Gonna Try Solo Sailing Today!

cs3079 · Post by **cs3079** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:42 am

I can't stand it anymore! My main reason I got the C-20 is because it's a people pleaser...of all the room in the cockpit and the fact that it's a very stable boat (oh... and it was cheap too

) It hasn't gone out since labor day and I'm tired of waiting, but a little leery of going solo. Anyway, forecast is 77 degrees in Mi today and a sailor's gotta do what a sailor's gotta do! Dammitall, if they want me they can reach me on my cell (if i don't dunk it again!). I hear the 22's calling my name, plenty enough room for ME plus a place to sit comfortably inside. The heck with planning around everyone else's schedule! I'll let you know how the solo goes

If the solo sail goes well I'm thinking of renaming her "Osolemio"

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:51 am

Go sail!
Have fun and be safe!!!!

Scott

mcrandall · Post by **mcrandall** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:53 am

Know what yer sayin' Bruce.

Been down to the breakwall almost every day this week to walk off some of the back stiffness. Just a beautiful time to be sailing!!!

hp18carr · Post by **hp18carr** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 6:09 am

Bruce

Go for it, all of us at some time or another will want to go solo if for nothing else to feel the freedom of doing it on our own. I for one would like to hear from those on this forum who have done just that. How would you go about rigging your Chrysler (in my case a C26) to help accommodate this endeavor?

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26' 1980
Pandora (for now)

sauerleigh · Post by **sauerleigh** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 7:32 am

Wear a PDF, especially since this your first time by yourself.

Terrence, I've logged more than 100 miles this season by myself and the PO of REDUX set her up for single handed sailing. Roller furling genoa, main halyard winch and clutch an easy reach from the cockpit. Main traveler in the cockpit, self tailing winches for the head sail, the boat also came with a auto helm unit which I use under power while hoisting and lowering the main to keep her headed into the wind.

Jmckamey · Post by **Jmckamey** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 7:57 am

You can get by with a tiller tammer and long enough jib sheets so you can rig the jib to the high side of the boat. I got more single handing time than without. Peice of cake.

Alanhod · Post by **Alanhod** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 8:56 am

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:49 am

I will be going Sat. and Sun. solo as usual and I have to get sailing before I have a job to worry about which may be as soon as tomorrow.

Bhacurly · Post by **Bhacurly** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:45 am

Solo is an amazing way to sail! Makes you appreciate not being solo!

Be safe, for sure, decide and hank on the sails before leaving the dock, reef early! If it's your first time I'd say winds under 15 would be best...

My foresail downhaul is great when solo, gotten me outta a few jams

I'm thinking a helmet isn't a bad idea, not cuz you might get knocked out and tossed overboard, but I seem to hit my "thin" spot most often and tear hair out by the roots when solo!

J. Austin · Post by **J. Austin** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:51 am

We Michiganders sure are lucky this week. The weather has been perfect.
Enjoy my friend, we may have to do a Chrysler get-together next season out your way.
Not to give you an extra task, but you know how we love pictures here!

Enjoy.

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 2:06 pm

hp18carr wrote:How would you go about rigging your Chrysler (in my case a C26) to help accommodate this endeavor?

A lot like Windward

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 3:32 pm

I agree with Jeff Windward is the role model for our 26's as I can afford I am getting a traveler and boom kicker also winches for the cabin top and deck organizers and rope clutches.

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 3:54 pm

Yes, cabin top winches are on "the list" for me, too, just haven't gotten time to install the used Lewmar 16s (not self-tailing, unfortunately) I'd picked up. As for the singlehanding thing, I'm about to go spend two weeks sailing OBX that way. I suppose I could develop better social skills, but it's probably late in the game for that....

hp18carr · Post by **hp18carr** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:15 pm

I've already got a new boom vang and boomkicker waiting in the wings to be installed but that is a long ways down the road yet, For some reason in the back of my mind I'm hesitant on a cross the main hatch travler. Cabin top winches, deck organizers, rope clutches and their functions are second nature to most on this forum, but for a greener like me... oh well.

My aspirations are to be just a simple lake salor if there is such a thing. Perhaps I'll win the lottery one day and get to sail with Jeff on his Windward so I can see first hand how all this works together. I did a while back get to see the inside of windward, but that's like looking at a ten layer chocolate cake with out tasting it. This truly is not a hint Jeff, just an observation.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26' 1980
Pandora (for now)

cs3079 · Post by **cs3079** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 7:04 pm

Todays solo sail went fabulously. Nice & slow w about 6-7 mph winds. Just perfect! Drinks & snacks, 104.3 Oldies FM , fall colors galore and flocks of Canadian geese stopping in for a quick rest before continuing on! It may have been a little better with company who shared my enthusiasm for sailing, but definitely preferred over any who were lacking.

Solo's a great way to go. I don't have a problem with talking to myself...... and YES, sometimes I even answer back!

I was slow setting it up, but that doesn't bother me because rigging to me is part of the fun as long as I don't have to go back and redo. I got my 70's jams playing softly on the radio, an ice a cold diet coke on the rail at my ready... and no one b@$#%ing in the background about how long it takes to set up, ruining my happy zone. It's all good.

BTW,I'm renaming the boat 'Ohsolomio' . I figure it's OK. I won't tick of Neptune because I hadn't even gotten around to painting Lollipop on her yet.

Darn camera battery died but here's a few phone pics:

BTW: The docking went extremely well, didn't even get wet this time!

mcrandall · Post by **mcrandall** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 7:08 am

Excellent, Bruce!!

Bhacurly · Post by **Bhacurly** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:50 am

Congrats!

Sounds like a perfect fall sail to me.

J. Austin · Post by **J. Austin** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:55 am

Bruce,
Where did you end up going?
Put in at Harrison?
Anchor Bay?
St Clair?
Sorry, living vicariously!

Thanks,

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:14 pm

Glad you had a good day.

Alanhod · Post by **Alanhod** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 11:26 am

Yea! That's what I'm talking about.

Loved the photos and the story!

Like the new name a lot too. Now I've heard when renaming a boat it is tradition to paint on the new name. Take the boat out and sail directly into the wind, putting your boat in Irons. Hold it there and let the wind push you backwards over the old name. Then swing off 90 degrees in a new direction and sail off with then new name securely in place. I've been told this keep Neptune/Calypso/Etc. happy.

Thanks
Alan