DSK wrote:

Size isn't really an issue for singlehanding ...

Yes it is, Doug.

There! Howizzat fer a convincin' argument? I will omit the discussion about
hydraulic winches and furlers, athletic ability, age, pocketbook, and "real"
people.

At least for the time being.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

DSK wrote:
Size isn't really an issue for singlehanding ...

Armond Perretta wrote:
Yes it is, Doug.

There! Howizzat fer a convincin' argument?

Well (he said abashed, scuffing one toe modestly) it *is* an issue, but
what I should have said... if I were in the mood to be more long
winded... that size of vessel need not be an absolute limiting factor.

... I will omit the discussion about
hydraulic winches and furlers, athletic ability, age, pocketbook, and "real"
people.

At least for the time being.

Agreed, with the caveat that skill is the biggest limiting factor and
one can learn, can't one? Money is a whole nother issue, and let me
remind you how much can be spent on even smaller vessels...

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DSK wrote:
Size isn't really an issue for singlehanding ...

Armond Perretta wrote:
Yes it is, Doug.

There! Howizzat fer a convincin' argument?

Well (he said abashed, scuffing one toe modestly) it *is* an issue, but
what I should have said... if I were in the mood to be more long
winded... that size of vessel need not be an absolute limiting factor.

... I will omit the discussion about
hydraulic winches and furlers, athletic ability, age, pocketbook, and "real"
people.

At least for the time being.

Agreed, with the caveat that skill is the biggest limiting factor and
one can learn, can't one? Money is a whole nother issue, and let me
remind you how much can be spent on even smaller vessels...

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DSK wrote:

let me remind you how much can be spent on even smaller vessels...

You are permitted, since at this time my wife is not reading this group.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

DSK wrote:

let me remind you how much can be spent on even smaller vessels...

You are permitted, since at this time my wife is not reading this group.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 09:05:45 -0500, DSK wrote:


Size isn't really an issue for singlehanding (or shorthanding), people
have singlehanded surprisingly large boats... over a hundred feet LOA.
Equipment is a big issue though; and so is skill & forethought. In
former times, big sailing cargo were sailed by as few men as could be
done with, to keep crew expense down. You can read accounts of three
masted schooners being sailed by two men & a dog

For an extreme case, Alain Colas sailed a 240-foot four-masted
schooner in the 1976 Transatlantic race. It had eight self-tacking
sails, like a separate masthead sloop rig on each mast. All had a
semicircular traveler track that went right to the gunwale.

All the controls led back to a battery of self-tailing winches at
waist height behind a bulwark surrounding the pilot house. The middle
winch of each set of three was the sheet; the other two located the
traveler.

The Bicentennial celebration that year included a tall ships parade up
the North River (Hudson). All participants motored from the start
except Colas. He tacked into a northerly, slicing back and forth
through the massive fleet of spectators past the bleachers at Barttery
Park City.

A black squall line became just visible at the G Washington Bridge.
Colas managed to get all the sails down before it reached him. THere
were bikini-clad lovelies decorating the deck, but they didn't assist.
Colas did it all as far as I could see.

I went aboard the next day to see the hardware.


Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a

The meme for blind faith secures its own perpetuation by the
simple unconscious expedient of discouraging rational inquiry.
- Richard Dawkins, "Viruses of the Mind"

On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 09:05:45 -0500, DSK wrote:


Size isn't really an issue for singlehanding (or shorthanding), people
have singlehanded surprisingly large boats... over a hundred feet LOA.
Equipment is a big issue though; and so is skill & forethought. In
former times, big sailing cargo were sailed by as few men as could be
done with, to keep crew expense down. You can read accounts of three
masted schooners being sailed by two men & a dog

For an extreme case, Alain Colas sailed a 240-foot four-masted
schooner in the 1976 Transatlantic race. It had eight self-tacking
sails, like a separate masthead sloop rig on each mast. All had a
semicircular traveler track that went right to the gunwale.

All the controls led back to a battery of self-tailing winches at
waist height behind a bulwark surrounding the pilot house. The middle
winch of each set of three was the sheet; the other two located the
traveler.

The Bicentennial celebration that year included a tall ships parade up
the North River (Hudson). All participants motored from the start
except Colas. He tacked into a northerly, slicing back and forth
through the massive fleet of spectators past the bleachers at Barttery
Park City.

A black squall line became just visible at the G Washington Bridge.
Colas managed to get all the sails down before it reached him. THere
were bikini-clad lovelies decorating the deck, but they didn't assist.
Colas did it all as far as I could see.

I went aboard the next day to see the hardware.


Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a

The meme for blind faith secures its own perpetuation by the
simple unconscious expedient of discouraging rational inquiry.
- Richard Dawkins, "Viruses of the Mind"

In article ,
"Wendy" wrote:

"Rodney Myrvaagnes" wrote in message
...

I suggest that buying a long-distance cruiser is premature. Until,
that is, you have tried different kinds of boats to find out what you
enjoy sailing.

I think there is a lot of merit in this observation, Rodney. I'm probably
starting from the "what I would like to have" point rather than the "what
would best suit me at this time" point. That said, I've loads of time to
figure all of this out. I'll get more involved in the local sailing
community, which will, I am sure, help and affect my purchasing decision a
lot. I'm off today to look at some boats, and that may well be an
eye-opening experience.

Wendy



Don't necessarily try for the ultimate boat. I haven't heard of anyone
getting it right the first time, though Skip and Lydia might ;-) More
often, too much boat stays in the slip.

Go for one that will will suit an honest assessment of what you're
likely to do in the the near future, say 5 or so years. If that includes
crossing the pond, so be it, but if not, there are a lot of good, less
expensive boats that could serve you better.

For instance, a boat like our Xan is comfortable for 2, certainly up to
doing the eastern Caribbean, big enough to be stable and easily
single-handed, small enough that going out for a couple of hours is a
meaningful option, tough enough to take beginner mistakes, and "cheap"
to buy, upgrade and maintain. In the meantime, the extra $60-70k can
appreciate, make a pretty good cruising kitty or NOT be owed to the bank.

--
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/

In article ,
"Wendy" wrote:

"Rodney Myrvaagnes" wrote in message
...

I suggest that buying a long-distance cruiser is premature. Until,
that is, you have tried different kinds of boats to find out what you
enjoy sailing.

I think there is a lot of merit in this observation, Rodney. I'm probably
starting from the "what I would like to have" point rather than the "what
would best suit me at this time" point. That said, I've loads of time to
figure all of this out. I'll get more involved in the local sailing
community, which will, I am sure, help and affect my purchasing decision a
lot. I'm off today to look at some boats, and that may well be an
eye-opening experience.

Wendy



Don't necessarily try for the ultimate boat. I haven't heard of anyone
getting it right the first time, though Skip and Lydia might ;-) More
often, too much boat stays in the slip.

Go for one that will will suit an honest assessment of what you're
likely to do in the the near future, say 5 or so years. If that includes
crossing the pond, so be it, but if not, there are a lot of good, less
expensive boats that could serve you better.

For instance, a boat like our Xan is comfortable for 2, certainly up to
doing the eastern Caribbean, big enough to be stable and easily
single-handed, small enough that going out for a couple of hours is a
meaningful option, tough enough to take beginner mistakes, and "cheap"
to buy, upgrade and maintain. In the meantime, the extra $60-70k can
appreciate, make a pretty good cruising kitty or NOT be owed to the bank.

--
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/

Rich Hampel wrote in message news:300120041809349757%
Definitely dont bother with a "pullman" interior if you're interested
in blue water.

Can you explain why that is for this neophyte?