How to Sail a small Sailboat by Yourself | Catalina 22

[@joea537]

I would suggest leaving the engine on until you are safely in the slip. What if the wind picked up, or someone hadn't noticed you and started to come out of their slip? Play it safe, t put it in neutral and use forward/reverse as necessary. Great video!

[@KostasLazanas]

I’m definitely going to do that. I almost didn’t time it right in this video and it could have ended badly.

[@amirbadakhshan2559]

One thing I learned from poor engine performance in the past is that leaving gas in the carburetor results in faster gumming in the carburetor. Now, when I get back to the dock, I disconnect the gas line and let the motor run until dry. It helps keeping the carburetor cleaner longer.

[@chrismusic7356]

@@KostasLazanasgood man! my heart was in my mouth. In higher winds you would have no control. Also please stay on the boat until you have a line secured. Hopefully these comments are constructive enjoyed the video

[@WethePeopleMK]

Great video! looks like you had a BLAST!! I would recommend an auto inflate life vest be worn while onboard (especially alone). One with a harness clip preferably, for safety when travelling out of the cockpit.

[@KostasLazanas]

Especially if ill continue making these videos LOL...

[@KostasLazanas]

Ive swam across the lake a few times so that gives me a false sense of security. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaDQhpSpr8SWmZYfeature=shared

[@kimberleyaxxxx934]

​@KostasLazanas yes, but if you get injured in a fall, or hit on the head...? Sailing...as you know is all about smart moves to make it easy...stay safe!

[@teddblankenship7267]

Sheet your jib in as if you were on a beat, then "tack" but don't move the jib sheet - leave it on the "wrong side" now let your main out like you're on a broad reach, push the tiller away so the boat wants to slowly head up. That's called a heave to, and that's the move you want if you're going below to get a bottle of water. It's safe, super stable and easy to do. It works equally well in 20 knots as it does in 5 knots. Put a piece of bungee on your tiller tied from side to side and you can sail heaved to for quite some time with minimal assistance to the helm from the skipper. Have fun, be safe and put on a life jacket. Cheers! Look up heave to - it's worth it's weight in gold to know that maneuver. A beautiful way to rest after a long race...

[@joea537]

It's a GOOD thing, you're making great headway! I let the keel down fully, then turn winch up to make sure there is some tension/lifting pressure on the cable. I have found that it helps minimize the harmonic you are hearing.

[@KostasLazanas]

My girls came on the boat and were playing with the winch. That was the first time I ever encountered that noise. Once I dropped the winch it went away.

[@MP-cs3yt]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing. Great constructive comments. Agree Catalina 22s are perfect for single-hand sailing. A lot of fun and builds confidence. Agree with above comment regarding heaving to, instead of going into irons, when you need a break. It’s a great way to relax on the water. Just remember you are still technically under sail so must maintain watch. Also bungee cords work pretty well if you don’t have a tiller controller.

[@KostasLazanas]

Thanx for watching friend.

[@dimratti]

I owned a Dufour Sylphe 22' in Kortgene, Holland for several years when based in Brussels, Belgium. I had zero time on any yacht whatsoever when I bought her yet Loved every minute of sailing on her. I earned my day wipers licence several years later in Athens and after I sold my first yacht.

[@kimberleyaxxxx934]

Great video! 🎉 I set 4 fenders on both sides of my boat and 2 ballon fenders on the stern before departure. Its just takes out lots of the "gonna bump" anxiety.

[@garyjensen3414]

I'v had an O Day 27, Catalina and a 380 Catalina..My most enjoyable times wer on the 27--

[@buffalobill5526]

looked like a awesome day of sailing Kostas, but i think ill stick with my fishing boat much much easier :)

[@gregjaussaud7198]

Liven the "High Life"!! Inspiring,Lorenzo TX

[@JohnBraman413]

keep the sailing videos coming.

[@KostasLazanas]

Ive uploaded some more and will continue to do so! Thanx for subscribing!!

[@Gostwick]

Unless you tell me otherwise, there is no need to remove the 'topping lift' 6:06. This is why the boom dropped down. Can you not slack it off but not remove it?? Great start by the way. At 14:48 you need to 'hove to' to steady the boat so you can go below. Much safer!

[@Martin37vg]

I do not think a topping lift is present as looks like the boom is held up off the back stay. whilst not being used . Think Adventures in Paradise had this system untill the boom incident He he fitted a topping lift.

[@KostasLazanas]

I dont know why I did that to the boom. I think Im going to make a video on how to Hove to very soon!

[@romantiachristiana5147]

Yes, make a distinction between the backstay (top of mast to stern of boat with an adjustment pulley) and the topping lift (end of boom to a pulley at the top of the mast and down to a cleat, so that it is looser than the mainsail when the mainsail is hoisted. There is no need to take off the topping lift.

[@jpricepa]

Super cheap tiller lock, super easy, is just a bit of line tied between your stanchions (or whatever) with enough slack to wrap around the tiller a few times. It will hold your tiller approximately in place.

[@jdlft.w836]

To hands free your tiller, a pair of bungee cords work better than most tiller tamers that I've seen.

[@edwardgiugliano4925]

I need those cup holders. Where did you find them?

[@KostasLazanas]

a.co/d/duhcaRd

[@KostasLazanas]

a.co/d/duhcaRd

[@KostasLazanas]

They have been great! I got them in pink because I have all girl daughters but they have a ton of colors

[@garyjensen3414]

Run your lines aft and enjoy the sails

[@kimberleyaxxxx934]

Once the mainsheet shifts..then switch the foresail lines.. you are a tad early on your tack...

[@treeorbs479]

Cleat hitch, you might want to look at that. ... Don't feel bad ive done it too. Lol

[@romantiachristiana5147]

You have no lazy jacks. You are not wearing a life vest for going on the foredeck or hooking up to a safety line. Look up "Huntingford Helm Impeder" unless you want an electronic auto-pilot. How do you tighten your luff? How about your mainsheet 2/3 the way along the boom rather than the very end? Less likelihood of it getting fouled by the engine or other things. Have your main and jib sheets, vang and reefing lines go back to the cockpit. Have water and other drinks in the cockpit. Do you have a mainsheet cleat? It's a learning curve for us all. Good idea to have your engine running all the way into your slip, though in neutral. Go into reverse gear as a brake to prevent a collision between your bow and the pontoon. Get the boat into the slip before jumping onto the pontoon. Good luck with future outings.

[@joea537]

"Vibrating sound" = keel winch cable oscillating as your speed increases?

[@KostasLazanas]

I had my daughters on here the day before I think they played with the winch.

[@Lololkk991]

Wear a life vest man, I sail a 28 ft tanzer with lifelines and I still wear a life vest when I’m soloing

[@romantiachristiana5147]

I recommend looking at Sam Holmes who is a solo sailor on a 28ft Cape Dory. This is his beginner's lesson - kzbin.info/www/bejne/laXKq3epnJ52lbM , but he also has more advanced stuff from his ocean sailing.

[@KostasLazanas]

I love Sam! He makes so many amazing videos!

[@gentleSlopeLiving]

Critical mistake. Get yourself a Yeti Colster for that 16 ouncer. Eliminates that last drink of warm beer. Other than that, I enjoyed the video, I've spent some time sailing a Catalina 22. Docking, try a 45 angle to the mid cleat on the dock. More inertia or power coming in helps, you can always throw a line around a dock cleat to arrest you if need be. Cheers.

[@KostasLazanas]

Not thats what I call a proper comment! Ill be sure to bring the right tools (Yeti Colster) for the job next time!!

[@scripteaze]

drop the sails, drop your anchor and start fishing!

[@par4par72]

You missed a lot in the first 3 minutes that would be critical. 1) The head sail is already mounted. 2)The lead lines are in the correct position. 3) the dock lines. The eyelet stays on the dock.

[@JohnBraman413]

get yourself a tiller tamer for more hands free sailing.

[@KostasLazanas]

I cant wait to get it installed!

[@kimberleyaxxxx934]

I know, you know, you should have a lifejacket on.

[@mechanicalandmusicalminds]

You need to wear a live vest

[@Martin37vg]

That looked sketchy with no topping lift. no life vest. Especally i f the keel is in the raised postion. Also I would start the motor before dropping the sails As long as you got back safe you can learn from this..

[@KostasLazanas]

This comment section has been so inspiring. The boom does have a clip that attached to the back stay. I unclipped it for some reason. Its wild how things go a million miles an hour when you are alone and there is no hiding from the camera once its done.

[@paullipschitz]

Halyards raise a sail. Not sheets.

[@KostasLazanas]

Still getting the lingo down tight.

[@erictripps125]

The audacity of this man. Posting a youtube tutorial about solo sailing and drops a "first time doing this" halfway through.

[@KostasLazanas]

I think I did it right

[@erictripps125]

@@KostasLazanas I enjoyed the video

[@logangallagher7050]

Its raising the mainsail not sheet, sheet is a term used for rope.

[@KostasLazanas]

Ugh….i was in the moment. So much to articulate in so little time.

[@svwatercolors1291]

Your idea of removing the leeward side (side of the boat that the wind is not blowing against) dock lines first, is great but, the video shows you did not follow your own idea. Your left the stern line attached to the dock, so you could not pull the stern over to the other dock to give you more time to back out of the slip. Look for a tiller lock, the tiller tamer will not hold the tiller and rudder in place while you go forward. The lock is instant on and off where the tamer is a much slower process of operation. Remove the keel winch handle so no one will play with it and cause a dangerous problem. First add a boom topping lift to keep the boom out of the cockpit when raising and lowering the mainsail. Keep the motor (an extra helper) running till you dock the boat and attach the mooring lines before shutting off. When the wind picks up try taking the headsail sheetline around the winch and then take the line to the high side winch, where you’re sitting, for operation.

[@KostasLazanas]

So much more for me to learn. Thank You for taking the time to give so much feedback!!