Singlehanding- rigging for single handed sailing

[live2shift]

I have less than a year sailing "larger" boats and was only on my 3rd sail with my new (used) 26M, so my inexperience ws showing yesterday. I tried singlehanding the boat in 15 Kt winds and was not too happy with the results.

My first problem was trying to trim the jib from back at the helm with stock cam cleats. The second big thing was my hank on Jib downhaul decided to not work as designed when I wanted to drop it and the Jib jammed half way down, so I needed a way to keep the boat pointed into the wind so I could go up on deck to remedy it.

To fix issue number one I was thinking of getting the Garhauer Swivel Cam Cleats sold by KH that mount on the sail tracks. I was wondering if anyones has used these for a stock Jib? I like the fact they have eyes that will allow you to put a stopper knot into them so you can't loose the sheets, and the possibility of mounting them on the rear tracks on the sides of the cockpit looks promising?

As far as #2, how do you safely point into the wind by yourself and keep it there with canvas up so you can leave the helm? Any way other than to Heave to? I don't have an autopilot

[davidbagnall]

I single handed sail most of the time in a stock 26X.

Heave To is the best way I have found to drop sails. In 15 knots it would be a real struggle to keep the nose in the wind.

My haylards are still cleated off on the mast and this doesn't cause me any real issue. I need to be top side to lash the main to the boom anyway. When I drop my jib I uncleate it, move forward and stand in the hatch and then lower it and quickly gather it up and use a sail tie to lash it to the life line. This process only takes a few mins and isn't that hard. If it is really blowing hard I often throw a sea anchor out (with maybe 10 feet of line) which tends to make it less rocky when I am on deck and also slows down the drift downwind. Using this technique I have single handed up to about 25-30 knots (at that wind the best sail to use the the iron sail and head for sheltered water).

[John Christian]

I replaced the stock blocks with the Garhauer Swivel Cam Cleats last season, they worked great and made singlehanding much easier. (KH is a good source and has treated me well).

However, I have a 150% Genoa, I'm not sure you want to run your jib lines back to the Genny track and I can't see much use for the swivel cleats on the Jib track.

JC

[hmb-barry]

Make sure your jib downhaul is truly functional.
Titles to some good articles/drawings/pics that you can google below - (sorry, not enough post's to submit links - so far)

For jib downhaul:
I use a spring loaded-standup block attached by shackle to the port (left) side bow cleat. The line is 1/4" and lead back to cockpit through the port stanchion loop that's used for the mast raising side wires..... simple, but effective. Maybe locate a copy of "100 Fast & Easy Boat Improvements" by Don Casey...it has a great one page set of instructions and diagrams for a simple jib downhaul - which works well for me.

Sometimes the jib must be slightly raised if it hangs and then lowered by downhaul when you get the nose into the wind again - it might take several of these back and forth's till it works - you will get to know the 'feel' when it's just right to let go of the halyard and pull the downhaul.

Some use jib nets, too.

Articles:
on sailboatowners dot com
Jib Downhaul for cheap!
Posted by Gary Peaden about Oday 25

on geocities dot com.... easy to find....
SJ23 Tech Tip F11, (Reissued 2004-09-07, Bob Schimmel)
Jib Downhaul & Deck Storage VS Roller Furling/Storing.

Holding your course: temporarily tie the wheel with bungies or rope (around the cockpit instrument post) - a poor man's autopilot - good for short term/short handed sail handling stuff.

Good luck,
Barry L.
HUNERZ
Half Moon Bay, CA

[Scott]

Dont you have winches, a winch handle??

The sheets sould go through the car/ block, around the winch and then through the cam cleat. You can the usse your winch handle for leverage while you snug the sheet in the cam cleat.

As for running the sheets to the genoa track its not bad for broad reaching but it doest center the sheet through the tack to the luff and you cant sheet in tight.

[live2shift]

I will have to practice heaving to by myself in strong winds Dave.

Thanks for pointing me to those awesome links Barry, very god quality and very informative.

LOL Scott! of course I have winches, cleats and a winch handle. I am just trying to find a way to handle the jib lines while keeping a hand on the helm. The position of the small wheel doesnt seem to put me in a good spot like a tiller would. When tacking I need to release one jib sheet, not loose it, and trim the other tight, and I was wondering if there is any tricks to doing it singlehanded in strong winds fighting weatherhelm, etc. It is a piece of cake with a mate to do it.

[davidbagnall]

When I sail I sit on the windward side just in front of the helm. This makes it really easy to work sheets etc. I also like to keep forward to try to lift the transom as much as I can to reduce drag.
It will take a while to get used to the wheel as opposed to a tiller (it took me ages).
As for weather helm I can't help you much as on my X in heavy winds I raise the centreboard a bit which moves the centre of effort aft and that seams to reduce weather helm. You will with experience get a "feel" of how much to compensate for weather helm and I now know how much is needed based on how much I am healing so just as I am starting to heal I turn about 1/4 of a turn and ease that back when the gust goes.

One thing I have found is sail the boat as flat as you can and reef early. I can often out sail other macs by using less sail and a flatter boat. Here is a quick video of me in 15+ knots and I have already reefed the main but am still moving through the water fairly well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbRvCs4eZUE

[davidbagnall]

When tacking this is what I do.
I set up the winch handle and lines on the windward side so all is ready to go.
I turn the wheel 4 times (just a one hand kinda grab and turn as I am already in front of the wheel)
As the bow turns into the wind I uncleat the jib and grab the prepared sheet and pull it in and cleat it.
Then I turn the wheel back 4 times which gets the boat back on a straight line.
Then it’s just a simple matter of trimming course and jib and away I go. (I generally then prepare the windward side sheet ready for the next tack)

[RickJ]

When tacking, if you time it right, you can get the jib sheet set as you turn through the wind at the point the jib luffs.

I cleat the windward ("new") sheet tight before making the tack, then immediately after putting the helm over, release the "old" sheet and pull in the "new" one as the jib loses air. That just gives time to reach back to the helm to straighten up. Just remember to keep your head down while doing it!

Takes a bit of practice, but quite satisfying when you get it right.

A helm brake also helps when single-handing. You can use anything from a simple DIY bungee anchored on the pedestal that you just clip over the wheel, to a purpose-made brake (e.g. as sold by KH), or in my case I had to swap out the steering so I put in a no-feedback model - wherever I leave the wheel, that's where it stays.

(Just noticed david-b has posted almost the same advice while I did this )

Cheers, Rick

[c130king]

When tacking I need to release one jib sheet, not loose it, and trim the other tight, and I was wondering if there is any tricks to doing it singlehanded in strong winds fighting weatherhelm, etc. It is a piece of cake with a mate to do it.

By this do you mean when you release the jib/genoa sheet during a tack that you lose control of the line? I am not sure if it is standard but my has cam cleats but with two nice features. One is they are elevated about 1.5" to reduce problems with interfering with the line coming from the genoa block (on the cockpit side track) and the other is that it has a "top" (looks like a fairlead) which will keep the line from completely leaving the cockpit if you tie a stopper ( figure 8 ) knot.

Once the new sheet is trimmed in I pull the old sheet (now the lazy sheet) in to get rid of the slack.

As to pointing into the wind and maintaining control of the boat while raising/dousing sails. It helps to have all lines led aft. I can sit by the wheel, as described by David, as I do this. But I have also ordered one of the Steering Locks from KH Marine and hopefully that will also help hold the boat on heading.

And of course LJ's for catching and controlling the sail when you lower it.

Keep practising. Wish I could practise.

Jim

[live2shift]

Thanks for more good information.
All my lines are run aft per one of Bills setups, but I only have a winch and a cam cleat on each side for the jib sheets, I think this is factory setup?

Jim, It sounds like yours is more like the cam setup on the main sheet?

jeff

[c130king]

Jeff,

Here is the best picture I could find:



My Dad has his hand wrapped around the winch (this was one of our very first times to get the sails up so he was holding on for dear life) and you can see about half the cam cleat right behind his fingers. It is elevated (maybe 1.5-2") and it has a "top" on it. I tie a stopper knot in the Genoa sheets and when I tack and release the sheet (by lifting the line out of the cam cleat...but still under the "top") the knot stops right there at the cam cleat...held in place by the "top".

When single-handed, once I have the new sheet trimmed in, I grab that knot and pull out all of the slack from the sheet...which is now the lazy sheet.

I presume you could do the same thing with the Jib sheet. However, if only using a Jib I don't know if the elevated cam is needed. I only have a Genoa so I like the elevated cam cleat.

Hope that makes sense.

Jim

[parrothead]

To fix issue number one I was thinking of getting the Garhauer Swivel Cam Cleats sold by KH that mount on the sail tracks. I was wondering if anyones has used these for a stock Jib? I like the fact they have eyes that will allow you to put a stopper knot into them so you can't loose the sheets, and the possibility of mounting them on the rear tracks on the sides of the cockpit looks promising?

Here's a photo of exactly this setup, which makes it easy to singlehand from the helm seat.

[tangentair]

I must really be spoiled because Bill @ boats4sail rigged my boat with lines run aft, topping lifts, sail slugs, cam cleats, power clutches and jib down haul. And they all work quite simply but rather well as I have not had to use my winch to raise or tighten the sails. It functions, much like on Jims boat, as an excellent hand hold. I do not single hand, I have help from my 14 yr old while my wife keeps up a running color commentary on how we are doing. Either he or I go through the cabin, kneel on the V or sit on the edge of the open hatch and pull in the jib as the other pulls down on the down haul back in the cocpit. (then my wife points out that she is not expected to sleep where we just put our wet feet and that dirty sail, is she) I do remember Bill talking about the proper placement and use of the jib down hall to be sure that it doesn't jam, I just don't remember exactly what he said would cause it to jam. I hope it comes back to me before my son remembers.

[live2shift]

Thanks for the pictures

When rigging the Jib downhaul line, do you guys attach the end of it to the head of the jib and go directly to the pulley/eye on the deck and then back to the cockpit, or do you attach it to another location lower? Do you weave the line in among the hank snaps or do you just go from tack straight to the bow along side the jib?