Boat for single hander
 

I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the Bahamas for a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the Mediteranian. I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in port. I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to be safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.

Boat for single hander
 

JohnM wrote:
I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the Bahamas for a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the Mediteranian. I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in port. I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to be safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.


WESTSAIL 32........................................

Boat for single hander
 

Could be enough boat ,, but are you "enough" of a sailor to handle a boat
like this by yourself.

I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.


"JohnM" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the Bahamas for
a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the Mediteranian. I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in port.
I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to be
safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.

Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:

I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.

Really? I find single handing my boat of the same size actually easier,
despite "Strider" being much quicker turning on the helm than your Bristol
32. I don't have to explain things, there's no one in the way when I need
to reach a sheet quickly, nobody ever says, "What?" with that deer in the
headlights look when something needs to be done quickly. It's very relaxing
but I do get bored with the conversation in moderate weather.

Single handing in strong winds is very rewarding. There's enough excitement
that I don't miss the conversation and it's excellent practice and
confidence building for the times you are responsible for other people.
Figuring out how to handle jib sheets and a boat without self tailing
winches and with a helm you can only let go of for seconds is great mental
exercise.

Having a good trained crew than can do everything is easiest, of course.
Being away from the sailing world for several years, I don't know a lot of
people like that and I tend also to take non-sailors because I enjoy
introducing people to the experience. My new crew was getting quite
competent towards the last couple days of the cruise this summer and it was
very enjoyable to just sit there and watch an eager and energetic person "do
this - do that". We're planning a lot more sailing next summer and I don't
think single handing will ever have quite the appeal it did before.

--
Roger Long

Boat for single hander
 

"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:fheeh.6030$sM2.36@trndny05...
Could be enough boat ,, but are you "enough" of a sailor to handle a boat
like this by yourself.

I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.


"JohnM" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the Bahamas
for a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the Mediteranian. I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in port.
I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to be
safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.






What do you sail that makes it so hard... or where do you sail? I sail s.h.
all the time, at it's not that difficult with some planning.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Boat for single hander
 

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:fheeh.6030$sM2.36@trndny05...
Could be enough boat ,, but are you "enough" of a sailor to handle a boat
like this by yourself.

I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.


"JohnM" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the Bahamas
for a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the Mediteranian. I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I
will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in
port. I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to be
safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.






What do you sail that makes it so hard... or where do you sail? I sail
s.h. all the time, at it's not that difficult with some planning.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com




Bay of Fundy when the tide is up?

Boat for single hander
 

"KLC Lewis" wrote in message
...

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:fheeh.6030$sM2.36@trndny05...
Could be enough boat ,, but are you "enough" of a sailor to handle a
boat like this by yourself.

I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.


"JohnM" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the Bahamas
for a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the Mediteranian.
I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I
will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in
port. I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to be
safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.






What do you sail that makes it so hard... or where do you sail? I sail
s.h. all the time, at it's not that difficult with some planning.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com




Bay of Fundy when the tide is up?



Why is that more difficult single vs. crew? Seems like timing is timing, but
I've never been there.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Boat for single hander
 

On Fri, 8 Dec 2006 15:57:12 +1100, "JohnM"
wrote:

I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the
Bahamas for a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the
Mediteranian. I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I
will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in
port. I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to
be safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.


Hi John,

I single hand all the time in a boat of similar size. I am
familiar with the beneteau 35. Most of the are rigged with all lines
in the cockpit. This is important for single handlers. As far as
comfort, that depends upon your definition of comfort. Beneteau's are
comfortable, but I would be looking for things like watermakers,
genet, solar and wind gen that I rarely see on a Beneteau. FWIW

-Lee

Boat for single hander
 

Boat for single hander
 

John,
After chartering and borrowing a variety of cruising boats for many years we
bought a Bristol Channel Cutter 28 a few years ago and find it a good design
for single or double-handed cruising. Nice easy motion offshore and tons of
storage space --a big plus when trying to find room for all the stuff and
tools and spare parts you'll want for extended cruising . The heavy
displacement is balanced by a very generous sail plan and long waterline,
they do a whole lot better in light and moderate conditions than one might
expect. Very solidly built, and pleasant to spend time on if you enjoy
traditional design. There are better designs for weekend marina-hopping or
racing around the buoys but for extending cruising it's hard to beat in its
size range. Not cheap, but it's sailing dimensions - beam, draft,
displacement, LWL and sail area compare favorably to more modern designs in
the 34' range.

Scott

"JohnM" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the Bahamas for
a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the Mediteranian. I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in port.
I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to be
safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.

Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
....
I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.
....

Really, really? I kept and single handed a CAL 36 in Hawaii for years
and even though the conditions here are often challenging I never felt
that single handing it was "really really hard". I think getting on
and off the dock is the hardest part of single handing. On auxiliary
boats I find that a carefully placed nylon spring line is very helpful.
Done right the boat can be made to hold itself to the dock with just
the one line and a bit of power and rudder. On exit a boat that seers
poorly in reverse can be controlled somewhat while the spring is on and
on docking only one line needs to be made fast and the boat brings
itself onto the dock (use a stretchy line). I recommend that early
docking efforts be made during working hours to cut down on the
audience. Otherwise, just relax and have fun, sailing alone can be
wonderful.

-- Tom.

Boat for single hander
 

Roger ,, I don't think the poster is talking about a day sail. I also
disagree completely with your opinion. Single hand sailing is hard work,
dangerous, lonely, etc. Just leaving whatever mooring, dock you might be
attached to is tough. Unless you have more than two arms?

Then, once released, the project of putting up the main, getting everything
together ,, et all.

And the big issue is the helm! Unless you are the first person on earth who
can be in two places at once. Someone, must steer.

I get very frustrated. One minute I'm pulling on a sheet, next I'm back
resetting the helm

After everything is done, and a course is set, with a steady wind, then
things aren't so bad. But :::: the helm! That rotten helm.

If my boat had a windvane, and the windvane worked, then I suppose I would
be able to take a rest.

At the end of the day .... the docking, mooring. I hate this. I end up
anchoring out most of the time because there is no one to help with dock
lines, etc.

The one area I agree with you on is the self confidence factor. There is a
certain feeling of "I can do it" when you are the only one doing it.

Also,, when I screw up ............. there isn't someone sitting in the
cockpit screaming at me.

I also end up preparing for most trips ahead ... Always knowing I need
more room because I am the only one on board.

I'd rather have a crewmate. Someone to help out.

=====================================
"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
NE Sailboat wrote:

I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.

Really? I find single handing my boat of the same size actually easier,
despite "Strider" being much quicker turning on the helm than your Bristol
32. I don't have to explain things, there's no one in the way when I need
to reach a sheet quickly, nobody ever says, "What?" with that deer in the
headlights look when something needs to be done quickly. It's very
relaxing but I do get bored with the conversation in moderate weather.

Single handing in strong winds is very rewarding. There's enough
excitement that I don't miss the conversation and it's excellent practice
and confidence building for the times you are responsible for other
people. Figuring out how to handle jib sheets and a boat without self
tailing winches and with a helm you can only let go of for seconds is
great mental exercise.

Having a good trained crew than can do everything is easiest, of course.
Being away from the sailing world for several years, I don't know a lot of
people like that and I tend also to take non-sailors because I enjoy
introducing people to the experience. My new crew was getting quite
competent towards the last couple days of the cruise this summer and it
was very enjoyable to just sit there and watch an eager and energetic
person "do this - do that". We're planning a lot more sailing next summer
and I don't think single handing will ever have quite the appeal it did
before.

--
Roger Long

Boat for single hander
 

"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:gXneh.61$Li6.56@trndny03...
Roger ,, I don't think the poster is talking about a day sail. I also
disagree completely with your opinion. Single hand sailing is hard work,
dangerous, lonely, etc. Just leaving whatever mooring, dock you might be
attached to is tough. Unless you have more than two arms?

I think you're right that leaving and returning are the hardest... that's
very much dependent on the conditions and also the size of the boat (bigger
typically is harder).

I disagree that it's that much harder, especially when you're relieved of
the people underfoot when trying to do something. It's certainly not lonely.
It can be dangerous, but that's dependent upon how you treat it.

Then, once released, the project of putting up the main, getting
everything together ,, et all.

Ummm... autohelm?

And the big issue is the helm! Unless you are the first person on earth
who can be in two places at once. Someone, must steer.

I get very frustrated. One minute I'm pulling on a sheet, next I'm back
resetting the helm

Invest in an autohelm. I have a remote for mine. I can be on the bow and
drive.

After everything is done, and a course is set, with a steady wind, then
things aren't so bad. But :::: the helm! That rotten helm.

If my boat had a windvane, and the windvane worked, then I suppose I would
be able to take a rest.

At the end of the day .... the docking, mooring. I hate this. I end up
anchoring out most of the time because there is no one to help with dock
lines, etc.

Takes practice/is never perfect/is highly dependent on adverse conditions.

The one area I agree with you on is the self confidence factor. There is
a certain feeling of "I can do it" when you are the only one doing it.

Also,, when I screw up ............. there isn't someone sitting in the
cockpit screaming at me.

I also end up preparing for most trips ahead ... Always knowing I need
more room because I am the only one on board.

I'd rather have a crewmate. Someone to help out.

I'd rather have a competent crewmate. Incompetents make things worse than
single handing.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
Just leaving whatever mooring, dock you might be
attached to is tough.

This varies greatly depending on a number of factors (boat, dock
configuration, wind, current, etc.). I used to singlehand my last boat
with no trouble at all (a Catalina 30).

And the big issue is the helm! Unless you are the first person on earth who
can be in two places at once. Someone, must steer.

An autopilot makes this easy. If you have a tiller, they can be had for
only a few hundred $$. Wheel pilots are more expensive.

If my boat had a windvane, and the windvane worked, then I suppose I would
be able to take a rest.

Wind vanes are great for thelong haul, but for jsut putting up the
sails, etc. an autopilot works much better.

Boat for single hander
 

Some of the older single handle great sailor like Moitessier, Hasler, James
and many others appear to have made good with average size sailboat.
Moitessier suggested that the ideal length for around the world voyaging is
around 32 to 34 feet.
He claims that it has better control in heavy weather sailing.
Although these suggestions were made with the traditional sailboat design
from 1960 to 1980 it gives me food for though.
I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. One of the raison
I think I made it is because the boat and I were like a single cork going up
and down the waves. I do not know if I would have been able to make it with
a boat in the 40 foot range?

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:gXneh.61$Li6.56@trndny03...
Roger ,, I don't think the poster is talking about a day sail. I also
disagree completely with your opinion. Single hand sailing is hard work,
dangerous, lonely, etc. Just leaving whatever mooring, dock you might be
attached to is tough. Unless you have more than two arms?

I think you're right that leaving and returning are the hardest... that's
very much dependent on the conditions and also the size of the boat
(bigger typically is harder).

I disagree that it's that much harder, especially when you're relieved of
the people underfoot when trying to do something. It's certainly not
lonely. It can be dangerous, but that's dependent upon how you treat it.

Then, once released, the project of putting up the main, getting
everything together ,, et all.

Ummm... autohelm?

And the big issue is the helm! Unless you are the first person on earth
who can be in two places at once. Someone, must steer.

I get very frustrated. One minute I'm pulling on a sheet, next I'm back
resetting the helm

Invest in an autohelm. I have a remote for mine. I can be on the bow and
drive.

After everything is done, and a course is set, with a steady wind, then
things aren't so bad. But :::: the helm! That rotten helm.

If my boat had a windvane, and the windvane worked, then I suppose I
would be able to take a rest.

At the end of the day .... the docking, mooring. I hate this. I end up
anchoring out most of the time because there is no one to help with dock
lines, etc.

Takes practice/is never perfect/is highly dependent on adverse conditions.

The one area I agree with you on is the self confidence factor. There is
a certain feeling of "I can do it" when you are the only one doing it.

Also,, when I screw up ............. there isn't someone sitting in the
cockpit screaming at me.

I also end up preparing for most trips ahead ... Always knowing I need
more room because I am the only one on board.

I'd rather have a crewmate. Someone to help out.

I'd rather have a competent crewmate. Incompetents make things worse than
single handing.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Boat for single hander
 

"I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. ..."

I don't believe this for one moment. 40' waves? And you were in a 27'
boat?

Total nonsense.

================================================== =========

If you are to post, at least post something rational

================================================== ====



wrote in message
...
Some of the older single handle great sailor like Moitessier, Hasler,
James and many others appear to have made good with average size sailboat.
Moitessier suggested that the ideal length for around the world voyaging
is around 32 to 34 feet.
He claims that it has better control in heavy weather sailing.
Although these suggestions were made with the traditional sailboat design
from 1960 to 1980 it gives me food for though.
I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. One of the
raison I think I made it is because the boat and I were like a single cork
going up and down the waves. I do not know if I would have been able to
make it with a boat in the 40 foot range?

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:gXneh.61$Li6.56@trndny03...
Roger ,, I don't think the poster is talking about a day sail. I also
disagree completely with your opinion. Single hand sailing is hard
work, dangerous, lonely, etc. Just leaving whatever mooring, dock you
might be attached to is tough. Unless you have more than two arms?

I think you're right that leaving and returning are the hardest... that's
very much dependent on the conditions and also the size of the boat
(bigger typically is harder).

I disagree that it's that much harder, especially when you're relieved of
the people underfoot when trying to do something. It's certainly not
lonely. It can be dangerous, but that's dependent upon how you treat it.

Then, once released, the project of putting up the main, getting
everything together ,, et all.

Ummm... autohelm?

And the big issue is the helm! Unless you are the first person on earth
who can be in two places at once. Someone, must steer.

I get very frustrated. One minute I'm pulling on a sheet, next I'm back
resetting the helm

Invest in an autohelm. I have a remote for mine. I can be on the bow and
drive.

After everything is done, and a course is set, with a steady wind, then
things aren't so bad. But :::: the helm! That rotten helm.

If my boat had a windvane, and the windvane worked, then I suppose I
would be able to take a rest.

At the end of the day .... the docking, mooring. I hate this. I end
up anchoring out most of the time because there is no one to help with
dock lines, etc.

Takes practice/is never perfect/is highly dependent on adverse
conditions.

The one area I agree with you on is the self confidence factor. There
is a certain feeling of "I can do it" when you are the only one doing
it.

Also,, when I screw up ............. there isn't someone sitting in the
cockpit screaming at me.

I also end up preparing for most trips ahead ... Always knowing I need
more room because I am the only one on board.

I'd rather have a crewmate. Someone to help out.

I'd rather have a competent crewmate. Incompetents make things worse than
single handing.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Boat for single hander
 

wrote in message
...
Some of the older single handle great sailor like Moitessier, Hasler,
James and many others appear to have made good with average size sailboat.
Moitessier suggested that the ideal length for around the world voyaging
is around 32 to 34 feet.
He claims that it has better control in heavy weather sailing.
Although these suggestions were made with the traditional sailboat design
from 1960 to 1980 it gives me food for though.
I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. One of the
raison I think I made it is because the boat and I were like a single cork
going up and down the waves. I do not know if I would have been able to
make it with a boat in the 40 foot range?

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:gXneh.61$Li6.56@trndny03...
Roger ,, I don't think the poster is talking about a day sail. I also
disagree completely with your opinion. Single hand sailing is hard
work, dangerous, lonely, etc. Just leaving whatever mooring, dock you
might be attached to is tough. Unless you have more than two arms?

I think you're right that leaving and returning are the hardest... that's
very much dependent on the conditions and also the size of the boat
(bigger typically is harder).

I disagree that it's that much harder, especially when you're relieved of
the people underfoot when trying to do something. It's certainly not
lonely. It can be dangerous, but that's dependent upon how you treat it.

Then, once released, the project of putting up the main, getting
everything together ,, et all.

Ummm... autohelm?

And the big issue is the helm! Unless you are the first person on earth
who can be in two places at once. Someone, must steer.

I get very frustrated. One minute I'm pulling on a sheet, next I'm back
resetting the helm

Invest in an autohelm. I have a remote for mine. I can be on the bow and
drive.

After everything is done, and a course is set, with a steady wind, then
things aren't so bad. But :::: the helm! That rotten helm.

If my boat had a windvane, and the windvane worked, then I suppose I
would be able to take a rest.

At the end of the day .... the docking, mooring. I hate this. I end
up anchoring out most of the time because there is no one to help with
dock lines, etc.

Takes practice/is never perfect/is highly dependent on adverse
conditions.

The one area I agree with you on is the self confidence factor. There
is a certain feeling of "I can do it" when you are the only one doing
it.

Also,, when I screw up ............. there isn't someone sitting in the
cockpit screaming at me.

I also end up preparing for most trips ahead ... Always knowing I need
more room because I am the only one on board.

I'd rather have a crewmate. Someone to help out.

I'd rather have a competent crewmate. Incompetents make things worse than
single handing.



I think single handing is reasonable (especially docking) up to around 40
feet. After that, it becomes more hassle than fun. At least that's my
experience. The biggest boat I've ever single-handed was a Bene 39. Docking
was a major deal, but doable. Now, I have a 30 foot Sabre... much, much
easier.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Boat for single hander
 

In article ,
"JohnM" wrote:

I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the Bahamas for a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the Mediteranian. I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in port. I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to be safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.

Some good points in the thread. One consideration I would have is that
most Beneteaus draw 6', which is a little deep for the Bahamas and
Chesapeake, even parts of the ICW. There an amazing number of fantastic
anchorages that have 5' entrances, and it's certainly nice to be able to
tuck closer to land to get away from the crowds. With our 4'2" draft and
a willingness to plant the keel in the mud at low tide, we get a lot of
privacy, even in the most crowded harbors.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
"I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. ..."

I don't believe this for one moment. 40' waves? And you were in a 27'
boat?

Total nonsense.

================================================== =========

If you are to post, at least post something rational

================================================== ====



Not really. One of the most fun/exciting times sailing was me, my cow
dog, a six pack, and my 15' sprit sail dory.............. oh, and 25'
seas. Okay, we call em swells here. How know 25'? USCG Sea State and in
the bottom it was twice the length of myh unstayed fir mast.

Might want to ask where the guy in the 27' boat does his sailing.

NOw I did not mention other conditions but the 25' seas sure sounds
grande, no?

Boat for single hander
 

Start by reading, reading, reading. Old Joshua was pretty experienced
before he headed off.




Captain Joshua Slocum: A Time-line
a.. Born February 20, 1844, in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, by the Bay
of Fundy.
b.. Ran away at age of 14 to be a cook on a fishing schooner, but returned
home.
c.. Left home for good at 16 (1860) when his mother died, shipped as
ordinary seaman on deep-water sailing ships, merchant vessels to Europe and
the U.S.
d.. Obtained his first command on the California coast in 1869, and sailed
for 13 years out of San Francisco to China, Australia, the Spice Islands,
and Japan.
e.. Married an American girl, Virginia Albertina Walker, on January 31,
1871, at Sydney, Australia.
f.. Built a steamer for a British architect in Subic Bay, P.I., in 1874.
g.. Bought shares in and commanded the three-skysailyard ship Northern
Light in 1882, considered at the time by many to be the finest American ship
afloat.
h.. Sold the Northern Light and bought the bark Aquidneck in 1884. In the
same year, his wife Virginia died (July 25) and was buried in Buenos Aires.
i.. Married Henrietta M. Elliott ("Hettie") in 1886.
j.. Made several voyages on the Aquidneck before she was lost in 1887 on a
sand bank off the coast of Brazil.
k.. The Libergade, a 35-foot sailing canoe, built after the stranding;
Slocum sails with Hettie and his oldest and youngest sons to Washington,
D.C., 5000 miles away.
l.. Voyage of the Liberdade published in 1890 at Slocum's expense.
m.. In 1892, a friend, Captain Eben Pierce, offers Slocum a ship that
"wants some repairs" Slocum goes to Fairhaven, MA to find that the "ship" is
a rotting old oyster sloop propped up in a field. It is the Spray.
n.. Slocum prints Voyage of the Destroyer from New York to Brazil in 1893,
again at his own expense.
o.. Slocum departs from Boston Harbor, MA on his famous circumnavigation
on April 24, 1895, at the age of 51, in the rebuilt 37-foot sloop Spray.
Click for Map of his Journey
p.. Slocum returns, sailing into Newport, RI, on June 27, 1898 in his tiny
sloop Spray and after single-handedly sailing around the world , a passage
of 46,000 miles. This historic achievement made him the patron saint of
small-boat voyagers, navigators and adventurers all over the world.
q.. Sailing Alone Around The World published in book form in 1900 by The
Century Company. It describes his experiences on this adventurous voyage and
became an instant best seller. It has been translated into many languages,
and is still in print today.
r.. Slocum buys first home on land in 1902, a farm on the island of
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
s.. Slocum sails each winter to the tropics, 1905 - 1906, returning to New
England in the summer.
t.. On November 14th of 1909, at the age of 65, he set out on another lone
voyage to South America leaving from Vineyard Haven on Martha's Vineyard,
but was never heard from again.
================
Here is some more info.

Modern ocean racing has its roots in open ocean sailing. The first person to
complete a solo circumnavigation was Joshua Slocum. Slocum was a retired
Master Mariner, originally from Canada, but subsequently a citizen of the
USA. He sailed in 1895 on a route that took him across the Atlantic, down
South America and through the Strait of Magellan, and then on to Australia,
South Africa and home. He had rebuilt his 35 foot sloop Spray by himself
before he sailed and proved a good and safe sailboat bringing him safely
home in 1898.

Even with the publicity gained by Slocum there was no attempt to repeat his
voyage for more than 20 years and this, again, was also in a boat built by
the sailor. In 1921 Harry Pigeon set off from California in his 35-foot yawl
Islander and completed a fairly uneventful circumnavigation. Alain Gerbault
of France followed in 1924 in his 39-foot cutter Firecrest. The year 1942
would appear an unlikely time to try to circumnavigate the world, but that
was when Vito Dumas set out from his home in Argentina in his ketch Legh II,
making the voyage completely in the Southern Hemisphere.


More than 20 years passed before anyone attempted another solo
circumnavigation. This time it wasn't a cruise like the previous voyages but
an attempt to beat the sailing times of the great Clipper ships. Francis
Chichester set out from England in his 56-foot ketch Gypsy Moth IV taking
107 days to reach Sydney. After a re-fit he continued his voyage, which
totaled 274 days at sea. Even as he returned Alec Rose was setting out in
his 36-footer Lively Lady and completed his circumnavigation, with two
stops, in 11 months.

After Francis Chichester brought Gipsy Moth IV back to Plymouth in 1967, he
challenged all single-handed sailors and adventurers. In his mind a nonstop,
solo circumnavigation was the only voyage left. Although a non-stop voyage
was seemed an impossible achievement, people were soon announcing their
plans to make the attempt.

Chichester's challenge manifested itself in the 1968 Sunday Times Golden
Globe. In January of 1969 Robin Knox-Johnston answered Chischester's call in
his 32-foot ketch Suhaili, after a 9 month beating though the Southern
Ocean. Knox-Johnston proved that what once was though impossible, was indeed
possible and in fact possible with one of the slowest boats to have actually
crossed an ocean.

After the Golden Globe most of the circumnavigators were cruises. In 1970
21-year-old Robin Lee Graham made history by becoming the youngest person to
solo circumnavigate the globe. He completed most of his 5 year journey in
the 22-foot Lapworth sloop Dove. After Graham completed his journey many
people realized that a circumnavigation or even a journey across an ocean
was possible and in fact within reach of people with just a little bit of
sailing experience.

Not much was to happen to ocean sailing until a large man by the name of
David White had an idea while having a drink in a Newport, RI bar. White had
just returned from sailing the Bermuda One Two, a single-handed,
double-handed race from Newport to Bermuda and back. While at sea he had
thought about the idea of a solo race around the world, and that night,
after a few too many beers, he proposed his plan for a new race, which he
called the Around Alone. His idea was met with inebriated enthusiasm. A
course was quickly sketched out on a napkin, plans for a new design were
floated, and a set of rules devised.

After securing sponsorship for the event from the British company BOC, the
inaugural BOC Challenge finally got away at the end of August 1982 with a
fleet of 17 boats setting sail for South Africa, the Southern Ocean and
beyond. They were a rag-tag bunch, but among them one entry stood out, an
unknown Frenchman by the name of Philippe Jeantot. He arrived with a
purpose-built 56-foot sloop named Credit Agricole, and went on to win all
four legs of the race with an overall elapsed time of 159 days, 2 hours, 26
minutes and 1 second.

Around the same time the Vendee Globe got it's start in France. The Vendee
Globe is probably one the hardest races out there right now. It features no
stops and forces the skippers and boats to be tough as nails; pacing
themselves as they journey down the Atlantic, around Antarctica and back up
to the finish line to the Vendee coast in France.

Some aspects of ocean sailing haven't changed since the days of Joshua
Slocum. Other aspects have changed; the boats and gear have taken huge step
forwards since the turn of the 20th century. Slocum's boat Spray was held on
course by tying the helm in place, while Chischester's boat used a
self-steering wind vane to keep his boat sailing as fast as possible.
Bluewater sailboats didn't change much from the days of Chistester until
Jeantot's Credit Agricole. Credit Agricole closely resembled today's Open 60
sailboats.

That pretty much brings us up to speed. Of course I left out a lot of lesser
events, but as this is a brief history I chose only the events that had some
significance to the big picture. Feel free to msg me if I have left any very
important details. Again this is a brief history.

===============



As to draft.... I just looked on the Spray Society of Australia site. The
average draft for Spray look a likes, copies .. is 5'.

These are boat of considerable size... 40' to 50'. .. yet they are very
shoal draft. Something to keep in mind. Big beam, shoal draft.

------------------------------------



I still think you should see if Paris Hilton will come along with you on
your single handed cruise. She and I have broken up. It was the
toothpaste, she was always squeezing the tube from the top.



================================================== ==







"JohnM" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the Bahamas for
a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the Mediteranian. I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in port.
I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to be
safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.

Boat for single hander
 

I am not asking you to believe it nor to I have to prove anything, I have
nothing to gain from it.
What I can say it that you better take some Gravol before or at the
beginning of the storm.
The other point is you better be well anchored to your cockpit and forget
about using the head.
BTW where to you use your boat?

"Bob" wrote in message
ups.com...

NE Sailboat wrote:
"I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. ..."

I don't believe this for one moment. 40' waves? And you were in a 27'
boat?

Total nonsense.

================================================== =========

If you are to post, at least post something rational

================================================== ====



Not really. One of the most fun/exciting times sailing was me, my cow
dog, a six pack, and my 15' sprit sail dory.............. oh, and 25'
seas. Okay, we call em swells here. How know 25'? USCG Sea State and in
the bottom it was twice the length of myh unstayed fir mast.

Might want to ask where the guy in the 27' boat does his sailing.

NOw I did not mention other conditions but the 25' seas sure sounds
grande, no?

Boat for single hander
 

I am not asking you to believe it nor to I have to prove anything, I have
nothing to gain from it.
What I can say it that you better take some Gravol before or at the
beginning of the storm.
The other point is you better be well anchored to your cockpit and forget
about using the head.
BTW where to you use your boat?
=======================

I believe you and Britney Spears will make a lovely couple.

With those 40 footers keeping you in the "doghouse" and Britney with "no"
underwear .......... a wedding made in heaven.

========================================

I am curious though .. did you happen to dream about a big ship and a big
wave ......... maybe just maybe ..???

A simple plot: a tidal wave knocks a ship upside down and a handful of
survivors have to climb to the bottom of the ship at the surface before the
ship sinks. They are led by a fanatical preacher (Gene Hackman) who
conflicts with an ex-cop (Ernest Borgnine) and his ex-hooker wife (Stella
Stevens). Jack Albertson (WILLY WONKA) and Shelley Winters are an elderly
Jewish couple who are on their way to see their new grandchild. Pamela Sue
Martin (TV's Nancy Drew) and Eric Shea (like Bobby Brady, but more annoying)
are brother and sister on their way to meet their parents. Roddy McDowall (a
fantastic actor) is wasted as a ship hand who dies rather quick. Red Buttons
(PETE'S DRAGON) is an elderly gentleman who helps the ship's lounge singer
(Carol Lynley) retain her sanity. Arthur O'Connell is a strict reverend who
refuses to go along with Hackman. Leslie Nielsen makes a cameo as the ship's
captain who dies during the tidal wave.


Do you call your 27 footer ....... The Poseidon ?????????????????????????


================================================== =============
wrote in message
...
I am not asking you to believe it nor to I have to prove anything, I have
nothing to gain from it.
What I can say it that you better take some Gravol before or at the
beginning of the storm.
The other point is you better be well anchored to your cockpit and forget
about using the head.
BTW where to you use your boat?

"Bob" wrote in message
ups.com...

NE Sailboat wrote:
"I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. ..."

I don't believe this for one moment. 40' waves? And you were in a 27'
boat?

Total nonsense.

================================================== =========

If you are to post, at least post something rational

================================================== ====



Not really. One of the most fun/exciting times sailing was me, my cow
dog, a six pack, and my 15' sprit sail dory.............. oh, and 25'
seas. Okay, we call em swells here. How know 25'? USCG Sea State and in
the bottom it was twice the length of myh unstayed fir mast.

Might want to ask where the guy in the 27' boat does his sailing.

NOw I did not mention other conditions but the 25' seas sure sounds
grande, no?

Boat for single hander
 

Might want to ask where the guy in the 27' boat does his sailing.

Here we have to best of both world.
I use my boat on the St. John river system, the Bay of Fundy, the coast of
Nova Scotia and Maine.

wrote in message
...
I am not asking you to believe it nor to I have to prove anything, I have
nothing to gain from it.
What I can say it that you better take some Gravol before or at the
beginning of the storm.
The other point is you better be well anchored to your cockpit and forget
about using the head.
BTW where to you use your boat?

"Bob" wrote in message
ups.com...

NE Sailboat wrote:
"I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. ..."

I don't believe this for one moment. 40' waves? And you were in a 27'
boat?

Total nonsense.

================================================== =========

If you are to post, at least post something rational

================================================== ====



Not really. One of the most fun/exciting times sailing was me, my cow
dog, a six pack, and my 15' sprit sail dory.............. oh, and 25'
seas. Okay, we call em swells here. How know 25'? USCG Sea State and in
the bottom it was twice the length of myh unstayed fir mast.

Might want to ask where the guy in the 27' boat does his sailing.

NOw I did not mention other conditions but the 25' seas sure sounds
grande, no?

Boat for single hander
 

Quote"With those 40 footers keeping you in the "doghouse".Unquote


With 40 footers, you do not stay in the doghouse (cabin) unless you are well
attached to the floor to prevent injuries

For sanitary reasons I prefer to be attached outside in the cockpit with
more than one anchor points.



"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:2gzeh.932$e26.40@trndny04...
I am not asking you to believe it nor to I have to prove anything, I have
nothing to gain from it.
What I can say it that you better take some Gravol before or at the
beginning of the storm.
The other point is you better be well anchored to your cockpit and forget
about using the head.
BTW where to you use your boat?
=======================

I believe you and Britney Spears will make a lovely couple.

With those 40 footers keeping you in the "doghouse" and Britney with "no"
underwear .......... a wedding made in heaven.

========================================

I am curious though .. did you happen to dream about a big ship and a big
wave ......... maybe just maybe ..???

A simple plot: a tidal wave knocks a ship upside down and a handful of
survivors have to climb to the bottom of the ship at the surface before
the ship sinks. They are led by a fanatical preacher (Gene Hackman) who
conflicts with an ex-cop (Ernest Borgnine) and his ex-hooker wife (Stella
Stevens). Jack Albertson (WILLY WONKA) and Shelley Winters are an elderly
Jewish couple who are on their way to see their new grandchild. Pamela Sue
Martin (TV's Nancy Drew) and Eric Shea (like Bobby Brady, but more
annoying) are brother and sister on their way to meet their parents. Roddy
McDowall (a fantastic actor) is wasted as a ship hand who dies rather
quick. Red Buttons (PETE'S DRAGON) is an elderly gentleman who helps the
ship's lounge singer (Carol Lynley) retain her sanity. Arthur O'Connell is
a strict reverend who refuses to go along with Hackman. Leslie Nielsen
makes a cameo as the ship's captain who dies during the tidal wave.


Do you call your 27 footer ....... The Poseidon ?????????????????????????


================================================== =============
wrote in message
...
I am not asking you to believe it nor to I have to prove anything, I have
nothing to gain from it.
What I can say it that you better take some Gravol before or at the
beginning of the storm.
The other point is you better be well anchored to your cockpit and forget
about using the head.
BTW where to you use your boat?

"Bob" wrote in message
ups.com...

NE Sailboat wrote:
"I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. ..."

I don't believe this for one moment. 40' waves? And you were in a 27'
boat?

Total nonsense.

================================================== =========

If you are to post, at least post something rational

================================================== ====



Not really. One of the most fun/exciting times sailing was me, my cow
dog, a six pack, and my 15' sprit sail dory.............. oh, and 25'
seas. Okay, we call em swells here. How know 25'? USCG Sea State and in
the bottom it was twice the length of myh unstayed fir mast.

Might want to ask where the guy in the 27' boat does his sailing.

NOw I did not mention other conditions but the 25' seas sure sounds
grande, no?

Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
I also disagree completely with your opinion. Single hand sailing is
hard
work, dangerous, lonely, etc. Just leaving whatever mooring, dock
you might be attached to is tough. Unless you have more than two
arms?

It's not my opinion you are disagreing with, it is my experience. For you,
it may be hard, lonely, dangerous, work but I find it relaxing, stimulating,
and even medative. This applies to docking as well. My landings in the
slip from hell are almost always smoother and better when I'm alone because
I'm fully focused and able to act with exact timing instead of worrying
whether the crew will step off at the right moment, remember to put a turn
on the cleat instead of pulling from chest height in a panic, etc.

I do a lot of things slower and the preplanning required makes for a lot of
the enjoyable mental exercise. Where I might just cast off and back out
with a crew, I will move the boat to a different position, double lines back
short enough that they can't foul the prop but will just fall off the horn
of the cleats when I start moving. As I back out, there is almost always
some helpful person on the dock yelling, "You forgot your dock lines!" but I
just motor out into the open and walk around calmly retrieving them.

Try buying two bow and stern lines each about 3/4 the length of your boat.
Take time to lead them outside everything with the ends tied together. You
can then step ashore with the ability to control both ends of the boat.
After making on line fast, the other will be right there without falling in
the water or being on the deck of the boat that has blown just out of reach.

I do all this with two arms and, as I said, it is easier than with any but a
very experienced crew.

Then, once released, the project of putting up the main, getting
everything together ,, et all.

It's not a project. It's seamanship. It's why we spend all this money to
be able to enjoy this.

And the big issue is the helm! Unless you are the first person on
earth who can be in two places at once. Someone, must steer.

You are not doing this right. I sometimes have to go back and make a helm
adjustment but it's not a big deal. I usually get everything ready to
hoist, go back and position the boat, and then haul away. My boat is as
quick turning as any when unattended. If I can do this, you should easily
be able to manage it in your long keel Bristol 32.

Little things learned over 43 years help. Are you overhauling your sheets
before hoisting? The drag of a partially hoisted sail pulling the sheets
through the blocks will accellerate and turn the boat. If the sail can
swing freely, it will have less effect on the boat.

I get very frustrated. One minute I'm pulling on a sheet, next I'm
back resetting the helm

This gets close to the core problem. Attitude is important. Once you get
frustrated, the parts of the mind that anticipate, stratagize, and react
constructively to unexpected problems begin to shut down. This is above
all, a mental exercise. Nothing will help as much as learning to get into a
"zone" where snags are just something you deal with.

But :::: the helm! That rotten helm.

Come on, the Bristol 32 has about as sweet a helm as you are ever going to
find on a sailboat. My E32 has marvelous control authority but her least
attractive trait is that she turns instantly and quickly as soon as you let
go. If I can do all this stuff calmly on an E32, you can do it on a B32.
Do you have a wheel? If so learn how to use the brake. Sometimes setting
it so it just drags works better than locking it. If you have a tiller, look
at one of those "Tiller Tamers".


At the end of the day .... the docking, mooring. I hate this.

There's the nub of the problem. Have you considered golf? You'll never do
it right unless you enjoy it, even when it isn't going right.

I'd rather have a crewmate. Someone to help out.

Well, as to why you don't have a crewmate, I just won't touch that with a
ten foot pole. I will say however, that you are much more likely to find or
retain a crewmate if you learn how to do everything calmly by yourself and
project a reassuring sense of competence and control. My current number one
crew detested boating up until last spring. Sailing or boating with her
former husband was like being in a storm at sea. It was a constant crisis
from the time they left the dock until they returned during which everything
she did was wrong. Now she is completely in love with cruising and looking
forward eagerly to going to Newfoundland, Labrador, and even beyond.

One thing I brought with me from aviation was the concept of practice. If
you are going out and just starting to cruise, as it sounds like you did
last summer, you are setting yourself up for frustration. Now that you know
the boat, plan on a few days next spring with no goals other than practice.
Put the sails up and down, dock and undock. Try different things. Think
ahead. Think of the snags not as frustraging interruptions but as the keys
to doing it smoothly by anticipating them.

Experience helps but none of this can be done by rote. Attitude and getting
in to a zone of calm and creative problem solving is vital.
The brain also has a way of processing lessons over time when you get away.
The improvement in my handling of the boat this summer over the first was
amazing, right from the first day. You'll find next season much easier.
But, only if you get your attitude adjusted.

--
Roger Long

Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
"I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. ..."

I don't believe this for one moment. 40' waves? And you were in a
27' boat?

The waves were 20 feet. How do I know this? During the time that I was
researching sailing vessel casualties and working on the project to help
write the stability regulations for sailing school vessels, the accuracy of
wind and sea state reports were a significant issue so I looked into these
questions quite a bit.

There are solid physical reasons why even the most experience sailors
overestimate wave heights by about 100%. These have to do with the motion
on the wave face that makes the local "down", or direction a pendulum would
point, be perpendicular to the face of the wave instead of towards the
center of the earth. This is one of the illusions that promotes
seasickness.

There is a fairly precise method of measuring wave height. Even knowing all
these things, I look at waves I've just measured as six feet and I could
still swear that they are 12. In fact, a very reliable way to measure wave
height is to simply take your best guess and cut it in half.

--
Roger Long

Boat for single hander
 

On Sat, 09 Dec 2006 13:11:53 GMT, "NE Sailboat"
wrote:

I still think you should see if Paris Hilton will come along with you on
your single handed cruise. She and I have broken up.

You could probably get the leak fixed at any good vinyl repair shop.

Maybe you were too rough on her.

Boat for single hander
 

Roger ,,, look at the buoy reports .. I can't seem to remember off my head
but some web page has the reports from the offshore buoys. Such info as
wave height, wind, water temperature, etc.

This might be a weather report site ???????? I am going to look...

If the sailor was on a 27' boat and the waves were 40' high .... that is
over 4 stories high.

If he is going into the waves? What if he is going with them? Holy ****
,,, that is one huge surf ride.


=====================
"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
NE Sailboat wrote:
"I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. ..."

I don't believe this for one moment. 40' waves? And you were in a
27' boat?

The waves were 20 feet. How do I know this? During the time that I was
researching sailing vessel casualties and working on the project to help
write the stability regulations for sailing school vessels, the accuracy
of wind and sea state reports were a significant issue so I looked into
these questions quite a bit.

There are solid physical reasons why even the most experience sailors
overestimate wave heights by about 100%. These have to do with the
motion on the wave face that makes the local "down", or direction a
pendulum would point, be perpendicular to the face of the wave instead of
towards the center of the earth. This is one of the illusions that
promotes seasickness.

There is a fairly precise method of measuring wave height. Even knowing
all these things, I look at waves I've just measured as six feet and I
could still swear that they are 12. In fact, a very reliable way to
measure wave height is to simply take your best guess and cut it in half.

--
Roger Long

Boat for single hander
 

Roger ,, your long posting brings up a number of subjects ,, here is my
answers to some.

It is my opinion that single handed sailing is dangerous. Yet, I spent most
of last summer single handing. Let's face it, **** happens. When you are
ten miles offshore and **** happens and you are by yourself ..............

Is it relaxing? Yes, that I agree. But it could be just as relaxing with a
couple of good crewmates.

Docking a boat by myself isn't my worry. The worry, or apprehension is
caused by the other boats which I might bang into. I don't want to miss a
little and smash into some motor boat. I don't dock very often anyway, but
I don't like to do it when I am in a busy area.

You go on as if I have no experience. 31 years, sailing. That is some
experience, I'd say.

And, I still would rather have a crewmate!

As for going out cruising ... I have cruised from Conn, to Maine. I will be
out again next summer.

Crewmate of not, I will be out cruising. But, I'd still rather have someone
along.

There is a reason that Joshua Slocum became so famous.

The first person to
complete a solo circumnavigation was Joshua Slocum. Slocum was a retired
Master Mariner, originally from Canada, but subsequently a citizen of the
USA. He sailed in 1895 on a route that took him across the Atlantic, down
South America and through the Strait of Magellan, and then on to Australia,
South Africa and home. He had rebuilt his 35 foot sloop Spray by himself
before he sailed and proved a good and safe sailboat bringing him safely
home in 1898.

Even with the publicity gained by Slocum there was no attempt to repeat his
voyage for more than 20 years and this, again, was also in a boat built by
the sailor. In 1921 Harry Pigeon set off from California in his 35-foot yawl
Islander and completed a fairly uneventful circumnavigation. Alain Gerbault
of France followed in 1924 in his 39-foot cutter Firecrest. The year 1942
would appear an unlikely time to try to circumnavigate the world, but that
was when Vito Dumas set out from his home in Argentina in his ketch Legh II,
making the voyage completely in the Southern Hemisphere.


More than 20 years passed before anyone attempted another solo
circumnavigation. This time it wasn't a cruise like the previous voyages but
an attempt to beat the sailing times of the great Clipper ships. Francis
Chichester set out from England in his 56-foot ketch Gypsy Moth IV taking
107 days to reach Sydney. After a re-fit he continued his voyage, which
totaled 274 days at sea. Even as he returned Alec Rose was setting out in
his 36-footer Lively Lady and completed his circumnavigation, with two
stops, in 11 months.

After Francis Chichester brought Gipsy Moth IV back to Plymouth in 1967, he
challenged all single-handed sailors and adventurers. In his mind a nonstop,
solo circumnavigation was the only voyage left. Although a non-stop voyage
was seemed an impossible achievement, people were soon announcing their
plans to make the attempt.

Chichester's challenge manifested itself in the 1968 Sunday Times Golden
Globe. In January of 1969 Robin Knox-Johnston answered Chischester's call in
his 32-foot ketch Suhaili, after a 9 month beating though the Southern
Ocean. Knox-Johnston proved that what once was though impossible, was indeed
possible and in fact possible with one of the slowest boats to have actually
crossed an ocean.

After the Golden Globe most of the circumnavigators were cruises. In 1970
21-year-old Robin Lee Graham made history by becoming the youngest person to
solo circumnavigate the globe. He completed most of his 5 year journey in
the 22-foot Lapworth sloop Dove. After Graham completed his journey many
people realized that a circumnavigation or even a journey across an ocean
was possible and in fact within reach of people with just a little bit of
sailing experience.
========================

If single handing is as easy as you make it out to be ....... why are the
above folks so revered.

==========

Roger, I appreciate our differences on this subject and your opinion. If
you see me out on the high seas next summer say hello.






===============




"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
NE Sailboat wrote:
I also disagree completely with your opinion. Single hand sailing is
hard
work, dangerous, lonely, etc. Just leaving whatever mooring, dock
you might be attached to is tough. Unless you have more than two
arms?

It's not my opinion you are disagreing with, it is my experience. For
you, it may be hard, lonely, dangerous, work but I find it relaxing,
stimulating, and even medative. This applies to docking as well. My
landings in the slip from hell are almost always smoother and better when
I'm alone because I'm fully focused and able to act with exact timing
instead of worrying whether the crew will step off at the right moment,
remember to put a turn on the cleat instead of pulling from chest height
in a panic, etc.

I do a lot of things slower and the preplanning required makes for a lot
of the enjoyable mental exercise. Where I might just cast off and back
out with a crew, I will move the boat to a different position, double
lines back short enough that they can't foul the prop but will just fall
off the horn of the cleats when I start moving. As I back out, there is
almost always some helpful person on the dock yelling, "You forgot your
dock lines!" but I just motor out into the open and walk around calmly
retrieving them.

Try buying two bow and stern lines each about 3/4 the length of your boat.
Take time to lead them outside everything with the ends tied together.
You can then step ashore with the ability to control both ends of the
boat. After making on line fast, the other will be right there without
falling in the water or being on the deck of the boat that has blown just
out of reach.

I do all this with two arms and, as I said, it is easier than with any but
a very experienced crew.

Then, once released, the project of putting up the main, getting
everything together ,, et all.

It's not a project. It's seamanship. It's why we spend all this money to
be able to enjoy this.

And the big issue is the helm! Unless you are the first person on
earth who can be in two places at once. Someone, must steer.

You are not doing this right. I sometimes have to go back and make a helm
adjustment but it's not a big deal. I usually get everything ready to
hoist, go back and position the boat, and then haul away. My boat is as
quick turning as any when unattended. If I can do this, you should easily
be able to manage it in your long keel Bristol 32.

Little things learned over 43 years help. Are you overhauling your sheets
before hoisting? The drag of a partially hoisted sail pulling the sheets
through the blocks will accellerate and turn the boat. If the sail can
swing freely, it will have less effect on the boat.

I get very frustrated. One minute I'm pulling on a sheet, next I'm
back resetting the helm

This gets close to the core problem. Attitude is important. Once you get
frustrated, the parts of the mind that anticipate, stratagize, and react
constructively to unexpected problems begin to shut down. This is above
all, a mental exercise. Nothing will help as much as learning to get into
a "zone" where snags are just something you deal with.

But :::: the helm! That rotten helm.

Come on, the Bristol 32 has about as sweet a helm as you are ever going to
find on a sailboat. My E32 has marvelous control authority but her least
attractive trait is that she turns instantly and quickly as soon as you
let go. If I can do all this stuff calmly on an E32, you can do it on a
B32. Do you have a wheel? If so learn how to use the brake. Sometimes
setting it so it just drags works better than locking it. If you have a
tiller, look at one of those "Tiller Tamers".


At the end of the day .... the docking, mooring. I hate this.

There's the nub of the problem. Have you considered golf? You'll never
do it right unless you enjoy it, even when it isn't going right.

I'd rather have a crewmate. Someone to help out.

Well, as to why you don't have a crewmate, I just won't touch that with a
ten foot pole. I will say however, that you are much more likely to find
or retain a crewmate if you learn how to do everything calmly by yourself
and project a reassuring sense of competence and control. My current
number one crew detested boating up until last spring. Sailing or boating
with her former husband was like being in a storm at sea. It was a
constant crisis from the time they left the dock until they returned
during which everything she did was wrong. Now she is completely in love
with cruising and looking forward eagerly to going to Newfoundland,
Labrador, and even beyond.

One thing I brought with me from aviation was the concept of practice. If
you are going out and just starting to cruise, as it sounds like you did
last summer, you are setting yourself up for frustration. Now that you
know the boat, plan on a few days next spring with no goals other than
practice. Put the sails up and down, dock and undock. Try different
things. Think ahead. Think of the snags not as frustraging interruptions
but as the keys to doing it smoothly by anticipating them.

Experience helps but none of this can be done by rote. Attitude and
getting in to a zone of calm and creative problem solving is vital.
The brain also has a way of processing lessons over time when you get
away. The improvement in my handling of the boat this summer over the
first was amazing, right from the first day. You'll find next season much
easier. But, only if you get your attitude adjusted.

--
Roger Long

Boat for single hander
 

Roger Long wrote:
There are solid physical reasons why even the most experience sailors
overestimate wave heights by about 100%.

Roger,
It may be true that some overestimate wave heights by this much, but it
is hardly universal. For moderate waves, I am quite confident in my
estimates. It's really quite simple. If you know the height of your
eye above the water as you sit in the cockpit (for instance, mine is
just a hair over 6') then if the wave top is above the horizon while you
are in the trough, it is over 6', if it doesn't, it is under 6'. By
adjusting for how much it appears to be higher/lower than the horizon,
you can then get a very good estimate for waves up to about twice your
base height. Beyond that, it becomes more difficult and the wave
heights become more of a guesstimate than an estimate as it is difficult
to really tell if it is even with the spreaders or how much above/below
them the waves really are.

Note that using this method, you also have to adjust a bit depending on
the amount of heel and whether you are sitting on the high or low side
of the cockpit.

p.s.
Don't forget that all waves have two heights, the one we write down in
the log and the one we tell about at the bar in the story that begins
"No ****, you won't believe....". Could this be the source of your
assertion that most sailors overestimate by 100%?

Boat for single hander
 

On Sat, 09 Dec 2006 09:14:25 -0800, Dan Best
wrote:

Could this be the source of your
assertion that most sailors overestimate by 100%?

I believe Roger is talking about the optical illusion that occurs when
the bow of your boat is pointing down into the trough of a good sized
wave but your senses think that the boat is level due to the motion
and G forces.

Boat for single hander
 

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 09 Dec 2006 09:14:25 -0800, Dan Best
wrote:

Could this be the source of your
assertion that most sailors overestimate by 100%?

I believe Roger is talking about the optical illusion that occurs when
the bow of your boat is pointing down into the trough of a good sized
wave but your senses think that the boat is level due to the motion
and G forces.


I think the best approach is the set-up a surveyor's transit on your
foredeck, and assign crew to keep a running wave-height log.

Boat for single hander
 

Dan Best wrote:

It may be true that some overestimate wave heights by this much, but
it is hardly universal. For moderate waves, I am quite confident in
my estimates. It's really quite simple. If you know the height of
your eye above the water as you sit in the cockpit (for instance,
mine is just a hair over 6') then if the wave top is above the
horizon while you are in the trough, it is over 6', if it doesn't, it
is under 6'. By adjusting for how much it appears to be higher/lower
than the horizon, you can then get a very good estimate for waves up
to about twice your base height.

You are probably right about your wave height estimates because that is
essentially the proper method for estimating. When you just look out from
the cockpit and guess though, they'll look twice as high. Often, you'll
have to lie down at the rail to get the proper eye height to measure those
"six foot" waves.

--
Roger Long

Boat for single hander
 

How did I know I was in 40-foot waves? I did not.

The waves were extremely high; the sea surface was covered with white foam
and long streaks

When I made it to Ingermar, a safe heaven, a group of people was inside the
breakwater. They were all looking at me and my boat getting in.

While helping me to tie up my boat they stated that I was very lucky. They
mentioned that they had been watching me with binoculars coming in. They
then said,"you were on your own" Because all vessels including the coast
guards were tied inside the break water and were unable to go out. Soon
after the coast guard told me that, I was lucky to be safe since all Rescue
Helicopters were grounded because of the high seas and strong wind. I then
asked about the height of the waves they replied 40 feet. Then the local
radio stations confirmed that all beaches were closed because of 40-foot
waves.


"Dan Best" wrote in message
...
Roger Long wrote:
There are solid physical reasons why even the most experience sailors
overestimate wave heights by about 100%.

Roger,
It may be true that some overestimate wave heights by this much, but it is
hardly universal. For moderate waves, I am quite confident in my
estimates. It's really quite simple. If you know the height of your eye
above the water as you sit in the cockpit (for instance, mine is just a
hair over 6') then if the wave top is above the horizon while you are in
the trough, it is over 6', if it doesn't, it is under 6'. By adjusting
for how much it appears to be higher/lower than the horizon, you can then
get a very good estimate for waves up to about twice your base height.
Beyond that, it becomes more difficult and the wave heights become more of
a guesstimate than an estimate as it is difficult to really tell if it is
even with the spreaders or how much above/below them the waves really are.

Note that using this method, you also have to adjust a bit depending on
the amount of heel and whether you are sitting on the high or low side of
the cockpit.

p.s.
Don't forget that all waves have two heights, the one we write down in the
log and the one we tell about at the bar in the story that begins "No
****, you won't believe....". Could this be the source of your assertion
that most sailors overestimate by 100%?

Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:

If single handing is as easy as you make it out to be ....... why are
the above folks (Slocum, Chichester, Robin Knox-Johnston) so revered.

Good agents? :) Lots of people we've never heard of have sailed long
distances single handed.

I'm not for a minute saying that single handed offshore passage making is as
easy as what I do, any more than long passagemaking with a crew is as easy
as coastal cruising with a crew. We're talking here about coastal cruising
which is essentially daysailing except that you anchor or moor somewhere
different every night.

Obviously it's more work and effort to do everything youself but, from the
tenor of your post, I don't think effort is what we are talking about.
"Difficult", as I read your post, means anxiety about how to accomplish the
tasks, worry that effects your decisions, (anchoring instead of docking
because you might damage another boat), getting frustrated, etc. This is
supposed to be enjoyable and rewarding in the way that challenging things
can be. If it's only enjoyable when you're sliding along with the sails set
and a beverage in your hand, you are doing something wrong.

I'm not saying that I never did and never will bump another boat or have
something go wrong but my level of confidence and expectation of
successfully performing the various evolutions and tasks is about the same,
and often slightly higher, when I'm alone than with a crew. The feelings
and events that seem to be diminishing your pleasure in boating occasionally
comeup but it has nothing to do with how many bodies are on the boat.

You say you always sail alone. What you may be overlooking is that you will
end up feeling just as frustrated and out of control if you start taking
people with you. It may have nothing to do with single handing at all. If
you need to rely on the crew to perform in a way that will prevent the
feelings that you have described, you will be putting pressure on them that
will hurt their enjoyment and make you feel even less in control when they
give you that "which cleat?" look. There is an art to command that, it it's
way, is even more difficult than single handing. Even with a good and
experienced crew, if you can't handle a boat of this size by yourself, you
probably are going to find it difficult to direct a crew in a way that makes
it less stressful.

31 years? You should be able to handle a Bristol 32 with one hand tied
after wringing that much water out of your socks.

--
Roger Long

Boat for single hander
 

Really ,, this is getting old. You never, ever, not in this lifetime, or in
the last lifetime .......... sailed a 27' boat out on the sea in 40' waves!

"Helicopters were grounded because of the high seas and strong wind. I
then
asked about the height of the waves they replied 40 feet. Then the local
radio stations confirmed that all beaches were closed because of 40-foot
waves."

I believe we have a "troll" here. An annoying troll.

Good thing the helicopters didn't go off and fly,, one of the 40' waves
would have reached up and swallowed the helicopter.







wrote in message
...
How did I know I was in 40-foot waves? I did not.

The waves were extremely high; the sea surface was covered with white foam
and long streaks

When I made it to Ingermar, a safe heaven, a group of people was inside
the breakwater. They were all looking at me and my boat getting in.

While helping me to tie up my boat they stated that I was very lucky. They
mentioned that they had been watching me with binoculars coming in. They
then said,"you were on your own" Because all vessels including the coast
guards were tied inside the break water and were unable to go out. Soon
after the coast guard told me that, I was lucky to be safe since all
Rescue Helicopters were grounded because of the high seas and strong wind.
I then asked about the height of the waves they replied 40 feet. Then the
local radio stations confirmed that all beaches were closed because of
40-foot waves.


"Dan Best" wrote in message
...
Roger Long wrote:
There are solid physical reasons why even the most experience sailors
overestimate wave heights by about 100%.

Roger,
It may be true that some overestimate wave heights by this much, but it
is hardly universal. For moderate waves, I am quite confident in my
estimates. It's really quite simple. If you know the height of your eye
above the water as you sit in the cockpit (for instance, mine is just a
hair over 6') then if the wave top is above the horizon while you are in
the trough, it is over 6', if it doesn't, it is under 6'. By adjusting
for how much it appears to be higher/lower than the horizon, you can then
get a very good estimate for waves up to about twice your base height.
Beyond that, it becomes more difficult and the wave heights become more
of a guesstimate than an estimate as it is difficult to really tell if it
is even with the spreaders or how much above/below them the waves really
are.

Note that using this method, you also have to adjust a bit depending on
the amount of heel and whether you are sitting on the high or low side of
the cockpit.

p.s.
Don't forget that all waves have two heights, the one we write down in
the log and the one we tell about at the bar in the story that begins "No
****, you won't believe....". Could this be the source of your assertion
that most sailors overestimate by 100%?

Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
Really ,, this is getting old. You never, ever, not in this lifetime, or in
the last lifetime .......... sailed a 27' boat out on the sea in 40' waves!

"Helicopters were grounded because of the high seas and strong wind. I
then
asked about the height of the waves they replied 40 feet. Then the local
radio stations confirmed that all beaches were closed because of 40-foot
waves."

I believe we have a "troll" here. An annoying troll.

Good thing the helicopters didn't go off and fly,, one of the 40' waves
would have reached up and swallowed the helicopter.



Not to mention 40' waves on a beach. The surfers would have been
swarming from far & near.

Boat for single hander
 

Boat for single hander
 

Roger ,, ,, on the single handed sailing ..

According to the folks on the singlehanded_sailing group for yahoo ... it is
against the maritime laws because a watch must be maintained at all times.

Now I'm off the hook ( get it ). I can stay in port and bother people.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
NE Sailboat wrote:

If single handing is as easy as you make it out to be ....... why are
the above folks (Slocum, Chichester, Robin Knox-Johnston) so revered.

Good agents? :) Lots of people we've never heard of have sailed long
distances single handed.

I'm not for a minute saying that single handed offshore passage making is
as easy as what I do, any more than long passagemaking with a crew is as
easy as coastal cruising with a crew. We're talking here about coastal
cruising which is essentially daysailing except that you anchor or moor
somewhere different every night.

Obviously it's more work and effort to do everything youself but, from the
tenor of your post, I don't think effort is what we are talking about.
"Difficult", as I read your post, means anxiety about how to accomplish
the tasks, worry that effects your decisions, (anchoring instead of
docking because you might damage another boat), getting frustrated, etc.
This is supposed to be enjoyable and rewarding in the way that challenging
things can be. If it's only enjoyable when you're sliding along with the
sails set and a beverage in your hand, you are doing something wrong.

I'm not saying that I never did and never will bump another boat or have
something go wrong but my level of confidence and expectation of
successfully performing the various evolutions and tasks is about the
same, and often slightly higher, when I'm alone than with a crew. The
feelings and events that seem to be diminishing your pleasure in boating
occasionally comeup but it has nothing to do with how many bodies are on
the boat.

You say you always sail alone. What you may be overlooking is that you
will end up feeling just as frustrated and out of control if you start
taking people with you. It may have nothing to do with single handing at
all. If you need to rely on the crew to perform in a way that will
prevent the feelings that you have described, you will be putting pressure
on them that will hurt their enjoyment and make you feel even less in
control when they give you that "which cleat?" look. There is an art to
command that, it it's way, is even more difficult than single handing.
Even with a good and experienced crew, if you can't handle a boat of this
size by yourself, you probably are going to find it difficult to direct a
crew in a way that makes it less stressful.

31 years? You should be able to handle a Bristol 32 with one hand tied
after wringing that much water out of your socks.

--
Roger Long

Boat for single hander
 

I won't be as quick as the other responders to dismiss this story. Wave
heights are often over estimated in the media and beach wave heights will be
a lot more than in the open water.

It's winter, many of us are stuck on shore. This sounds like a story that
deserves telling. Please start a new post and tell it. There certainly
must be some lessons that are useful to others. Also, please tell us where
Ingermar is (which country). I'd like to look it up on Google Earth. A
link to a picture of the boat would also be nice.

--
Roger Long