The Winklebrig Forum

Using the boat => Sailing => Topic started by: Old Forum on April 09, 2014, 09:17:29 AM

Title: Single handed sailing
Post by: Old Forum on April 09, 2014, 09:17:29 AM

Roger Parish
Username: Roger_parish

Registered: 03-2007
   
Posted on Monday, April 26, 2010 - 08:57 pm:      
Thought I would start a new topic to see if it might arouse some interest!
The forum (thanks to Julian) has built a large data base of info so new winklebriggers can probably find answers without asking questions. Its a bit like the boating mags, after a couple of years they have covered most topics!
Many of us often find we are sailing single handed so it is essential to make sure that the boat is set up to make life easy and safe. Mooring , anchoring and lowering sails spring to mind. I have never been entirely happy with the lazy jack arrangement on my boat as in a good blow there always seems to be a lot of canvas flapping around and it can be quite alarming trying to tie it all down. How do other people cope?
Title: Re: Single handed sailing
Post by: Old Forum on April 09, 2014, 09:17:45 AM
Martin_cartwright
Username: Martin_cartwright

Registered: 04-2008
   
Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 08:58 pm:      
I have loads of modifications having always sailed single handed, but feel that as everyone must be getting fed up with hearing from me I will wait a while and give someone else a chance.
Title: Re: Single handed sailing
Post by: Old Forum on April 09, 2014, 09:18:02 AM
Ben Fraser
Username: Ben_fraser

Registered: 10-2008
   
Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 03:51 pm:      
The ability to sail single handed was one of ny requirements when i chose to buy a Winklebrig. I prefer not to rig lazy jacks as i find that when rigging and de-rigging Mudlark there is already more than enough to deal with. I find the best thig to do is heave-to and take the main sail down at leisure (at least thats always my intention), however i do admit that in strong winds or choppy waters this can be a wee bit stressful. Maybe the finer points oh heaving-to in a Winklebrig could be yet another topic?
Title: Re: Single handed sailing
Post by: Old Forum on April 09, 2014, 09:18:16 AM
Roger Parish
Username: Roger_parish

Registered: 03-2007
   
Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 07:38 pm:      
I find that the Wb heaves to easily and sails on a reach. I cleat the foresail, put the boat about and free the main sheet. My tiller is held central by two bungy ropes and no further adjustment to the helm is necessary. However to lower the sails I first furl the foresail and then sheet in the main close to the centre line so that I can gather and tie the mainsail. If not sheeted in then the boom flops around and it is a struggle to sort out the sail.
Title: Re: Single handed sailing
Post by: Old Forum on April 09, 2014, 09:18:37 AM
Julian Swindell
Username: Julian_swindell

Registered: 03-2007
   
Posted on Saturday, May 01, 2010 - 04:13 pm:      
I sailed my Winklebrig single handed most of the time. I did rig lazy jacks to help keep the sail out of the cockpit. Basically they were just a double topping lift which came down either side of the sail to a point about 1/4 of the boom length in from the end. I tried various arrangements with secondary lazyjacks dropping off the topping lifts to the forward part of the boom. These gathered the sail the best but were a bit of a fiddle. They all worked well in that to lower the main I just turned into the wind and when the main flapped, let go the main halyard and the sail just fell down on top of the boom. If I got it right I could carry on round and sail off on the other tack with the jib. If (when) I got it wrong, I forgot to tighten the lazyjacks and the whole lot fell on my head! Lazyjacks are a pain if you are trailer sailing as it is another set of lines to set up on launching and they will take some time to sort out.
Title: Re: Single handed sailing
Post by: Old Forum on April 09, 2014, 09:18:52 AM
Martin_cartwright
Username: Martin_cartwright

Registered: 04-2008
   
Posted on Thursday, May 06, 2010 - 11:24 am:      
I tried lazy jacks for a while but in the end decided they were more trouble than they were worth. Now I just start the engine, furl the forsails, come into the wind, haul on the topping lift, drop the gaff and get one of those elasticated sail ties on as quickly as possible.(The mizzen helps enormously in keeping the boat head to wind with the engine just ticking over in forward gear).
Title: Re: Single handed sailing
Post by: Old Forum on April 09, 2014, 09:19:13 AM
Martin_cartwright
Username: Martin_cartwright

Registered: 04-2008
   
Posted on Friday, May 14, 2010 - 08:13 am:      
One thing I have found is that with the halyards as well as the sheets coming back into the cockpit, there are a heck of a lot of ropes to get tangled up in. As you can quite easily reach the mast in a Winklebrig from the cockpit, I now cleat the halyards at the mast which leaves the cockpit clear for the sheets. (I will post a picture of the cleating arrangement if anyone is interested).
Title: Re: Single handed sailing
Post by: Old Forum on April 09, 2014, 09:19:35 AM
Roger Parish
Username: Roger_parish

Registered: 03-2007
   
Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2010 - 09:38 pm:      
I shall expect a traditional pinrail and belaying pins! I dont find it that easy to reach the foot of the mast when standing in the cabin but then I'm just a short a....! When the sails are raised I do have a lot of rope to get tangled which I just throw down below. That is because all my halyards have double purchase, probably not necessary, but how the boat was rigged when i bought it.
Title: Re: Single handed sailing
Post by: Old Forum on April 09, 2014, 09:20:30 AM
Martin_cartwright
Username: Martin_cartwright

Registered: 04-2008
   
Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2010 - 04:57 pm:      
I wish! No. I am afraid I am a great fan of clam- cleats.
Title: Re: Single handed sailing
Post by: Old Forum on April 09, 2014, 09:20:52 AM

David_owens
Username: David_owens

Registered: 04-2010
   
Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 08:41 am:      
I am one of the new Winklebriggers Roger has intended this thread for - so thank you Roger. I'm sailing singlehanded, and thus far have managed to raise and lower the sails easily enough without lazy jacks, using Martin Cartwright's technique, though I have only been out in light to moderate conditions. The key seems to me to be hooking that middle bit of elastic asap, when the whole thing calms down. But what's this about a mizzen - my boat doesn't have one, and I've always thought the Drascombe arrangement - of being able to sail with just jib and mizzen a good idea. But that raises the question of where one sails and in what conditions I guess, and will raise that in a separate post. (Aren't we new converts enthusiastic :-))!