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Singlehanding

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2far2drive
1st Mate

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USA
74 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/11/2008 : 10:56:03

Well, I went down this weekend to work on the engine. I popped the cowling off, boom right there in front of me, one spark plug wire was disconnected.

It fired right up! Just wish I would had time to try and diagnose that while I was out there and really needed that motor.

So, I could not put a crew together on such short notice, I just decided to motor out in the lake for a while and have a few beers. Well, in the light (maybe 8-11kts) winds, I decided to go ahead and try some mainsail only single handing. It worked out well (with my tiller pilot holding me ) and I was having a blast but soon I was craving the control and speed of both sails so I turned again into the wind and raised the jib. After several tacks and watching my process very carefully, the time came to jybe. I did so relatively smoothly and sailed a little downwind for a while.

I got stuck at one point and it swung the boat downwind and I could feel her just bouncing on the keel. I immediately dropped the headsail and fired up the outboard and got off of whatever I was caught on. I checked the bilge, it all looked fine. At this point I figured I would head into the bay and get into some "deeper" water. I had a wonderful sail in the bay and practised a lot with the tiller tamer, getting used to how it reacts to winds, waves, and my weight as I went forward a few times. I was in the mood to practise sailing in the channel again, so I sailed all the way back in to a wonderful sunset and through the lake back to marina and arrived just as night was setting in.

I had a great time out there and singlehanding really made me think everything through very carefully before I made a maneuver. What fun!! Im glad the outboard is "fixed".

David
83 SR/FK #3341
Kemah Texas

Edited by - on

newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 12:31:23

Did you actually sail from the bay all the way into Clear Lake....or were you referencing some other lake?? Just wondering 'cause in any case you passed right by my brother's house on the island.

newell

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 13:19:38

Singlehanding, fixing the outboard, ungrounding yourself...this to me epitomizes what it is to be a self-reliant singlehanded sailor. Good job!

Singlehanding will fine tune your skills and make you a better sailor.

Edited by - on

2far2drive
1st Mate

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USA
74 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 13:33:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by newell
 Did you actually sail from the bay all the way into Clear Lake....or were you referencing some other lake?? Just wondering 'cause in any case you passed right by my brother's house on the island.

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

Yes, I sailed from the bay, through the channel, and across clear lake into my marina in the NW corner (near the Endeavor building). I was doing 1.5 kts through the channel, ultra light and variable winds. I caused a little traffic jam, but I let a bunch pass, got a few dirty looks. Amazing to me how sometimes even the darn sailors drop their sails in the channel and turn into motoring speed fanatics. Chill out, its a sailboat.

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newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 13:56:40

Well, I am impressed considering the twists and turns in that channel!

newell

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Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 14:10:21

So was this your first time single handling? I remember how much of an accomplishment it was for me to complete my first single handling sail. Funny thing similar to you is my first time single handling was right after I also diagnosed my outboard. It had over heated the previous sail and I found the cooling passages clogged. I spent a couple hours working on the engine and once I fixed it I thought I couldn't pass on the excellent weather. I originally didn't plan to sail so I didn't have any crew. I went out for an excellent single handed sail and after that I knew I didn't have to count on others to be able to go sailing.

Congrats! Glad it all went well.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 15:24:49

Awesome.

You're on the fun part of the learing curve. Soon it will all be second nature....and by that I mean, the part about things breaking down.
On one of my first sails - when it was getting dark and time to head back to the marina I couldnt start my OB, turned out the fuel line had not been reconnected after I filled-up.

Last fall I was out in a 25 knot blow, and most of the sail boats headed in, but I was out there trading tack for tack with an old salt. Later he mentioned a list of things I could do to keep the boat more upright in strong winds - and I responded by telling him that I was trying to get the boat to heel past 30degrees so I would know what the limitations of the boat were and because it was just plain fun.
The old Salt got a huge kick out of that and commented that I was on the fun part of the learning curve.

The next day, while still on the fun part of the learning curve and with winds 25+ knots - I tore my best jib.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 16:04:52

Congrats, David, on a well done outing. Sounds like you went through several little tests and came through just fine!

Edited by - on

2far2drive
1st Mate

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USA
74 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 17:42:18

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by newell
 Well, I am impressed considering the twists and turns in that channel!

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

Thanks! Yea Im actually starting to kind of enjoy sailing through there, the winds get super variable because of all the buildings but it makes you watch that windvane like a hawk to mazimize every ounce to keep you a)moving b)from drifting into those 1/2 to million dollar boats (especially the once right on the big turn!)

all day Saturday and Sunday, I saw what was some of the ruddest display by the power boaters on the lake. Sunday I was sailing my friends Morgan25 and we were in the channel in the bay, headed towards the boardwalk, usually where there is a major traffic jam. This 30ft big motor cruiser comes flying up from behind, passed us so close the spray from his bow hit our boat and soaked us, I cannot even begin to say how big that wave was that I immediatly turned us into was!

I talked to my friend Chris, and we talked about possible solutions. Maybe Im overreacting but after I looked that guy dead in the eyes as he was bearing down on us at 15-20kts, and he just smiled and waves, I think I will start carrying bricks on board, no joke. Chris was trying desperatly to get his boat name. I asked him whats the difference and he said "well, Ill find where he keeps it, and cut his bow lines in the night. See if he pulls that stunt again".

This seems to be not only a battle, but somewhat of a safety issue to me. That wave was easy 5ft and maybe 15ft off my port beam, and Im in a somewhat low freeboard Morgan25. I was not thrilled to say the least, I will keep an eye out for him. What do you guys do in these situations?

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 18:50:57

Congratulations on another nice day under sail!

By the way, although the main needs to luff when raised, the jib can be hoisted or unfurled when at any point of sail.

I try to ignore most of the highjinks of powerboaters or personal water craft. Powerboat owners are often living in another world, but we can see them coming from many boat lengths away and take reasonable actions for our own comfort in most cases. We can move away from speedboats moving up a channel, we can head into the wakes of unthinking boaters passing too close, and we can stop or slow down and let others pass at their own speed while we enjoy the beauty of the natural scene.

Remember, you are the captain of your craft, and even if powerboaters may try to get there faster, if you are sailing, you are already there.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 18:51:47

An [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adBm7U9-8OM"]RPG[/url] would have been handy.

Edited by - delliottg on 02/11/2008 18:55:21

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 19:22:44

Use a digital camera, get the regis. # from their bow and the boat name, and report them to the authorities. Maybe even post the pictures on a major boating website with the caption inconsiderate a--hole. Think Boat US would create a section??

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newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 20:11:53

An RPG would have been handy.

I agree! I have often thought about mounting a Polaris missile on the front of my boat and launching at the beach where the crazy "personal watercraft" come from.

newell

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 20:37:34

We don't know why Powerboaters are so stupid. We just know that they are.
If you were to meet this guy at the marina bar, he would probably be a nice enough guy and think that he was doing you some kind of favour or just being friendly or he just plain didn't realize that he was causing any kind of grief.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 22:25:05

This is my story of a power boater this last summer on the cruise where when entering a very shallow and narrow channel to the marina. It was my first time to visit this marina and I didn't know the rules.

I was following another sailboat in fairly strong currents and I was suppose to wait my turn to let the power boater pass through the channel. Just as I came up the channel he gunned his boat which was full of people and gave me a very large wake. It caught me off guard but I have been holding to one side of the channel and I didn't hit bottom when he passed.

Lots of thoughts passed through my mind including leaving the area since my welcome had been challenged. I decided to not react and see if I could stay there and keep a low profile. A power boat couple had witnessed the deed and came over and helped at the dock and appologized for the power boater they didn't know. This of course made me feel a little better.

The next morning after meeting a lot of nice people and seeing the marina I stopped for a hot coffee and donut with other boaters and they were talking of a power boater who's description was you know who. I hadn't shared my story with anyone except the first couple so I didn't let on and they told about the person returning to the dock, yelling at the people in his boat and jumped off on to the dock. He hadn't taken a line with him and he lost his balance and fell back hitting his head on his boat and disappeared beneath the water. They said it was several minutes before he was found and pulled up on to the dock. The last that was seen of him was after he was loaded into the ambulance and it raced off.

I thought I would share this story because of the thread. My cruise was a success and power boaters take care of themselves. Say maybe we do have someone watching over us. Happy sailing

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/11/2008 : 23:12:18

Obviously I was kidding about the RPG, but the video in the link is fun to watch. And who hasn't conjured visions of a missile into the transom of someone who's just spun you around with his wake?

Regarding "extreme fishing", my brother tells stories of fishing with a "Dupont number 4 lure" (4 oz of C-4 with a blasting cap) when they wanted to do a barbecue when he was clearing [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eniwetok_Atoll"]Eniwetok [/url]of ordnance in the USN.

The camera idea is a good one, I haven't come across a real a-hole in a long time, but we always have at least three cameras on board (one or two "real" cameras and both our phones have them as well), I wouldn't hesitate to take their picture, or even better film of what they're doing and get it to the USCG, harbor patrol, even the corps of engineers. Certainly I'd blog about it and post the pictures on my blog, as well as links to the YouTube video I'd post as well. If they'd really pissed me off (going by so close as to splash water into my boat would do it), I'd track down the owners. For all you know it's their idiot kid who's driving.

Fortunately most other boaters are pretty considerate, or at least they try to be. I'm actually pretty sure that most of them mean to be, they're simply not aware of the affect of their actions on us.

Edited by - delliottg on 02/11/2008 23:14:17

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