Most Difficult Thing About Single Handing ?

[rhr1956]

I'm not asking about the mental aspects of sailing alone, but more about the things that must be done while sailing, docking, mooring, making adjustments..whatever. What is that one thing that is part of sailing solo, that you wish you never had to do.

[deckofficer]

A nature call, when the outside nature is raising hell.

[Sailmonkey]

I think my single most undesirable thing to do alone is change headsails. The rest is cake.

[hpeer]

For me #1 is staying awake when you really need to and you are played out.

Docking, dealing with headsails, dealing with nature calls, and other stuff can also be challenging. Which is the worst? Hard call.

[sy_gilana]

Sleep deprivation...

[Ram]

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

Sleep deprivation...

[AllezCat]

Sleep deprivation.
Retrieving anchor when i cant see the angle of the rode.
Otherwise - bliss

[stevensuf]

I am looking forward or not looking forward to being on the boat for a month by myself come may/june this year, i think i will stay put or not go far, I know it is possible to single hand, but wouldn't want to do it!

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

Sleep deprivation...

I find that after a week or so, my life turns into a series of "cat-naps" for an hour or less..
The hardest for me is getting by without the wife and the little things she does to make the trip memorable..
Nothing better than the smell of her baking cookies or bread while underway, unless the eating of the hot morsels with a fresh cup of tea.
When I'm delivering or underway by myself, I find I'm kind of a grundge monkey, no reason to shower, and the food I eat is just crap..
Yep, the hardest thing to do is going without my wife..

[multihullsailor6]

Agree on sleep deprivation as being the no. 1 issue.
Needing to sort out something below like a problem on the engine when you should be on top.

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by rhr1956

I'm not asking about the mental aspects of sailing alone, but more about the things that must be done while sailing, docking, mooring, making adjustments..whatever. What is that one thing that is part of sailing solo, that you wish you never had to do.

I think you should also ask what are the great things about sailing alone
as I find the amazing personal insight and beauty of increadable peace that comes from being alone and totally in charge of your life I have been solo sailing for a decade and find it hard to sail with company some will say its selfishness but that is not so it is the joy of sailing into a deserted anchorage and dropping the pick and feel pleased with yourself that gives many solo sailors the real BUZZ
Woooops forgot about the sea gods Sorry Fellas Cheers Jacko

[sailstoo]

Sleep deprivation and cat naps. Always tired.

The joy of sailing alone at night with the sea and the stars and no other sound makes it all worthwhile.

Magic.

[Tashtego]

Tacking is usually a fire drill. I like to turn on the autopilot and let it steer thru the tack while I tail on the winch. I bet a spinnaker set and/or takedown would be fun too but I have never done it alone.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by AllezCat

Retrieving anchor when i cant see the angle of the rode.

For sailing, docking, and other aspects of boat handling you can easily develop routines to make single-handing easy. But....

Retrieving the anchor, in bad weather, with no windlass...probably the hardest single handed thing I've ever done.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

A nature call, when the outside nature is raising hell.

Yet another good reason to never leave the dock without a bucket!