There have been a few times—usually in wild or sporting weather—where I’ve been more or less trapped at the helm. Sure, theoretically I could stop and let the boat care for herself, but not all of the smaller boats I’ve sailed have been happy heaving-to, and often I’m sailing too close to land or other solid objects to drop sail, anchor, or to let the boat drift.
Always have a thermos of something hot nearby and a couple of energy bars in a pfd pocket. The trick is having energy bars you don’t really like so you don’t eat them except when absolutely necessary.
I tend to treat calories as safety equipment. In addition to always bringing food and drink for crew, I keep a water-proof emergency box with ginger candy, and the candy-bar type energy bars clipped in at helm. It has helped my cold wet wife, my diabetic father, and staved off confusion and bad decision making. The box also contains Mylar emergency blankets. Have a snack, get your vessel into port and secure, then a good meal with a beer. I differ on how good the energy bars should be. Keep them stocked, and good enough so that no-one who needs it refuses. Have something better to enjoy and finish off the emergency bars at the end of the season!
Having sailed with Dan, I can back him up on the value of energy bars which taste like
wet cardboard and peanuts. You won't starve, but you might give it careful consideration. The helm will be fully attended while you try to get rid of the taste; even using seawater as a mouthwash helps.
My favorites while at the helm are apples, bananas, or, in decent conditions, a grapefruit.
For beverages, I avoid drinking directly from a small thermos, as the sharp edge is a great way to cut your lip. Some way of securing a mug, even a wide-bottom mug, is important; in my experience, chop beats non-skid, even when the mug has non-skid.
On a chilly, blustery day on lumpy water, skies low and gray, you savor the notion of that warm cup until clear of hazards before pouring your reward. The helm under control, you glance ahead, quickly getting the top off the thermos and that toasty reward into the cup. The first small sip is best, the second almost as good, followed by that moment when you look over your shoulder, then all around, sky, water, scenery, mug in hand, and for a moment- a short one- you are master of all you see.
It is hard not to smile.
It is soon time to look at the chart, or visit the head, so you check your surroundings and set the mug down. That one action summons a small and playful wave from unknown depth, and the mug,
robust and well designed, breaks traction, slides across the seat, upending its contents on your feet,
warming the uncomfortably. Not to worry, though- your feet will cool soon enough. Some will seize
the opportunity to invent invective, or use more familiar language.
In moments ashore, I chuckle at these experiences, and appreciate being part of a community that gets out there.
Nice comments on having food and beverages handy. Hot tea or cocoa and a chocolate candy bar are hard to beat for me. But I've always thought that for singlehanded sailing in any sized boat, a way to stop the vessel safely in an emergency is critical. What if you needed to get to the head in an emergency or had a seizure or a bleeding injury while at the helm? Learning how to heave-to and making sure by some arrangement that your boat can heave-to or lay-to without danger of a capsize would be very important. Fortunately, I've always had a small boat that could heave-to. But I guess with only one sail on a small boat, one would have to loosen the mainsheet and luff the mainsail (or easily drop it altogether) while fixing the rudder to windward (tiller to leeward) to balance the boat from going abeam from the wind on the main and hull (please correct me if I'm wrong). I also guess that would take practice in different wind strengths and sea states. On my 18' motorboat I always have my sea anchor ready to be deployed quickly if I have to leave the helm for an emergency or for extreme fatigue, or if the engine fails. I suppose a small sailboat could also have a sea anchor at the ready. Of course, any vessel with an autopilot or windvane steering makes it easier for single handing. So in comparison, just imagine what if you couldn't stop your car when you had to.
Always have jug of water with electrolytes or thermos of hot tea. Carry a small cooler in the cockpit for fruit, nuts, melons, bars, jerky, crunchie snacks or a sandwich.
On day sails I always have 2 sandwiches plus some trail mix , and a thermos of hot coffee. On a long passage to a destination where staying overnight I add another thermos of hot soup.
Handy in the cockpit locker where I can grab them are a bag of trail mix, heavy on the M&Ms, and a bag of oatmeal/raisin cookies. Canned fizzy water also close at hand. Haven't yet felt the need for a thermos, but maybe someday.
The author might have been better off taking a few minutes to reef and grab something refreshing in a rising breeze at the end of the day. Transmogrifier, my modified ThistleCruiser is overcanvassed and not at all steady on the helm. She requires constant attention. A few seconds' inattention earns a negative reward. But, I can manage to leave the helm for a minute to reef by furling the jib, so I just do the same to grab a bite or some other necessity. I built my icebox into the port cockpit seat, so access is relatively easy, although it seems I always get more thirsty on starboard tack. I have some fabric pockets in the cockpit and will keep a few snacks in them. Like much of sailing, it comes down to anticipating what lies ahead and preparing for it.
I am amazed at how many small boat sailors will sit for hours, being a slave to the tiller. Set yourself free by installing an auto-tiller and small battery for the little comforts of life while on the water (toilet or Snack). I carried large battery for a week of pottering around.
I've never gone out on a boat that I didn't have some water available, A 30 minute to hour long paddle close to home, a 20 oz insulated water bottle is my standard but sometimes go with a half litre store bought water bottle. Longer times, more water.
Standard criteria is 1/2 gallon per person per day.
Sustenance has varied, canoeing the standard was a zippered mesh bag at hand tied to gunnel with a couple of protein bars and or some trail mix.
Sailing I've settled on a couple of small (8 oz?) plastic containers with screw top lids with trail mix.
When I had a Pelican, I had an old bicycle pannier that I rigged to the centerboard trunk. It contained water, snacks (trail mix usually), and some of the odd bits that come in handy on an old plywood boat with an old outboard hanging out the back. The Pelican hove to quite nicely, so there was usually time to make adjustments on the fly.
A Wave Front Tiller Clutch, a thermos of (fill in the _), drinks on ice, sandwiches made up, a coaming bin with sunblock etc., 20oz. water container in the drink holder by the tiller with a spare nearby, water proof on a hook inside the companionway. Life is good.
Always have a thermos of something hot nearby and a couple of energy bars in a pfd pocket. The trick is having energy bars you don’t really like so you don’t eat them except when absolutely necessary.
I tend to treat calories as safety equipment. In addition to always bringing food and drink for crew, I keep a water-proof emergency box with ginger candy, and the candy-bar type energy bars clipped in at helm. It has helped my cold wet wife, my diabetic father, and staved off confusion and bad decision making. The box also contains Mylar emergency blankets. Have a snack, get your vessel into port and secure, then a good meal with a beer. I differ on how good the energy bars should be. Keep them stocked, and good enough so that no-one who needs it refuses. Have something better to enjoy and finish off the emergency bars at the end of the season!
Having sailed with Dan, I can back him up on the value of energy bars which taste like
wet cardboard and peanuts. You won't starve, but you might give it careful consideration. The helm will be fully attended while you try to get rid of the taste; even using seawater as a mouthwash helps.
My favorites while at the helm are apples, bananas, or, in decent conditions, a grapefruit.
For beverages, I avoid drinking directly from a small thermos, as the sharp edge is a great way to cut your lip. Some way of securing a mug, even a wide-bottom mug, is important; in my experience, chop beats non-skid, even when the mug has non-skid.
On a chilly, blustery day on lumpy water, skies low and gray, you savor the notion of that warm cup until clear of hazards before pouring your reward. The helm under control, you glance ahead, quickly getting the top off the thermos and that toasty reward into the cup. The first small sip is best, the second almost as good, followed by that moment when you look over your shoulder, then all around, sky, water, scenery, mug in hand, and for a moment- a short one- you are master of all you see.
It is hard not to smile.
It is soon time to look at the chart, or visit the head, so you check your surroundings and set the mug down. That one action summons a small and playful wave from unknown depth, and the mug,
robust and well designed, breaks traction, slides across the seat, upending its contents on your feet,
warming the uncomfortably. Not to worry, though- your feet will cool soon enough. Some will seize
the opportunity to invent invective, or use more familiar language.
In moments ashore, I chuckle at these experiences, and appreciate being part of a community that gets out there.
Nice comments on having food and beverages handy. Hot tea or cocoa and a chocolate candy bar are hard to beat for me. But I've always thought that for singlehanded sailing in any sized boat, a way to stop the vessel safely in an emergency is critical. What if you needed to get to the head in an emergency or had a seizure or a bleeding injury while at the helm? Learning how to heave-to and making sure by some arrangement that your boat can heave-to or lay-to without danger of a capsize would be very important. Fortunately, I've always had a small boat that could heave-to. But I guess with only one sail on a small boat, one would have to loosen the mainsheet and luff the mainsail (or easily drop it altogether) while fixing the rudder to windward (tiller to leeward) to balance the boat from going abeam from the wind on the main and hull (please correct me if I'm wrong). I also guess that would take practice in different wind strengths and sea states. On my 18' motorboat I always have my sea anchor ready to be deployed quickly if I have to leave the helm for an emergency or for extreme fatigue, or if the engine fails. I suppose a small sailboat could also have a sea anchor at the ready. Of course, any vessel with an autopilot or windvane steering makes it easier for single handing. So in comparison, just imagine what if you couldn't stop your car when you had to.
Always have jug of water with electrolytes or thermos of hot tea. Carry a small cooler in the cockpit for fruit, nuts, melons, bars, jerky, crunchie snacks or a sandwich.
On day sails I always have 2 sandwiches plus some trail mix , and a thermos of hot coffee. On a long passage to a destination where staying overnight I add another thermos of hot soup.
In my years of racing single handed, I always made sure I had a handful of Tootsie Pops at the ready.
Handy in the cockpit locker where I can grab them are a bag of trail mix, heavy on the M&Ms, and a bag of oatmeal/raisin cookies. Canned fizzy water also close at hand. Haven't yet felt the need for a thermos, but maybe someday.
The author might have been better off taking a few minutes to reef and grab something refreshing in a rising breeze at the end of the day. Transmogrifier, my modified ThistleCruiser is overcanvassed and not at all steady on the helm. She requires constant attention. A few seconds' inattention earns a negative reward. But, I can manage to leave the helm for a minute to reef by furling the jib, so I just do the same to grab a bite or some other necessity. I built my icebox into the port cockpit seat, so access is relatively easy, although it seems I always get more thirsty on starboard tack. I have some fabric pockets in the cockpit and will keep a few snacks in them. Like much of sailing, it comes down to anticipating what lies ahead and preparing for it.
I am amazed at how many small boat sailors will sit for hours, being a slave to the tiller. Set yourself free by installing an auto-tiller and small battery for the little comforts of life while on the water (toilet or Snack). I carried large battery for a week of pottering around.
What Dan said. Have nutritious snacks in your PFD that are not your fav, and water, and coffee.
I've never gone out on a boat that I didn't have some water available, A 30 minute to hour long paddle close to home, a 20 oz insulated water bottle is my standard but sometimes go with a half litre store bought water bottle. Longer times, more water.
Standard criteria is 1/2 gallon per person per day.
Sustenance has varied, canoeing the standard was a zippered mesh bag at hand tied to gunnel with a couple of protein bars and or some trail mix.
Sailing I've settled on a couple of small (8 oz?) plastic containers with screw top lids with trail mix.
It's rare that I have a cockpit so organized that all snacks are packed and out of reach.
When I had a Pelican, I had an old bicycle pannier that I rigged to the centerboard trunk. It contained water, snacks (trail mix usually), and some of the odd bits that come in handy on an old plywood boat with an old outboard hanging out the back. The Pelican hove to quite nicely, so there was usually time to make adjustments on the fly.
Coconut water, clif bars
A Wave Front Tiller Clutch, a thermos of (fill in the _), drinks on ice, sandwiches made up, a coaming bin with sunblock etc., 20oz. water container in the drink holder by the tiller with a spare nearby, water proof on a hook inside the companionway. Life is good.