Singlehanded Sailing: The Experiences and Techniques of the Lone Voyagers

by Henderson, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780070281646
• ISBN10: 0070281645
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1992-08-01
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press

Summary

Singlehanded Sailingoffers an account of the experiences and techniques of the lone voyagers, and penetrating insights into the psychology of singlehanders, their vessels, gear, strategies, and techniques, plus vivid accounts of emergency experiences alone against the elements. The information is absorbing in its own right, but also of obvious value to a larger audience of cruising sailors who occasionally find themselves sailing singlehanded or shorthanded. Combined with a wealth of practical information is an overriding sense of the camaraderie of the sea, and Henderson's steadying hand as a master sailor and teacher.The growing popularity of singlehanded racing has spawned a wealth of technological breakthroughs: voyagers can now avail themselves of reliable autopilots, much lighter and more efficient rigs, microprocessor navigation, and satellite weather forecasting. Boats are bigger, lighter, and faster--and the costs and stakes are higher. Singlehanded sailing is at the leading edge of sailing technology.These innovations are of major import for the larger audience of cruising and shorthanded sailors, and Henderson explores these connections thoroughly. A chapter on "Singlehanding for Everyone," and a thoughtful and provocative conclusion, assess the contributions and possible future of singlehanding. Even more than in the first edition, Henderson achieves a remarkable combination--a practical how-to book that is also an eloquent contribution to the sailing literature.No better survey of singlehanded skills, boats, and hardware exists."--from the Foreword by John RousmaniereWhat reviewers said about the first edition ofSinglehanded Sailing:"This is more than just the most authoritative work to date on solo sailing. Because it deals with people who've had to be expert seamen to survive, the book becomes, perforce, a manual of great usefulness to any yachtsman contemplating a shorthanded voyage. Read it through once for perspective. Then put it with your navigation tables for ready reference when planning your next transatlantic."--Philip S. Weld"It is a distillation of the experience gained by hundreds of sailors during a century of singlehanded sailing, and a critical and technically detailed discussion of the equipment and techniques available today. Henderson writes not only for the prospective singlehander whoplansto sail offshore alone, but for every cruising sailor who might find himself effectively alone, through accident, illness or the inexperience or other incapacity of his crew--and that, to me, means every cruising sailor."--John S. Letcher, Jr."It is an excellent book, and I would consider it a disgrace for any Society member not to have a copy. Do not tell me you already have Borden, and Klein, and Merrien, and Holm, and Clarke, and etc., etc., so why should you buy another book on singlehanded sailing? Because reading maketh a full man."--Richard Gordon McCloskey, Slocum Society founder

Author Biography

Richard "Jud" Henderson, who has been a sailor since the age of five, lives on Gibson Island, Maryland, where he divides his time between writing marine books (this is the nineteenth) and magazine articles and sailing his Ohlson 38, Kelpie. His boating activities have included advisory work as a member of the American Boat and Yacht Council and as a board member of The Telltale Compass. Henderson's previous books include Sea Sense and Hand, Reef and Steer, hailed as two of the best books available on sailing and seamanship.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Part 1 A Legacy of Singlehanded Sailing

Chapter 1 Early Voyages and Influential Pioneers

Chapter 2 The Modern Era: Races and Record Breaking

Chapter 3 Motives, Personalities, and Psychological Aspects

Part 2 The Vessels

Chapter 4 Good Designs for Singlehanding

Chapter 5 Rigs for Singlehanded Sailing

Chapter 6 Self-Steering

Part 3 Singlehanded Seamanship

Chapter 7 Solo Techniques

Chapter 8 Safety Considerations

Chapter 9 Passage Planning and Preparation

Chapter 10 Alone Against the Elements

Chapter 11 Handling Emergencies

Part 4 Singlehanding for Everyone

Chapter 12 Gaining Singlehanded Experience

Chapter 13 Future Directions and Developments

Appendix A Singlehanded Circumnavigations

Appendix B Honor Roll of Blue-Water Singlehanders

Books About Singlehanded Sailing

A Note on Sources

Index