CD 30 & 31 Solo Sailing

[Gary McDonough]

I presently own a 25D and truly love the boat. However, I am caught in the bigger boat syndrome. My wife and I frequently spend nights on the boat at our mooring and I do probably three trips on it during the summer months. My question is: Is the 30 or 31 easily sailed by one person? I went sailing this summer approx. 38 times and a lot of them were solo (including a 60 mile each way 3-day trip).

I have an autopilot now and would install one on a bigger boat as well. I would welcome any thoughts from the bigger boat owners.

As the saying goes "The longer into the sailing season you go, the boat tends to shrink".

Gary

CD25D #170 "ALLURA"



garym@taxinvest.com

[Ed Haley]

There are so many variables involved in this question that only you can decide the answer. The sail area, in going from a 25D to a 30, is increased about 50%. This means the energy capture is about doubled. What is the ratio in the blocks used for sail control? Are your control lines lead aft? Are you underwhelmed now in sailing your 25D? What is your experience and confidence level? I don't mean to add more questions to your inquiry but there's a lot of subjectiveness involved in an answer. I sail a CD28, most of the time alone, and when it gets rough I wouldn't want a bigger boat. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.



eghaley@dreamscape.com

[Peter van der Kam]

I've sailed my CD30 mostly solo for five years. The first 2 years without autopilot, and as with (Iguess) most things, it becomes a habit and easy (in light to moderate winds). Also, I think sailing alone is absolutely the best. One thing: when you choose an autopilot make sure it's strong enough in rough weather and works well at low speeds . My Autohelm ST3000 was OK but sometimes made me rush back to the cockpit as it could not keep me into the wind. I'm now sailing a Caliber 40 (mostly solo), I've kept however my CD10.Good luck!

I presently own a 25D and truly love the boat. However, I am caught in the bigger boat syndrome. My wife and I frequently spend nights on the boat at our mooring and I do probably three trips on it during the summer months. My question is: Is the 30 or 31 easily sailed by one person? I went sailing this summer approx. 38 times and a lot of them were solo (including a 60 mile each way 3-day trip).

I have an autopilot now and would install one on a bigger boat as well. I would welcome any thoughts from the bigger boat owners.

As the saying goes "The longer into the sailing season you go, the boat tends to shrink".

Gary

CD25D #170 "ALLURA"

patagon@prolog.net

[Mike Schwartz]

I frequently single hand my CD 36 without difficulties. I do have an autopilot without which things would be much more difficult

[Tom Coons]

I presently own a 25D and truly love the boat. However, I am caught in the bigger boat syndrome. My wife and I frequently spend nights on the boat at our mooring and I do probably three trips on it during the summer months. My question is: Is the 30 or 31 easily sailed by one person? I went sailing this summer approx. 38 times and a lot of them were solo (including a 60 mile each way 3-day trip).

I have an autopilot now and would install one on a bigger boat as well. I would welcome any thoughts from the bigger boat owners.

As the saying goes "The longer into the sailing season you go, the boat tends to shrink".

Gary

CD25D #170 "ALLURA"

Gary: As the other postings have pointed out it's all in how you define "easy". Before I bought my CD 31 I stood on the deck in the yard and thought this is an awful lot of boat for a single hander. Now I sometimes wish I had gone for the 36. I single hand 80% of the time and have no problem with it. In some ways it's easier because the decks are wider and make it easier to go forward. The cutter rig is a dream because on the staysail you come about just by turning the wheel and if you have to dowse the staysail you've got the boom to hold onto and you don't have to go way forward as you do with a headstay jib, thus you stay drier and safer when it's blowing. I've never run across anyone who said my boat is just too big, but there are legions out there wishing for a bigger boat. Of course you have to consider the type of sailing you do. If you mainly do daysailing the smaller the boat the more convenient and thus the more sailing you will do. If you do any serious cruising the bigger the boat the better. No matter the size of boat an autopilot is mandatory if you're single handing. You know what they say about a man sailing with his family. He's just a single hander with a handicap.



TacCambria @thegrid.net

[Neil Gordon]

Gary,

I single hand my CD28 without difficulty and without autopilot. The genoa is on a furler and the main is easy enough to handle by myself. Main halyard is at the mast... I just let the tiller go, walk forward and drop the main as the weather helm heads the boat up. Then the bow blows off and she sits quietly while I secure the main. Could also be done heaving to by backing the genoa. That would put the main in the lee of the backed genny. Easy for reefing, too.

Better than autopilot, since I can fall off and not have to watch the boat sail away.

As for size, maybe a move from 25 to 28 would be enough. LIQUIDITY is a good two person cruiser.


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

[Bill Gold]

Gary, I bought my cd30 six months ago and have been single-handing on the Columbia River (daysailing). There is an Autohelm 1000, which does not track properly off the wind, but it does help me in the narrow waters to raise the main and staysail before having to tack. I'm not a weatherworn sailor, but I've found this boat easy to singlehand. I'll take her north to Puget Sound next summer, either with crew or buddy boating.

When tacking, I've found it easier to furl the jib and then unfurl on the new tack. There just isn't much room on the cutter between the forestay and the inner stay for the jib to slip through...the jib sheet knots hang on the inner stay, and eventually come through, but I feel more in control furling and unfurling.

For what it's worth...

Bill
cd30 Seraphim
St. Helens, OR

I presently own a 25D and truly love the boat. However, I am caught in the bigger boat syndrome. My wife and I frequently spend nights on the boat at our mooring and I do probably three trips on it during the summer months. My question is: Is the 30 or 31 easily sailed by one person? I went sailing this summer approx. 38 times and a lot of them were solo (including a 60 mile each way 3-day trip).

I have an autopilot now and would install one on a bigger boat as well. I would welcome any thoughts from the bigger boat owners.

As the saying goes "The longer into the sailing season you go, the boat tends to shrink".

Gary

CD25D #170 "ALLURA"

billgold@hotmail.com

[Paul Marti]

I presently own a 25D and truly love the boat. However, I am caught in the bigger boat syndrome. My wife and I frequently spend nights on the boat at our mooring and I do probably three trips on it during the summer months. My question is: Is the 30 or 31 easily sailed by one person? I went sailing this summer approx. 38 times and a lot of them were solo (including a 60 mile each way 3-day trip).

I have an autopilot now and would install one on a bigger boat as well. I would welcome any thoughts from the bigger boat owners.

A few years back I sailed my CD31 Keema solo from Panama to Tahiti via Easter Island and Pitcairn Island with another stop in Mangareva. I was delighted with every aspect of the trip, Keema handled well and tracked so easily it took little effort. She stood up to gale force winds and gave me the ride of my life. I'd highly recommend one. I know the 30 is a capable vessel also but the extra space in the 31 would probably delay the inevitable next step. I now have a CD33 and



Keema 31@aol.com