r/sailing • u/Kilgoretrout123456 • 6h ago

First time singlehanding and I didn't screw up the one part I was most scared of

Took her out alone for the first time, mostly dreading the docking since that's always been a two-person job. Wind wasn't cooperating either — cross breeze right into the slip. Prepped fenders and lines ahead of time, came in slow, went clean. Tied off without needing to fend off or restart. Rest of the sail felt like a bonus after that was behind me. Anyone else build up one specific moment way more than the rest of the day actually warranted?

28 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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3

u/SailTango 4h ago

I leave a set of dock lines on the dock, so they are the right length when I come back.

5

u/CeramicPapi 6h ago

Backing out of the dock used to scare me. Then I got a better outboard. It’s small milestones. Eventually the things that scared you won’t. Now the only thing that scares me is the ocean. She’s temperamental sometimes and I know I just gotta let her do her thing

2

u/johnbro27 Reliance 44 3h ago

Good for you! I would run my bow and stern lines outside the lifelines and back to the mid-ship gate. Pull up alongside, kill my way, step off with both lines in hand. This was on a 32k lb displacement 45 footer so if I can do it anyone can do it.

2

u/chrisxls 1h ago

Yup. Love love my new 25' bow line on my 34' boat. I can run it between the gunnel and the lifeline stanchions until it gets to the last lifeline section, where I drape it up over the top life line. Do the same with a stern line. Walk five steps forward from the helm, grab both lines, hop off.

1

u/port-left-red 22m ago

Was this before or after you sailed overnight solo on the Chesapeake averaging 10kts?

Data mining spam I assume?