Here's another vote for keeping the halyards and reef lines, etc. at the mast. I singlehanded Peregrine a lot and have no problems operating the boat with that set up. I think a lot of people try to operate the boat singlehanded the way she would be sailed by a full crew. That's not necessary. I casually walk forward and aft, taking my time with all maneuvers. It seems to work out alright. And I am very happy keeping excess lines out of the cockpit. Like Antoine, I just have the sheets for the main and jib and the jib furling line to interfere with lounging.
Andy C&C 40 Peregrine Andrew Burton 61 W Narragansett Newport, RI USA 02840 http://sites.google.com/site/andrewburtonyachtservices/ +401 965-5260 On Oct 12, 2013, at 5:09, "Dennis C." <capt...@yahoo.com> wrote: > Antoine, > > I agree with much of your comment. There is a way to have halyards run back > to the cockpit but also operate them at the mast. Simply install a camcleat > and horn cleat on the mast a bit offset from the path of the halyard from its > exit to the turning block at the base of the mast. > > When in "mast" mode, you can hoist or lower the sail, temporarily stop it > with the camcleat or more permanently stop it with the horn cleat. > > When in "cockpit" mode the halyard will exit the mast, run to the turning > block and back to the cockpit. Or, one can hoist the sail, stop it with the > camcleat, return to the cockpit and pull the slack out and stop the halyard > with a cabintop rope clutch. With a little configuration tweaking, If done > correctly, the camcleat can be position such that the line pops out of it > when the slack is taken out. The line is then free to allow the sail to be > dropped from the cockpit. > > I've sailed on boats with this arrangement for spinnaker halyards and it > seems to work well. > > Dennis C. > Touche' 35-1 #83 > Mandeville, LA > > > > On Friday, October 11, 2013 10:52 PM, Antoine Rose > <antoine.r...@videotron.ca> wrote: > It seems that many recommend bringing back the lines to the cockpit for > single handling. > Well, allow me to trow a little rock in the pound and challenge a bit that > idea. > I too have single handed a lot and personally, I prefer to have my lines at > the mast. I know, it goes against common wisdom and what many (most) think. > > Well, I think it is simpler and easier this way. > - Hoisting: when was the last time it was easy for you to hoist the main, > without a winch? When the halyard is on the mast, you have a straight pull. > One block at the top of the mast and that's it. Pulling the rope down is > efficient, it goes with your weight. Bringing the line back to the cockpit > mean adding a block at the base of the mast, another deviation block > somewhere on the roof, then the line goes through a rope clutch and then > around a winch. Did you ever figured out how much friction all that is? The > result is mainsails that required to be hoisted with the help of the winch > almost half of the way. I raise mine to the top by hand and the winch is used > only for what it was meant for, adding proper tension. > - My lines are neatly tidied up at the mast and I have minimal ropes in the > cockpit, only the two genoa sheets and the main, that's it. > - Reefing, unless you have a single line systems that works very well (go > back to my comment on multiple friction induce by too many turns in the > line), you have to go the mast to pull down the main and insert the eye in > the hook and lay down properly the main on the boom before pulling and > tensioning the reef line. > - The fundamental idea is to make it the easiest it can possibly be, so that, > if your brain says "it maybe a good idea to reef", you go without any > hesitation. The easiest it is, the more frequent you'll adjust your sail to > match the weather. On my boat, everything is done at the mast. When I want to > reef, I ease the main sheet and then go to the base of the mast where I do > everything without moving: the halyard loosening, pulling down the main to > the hook, tensioning again the halyard, adjusting the downhaul, pulling and > tensioning the reef line, replace a bit the sail and go back to the cockpit > to readjust the sheet. Usually, when I'm in hurry in a race, I don't loose > more than a minute for the reefing. When I drop the main (I've installed home > made lazy jacks), I again go to the mast to let go the halyard and I'm right > there where the action is, to lay down properly the main. > - I've seen many boats where the halyards goes back to the cockpit. Yes, but > when singlehanded, you have to go to the mast to pull down the main down to > the hook, go back to the cockpit to tension again the halyard, go back to the > mast to pull the reef line and then back to the cockpit again. We often say > it's safer to get the lines back to the cockpit, well, it is not safe if you > have to do two back and forth to the mast for a simple reefing. > > In the end, before choosing your religion ( to the mast or to the cockpit), > take some time to really think it through, do some simulation, picture > yourself in bad weather and make your choice. > But, no matter what you decide, make it as easy as possible, with the least > possibilities of something going wrong. > > Antoine (Cousin, C&C 30) > > > Le 2013-10-11 à 12:23, Patrick H. Wesley a écrit : > >> On a smaller boat that doesn't have autohelm the other things I would add to >> Chuck's list are a breastline for quick tie-up in docking, and learning how >> to heave-to. I often singlehand and the latter has allowed me do many things >> I forgot to do before setting out, or to use the head, or reef the main. >> >> Incidentally, many thanks for those who replied to my earlier post about >> crossing the Georgia Strait, I successfully did that, solo, few weeks ago >> and the comments helped. Strong wind warnings, gale force warnings and even >> a waterspout advisory! I told my family that I was back, safe and sound but >> there had been a few clenched sphincter moments. One of my sons-in-law does >> not have English as his first language and he told me that he had to check >> with Google as which part of the boat that was! >> >> Patrick Wesley, The Boat, C & C 24 >> — >> Sent from Mailbox for iPad >> >> >> On Fri, Oct 11, 2013 at 6:50 AM, Chuck S <cscheaf...@comcast.net> wrote: >> FWIW, I enjoy singlehanding my boat but pick my days. The sails are not the >> biggest challenge. For me, it's always been docking. Docking can be >> challenging in a crosswind or in strong current, and I learn something >> everytime I go out. The bow of a sailboat wants to spin downwind as soon as >> she loses forward way. This year I started "backing in" when the wind is >> up, and that proved a better alternative. The bow follows the keel that >> way. Before docking, I rig my fenders and have lines bow, stern, and >> spring, coiled at the gate, ready to take myself onto the float, or hand to >> someone else. The tricky part is stopping the boat alongside the float and >> getting from behind the wheel thru the gate onto the float with docklines in >> hand, and secure them before the boat reacts to wind and current and the bow >> spins. I think I've learned a lot docking the boat for ten years, and the >> only scrapes occurred from dockside helpers who tend to pull the bow line in >> too tight. I feel docking is still the most challenging aspect of >> singlehanding. The more you know your boat and the more practice you get, >> the better you get at timing your turns and controlling your approach speed, >> and the easier it gets. >> >> Having the jib on a furler is a must and some days you can sail with just >> the jib and not have to deal with the mainsail cover or flaking the sail. I >> use an autohelm to steer the boat and raise the mainsail by hand, using the >> winch only for the last few inches. When I bought my boat there were two >> frozen sheaves for the main halyard that forced us to use the winch. I >> didn't find the problem until the following summer and then I freed the >> sheave at the mast deck collar and the sheave in the deck organizer and >> lubed the track and now anyone can raise the sail without the winch. >> >> I plan to install lazy jacks, but meanwhile I have to wrestle the big sail >> onto the boom and reflake it at the dock, before putting on the cover. >> Occassionally I have my son along and one lowers the halyard in a controlled >> way so the other can flake and tie the sail on, but lazy jacks would make >> the job a little easier. >> >> Summary: you'll get used to the bigger boat so buy the biggest you can >> afford, don't forget the annual costs of slip fees, winter storage, >> insurance. Research and know the value of things. One new sail costs more >> than a whole instrument package, or a good feathering prop. Setups for >> singlehanding should include good roller furling, lines led to cockpit, a >> reliable engine and good engine controls (remember docking), lazy jacks. If >> you're handy, things can also be added to an otherwise good boat. I added >> the Harken furler and autohelm and many cruising amenities to my barebones >> racer, but your boat should include those things. A professional survey >> will run around $600, so presurvey a few boats yourself before going to that >> step so you only have to pay that fee on one boat. Happy hunting. >> >> Chuck >> Resolute >> 1990 C&C 34R >> Atlantic City, NJ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > > > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com
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