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Tips on singlehanding

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josh-hansen
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/15/2006 : 10:54:18

Last night I went out by myself in 15-20 knot winds. Everything was going fine while sailing under main alone, however when I raised the jib things got dicy. When I pointed my boat into the wind to go and lower it, the current pushed me back onto a tack too quickly. I tried freeing the mainsheet but the current still pushed her round, plus I had to haul all that line back in just to get the boat pointed upwind again. I do have my halyards run aft but I can't afford a bunch of hardware to run dosing lines, cunninghams and vang lines aft.

I am looking for some tips or techniques such as how to temporarily hold the tiller into the wind while going forward (I do have an old autohelm I could try)?

As always thanks for your advise.

Josh Hansen

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2006 : 12:13:52

A tiller tamer worked really well for me on a small inland lake with no current, but an autohelm would be much better for you. In any event, it's best to raise your sails somewhere out of the current when possible.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2006 : 12:29:37

On our boats, a tiller-pilot is invaluable, but may have trouble in those kinds of wind. If you sail single handed, a furler is worh it's weight in gold. IMHO, it's a bad idea to leave the cockpit while alone.

Tom.

Edited by - on

ct95949
Captain

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Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2006 : 22:17:32

Josh-
A jib downhaul only requires a small block at the bow and length of inexepensive line.I rigged one right after I realized going to the bow in rough conditions singlehanded or otherwise was not a good idea.And Tom is right about furlers.I've done no other upgrade that has proven more valuable.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2006 : 23:46:41

"can't afford a bunch of hardware to run dousing lines"

CT is correct... a downhaul is cheap. It only takes a couple of fairleads and one small block at the base of the jib along with a piece of 1/4" line. Spinlock makes some really nice fairleads that clamp right onto the stanchions.

A jib downhaul works nice with the 110 jib, which is what I run when singlehanding. Bring the boat head to wind, 'center' the clew using the sheets, release the halyard clutch and yard on the downhaul. The headsail will come right down in the middle of the foredeck and stay there.

Be sure to tighten the downhaul line and secure the tag end when the sail is fully raised so it doesn't wrap on the headstay in high winds.
(don't ask how I know this)

Edited by - on

josh-hansen
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2006 : 01:02:03

You guys are right (of course) I'll have to spring for the downhaul but who was it that said they could no longer get any work done on their boat? I know exactly what they mean, everytime I go down to the marina with my list of repairs I end up going sailing insted, believe me I'm not complaining though.

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2006 : 01:44:27

My C25 SR won't sail for squat under main alone. I NEVER do it. Reef? sure, but after that, furl the sucker and go under headsail alone......that's my advice.

I just did a single handed race today on the Columbia River in about 10-12 knots of breeze, with gusts close to 20. I had practiced some the week before in a somewhat stronger breeze and my autopilot would NOT hold my boat at all with a 135 and full main. Today I went small at the last minute since I expected the breeze to build. Went 110 jib/full main and the Autohelm was able to hold my boat because I was not on my ear. Speeds weren't too bad and I was near the leaders (Martin 242, NY36) at the weather mark.

I was conservative and just flew my asym spinnaker on the run, so got passed by a few boats. It was a gas!

Point: Autohelm will NOT be much help in strong winds! Use the headsail! The main is near useless alone......

However, I have had GREAT results leaving the main furled completely and sailing under headsail alone in heavy air. I have even raced with the asym alone (no main), when I needed to go more DDW than the main would let me.

Not everyone on this forum agrees with this tactic, but it works for me.

Got a bit over 7 knots today off the breeze with a perhaps "slow" KM.

Gary B.
Encore! #685

Edited by - Gary B. on 07/16/2006 01:47:41

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2006 : 08:21:38

Hi Josh, if you look in the west marina cataloge in the section for the reefing systems, they have a good drawing of a reef for the main that you can do from the cockpit. I just did it and it cost me $30.00. As someone else said, the downhaul blocks and lines do not cost that much and are well worth it.

Edited by - on

msliles
Deckhand

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USA
4 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2006 : 12:18:45

Josh

Try this instead of a tiller tamer.

http://www.geocities.com/thomas_m_stockwell/6BuckTillerStay.html

Very simple and seems like it would work fine.

Marlin Liles

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2006 : 13:09:18

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by msliles
 Josh

Try this instead of a tiller tamer.

http://www.geocities.com/thomas_m_stockwell/6BuckTillerStay.html

Very simple and seems like it would work fine.

Marlin Liles
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks Marlin, that is a great heads up to what looks like a perfect tiller control device.

Edited by - on

bbriner
Captain

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349 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2006 : 16:00:52

>"...Everything was going fine while sailing under main alone, however when I raised the jib things got dicy. When I pointed my boat into the wind to go and lower it..."

I've found that it is a lot easier to drop my jib when I am going downwind than upwind. When you are dead downwind the jib naturally collapses since it is blanketed by the main. Drop it then! It's a lot less chaotic and doesn't take long.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2006 : 21:02:11

I've been out only a few times, but I've used a piece of 1/4" line, made fast to one side of the stern pulpit, cloves around the tiller and then is lashed to the other side of the pulpit. Seems to work OK so far.
Best - jl

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2006 : 13:27:33

My autohelm went belly up and have been back to the tiller tamer. It works up to a point, but will get you off course when running around the deck, so you hafta be fast about it. Singlehanding learn to cross sheet too. Was in the boisterous main SFBay yesterday for a bit (didn't have much time to spend) so just went out in the middle and then back under the bridge. Was too lazy to reef. Crosssheeting was just the ticket. Didn't have to get down on the leeward side to crank jib adjustments.

Edited by - on

cks
Navigator

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126 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2006 : 19:22:05

PZell, when you are coss-sheeting, do you wrap your line around the leeward winch and then to the windward winch then to cleat? if so, how many wraps do you put on each winch?

Edited by - on

Heartbeat
Navigator

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USA
161 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2006 : 19:47:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cks
 PZell, when you are coss-sheeting, do you wrap your line around the leeward winch and then to the windward winch then to cleat? if so, how many wraps do you put on each winch?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I cross-sheet when singlehanding or double handing when it blows. I use the leeward winch as a turning block and then 2-4 wraps around the windward winch. I have used this config with my 155 up to ~20 (maybe more) knots of apparent wind.

Yeah, I know I was hugely overdriving the 155, but when ya gotta... ya gotta, and we were racing. Did I mention we won that day?

313-Matt

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2006 : 19:50:24

Hi cks, I was out today, solo, and I wrap the sheet on the leeward winch then across to the windward horncleat. The only problem with my boat is that on the port side of the cockpit, I have a hugh engine controller so when I am on that side and cross sheeted, I am pinched by the sheet and the controler. But yep, cross sheeting is just the ticket. CHeers.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2006 : 17:55:16

Lots of good advice. Every boat I have every owned, power or sail, I've spent more time solo than anything else. Once you get used to it and have a system to handle everything, you'll be fine. My current boat of solo choice is a C320, no different than any of the others.

Edited by - on

duanewolff
Master Marine Consultant

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50022 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2006 : 18:21:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gary B.
 My C25 SR won't sail for squat under main alone. I NEVER do it. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That is by far the best sail to get three knots for trolling. Get the planer boards out. Drop a few hooks on doodle whatevers divermacallits and fish for some Walleye.

Edited by - on

bbriner
Captain

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349 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2006 : 19:16:36

I was out last week solo, expecting a nice relaxed sail since the winds were pretty light - maybe 10-12 kts - when I left the marina. It was a warm day too so I didn't bother to put on my foulies. Before I knew it, within 10-15 minutes or so, the wind had picked up to 20-25kts. The waves went from practically nothing to BIG. I got soaked pretty quickly from waves ansd the spray. I tried to tack and had a hard time getting the sheet winched in. I remembered the advice on this forum to cross sheet. I hadn't ever done it before so I gave it a try. OMG. Why didn't I do this before? It makes it sooo much easier. No more going down to the low side, leaning over (hoping a big wave doesn't hit you and cause you to fall overboard), cranking the winch with one hand, tailing with the other hand, all while steering with my knee, trying to avoid getting back-winded and having to do it all over again. You still have to crank with one hand, tail with the other and so on but it is much easier on the high side. I have to practice some more to get the hang of it but man it's the only way to go.

Edited by - on

cks
Navigator

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126 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2006 : 20:01:50

ok, i don't want to get off the subject a little bit but someone on this forum alerted me to the "tillerlock" from cansail.com. i am enamored with the simplicity of it as i was using a bungee cord before. however, this weekend i noticed that the rope i'm using that i think is a 5/16 can slip a little bit. does anyone here have the tillerlock and do i need the thicker 3/8 rope?

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2006 : 09:57:09

That day I had put two wraps each winch & cranked from the high side.

Edited by - on

PamC
Navigator

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171 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2006 : 10:07:31

Hi CKS,

We have the Cansail tillerlock and we use 3/8" double braid with it. Works great and doesn't slip.

Edited by - on

cks
Navigator

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126 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2006 : 08:55:18

Hi all, i was out yesterday and tried cross-sheeting (dennis style). pretty light winds-5-10knts. it was a classic "why didn't i think of this" momment. PamC, the 3/8 line worked great. thanks.

Edited by - on

Trust Me
1st Mate

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USA
71 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2006 : 14:40:46

Tried Cross Sheeting last weekend on Lake Muskegon near Lake Michigan with the 155 up only in 15-25mph (yeah Matt..when you gotta ....you gotta

) singlehanded. What a difference being able to stay on the high side. I can see where timing the sail coming across is a real art with much more line coming across the cockpit with three wraps on the high side winch. It does feel so much safer not having to dive down to tack. The 7.6 mph didn't hurt either. Great tip and I recommend it to anyone single handed sailing.
Ron

Edited by - on

StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2006 : 19:08:52

Ron, you are killing me with the mph reference. Our boats have a hull speed of around 6.3 knots. The only ways to get past this speed are to be towed by something REALLY strong or surfing down the face of a wave.

What are you using to get to 7.6 mph? I want one.

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2006 : 13:19:04

Andy,
KPH is roughly equatable to about .875 MPH. So 6.3 knots equates to about 7.2 MPH. You can easily see 7.6 mph if any current or waves are assisting.

Edited by - Sloop Smitten on 07/25/2006 13:58:40

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