FWIW, I enjoy singlehanding my boat but pick my days. The sails are not the 
biggest challenge. For me, it's always been docking. Docking can be challenging 
in a crosswind or in strong current, and I learn something everytime I go out. 
The bow of a sailboat wants to spin downwind as soon as she loses forward way. 
This year I started "backing in" when the wind is up, and that proved a better 
alternative. The bow follows the keel that way. Before docking, I rig my 
fenders and have lines bow, stern, and spring, coiled at the gate, ready to 
take myself onto the float, or hand to someone else. The tricky part is 
stopping the boat alongside the float and getting from behind the wheel thru 
the gate onto the float with docklines in hand, and secure them before the boat 
reacts to wind and current and the bow spins. I think I've learned a lot 
docking the boat for ten years, and the only scrapes occurred from dockside 
helpers who tend to pull the bow line in too tight. I feel docking is still the 
most challenging aspect of singlehanding. The more you know your boat and the 
more practice you get, the better you get at timing your turns and controlling 
your approach speed, and the easier it gets. 

Having the jib on a furler is a must and some days you can sail with just the 
jib and not have to deal with the mainsail cover or flaking the sail. I use an 
autohelm to steer the boat and raise the mainsail by hand, using the winch only 
for the last few inches. When I bought my boat there were two frozen sheaves 
for the main halyard that forced us to use the winch. I didn't find the problem 
until the following summer and then I freed the sheave at the mast deck collar 
and the sheave in the deck organizer and lubed the track and now anyone can 
raise the sail without the winch. 

I plan to install lazy jacks, but meanwhile I have to wrestle the big sail onto 
the boom and reflake it at the dock, before putting on the cover. Occassionally 
I have my son along and one lowers the halyard in a controlled way so the other 
can flake and tie the sail on, but lazy jacks would make the job a little 
easier. 

Summary: you'll get used to the bigger boat so buy the biggest you can afford, 
don't forget the annual costs of slip fees, winter storage, insurance. Research 
and know the value of things. One new sail costs more than a whole instrument 
package, or a good feathering prop. Setups for singlehanding should include 
good roller furling, lines led to cockpit, a reliable engine and good engine 
controls (remember docking), lazy jacks. If you're handy, things can also be 
added to an otherwise good boat. I added the Harken furler and autohelm and 
many cruising amenities to my barebones racer, but your boat should include 
those things. A professional survey will run around $600, so presurvey a few 
boats yourself before going to that step so you only have to pay that fee on 
one boat. Happy hunting. 


Chuck 
Resolute 
1990 C&C 34R 
Atlantic City, NJ 
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