Date: 12/20/2006
Name: Jim
email: jhubbard56@comcast.net

---

subject: Jib/genoa trimming & Singlehanding

---

On my boat the jib sheets lead back to the back edge of the cabin/deck. They go through fairleads and cam cleats. The sheets are long enough to go back in the cockpit as far as necessary to be handled. It certainly should "not" be necessary to use a tiller tamer device to tack. I'm only 5'8", and with one hand I go through a tack with one hand on the tiller and the other on the jibsheet ready to release it when the sail starts to luff. Shifting to the opposite side going through the tack, I gain the proper course, while at the same time setting the opposite jibsheet with one hand.

I've been sailing and racing for years and a San Juan 21 properly set up can easily be sailed single handed. The winches on my boat are on the widest part of the gunwales (also gunnels), with cam cleats below these. This setup is a bit easier for single handing (for me). However, winches on the deck at the back of the cabin should also make it possible to steer, tack and release and set genoa sheets with proper setting of hardware. (This setup is probably better for flying a spinnaker.)

I do use a tiller tamer in numerous situations. When motoring out of a channel into our lake, I set the tiller and go through the process of raising the sails (if I'm by myself). I certainly have to rely on one when singlehanding and trying to set a genoa whisker pole:-)

There's always a 'way'.

There are some different deck layouts on some of the websites (or, used to be). If anyone has some good shots of these let me know.

-Jim

---

[Return to Harbor Messages | Create New/Followup Message]