Shorthanded Sailing

Shorthanded Sailing

Most cruising boats undertake their voyages under shorthanded conditions.

Lots of your friends may be happy to fly to a destination and meet you for a few days. Land based friends simply do not have the time or the inclination to make the trip with you. Actual cruising is your lifestyle, not theirs.

Good design dictates the best use of equipment and systems  to allow two people to cruise in comfort and safety. 

In practical terms, this means that the boat has to be set-up so that it can be sailed by one person. At some point, you begin to work the watch system and someone has to be off watch, and able to sleep.

Sure, the off watch crew may sleep with “one eye open” but  you need to know that the boat can be sailed by the other crew without you having to be forever alert to the unexpected.

Cruisers don’t  select their boats because they perform like grand prix racers, they buy them because they don’t!

Very fast light displacement boats present unique handling challenges that detract from comfort and safety.

For a cruiser, control and manageability are key to successful adventures. The best blue water cruisers should be able to maintain a boat speed equal to one-half the apparent wind speed.

Maintaining speed and course while staying in control have played a role in the number of blue water cruisers that have won long-distance races.