Single Handed Sailing on a Modern Sailboat

[@Devon_Dan_Sailing]

Great video. So useful to see the detail for a beginner. Nice electric winch!

[@dylanstarratt6137]

Appreciate the nice demonstration, explanations, and sharing of thoughts, for going in/out of the harbor, and other boats, etc.

[@TheAlyxzander]

Your a sailor as well as theprivacyguy you are quickly becoming one of myfavorite people on th web!

[@SpiritedHumaneering]

This was very awesome to see - and inspiring. I am boat shopping now for a live-aboard 37-42 footer - and most often I will be solo sailing, so this first-person perspective walk through was actually very helpful. Awesome music choices too :)

[@robbraxmansailing]

Thank you for coming by!

[@TM-tw1py]

Rob, your prowess with handling your yacht is great and gives me better comfort in your technology skills. Cheers!

[@godlysoul7543]

Your so multi talented! Loved everything you demonstrated....always your greatest fan!

[@woody4269]

Super vid. Thank u. Loved reading your replies. And that reverse slip work....silky smooth! Merry Christmas 🎉.

[@softwarepearls4202]

Don't understand why the main was raised before setting off. In our local marina, you're not allowed to do that: sailing out needs to be 100% on motor, no sails up.

[@robbraxmansailing]

I'm an expert sailor and yacht racer. I know what I'm doing.

[@kennethpole2439]

And if your engine fails?

[@Mme.Swisstella]

So i guess nobody sailed before the age of mechanisation?

[@Revy8]

​@@Mme.Swisstellapeople were not solo sailing 40ft boats out of a crowded marina. There would be dock workers assisting you out in unfavourable winds

[@Joostmhw]

@@robbraxmansailing Say that to the person when you inevitably damage their ship doing this in a needlessly reckless manner. Singlehanded especially, some people live on boats as you might know. Real great to have your home wrecked because someone wanted to save themselves a little bit of effort... Worse yet claiming to be an expert sailor when disregarding the number one rule of good seamanship by following the standard procedures unless absolutely necessary.

[@robinwells8879]

Quite literally single handed thanks to the camera! Pretty slick my man!👍 Armageddon escape dry run. ✅ I reckon that you must have a couple of azimuth drives to do that slick a reverse berthing. Serious respect.

[@debdoyle119]

Rob beautiful boat. I single hand all the time. I just would not raise the sail in the slip.

[@mushenji]

This is extremely awesome.

[@XoJennXo0823]

What an amazing life! Thank you for the inspiring video. I’m looking into getting a boat myself one day!!!

[@stevenmoore4078]

You make that look so easy. Pre-planning and having a routine seem to be the key to success (as well as having an autopilot). It looks to be a lot less intimidating than I thought. I'm hopeful my skills and experience build to give me the confidence to get there.

[@robbraxmansailing]

Thank you. Admitedly it is from an abundance of experience so thinking ahead keeps it very simple. But I've been in unexpected conditions too that can raise the blood pressure! :)

[@alexbuilds706]

Very nice to see the ocean out there on the west coast. There’s something about being on the water on a sunny day. Nice vid, thx Rob.

[@JohnSmith-ed1sr]

Cool video great music beautiful boat

[@zbj4240]

I have to ask as someone who wants to buy a liveaboard sailboat someday. I would like to get as big a boat as I can, so I can have as much living space as possible, but I'm also going to probably sail solo mostly, unless I get married someday. I've heard 35 to 45ft is the sweet spot from someone for solo sailing, but do you think that is true? If it is, is getting a 47 or a 50ft boat going to be much more difficult?

[@robbraxmansailing]

40 foot or thereabouts should be sufficient room. As you go over 40 the costs go up geometrically (slip fees and maintenance)

[@avertactivity964]

Really appreciate you taking the time to film this Rob. I myself am considering the sailboat as a BOV as well as stand alone off grid "house". I don't recall ever hearing you mention your choice of mono vs multi hull, and I'd love to hear your take on that from a longevity/survival viewpoint. Also, do you have a rain-catchment system stowed away in the event that the water maker busts or meets its demise from EMP?

[@robbraxmansailing]

I'm not a fan of multihulls. LOL. I guess they make great condos but after decades of yacht racing I have a bit of a performance bias (I like to go upwind well)

[@avertactivity964]

@@robbraxmansailing Roger that...speed and upwind performance. Thanks Rob and keep up the good work.

[@wollace4339]

amazing video thanks!

[@BlueEyedIndian1]

Never sailed but you made it look easy

[@preciouspearl487]

thanks for sharing!.. it would be nice to know what kind of sailboat you are sailing.

[@robbraxmansailing]

It's a Dufour 390

[@sparkeyjones6261]

Awesome boat Rob... you really went all out on the bells-n-whistles on this one. I may have to rethink my plan to buy an old classic yacht in San Francisco. Then again, clearly, that would involve taking on a few more consulting clients to ever be able to afford one like this. lol

[@earthstick]

I just found this channel Rob. I bought a little sail boat late last year, had a few ups and downs but I am trying to learn single handed. Initially I was interested in a catamaran. They appear to have advantages as live aboard, but the marina didn’t have space, even for a small one.

[@leudast1215]

Catamarans are a financial nightmare and unsuitable for blue water sailing long term. Most are built cheaply and sold pricey. Do your research.

[@davidncw4613]

very good thank you, and a beautiful boat!

[@robbraxmansailing]

Very kind of you!

[@ScorpionCar]

Great content! 👍

[@panuprakaisriroj]

do more please. I enjoyed watching.😀

[@dray9392]

Nice vid. Happy sailing!

[@hebertcentrone6804]

great video

[@curtissmith1967]

Ok, so what type and model autopilot do you have? I need something similar.

[@roadboat9216]

Well done. I use to singe hand my 36,000 # full keel Ketch. THAT is a handful. Once out of port was a dream but in close quarters you really had to plan in advance. Backing in, out of the question. Your fin keep spade rudder a pice of cake. Backing down you had to have either prop walk or wind in your favor or preferably both. But as sea, very nice! Modern boat sooooo much easier to maneuver. Well done. And yes, autopilot very critical equipment. Once at sea under sail we switch to a Hydrovane.

[@robbraxmansailing]

The secret to easy backing is of course the sail drive :) But you also learn the throttle technique, back when I had a shaft drive. Very unpredictable though unless you come in fast.

[@Mark-rm2fp]

Very nice thanks for sharing.

[@JennySusanti-u1q]

Great video. Have you done a video on a ketch?

[@robbraxmansailing]

I have to say I've never been on a ketch.

[@JennySusanti-u1q]

@@robbraxmansailing thanks

[@Rod-Skinner]

Maybe I missed it but why have you raised the sail in port? (Nevermind, I missed when you said "To minimize the problems later on you are hoisting the main now.) Do you do this whenever you leave any port?

[@robbraxmansailing]

No. Only if the boat is facing upwind at the dock. When it is, then obviously the sail being up is more convenient.

[@notme2620]

Sounds like I need that boat for my next 10 years of sailing, as I am currently doing a lot of solo sailing with Tiller steering on Dehler 29, either with the jib or 130 genoa,with full main

[@robbraxmansailing]

Just install an autopilot on it. It's cheaper to install an autopilot on tiller steering

[@turk0886]

Beautiful boat, thanks for making the video. I'm going to be a new sailor this year with a much smaller boat than yours.

[@robbraxmansailing]

Have fun!

[@pavelavietor1]

hello how you stop in the channel with the main sail out. nice video saludos

[@BOTG]

What kind of boat is this? Can you give details on the boat?

[@robbraxmansailing]

Dufour 40 footer

[@TheAlyxzander]

Is that kings harbor redono?

[@mikenagy938]

Hey Rob, I enjoyed watching you sail your boat. I do have two points though, were you watching your telltails at all? You can't be really efficient unless they are streaming correctly. And do you have any plans for corralling those lines? Line bags, etc. Great video.

[@robbraxmansailing]

Your question deserves a video response! Coming soon! The answer may surprise you. LOL

[@butterbean4195]

great stuff Rob. but i dont see a marine or ham radio anywhere!

[@robbraxmansailing]

I kept the volume down for the video. The boat always has marine VHF.

[@stefanodegresti3791]

Hi, very nice video, every manoeuvre well explained. Could I ask you how your code0 or gennaker furler is connected to the bowsprit? I have a dufour 412 and the tack for the furler is an eye made of a line. Is yours the same? If yes does it works fine when you close the sail? Any torsion problem? Many thanks

[@robbraxmansailing]

No torsion problem with the furler. I know the clews are stainless. I will look at the tack next time. I know it is integrated with the furling cable that you hoist up. But I don't recall what the material is. After I learned to use the Code0 it's been great. Not good for racing though. It's not something you can gybe. You'd have to furl it to change gybe. Too slow for racing.

[@ourcalltoadventure]

Backing in almost gave me an anxiety attack. Amazing job!

[@robbraxmansailing]

Lots of practice! I have a formula for control. 2.7 knots approach. Then of course full reverse when you get there. But allows for full rudder bite

[@giovannip.1433]

How much space does all the extra electronic equipment take up? Computers, monitors, batteries etc vs a fully manual craft? e.g. How small a vessel can you go before the systems are too inconvenient?

[@robbraxmansailing]

The equipment varies by size of boat. The smaller the boat, the smaller the hardware. For example there's a tiller version of the autopilot. there's a wheel version. On a bigger boat like mine, it's a lot more powerful and there is a direct motor linkage to the rudder. The electronics themselves are small. However none of this is cheap. My prior boat was smaller and much older (40 years old) and it had the similar electronics.

[@keysersmoze]

I could tell it was fun when you thought about maybe passing the bigger boat because maybe you're a better sailor.

[@leslieross7555]

needed this

[@cardio10101]

Never seen a sailboat leave its dock with an unsecured main. Is that common?

[@robbraxmansailing]

Main is not "unsecured". Main is correctly angled to the wind. Wind is behind. Sailors always know where the wind direction is. In this case, leaving the dock and going out was a 360 degree turn (so you only saw part of it)

[@duded5371]

Is your other channel still on KZbin I don't see it anymore

[@robbraxmansailing]

Rob Braxman Tech

[@panuprakaisriroj]

love it.

[@Cxander1980]

Didn't know you sail as well!

[@sirrealism]

Hey Rob, I'd love to see this content mirrored on the O platform. I don't spend time here any longer, but I knew you were a sailor, so I searched to see if you had a channel for this content.

[@PennWolfsSailingAdventures]

You'd think with power winches there would be a way to keep the decks clear. Maybe a convenient drop in trough style.

[@robbraxmansailing]

Proper procedure is to flake the lines. But being single handed and doing a video, I did not bother. The lines are just in organized chaos. They don't get into each other's ways. The idea of a trough is a bad one. More chances of tangles. The trough is useful only for long term stowage. Not when underway. In my case, I throw the many lines at the mast into the boat. That's my trough area. But you cannot do that to the main sheet, jib sheet, furling lines, and spinnaker sheets.

[@PennWolfsSailingAdventures]

@@robbraxmansailing still would be a easy desing at the base of the winch for lines while minimizing tangles, but we work with what we have. As long as the Captain of the ship is happy.

[@robbraxmansailing]

I have been a Yacht racer for a long time so I'm used to having the lines always flaked and available (with crew). I've seen some other boats (bigger) with compartments for dumping the lines. The problem is that each line needs to be stored separately, not a big well for all lines combined. I haven't seen a design that works for that. I've thought of hanging bags, but these would be more useful for a long passage I think. Fortunately I have a huge cockpit so there's room to lay out lines in separate areas. Thanks for watching!

[@jimnjele.bean-dayone3505]

Hi Rob...I may have asked this before...Do you teach sailing or where do I go to learn sailing as you have...Great video sir. Thanks for sharing

[@robbraxmansailing]

I'll do some teaching in these videos then.

[@robertanthonybermudez5545]

do you use lithium for your power storage?

[@robbraxmansailing]

This boat has new batteries so probably not financially reasonable to switch to Lithium yet. But my prior boat was using LifePO4.

[@lackocs8643]

It is generally not recommended to enter or leave a port with the mainsail hoisted, and here's why: Reasons to Avoid It: Control and Maneuverability: The mainsail generates significant power, making the boat harder to control in tight spaces where precision is crucial, such as in a marina or a crowded harbor. Obstacles and Hazards: Ports often have traffic, moored boats, and other obstacles. The mainsail can obstruct visibility and limit your ability to respond quickly. Wind Direction Uncertainty: Wind conditions can be unpredictable in a port due to surrounding structures, which may cause sudden shifts or gusts that are harder to manage with the mainsail hoisted. Safety Concerns: Hoisting the mainsail in a confined area increases the risk of accidental gybes or collisions if the boat gets pushed off course. What to Do Instead: Use your engine or a smaller sail (like the jib or genoa) for control while entering or leaving the port. Hoist or drop the mainsail in open water, clear of traffic and obstacles, once you have enough space and the conditions are manageable. Exceptions: Some racing or high-performance sailors may hoist the mainsail near the port for a quick start, but this is only done when conditions are favorable, the crew is experienced, and there is sufficient space to maneuver. Safety and control should always be your priority in port environments!

[@pheuilpheuil1885]

you wouldn't do that in marina (do you ?)

[@robbraxmansailing]

This is a marina so I don't know what you are referring to. Everything I do here is done on a marina (including pre-hoisting sails if it makes sense)

[@moondoggspicoli1583]

NICE boat Rob! I was already your fan from your privacy stuff, but now I've stumbled upon the fact that you're a sailor too! I was a charter boat captain in Maui for 20+ years and now have an Islander 36 here in San Diego, CA. I'm curious, but far too lazy to search for clues here so just gonna ask what part of the world you are in? I expect you to keep it vague ;-) ​Smooth Sailing! ~~~~_/) ~~~~

[@moondoggspicoli1583]

Never mind, I just heard you say L.A. in another video...

[@robbraxmansailing]

Yes.

[@HiroNguy]

Need a head mount for your camera if you don't constantly move it or use multi cameras. In any case more time editing is required to get a good result. When I helped my filmy friends with their film projects I discovered the rule is for every 1 second of video you have to put in >1 minute of edit time.

[@robbraxmansailing]

I have a magnetic chest mount + handheld. Wish the chest mount could go higher

[@michaelsevachko7139]

AWESOME SOLO SAILING. Let me know if you need crew. :-) physical work at your service.

[@curtissmith1967]

Ok, you put fenders on both sides. I imagine because you've got noone to change sides if your plans change.

[@toniavalon]

Are you in Marina del Rey?

[@robbraxmansailing]

Yes

[@toniavalon]

@@robbraxmansailing me too!

[@robbraxmansailing]

See you in the water!

[@godschild5547]

I wish I could help u n sail away from my chaos.....

[@ninjo888]

That is literally single hand sailing, 1 hand on the camera and 1 hand on the sheath!

[@shaggyrandy1264]

1.3xhull=? Square root

[@robbraxmansailing]

Hull speed is 8.2 knots but that doesn't really limit a modern hull. Downwind it can plane

[@janliljeberg3769]

Thanks for sharing, l love it, but the wind is taking away your speech. You need to change mic or put on a muff.

[@rnunezc.4575]

Sorry to say its wrong. Never raise main around dock just leave without sails clear of docks and traffic. Fenders should be second after clearing dock lines. All this especially when single handling ... Hope you do well. Soon you ll learn why. Hope not the bad way. Best luck

[@robbraxmansailing]

Sorry. Who taught you that? Did you ever do dinghy sailing? Coming up with an artificial rule based on no actual information on your environment will bite you in the butt someday, especially if you have an emergency and you need the sail. I have many such experiences. And many decades of sailing emergencies that I have all successfully handled. Plus decades of Yacht racing. Whoever taught you that should return your money.

[@rnunezc.4575]

@@robbraxmansailing just my opinion. But question..if you loose engine inside marina whats the problem?..if you respect low speeds inside docking areas you can just fend or stop boat or cause little damage. Now, what d happen if you loose engine in same area and ypu have main up and have shift winds from stern...? How do you stop boat..? You can do serious damages and no hands or time to fend off etc. Anyway, comments are for that. Commenting. If u cant take an opposite comment..sorry. congratulations on you expert experiences...best luck

[@robbraxmansailing]

I have lost engine or transmission in the marina over the years and having a sail up has saved me. In one case I was single handling and the only sail I could quickly deploy was a genoa. Unfortunately that does not allow good upwind sailing . The issue though that I want to say is that it isn't necessarily about having the sail up, it's about knowing where the wind direction is. Having the sail up in an upwind facing slip is very good. Obviously problematic in a downwind facing slip. In this video though, the particular concern is having stuff to do in tight spaces. If I know where the wind is coming from,, and I can hoist the main, then it frees me up to do other things. I cannot hoist the main if the boat is not pointing upwind. So though generally your comment is not necessarily bad when there are others to help you, I'm just using my skills to enhance the single handed experience. Removing complexity if it's possible. But your comment could be a good topic for another video.

[@joker-gu3pj]

completly inappropriate put the sails up in docks area, lucky you are having no wind

[@robbraxmansailing]

Who told you that? That is not correct. I've come in on a slip with engine failure on sails alone on a big boat. If you don't have the skills to do that, it is something to work on.

[@sjeffreyw]

Need your safety vest on

[@travistucker7317]

Maybe you can go aboard as safety officer

[@ConnThaDon]

dayum son

[@MegaBartan]

Never put your main up before leaving the dock you could get into all sorts of trouble if any wind (even the slightest) comes up

[@robbraxmansailing]

Sorry. That's not the advice I would give. Instead: Always be aware of where the wind is coming from when you hoist your sails. I may have the sails up when I leave the dock, or enter the slip with the sails up depending on what I'm trying to do. Obviously I would never hoist the sails up if my boat is pointing downwind. The video demonstrates that I know where the wind is in all my moves.

[@MegaBartan]

@@robbraxmansailing Understand what you are saying Rob and that's your opinion, I notice you pen has walkways on both sides, as such much better as you cannot clash easily with boats adjacent to you.

[@robbraxmansailing]

I understand that there may be conditions where you are that demands your choices. As an experienced sailor and racer, we generally sail directly from the slip even without motor if the slip is facing the right way. We can back the sail for example to move back and then sail forward normally. On a Wednesday night race day, you would see many boats with mains hoisted ready to leave the dock. My slip in the video has my boat head to wind before I depart and that's easily verified before I let go of the docklines. Where we are, the winds are consistent due to the ocean sea breeze. Now in my particular slip, I have to back in. So I take down the sails before going back to the dock as it would be impossible to maneuver otherwise. The significance in my video is that as a single hander, the less I have to do at the last minute, the safer for me.

[@davep7849]

Sheesh, raise that main by hand, no roller furler, and weigh the anchor by hand while you're at it, then we can be friends 😂 Nice boat though.

[@Angie-in8wc]

Your comment suggests the largest boat you’ve sailed is a dinghy.

[@davep7849]

@Angie-in8wc 30' so yeah large dinghy (and no windlass, no furler, and no auto/power, hence the comment...). A boat his size, I'm not going to complain about all the amenities, but you can hardly say what we're doing in these modern times is all that rough.

[@filmemacher9876]

Ah single handed because, you have in your ather Hand the cam

[@tonymichaelleetmltrademark6627]

You ain't goin anywhere Rob. You need permission right?

[@frankiebe4818]

Hey ur the guy with privacy stuff hahah.. ready to escape communism? Hahaha

[@robbraxmansailing]

You mean you found this channel randomly? LOL

[@pavelavietor1]

hello nice video thanks pavelavietor1 visigoth1 iberian1