I am going by myself on Sunday for the first time on my Endeavour 26. No auto pilot. But do have a tiller lock.

I have been looking for vids and advice on doing so. But cannot find much. Everything I find seems to have an autopilot involved.

My list to do would be...
Set up boat as normal.
Motor out to the middle of the lake.
Put the motor away.

Now
Do I raise the main or the head first, and what do I do with it once it is up while I am raising the other sail?

Sail away and de-stress for the day

Coming back (all refreshed and ready for another week of BS) I would again sail to a safe spot near the mooring.

What order do I lower the sails, and again what do I do with the sail left up while I am lowering the other?

Put the motor back in the well and motor in.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

G'day BJ,

My suggestion would be to raise sails while you are on the mooring (which will ensure you remain pointing into the wind), then simply sail off the mooring. To do this, just back the jib whichever way is convenient to turn the bow, then sheet in the main and sail away.

Same for returning. Approach from downwind and luff/stall onto your mooring.

In both cases, if you feel more comfortable, have the motor in the well and running at idle in case you need it. Unless it interferes with your tiller or sail controls (it didn't on my E26), just leave the motor in the well the whole time. Performance won't really be affected if you are just cruising around anyway and it's ready to go if you need it in a hurry.

Richard.

i love solo sailing! there are lots of great tips for single-handers in this book by Andrew Evans:

www.amazon.com.au/Singlehanded-Sailing-Thoughts-Techniques-Tactics-ebook/dp/B00N9ICA12?tag=duckduckgo-osx-20

there is an older, free version available here:

www.sfbaysss.net/resource/doc/SinglehandedTipsThirdEdition.pdf

usually i will start with the main up and then later unfurl the Genoa while underway, and the reverse order when dropping the sails. i also do it in this order as i like to practice sailing on and off the mooring with the main, which is a good skill to develop.

the basic technique is to head into the wind and have the sails flogging while raising/lowering. this gets trickier when there is a stiff breeze. depending on conditions it is possible to raise or lower a sail while underway, or while hove-to (heaving-to is an essential skill to learn).

I like to raise the heady first and get the boat sailing upwind to raise the main. Raising the main last helps prevent dangerous accidental gybes.

Hi BJR,
If your boat is in Croudace I suggest you don't put the sails up while on the mooring, its way too crowded & being a beginner you will get into trouble for sure, sailing onto & off the mooring is an advanced technique, you first need to get the basics down.
Generally the main goes up first. If you don't have a TP, I suggest you get into clear water with plenty of sea room then put up the main, get that settled, get some way on then come into the wind & release the main sheet & then get the jib up, being extremely careful that the boom is now swinging freely & could knock you overboard. Once the jib is up, come back the cockpit & pull the sheets on.
If you leave the outboard prop in the water, just make sure the prop isn't turning causing unnecessary wear while your sailing.
cheers

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rande said..
G'day BJ,

My suggestion would be to raise sails while you are on the mooring (which will ensure you remain pointing into the wind), then simply sail off the mooring. To do this, just back the jib whichever way is convenient to turn the bow, then sheet in the main and sail away.

Same for returning. Approach from downwind and luff/stall onto your mooring.

In both cases, if you feel more comfortable, have the motor in the well and running at idle in case you need it. Unless it interferes with your tiller or sail controls (it didn't on my E26), just leave the motor in the well the whole time. Performance won't really be affected if you are just cruising around anyway and it's ready to go if you need it in a hurry.

Richard.

Thanks Richard

But, yes I am in Croudace Bay / Valentine. Too many boats for me to sail on or off the mooring, in anything but an easterly, with my lack of sailing experience. However this is one thing i will be practicing on Sunday. Sailing up to a racing marker and trying to stop at it.

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fishmonkey said..
i love solo sailing! there are lots of great tips for single-handers in this book by Andrew Evans:

www.amazon.com.au/Singlehanded-Sailing-Thoughts-Techniques-Tactics-ebook/dp/B00N9ICA12?tag=duckduckgo-osx-20

there is an older, free version available here:

www.sfbaysss.net/resource/doc/SinglehandedTipsThirdEdition.pdf

usually i will start with the main up and then later unfurl the Genoa while underway, and the reverse order when dropping the sails. i also do it in this order as i like to practice sailing on and off the mooring with the main, which is a good skill to develop.

the basic technique is to head into the wind and have the sails flogging while raising/lowering. this gets trickier when there is a stiff breeze. depending on conditions it is possible to raise or lower a sail while underway, or while hove-to (heaving-to is an essential skill to learn).

Thanks for the info.

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BlueMoon said..
Hi BJR,
If your boat is in Croudace I suggest you don't put the sails up while on the mooring, its way too crowded & being a beginner you will get into trouble for sure, sailing onto & off the mooring is an advanced technique, you first need to get the basics down.
Generally the main goes up first. If you don't have a TP, I suggest you get into clear water with plenty of sea room then put up the main, get that settled, get some way on then come into the wind & release the main sheet & then get the jib up, being extremely careful that the boom is now swinging freely & could knock you overboard. Once the jib is up, come back the cockpit & pull the sheets on.
If you leave the outboard prop in the water, just make sure the prop isn't turning causing unnecessary wear while your sailing.
cheers

Thanks Blue Moon
Good advice about the outboard. Yes it will spin.

So some say main first and 1 says head first. I can see advantages in both. So I think I will try both and see which i prefer.

Hi BJ

this guy shows how he does it without an auto pilot, but he does have a furler. May help...



cheers

KK

PS. +1 for main first.

another good video (i really like this guy):

With motor running, find a spot where you can head into the wind without hitting anything.
Point up into the wind, and reduce speed so that you have enough headway for the rudder to work.
Clamp the tiller, and hoist the jib. If the boat starts to fall off, cleat the halliard, jump back to the tiller and straighten her up. Might need a burst of throttle. Of course, it helps if you have a furler, or the halliard led back to the cockpit.
Now you have the jib flappping as you head into the wind. Cleat a jib sheet, stop the motor, and let her fall off into the hove-to position. Clamp the tiller, and now you can hoist the main at your leisure in the wind shadow of the jib. Mainsheet should be loose to allow the main to feather into the wind.
Back to the cockpit, sheet in, unclip the tiller, and off you sail....

First, get a good sailing book, one can pick one up at Gould's in Newtown for ten bucks.

Second, get a few old truck tubes cut them into rings, hook them up and presto, you got a !flexible! and infinitely adjustable, tunable and very durable way of holding your tiller, not that terrible tiller lock. Throw it away or if you got an enemy give it to him. In most situations it is next to useless.

(by the way, the general old rule was wind before beam main sail, behind beam head sail.)

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BJRobinson said..
I am going by myself on Sunday for the first time on my Endeavour 26. No auto pilot. But do have a tiller lock.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My suggestion is to NOT try it by yourself alone. Keep your normal crew but tell everyone to remain seated and out of the way while you experiment yourself. They only come to your assistance if you ask. The crew suggest improvements after you are underway and settled.
This will avert any disasters. My view is safety first, egos last.
I did this a few times while I worked out the best system for me and my boat.

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sirgallivant said..





First, get a good sailing book, one can pick one up at Gould's in Newtown for ten bucks.

Second, get a few old truck tubes cut them into rings, hook them up and presto, you got a !flexible! and infinitely adjustable, tunable and very durable way of holding your tiller, not that terrible tiller lock. Throw it away or if you got an enemy give it to him. In most situations it is next to useless.

(by the way, the general old rule was wind before beam main sail, behind beam head sail.)

I think it difficult for anybody on here to give relevant advice. We don't know your circumstances, boat, skills and confidence.
My old general rule, get the wind on the bow and raise the main first. Don't raise any sail running down wind.
I think zilla above has the answer.

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keelkicker said..
Hi BJ

this guy shows how he does it without an auto pilot, but he does have a furler. May help...

cheers

KK

PS. +1 for main first.

Thanks.
He has his boat set up perfectly.
Makes me want a main sail bag a furler and an inboard motor.

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Yara said..
With motor running, find a spot where you can head into the wind without hitting anything.
Point up into the wind, and reduce speed so that you have enough headway for the rudder to work.
Clamp the tiller, and hoist the jib. If the boat starts to fall off, cleat the halliard, jump back to the tiller and straighten her up. Might need a burst of throttle. Of course, it helps if you have a furler, or the halliard led back to the cockpit.
Now you have the jib flappping as you head into the wind. Cleat a jib sheet, stop the motor, and let her fall off into the hove-to position. Clamp the tiller, and now you can hoist the main at your leisure in the wind shadow of the jib. Mainsheet should be loose to allow the main to feather into the wind.
Back to the cockpit, sheet in, unclip the tiller, and off you sail....

Thanks Yara.

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sirgallivant said..





First, get a good sailing book, one can pick one up at Gould's in Newtown for ten bucks.

Second, get a few old truck tubes cut them into rings, hook them up and presto, you got a !flexible! and infinitely adjustable, tunable and very durable way of holding your tiller, not that terrible tiller lock. Throw it away or if you got an enemy give it to him. In most situations it is next to useless.

(by the way, the general old rule was wind before beam main sail, behind beam head sail.)

Great idea. How do you adjust it?

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fishmonkey said..
another good video (i really like this guy):

Great video.
Thanks fishmonkey.

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zilla said..

BJRobinson said..
I am going by myself on Sunday for the first time on my Endeavour 26. No auto pilot. But do have a tiller lock.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My suggestion is to NOT try it by yourself alone. Keep your normal crew but tell everyone to remain seated and out of the way while you experiment yourself. They only come to your assistance if you ask. The crew suggest improvements after you are underway and settled.
This will avert any disasters. My view is safety first, egos last.
I did this a few times while I worked out the best system for me and my boat.

Zilla I think that is the best suggestion yet!.everybody's all the wiser when the lone sailer is fished out of the drink when they've been hit by a swinging boom. Keep a seated crew on standby while you work out whether your boat and your own preferences work out whether it's easier/better to raise the main or jib first,etc, etc.

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zilla said..

BJRobinson said..
I am going by myself on Sunday for the first time on my Endeavour 26. No auto pilot. But do have a tiller lock.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My suggestion is to NOT try it by yourself alone. Keep your normal crew but tell everyone to remain seated and out of the way while you experiment yourself. They only come to your assistance if you ask. The crew suggest improvements after you are underway and settled.
This will avert any disasters. My view is safety first, egos last.
I did this a few times while I worked out the best system for me and my boat.

Thanks Zilla.
I wanted to do this, but i have no crew this wekend and need to go for a loooong sail. So it is me, myself and I.
Light winds and a big lake to practice on should make it easier.

Lots of good advice.

I would just add that if you're going to sail-single handed often (or short handed), treat yourself to an autopilot. Everything is so-o-o-o-o-o much easier

Also, unless you're racing to get somewhere, I find (on a cat) that sailing with just a furling headsail is easier and safer for the single-handed sailor, as you can furl/unfurl all from the cockpit. Something to experiment with.

Well that was just too easy.
5hr sail and everything went smoothly.
Pull the main up while on the mooring.
Motor out.
Leave the mainsheet loose.
Put the outboard away.
Hoist the jib.
Sail away.
Tace with the tiller between my legs.
What a great day!

hey, congrats!

That main looks to good for cruising.
Maybe look around for a second hand dacron with reefing points.

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BJRobinson said..

sirgallivant said..





First, get a good sailing book, one can pick one up at Gould's in Newtown for ten bucks.

Second, get a few old truck tubes cut them into rings, hook them up and presto, you got a !flexible! and infinitely adjustable, tunable and very durable way of holding your tiller, not that terrible tiller lock. Throw it away or if you got an enemy give it to him. In most situations it is next to useless.

(by the way, the general old rule was wind before beam main sail, behind beam head sail.)

Great idea. How do you adjust it?

I usually pull on it or the opposite.

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twodogs1969 said..
That main looks to good for cruising.
Maybe look around for a second hand dacron with reefing points.

So I've been told.
But i wont be racing any time soon, so thoight i would use it anyway.

Thanks to those who mentioned my book earlier: Singlehanded Sailing, Thoughts, Tips, Techniques & Tactics.

My auto pilot is broken right now, so I'm back to sailing with a bungee cord. It is always good to get back to basics. Your boat must be perfectly balanced to steer with a bungee cord, so it teaches you the basics really well. I'm reminded how Tiger Woods will spend hours swinging his club any time he starts to slip in technique.

At this very moment, a fellow is sailing all the way from the U.S. to the Marquesas using ONLY this method as his primary method of self steering - 24 hours a day.

There is a companion video to my book that teaches you how to use a bungee cord or surgical tubing to steer at all points of wind. You can find the video here:

Have fun!

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Foolish said..
Thanks to those who mentioned my book earlier: Singlehanded Sailing, Thoughts, Tips, Techniques & Tactics.

My auto pilot is broken right now, so I'm back to sailing with a bungee cord. It is always good to get back to basics. Your boat must be perfectly balanced to steer with a bungee cord, so it teaches you the basics really well. I'm reminded how Tiger Woods will spend hours swinging his club any time he starts to slip in technique.

At this very moment, a fellow is sailing all the way from the U.S. to the Marquesas using ONLY this method as his primary method of self steering - 24 hours a day.

There is a companion video to my book that teaches you how to use a bungee cord or surgical tubing to steer at all points of wind. You can find the video here:

Have fun!

Thanks
I have a lot to learn.