It seems that many recommend bringing back the lines to the cockpit for single handling. Well, allow me to trow a little rock in the pound and challenge a bit that idea. I too have single handed a lot and personally, I prefer to have my lines at the mast. I know, it goes against common wisdom and what many (most) think.
Well, I think it is simpler and easier this way. - Hoisting: when was the last time it was easy for you to hoist the main, without a winch? When the halyard is on the mast, you have a straight pull. One block at the top of the mast and that's it. Pulling the rope down is efficient, it goes with your weight. Bringing the line back to the cockpit mean adding a block at the base of the mast, another deviation block somewhere on the roof, then the line goes through a rope clutch and then around a winch. Did you ever figured out how much friction all that is? The result is mainsails that required to be hoisted with the help of the winch almost half of the way. I raise mine to the top by hand and the winch is used only for what it was meant for, adding proper tension. - My lines are neatly tidied up at the mast and I have minimal ropes in the cockpit, only the two genoa sheets and the main, that's it. - Reefing, unless you have a single line systems that works very well (go back to my comment on multiple friction induce by too many turns in the line), you have to go the mast to pull down the main and insert the eye in the hook and lay down properly the main on the boom before pulling and tensioning the reef line. - The fundamental idea is to make it the easiest it can possibly be, so that, if your brain says "it maybe a good idea to reef", you go without any hesitation. The easiest it is, the more frequent you'll adjust your sail to match the weather. On my boat, everything is done at the mast. When I want to reef, I ease the main sheet and then go to the base of the mast where I do everything without moving: the halyard loosening, pulling down the main to the hook, tensioning again the halyard, adjusting the downhaul, pulling and tensioning the reef line, replace a bit the sail and go back to the cockpit to readjust the sheet. Usually, when I'm in hurry in a race, I don't loose more than a minute for the reefing. When I drop the main (I've installed home made lazy jacks), I again go to the mast to let go the halyard and I'm right there where the action is, to lay down properly the main. - I've seen many boats where the halyards goes back to the cockpit. Yes, but when singlehanded, you have to go to the mast to pull down the main down to the hook, go back to the cockpit to tension again the halyard, go back to the mast to pull the reef line and then back to the cockpit again. We often say it's safer to get the lines back to the cockpit, well, it is not safe if you have to do two back and forth to the mast for a simple reefing. In the end, before choosing your religion ( to the mast or to the cockpit), take some time to really think it through, do some simulation, picture yourself in bad weather and make your choice. But, no matter what you decide, make it as easy as possible, with the least possibilities of something going wrong. Antoine (Cousin, C&C 30) Le 2013-10-11 à 12:23, Patrick H. Wesley a écrit : > On a smaller boat that doesn't have autohelm the other things I would add to > Chuck's list are a breastline for quick tie-up in docking, and learning how > to heave-to. I often singlehand and the latter has allowed me do many things > I forgot to do before setting out, or to use the head, or reef the main. > > Incidentally, many thanks for those who replied to my earlier post about > crossing the Georgia Strait, I successfully did that, solo, few weeks ago and > the comments helped. Strong wind warnings, gale force warnings and even a > waterspout advisory! I told my family that I was back, safe and sound but > there had been a few clenched sphincter moments. One of my sons-in-law does > not have English as his first language and he told me that he had to check > with Google as which part of the boat that was! > > Patrick Wesley, The Boat, C & C 24 > — > Sent from Mailbox for iPad > > > On Fri, Oct 11, 2013 at 6:50 AM, Chuck S <cscheaf...@comcast.net> wrote: > > 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 > > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com
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