Ep 44: Coming About Single Handed

[@johncolley6225]

With practice it becomes an easy routine. Started sailing in my late 40's, now 83 and mostly single handing because many of the folks I take out don't have a clue, or is that "clew?"

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

😂

[@JonathanWall]

Just started sailing now in my late 40's. Here's to many more years for us both!

[@mrpmessina]

Absolutely brilliant tutorial. I have always thought it to be a complicated manoeuvre, because of the way several tutorials were explaining the tacking procedure. So pleased to see that it is just common sense and practice. Thank you so much Marco. Fab video!

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

I’m delighted that you found it helpful. Thanks again for the awesome ongoing support.

[@matthewhigginbottom8328]

As always you make it look nice and easy. Great video. Thank you for putting these out.

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thank you Matthew

[@wenzhezhang7490]

This is hands down the best sailing channel that I have ever seen. Subscribed and look forward to seeing your next episode. Great job, Marco!

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Wow, thanks!

[@codder32]

Nice video ! Things are starting to make sense now. "Only" took 44 episodes. Would love a video about autopilot features like this, what to expect, what usage do you make of them, etc..

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

🤣 Thanks for the suggestion

[@chrisgorman2717]

Hi best wishes for leeds UK. I enjoy your videos

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Glad you like them! Thank you so much for the support.

[@rideauviewconstruction717]

Really am enjoy these videos. So well done.

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thank you Rideauview

[@moniquefraser5666]

thank u for these tutorials!!! Could I suggest to show the sail, so learners can see what the sail is doing / close hauled on the boat when you start the procedure.

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thank you for the comment Monique. There's really not much to see. The mainsail should be sheeted in pretty much all the way and it looks after itself. When trimming the sails for close hauled I always sheet the headsail in first, pretty much until it almost touches the spreaders. Then I sail the boat to the telltails on the headsail. Once my telltails are both streaming back evenly on both sides I sheet in the mainsail until it stops luffing. Once that is done when I tack or come about I don't touch the mainsail, as I said it looks after itself.. This is the general procedure to start from and then depending on how much of a tweaker you are you can play with the various sail controls. As a cruising sailor I don't do aa lot of tweaking.

[@mickeydawson348]

Believe it or not, having the same boat as you, I've never sat with one foot on the cockpit deck and the other leg up behind the winch! I always kinda just sat on the aft seat of the cockpit when solo tacking (which I've done hundreds of times!). I'll try that next spring when I'm back on the NY waters of Long Island Sound. I love seeing videos of you sailing the same boat as me! Good job.

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thanks Mickey. I think you'll find the ergonomic position will allow you ton generate more power. Also in heavy seas you are braced more effectively. I do really love the boat as I'm sure you do.

[@nealrosenholtz7116]

Love how your handle the winches. Good spot for watching. I been in front of winch and can’t really tell

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thanks for the comment Neal. I appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@danielplainview4778]

Great video, very helpful, love the Helly fouls, I think I have exact same jacket and pant combo!

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thanks Daniel. Yes those HH foulies are incredible. I love them!

[@user-pn6mv4wy7w]

What a great video, thank you for sharing!!

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thanks John

[@SailingMarieholmIF]

Thanks for this tutorial.

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

My pleasure! Thanks for the kind comment.

[@rbrizelljr]

Keep it up, love every video. Thanks for the time spent.

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thank you the kind comment

[@southface06]

Very helpful - thanks!

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you

[@eljefe1153]

Great infos. Thanks.

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thanks El Jefe

[@user-pn6mv4wy7w]

Hi Marco, do you think you will do a video on self steering vanes (wind vanes) in the future?

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

It’s not something I was planning but I’m always open to suggestions. I don’t have any personal experience with windvanes but I could certainly look at doing one. I have a friend who has a Whitby 42. He’s preparing for bluewater and will be installing a windvane.

[@user-pn6mv4wy7w]

@@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine we just bought a 37 Cherubini and we are looking to instal a wind vane, we reference your videos all the time and though who better to learn from!!!

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thanks John. That’s great. I have another friend who just sailed his Celestial 50 from Annapolis to England and he chose the Hydro Vane. My friend with the Whitby 42 is also going with the Hydro Vane hydrovane.com/

[@johnwaters5216]

Great video. Did you do a video with the Mainsail raised as well?

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

The mainsail was raised in the video. Generally when tacking from close hauled to close hauled the main sheet is sheeted amidships and self tending assuming that the traveller is left centred. If using the traveller it’s simply a matter of adjusting the traveller after the boat is on course and after the headsail is trimmed.

[@majorbrian]

Would love to see a single-handed tack with both the main and head sails up.

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thank you for your comment. Both sails are up in the video but when coming about from close hauled to close hauled the main is essentially self tacking. since it is on a boom and sheeted in. Any traveller adjustments are made after settling onto the new rack and sheeting in the headsail.

[@keithlittlebury2986]

Hi and thanks for the video. Question- Why minus 1 and minus 10? Is this a code for 90 degree course change?

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Not so much code as required input ie. buttons to push for the auto pilot to turn 90 degrees

[@michaeldob2153]

Great Vid! However there is one point missing what do you do with the forsail. Do you roll it in before the tack? how is your approach in more wind and waves?

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thank you for the comment, thought I don't quite understand your question. The whole video was about how to tack the foresail and no I do not roll it up. You might want to check out this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKebc4t4rpWlqbs

[@gregl.7465]

Great video. Thank you! Do you have a similar video for single handed jibing?

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thanks Greg. Not yet but it’s coming. Also heaving to, reefing and cruising spinnaker

[@gregl.7465]

@@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine Excellent! Thanks again. Very interested to see your take on these critical skills for the single-handed skipper. If I could suggest one more video, though, that would take the place of all of these single-handed videos: How to get your wife to enjoy sailing :-))

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

That’s actually a great suggestion. I will look into doing a video on sailing with spouses. For now best advice I can give is to NEVER yell and reef early 😉

[@inventiveowl395]

Great video. Any chance that you will make another one that would include coming about/tacking with both mainsail and headsail? :D

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thanks for the comment Inventive Owl. I don’t plan to and the reason is that when you’re close hauled the main sheet is pretty much in all the way and since the sail is on a boom it looks after itself.

[@johncolley6225]

With the traveller centered, the main becomes self tacking, can trim it after jib is set!

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

@@johncolley6225 Agreed. Thanks John

[@mickeydawson348]

@@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine Yup, Inventive owl. center the traveler before the tack and just worry about the headsail. Move the main traveler when done as required.

[@debdoyle119]

I single-hand all the time and I always have both sheets ready and in my hands. The lazy sheet should always have a rap on the winch.

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Thank you for the comment. I used to do that on my small boat. I don’t find that it works so well on bigger boats. I much prefer my method, especially with wheel steering. I completely agree that the lazy sheet should be wrapped around a winch provided that its wrapped in the right direction 😉

[@multa765]

Continuity is straight out of "Plan 9 from Outer Space", which flops from darkness to daylight. In this instance it's cloudy to sunny. NEVER MIND, it's still a very useful film.

[@CarpeDiemSailingMagazine]

Hey I'm filming in coastal British Columbia, you don't like the weather? Wait 5 min!