[C320-list] Single Handed Sailing

[Joe M]

Our 320 is my first sailboat. All of my sailing is single handed with my
wife in the jump seat. We do have a furling main.

And I have a harness for the once in a while I need to go forward.

No need to worry about a knock down. It will round up and stop before that
could happen.

I use the traveler from the helm and if I need to use the cabin top
winches, I just turn on pilot, use the wheel brake or put my wife at the
helm.

Joe 2002 C320 hull #902

On Fri, Jan 21, 2022 at 8:41 AM Charles Martin <chiprmartin at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Thank you to all who responded to my query on single handed sailing on the
> C320.  I am always amazed by the depth and breadth of knowledge and
> experience of the members of our association.
>
> I will provide a response to all the advice I received once I digest the
> information and determine the best path forward for my situation.
>
> Best,
> Chip Martin
> S/V Bonaventure, Hull #767
> (410) 231-0199
> chiprmartin at gmail.com
>
> On Thu, Jan 20, 2022 at 4:18 PM Allan Field <allanfield47 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > 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
> >
>