Fabulous day going single handed for the first time

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RJG 26S
Deckhand
Posts: 47
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:46 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Moses Lake, WA 2000 26X Mercury 50 4S

Fabulous day going single handed for the first time

Post by RJG 26S »

It had been a few weeks since I had been out on the water so I was really eager to go. My normal crew was not available with the Admiral planning to go to a baby shower and none of my kids wanted to go. I extended an invitation to a few others, no luck, they all had plans. So I said fine, I'll go by myself. While the rigging was a bit more of a hastle taking about 1.25 hours (normally only about a half hour), it was well worth it.

This was my first time going single handed and beyond the perfect sailing conditions on Wanapum reservior (Columbia River) with consistent 10 - 15 mph winds from the wnw, mostly clear sky, and the temperature in the high 70s, it was a very liberating, relaxing, and peaceful experience 8) . While I will always seek to have my crew or others come, I will not hesitate to go alone again, it was amazing!!!
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dlandersson
Admiral
Posts: 4937
Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Michigan City

Re: Fabulous day going single handed for the first time

Post by dlandersson »

Yeah, I find (on Lake Michigan) that using the Genoa only works very nicely when single-handed. 8)
RJG 26S wrote:It had been a few weeks since I had been out on the water so I was really eager to go. My normal crew was not available with the Admiral planning to go to a baby shower and none of my kids wanted to go. I extended an invitation to a few others, no luck, they all had plans. So I said fine, I'll go by myself. While the rigging was a bit more of a hastle taking about 1.25 hours (normally only about a half hour), it was well worth it.

This was my first time going single handed and beyond the perfect sailing conditions on Wanapum reservior (Columbia River) with consistent 10 - 15 mph winds from the wnw, mostly clear sky, and the temperature in the high 70s, it was a very liberating, relaxing, and peaceful experience 8) . While I will always seek to have my crew or others come, I will not hesitate to go alone again, it was amazing!!!
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mastreb
Admiral
Posts: 3927
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA ETEC-60 "Luna Sea"
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Re: Fabulous day going single handed for the first time

Post by mastreb »

I find the best thing about single handing (which I rarely do) is the complete lack of subtle pressure. If I mess up on a point of sail and stall, who cares? I can really test the ideas I read on this forum without worrying about being a good host or a competent sailor.

The problem I always run into is squelching the urge to just set course to the open sea and go...
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