and the boat will continue to motor directly into the wind until you run out of fuel. Try that with a fin keel hull or a Crocker Stonehorse and you'll be motoring (and jibing) in circles.

hg@myhost.com

[Neil Gordon]

I am always shocked when people start motors in preparation of lowering sails and entering a marina.<<

I do it because then I have some maneuverability once the sails are down. Protection against some of the morons we sometimes see out there. But it's not in gear until I'm done taking sails down and furling them.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[J. Kuehn]

I am always shocked when people start motors in preparation of lowering sails and entering a marina.<<

I do it because then I have some maneuverability once the sails are down. Protection against some of the morons we sometimes see out there. But it's not in gear until I'm done taking sails down and furling them.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167

Right on - being adrift near the enterance to a marina with the sails furled AND the engine shut down and cold is unsafe. Around the busy marina where I sail, if the engine decided not to start and the sails were already gone, I would be in trouble with other boat traffic or a wooden pier fast.

[HARRIS]

What I was refering to is starting the boats motor and heading up under power to take down a sail with a boat that would round up naturally. Starting the motor up and leaving it out of gear is just common sense. The reassurance that the thing will start and the warm up time can't hurt. Especially if you dont have enough room to leeward. My comment really refered to my observation that using motor "propulsion" while sail handeling should be avoided.People just seem to become overdependant on the things. The pitfalls are.......wrapping a stray sheet in the prop.......increased motion that reduces your footing.....and .the liability of falling in and getting hit by a spinning prop. I stop one step short of putting the sail cover on though......incase the motor doesn't start. Another factor is that when drifting with a an outboard motor in idle in a sailboat with fine ends....the water intake spends more time out of the water than in because of a robust single hander on the foredeck and the wakes from passing boats. thats another reason I usually get the sails stowed and sit at the aft end of the cockpit before starting the motor at the end of the day. Of course I'll go out of my way to find a less crowded area first. Another beauty of a full keel boat is the slow speed of drift in all but extreme conditions. Enjoy.......

I am always shocked when people start motors in preparation of lowering sails and entering a marina.<<

I do it because then I have some maneuverability once the sails are down. Protection against some of the morons we sometimes see out there. But it's not in gear until I'm done taking sails down and furling them.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167

Right on - being adrift near the enterance to a marina with the sails furled AND the engine shut down and cold is unsafe. Around the busy marina where I sail, if the engine decided not to start and the sails were already gone, I would be in trouble with other boat traffic or a wooden pier fast.

hg@myhost.com