[C320-list] Single Handed Sailing

[Allan Field]

I did a lot of single handed sailing when I owned a C320. On the plus-side,
all lines coming aft to the cockpit, including the reefing lines (I put a
second reef in the main after buying the boat that came only with a single
reef point and line) helps a lot. On the negative side, there are 2 big
ones. The first is having to go up on the coach roof to tie down the sail,
even with the Dutchman in place to help with the stacking. On my C387, I
have a roller furling main which keeps me where I belong - in the cockpit!
The second negative is the single set of larger winches in the cockpit,
both forward of the helm. To help compensate for both of these, I invested
in a remote handheld autohelm. While up on the deck stowing the sail, I
could control the boat with the handheld (except for boat speed). This also
allowed me to stand in front of the helm to tack or gybe, using the remote
to control the boat while I tended to the running rigging.

It took me a while after owning the boat to figure out the best way to take
a reef, especially when single handed. This is the way I did so. I first
came up close hauled on the jib and let the main all the way out until it
was luffing. Next step was to drop the main halyard enough to bring the new
tack for the new reef point down to the boom. Next was to take the reef by
pulling the new clew line tight. Next was to tighten the main halyard. Next
was to bring the main back from luffing to where I wanted it to be. Next
was to adjust the jib for whatever point of sail I now on with the main. I
challenged myself to be able to do all this in under 2 minutes. Shaking the
reef out was just in reverse - come up close hauled on the jib, let the
main out, pull the main halyard back up after freeing the clew reefing
line, bring the main back over, and off I'd go!

Probably the biggest challenge of single handed sailing is getting the boat
back into the slip unassisted, closely followed by getting her out in the
first place! But that's a story for another day!

Hope this helps!

Allan S. Field
*Sea Shadow* - C387, #103 (formerly C320, #808)
Columbia, MD

On Thu, Jan 20, 2022 at 3:11 PM Charles r Martin <chiprmartin at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Has anyone modified the C320 running rigging to make it easier/safer to
> sail when sailing alone?
>
> Best,
> Chip Martin
> S/V Bonaventure, Hull #767
> (410) 231-0199
> chiprmartin at gmail.com
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone