What Is The Big Deal About Single Handling?

[Jim Cate]

Jim,

G'Day from another old liveaboard sailor in Tasmania -looking forward to meeting you soon as we wander happily .

G'Day back, 42.

Our general intention is to be back in Tassie around the middle of Dec (ho,ho... us on a schedule??). Until then, the wx is much better here in Qld, and the baguettes better in New Cal where we are generally headed. So, see ya around Xmas!

Jim

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by brookiesailor

When I started reading this thread I thought that I would have nothing to add as I am not a single hander. But recently we have been looking at boats and one of my key questions is whether the boat can easily be sailed by ME, a middle aged woman, should my husband become incompassitated... In that sense I think every sailor should be prepared to be a single hander crew or no crew.


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Brookie, our view is that cruising couples on passage are, in reality, two singlehanders sharing a yacht. So, your observation is spot on.

Sheesh, what would you have to do to the poor bugger to "incompassitate" him? Sounds dreadfull...

Jim

[FamilyVan]

Originally Posted by brookiesailor

When I started reading this thread I thought that I would have nothing to add as I am not a single hander. But recently we have been looking at boats and one of my key questions is whether the boat can easily be sailed by ME, a middle aged woman, should my husband become incompassitated... In that sense I think every sailor should be prepared to be a single hander crew or no crew.


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Your assessment is spot on. There is a current thread about a husband being dragged to death in his harness. I haven't been following it and don't know the details, but I agree with you, it would be a huge benefit if you were able to handle the boat on your own. Just in case.



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[TacomaSailor]

Originally Posted by Jd1

I surely surely do hope so !!!!

I've had very five close personal experiences with large fast ships in the Pacific Ocean that absolutely convinced me:

- no one was standing watch

- the person standing watch was sound asleep

- the persons standing watch just ignored my VHF calls and spotlight

In two of the cases the ship was close enough that at night, I could see the spotlight making shadows on the ceiling of the bridge.

In one case the USCG was monitoring the VHF radio traffic and told me to fire a white flare at the ship about to run us down.

[brownoarsman]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Sheesh, what would you have to do to the poor bugger to "incompassitate" him? Sounds dreadfull...

Usually holding a magnet near him will do the trick, poor guy won't be able to find north anymore!



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[Jd1]

Originally Posted by TacomaSailor

I've had very five close personal experiences with large fast ships in the Pacific Ocean that absolutely convinced me:

- no one was standing watch

- the person standing watch was sound asleep

- the persons standing watch just ignored my VHF calls and spotlight

In two of the cases the ship was close enough that at night, I could see the spotlight making shadows on the ceiling of the bridge.

In one case the USCG was monitoring the VHF radio traffic and told me to fire a white flare at the ship about to run us down.

Well I still surely surely hope they stand watch 24/7 .... yes, I realize they are not standing watch always but I can hope/dream

Note to self: Pack white flares to shoot at big ships not paying attention !

I sure hope that heads rolled as a result of that situation and it wasn't just swept under the rug!

[Saleen411]

Saleen, you have certainly lit the fire with your OP. Your follow up is such that as a pilot myself am quick to do the math. I put your age at a minimum of 57.

Is your "Airline Pilot" label a form of braggadocio or is the "smoking hot" female? ( edit: wait forgot... Is your handle Saleen because you drive one?) For you singlehanders Saleen is a high performance redo of the Ford Mustang.

You're good. As to my occupation...just a job....doesn't define me. The mention was to illuminate that people in my occupation spend half or more of their time away from home and loved ones. LOTS of alone time Trust me, I regret having mentioned it,

Knowing that you accumulated so many hours toward your ATP (airline transport pilot) let alone your commercial and likely CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor) ratings. I think you likely flew quite a few solo hours. Are you in any way proud of those long forgotten accomplishments?

Yes.....but nobody I know talks about it....it was just part of the process of getting to where we are.

For the record I am a singlehander, I also fly my pristine Cessna solo 90% of my flight hours. (I also shot the first 14 cover photos of Flight Training Magazine but that isn't important ... Just bragging )

Brag away... I think that's great. Seriously.

[Saleen411]

To Rustic Charm,

To the OP,

Thank you for the best read I've had for quite some time. I'm a Pilot ( and I brag as much as I can about it), though I'm only flying the little planes, I take great pride that I can do it.

As you should. The fact that you do it and enjoy it is all that matters Flying a small plane alone can be much more challenging AND rewarding than flying a large automated multi crewed jet.

And I have a smoking hot wife too who I've been with for almost 35 years, and she's still smoken hot. I don't expect that to diminish at all.

I LOVE that. Thank you so much for your post.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by brookiesailor

When I started reading this thread I thought that I would have nothing to add as I am not a single hander. But recently we have been looking at boats and one of my key questions is whether the boat can easily be sailed by ME, a middle aged woman, should my husband become incompassitated... In that sense I think every sailor should be prepared to be a single hander crew or no crew.


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Hi, Brookie,

Quite so. In fact, learning a little about all the major systems on a boat can stand you in good stead. One time, about 3 days out of Vanuatu, a friend of ours and her husband were on the way back to New Zealand. A wave caught him off balance, and they thought that in the fall he had broken his pelvis--the second time, the first had been from a land mine exploding under his motorcycle. So, what to do? She decided it was too reefy to try and get help in New Caledonia, and she needed to be able to be below to caretake him. She decided to sail back to Port Vila, where it's all open but the last bit. Notified the people there when she was in VHF range, an ambulance (a station wagon) was provided, with an emt and a bunch of cruisers went and helped him off the boat, others went to the hospital with them, and so on..

From this it should be clear that you never know when you'll have to single hand, and it is wise to prepare to be in charge of the boat as long as necessary.....even if the jobs you prefer are pink.

Ann

[Saleen411]

As a commercial pilot, Saleem would have flown in controlled airspace with controllers keeping watch over him,

Domestically yes, internationally no....for the most part.

Internationally, we use CPDLC to communicate with ATC....Satcom and HF as a backup. We are not in radar contact on polar routes and ocean crossings.

As to shifts....we have rest breaks as required by law. On flights between 8 and 12 hours I have 2 copilots to split three breaks. On flights over 12 hours, I have 3 copilots and we split breaks in half...usually. I will average a 5+ hour break on a typical flight to the Orient.

As compared to a single hander on a passage.....with a kitchen timer? I couldn't do it...nor would I want to. All the respect in the world for those that do.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

True, but in that case both vessels did not keep a proper watch. Myself I would not have been sleeping with a ship 6 miles dead astern.

It's of interest to note that in the enquiry, Jessica Watson being alone was noted as being unable to post a watch continuously die to the nature of her solo sail, but the larger commercial ship was criticised for having questionably not had someone on watch continuously. Jessica was mainly critisied for having not used 'all available means' at her disposal. In the end, the ship seemed to be more responsible for the collision than she was.

But you are right, I would not have toddled off to sleep until it was well past.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

G'Day back, 42.

Our general intention is to be back in Tassie around the middle of Dec (ho,ho... us on a schedule??). Until then, the wx is much better here in Qld, and the baguettes better in New Cal where we are generally headed. So, see ya around Xmas!

Jim

Will your travels bring you North? Or Northerly around Flinders, that perhaps we could meet up?

[Pie seas]

Having your boat rigged so it can be sailed by one person is a measure of the boats sensible design. If you are sailing with a group, unless hand picked for the job, few new crew will be able to handle the boat if something happens to you. Man overboard, illness, sickness etc. If the boat is set up for single handing then it is much easier for the not so competent to come back and get you or sail quickly back to medical assistance. Good design is safer.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

I don't even own a car so it's a non issue. However in the middle of the ocean, I personally see nothing wrong with a singlehander taking a nap. It's done all the time and so far, I've not heard any issues with that from single handers.

Surely you don't think the cargo ships of the world stand a watch 24/7.

Of course, you don't hear about the boats that go down mid ocean. You just don't hear from them again.

Yes, frieghters do stand watch 24/7. But if your statement is true, it's even more important for solo sailors to maintain a full time watch. Napping on the bridge 6-10stories off the water, they won't even feel it if they run you over.

[lordgeoff]

Originally Posted by Saleen411

Please enlighten me. Many here LOVE to mention that they "single hand" Well good for you.

Why do people say this all the time? Is it a form of braggadocio or what?

From what little I know, many if not most competent sailors can single hand....so what?

To me, boating, cruising, sailing is something to be shared and enjoyed with friends, family and loved ones. Personally, life is too short to spend alone....esp sleeping alone. IMHO, sailing is OK fun....not super exciting...but is a COMPLETELY different experience with my gal.....makes all the difference in the world. So again...why all the bravado about single handling?

Not to be insulting...but I REALLY don't get this.

Er .... Saleen411 last I heard sailing solo or with other people or a combination of some solo and some social was was optional. Personally I love to do both. To me trans ocean solo is spiritual and challenging and yes more dangerous.
Not sure why one would get antsy about other peoples choices....