You can’t go Solo Sailing unless you Raise the Sails!Solo sailing is a voyage of discovery, especially a discovery of one’s self! OK ... You are going solo sailing ... you’ve prepared well, and you have motored to an area close by and clear of other water traffic. Now you need to put up the main sail!
• Slow the engine and head into the wind, and put the auto helm on to hold on your course. Quickly remove ties off the main sail which will free the halyard, haul up the sail hand over hand as fast as you can so it does not foul in the rigging.
• Take off the auto helm and put on standby. Put more power on the engine and steer on the course you wish to take, place auto helm back on. • Now you have your hands free make any adjustment on the main sail that are needed and trim. • This is a good time to get the fenders in and a quick tidy of any sheets or lines lying around. If you were at anchor and need to secure it better, I do it at this time too.
• Now the Genoa or head sail; I’m assuming you have a roller-furling system, if not adjust the technique. • Make sure all lines are free and you have already put figure of eight knots on the ends of the sheets. • Put a couple of turns on the winch and haul out hand over hand as far as possible. Use the winch handle to crank in the Genoa or headsail and trim till the tell tales are flying horizontal. • Make sure that you are on course for your destination, check GPS or charts if necessary. Alone at sea and solo sailing you need to take special note of any other vessels in the area, or hazards. • If you haven’t done earlier switch off the engine and relax. This it ..... this is solo sailing!!
Tacking when Solo Sailing!! • Make sure all sheets are running free. Put two turns on the winch on the windward side, keep the winch handle close. • At this point I find it easier to put the auto helm on standby, some sailors adjust it through the whole maneuver. • I cast off the leeward sheet from the winch all but two turns and hold it with one hand. • I turn the helm with the other hand and when the boat is head on to the wind I slack the leeward sheet ready to throw off after the bow passes through the eye of the wind. • I put the tiller between my legs to maneuver it, … sorry but this is easier for me, and I am now hands free. • I haul in the opposite sheet which has a couple of turns on the winch hand over hand as far as possible, then use the winch handle. I secure the sheet on a cleat. At this stage the sail may not be trimmed properly. • I set the auto helm back on, check the course and then finish trimming the sails and any other adjustments! • Whooh … time to relax, have some cold water or a cup of coffee and take in the scenery!
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