SAILING SINGLE HANDED. A tutorial with hints tips and techniques to make it nice and easy

Some people like doing it, others not so much, but being able to sail a yacht on your own is an important skill to have. This is a short film that we shot at the end of the year, on a gloomy day, that gives you some idea of the way we go about it. Please let us know what you think below and if you have any observations or hints and tips of your own we would love to hear them. Music from http://www.purple-planet.com/

SAILING SINGLE HANDED. A tutorial with hints tips and techniques to make it nice and easy sentiment_very_dissatisfied 48

Sailing 7 years ago 163,356 views

Some people like doing it, others not so much, but being able to sail a yacht on your own is an important skill to have. This is a short film that we shot at the end of the year, on a gloomy day, that gives you some idea of the way we go about it. Please let us know what you think below and if you have any observations or hints and tips of your own we would love to hear them. Music from http://www.purple-planet.com/

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Most popular comments
for SAILING SINGLE HANDED. A tutorial with hints tips and techniques to make it nice and easy

TRIBAL FROM THE TRAP DON TRAPPICUS
TRIBAL FROM THE TRAP DON TRAPPICUS - 6 years ago
Hi I love what your doing want to be YouTube friends?
Sailing Anastasia
Sailing Anastasia - 6 years ago
Love the video ..... and the ending hahahaha. It’s actually amazing how many “experienced” sailors are afraid to be alone. I remember how amazed some of them were when I was “parking” my boat to the fuel dock so calm and so precise while they were coming too fast either hitting the dock and other things. And I only had my boat for about a week at that time hah. Really love the video. Cheers and have an amazing week.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Nice to hear from you and thanks for your kind words. Your right though, sailing single handed isn't for everyone... some people just don't get it at all :-)
Stu B
Stu B - 6 years ago
I'll bet he has a cunning plan. Lol
Mateusz Seńków
Mateusz Seńków - 6 years ago
This boat... Dixie 27?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Mateusz
Its a Hanse 291.
The first boat that Hanse ever made that was itself taken from the moulds for an Aphrodite 29 which was a very well regarded Swedish boat pf the 80's. They are a little cramped by modern boat standards but sail exceptionally well
LEEDS8
LEEDS8 - 6 years ago
Really enjoyed that, you come across well, thanks for the video.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Leeds
Thanks you, glad you enjoyed it
Zvonimir L
Zvonimir L - 6 years ago
And without using autooilot? I have a problem with tacking and raisibg the sails while still going on engine because I cannot fix the rudder... Any advice?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Guys
It is probably the most import part of sailing single handed, controlling the tiller. If you have a long keel boat you can do most things without worrying about it but on more modern fin keel designs it gets much harder.
Tacking is just practice and technique, and to be honest I cant help much more without actually being on the boat with you but with time I'm sure you'll find a system that works for you
Raising the sails etc, well on our Beneteau 32S5 I could do a lot with just a line tied between two deck cleats, one on each side of the cockpit, with this line wrapped around the tiller to provide some drag. Alternatively if your main sail goes up and down easily enough you can try just going hove to, and raising and lowering the main with the boom to one side.
But to be honest it will make life much easier if you can got hold of one of those simple tiller pilots. Thats all we have used in the past and although they often struggle to control the boat if your sailing in a blow when it comes to raising and lowering sails, putting out fenders and lines, or making a cuppa while under motor they are great.
Have fun with your adventures
billaros23
billaros23 - 6 years ago
i have heard of a good trick (i havent tried it yet) of having the tiller end connected to the boom end. This way you will have the boat pointing to the wind while you raise the main
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Black Belt.
Its a Hanse 291, they arent all as well equipped as ours but they are lovely little boats


https://youtu.be/OHtTPXqMK_8

https://youtu.be/xbT5KJvezyQ



Thanks for watching
Mark Badoer
Mark Badoer - 6 years ago
You have a tiller, not because you are a sensible sailor, but because you have a small boat!! ;-)
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Thats a proper boat although not necessarily sensible :-)
billaros23
Mark Badoer
Mark Badoer - 6 years ago
I know! You even sort of smirked in the video! And hence I put an ;-) behind my remark, as it was not meant to offend you, but just being cheeky. From the 48 years I have sailed, the first 20 odd years were also with a tiller. No autopilot, shore power, fridges, GPS or wifi either. So glad I experienced all that. Then after that to a boat with one steering wheel and the last 15 years with 2 steering wheels. That I like best of all. But as my boat has 2 steering wheels.....it does make me super not sensible! LOL.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Mark
That was said with my tongue firmly in my cheek, however there is a trend for smaller and smaller boats to have wheels now-a-days and unless your boat is over say 40f, to my mind they offer more disadvantages than advantages
Pedro Cocas
Pedro Cocas - 6 years ago
Great simple video. Watch it many every time it pops on a search. It gives useful tips for my Sun Fast 20.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Pedro
Thanks, Nice to know you are finding it useful, thanks for letting us know.

10. comment for SAILING SINGLE HANDED. A tutorial with hints tips and techniques to make it nice and easy

99F
99F - 6 years ago
is that a boat or a plastic bin
Music World
Music World - 6 years ago
An amazing teaching tutorial from an obviously very skilled sailor who not only knows how to sail like few do, BUT also knows how to get his points across in a way people understand! Thanks a lot for uploading and have you thought of becoming an instructor? I'm sure many would benefit from your style of doing and explaining things.All the best to you.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it and found it useful. And thanks for all your kind words. I'm not sure i have the patience to be an instructor and as I am basically self taught, or at least I have learnt everything the modern way from books and films etc rather than other sailors, Im not really qualified to teach, but always happy to help any one that I can. Have fun in your own sailing adventures
Kyle Bennet
Kyle Bennet - 6 years ago
single handing is the best part of sailing without friends.
Chris K
Chris K - 6 years ago
hi, Nice videos. I was wondered size of yacht manageable for single handed sailing, I'd be interested in any thoughts. Thanks
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Chris
Nice to hear from you, glad your enjoying our films. I would say the right boat for single handing depends on a lot of factors and size is only one of them... But for the sort of sailing we do 29ft (the size of Sea Horse) is just about perfect. If you were sailing inland on small pieces of water then something smaller might be easier to manage and if all your sailing was off shore then you would get away with something larger? Horses for course as the saying goes
Melody Storm
Melody Storm - 6 years ago
You know, that intro, it could've been messed up, but it was so very well filmed, amazing job. Honestly.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Melody
Thank you. It was a bit cheesy and I felt a bit silly doing it but it was fun. Glad you liked it
Preferred User
Preferred User - 6 years ago
Really impressed! It looks so easy as you know exactly what you are doing! Thanks for sharing!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi ya
Thank you. Like everything, it gets easier with practice but as you slowly learn what to do and get to know your own boat everything starts to fall into place.
Have fun
Bender81
Bender81 - 6 years ago
In English would have been nice
Jared Colahan
Jared Colahan - 6 years ago
you make it look simple , my time is coming. good video
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Jared
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it, have fun in your own adventures
Bo Boura
Bo Boura - 6 years ago
I have no idea how to rig my boat . Its a shame nobody has a video on how to rig it
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Bo
I'm afraid every boat is different in that regard. Even boats that left the factory the same end up different 10 years on, as owners tweak and fiddle with the setup to suit there own personal requirements.
Otherwise that would be a great idea
Keith Hendrickson
Keith Hendrickson - 6 years ago
Am I the only one that thought the little green tub was his boat? Off to the high seaaas zzzzzzzzz...

20. comment for SAILING SINGLE HANDED. A tutorial with hints tips and techniques to make it nice and easy

Bruce Norman Smith
Bruce Norman Smith - 6 years ago
Good stuff, thanks! I’m learning to sail solo in a 21’ Islander, and she has a very sensitive tiller/rudder and no auto helm - But as you say ‘don’t be clever’ ‘have a plan’ ‘go as slow as you can’ and do the ‘proper’ thing. I even put on a helmet if it’s a bit blowy and I’m gybing - met a couple of blokes who got concussions from a boom, not worth it especially when you’re alone. No prizes out there for being proud :) I agree with the other comment about leading a mooring line aft from the bow to the cockpit, and picking up the buoy from back there, especially if you have a fussy tiller. Thanks again for the great video!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Bruce
Nice to hear from you and glad to hear that you enjoyed the film
Thanks for watching and commenting and have fun with your own adventures
ztum tzum
ztum tzum - 6 years ago
Great vid, subbed. Now binge viewing the rest...
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Thank you, great to hear that your finding the films useful. Have fun
ztum tzum
ztum tzum - 6 years ago
Basically I've found your singlehanding videos to be the best out there. Great source. I sail solo (newbie) on the local lakes here and will go coastal at some point in the future, once I have a bigger boat...
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Thank you and glad to hear that you are enjoying our films. You have probably worked out already now but we have some playlists set up for people that might want to catch up all the sailing we have done in the past. If you just want to see what we get up to you can look at all the vidoes, but if for example it the sailing single handed that you interested in then we have a playlist just for that... or if its the boat then there is one for that and so on.
But however you choose to watch, well thanks for watching
Thomas Wilson
Thomas Wilson - 6 years ago
Hi Mr. Foxwell,
Thank you. Yes, I just bought a 1989 Catalina 25 (quite popular here in the States) for lake sailing in Kentucky. I learned a bit on my one person Sunfish dinghy prior. The Cat has a very lightweight telescoping whisker pole so no need for uphaul. 
I like your Lexan/Lucite hatch door - less brightwork to maintain. I subscribed and will view your other videos. 
Oh, I should drop my mast soon (sitting in the lake for 8 years) to replace standing rigging for safety. It has a set of three shrouds and worry they may slacken too much while I use the jib halyard to lower the mast, and it could get away from me port or starboard. I'd rather not build a V-frame for it. Never lowered or stepped the mast before.
Best,
Thomas
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Thomas
Ive no idea what the weight of a Catalina 25 mast is but it will be substantially more than any dinghy mast so I would give this some careful consideration before lowering... if your not going to use a crane of some sort.


We raised and lowered the mast on our 20ft trailer sailor on our own


https://youtu.be/JGy_pqVDqP4



https://youtu.be/FhklEU5MlLk



But used a crane for sea Horse


https://youtu.be/NSrvuB0TI4Y
Thomas Wilson
Thomas Wilson - 6 years ago
Excellent attitude and skill set. Beautiful boat. Thanks. I am a beginner and appreciate the demo of whisker pole attached to sheet and not clipped to clew. I guess using a free (never used with furled genoa) jib halyard for loft control on goose wing is another complication to be avoided while single-handling.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Thomas
Having an uphaul on the pole is a useful thing to have if its a big pole as it makes man handling it all much easier. But if its a small pole and your short handed then yes its a complication that can be avoided when cruising. If your racing of course then anything that helps you optimise the shape of the sail is worth having. Thanks for watching
David Cataldo
David Cataldo - 6 years ago
I'm curious? when  / how long do you sleep ? boat on auto pilot? keep getting different answers
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi David
Good question but not applicable to the kind of sailing that we do I'm afraid so I dont have an answer for you. We just cruise and race around the east coast of England and plan all our journeys/events around daylight hours.
Sorry we cant help, have fun with your own adventures
Homefront
Homefront - 6 years ago
Im from California, you get 2 stars ⭐️⭐️ just for the accent
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
:-)
Hi Homefront
Glad you enjoyed it, nice to hear from you
Mr. Batchelor
Mr. Batchelor - 6 years ago
Really enjoyed your video. Thanks for making and posting.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Mr Batchelor
Thanks, glad to hear that you enjoyed it.
Thanks for commenting
sciencegeeknumber1
sciencegeeknumber1 - 6 years ago
Absolutely brilliant after all the trash i've watched. Switching from dinghy's to a yacht...and worried by the extra momentum etc...well done in giving me confidence to try this. And I love the music. Will prob need to pick up a trots mooring....any help would be great !
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi ya
Nice to hear from you and glad to know that you both enjoyed the film and liked the music :-)
Trots can be a pain but really they are not that much harder than a swinging buoy. Just make sure you pick up the up tide/wind end first and dont let your prop get any were near the rest of the floating lines.
Have fun
al math
al math - 6 years ago
Good video again, agree with the tiler vs wheel. From ur comments at the start thought u were taking the dinghy with u looks like u left it on the mooring?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Al
Yup as I was only gone for an hour or so I just tied the painter onto the mooring lines. This has the added benefit of making the mooring lines longer and with what amounts to a nice big buoy ion the end making retrieval that much easier on my return.
Thanks for commenting, nice to hear from you
Riley S
Riley S - 6 years ago
Down to earth and just enough humor. Keep making these videos, buddy.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Riley
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it, have have you seen the follow up film on flying the spinnaker single handed?

30. comment for SAILING SINGLE HANDED. A tutorial with hints tips and techniques to make it nice and easy

Werner Schulz
Werner Schulz - 6 years ago
you talk too much, I thought this was Video...not radio!!!!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
No problem Werner
Werner Schulz
Werner Schulz - 6 years ago
OK, sorry
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Its a film trying to teach people, and to hopefully inspire them to try sailing on their own single handed. Its hard to do that without telling them whats happening?
Mark Barry
Mark Barry - 6 years ago
Thanks for a great video, nice looking boat. Just one question/query. When I did my day skipper, I was taught to always leave a sail up (normally the head sail) just in case you lost the engine then you still had a means of propulsion and hence steering. When approaching a mooring.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Mark
Yup that is the conventional wisdom however I would counter that with the distraction and added complication that this brings with it, especially short handed, means that it isnt worth it. If I dont have complete faith in the engine of if the maneuver puts me in a situation in which any loss of drive would be a disaster then I woudl reconsider this.
God comment though, thanks, nice to hear from you
Ned Brewer
Ned Brewer - 6 years ago
Really enjoyed your tutorial. I too flew hanggliders for many years., sucessfully, i might add. Then about 20 years ago i became a surfer and more recently a sailor. Dreams of taking off to sail to the perfect wave rich areas of the planet. Boat searching and scheaming. But when it comes back to the basics, the fundamentals of sailing, the little tricks, thats when it becomes fun, challenging the brain, and the body to be efficent and safe., all those little do`s and dont`s that can save you and your boat, and someone elses boat too! As many time as i feel like ive got it, know it, whatever, i find im still learning and relying on those who have gone before and know more. Thanks for sharing, please know how valuable it is to all of us out here in u-tube land/ocean, and your style and sense of humor does not go unappreciated! Keep it up, please
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Ned
Thanks for commenting, nice to hear from you and great to hear from another hangglider pilot.
You will find, just like flying, that you never stop learning and that modern day sources of information like YouTube help the learning process better than we have ever had it before but nothing compares to how much you will learn from just doing it yourself.
So nice to hear from you and have fun in your own adventures
richard mouton
richard mouton - 6 years ago
I really liked your approach to being calm . I always have the unknown of wondering where and when my motor will stop and how i will get back. Not that i don't have a good outboard. You can't just paddle into dock. I guess i will have to join Boats n Tow and just wait till they show up, if that is the case . Would it be a good idea to mount a good size Troll Motor as a safety factor ?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Richard
Ironically having confidence in your motor is a key factor really in being able to fully enjoy your sailing. Being able to switch it off and knowing with a fair degree of certainty that it will restart when you want it to makes it all so much more relaxing.
We are fortunate in that we do trust our motor and spend a large part of our time sailing in sheltered waters so I've never felt the need for a secondary troll motor but I can see why if you cant tick both of those box's that a secondary power supply would make sense.
Thanks for commenting and have fun in your own adventures
Steve Henderson
Steve Henderson - 6 years ago
I think videos are fantastic, I have never had the opportunity to sail though I am wanting to do some RYA courses later in the year, and to see how you manage to sail single handed is fantastic and gives lots of ideas.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi ya
Thanks, glad you like the films and good luck with your own sailing adventures. If you do get the bug you will find that its a great hobby to get into
SkyEarthOcean
SkyEarthOcean - 6 years ago
I'm a novice, entirety of my experience is two sea trials on boats I didn't buy, and one tip out with another sailer on my boat. Is it a good idea for me to try this on my own? (27ft boat, non furling jib, lives in a slip)
SkyEarthOcean
SkyEarthOcean - 6 years ago
Thanks! I've not seen that video but I'll look for it. Probably wise to keep sailing with more experienced people for a while till I get the hang of it.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Very hard for us to comment on your situation, one of the things that we find really important in sailing is that crew should take responsibility for their own safety. You see it more in dinghy's were crews get in trouble and then moan about the safety cover but its becoming more common now in yachting as well. Here in the UK for example people just trust that the coast guard will get them out of trouble!

Not trying to put you off but go sailing with others for a while, even if you ask them not to do anything unless asked and then with experience you will come to find what your comfortable with and what your not.
Hope that this helps in some way, we arnt trying to put you off here just tell you how we like to do it. For example have you seen our recent film about flying a spinnaker on your own. We didn't do this day 1, or even day 100 for that matter, but over time we gained enough experience and practice to give it a go and so add this to the things that we are comfortable with.
So luck with your own adventures and have fun, its a great hobby
John Hodges
John Hodges - 6 years ago
Brilliant mate. Loved the approach explanation: at what speed do you wish to inpact. Cracked me up.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi John
Nice to hear from you and glad to know that you liked it, thanks for commenting
Tom Hahn
Tom Hahn - 6 years ago
WE ENJOYED IT THANKS
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Tom
Nice to hear from you, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching
Roger Briggs
Roger Briggs - 6 years ago
You remembered to go back and put your boat hook away, but you forgot to grab the camera. It's probably still mounted there, videoing away (insert smile emoji!). Some good tips here - thanks for making the video.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Roger
:-)
Nice to hear from you and good to know that you found the film useful.
Thanks for commenting
luis stafford's youtube
luis stafford's youtube - 6 years ago
I just watch for the tunes. :) Nah seriously good things here!!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
:-)
Thanks
HotNoodle Workshop
HotNoodle Workshop - 6 years ago
Thumbs up and sub.
Thank you for this sailing alone video.
Original Zavy
Original Zavy - 6 years ago
good old medway eyy
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Yup there are worst places to sail. Are you local to us then?
2Dogs Productions
2Dogs Productions - 6 years ago
Thanks for putting the time into this for newbies like me. Cheers from Canada
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Thank you, nice to know that you found it useful. Have fun
Ray Bush
Ray Bush - 6 years ago
Great vid I enjoyed watching
Peter Gallienne
Peter Gallienne - 6 years ago
Sailing with the Foxwell Family a bloody great video done in plain language buy a guy that know,s his yacht. Many thanks
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Thanks glad to hear that you liked it. Thanks for commenting
animatem
animatem - 6 years ago
One other piece of advice, if I may. I notice so many sailors miss the obvious when approaching a mooring or dock.

A sailboat under power usually has more than a forward gear. If you are coming in too fast, try out reverse for a moment. Yes, prop walk may play with your stern, but running around in circles for 10 minutes because you didn't use reverse to slow down or back off is not nautical. Practice and get a feel for what the whole boat does when reverse is engaged.

I find it funny, that sailors who are advanced boaters appear to be the worst at remembering reverse. My whole family (including kids) have practiced stopping and navigating the mooring field and docks in reverse on our sailboat. In my opinion, it is a powerful skill to have to get a boat out of trouble.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Yup good point, I use reverse myself but didnt think to mention it. Thanks for commenting
Mike Manny
Mike Manny - 6 years ago
Hi Ian......I've watched this video so many times and picked up good tips along the way. My boat has a genoa foresail, and it catches the forward stays every time I tack.....grrrrrrr. Next time out, I'm gonna take a tip from you and try keeping it reefed in, so that it doesn't catch the stays.....I'll let you know how I get on laters. Best Regards and bye for now....Mike.
Mike Manny
Mike Manny - 6 years ago
Thanks, Ian! I'll give it a go later on today, and let you know how I got on. Cheers for now.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Mike
Yup overlapping head sails are a pain at the best of times but doubly so when your on your own.
If its the knots holding the sheets on that are catching you might like to try a long single sheet attached with a cow hitch (google it if your not sure what I mean) but other wise yes reef the sail. If you can then move the fair lead to suit so that it still sheets in and sets correctly it wont hurt your speed that much but will make a big difference to your ability to tack. Have fun
Jacob
Jacob - 6 years ago
Great video - thanks for taking the time to make it. Great tips!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Jacob
My pleasure... have you seen the latest one on sailing single handed with a spinnaker?
Simon Palin
Simon Palin - 6 years ago
nice one ive seen loads of people fall in at the start of the day but good call
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Simon
Yup mistakes happen when you least expect them, the important thing is to learn from them. So yes I should have had my life jacket on right from the off but as soon as I realised I did some thing about it. Thanks for commenting there are lessons for all of us, including myself :-)
Simon Palin
Simon Palin - 6 years ago
lifejacket man
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
yup I know... do as I say not as i do :-)
Jon Rae
Jon Rae - 6 years ago
I'm heading out for a 120m solo on Lake Erie, Canada and found a few more things to practice. Thanks.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Jon
Great to hear from you and good to hear that you have found something of use. Sounds like your going to have a fun trip, all the best, have fun

50. comment for SAILING SINGLE HANDED. A tutorial with hints tips and techniques to make it nice and easy

Mike Scala
Mike Scala - 6 years ago
Outstanding vid! thanks.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Mike
Thank you, glad you liked it
charvais
charvais - 6 years ago
Good video, Why did you give up hang gliding?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi ya
Nice to hear from you and good to know that you liked the film. Hang gliding... lots of reasons but one of which was that I discovered sailing. A good days flying is way better than a good days sailing its just that most days flying either aren't good or aren't even flying at all!!! were as every day on the water is fun.
david mcfaull
david mcfaull - 6 years ago
I enjoyed that.. Love the way you explain things,, Very cool
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi David
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Just working on another in the single handed series, flying the spinnaker, hopefully we'll have that one out this week
bruce sinclair
bruce sinclair - 6 years ago
very good video please make some more
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Bruce
That is the plan but life is getting in the way at the moment, some day soon though hopefully
Collin Courtois
Collin Courtois - 6 years ago
Great Video. Thanks!!!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Colin
Nice to hear from you, good to know that you liked it
Gary Senecal
Gary Senecal - 6 years ago
great job do more . Like Stepping the Mast or additional rookie training . Great job really!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Gary
Thanks, glad you liked it and yes, we do plan to try and do more its just getting the time and weather to coincide at the moment... but one day
syncro16se
syncro16se - 6 years ago
You're doing a great job. Perfect camera angles so one can see what's going on, and you're very good at explaining the reasoning for doing what you're doing. I'm on my 6th sailboat and have some experience, but I am in no way an expert. Just a hobby sailor. But you always learn something new, stuff you haven't come across or thought about.
Again you're marvellous. Fantastic video. Best instructional sailing video I've seen on youtube for years. Or even ever! thanks greetings from Sweden
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
woo high praise indeed. Thank you and great to hear from you in Sweden
syncro16se
syncro16se - 6 years ago
Good down to earth tips. I like the (newly produced I guess) 70s style music in the beginning. What is it?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Nice to hear from you and good to know that you think its informative. We like the music as well and for reference we always put the name and artist of any music we use at the end of each film. In this instance the first piece was 'Do It' by 'Joe Joe Bagale'
Thanks for commenting
nicole075
nicole075 - 6 years ago
Great video, and great advice! I sail my 18' Edel single-handed, and it all comes down to planning it out, and acting sooner rather than later when things are starting to get sketchy! Also, like you said, its not leaving you need to be sure of, it's being able to get back.
Thanks!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi ya
Good to hear that you enjoyed the film and thanks for commenting. And yes it all follows that same basic lesson that you get in life... dont start something you cant finish :-)
Dennis MacDonald
Dennis MacDonald - 6 years ago
awesome i trying to sail around world starting midjune single handed ly ty
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Dennis
Glad you liked the film and good luck with your adventures, it's one of those dreams that I have but I cant see life letting me do it for a while... one day perhaps
Have fun
dasabyss2012
dasabyss2012 - 6 years ago
Cheers Ian really great informative video ,I am a total newbey and hope to be buying a small boat myself very soon after some instruction .I will be more than likely be single handed most of the time so its real inspiration from you , for people like myself to have a go .Thanks again and I shall watch your other vids .J
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Nice to hear from you and thanks for the kind words. Good luck with your own adventures
omar ronaldo
omar ronaldo - 6 years ago
It's like watching a documentary with all the great camera angles, u a real clever nigga dog
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Omar.
Thankyou, we dont pretend to be experts at this kind of thing but it is fun trying to put it all together. Its just a lack of time that stops us doing more, but when our lives settle down again we have plenty of other ideas for films that we would like to make
Jimmy Robertson
Jimmy Robertson - 6 years ago
What a great video! Awesome stuff! Just bought my first yacht (24ft trailer sailer) and intend to have the ability to sail it solo if there's a lack of family/crew at hand, so thanks for your video, some brilliant tips & advice!! Keep up the good work!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Jimmy
Nice to hear from you and glad to know that you found it useful. Good luck with you own sailing adventures, have fun
Roman Sanchez Morata
Roman Sanchez Morata - 6 years ago
Thanks, very useful. I leave here a video of a 22' sailing solo with some waves and a Raymarine 1000 on the tiller

https://vimeo.com/205946242
Steve Wright
Steve Wright - 6 years ago
You dodged that second whack to the head like a pro!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Steve.
It is one of the many skills that you have to learn :-)
Nice ot hear from you, thanks for watching
Sam Smith
Sam Smith - 6 years ago
Love your attitude about everything. You always find ways to get around problems instead of complain. The world needs more people like you! Keep it up mate.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Sam
Nice to hear from you and thank you for the kind words
Have fun
Knut Ivar Hanssen
Knut Ivar Hanssen - 6 years ago
"There is no room for pride when you are sailing, don't try to be clever. Do the right thing."
That advice alone make this a great video. (the rest was good as well, of course) Good stuff !
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Knut
Nice to hear from you and glad to hear that you found the film useful
Thanks for commenting
Damon Troy
Damon Troy - 6 years ago
Well done. Enjoyed it.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Damon
Thanks, nice to hear from you
dmitryhavansky
dmitryhavansky - 6 years ago
very encouraging!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Thank you, nice to hear from you
George Canakis
George Canakis - 6 years ago
excellent video thank you.
George Canakis
George Canakis - 6 years ago
Np you answered so many questions I had about sailing alone you sure got my confidence up .
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi George
Thanks glad you liked it, thanks for commenting
wil van Londen
wil van Londen - 6 years ago
Nice video! What kind of yacht is this? I undestood something like a seahorse or seahawk?
wil van Londen
wil van Londen - 6 years ago
Thank you. So you are very pleased with the yacht I noticed. I have sold my Contessa 26 and plan to buy a Hallberg-Rassy-29. But Hanse I saw on the Boat Show Boot 2017 in Dusseldorf and I like what they make.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Wil
Its a Hanse 291 called Sea Horse. It was the first boat that Hanse put into production and is based upon the well regarded Aphrodite of the same size
MrGunboat78
MrGunboat78 - 6 years ago
Thanks, enjoyed that. You remind me of Bricktop from Snatch.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
:-)
Empty Nest Sailing
Empty Nest Sailing - 6 years ago
That was great....thanks!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Empty Nest.
Thank you, glad to hear that you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching and commenting
Gerald K. Peter
Gerald K. Peter - 6 years ago
Great video - thanks for the tips and tricks - will try next time on my boat.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Gerald.
Glad to hear that you liked it and found it useful.
Have fun
Josh Koerpel
Josh Koerpel - 6 years ago
Jibing is no joke. We accidentally jibed in a force 7 on a 2-masted schooner called the Pride of Baltimore II out in the Atlantic. Had a double reefed fore which smashed the boom from stbd to port in an instant. It broke a lot of stuff ;) Another time was on another 3 masted schooner when we jibed (again by accident) and I saw a full 25mm steel eyebolt totally shear and two-block our main blocks. They exploded and we had to make some emergency maneuvers to gain control of the sail. No one hurt, but MAN it gives you some perspective as to the forces actually involved!

Great video man! I've got a Westsail 32 now...also sailing in a river off a mooring. I like how you mounted your cameras. And did you use a mic for these?
Josh Koerpel
Josh Koerpel - 6 years ago
Thanks...appreciate it!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Josh
Agree jibing is nothing to be scared of but it dopes demand respect... take your eye off it for a minute and if the wind is up it can bite you.


Re mics. We have an external microphone on the camera which has one of the those furry sleeves over it to cut down on the wind noise. Hope this helps
M Giamas
M Giamas - 6 years ago
Excellent Video, great tips for anyone that's just started the wonderful journey of learning how to sail. !!!!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi ya
Thanks, glad to hear that you enjoyed it
Have fun
Pedro Lopez garcia
Pedro Lopez garcia - 6 years ago
great video. nice editing. good communicator, thank you.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Pedro
Nice to hear from you and glad to know that you liked our film.
Thanks for commenting
Carl Michael
Carl Michael - 6 years ago
Clicked on this randomly, but actually really enjoyed the no nonsense approach and practicality.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Carl
Nice to hear from you and glad to know that you enjoyed watching us.
Thanks for commenting
urabus
urabus - 6 years ago
nice
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Thanks
dasabyss2012
dasabyss2012 - 6 years ago
Cheers mate really enjoyed this and some great advice to a mature novice like myself hoping one day be able to do just this and having the confidence to sail single handed. Thanks again John
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi John
Nice to hear from you and to know that you found our film useful.
Dont be scared of having a go, just pick the right time and place for your first attempt and you will find its all much easier than you feared.
Have fun
blissweb
blissweb - 6 years ago
Really enjoyed this video. I have zero experience and am about to start learning. I can see from this video that you've got a wealth of experience. I look forward to watching all the other videos you have. As a completely noob question, I'm very interested in how much you pay for your mooring per month ? Also which river is this ? I guess in the UK ?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Thank you, glad you found the film useful. Re the mooring costs I'm not sure what it works out to be on its own as we pay for it along with all the other fees associated with being a member of the club.
But if you search for Medway Yacht Club in the UK I believe they have the costs printed on their web page some where.
Thanks for watching
morning coffee
morning coffee - 6 years ago
great video
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Tom
Thanks, glad to hear that you liked it. Thanks for watchinig
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Thank you. Now that Sea Horse is back together and in the water again we will try and do some more... watch this space
David McGoldrick
David McGoldrick - 6 years ago
really good practical advice. much appreciated and very useful.
good sailing
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi David. Thank you, glad you liked it and thanks for commenting
laser D
laser D - 6 years ago
Beautiful video, thanks. I wish you make also a video showing single-handed anchoring, mooring and docking.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Laser D
Thankyou, and now that the season has started again we may well make some more sailing single handed films so we'll add that to the list of possible topics.
whitetail
whitetail - 6 years ago
I enjoyed this, great video thanks.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Thanks, nice to hear from you
Sailing Emerald Steel
Sailing Emerald Steel - 6 years ago
Good job guys!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Suzie and Jules
Great to hear from you.
Technically not that much in common with the sailing that you guys do but I guess the principles are still the same.
Thanks for commenting
BandB1111111
BandB1111111 - 6 years ago
1:27 At first I thought that was his sailing dinghy. I thought, good thing he is alone!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
:-)


It is a great little dinghy to use as a tender but your right, when the 3 of us get in there isn't much free-board left !


Thanks for watching
Buzzy Buzz
Buzzy Buzz - 6 years ago
Learnt a lot thanks.. Great tips, great music, whats not to like..
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi Buzzy Buzz
Thanks, glad to hear that you have taken something from it and that you enjoyed the film
lavantais blake
lavantais blake - 6 years ago
Great video.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi
Nice to hear from you and thanks for commenting, glad to hear that you liked it. Hopefully with the new season just starting we can now do a few more films covering other aspects of single handed
jamesSwhite
jamesSwhite - 7 years ago
Great video and great tips! Thanks!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi James. Thanks, glad you found it helpful. Have fun
keyboarder1988
keyboarder1988 - 7 years ago
Great video. You appear always very calm but concentrated, that's in my opinion the best way to handle a boat safely and enjoy it at the same time. A little suggestion from me as a non-native speaker, try to speak a little bit slower, that would make it easier to understand your hints. Thumbs Up!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi
Nice to hear from you and glad you liked the film. Sorry about the audio, we aren't natural communicators and make these films as just a hobby... we know its lacking in many ways so can only apologies. We hear what your saying though so we will try and improve it on future films.
Thanks for commenting
Brun Pendragon
Brun Pendragon - 7 years ago
Thanks I enjoyed watching your video. I'm here for one reason. I just saw the movie MOANA and they were mostly sailing in there and every kid out there who had no idea what sailing is would probably have questions if MOANA's sailing were technically correct. You're probably gonna laugh but anyway, the sailing part of the movie MOANA got me thinking about your hobby. Cheers!!! - from Los Angeles, California.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Nice to hear from you
Elizabeth loves that Moana movie so we know what you mean :-)
You can have a lot fo fun sailing, get yourself down to your local club and see if any one weants a crew... some one always wants crew.... that way you can try it out and see what you think.
Thanks for watching
Ken Johnson
Ken Johnson - 7 years ago
Nicely done! I've been sailing for decades, mostly single handed in the San Francisco Bay, but I still picked up a few excellent tips from your video. Thank you!!! By the way, your boat is gorgeous!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Ken
Nice to hear from you and thank you for the kind words. We dont pretend to be experts in the field, we are just keen sailors who would like to encourage others to enjoy sailing on their own so its great to hear that even an experienced sailor such as yourself can take something away from it.
Have fun
tinycmo
tinycmo - 7 years ago
amazing series. the combo of camera work and sailing. thank you for the product
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi
Thats very kind, thanks for commenting
Harun Krak
Harun Krak - 7 years ago
God I love that camera work :D keep it up
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Harun
Thank you. We are very much amateurs when it comes to making films, and this did take a while to do, but we learn a little more with every film we make.
Thanks for watching
Merlin Man
Merlin Man - 7 years ago
We have some common interests as I used to Hanglide for many years as well.
I have gone right over the boat over the past few weeks, learning all the while, starting the motor, clearing water out of fuel lines, completely cleaned the hull off barnacles and growth, and all inlets/outlet pipes(while in the water), fixed water pumps and am confident furling/unfurling headsail. I get concerned about crossing bars and seaways(an old childhood scare), the main thing is checking the conditions I suppose.
Merlin Man
Merlin Man - 7 years ago
Good one, thankyou. I have just bought a Compass 28 keel boat as my first sailboat. I want to sail her single handed, as I like being aboard on my own. I am almost ready to leave the mooring for a little sail and your video has helped me immensely.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
I wouldn't worry to much about your main, most main sails are just held up by its halyard and if it goes up ok the chances are it will come down fine as well. But that said if you have your doubts dont bother with it the first time you go out. Start with the things your comfortable with and work up from there.
Merlin Man
Merlin Man - 7 years ago
Thankyou for the advice. I have been slowly familiarising myself with the boat. Working out the motor, how to start, clear fuel lines, bleed water from the system. I have completely cleaned the hull while in the water, stripping it of barnacles and algae, and cleaned the prop, cleared outlet and inlet pipes I have a self furling headsail that I am comfortable hoisting and furling, the mainsail is a bit frightening to me as I am not sure if it locks at the top....which scares me if I could not lower it. I have no idea how to use my self steerer or gps, but my first sail will be just a jaunt down the river. I was going to try it the other day but the wind was 30 knots and I felt out of my depth to get to the mooring buoy and then back to the tiller. I have some very good books on sailing, but nothing replaces a video, cheers.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Merlin Man
Nice to hear from you and glad to know that our film is helping you to get out on the water on your own. I would say though for your first sail try to make sure that everything is right. There is nothing worse than getting put off by a bad experience because the weather was to strong, or your engine wouldn't start, or the sails jammed when hoisting, that sort of thing. Once you have done it once and have the confidence that you can do it, then it all gets so much easier.
Have fun
Son of Neptune Sailing
Son of Neptune Sailing - 7 years ago
Nice Video!  All the sailing I have ever done had been solo.  I like how you poled out the jib to go down wind.  I use a whisker pole to.  I attach the jib clue to the pole.  I think your method of keeping the pole fixed and sliding a sheet though the pole will work better for me.  You are probably using the 'correct' method .  I agree with Robert Orzech I would like to see more about poling the jib out to go down wind.  I Would also like to see a single handed Kite video.  I have never flown my kite and would like to attempt it!  Thank you !!!
SoloSail Boat
SoloSail Boat - 6 years ago
The problem I see with your method is the clew is now locked to the pole. That can be dangerous, imo. I use my topping lift and a 2 way bridle from pole to toe rail fore and aft, then sheet through pole end. The pole is locked in a stable position and the jib can be released like normal, release the sheet. With a preventer on the mainsail boom its all locked and near gybe proof if steered correctly on course. It's worth a try to see if you like it.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi
Thanks for the kind words and glad you found it of some use. We are planning on doing some more 'sailing single handed' films this coming season so we will try and do more about controlling the jib.
Stay tuned
Art Kuznetsov
Art Kuznetsov - 7 years ago
Great video! Thanks for all the info!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi ya
Thank you and thanks for commenting

100. comment for SAILING SINGLE HANDED. A tutorial with hints tips and techniques to make it nice and easy

Frantic Sailing Adventures
Frantic Sailing Adventures - 7 years ago
great video, thank you!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Our pleasure, thank you for commenting :-)
manuck spontool
manuck spontool - 7 years ago
should you tether your self to a jack line? great vid though
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi ya.
Absolutely if you feel the conditions warrant it, and this point of course is different for everyone. For us sea state and angle of heel are the primary factors but of course we are sailing here on a river, when we are out at sea this also changes our thinking.
Gibbette M
Gibbette M - 7 years ago
Hi thanks very much for your video, it was very informative , I have only watched 1 of yours so far but just wanted to say thanks!
cant wait to watch the next 1 , do you teach sailing ? if not you should , Im on holidays at the moment so trying to learn some theory on it , I have watched about 20 on the subject but yours is by far the best.
I first sailed in a 18ft Hartley a few times , but that was 20yrs ago , its always been my ambition to get back into sailing , 1 mth. ago i put a deposit on a 25ft Trailer Sailer, havent even seen it yet! but its been in storage for 15 yrs so hoping its as good as it sounds & looks in the Pics. Anyway Im hoping to teach myself Sailing with the help of youtube . Thanks again , off to watch your next clip. regards Wayne
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Wayne
Great to hear from you and glad to hear that you have been finding our channel useful. We havent done many 'how to' films so far but as this one has had such a good reception we are planing on doing some more sailing single handed films this season.
If you look back through some of our older films you will find we spent 18 months sailing a little 20ft trailer sailor and had loads of fun on her, you might find some useful stuff in them.
Have fun
Sailing Harley Quinn
Sailing Harley Quinn - 7 years ago
Very well done video. I know it was a calm day but do you ever use safety lines going forward? Been looking at fitting u bolts at key areas to rig a line system. My main is reefed at the mast. It's one of those masthead rigs you mentioned lol with 150% genoa and tiny mainsail in normal form. Popular rig in the 70's though and the boat is designed to minimize weather helm with this sail balance so will continue to use as it works ok. I also have small jibs and a nylon cruising chute too. I only go right forward to change sails which isn't very often as it's a furled genoa.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi ya
yup we do use safety lines when going forward although we can do pretty much everything, except hook a reefing ring onto the horn at the goose neck from the cockpit so dont have the need to so much. As to when we start using them... well that's a bit like what constitutes bad weather. Even in quite mild winds if the sea state is bad we'll clip on, conversely in our river we could have 20+ knots and not feel the same need.
Thanks for watching, all ways good to hear from you
Greg Pearcey
Greg Pearcey - 7 years ago
bad sailing porn
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi greg
errrr not sure we get what your saying here?
Paul Dunbar
Paul Dunbar - 7 years ago
Thank you!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Paul
No problem, thank you for thanking us :-)
Have fun
George von Housen
George von Housen - 7 years ago
good job a lot of good practical tips.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi
Thanks, glad to hear that you liked it
Daniel Beynart
Daniel Beynart - 7 years ago
Brilliant video. I felt like you were providing all this excellent insight and info off the top of your head.
I love taking my 25 footer out solo. It is the absolute best way to relax and enjoy life. It was great to include your arrival and preparation, it rings so true.
btw- your dingy looks like you could snap a plastic lid on it and it would keep your leftovers fresh.
I look forward to watching your other vids. Nice to discover you.
Charlie Prewett
Charlie Prewett - 6 years ago
Sturdy 250 I believe and it's EXACTLY what I'm looking for...is the whole trailer rig from the factory or is it your creation?
Awsome video!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Daniel
Nice to hear from you and thanks for the kind words but to be honest, apart from having the notion of doing a film about sailing single handed we did make it up as we went along :-)
And yes the dinghy would arguably make a better food container than it is a seaworthy means of transport however it does have a few things going for it. It was free, its incredibly light weight and it doesn't mind being dragged up a stony beach all things that make it ok in our book :-)
We plan on trying to make some more films on sailing single handed in the new year, keep watching.
Gerald Chopik
Gerald Chopik - 7 years ago
Great video with some great suggestions. I’m 67, always wanted to learn how to sail, but did not want to spend a season or two at a sailing school in a little dinghy in the harbour. So last August I bought a pre-loved 27 footer and set about teaching myself to how to sail single-handed. My thought was, if single-handed was the only way sailing was done we’d all figure it out eventually. With the help of lots of YouTube videos like yours, just two weeks in I accomplished a 20 km return trip. So a sincere thank you for taking the time to put this video together for the benefit of newbees like me. She’s on the hard at the moment covered in Toronto snow but goes back into Lake Ontario in 8 weeks. I will definitely be incorporating some of your suggestions. THANKS!
Sailing Harley Quinn
Sailing Harley Quinn - 7 years ago
Sometimes that's the best way to learn as long as you take safety precautions.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Gerald
Lovely to hear from you and glad to know that you are finding some of what we say useful. I (Ian) have never had a lesson either and came to sailing later in life... although not as late as you :-) I taught myself to sail in an old Firefly dinghy that I found rotting in one corner of a sailing club that a friend had joined. That was 15 years ago now and I'm still learning.
All the best with your own adventures, have fun
Carl Redmond
Carl Redmond - 7 years ago
Great video and delivery of content...thanks for doing this !!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Carl
No problem, glad you enjoyed it.
Great to hear from you and thanks for commenting
Bob Simmons
Bob Simmons - 7 years ago
The joys of life, without a woman to fuck it up. Good for you.
Sailing Harley Quinn
Sailing Harley Quinn - 7 years ago
lol Close your Ears Hannah lol
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Bob
Well I'm lucky I guess in that regard. I sail single handed because I enjoy it but have just as much fun, or more, when sailing with my family.
Have fun
Paul Just
Paul Just - 7 years ago
Great vid, thanks. Check your autohelm manual for "steer to wind" mode to solve the autotack being too long. Steer to wind functions like a windvane and will tack your boat to the exact opposite tack based upon the wind assuming it has wind data or you can add it to the autopilot. Normally when following a compass course, autotack is a 100 degrees course change regardless of your boats needs. Also it saves a lot of sail trimming if you have the sea room :-)
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Paul
That was in wind wind mode! We're sure that by fiddling with the settings we could improve things but what we have found so far is that if we tell it to tack through a smaller angle then it takes to long too come onto the wind. Its better for it to over tack quickly, and then learn, which it does, and come back up onto the wind.
If we were racing and depended on it then we would put more effort into sorting it out but in practice, as you can see, Sea Horse is so easy to tack any way we dont really need it.
Thanks for the input though, good to hear from you
uglybird650
uglybird650 - 7 years ago
Very informative video. Thanks for uploading.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Thank you, good to hear that you found it useful and thanks for commenting
John Beasley
John Beasley - 7 years ago
very nice boat, good for you.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi John
Thank you, we like it :-)
Emily BH
Emily BH - 7 years ago
What if your engine has broken down and you can't use it? Why not teach people to backwind their jib so the boat begins to turn into the river away from the boats and away from the dinghy on the port side? Before doing that just make sure the dinghy is tied to the mooring line on the port side; then backwind the jib and when the boat has beared off enough, pull in the jib and the main if it is up, and continue on. It isn't hard. I learned to sail off of moorings and make landings at moorings without ever using an engine.
Emily BH
Emily BH - 7 years ago
Yes. Think back to the time before there were engines.

I completely agree that for beginners, genoas are stupid. Every beginner ought to have a jib and you don't have to backwind the entire jib to start.

Rather while you are still at the mooring and the dinghy has been tied to the boat's mooring line, on the opposite side you want to leave the mooring on, grab the leech of the jib (the side facing away from the boat and the rigging) with your hand (or whatever you can grab )and push it against the wind on the side of the boat, so the boat turns the way you want. (It also helps to have the tiller facing in a direction that it at least not opposed to your desired direction.) Once the boat responds and starts to want to pull away from the mooring the way you want, drop the mooring line and return to the helm to adjust the tiller and pull in the sails as needed.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Your right Emily that is a useful skill and of course it can be done, indeed many of the one design fleets on our river routinely sail on and off their moorings but that doesn't make it good seamanship especially if its not required. Plus we aren't pretending that this is the only way of leaving just trying to encourage sailors that might perhaps be nervous of going sailing on there own to take the plunge... and of course if your engine is at all suspect you would be silly to set off alone in the first place.
But we hear what your saying and are planning on doing some more films on other aspects of sailing single handed later in the year when we get Sea Horse back in the water so we will add this to the list. Thanks for commenting
Brian Paterson
Brian Paterson - 7 years ago
Well thought out and constructive video good to see a video where you are see the machanics of someone sailing
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Thanks Brian, glad you liked it... we have more sailing single handed films lined up for the coming season so keep in touch
Claudio Ghisoni
Claudio Ghisoni - 7 years ago
This is the best practical sailing video I've seen and you made it interesting and entertaining. Please make more instructional video's.
A problem I'm experiencing is maneuvering/docking into a 4 post berth (much wider than my yacht) with a firm a cross wind, almost single handed (as the admiral is not keen on participating in this "Sailing stuff" lol!) .... Thanks for all the time and effort you put into this.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Claudio
Thankyou for the kind words, we are glad you liked it and found it useful. We are planning on doing some more 'sailing single handed' films when the new sailing season kicks off however we're not sure we could offer much help re the 4 post berth. We dont find many of them around, we certainly havent used one, plus compared to most boats Sea Horse is really well mannered in reverse so it would be much less of a drama for us than you. But we will keep it in mind, thanks for the idea
Tony Roberts
Tony Roberts - 7 years ago
Do you have to tie off onto both forward boat cleats or is one ok?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Tony
If your referring to our mooring.... well funnily enough we have just finished a short film were we describe our mooring ball/line setup. As they say in those old and cheesy american TV shows tune in next week to find out :-)
Hackle Drummer
Hackle Drummer - 7 years ago
Thanks for the advise re: headsail. I pretty well only single hand and have a massive genoa. I thought hauling in metres of sheet, tiller jamed against my 'leeward knee' and getting totally 'out of shape' hoping no one's watching while I sort it all out bouncing on white caps... was just part of the fun! What you said makes perfect sence, just a bit embarassed it never occured to me!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Hackle. We are constantly embarrassed by the things we hadn't thought of, or knew but have forgotten. In fact the motivation for making this film was from watching Trio Travels (a family sailing a cat in the Caribbean) and Cole, their son, reminded us of the technique for taking a sheet out of a self tailing winch. Something we already know but for some reason had forgotten all about.... and that made us think how many other people are out there that would benefit from a gentle reminder on some of the techniques that can be used.
So gald you enjoyed the film and found it useful, thanks for commenting
drawingboard82
drawingboard82 - 7 years ago
Great video, lots of really helpful tips and clear explanations. Thanks for putting the effort in!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi. Thanks, glad you liked it and found it useful. Once we get sea horse back in the water we plan to do a few more on other aspects of sailing single handed
David
David - 7 years ago
Thanks Foxwell, that was a fun video. I single hand in eastern Lake Ontario. Nice to go for a couple days or a week and anchor out at a range of different places. Cheers bloke, David
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi David. Glad you enjoyed the film, its good to hear from you. Have fun
cfossto
cfossto - 7 years ago
"Forgot the boat hook" - Leaves the camera on board... ;) Thank you for these tricks. Hope to one day own a boat..
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi. Nice to hear from you and glad you found the film helpful. Thanks for commenting
U4IASTRM
U4IASTRM - 7 years ago
You make it look and sound easy.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Thankyou but to be honest with a bit of thought an planning anyone can do it :-)
Thanks for commenting
Chuck Floto
Chuck Floto - 7 years ago
I would love to watch your video but I can't take the music. Sorry!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Chuck, nice to hear from you but sorry to hear that you dont like the music. Finding unoffensive music that is copyright free is always a struggle.
Roy Boyle
Roy Boyle - 7 years ago
fantastic video, just about to prep my boat for single handed sailing, (never done it before)trying to work out what to put, where. then just go for it on a very calm day, practice the mooring then once confident at that and know that I can get back, well, why not. Thanks for the video, learnt a lot
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Roy. Glad you found the film helpful, and thanks for commenting, its great to hear from you. Have fun
Michael Gaskin
Michael Gaskin - 7 years ago
I wonder how many other x-hanglider pilots now sail. Great video. scariest part for me was always setting up my final. Seems it's the same on a cruiser. Parallel parking in a tight spot is most intimidating.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Michael. Good to hear from you and yes, I suspect there are more of us sailing than we know about. It is a complementary sport in many ways... To windy to fly, well then its perfect for sailing etc etc.
Have fun
Curtis May
Curtis May - 7 years ago
I'm new at sailing a 30ft boat on Lake Michigan USA. this is good education as he is on what appears to be a similar boat. I am grateful to people who take the time to share so much in a video done so well.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Curtis
Good to hear from you and glad you liked the film. We do plan on making some more sailing single handed films when our season starts up again so do keep in touch
Conrad Preen
Conrad Preen - 7 years ago
Good one! As you say it's no more challenging than driving your car single-handed and nobody gives that a second thought. Be nice to see a vid on this in more "interesting" conditions. I should have done one going from Santorini to Crete in force 6+ :-) in my Beneteau First 27. Loads of fun - even eating a sandwich was difficult.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Conrad
Yup we will have to do more in better conditions, and in fact the forecast for that night was for better than that... but thats life isnt it. You just have to make the best of what you have.
Nothing about the sailing is any harder you just have to plan further ahead and give yourself more time and space in which to do it, filming it effectively however is whole different ball game. Especially on our river were time and space are often at a premium and wind noise and spray play havoc with the results.
Keep watching though we will try one day.
garymalm
garymalm - 7 years ago
HiJust bought a nice little 25 footer in Northern Japan and will be sailing back to where I live in the Central East coast. Will keep you very useful words  in mind.A very good vid with great advice.  ThanksGary
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Gary
Thankyou, glad you liked the film and good luck with your own adventures, sounds like fun
Paul Thomson
Paul Thomson - 7 years ago
Hi Robert,
Loved the video. Reason I watched it is that all things being equal I hope to be returning to the UK in June/July and plan to buy a Dufour 38 sailing yacht. I plan to use it single handed. I have virtually no sailing experience, but many lifetimes of diverse life experience!! Will be watching your other videos next few days. Thanks
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Robert. Glad you enjoyed our film and good luck with the Dufour, lovely yachts. Nice to hear from you, thanks for commenting
Nick Peet
Nick Peet - 7 years ago
Really great video. I have a small 25 ft boat, no electronics at all. Tiller steering and love to fly solo. Cheers mate. Tks.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Nick. Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching
Thomas Raven
Thomas Raven - 7 years ago
HA! I thought this looked familiar in the first too seconds of you pulling up in the marina! is that St. Marys Island in the background, by any chance?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
We are members of Medway YC not Upnor so cant vouch for them as such but both are very nice clubs. Medway is expensive but of course you get a lot of perks for the extra money such as sailing at all states of the tide, easy access pontoon, trot boat service at the weekends, easy boat scrubbing, fantastic club house with a bar and restaurant etc etc so in our minds it is worth paying the extra.
Thomas Raven
Thomas Raven - 7 years ago
Sailing with the Foxwell Family I am indeed! my boats currently on the hard standing in Rainham but hoping to be back on the water soon. I've had a few people at my yard tell me to go pay a visit to Upnor and heard everyone goes out a lot. I'm very interested in learning how to solo sail as I'm not very experienced at all and plans of taking company have changed. You recommend Upnor Sail Club?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Thomas Raven.
Its is in deed, well spotted. We are based in Medway YC at Upnor.... are you a local then
bruce sinclair
bruce sinclair - 7 years ago
A very good video informative and enjoyable keep up the good work.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Bruce
Nice to hear from you, glad you enjoyed the film.... and thanks for subscribing
cvcoco
cvcoco - 7 years ago
I enjoyed this very much although I wish you could slow down the speech a bit because Im having trouble catching all the words which are representing the finer points of this work so they need to be very clear. As others have said, you do make it look so easy as if it can all be learned in a day when in fact its years. Your strongest attribute is that you are very concise and dont waste time or words. Thank you!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi cvcoco
Nice to hear from you and sorry if you found it hard to hear what Ian was saying. We are planning on doing some more films about single handed sailing when our season starts again so we will keep what you say in mind
Thanks for watching
John Beasley
John Beasley - 7 years ago
nice boat, Suzuki good
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi John
The boat is awsome and the suzuki, yes It is actually. We aren't the kind of people that like big 4wd's and we only bought it for pulling our Red Fox around but even though we have now sold that boat we have kept it as its such a good practical car. Even though its quite long its small as 4wd's go, well built and really easy to drive.
Thanks for watching
onneshar
onneshar - 7 years ago
Top film bedankt .
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi
Thankyou, glad you liked it
Allan 11235
Allan 11235 - 7 years ago
Thanks for the video. One's engine, however, may refuse to start when it's time to return to the mooring. In fact, this happened to me once when out with another experienced sailor, but it was a surprise, nevertheless, to learn while nearing the harbor's entrance—at night—that the engine was useless. So, how about making a supplemental video for returning while under sail alone?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Good plan, I'll add that to the list as well.
Thanks for your input
Allan 11235
Allan 11235 - 7 years ago
Of course; it was truly my pleasure. It so happens, however, that I have another suggestion for a video: man overboard procedures AND drills for practicing them. I have encountered a sailing book which discusses them with pictures for different points of sail. Can't recall the title, but I'm sure that you could find or make appropriate diagrams.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Allan


Yup good call, some one else mentioned that so we will add it to the list. We made that film at the end of our season and it has had such a good response that we will follow it up with some others.


Thanks for watching
SAILAWAY
SAILAWAY - 7 years ago
Brilliant video, given me confidence to have a go on my own.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Sailaway. Great to hear, glad you liked the film. Thanks for watching
Justin C
Justin C - 7 years ago
You made that look so easy. I want to give up my marina berth now. But I'm sure it's not always that simple - and in the marina I do have the advantage of lock gates, and therefore no current... ever. That said, casting off where tide is running does catch me out, I do need the practice.

Thank you for the enjoyable video.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
As with everything in sailing its a compromise. You get the convenience of easy access to your boat but at a cost in both time (locking in and out) and expense. We have more hassle getting to the boat but easy access on and off the mooring which saves us both time and money. Interestingly I would say that given the same amount of practice, picking up a swinging mooring is easy than berthing in a pontoon. Yes there is more to think about but there is much less to hit!


Glad you liked the film and thanks for commenting.
Gary Clarence
Gary Clarence - 7 years ago
Happy new year everyone
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Gary
Happy new year to you as well, thanks for commenting
zrRyan2
zrRyan2 - 7 years ago
Perfectly presented, well done. (I do a ton of single handed and double handed racing, mostly on a 41 foot C&C with full symmetrical spinnaker.) NOTHING I would dispute here.... again, very well done.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Thank you for, its good to know that what we have said is correct. Ian felt rather embarrassed about making this film but it does seem to have been well received.
Wilfred Darr
Wilfred Darr - 7 years ago
Just finished reading Thoughts, Tips,
Techniques & Tacticsactics For Singlehanded Sailing by Andrew Evans and this video is very good. you mention the jib sheet when polled out: does that mean you also use a guy on the pole, or just the sheet through the hook? I couldn't make it out in the video. Also, I completely agree with motoring off of a mooring: if the motor doesn't start, you don't want to go anywhere anyways, but coming back, to me the conditions looked good do it under sail. To me, it's one of those things I want to be well practiced at: with my luck, it will be that day that I want to motor home because the weather got ugly out of nowhere that my motor decides to go on strike, and I'd rather not be "practicing" picking up the mooring ball under sail in those conditions. Thoughts?

Also whens the spinnaker video come out!?
Wilfred Darr
Wilfred Darr - 7 years ago
Sailing with the Foxwell Family OK clipping the spinnaker sheets to the jib has me thoroughly confused. I think I'll just have to wait for the video!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Wilfred
We dont know that book but glad you found the film helpful. Re polling out the jib, yes you can just clip onto the jib sheet and it works fine the only problem comes when you need to do something in a hurry as the jib is effectively now locked in position. On our river with lots of traffic etc Ian likes to clip one of the spinnaker sheets to the jib and pole off of this, that way if something needs to be done in a hurry he can let this guy go and he still has control of the sail with the sheets. Its invariably a bit of a pull but you can still sail the boat.
Yes picking up a mooring buoy single handed in a miserable day would be a challenge. We have a couple more films that we want to make about single handing when sea Horse goes back in the water, reefing and flying the kite, so perhaps we will add that to the list.
Thanks for commenting, keep in touch
Manuel Rodriguez
Manuel Rodriguez - 7 years ago
nice video, love your channel, please keep on going.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Manuel
Glad your enjoying it, and yes we plan to keep on sharing our activities with you
Thanks for commenting
William Beattie
William Beattie - 7 years ago
Excellent video with loads of top tips for guys wanting to get more time out on the water when crew aren't available. Top job. Only one criticism (and I may get called a Nazi for this) buoyancy aids are just as important (perhaps more so) when in a tender as when on your yacht. Just a thought as people may emulate you with little training/knowledge. Keep up the good work and looking forward to more vids. Happy sailing.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Your absolutely right and we totally agree. Ironically he always does wear a life jacket in the tender normally, it was just the added distraction of trying to make a film and rushing due to the limited time that was available that caused him to forget.... or at least thats his excuse.
But as the saying goes, do as we say not as we do.
Thanks for your comments
S/V Galene
S/V Galene - 7 years ago
Great video!!  I've picked up some good tips.  I find that I am sailing solo more and more as my kids are off doing their thing.  Lack of crew has not kept me off the water, but it has made things more exciting at times.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi James. Glad you liked the film and found it helpful. We are planning on doing a few more single handed hints and tips films once the season gets going again so keep watching.
Thanks for commenting
ScubaTony Anschutz
ScubaTony Anschutz - 7 years ago
excellent ideas! I would love to see more of single handed techniques. The ideas you share are great! What else to you do when you sail alone?
ScubaTony Anschutz
ScubaTony Anschutz - 7 years ago
I would love to see any techniques or ideas on mooring, docking anchoring. The reefing and sail handeling would be good too. Thanks
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Tony
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it. Yup we filmed this at what was the end of our season so we couldn't follow it up with anything but we have a couple more single handed films that we want to make, flying the spinnaker and reefing. Do you have anything specific that you would like to see more of.
Andrew Devenish
Andrew Devenish - 7 years ago
Hi Ian,
Great video, with great practical advice. I sail solo on my Catalina 27 all the time, and agree it's the planning ahead that makes it go well. Planning ahead would mean putting in a reef before you leave if you think you might need it, but would like to see how you put in a reef if the wind picks up and it gets bumpy.
Jealous of your self tailers - I need to get a set of them as one handed winching can get tough when it's bumpy !
Andrew.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Reefing, yup thats what we thought, no point showing how to reef when its easy, its when your lent over on your ear that you really need to know what to do, however thats also the point at which it gets harder to film.... O well, we'll see.
Andrew Devenish
Andrew Devenish - 7 years ago
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Ian, I do fly my asymmetric solo, but pick a good day- things can get exciting very quickly.. On reefing, yes, pick a windy day - there are loads of "how to reef" at 10 knots, not many who show how to do it when you screwed up and now really need to and it's hitting 25knots and the water is bumpy...I sail on Lake Erie on the west end, and the shalllow water gets choppy very quickly..
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Andrew. Nice to hear from you and glad you enjoyed the film. We did this film at the end of this years season so haven't had a chance to follow it up but come the new year we'll do one on reefing and spinnaker work.... although not necessarily on the same day :-) Any wind that warrants a reef is probably more than we will want for a spinnaker when single handed :-)
MrTatts64
MrTatts64 - 7 years ago
Excellent video, thanks mate. Oh yeah, I could understand you perfectly well enough. Kent or Essex??? ;)
Which estuary / river were you sailing on? In one of those clips you put in, there were huge container craned in the background. Looked like a view of Felixstowe docks, from along the river Stour?!?!
MrTatts64
MrTatts64 - 7 years ago
I used to sail as a kid and then moved away from it for decades until very recently where I've been taken with the idea of sailing once more. I think I would prefer to crew for someone for a year or three, before I even began to think about getting my own boat. Not least of all because of the cruddy state with getting a mooring locally.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
You do get used to it... its one of those things were sailing with some one else how first is probably a good idea to get used to how far you can push things.
Thanks for commenting
MrTatts64
MrTatts64 - 7 years ago
Am just watching your single handed racing video from 4th Nov, this year. Started off answering the questions I had just asked - DOH!! A much fun as the race looks, I am not too sure I could sit comfortably with some of the close quarters stuff you had there, mate. My heart would be pounding and fighting back that "mouth before brain" functionality, I think. I suppose a person gets used to these things, to a degree, but would still manage to jangle my nerves, I think.
Keep up the good work!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Mr Tatts. Nice to hear from you and thanks for commenting.
We are based on the river Medway in Kent, the cranes you can see in this film are from Kingsnorth power station that is currently in the process of being dismantled.
We have been up to Felixstowe but that was a couple of years ago now so you will have to be looking at some of our older films to see those.
Have fun
Stephen McQually
Stephen McQually - 7 years ago
I sail a little Hartley 16, 99% of the time solo. Thanks for the vid, really well put together
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Our pleasure Stephen. Glad you found it useful and thanks for commenting
Scott Ryan
Scott Ryan - 7 years ago
I just started sailing on my own recently and prefer it over a crew. I have a Catalina 250 and two areas to sail in depending on the conditions. Clear Lake or Galveston Bay. One connected to the other. Very peaceful and rewarding. Thank you for the instructional video. I picked up a few things.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Scott. Thanks for commenting, its always great to hear from people in different parts of the world and we are glad to hear that although your already a single handed convert, you found something useful in our film.
Have fun
smacksman1
smacksman1 - 7 years ago
Good video and I could understand you perfectly!
For help in picking up a mooring I lead a line from the bows aft to the cockpit. Picked up the buoy from the cockpit (where I had control over speed and direction and closer to the water) looped the line through the eye and cleated aft. Once the boat settled down make off the mooring properly and retrieve the temporary line. Works a treat.
Fair winds, Roger
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Roger. Great tip thanks for sharing. We have our own mooring and so leave lines permanently attached and streaming in the water. So its not so hard to just reach over with the boat hook and pick them up.
Have fun
Glen Pratts
Glen Pratts - 7 years ago
Interested in knowing the model of the Auto pilot system that you have on board Sea Horse?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Glen
Its a fitted, under deck B&G Triton system, and its excellent. Although they arnt cheap and it does take a bit of fitting.... not that we fitted our one, it came with the boat when we bought her but we would highly recommend it.
Nice to hear from you and thanks for commenting
Bruce Bolster
Bruce Bolster - 7 years ago
Nice job, thanks :-) Transitioned to from a fractionally rigged, tiller steered boat with all control lines led aft, to a larger yacht with a wheel, masthead rig, and halyard winches at the mast base. Never realized how spoiled I was when singlehanding the smaller boat. Tacking and grinding that 130 % genoa is man's work,, and setting and dousing the main needs the autopilot to skipper the boat while the crew scrambles about on deck.....
Bruce Bolster
Bruce Bolster - 7 years ago
Agreed.  The larger boat (C&C 30 mk.1) is stiffer and has more in the way of accommodation, storwge and cruising amenities, so the tradeoff against ease of sailing was still worthwhile.  Short-tacking in a stiff breeze with the full genoa needs some of it rolled up.  And the boat is going to get lazyjacks!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Bruce. Yup, while its true that you can sail pretty much anything on your own with a bit of thought and planning, some boats are definitely easier than others. Its why its good for us to sail as many boats as we can as its only with practice and experience that we work out what really matters for the sailing that we do. Everything is a compromise we just have to work out the best one. Have fun
JackiBlue
JackiBlue - 7 years ago
Well done video. Kind of curious how you got all shots when you were alone. Nice looking boat too. I haven't single handed on my boat yet but soon, maybe this weekend.
Thanks,
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi ya. Thanks for commenting it always nice to hear from our viewers. Ian actually found it easier to take all the different shots without the family with him. He could keep stopping and moving the camera, or going backwards and forwards filming his leaving and arriving etc. as he wanted rather than trying to coordinate us all. It does take time though, which is why he didn't get to fly the spinnaker as he had hoped, but at least that gives us the subject for another film. Good luck with your own sailing, pick the right time and place and were sure you will enjoy it.
Horace Hogsnort
Horace Hogsnort - 7 years ago
I can hardly understand a thing the Brit is saying.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Walter, Sorry cant help the way we speak :-)
I was going to be cheeky and suggest that you click on the subtitles button but great as YouTube is... even that cant understand what we are saying.... O dear, its worth switching on though just for the giggle :-)
Have fun
Mike L Hawaii
Mike L Hawaii - 7 years ago
Bro, you forgot your keys when you left the house.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
:-) Good spot and it wouldn't have been the first time.... however on this occasion it must have been lost in the editing. Thanks for watching and commenting
Robert Orzech
Robert Orzech - 7 years ago
I'd like to have a close up view of what you were doing with your jib and spinnaker pole. Explaining the highest of the connections, angles , tensions ,and do's and font's . Maybe you could do a segment regarding this topic in your next video. You make great videos, so keep up the good work !
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 6 years ago
Hi ya.
Nope never used a snuffer/tube, they dont really appeal to me, to much to go wrong. For a cruising shute/asymmetric spinnaker i would be interested in a top down furler but they are loads of money and wouldn't really suite our sails.
To be honest if I'm not comfortable getting the kite up or down on my own then I'm probably not comfortable flying it as well so it might as well just stay in the bag.
dehdeh55
dehdeh55 - 6 years ago
Probably you already tried a tube to let the kite out or douse it. Did this help?
Neill Smart
Neill Smart - 7 years ago
Totally. After 5 years of owning a 22 footer on a lake in in NZ, I finally (light winds!!!) got the spinnaker up and had a great afternoon with it. Hunting around trying to find ideas etc to make like kite life a little easier ... (autohelm? wth is that? lol I wish!!)
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Robert. Great idea and sorry we didn't think of it as well. The plan was to get the kite out, but the weather and rapidly disappearing daylight put paid to that and we hadn't planned on any contingency. The subject of another film then... once we get sea Horse back in the water we'll do one to cover that. Thanks for commenting
Capt Termite
Capt Termite - 7 years ago
A friend of mine used to say the only reason for going sailing alone is to find whoever is missing.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Each to there own i guess :-) thanks for commenting
Ron Bye
Ron Bye - 7 years ago
Excellent video. I wish I had saw this a couple of weeks ago when I presented a seminar on sailing single handed sailing in coastal waters.  By the way, I have a Rival 32 which I have sailed single handed for the last 17 years.
Ron Bye
Ron Bye - 7 years ago
Thanks to you really for doing a very good video. I passed on your link to all those participants who attended my seminar.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Ron. Nice to hear from you and thanks for commenting. And its great to hear that some one with your experience thinks its useful.
Jason Wulf
Jason Wulf - 7 years ago
Great video and a lot of great suggestions!!!!!!!!
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Thanks Jason, glad you enjoyed it and found it useful. Nice to hear from you
Burt Yankiver S/V Perseverance
Burt Yankiver S/V Perseverance - 7 years ago
Excellent primer for newbies like me. Thoroughly enjoyable. Great job. Thank you.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi. Glad you enjoyed it and found it useful. Thanks for commenting
David Logan
David Logan - 7 years ago
Great video. Proper commonsense advice and an inspiration to not make excuses and get out there. Hope to get my boat to the Medway next summer. This year I had the mud berth opposite the one you had for a week in Newhaven - not the most interesting place to sail. Medway is far more fun.
Black mark though for using tender out to Seahorse without lifejacket, alone.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi David. Thanks for watching and commenting, glad you enjoyed it..... and yes so busy messing around with cameras that Ian forgot :-(
PerStian
PerStian - 7 years ago
could you say some more about the differents between Seahorse and WhiteMagic. I'm considering baying a SF32i. How was it to sail singelhanded?
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
our pleasure, let us know if you do get a SF32i we woudl love to know what you think of them as well
PerStian
PerStian - 7 years ago
thank you for the answer. Looking forward to see more Foxwell family videos... also racing
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
White Magic was a fantastic boat and when we started looking again for a bigger boat, SF32i's where high up on the list.


The real difference is just the size. Forces on a boat scale up exponentially with size so although on paper Sea Horse isnt that much smaller in practice she has quite a bit less volume and the loads and forces on the boat are much lower. That's not to say that White Magic wasn't manageable, just that for Hannah and Elizabeth Sea Horse is much easier.


The only other real difference is that the SF32i is a much flightier boat, she needs sailing in any kind of real wind. You cant let go of the helm at any time without her changing direction and it often pays to play the main like you would on a dinghy. Sea Horse is much more forgiving in that respect and with her descent autohelm is more relaxing to sail if you want to just sit back and relax.
fart knocker
fart knocker - 7 years ago
new to sailing ,great and informative video . looking to start sailing and will be doing it solo thanks
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi thanks for watching and commenting and we are glad you enjoyed the film. And we hope your own adventures work out for you as well, sailing is a great activity, you wont regret it.
Just about sailing
Just about sailing - 7 years ago
This is very useful, thanks.  I love the tip about jamming the sheet into the self-tailing winch and then being able to just flick it out.  I will try that. I started single handing about 18 months ago.  I couldn't think it through on land at all, but once I got out there it all seemed to just work out fine.  I fitted lazy-jacks a few months back - that has made a huge difference when I'm on my own.
ducatster catt
ducatster catt - 7 years ago
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Just about sailing
Just about sailing - 7 years ago
Have a look at the first few minutes of my July video - I do a before and after lazy-jack comparison.  I have very soft, non-racing sails, so there is a big difference.  I am not a racer and my sail trim will make you wince, but it is getting better.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi, yes lazy jacks are wonderful. I never understand people that tell you that you dont need them, properly set up and used lazy jacks just make life so much easier. On Sea Horse which has some stiff laminate sails and a descent autohelm that can keep us into wind, we don't miss them so much, but its still takes us a few minutes to get the sail under control after dropping it, time that we wouldn't need with lazy jacks.


Any way thanks for watching and commenting... we have just subscribed to your channel as well, and are looking forward to watching you on your adventures.
Paul Fox
Paul Fox - 7 years ago
Great video with some great tips... I've been single handed for just less than a year (first boat) so hints and tips from someone with so much experience is always a great help :)... Hope to see a video on spinnakers as I have plans to get one next year
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Hi Paul. Nice to hear from you and thanks for commenting. Yup we will bring you a film on spinnakers sometime although it will have to wait for next year as we have sea Horse out of the water now for the winter.
Norman Smith
Norman Smith - 7 years ago
I used to crew for a guy racing that ripped his traveler off the boat jibing hard.
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
wooo. yup there can be an awful lot of force in the sail of a boat, it pays to get into good habits so that your not caught out on the windy days.


Thanks for commenting, nice to hear from you
cycling with kiwi
cycling with kiwi - 7 years ago
alsome
Sailing with the Foxwell Family
Sailing with the Foxwell Family - 7 years ago
Thanks Alan, always nice to hear from you. Have fun

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