I know some people sail catamarans solo, but it's hard for me to imagine how I would control the jib, the mainsail, and the rudder all by myself (one hand on the rudder, one hand on the main sheet, and a third hand on the jib sheet?).



On the other hand, I did fine on a rented Hobie Wave sailing solo on Lake Union, but that doesn't have a jib. Should I just leave the jib off my Prindle 16 to sail solo? Is a Unarig made sufficiently different from a sloop-rigged cat that a Prindle 16 without a jib would be harder to control than a Unarig?



Or is there a trick that I'm missing? If there is a trick, should I wait until I have more experience before trying it?



Jonathan

you can certainly leave the jib off of your Prindle. However, the boat will be pretty unbalanced and will have a lot of weather helm. You will also find that tacking is much more difficult without the jib.



I single hand my Nacra 5.2 with dagger boards all the time. It's not that big of a deal. When you tack, just work the rudders and the jib sheet - once the jib is set then work with the main. It's really not that tough.

Try it you will like it. sail a little more conservatively because it will take longer to look at the two lines in your hand to see which one is the jib etc. You will have to multi-task something that I am told men cant do however I never had a problem with it. Also it is apropriate to sing pirate songs as you will be all by your self and no one can hear you. you must be able to right the boat by yourself or take provisions for max length of water divided by wind speed. Soon you will be sailing solo at night.

Sailing the P16 without a jib is very okay.



The trick is that you need to rake your mast a little more forward. This means that you need to put the sidestays a hole up and the forestay a hole down in the plates. When your P16 is well balance with a jib than just on hole or at max two hole should the trick. this will loose all weather helm when leaving of the jib.



Personally I rake my mast just to the perfect balance on my P16 whennflying with a jib and just leave the jib off and accept the small amount of weatherhelm. I'm lazy.



Tacking should be a little more difficult in the beginning but easy enough after some practice. After doing it right you'll will learn to tack well (most sailors don't ) and then you should hardly feel any difference. Then you will not miss the jib at all.



Just make sure you tack using the right technic, which is on a uni rig. head up pull sheet in, point throught the wind and immediately let out the main be sheeting a foot or so out. keep steering all the way through the turn and only when the boat has bore off considerable sheet the main back in again. With practice this should take more then 5 secs and feel easy and smooth.



Good luck

wouter?, will raking the mast forward on the H-20 have the same effect?I have often wanted to sail it solo but there is too much going on for my comfort level.

Unless the cause of weatherhlem is misalignement of your rudders, but then you will have weatherhelm on both sloop and uni versions all the time.



All boats behave the same way to mast rake.



Wouter

Sailing solo is a blast with a boat the size of yours. Definitely leave the jib on unless it's really blowin'. You'll control the tiller and mainsheet/traveller. Set the jib according to your anticipated point of sail and steer by the tell tales. My boat has similar length and horsepower and it's very fast and fun sailed solo. Don't jump right to the trap until you've got total control from the tramp. I actually found it easier to get the hang of roll tacking sailing solo since my usual crew are my 8 year old or my 11 year old--they hinder as much as help. You know the drill for roll tacking. Doing it solo, I come in from the trap, let out about a foot of mainsheet and cleat; uncleat the jib and turn. I stay back on the back of the new leeward hull until the the bows snap around. While this is happening, I work the jib across, cleat/trim it. As I pick up speed, I trim the main and get back out in the trap as needed. It becomes second nature after a little while.



Couple of suggestions for sailing solo:

1. Make sure you're heavy enough to right the boat (lots of posts on the subject) and have the necessary gear.

2. Let someone know where you're going and when you are going to be back (a flight plan).

3. Carry a warning signal (I carry a $2 whistle)

4. Make sure you can rig the boat yourself. I've got a winch to help me do it safely solo.

5. Oh, and about night sailing--do not do it solo.



Go for it!

Hmmm....Eric and Wouter have both given me plausible advice, in different directions. Guess I'll have to try it both ways!



Jonathan

I've sailed my h17 sport solo a couple times...



The first few tacks can be a pain, but be persistent. Once you figure it out, you'll amaze people with how fast you go without that extra deadweight



(My friend Robert has been known to singlehand his 18SX in a bit more than just light winds, so don't be afraid)

I think wouter said he has a prindle like yours, so he can give you advice specific to that boat. I've never sailed a prindle. My boat, the nacra 5.0, is faster with a jib and--even sailing solo--is easier to sail with a jib. The jib helps pull the boat through tacks and offers more sail area for broad reaches and going downwind. My sheets are color coded, so it's easy to keep 'em straight. The only time I would (and do) remove the jib is to depower in heavy winds.



You've got the right approach--test it both ways yourself.

Personally I sailed the P16 solo in some club races and then I'm not allowed to use the jib. Although I did sail my P16 with a jib the the lighter winds. It does give more power to the boat. However where I sail we often have decent winds and as soon as I must stand trapeze I leave the jib on shore.I point higher and like the faster manouvres without the jibin those conditions. Yes you've read that right, with the right technic you can tack the P16 on a dime without a jib.



Just do the role tack thing and sheet in and out at the right times. In when still heading up and out when you've passed throught the wind. Maybe even help by pushing the boom out when the wind is lighter.



I like sailing solo with just the main up as the boat become really simple then and it is the best way to go out sailing for just an hour.



Try both !



Wouter