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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Rite of passage - first solo

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TRogers
1st Mate

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USA
90 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/08/2005 : 12:34:28

Took the boat out Friday on my first solo sail.

Fairly light winds, but enough to get some reasonable speed. Quickly learned how to use the "bungee pilot" on the tiller and balance the boat so it would stay on course relative to the wind without constant attention to the tiller. Gee, I can go below deck or up on the bow for short periods. Raise/lower /furl/unfurl the sails, etc.

Even managed to get back into the slip without bumping the dock.

Quickly learned that when you solo, you plan everything out carefully before you do it. No distractions from others on the boat. I don't think I made any mistakes.

Definitely a confidence builder.

Tom Rogers
Tack n Two
Spokane, WA

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 12:57:21

Good for you!

I plan to do my first solo this Friday if the weather permits. I can not wait!! Been thinking of sailing constantly.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 15:26:22

Solo sailing is definitely fun. I don't do it too often, but when I do, I certainly have a lot of fun, although in a way different than when I'm sailing with someone else.

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Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 16:32:38

Congrats Tom! Sounds like you know the drill well already. Solo docking used to be the hard part for me. Now I back in.

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 20:37:08

Congrats Tom,
At the beginning of this season, I was scrambling for sailing partners. Being a novice sailor, I didn't have the confidence to go out alone. Well, as you can imagine, there aren't that many people who want to go sailing after work, at least I don't know that many, and the ones that do, have their own boats. So out I went. Now, I'm disappointed when I have to take someone along. I prefer to solo sail and though my tacks still aren't graceful, I have a blast every time I go.

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TRogers
1st Mate

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USA
90 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2005 : 23:27:18

Next confidence builder. That pretty spinaker sail that hasn't been up the mast yet. I don't think I'll try solo on that just yet.

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John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2005 : 12:14:31

If you are lowering your Jib/Genny, and using a poleless chute, then why not? Keep the main set, stand under the boom and hoist the spinaker, pull the weather sheet and cleat it, then trim in the leeward sheet. Granted, I oversimplify and may have it wrong, as I have never sailed with a poleless spinaker.

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2005 : 23:24:14

Solo is cool! No one gives you grief out there, and the rules are simple....no deals no politics. I'm very content about 150nm off shore....

But, get an autopilot......tiller pilot whatever. I know it's $$ but it is also safety. Having two hands for yourself and/or the ship is very important....and

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">my tacks still aren't graceful<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

with an autopilot they won't be able to tel the difference between solo or crew......."autotack" is a feature most if not all pilots have.....90 degree turn, port or starboard, nice and smooth. You just tend the jib.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2005 : 09:43:32

"......."autotack" is a feature most if not all pilots have"

Reported on previous posts here... Beware of autotack on the Raytheon Autohelm tiller pilots.

These units apparently have no 'end of travel' limit switch and the 'autotack' manouver will briefly send the ram all the way to end of travel, overloading the motor and damaging the unit. (IMHO: If so, this is an extremely silly design oversight)

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2005 : 02:45:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">If so, this is an extremely silly design oversight<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

No kidding....

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pjeffarch
Navigator

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USA
135 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2005 : 14:42:41

Maybe it's 'cause I'm kinda new at this, but tacking is the fun part! Why would you want a machine to do that for you?!!

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2005 : 18:53:35

Unless you have a tiller boat with a small jib where you can steer with one leg behind you, and release/pull the jib right in tight just before it fills without having to crank a winch, you can't be in two places at the same time.....

Edited by - Oscar on 08/13/2005 18:57:13

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2005 : 19:59:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Oscar
 Unless you have a tiller boat with a small jib where you can steer with one leg behind you, and release/pull the jib right in tight just before it fills without having to crank a winch, you can't be in two places at the same time.....
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Do you have electric winches?

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2005 : 22:39:39

It's great to be self-reliant. I almost always solo. Even in thirty knot wind. As long as I can get away from the slip I'm good. Just keep that boat hook handy!

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2005 : 05:05:49

Spent another 4 hours out solo on Saturday afternoon. 18 knot winds with gusts to 25. Had a reef in the main and my 155 rolled to 130. Was a blast. White caps everywhere - even put the bow in the water at one point

I think it's probably time to get a harness. Came back wet and tired but grinning ear to ear.

Edited by - existentialsailor on 08/15/2005 05:06:52

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