Yachts for Solo Sailing!If you are thinking about solo sailing be adventurous and remember ... Marinas overflow with dreamers, while yachts sit and gather barnicles. Don't dream your life, live your dream! Our vision, goals and dreams determine the yacht we chose to sail. We may be looking at solo sailing, sailing coastal waters, or dream of adventure and need an ocean crossing yacht capable of sailing to faraway places. If you intend to race, or break records then that’s another story altogether.
There are some with trailer boats but a fixed keeled yacht kept at a mooring or marina is definitely more convenient. Cruising should be leisurely and enjoyable at any time. When solo sailing thought should be given to appropriate equipment . A good self steering system makes life easy. Once under way the auto helm will keep to a pre-set compass course this allows you the freedom to raise the sails and trim them, tack when necessary and any other boat jobs. This includes time to navigate or do radio calls plus going to the ‘heads’ and getting meals. Not to forget a bit of relaxation.
If caught in heavy weather and there is a need to reduce sail, efficient and easy to use reefing systems prove their worth in these circumstances.
For singlehanded sailing its great to have a yacht where the sails can be raised from the cockpit and that includes the main sail. Self tailing winches and an anchor winch also make it easy and don’t need strength; make it easy on your self and enjoy the experience.
These are some of my all time ‘must haves’ to make sailing an easy and joy full experience. That of course goes along with all the other equipment that a good sailing vessel should have. Of course there will always be challenges some things we have no control over, we enter a world of wind and water where no two seconds are the same!
What about heavy weather and solo sailing?
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