How To Single-Hand an 11,000 lb Sailboat 

You did an excellent job. Loved the prep-work and safety-first checklist.

Nicely done video! I have had my O'day 28 for 1.5 years. This season I have sworn to single hand! For all the reasons you stated....

haha! I used to sail out of Herrington Harbor South with a guy who owned a 28-foot Cape Dory. She was a solid, comfy boat that lacked the furling you have, but had an engine. We sailed all over the Bay and always backed her into slips. I appreciate the emphasis on safety.

Nice to see the cd 28. I used to own one. Simple addition to your any boat repertoire: never go head to wind. Always heave to (on starboard tack) to raise or reef mainsail. Simple 3 strand across the tiller permanently set up to make 4,5 wraps. Not tight(raising tiller for tight) is part of it too.Life changing. Play around with self steering with sail trim. It will save the tiller pilot and battery for light and motoring.Keep at the solo stuff.

Really enjoying your videos. I’m just getting into sailing myself so it’s great to see a step by step video like this!

Excellent video. I single hand my 34’ sailboat the majority of the time for the reasons you explained well. The 4th piece of safety equipment I use, in addition to PFD, lanyard and portable VHF is a Garmin InReach mini. It doesn’t cost a lot and can provide satellite guided assistance if you are in the water away from the boat. Your docking was textbook. As you pointed out the key is to understand how the wind will affect positioning. I never let my boat speed drop below 2 knots to ensure full rudder command and then use reverse gear to slow the boat to zero so I can step off the boat onto the dock. Much easier with an inboard for sure. And as you said, an autopilot is a Godsend for single handing - I use mine all the time. Thanks for this awesome video.

Nice work. I was out single handing my Allied 36 yesterday. It is a good feeling. When you have the opportunity you will find that is is actually easier to single hand a properly set up bigger boat because things don't happen as fast.

Excellent video , very well explained. I hope to see more content from you.Thank you for sharing.

That was great. Especially the docking. I have a CD 27 and just figuring out how to single hand. Thanks

You don't need to convince me to singlehand. I love the solitude, and being captain of my own boat! I am looking to get a bigger boat, like around that size, so this video was encouraging.

My boat is also called Laminar Flow (not the one at your marina).

I singlehand my Pearson 31-2 out of the West River. I knew you were on the Chesapeake by the color of the water!

Really good how you emphasized preparation prior to throwing lines. Couple of other items would be to gauge the tension on the lines to determine the order of throwing off. Also make sure all lines can be quickly removed when needed, ie a single cleat hitch. You may also want to preposition the boat to account for the wind and current, prior to throwing those last couple of lines. I have a larger vessel that has a bow thruster, which usually means the stern line gets thrown last. Also you may want to mention looping the line around the dock cleat and tying it off on the boat in cases where the lines are going with the boat.

nice explanation mate 👍

Excellent video !!!

more of these videos please!

I wrap a line around each stern cleat and loop the tiller in the middle. It has a little give, but will keep a course well enough to run up and do one thing at a time. Appreciate the video- will be checking out your channel.

Single handing my 45 sloop is way easier than what you’re doing. Everything is automated and I have in mast furling. Much respect. Small boats are harder to sail than many realize.

Thank you. I'm going out tomorrow.

Subscribed that was great!

Solid video. Did not see if your boat has a midship cleat. My boat has one, so I have a single line with a loop in the middle on my midship cleat with the ends tied to each end of the finger pier. Coming in, I boat hook the finger pier V line first and throw the loop over my midships cleat that makes me fast to the finger pier and also serves as a for and aft springer line. I have heard that setup called a V line or a cheater line. I have a similar V line on the main dock to center the bow. I have a separate set of dock lines that go with the boat.

Lazy jacks sure help

You also need three unexpired flares with a flare gun. I fire extinguisher, your registration, at least one throw out float device for rescue, all what is needed by coast guard or you get big fines😮then your ready to learn to sail.

It seems like this video was more for your own personal " can I do this" than for us viewers. But great content nevertheless. I'm a new captain, also single-handing a columbia 27, and I go through this same thing every time before I raise the sails in my head.

THX a lot. Buon vento

Very nice and clear explanation. How much headroom do you have in the 28? Thank you

The docking part is what scares me.

Why is your roller line from the gib drum going around the stainless instead of going out of it without any contact?

Where do you find those storage hammocks?

What kind of shoes ya wearing?

I can tell you watch Sam Holmes

Excellent video , very well explained. I hope to see more content from you.Thank you for sharing.