solo sailors

Do any of you guys who single hand your boats take any special precautions? The reason I ask is that a few years ago a friend of mine snapped a trap line, fell off his boat and it sailed away without him. He was in the water for several hours before some fishermen picked him up. I probably wouldn't worry if I sailed on a lake or something but I'm pretty much in open water. Would it be crazy to tether oneself to the boat when single handing?

I don't, but you got me thinking....
I put the phone in the tramp bag, lot a good that'll do when you fall over.
I do have a knife, whistle and light on the pfd.
I wouldn't tie myself on, sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

_________________
H18, H17 & Various motor boats

Solo monohullers tether often, but before doing so on a cat, I would want to know where to tether to the boat so if you do fall off you aren't dragged along forever. I would think you would want it to be such that the boat would round up into the wind regardless of where you fell off.
As for carry along stuff: put the fully charged cell phone in a waterproof soft case that allows for phone operation while in the case and keep it on your person (lanyard), it should float while in the case. I also keep a knife, whistle and small waterproof light along with a signal mirror and waterproof matches (or wind/waterproof lighter). If in questionable weather a locator beacon (expensive) could be warrented.
ALSO VERY IMPORTANT; Let a responsible person know where you are going, when you plan to be back and who to call if you don't.

Never be the ONLY boat out on the water ....

... and if all the other boats go in ... then it's time for you to go in also ...

Before leaving the beach ... tell someone remaining on land your plans and your expected time of return.

If there is another boat still out ... I'll remain "rigged" until they come in ....

.... remember ... YOU ARE YOUR BROTHERS KEEPER ... and but for the grace of GOD, it could be you ......

.... all of us that have spent alot of time on the water .... have at some point needed assistence ... mine was only 100yds off the beach solo'ing my P19 when a gust flipped her .... a local Chesapeak Crabing boat saw my distress and came over and helped me to "right" my P19 ..... it was a "humbling" experience ....

_________________
HarryMurphey
H-18 mag/ #9458
Fleet 54 Div 11

I do have a waterproof hand held VHF radio on the boat in case I'm dismasted or have another mechanical problem. Wouldn't help if I went overboard though. Not sure I would tether to an 18-20 foot boat but seems like my 200 lbs would be a pretty good anchor for a H14 or Acat or something smaller. Even sheeted in seems like I could keep a smaller boat reeled in.

Thought about this myself as I solo my Getaway often in open water (usually within a mile from shore but that is a long way to swim). Tethering would be alright in a mono hull I think because they always turn into the wind and stall if you let go of the helm. Not true for a cat. My beached Getaway sailed off without me once (I was on the beach 100 yards away) with just the main up (not sheeted) and rudders up. Finally caught up with it about a mile out after being given a ride by a guy with a motor boat. So I worry about going overboard and the boat sailing away. Not sure a tether would be a good idea as I'm not sure I would be enough to stop the boat or would it just drag me. Guess it depended upoon the wind speed.

_________________
2002 Getaway - SOLD in 2018 "Cheshire Cat"
2016 AI - Bought used 3.18.23 "Crabby Puppy"

I have sailed Mono hulls for many years and almost always solo. However when ever I was making a passage or in a storm many miles from shore I would drag an emergency line. I also had the option to tie off to the rail though. A mono on auto pilot off the coast of California will never stop until the wind shifts or you hit Japan. A cat though is different. Most of my cat sailing is on lakes so falling overboard and having the boat beach its self is just a way to make a new friend with a lake front home However if I was to take her to open water alone I might take the following precautions.

1 Always wear a PFD no matter how uncomfortable.
2 Tow a drag line I recommend one of substantial length tied to the center of the rear crossbar. Use a small float on the end of the line and a line that floats. Depending on speed it may need to be of considerable length.
3 Have a float plan with someone on shore. Cell phones and VHF are generally useless after about 5 to 10 miles out. Vhf is only good for slightly more than line of site most days.
4 Relax its only a boat and the Russians need Hobies too


What ever you do dont tie your self to the boat. a standard PFD will not automaticly roll an uncounsience person on to their back and the drag of a body knocked out by the boom will with movement most likely drown them before any rescue. Have fun and be safe.

Words o wisdom well spoken!

_________________
UK Wildcats have 8 now!

1976 H16 27640
1985 H16 89112

In addition to a cell phone, I store a small personal locator beacon in my life jacket pocket. If you type 'plb' into amazon, you can view some of them.

_________________
Adam
e-mail: ab at medjet.net
H17S, Hobie Bravo, A cat
Fleet 444

I was soloing in a fairly small lake when a gust took my 18 over. i thought I had followed the right steps prepping her before righting. I had my hand on the rear xbar and the main sheet when she came up. I was having trouble getting back on the boat (I'm not a small monkey). Somehow she grabbed wind and my hand came off the bar soI held onto the main and went for a ride. Twice this happened.

I'm sure this was funny to watch but the experience makes me take precautions. I just won't solo in questionable wind and would not solo in open water unless I had other boats with me. Too much can happen too fast.

_________________
1984 Hobie 18

This is a good reason to carry a spot tracker you can send 3 different messages to as many family members or freinds via text or email with your gps location and if its life threating you can hit the 911 button. I have been using mine in the gulf and it works really well my wife gets all text and it post to my facebook page too.

My buttons are progamed like this
1. I am having fun sailing!
2. I am OK but we had some problems and running late.
3. I need some help but its not life threating.

911- Hope I never need this button

_________________
Floyd
00 Tiger
http://www.HobieFleet33.com
10 Mile Surfside, Texas
Join us on our Facebook group: Surfside Sailing

I solo a good bit and there is rarely another boat anywhere. If I had to wait for other boats to sail I would never get my boat wet.

I have sailed for over 20yrs now and have never broken a wire on any boat. If you sail with questionable rigging you are asking for it. If I were to flip my current boat solo there is no way I would ever right it. This is a constant concern for me when solo and I sail accordingly. I don't wear life jackets, carry a phone or any safety equipment. You must know your limits and the limits of your boat before taking it out. If you sail in the salt this is even more critical.

A boat sailing away from you while beached means it wasn't properly parked, the boat sailing away after righting means you didn't prep the boat before righting it. Both of these issues are easily corrected by using proper techniques.

I'm solo on my boat 90% of the time, I don't think I would ever want to be tethered to my boat. In lake Erie, we don't go out without a 2nd boat, in Lake Arthur, I don't worry about it. You could set your rudder rake to give the boat weather helm so it would turn into the wind on it's own but that can get tiresome always pulling on the tiller during normal sailing. I fell off my boat last year when my foot strap broke but I still had a good hold on the main sheet. The boat took me about 100 yards through the water by the time I pulled myself close enough to hit a rudder and get her to turn. It took me about 15 min to stop laughing after getting back on board. I always wear my pfd, too much can happen too fast to take the chance, I like to sail on the edge of flipping. Whistle and I-phone included.

_________________
Buxton
18' T16 Silent Lightning (16' T2 Hybrid)
11' H16 White Lightning
79' H16 Green Lightning

You could always setup with a little extra weather helm so it will point up wind and stop once you fall off. You may or may not be able to get to it and you will get an extra workout with your steering arm but but might be worth it.

Some great advice here, thanks to all posters. Without thinking it through too much I intentionally left some weather helm in when I did the rudder rake mod. I've checked it in different conditions and with 1, 2 and 3 crew and she always points into the wind and goes into irons whenever I let loose of the hot stick. Didn't even consider a safety line with buoy or PLB but am now.

_________________
'81 H16

If it ain't a blowin', I ain't a goin'