single handed sailing

[c130king]

For solo docking assistance I have read about...but not yet tried...running a dockline from a bow cleat outside the stanchions and shrouds to a stern cleat. This becomes a handy grab line when you step off the boat onto the dock.

I definitely think lazy jacks are a good thing...I wouldn't want to have to drop the sail in breezy conditions and have that thing flopping/flying off the side as it comes down. To be honest it probably takes less than 10 minutes (probably around 5) to rig up my lazy jacks and my jiffy reef when rigging at the ramp...well worth the time IMHO.

I also have an S1 Wheel Pilot but I just got it recently and sailed most of my solo time without it. Didn't have a wheel lock either so I used a bungy cord when I did the "heave to"...worked like a champ. But the S1 is VERY NICE!

And as to what NiceAft said about 45 degrees but only with his Admiral...I find solo is the only time I can push the boat...my crew, when I have one, gets a little worried anytime over about 15 degrees...

Have Fun,
Jim

[Kelly Hanson East]

A sail plan is a great idea if your crossing big open water of 20 miles or more or have friends near by who know....

Even if you dont have friends to come looking for you, my informal discussions with the Coast Guard are that if you basically dont have a sail plan with specific.....they arent going to come looking.....

They get a ton of calls from spouses who say 'Arnie went fishing and isnt back yet..." this is useless in terms of SAR and ergo no boats or choppers are going out.

If you are going out solo, leave the details of where you departing, where you are headed, boat description, and when you expect to return, and WHAT time to call the CG to report missing status, along with the CG phone numbers.

They dont mind getting these calls when all that information is present, believe me.

WHen SOLO PFD on at all times please...another tragedy on the Chesapeake just cost two older guys their lives...no PFDs, fell in, found three days later...

[mike uk]

Long dock lines left permanently attached to the bow cleats and led back outside everything is a great help when docking solo. I don't usually have both ends tethered - I step off with the working end free in hand plus a midships line or a stern line depending on where the dock bollards are. If it is convenient, the midships one is the first to be secured, whilst controlling the bow if necessary. Then walk forward and secure the bow. When stepping off - double check - motor in neutral and step off don't JUMP OFF

I did think once of making both the port and starboard bow docklines just one continuous line passing through the bow cleats and then it could be secured at the cockpit end on the side opposite the dock. I was thinking that such a set up would also serve as a boom preventer - again by adjusting it on the side opposite the working side. However, I noticed that when under load the part of the line coming back along the boat into the cockpit just pressed slightly on the chainplates. I wasn't sure how much of a problem that might be so I haven't risked it.

Mike

[rfrye94760]

[quote="c130king"]For solo docking assistance I have read about...but not yet tried...running a dockline from a bow cleat outside the stanchions and shrouds to a stern cleat. This becomes a handy grab line when you step off the boat onto the dock.

Jim,
Bill of "Boats 4 Sail" showed me how to rig this up and it truly is one of those simple yet effective ideas that leaves you wondering why you didn't think of it first and don't see it on every boat. A great help not only for single hand docking but getting back on the trailer by yourself as well.
Bob

[wardski]

Howdy,
I have been sailing MacGregors (mostly single handed) for almost 20 years now. On the old 25 there was no way to get back into the boat, no lines leading aft, and no roller furling so we started always towing a dingy and would always have a boat nearby when I would go up on the foredeck (which I figure is the most common way to end up in the water). With the 26m we have kept up the same tradition except we lost the dingy (literally). The first thing I do when I clear the harbor is to find some fisherman or crabber and motor over by them to raise the sails. Coming back in I will find a boat sitting out there and sail over by them to lower the sails. If no boats are available, I will occasionally have to motorsail into the harbor. I always wear my PDF, but it do go in the water - I want someone close by to help me get back in the boat.

[NiceAft]

running a dock line from a bow cleat outside the stanchions and shrouds to a stern cleat. This becomes a handy grab line when you step off the boat onto the dock.

I forgot about that one Jim. I only use it occasionally, i.e. when I remember . Whereas it helps in controlling the boat in windy docking conditions, the dock line used for this, also takes up space on the cleats being used to tie up the boat. A larger, more heavy duty cleat would be of great use on a Mac.

Ray

[c130king]

I've never tried it...but then again...I have never tried to dock in strong winds where it would be necessary. I have pulled into a slip once in strong winds and it was hard to turn the nose in...so I gave up and backed in...and found that was easier so that is the way I always do it now.

Another aspect of "single handed sailing" that hasn't been mentioned yet is raising the mast, launching, recovering, and lowering the mast solo...I have not done that yet. Always had help for those aspects of using my Mac. Not looking forward to doing that solo...but I know it can be done and many of you's guys have done it.

Jim

[Doug W]

I spent a few hours last sunday doing rigging drills alone. It was easier than I thought it would be but admit that the genoa furler gave me some difficulty the first time I cranked the mast up. I tried draping it over my shoulder and was handicapped due to being overly tender due to not wanting to bump, bang or scuff the new boat.

On the second raising that day, I loosely tied the roller end to the port lifeline. Much easier even though winds had picked up to a constant 20-25 frigid mph.

I tried connecting the boom the way that the marina showed me, holding it up and connecting to the gooseneck (correct term?) I found that to be difficult alone so I switched back to the way I always rigged my old Apollo and connected the topping lift to the end of the boom then it was very easy to control the boom and position/pin it in place--even with a stiff breeze hitting me port broadside.

[mike uk]

2 interesting things mentioned by Doug.

Regarding the boom, that's not a problem on the X because the end of the boom sits in the transporting boom crutch until you're ready to remove it

For the roller furler, I've found it best to strap it very loosely to the mast about 6 foot up whilst raising the mast. This keeps it under control and can be released once the mast is in place. The drum needs to be wrapped up to protect the deck. I use the left leg of a pair of Levis with the bottom stitched up. The left leg seems to work best and please don't use Wranglers or whatever- they're just not up to the job

Mike

[NiceAft]

Jim said:

I gave up and backed in...and found that was easier so that is the way I always do it now.

Another aspect of "single handed sailing" that hasn't been mentioned yet is raising the mast, launching, recovering, and lowering the mast solo...I have not done that yet. Always had help for those aspects of using my Mac. Not looking forward to doing that solo...but I know it can be done and many of you's guys have done it.

There always seems to be a wind which pushes us away from the slip. I have been recommending backing into a slip for years. In a breeze, I have found it to be the easiest way. just backing in, and stepping off the boat onto the dock is wonderful. I do it that way all of the time.

As to

raising the mast, launching, recovering, and lowering the mast solo

That is the only way I do those things. The Admiral and I realized that I only need her assistance when attaching the roller furler to the bow. The rest goes quicker if she attends to other things

Ray

[robbarnes1965]

Good morning all,
I have a 26m and am new to sailing. I have been out a few times & starting to get the hang of the basics. My problem is getting a crew as its not convenient for people to drop everything just when the weather is right.
Realy what im asking is there anything I can do to rig the boat to make single handed sailing easier & safer. I notice reading items on the site, that a lot of you do sail solo, so any advise from experianced sailors much apreciated.
Many thanks. ray jones.

Hi Ray,

I do most of my sailing single handed or with people who make you wish you were single handing. A few items I picked up earlier this year made the summer a breeze - no pun intended. Swivel Cam cleats from Kelly Hansen Marine slide right on the genoa track so you can adjust the sheets from beside the wheel and a wheel lock from the same place. I did get all the lines led aft from my dealer. Those are cheap and dramatic fixes.

As for dramatic but expensive fixes, I also had a CDI mainsail furler added last spring so both my sails furl. The cost of a new sail to fit the furler adds it up to large chunk of change but It is so easy to use now. Transport is a bit harder but I keep mine in a marina so it was a non-event for me except for a 1000 Islands trip this summer.

Rob

[TexasDan40]

Good morning all,
I have a 26m and am new to sailing. I have been out a few times & starting to get the hang of the basics. My problem is getting a crew as its not convenient for people to drop everything just when the weather is right.
Realy what im asking is there anything I can do to rig the boat to make single handed sailing easier & safer. I notice reading items on the site, that a lot of you do sail solo, so any advise from experianced sailors much apreciated.
Many thanks. ray jones.

Very good Mod's listed here:
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1102
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1103

My "Nameless" has all lines led aft...allthough I have not sailed her alone yet....but I can/will if I have to.

"Straight Tales"
Te

[Doug W]

The drum needs to be wrapped up to protect the deck. I use the left leg of a pair of Levis with the bottom stitched up. The left leg seems to work best and please don't use Wranglers or whatever- they're just not up to the job
Mike

Mike, thank you for the suggestion! I'll definitely make a sock to protect my boat from the CDI furler! Levis will be difficult to sacrifice as they never wear out. I can alway triple up old pairs of an Arizona, a faded glory and an old navy jeans...those might get me through a season...

Very good Mod's listed here:
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1102
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1103
My "Nameless" has all lines led aft...allthough I have not sailed her alone yet....but I can/will if I have to.
Te

Te , thanks for the links! I don't have my mainsail lines running aft...yet! I hope to do that next winter too!

Cheers!
Doug

[Terry]

I spent a few hours last sunday doing rigging drills alone. It was easier than I thought it would be but admit that the genoa furler gave me some difficulty the first time I cranked the mast up. I tried draping it over my shoulder and was handicapped due to being overly tender due to not wanting to bump, bang or scuff the new boat.
On the second raising that day, I loosely tied the roller end to the port lifeline.

For the roller furler, I've found it best to strap it very loosely to the mast about 6 foot up whilst raising the mast. This keeps it under control and can be released once the mast is in place. The drum needs to be wrapped up to protect the deck. I use the left leg of a pair of Levis with the bottom stitched up. The left leg seems to work best and please don't use Wranglers or whatever- they're just not up to the job Mike

OK, at the expense of plagarism I am going to give you another idea that I got from this board.
You guys are being awkward about it, all you need to do is make a short loop with a piece of line, put one end of the loop somewhere on the furling drum or on the end of the forestay. Then take the other end of the loop and put it over the line that runs from the bow cleat up to tthe underside of the end of the gin pole. As the mast comes up the loop will slide down that line carrying the drum with it until the drum lands at the bow cleat when the mast is upright. Now you have the drum sitting right there at the bow waiting to be un-attached from the loop and then attached to the foretang on the bow. Is that simple or what?

[Highlander]

Terry

Thats what I do only I use bungy cords

J