single sailing

The Sunfish is flippin' awesome to play with. It's simple, responsive, and you can capsize it and right it yourself without having to worry about sinking it. Sooner or later I'll get around to bigger sailboats, of course....

Most couples I know with sailboats have things in the 30' range. A couple of Nonsuch catboats, a C&C, that sort of thing. The few offshore folks who make it this far up the Great Lakes typically have a cutter or ketch of 40 feet or so. I've seen a couple of 60+ footers, but they always have crew or friends.

 

I think he'd be better in a slower reacting craft then a dinghy or board boat. A 20' to 24' something, with being closer to 20' better then 24'. Mistakes happen slower and they're less likely to drop him in the drink for his troubles. It'll have some minimal systems, winches, rigging, vangs, sail tracks, on board water system, electrical system and inboard. These are the things he'll need to learn as well, particularly if heading into deep water alone.

No Laser or Sunfish is going to help him handle a rolled up jib or get a winch over ride cleared up. Sailing skills will come naturally. It's usually better to let them get excited on their own, then to have them get their butt wet on their first outing. A nice casual sail in a Hunter 22.5 in a easy breeze, will do more for the insecurities of a novice, then swimming after your capsized dinghy, for a mistake you didn't realize you made.

Again, a bigger boat like mentioned, will react slower and not reward a mistake with capsize.

You can find one in fair condition for not very much and a few more grand will get one complete and in good shape. He can also relate what he's learned from a sailing course much easier to this size and class of boat, then a dinghy or board boat.

At least that's what this old sailing instructor's recommendations are.

 

Last summer I helped a novice (a rank one) to purchase a 21 ft O'day weekender. He wouldn't be seen dead on anything less, and so I did my best to guide him.
The boat was a steal at $1200 with trailer. Within a few days of purchase, the boat hit the water.
Off we all went. He insisted on including his family and even a guest for the first sail. All wore shoes, and there were people all opver the place---- stepping on sheets, my feet, getting in the way.
We managed to do some actual sailing until a nut loosed from the mast cross-bolt that held the shroud tangs. Suddenly the port shroud was no more and I managed to grab the tiller and tack to avoid losing the mast.
I glanced at the groups faces and all of them were just as carefree as if they'd only spilled their drinks.
I had done my best beforehand insisting that we slow things down, go alone, go over the boat slowly. It became obvious however that the new sailboat owner was going to be "in charge".
Only my quick maneuvering had saved the mast, which we repaired easily the same day. Afterwards, I stayed away from the boat and its captain, who continued to go out with two kids and wife virtually every time he sailed.
Through the summer, they went out a few more times, and each tyime was rife with one or more emergencies. Luckily, nothing too terrible happened, and the cost was only gear and pride.
But it could easily have been different.
Here's an example of someone who ought to have spent at least a season on a boat too small to take others aboard (unless maybe one crew in a bathing suit).
Things do happen slower aboard a bigger boat. That's exactly why I think the experience of a small harmless but quick-reacting boat like a Sunfish is invaluable to the novice sailor.
There is a stream of consciousness that sees a situation like a gybe about to happen and experience knows what should happen next. The sailor looks away for a moment to notice a blasting gust ahead and then back and he's suddenly aware that the main sheet is coiled around Johnny's leg and he immediately grabs the boy and hands him forward. The kid's okay only because his dad knows that what happens on a small pond boat also happens to boats a lot more powerful.
What is the lesson here? I think PAR is correct, and yet not in every case. I believe it all depends on the person involved.
Ideally, a person can learn anything because they anticipate consequences rationally, without having to actually suffer pain or displeasure. The hard-knocks school (which I went to) teaches its lessons by etching them indelibly in the subconscious.
The most important aspect in learning sailing in any good-sized boat is giving yourself the opportunity to concentrate on what's happening aboard and around you. Your shipmates, if any, should be just as aware as you are, and preferably they should be a single seasoned sailor at least some of the time.

 

Utterly correct.
Sailing for 38 years, beginning with a Snark, then Sunfish, etc. Today, I would not hesitate (much) to sail a 40 footer to Hawaii, but even then I'd choose crew carefully. ;-) All those years in small boats teach you things you'll never learn on a big boat. Decades of round the buoys racing hone those skills too, you can get more boathandling experience in a season of racing than a decade of average cruising (and probably learn it right the first time too..)

Mr Coleman:
Perhaps do some reading?
Here's a thought - Read a couple of Hal Roth's books. I suggest Two Around Cape Horn, and Two On a Big Ocean.
Hal more than many does write about the sailing, not just the places they visit. It's a great way to get a window into what it's like out there, and what daily life on board is like. He does not sugar coat anything, but won't scare the crap of you either.
(Joshua Slocum's book is a classic, but he, like many others downplays most of the sailing, would make you believe it was easy - only an experienced sailor recognises that he stoically leaves out the hardships and modestly does not discuss the incredible seamanship and navigations skills he certainly posessed..)
Maurice Griffith's books are great too.
Then perhaps some crusing sailor guidebooks - they are quite numerous - how to outfit a boat, cruising skills etc. Gain a decent working knowlege of the concepts and skills and challenges. There's a lot to it, but its engaging, fun, and rewarding to learn those skills.
Perhaps for a totally different insight - try something like Ellen MacArthur's book Taking On the World. Even us mere mortals can learn from her story.

 

The first 'big boat' I owned was a 24' Achilles fin keel yacht and what a wonderful yacht to learn on, forgiving yet fast, massive sense of satisfaction. I did a Day Skipper's course because I accepted the responsibility of taking others out on the water lay with the skipper despite the fact I had sailed for years on smaller boats.

We cruised, we raced, we got drunk and we had a few too-exciting wild rides when it would have been safer to have stayed on the mooring.

I still miss that boat, bigger boats (like big motorbikes) are never as much fun to sail as that first boat.

Start small Bill and make your mistakes cheap, you'll enjoy the bigger boat when you get there more.

 

So true, so true....says the Haybusaman..

Regards
Richard

 

Having taught dozens of lubbers to sail, I've found kids have no problems auguring one in, happily coming back for more. While adults want to know if you have insurance, how deep the water is and if their is a PFD for everyone aboard "just in case".

Most adults, that have limited or no water exposure time, even those that can swim well, do fear being farther from shore then they can swim. I've seen it happen time and time again. Everyone's happy and enjoying themselves until they realize they can't see shore or that it has receded past the point they could hopefully manage. A change comes over them and things get silent. I typically would stop the boat and have a little discussion at this point, to relieve their worries. Of course it's a matter of personalities, which a good skipper or instructor recognizes quickly, ideally having a plan for each.

Some simply by into the idea that you (the skipper) are not going to let anything happen and if it does, you can manage all issues. Others struggle until they realize that nothing bad seems to be happening and my distraction techniques start paying off. Yet some, usual alpha males, just can't accept the subornation role and plot against you. I've run across quite few of these and I usually just humble them as quickly as possible with their lack of understanding. This makes them feel as though the "have" to learn this sailing crap or forever be labeled as the one who didn't get it. This is about as unacceptable a thing an alpha can stand and they quickly pick it up. It's helpful if you slowly dole in some responsibility which lets them have some level of dominance, their live blood.

I agree that you'll gain much more from a dinghy, but adults need to be convinced they'll like this sailing thing in the first place. This is where a bigger boat pays off.

In regard to the original poster, who's interested in a large yacht. A pocket yacht, such as I mentioned is the best way to remain safe, learn the skills while not splashing family members in the drink. The other benefits are this class of boat will have similar, if a lot smaller, equipment that the big boat will. Familiarizing himself with its operation right from the beginning will place him ahead of the class. His sail shaping and boat handling skills will take longer, but it's not especially necessary at that point of a sailor's development. Operating all the gear safely, efficiently and no looking a an object on the deck and wondering what is does, is more important then how to pump a halyard to initiate a plane.

Alan, no disrespect intended, but you made several mistakes with your outing last summer, which I'm sure you're aware of. The first and most important is never let the crew run the boat. The skipper is always in charge and this has to be clear from to outset. I've become a regular Capt. Blithe on a few occasions in order to establish control of an uppity crew or guests. I even "accidentally" pushed a fellow in once to control a bunch of half drunk doctors out for a weekend cruise. They straightened up fairly quickly after that.

 

"Alan, no disrespect intended, but you made several mistakes with your outing last summer, which I'm sure you're aware of. The first and most important is never let the crew run the boat. The skipper is always in charge and this has to be clear from to outset. I've become a regular Capt. Blithe on a few occasions in order to establish control of an uppity crew or guests. I even "accidentally" pushed a fellow in once to control a bunch of half drunk doctors out for a weekend cruise. They straightened up fairly quickly after that."

Yes, I made a few mistakes. Not like me either, and it wouldn't have occurred except that the boat's owner was also paying me large sums of money to remodel his house at the time. In addition, he sprung the whole family thing on me at the last minute. Politically, I suppose I knew I was in for it.
No, ask anyone, I usually make sure everyone understands who is in charge. I'll likely be giving lessons this coming Summer and I'll be in my own boat.
I already take people out frequently for the company and I keep the crew numbers low-- usually myself and two more tops.
I like two crew as it's good to let one take the helm while I do my best to disregard them, conversing with the other. This loosens the helmsman up
and they relax enough to feel the boat's reactions to their input.

 

Several years ago, I bought a 26' Albin sailboat together with a friend, the idea was to try it out. I had some minor experiences with sailing earlier; chrashed a dinghy (optimist dinghy) keel damage.... and a 24' Firling, sailed that single handed some weeks. So my advice would be go for something like that, that you can handle.

Together with the 26', I also bought a small leaflet; "Sailtrim on the hour" (Dedekam think its only in Norwegian), sized approximately same as a donald duck magazine, equally understandable. Some of the best spent money ever. The boat had a rollup genova sail and autohelmet, useful, can stroll around and figure things out. Drink coffee, figure some more.... The only thing "wrong" with that leaflet I bought about the sailing issue, was that it should have pointed out with big red letters the importance of training for reefing of the sails.... and ropes on the deck for securing the personell, on the first page....

The leaflet was good, it was my ignorance that made me start the learning process... Well sort of....

I enjoy sailing. Have no sailboat now, its not the best kinda boat when you have tried on the family, found out that one of the kids turn green the minute the car enters the harbour, one other is totally uninterested, and the 3rd is small enough to always end up in harms way... And wife doesnt always fancy the idea of spending time to get to a place. So; now I have a small boat, diesel. and a small dinghy, outboard. Sailboat is on the "to get list" in the future somewhere. And then probably in the 28' - 32' size (I know for a fact that a boat in that size, is something I can handle single handed with some confidence, if equipped right for me, above that size the doubt factor clicks in....Thats what feel right for me, you may get your own preferences, depending on experience, so; as stated above; start gather experience..

A 24' sized boat will function for smaller trips AND you can stay overnight in it, expanding the weekends somewhat. But as other have stated here; a quick sailing dinghy is fun, unforgiving, and a helluva good teacher.

Whatever you choose; I can tell you, your probably on the right track.
(on the other hand; come to think of it 1; there are people that dont fit in a sailboat, any sailboat.... come to think of it 2; some people should never be in any boat...., cross my fingers and hope youre not one of them. )

 

sounds like sound advice. you guys did slow down a dream a little bit. i guess doing the dreaming is half the fun. see you on the water......someday.

thanks to all,

 

its not like the learning is boring... that is the fun part.

 

Why 65 feet? What's the point? Smaller would make more sense.
Brent

 

Don't lose the dream!
But like some dreams, it really does have to be earned, in stages - blue water adventuring alone is not something money can buy. It requires experience.

 

Offshore Big is fine as a remarkable tiny amount of sail will give MOST of the speed .

Docking a big boat alone is a different problem.

FF

 

Anyone thought of something "in between", like a Wayfarer?

It will react promptly, yet not as sharp as a Laser. It has been and still is used in many places around the world for pretty serious cruising too. (coastal cruising along Maine and Nova Scotia, Scotland to Ireland, UK to Denmark, UK to Norway, UK to Iceland)
And some like that to such a degree "trading up until they are comfortable" never ever occurs after that.


"First steps" can be taken on the Great Lakes of Georgia, from there and then on, who knows. And if those Great Lakes prove to be enough, that's fun too.

More information on:
http://www.uswayfarer.org/
http://www.wayfarer-canada.org/

Cheers