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Solo Sailing the 323.

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The Great Godsea:
So, its my 3rd season sailing.
my third season with my new girlfriend.. "The Great Godsea".
Have taken her out many times sailing in NY Harbor, out into the lower bay, down to the highlands or out along the bight as far as fire island.
But sailing frequency is less than optimal.
So, i'm committing myself to get out and really work on sailing skills every week this summer.
To that end, i'm going out (in good weather) regardless of having add'l crew.

And so, Solo Sailing.
previous owner tells me he always sailed solo, using basically the Genoa only.
i'm trying to envision tacking and jibing while alone. the juggling of the lines while steering through the wind.
i dont have an autopilot that works currently... working on connecting the old one to the GPS....i'm told by the company that its possible. 

I seek Solo Sailing advice from you, my esteemed Pearson community members.
Thanks very much in advance.

selene:
I sail solo quite often...but am no master!  I have an autopilot, but it does not have a tacking function :-( :-(

The PO comment on using the genny alone is interesting.  I have been experimenting with different sail plans, and found on Selene a headsail alone is stable, easy to handle, and points almost as well as main+jib.  It has become my favorite sailplan in heavy winds - 'cos a reefed main alone sucks (we are often 25-30knots in summertime....)

Tacking solo is still not smooth for me, through.  I am often in front of the wheel; I reach behind me to turn the wheel, tack like crazy, and then grab the wheel again - as a result I tend to oversteer.  In lighter winds I can hold the jibsheets at the wheel, each with a couple of wraps around the drum so I can release and at least partly pull in - when stable I walk around, adjust and lock in the working sheet...

Good thread - I'll be interested in what others say.

Rusty Pelican:
I sail solo all the time, always under full sail
A good auto pilot and roller furling on the jib helps.
My "day" sails are in the greater Boston harbor so there are a lot of powerboat nut jobs out there.
Plan to avoid choke points, and always remember power boaters no matter the size will always cross you on the bow.
Never do anything in a hurry and remember the #1 rule in single handing is do not fall overboard.
The # 2 rule is "one hand for the boat, one hand for yourself"

BobG

The Great Godsea:
Words of wisdom boys... WORDS OF WISDOM

selene:
Oh, yeah - just remembered - I always have a portable VHF clipped to the belt when sailing solo.  Heard a story of a guy who just left his slip, heading up the channel, slipped and fell overboard.  Boat (on autopilot) sailed away...eventually grounded a few miles away...luckily he was close enough to shore to swim to safety.  But it always made me think - if you are solo, and trip or slip, it would be bad, especially in the cold water around here.

I also rig the jacklines a bit sooner when I am solo.  And I always have a length of line hanging down from the swim ladder as a quick release (remember the story of a group of people who jumped overboard for a swim, but forgot to lower the ladder - and all died because they could not get back aboard?).

As I say to people who are on my boat for the first time - the most important safety rule is to stay on the boat ("one hand for the boat, one hand for yourself"). My second big advice is to be careful of the boom.  It's big and heavy and your head won't stop it if it changes sides.

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