Every 4 years, France sees a few dozen single-handed sailors set off around the world. It is sometimes said that there are more human beings to have gone into space than sailors to have completed a single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. In the same way, every summer the Solitaire du Figaro jousts take place from which the best sailors of their generation will emerge.
Single-handed sailing is demanding, but it's not just for pro racers taking their carbon machines to the edge of the limits. Many yachtsmen sail solo, either by choice or by constraint and listening to a few skippers, with some crews it is worse than solo sailing.
The pleasure of being alone at sea with your companion boat is unrivalled. This magic is not inaccessible, it requires a little preparation and organization. Whether racing or cruising, solo sailing requires a certain state of mind, as you have to be ready to do everything independently and take on all the roles on board.
?Un boat suitable for solo sailing
Single-handed or short-handed navigation cannot be improvised. Not only must you have the ability to play all the roles on board, skipper, navigator, sail trimmer, cook, repairer... but you must also have a boat suitable for sailing with a small crew.
A boat for solo sailing is getting ready and you have to focus on ease of handling.
Taking your first steps
To start off safely, the ideal is to make an outing in calm weather and note all the points that pose problems. Port manoeuvres, helming, letting go of the helm, hoisting the mainsail, taking a reef, trimming the genoa, tacking and jibing, cape, taking a locker, and anchoring the anchor. Each of these manoeuvres will need to be commented on to try to improve them and make them more fluid and safe. Don't hesitate to ask the advice of a rigger, who can suggest modifications to the deck plan to make it easier to use your boat alone.
If you've never done a solo before, to avoid a possible disaster, we suggest doing a "fake solo" release. A trusted team member will accompany you, but will only intervene if necessary. He will be able to give comments and judicious advices, because he will have some distance on the manoeuvres, a camera can also be a great help.
Adapting the boat to solo sailing, the autopilot
The purpose of these outings is to reveal the points that need to be changed to make navigation safe and enjoyable through small changes that will make life easier.
The list of equipment to aid solo navigation is long and depends on each boat, but the autopilot can be put at the top of the list. It is very difficult to navigate solo without a pilot. The first prize pilots will allow you to keep a course with the engine or with little wind and it is already a great help for the solo sailor who goes out and comes back to port with everything to prepare alone.
On a sailing boat, as far as possible the addition of a good pilot is an investment that allows more and better single-handed sailing. The French manufacturer NKE is at the cutting edge of technology and together with the American B&G, they share the ocean racing market.
If you can't afford to invest in a car driver, you can try the rubber band method. The helm is held on both sides by rubber bands, the tension of which allows the boat to follow its course upwind. It is very effective and you learn a lot about helm balance, but as soon as you leave the point of sail close to the wind, the system loses its effectiveness.
A deck plan adapted to solo sailing
The growing popularity of ocean racing has led to the development of products now available to the general public. Furling downwind sails, autopilots with wind mode, light and robust sails, high-performance deck fittings, tailing or electric self-steering winches, more reliable auto-pilots interfaced with instruments, staysail on drop-down forestay.
The deck plan can also be modified, a furling system instead of sails to be furled, the return of a few halyards to the cockpit, a blocker to be moved, a practical reefing system. The aim is to make single-handed sailing easier.
Of course, there is always an economic compromise, as few boaters are sponsored by their bank. You have to think about your experience and your budget to make the most profitable investment in terms of the number of days of solo sailing. If you intend to sail mainly solo or only do one or two outings a year, the investment will not be the same.
Safety on your own
When sailing single-handed or with a very small crew, safety considerations have to be taken from a different angle. The risk of an accident is increased, and the consequences even more so.
Of course you have to wear a lifejacket and a PLB in your pocket (personal beacon), but that's far from enough.
In fact, you mustn't fall off the boat, that's the most important thing. That's why when sailing solo you have to be constantly attached to the lifeline or other anchorage points even in calm weather. Finally, offshore racers are obliged to do a survival course. It is recommended that all boaters follow these courses.
Solo communication
When you set out alone at sea, you must make a sailing plan and share it with someone you trust. Time of departure, destination, and expected time of return.
It is necessary to test the VHF with a semaphore or a port, make sure you have charged your mobile phone and for more distant navigation a satellite phone is highly recommended.
For those who have an AIS transmitter, it is also recommended to precede the name of the boat with "solo sailor". ?
Lonely doesn't mean lonely
Contrary to popular belief. A single-handed sailor is not - necessarily - an associable being. You only have to look at the pontoons of a Mini 6.50 race to be definitively convinced of this, there is a rare sense of brotherhood and solidarity.
?La solo sailing offers rare emotions and pushes the technical knowledge of navigation. It's very exciting and addictive, so be careful if you try it you might get hooked.
