Set Up Ideas wanted for Singlehandling

[Dolphin]

G'Day,
I'm still a long way from being totally organised single handing. I did mostly single hand up to Great Keppel and back as my wife was sick most of the time, which is one thing you have to consider if you are traveling with two, that one may be incapacitated.
Some other things are, can you operate the radio effectively from the cockpit? I have just bought a remote speaker for the VHF so that you can hear it in the cockpit. You can miss calls. One of the sailors from RMYC Port Hacking nearly triggered off a search because he couldn't hear the coast guard calling him when he was off Pt Kembla.
Another hint is to prepare food in advance. Boil a kettle and put it in a thermos so you don't waste trips to the gally and you can have a coffee when ever you like. You're also not trying to light the stove on the go. Have a whistling kettle so you know when its boiled.
I've also heard that an apple will keep you awake if in the small hours you tend to dose off.
Single handing certainly is the most satisfying way to sail, or am I just anthrophobic?
Greg.

[Shaun]

Hi,
A running or adjustable boom topping lift is very convienient.

Add another "P" to Preparation & Prevention i mentioned before, "Planning" its fun & interesting aswell to plan the route in the comfort of your lounge room before getting on the boat, writing the true & compass headings on the chart, looking for & marking dangerous areas & checking it all a few times. i think writing down the general plan in the log takes it off your mind & you can spend the time thinking about other stuff.

Im sure most people do all this stuff anyway, but these are a few things that are on my to-do list.
Remove clutter from the cockpit, stow away all the useless stuff like horseshoe floats, & that second drinks holder!
Have good LED nav lights, LED's remove the temptation to turn the lights off to save power
Have a good comprehensive toolkit in one of those soft, tool carry bags.
Have a second same bag for ropes & lines, easy to get to.
carry a knife/shackle key in your pocket, along with a torch/headlamp, maybe a strobe & one day im going to get a personal GPSepirb.

Storm Petrel, i agree its fantastic to make a port with a mate, row ashore & find the nearest pub .
In my case the local friends that i have here(that are interested in sailing!), have their own yachts. I rarely go sailing as it is!, if i had to find, organise, co-ordinate then hope the crew turns up i reckon i'd never go sailing .
My wife called me a recluse the other week , maybe thats why i like singlehanded sailing

cheers
shaun

im leaning towards timber handrails for the cabin top (& inside), as they dont get hot in the sun...?? i dont know
that book i mentioned details quite a few options for easy to understand sheet to-tiller steering, that im itching to try.

[storm petrel]

Hi Shaun,

I guess I am lucky with a 24 year old son and a bunch of surfing mates (several now retired and with nothing better to do) who enjoy a sail. I finish work at 12noon each Wednesday and, unless the surf is pumping, I can generally find a mate or two to come for an afternoon sail. So I manage to get a sail in most weeks and then the occasional extended trip on weekends/holidays with my wife or with a couple of mates. I do enjoy the occasional solo sail but it is not my preference. On Wednesdays we generally go straight round the corner and out to sea for a few hours, but do sometimes take the soft option of poking around in Broken Bay.

Cheers,
Mark

P.S. I agree with the desirability of timber grab rails and a running topping lift.

[Dolphin]

G'Day Shaun,
You know you can get the Top Hat to steer itself for a considerable time without any extra rigging. It will only work when the boat is about 45 to 90degrees to the apparent wind.
Just get the boat set up and sailing comfortably.
Lock the helm or tiller and let the main off a little to adjust the course. It will wander around a bit as the headsail and main balance themselves. In relatively stable conditions it works fine and can be used to give you a break from steering constantly. Its also a great feeling letting her go and sitting on the cabin top. Don't try it in a busy harbour of course.
Greg.
Ex skipper of the Mary Celleste.

Ps1 I agree with timber grab rails too. Unvarnished look good and have given good service.
PS2 I use an adjustabel topping lift. I leave it on ready to hold the boom if we need to reef. Only problem is it is plaited rope and in low wind speeds it vibrates (Aeolian vibration) and drums through the whole boat. To cure it when on the mooring, put the main halyard on the boom and slack off the topping lift.

[rob.lovelace]

self tailing winches a must fitted #16 Lewmars this weekend and man does it make things easy one hand on the tiller one on the winch handle and eye on the course. Beats the hell out of steering with my knees whilst winching and tailing and trying to watch everything at once.

[SeaLady]

Easy outboard lifting

Outboard[6].jpg (4.8 KiB) Viewed 3803 times

Hope this works, first time trying to upload a photo

I have a block and tackle and a harness type sling. Made from webbing similar to seat belts.

Attached to the back stay.
Makes lifting the outboard in and out of the well very easy.

[Phillip]

Just don't remove the forestay before you lift the motor

Phillip.

[Miker]

I tend to sail Dulcamara solo most of the time, even when Gabi is aboard. Usually she's lazing back snoozing or reading.

All lines are back to the cabin top. As in the photo

From left to right the lines are Spinaker topping lift, Spinaker Halyard, Main Halyard, First Reef, Vang, Second Reef and Foresail Halyard. There are two Arco #6 on the cabin top, either side and forward of the traveller. I use an ST800 or my knees whilst winching and tailing at the same time. I have Arco #8 on either side of the cockpit in the usual place.

The furler is a single line down port side which is then cleated on the cabin top when furled.

She also has home made lazy jacks and if I'm dropping the main on my own, I usually just fire up the outboard head into wind with it in forward at idle, with the auto pilot. I then unlock the jammer and climb up and fold the main over in leaves into the lazy jacks. There is no need for a downhaul, I use sailslip on the slugs and the bottom metre or so of the mast track and it comes down really quickly. My next investment is going to be a lazy bag, so I can just zip it up instead of having to put that crappy boom cover on.

I can get her on the mooring and to a jetty without much issue, even thought the outboard doesn't have remote controls and is over the stern on a bracket.

The thing I don't have is jack lines... yet.... or vane steering and I have no idea how to set up sheet to tiller steering, but I'm keen to find that one out if anyone has a link?

How about a solo race at the Regatta in November?

Cheers....
Michael

[karl010203]

THanks Michael -- love your comments re. boom bag - It takes me about 20 minutes to flake the sail just right before tying up with sail ties.... a boom bag would be a lot more fun! Another item on the list.

[rob.lovelace]

heres one
http://www.blueanarchy.org/selfsteering/index.html
I made one last weekend and am looking foward to trying it.