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Sailing single handed

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byh2os
1st Mate

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USA
32 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/17/2005 : 13:39:39

My boat is not currently set up for single handed sailing,and it is not always easy to find a crew a moments notice. A friend sugested go down wind, turn off motor, raise jib then main sail then go back to the cockpit and remove the boom off the hanger. Is he nuts? All help is greatly appreciated.

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2005 : 14:01:09

1. Put a topping lift on the boom. Then you can release it from the hanger in preparation for raising main.
2. Head directly into the wind with mainsheet released, tiller centered, motor running slowly...Then raise main and trim it(use some variation of tiller tamer to control the tiller).
3. Fall off slightly.
4. Haul up jib and set sheet.
5. Shut down engine and pull it out of the water.

It's generally not a good idea to raise the jib first in most circumstances.

You should be able to do the above ok under normal conditions even if you have to go forward to haul and snug the halyards.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2005 : 14:03:55

Hi Bill,

Maybe not nuts more properly not your friend

Sailing is open to all techniques and I'll not comment further about the advice given to you. You might try it and see if it works for you. Personally , I've never found raising sails while going down wind with the motor off, something I'd thought of. A lot of this conjecture is wind speed and tide speed relative.
Let's say it's a normal day, winds light and steady current of little concern. I'd head into the wind and with the motor at dead low I'd raise the main,(hopefully from the cockpit, but doable if you have to go on deck. Let the main flag and raise/unfurl the jib. Once back in the cockpit you can turn off the motor and adjust your sails and away you go.

Initally this is the kind of day you want to consider when you're not familiar with your boat. As you become more able you might modify this senario for more vigorous sailing weather.

In any event go slowly, be cautious and have fun.

Val on Calista#3936

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2005 : 15:08:49

My experience has been that if you try to raise the main while going downwind, either the luff will go under the spreader and get stuck, or the sail slides will not slide due to the pressure exerted against them by the wind filling the sail. It's always easier to idle your engine into the wind while raising the main, bear off the wind, shut down the engine and unfurl/raise the genoa. Also, the topping lift already suggested is a good idea.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2005 : 15:27:04

byh2os,<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> A friend sugested go down wind, turn off motor, raise jib...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">So far, so good.<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">...raise ... main sail then go back to the cockpit and remove the boom off the hanger.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">No, don't try this while heading down wind.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Is he nuts?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Hard to say from here, but based on that last piece of advice, he might be.

My first suggestion is to get and use an autopilot. I'll assume you've ruled that out for now.

Here's a procedure that has worked for me.
<ul><li>It's OK to raise the jib first while heading down wind. I know, the "How To Sail" books seldom say this.</li>
<li>Get the jib up and trimmed, steering as windward a course as you can comfortably with only the jib.</li>
<li>Tie off the tiller. Fool around with this until the boat is self-steering on a close reach under jib alone. Don't try to pinch, go for stable self-steering a bit off close hauled.</li>
<li>Depending on how you boat is set up: slack mainsheet, slack vang, slack downhaul, take up topping lift, unclip pigtail. (More or less in that order.)</li>
<li>Check to be sure boat is still self-steering above a beam reach.</li>
<li>Give the boom a shove to leeward, pulling out some mainsheet (but not enough to drag in the water).</li>
<li>Raise mainsail until luff is tight, or headboard hits masthead. Be especially watchful for battens getting caught under the lee shrouds. If you're standing at the mast, you can usually prevent the sail getting caught by tugging aft on the leach with one hand while pulling the battens past the potential snag points with the halyard in the other hand.</li>
<li>Quickly return to the helm! Release the tied tiller. Resume control of the rudder. Trim the mainsheet.</li>
<li>Get the boat back on a self-steering course, and retie the tiller.</li>
<li>Depending on how you boat is set up: slack off topping lift, tighten downhaul, tighten vang, retrim mainsheet.</li>
<li>Resume control of rudder.</li></ul>
Note that you pretty much have to have a masthead topping lift for this to work.

Meanwhile, keep saving up for an autopilot. The first time you use one to maintain course while raising sails, you'll kick yourself for not getting an autopilot sooner!

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2005 : 15:55:42

How about a little more back ground on the situation. Are you in a slip or moored out. If in a slip what is the dock arrangemnt like. Do you have to travel a long distance and make a bunch of turns.
Is it possible to raise your sails before you head out. My slip points into the wind and I have just a short distance to go past other boats so I usually just sail out. May use the motor to back out of the slip and get headed in the right direction. Coming in is usually by sail, if it is way windy I may drop the sails and motor in.
About setting the sails, I read that you always set the down wind sail first. So if you are going down wind raise the jib. If I werer to do that I'd then head into the wind to raise the main. Close hauling with the jib should allow you to raise the main. I think I'd try a few practice runs with someone else on the boat before trying on my own.

Edited by - on

DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2005 : 16:30:20

Okay guys...

I've been reading this thread and am going to be launching my boat pretty soon. I was thinking of how to put up the sails but the idea I had seemed a lot simpler, but correct me if there is something I'm missing:

Motor out into the waterway away from the lee shore. Stop the motor and drop the anchor. Let the boat come around to the wind, and then raise the sails at your leisure. Pull up the anchor. She should stay in irons until you get back to the cockpit as long as you don't dilly-dally. Point her where you want to go, pull in the sails and go.

Am I missing something?

-Dave

Edited by - DaveC25 on 10/17/2005 16:31:19

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2005 : 16:37:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by byh2os
 ...A friend sugested go down wind, turn off motor, raise jib then main sail then go back to the cockpit and remove the boom off the hanger...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If you were to raise the main while going downwind with the pigtail hanger still attached to the boom, you might need a pair of bolt cutters to detach it. Situations like these are ones to avoid and I speak from experience.

As the others have mentioned, installing a proper topping lift will make life easier. It is one of the first things I installed when I bought my boat and the pigtail hasn't been used since. One of these days I'm going to cut it off.

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2005 : 16:58:15

Dave,
That will work...but you could just point boat into the wind till she stops
and do the same thing as long as you hustle to get the main up before the bow drops off too much. Saves all the work with the anchor.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2005 : 17:42:19

DaveC25,<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Stop the motor and drop the anchor. Let the boat come around to the wind, and then raise the sails at your leisure. Pull up the anchor. She should stay in irons until you get back to the cockpit as long as you don't dilly-dally.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I've done this lots of times. In fact, that's how I get underway after having spent the night at anchor. There are a couple of things that can make this method less than ideal if there's more than a very light breeze.

1.) C-25s 'hunt' at anchor a lot. That is, even with no sail up, they tend to swerve back and forth in an arc if on a single anchor, the bow swinging through as much as 90*. (Using two anchors in a 'V' puts a stop to this. I've also read an anchor riding sail works well in calming a C-25 down.) Raising either sail while this 'hunting' is going on seems to make it worse.

2.) Once you've got the sails up, the boat wants to sail. Once the anchor breaks out, the boat will take off within seconds, while you're still dealing with the anchor. In really light air with lots of room around, this isn't much of a problem. I preset the mainsheet and tiller for a more or less self-steering point of sail before going forward to retrieve the anchor. I know from experience about what scope will break out my anchor, so I try to time the breakout with the swing of the bow, so the boat takes off on the tack I want it to.

3.) With a hanked on headsail, the foredeck can get rather crowded while trying to retrieve the anchor. With the jib lowered and under foot, it blocks the anchor locker and collects anchor mud. With the jib raised, it's trying to knock you off the boat while your hands are busy stowing the rode and anchor.

But as I said above, raising sail in light air at anchor works just fine.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

byh2os
1st Mate

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USA
32 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2005 : 19:13:53

Thanks everybody. My friend is a young(late 30' early 40's) retired blue water captian, who decided doing drugs and getting shot at were no longer for him. Also to be fair he did say after sails were up to put the boat into the wind to undo the boom. Bill

Edited by - byh2os on 10/17/2005 19:21:52

RBArrowood
Deckhand

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17 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2005 : 22:37:28

Maybe I'm missing something but this is not that complicated. You do need a topping lift and lines led to cockpit. Under power head into the wind. Raise boom above horizontal with topping lift. Raise mainsail. If you are going to single hand on a regular basis you need to get a roller furler jib. Then all you need is to pull it out and you are sailing.

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2005 : 00:40:48

If you are going to buy a tillerpilot or use the tiller tamer while heading into the wind with your motor in gear while single-handing, might I suggest a harness (on you) and a tether attached to something solid on board in case you should become "disconnected" from your forward moving boat? Having fallen in the water while watching your boat head off over the horizon (or maybe run into the horizon or other object/boat/etc.) might just ruin your whole day

Having said that, with experience this thing called "getting under way" isn't that difficult. Just take your time (what's the rush anyway??) and think carefully and logically each step of the way. Have fun sailing

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2005 : 07:53:38

As several people have already said it is a typical sailing event to raise sails, in that there is a formula that must be considered before you decide what is appropriate and what is not. That formula involves wind strength, your strength, the way the boat is rigged, the immediate surroundings, (crowded? protected? lee shore?, etc).
As I read your friend's recommendations I had no real problem until I got to the part that said remove the boom from the hanger last! That is very dangerous! However, your friend recommended a very specific formula; raise the headsail first; get up to speed down wind so the apparent wind across the deck is near zero; leave the boom crutch attached so the main will expose virtually no profile to the wind; get it up with mainsheet on, disconnect hanging boom crutch, let out the mainsheet; sail away: he had a light to moderate wind formula, but I would never do that from the mast!
I raise my sails on all points of sail and in any order based on what I want to do at that moment. The first rule to raising a sail is to give it full freedom of movement (mainsheet off, boom vang off, cunningham off, reefs off, backstay adjuster off, headsail sheets very loose but made off), so it will remain luffing while you raise it even if the boat falls away from irons, (which it will, its the boom you want in irons if possible). That said, Sunday I raised my main with the wind behind me because I did not want to spin a 180 in the channel and did not want to wait until I cleared the channel area. In that case I put the wind off my starboard quarter, intentionally let my main flop off the boom to starboard and down into the open main hatch so the leech would be held back along the boom while the sail was raised, that avoided the upper batten flopping under a lower shroud before I could get the sail up; and yes I hauled quickly. I have a boom-kicker but I would not worry about a topping lift function too much, people have let the boom lay on the deck or lifeline for a thousand years, it will pull up as you raise the sail. The point is, as several have said, it is up to you to take your time, grasp the situation decide on a method and sequence and execute smartly. BUT DON'T LEAVE THE BOOM BELAYED TO THE HANGING BOOM CRUTCH!
By the way, when dropping my main, I always hook the boom crutch up and harden the mainsheet before going forward to stow the main on the boom so that the boom will take my weight, the boom-kicker can't and a topping lift should not be trusted.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 10/18/2005 08:03:53

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2005 : 09:13:59

Frank is right. Raising sails and getting underway is a completley situational event which requires, as in all things having to do with sailboats, forethought, practice, and adequate equipment. You should practice getting underway using your motor, from a mooring or at anchor, or lying adrift. All are seamanship skills which must be acquired and practiced. As for equipment, a topping lift is a necessary upgrade from the pigtail Catalina provided whether you are single handing or not. If you have more dollars to put into your boat, a rigid vang is even better. The same holds true regarding self-steering the boat. A bungee cord will work but a tiller tamer is a good, inexpensive upgrade. An autopilot is more expensive but an even better upgrade. If you have hank-on head sails, self-steering is a necessity when signl handing, roler furling is the best bet. Only you can decide what is best for you and your budget. Whatever you decide though, getting out and practicing various techniques you decide upon in various situations, is the only way to become proficient. The one thing you have to remember, and Frank emphasized this also, when getting under way, NEVER SECURE THE BOOM TO ANYTHING until the main is raised and you are ready to actually sail the boat. You will get into trouble it you do.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2005 : 10:19:29

Many people raise both the main and jib before they shut down the motor and tilt it out of the water, but I shut it down and tilt it after raising only the mainsail and before raising the jib. The boat sails slowly and smoothly on the mainsail alone, and it self-steers easily. That makes it easier to lean over the transom and pull the motor up. When both the mainsail and jib are up, the boatspeed is higher and the boat heels and bucks more, making it more awkward to lean over the transom and lift and tilt the motor. Also, it's better to be going slowly while you're raising the motor and not watching where the boat is going.

Edited by - on

bbriner
Captain

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349 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2005 : 11:13:38

Certainly there are a lot of variables to consider, and even though I'm fairly new at this I have gone out singlehand a lot over the last 2 years (by my diary nearly 60 times solo). In my situation once I'm out of the marina it is just too windy and too rough to raise the sails since I have to go to the mast to do so and I don't have a furling jib. So, I have to raise the sails inside the marina. I leave the engine on just in case... but I sail out of the marina. There is a lot of boat traffic (its the largest marina on SF Bay) but many people do this so most boaters are used to it.

I raise the sails in the turning basin, which is well protected from the wind. Even so, I do head up (not down!!) with engine in fwd/idle and raise the jib first, since it can luff completely (the main cannot). Then I raise the main. I get all the lines tied off on the cleats on the mast, then get back to the cockpit, tighten up and head towards the main fairway. Same thing when I come back (I'm in a downwind slip so it is difficult/awkward to sail in or out).

If you can't do this in protected water then by all means rig your lines back into the cockpit. A furling jib is not "necessary" (although I do look on them with much jealousy :)) and neither is a rigid vang (it is though if you don't have a topping lift - you must have one or the other or both). Once under sail and out of the marina and away for the hard shore I lash the tiller and turn off the engine.

My learnings: watch the wind direction and boat traffic. Be patient and plan ahead. Make sure the boom is loose, mainsheet and vang released, and is off the pigtail before you raise it. Also, it helps to have all the sail ties off too :)) !! If you have a hank-on job make sure the tack is secure too :o

With some practice this is not difficult nor time consuming. The first couple of times though it can be "exciting"!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2005 : 11:42:42

Like Steve, I too shut the motor down between raising the main and jib.

With the motor running, I point head-to-wind and raise the main sail. After the main is up, I shut down the motor and change course to my intended point of sail. Finally, I unfurl the jib and trim to the new course.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2005 : 12:41:20

I've sailed literally thousands of miles single handed in the C25. Topping lift, lines led aft, and an autopilot are nearly essential. If no AP, at least a tiller tamer or some way to tie the tiller where you want it.

I usually get the main up in the slip unless its really blowing. I have a slip that points nearly directly into the prevailing winds. Reefing lines are routed to the reef I think I might need (flattening, first or second). If its really blowing I get the main up in the basin motoring at idle into the wind.

I get the jib of the day out and hank on and lay on deck ready to hoist before leaving the slip.

Back out of the slip under power, motor down the fairway, out of the basin, and usually shut down the motor for the day.

Raising jib seems easier on one of the tacks, not directly into the wind. I like to have the sail fill on the tack I want. I also have a roller furler but I've taken it off in favor of hank on sails.

The boat is under AP at this time. But if you didn't have a pilot, just tie the tiller in the center. It doesn't matter that much, your jib will be up in a jiffy.

Take off AP and sail as usual. I have mid boom main sheeting which helps. Plus an upgrade on the traveller which puts the lines mid cockpit.

The AP is usually used downwind or reaching so I can tweak the sails. Upwind, its more fun and faster to sail without it. Of course, any time I need an extra hand I turn it back on.

I have a life vest with harness and a jack line on the port side running from the bow cleat to the cockpit. My harness has a light and a whistle.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2005 : 16:17:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 Like Steve, I too shut the motor down between raising the main and jib.

With the motor running, I point head-to-wind and raise the main sail. After the main is up, I shut down the motor and change course to my intended point of sail. Finally, I unfurl the jib and trim to the new course.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Actually, when raising the main, I don't head directly into the wind but come off a few degrees right or left depending on my intended course. This allows the main to catch a little wind which prevents the main from flogging and keeps the boom to leeward as I make my way back to the cockpit.

Edited by - on

Capt. Kurt
Navigator

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185 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2005 : 17:59:59

I do not recommend raising the sails going down wind. I was struck with the boom while trying to do so when the boat gybed suddenly, which is not fun, especially if you are alone.

Kurt
C250WK #818 'Tortuga'

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2005 : 10:46:21

As a side note, if you have hank on jib...you shouldn't be winching the halyard tight when the sail is full. Do that while it is luffing.

Edited by - on

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