Seems like there is a growing trend toward singlehanders and smaller boats. What are the reasons for this?

I can think of a lot of reasons, but I would like to hear yours.

Single handers:

1, Crew problems
2, People are busy and so cannot commit to sailing every weekend and so finding and keeping a good crew is difficult (this is why I went Single handed about 8 years ago)

Smaller boats

1, Easier to manage on the beach
2, Speed of smaller boats is getting closer to the big boats and so you can get the same amount of speed in a smaller boat.

Agree with Scooby's points. I myself have 2 single-handers.

For me, it is the simplicity. I can be setup in half the time, no worry about who and what is going to crew with me, when they're going to get there. If I can get off work at lunch-time at the last second, I can be sailing Friday evening with no questions. Conversely, if I have to work until 8pm Friday I can manage that too. Lastly, I'm in complete control of the amount of training and skill it takes to become better at it. The maintenance and upkeep on the simpler boat is actually less $$ in my case too (at least in the short term).

During the Harken races this past winter (in Dunedin, FL) My friend and I watched with AMAZMENT as these 70+ year old guys lifted the mast off the boat (while standing on the beach, in front of the beam), and lowered it solohanded, without a pin to pivot it. Actually, both our jaws dropped (literally).

I asked if i could feel its weight and he said "sure, but it will cost you $20,000 after you fall in love with it (to purchase an A-cat)".

If it wasnt for the cost.. i would love one. I would still want to have a boat i can take crew / gear out on (even though i sail solo 90%) ... so this is really a "post lotto dream".

The first time I took my mast down, I thought something was hung up because it was at 60 degrees and I was still having to pull it down....it was the breeze.

I can rig and de-rig my F16 mast with ease.

1. Every time I lift my 165 pound A-cat, my back says "Thank you Very Much!"
2. My wife says she is too old to crew (65? COME ON!)
3. The Hot Hobie Chix- the crews of yesteryear are gone away somewhere, married, overweight, too old too. OOp-- politically incorrect - but Back in the Day, not so much.

Still I will always treasure that white crocheted bikini....twas '72 Mount Dora, I know.

I love sailing with someone else who knows what they are doing in high winds. However, if I only sailed with someone else I would sail about half as much. I used to think I wouldn't like sailing solo but I certainly do. I couldn't do it if my boat weighed more than it does. Pointless to have a boat you can sail solo but still need 2 people to get it in and out of the water.
As more people feel the thrill of sailing solo downwind with the spin up from the wire I think more and more people are going to be interested in single handed spin boats.

I've seen a migration from 'bigger' boats too.

To quote a Melges 24 sailor in SF that just bought a brand new H16. As I slapped the invoice on the counter, he remarked, "That's what a main costs for my other boat."

J

Congrats on the sale (not sail)... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

i didnt know people bought new H16's... i just assumed they ALL came "used".... lol

what is the going rate for a new h16?

Well, my 16 isn't exactly small or light, but I can single hand it just fine.

The big thing is lack of crew. I practically have to get on my knees and beg people to come crew.

For this reason, I think my next used boat is going to be a Mystere 4.3. Just so I can handle it more easily myself.



I want to say about 10,000 clams.

I think all the reasons have been stated already. But I'd echo them.

I enjoy sailing solo - sail when you want to, go where you want to (events). A major benefit is not being able to pass the buck - I know that any improvement has to come from me.

The smaller / lighter boat just makes the whole thing practical. There's no less sensation of speed, and in fact I think the thrill increases as the boat size reduces. The more I sail the Shadow (solo), the more I love it - it is so responsive, and as a solo sailor you can really become a unit of "man and machine". The Shadow can beat with the best of them (well, maybe not the A Cat), and gives helluva ride downwind in a blow, trapezing with the kite up.

And if we all did it, there'd be twice as many boats at regattas <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Crew issues

That and I always worry that my crew doesn't have their head in the game all the time. Like last year I was coming smoking into the gate on port on a H16. For what ever reason I didn't see 3 H20's stacked up also coming in hot and on starboard. Emergency gybe, and everything was fine. But that could have ended poorly for my crew, getting bashed in the head with a boom, fist whatever. I should have been paying closer attention to traffic, but so should have my crew. I think I looked earlier and assumed that they weren't going to cover that much ground so quickly, and wrote them off as not going to be an issue.

I am also waaaay calmer when I'm by myself. I don't get nearly as wound up, worked up, or pissed off when things are going the way they shouldn't be. In the back of my mind I always think there is something the 2nd person should have done differently, whether there actually is or not. With just me on board its all my fault and I can deal with that.

The only thing I don't like is not having someone to talk to between races.

Wow Karl, perhaps you should switch to the decaf?

Just kidding, i feel the same way.

i get upsed when crew dont do their job correctly (which is everything i want / expect them to do) and would rather do it myself.

I have yelled at almost evert crew that gets on my boat, (and that is very out of character for me.)

My girlfriend will not go sailing with me ever again... and the word "spinnaker" is a dirty word and i am not allowed to utter it!...

I don't have that problem! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I didn't mean to dis any other boat classes. Setting up a Hobie 16 to go solo is still a lot easier than the double handed boats I used to sail. My life is stressful enough and I just want to increase my enjoyment at regattas.

I'm not a yeller. Double handed I don't yell if something is done incorrectly, if and when I yell it is to make sure that I am 100% understood, and there is no question as what needs to be done. Like: "BLOW THE JIB!!!!!!!!!!!!!" when a pitchpole looks inevitable when its howling, or some other unavoidable action needs to take place to save us from certain peril and it needs to be done now.

Is that because you talk to yourself?

I'm not a yeller either! I am only speaking very loud and with expletives to make sure they understand it needs to be done fast and correctly.... (doesn't seem to help when i explain this... i still get a mutiny)