It is also the best way of getting to know your boat well. For 18 of my 37 years of sailing i have owned, cruised, raced and single handed fractional rigged cruising boats from my folkboat in the 1970s to my current boat which i have owned now for 12 years. The same boat you might sail from a community sailing center is the same one sailed in the olympics. What techniques do you all use to make in singlehanded docking or mooring. The autopilot is a useful aid for singlehanders, but never turn your back on it especially when you need it most in heavy seas and winds. I sail a 2007 grand soleil 40 out of puget sound, elliot bay marina. Jeanneau sailboat, power boats, yachts, trimarans and bali catamarans. These instructions are to the best of my knowledge and should only. Just remember to come in slow and luff up turn into the wind to make the sails luff, slowing the boat just before reaching the dock. If docking has ever been a sore spot for you and your significant other or if the inability to dock the boat alone has hindered your cruising, phillip. The best solution for a short or singlehanded sailor is a rollerfurling headsail, which can be deployed or put away at a moments notice. The best tip i got was to tie a line between the bow and stern cleats on the side of the boat that will be next to the dock when you jump off. When shorthanded and entering a berth or dock, use an amidships spring to control the sailboat.
Mar 03, 2017 single handed docking on the new 2017 velasco 43f powerboat by jeanneau yachts ivt yacht sales, inc. Aim for a point of a boat length back from where you want to end up. Dock a boat secrets seven tips for shorthanded sailing. Oct 21, 2016 if docking has ever been a sore spot for you and your significant other or if the inability to dock your boat alone has hindered your cruising, phillip and i hope this video demonstration can help. Sailboat docking how to dock a sailboat offshore sailing.
Robin lee graham born march 5, 1949 is an american sailor. Been practicing docking maneuvers, here is what i have learned. Boat berthing and docking tips, techniques and procedures sections. Mar 21, 2018 while theres not enough editorial real estate here to get into all of the above, there is enough to proffer a few generalized tips on docking safely, whether youre shorthanded or singlehanded. Some new sailors feel great fear and trepidation when approaching the dock, while some old hands delight in showing off for the inevitable onlookers. Singlehanded sailing has become a major competitive sport, and there are a number of prominent singlehanded offshore races. Use the roving fender to cushion any point where the boat makes contact. If you have a right handed prop and know your boat kicks to port, then coming in to a dock portsideto can make you look like a real pro. This video explains how to arrive at a starboard slip properly. Singlehanded does not imply nonstop, so a singlehanded circumnavigation counts as such even with stops, as in joshua slocums voyage. Oct 26, 2015 the best solution for a short or singlehanded sailor is a rollerfurling headsail, which can be deployed or put away at a moments notice. Boat berthing and docking tips, techniques and procedures. Apr 18, 2019 since our early boats had no engines nor did they go in reverse.
But do this single or short handed and it can be a nightmare without well thought out preparation and execution. Advice on single handed docking and other sailing discussion in the seabreeze general forums, page 2. Nov, 2015 so here is how to gybe a sailboat when you are operating single handed. The autopilot is a useful aid for single handers, but never turn your back on it especially when you need it most in heavy seas and winds. Ive looked at boats such as the mx ray, and 29er, the only problem is, that the sail has to be pulled over the mast. I am particularly unlucky with my friends and family. A agree, get all lines ready before entering the marina, pin the boat as. From time to time you may need to bring a boat alongside with nobody but yourself. Singlehanded sailing by andrew evans overdrive rakuten. For those looking for a more comfortable cruising yacht the tofinou 10, grand soleil 46lc, dehler 34 and xyachts xc45 are all set up to be run by a skeleton crew. I have owned, cruised, raced and singlehanded masthead rigged sloops and cutters. Understand the techniques and skills required by both skipper and crew in order to make your docking experiences safe and easy. While theres not enough editorial real estate here to get into all of the above, there is enough to proffer a few generalized tips on docking safely, whether youre shorthanded or singlehanded. Tips for docking a sailboat safely and confidently.
I would appreciate some advice with single handed docking to allow me more freedom to sail alone. He now sells books at the shows and some of the information is on. Understand the techniques and skills required by both skipper and crew in order to. But do this single or shorthanded and it can be a nightmare without well thought out preparation and execution. Assign one person to the line and another to the single fendercalled a roving fender. Shorthanded sailors should reef their sails early and often, as the old rule advises. Grab this book, grab a friend, some nonalcoholic libations, and a sandwich and get out on. Dock a boat secrets seven tips for shorthanded sailing crews. We find this single handed alongside method to be simple. The recognized docking authority, doug 5th generation boater has published instructions for recreational boaters, for each drive system. After a gybe the sails are on the opposite side of the boat. The only bible for how to sail your boat fast, safe, and alone. Shortening sail single handed practical boat owner. For those looking for a more comfortable cruising yacht the tofinou 10, grand soleil 46lc, dehler 34 and x.
On november 8th, 2020, 17 registered singlehanded sailors will set off on the most challenging sailing endeavor in the history of yacht racing. Quantums jay sharkey shares his singlehanded sailing expertise to help you get started. Grahams book about his voyage, dove, was published in 1972. Pass a loop around a dock cleat or piling on the marina dock, aft of your. Since our early boats had no engines nor did they go in reverse. Solo sailing is within any sailors grasp with a little forethoughtand this essential guide. I would appreciate some advice with singlehanded docking to allow me more freedom to sail alone. Tailored for shorthanded sailing crews or singlehanded sailors. As the book points out you learn docking by docking. Know your limits and consider any sail with inexperienced sailors a singlehanded operation.
This book is about how great it is to singlehand a sailboat under challenging. I throw them onto the dock and use a boat hook to retrieve when returning. Ive been practicing single handed docking under sail for the past few months. Sailing legend peter isler walks us through the process using animations and live action footage. Imagine that you are short or singlehanded and need to get your boat along a. I need a boat that rigs similar to the 420, with a halliard.
Sailing single handed, tips and ideas christine demerchant. Roller, slab, jiffy and single line reefing are among the choices. Individual ties work fine to snug the sail to the boom, but the process is laborious and less practical for the singlehanded sailor. Newer boats are being designed a bit more mast forward, with taller masts and bigger mainsails. If singlehanded, it can be worth putting a smaller jib on the furler if. What if youre sailing completely alone or youre the only one able to work on the boat. Add this collectors edition ebook of the most popular seatested sailing tips from around. Single handed i set up to reverse the boat into the pen. I am a fairly experienced sailor, but this isnt for competition, just recreation. Notable recent launches for those looking for a fast but easily managed short handed boat include jeanneaus sun fast 3600, the j11s, rm970 and pogo 36.
If its not tacking and gybing, its probably docking, especially if you sail singlehanded or shorthanded. Im lucky that my slip is against a long finger, so i can come abeam of the dock, hop off, and walk the boat back. If docking has ever been a sore spot for you and your significant other or if the inability to dock your boat alone has hindered your cruising, phillip and i hope this video demonstration can help. Email field should not be empty please enter a valid email address. Mar 26, 2011 im looking for a very fast sailboat, that can be sailed by either one or two people, but is easy to rig. Advice on single handed docking sailing forums, page 2. I have owned, cruised, raced and single handed masthead rigged sloops and cutters. Know your limits and consider any sail with inexperienced sailors a single handed operation. Single handed sailing has become a major competitive sport, and there are a number of prominent single handed offshore races. I bought this book thinking that i would be learning new techniques to improve my singlehanded sailing. If you dont do it frequently enough to get good at it, its sort of a semicontrolled crash landing. Make sure you are ready with these five easy sailing tips from the proswherever in the world you choose to dock your small sailboat. Care must be taken, a gybe can be dangerous in higher winds.
Single handed sailing yachts for sale enter your email address to receive alerts when we have new listings available for single handed sailing yachts for sale. How to dock a boat with a single dock line in any weather. Docking a sailboat can bring out your worst or your best. Here are some helpful hints on how to dock a sailboat. This simple system gives you excellent control whether you are sailing with others or singlehanded. Learn how to dock a sailboat under sail, or under power, in a variety of different scenarios. Single handed does not imply nonstop, so a single handed circumnavigation counts as such even with stops, as in joshua slocums voyage. Singlehanded sailing there are numerous small variations on the theme a common one for singlehanded sailors is to lead the spring through the bridge of the cleat or via a block near the toerail and then take it back to a primary winch in the cockpit. Just come gently alongside with your bow angled towards the dock. Jun 04, 2016 if its not tacking and gybing, its probably docking, especially if you sail singlehanded or shorthanded.
Gybing a sailboat single handed sailing blog by nauticed. Tips for singlehanded sailors catamaran multihulls world. Tips for docking a sailboat safely and confidently sailing. May 04, 2015 in terms of overall participation, id give yet another vote for the laser. January 29, 20 docking a boat will always be a challenge. Apr 22, 2020 quantums yannick lemonnier shares his single and shorthanded sailing experiences to help you get started. The less time it takes to get to lines needed to control the boat the less apt one is to loose control by not being at the helm. A small sailboat can be more easily docked under sail, especially if a long section of the dock is available and you can make the final approach into the wind. This prevents the boat from extending into the fairway but is not really part of my single handed docking routine. If singlehanded, it can be worth putting a smaller jib on the furler if youre expecting heavy weather. Singlehanding a 48foot single engine trawler, or any large boat for that matter, takes a lot of advanced planning. Roller, slab, jiffy and singleline reefing are among the choices.
Oct 29, 2017 been practicing docking maneuvers, here is what i have learned. What are the options when considering a boat that tacks its own sails from one pointofsail to another. Being able to bring a boat in safely singlehanded is a crucial skill for any sailor both for ease of docking and in case of an emergency where the. You have to allow for the rise and fall of the water lest the boat be left hanging by its lines at low tide or pulled under by its lines at high tide. A warp keeps the yacht close to, but not tight against, the pontoon or quay.
How do you setup your slip to come in single handed. Ever since i had been docking by winging it and sometimes winging the bow pulpit. Then there was the time i pivoted on a piling before realizing that a low tide had me. Using a amidships spring boat fenders crew considerations wind and tide effects sailboat docking techniques and tips for docking a sailboat under power single handed. A bowline is then tied in the end of the line and dropped onto a cleat on the pontoon. A small investment including practice time can improve your enjoyment on the water, and improve the safety of your crew and boat as well. Im very comfortable soloing the vessel at sea but the dock undock has been intimidating.
Add this all new, revised 3rd edition of littleknown docking and undocking tips and. The single handed community is fairly small and a few names are well known. Until this point, weve discussed docking with the help of a crewmate or a second, even a third person onboard. Im looking for a very fast sailboat, that can be sailed by either one or two people, but is easy to rig. Docking docking under power in this sailboat docking video, offshore sailing school founder, steve colgate, shows you the best way to dock under power. So here is how to gybe a sailboat when you are operating single handed.
Captain jack klang sailboat docking, maneuvering and anchoring. Three docking secrets to spring your boat like a pro. Either they are phobically afraid of the water, are extremely busy or hate the idea of sailing. I swing the boat into the pen off a stern line in reverse. I did not learn about docking except how to sail a tiny light boat up to a dock and turn into the wind. Loosing control during a race is definitely slow and can in some circumstances be quite expensive. Being able to bring a boat in safely single handed is a crucial skill for any sailor both for ease of docking and in case of an emergency where the. Follow these boat docking techniques and tips to dock a yacht securely and safely. It seems that of any activity in the world, singlehanded sailors have the best odds of being knighted. In terms of overall participation, id give yet another vote for the laser. For 18 of my 37 years of sailing i have owned, cruised, raced and singlehanded fractional rigged cruising boats from my folkboat in the 1970s to my current boat which i have owned now for 12 years. Known for, held the record as the youngest person to sail solo around the world with stops and assistance. Spontaneity does not work well once youve left the dock, simply because you have only one set of hands and it is very hard to multitask while under way in the often narrow icw. The singlehanded community is fairly small and a few names are well known.
If you know how to dock a boat like an expert, you probably have a long boating history which includes plenty of croweating examples, like the time i backed over a mooring line while at the helm of a jetdrive hunt harrier 36in front of the president of hunt yachts, my boss, and other assorted coworkers. This book is about how great it is to singlehand a sailboat under challenging conditions. Explore 216 listings for single handed sailing boats for sale at best prices. In that case, when the time comes for docking, youd have to do it on your own. Single handed docking on the new 2017 velasco 43f powerboat by jeanneau yachts ivt yacht sales, inc. Their boat handling, navigation, sail handling, anchoring and mooring skills all have to be carried out both efficiently and effectively, preferably with the minimum of. It is not a question here of describing the methods used by the big ocean racers, who have to keep one eye open at 30 knots on one hull, pulled by a 300m. The first 2 lines to be cast off are the crossed stern lines, well protected with rubber chafe guard changed annually. The trick is to build the good habits and confidence rather than just relying on fenders and crew heroics each time. Single handed docking on the new 2017 velasco 43f powerboat. Its the worlds most popular onedesign sailboat, with sailors on eve. Introductory and advanced lessons, with stepbystep instructions for docking a boat in hundreds of docking scenerios, are instantly accessible worldwide in downloadable pdf format to help boaters learn how to dock a boat. During a gybe, the aft end of the boat turns through the wind.
It takes thousands of hours of sailing to get the kind of knowledge contained in this book. As a result i am slowly developing techniques and set ups to allow me to safely sail single handed. The idea of singlehanded sailing appeals to cruisers and racers alike. Singlehanding a 48foot singleengine trawler, or any large boat for that matter, takes a lot of advanced planning.
Jack klang demonstrates the skills and techniques required for singlehanded docking in any wind or current, and sailing trimming for power and speed. My office has autographed posters of dame ellen macarthur and sir robin knoxjohnston. The kind of reefing system depends on the boat and the mainsail. Tips for singlehanded sailors catamaran multihulls.