When it comes to sailing solo, size definitely matters. The larger the boat, the more challenging it becomes for a single sailor to handle all the lines, sails, and equipment required to keep the boat moving safely and efficiently. However, with the right vessel design, equipment, and sailing skills, it is possible for experienced sailors to handle surprisingly large boats on their own.
Solo Sailing Challenges
Sailing a boat single-handedly presents a number of difficulties that are not factors on boats with full crews. Some key challenges include:
- Handling multiple sail controls and sheets at once
- Steering as well as adjusting sails/lines
- Monitoring boat speed, heading, and trim
- Making rapid maneuvers such as tacks and gybes
- Dealing with issues like knots, tangling, or breakages
- Safely moving around the boat while underway
- Having quick access to essential equipment
- Maintaining balance without additional crew weight
- Staying alert and avoiding fatigue on long passages
These difficulties multiply significantly as boat size increases. Larger boats typically have bigger sail plans with multiple jibs/headsails, bigger mainsails, and more lines leading aft. The increased loads on lines and winches make sail handling much more demanding. Larger rudders also require greater steering effort. Overall, more sail area and boat length lead to much higher forces on the sails and rigging.
Ideal Solo Sailboat Features
Certain design elements and equipment features can make the challenges of singlehanding much easier and expand the range of boat sizes manageable for short-handed sailing. Key factors include:
- Balanced sail plan – The sizes of jibs/headails and mainsail should be carefully matched to make sail handling loads balanced.
- Cutaway fore-triangle – A cutaway jib shape with short luff length reduces headsail loads and makes tacking easier.
- Roller furling – Having jibs on roller furlers enables easy sail changes from the cockpit.
- Lines led aft – Running all sheets and control lines back to the cockpit allows singlehanders to trim sails without leaving the helm.
- Winches – Electric or hydraulic winches make grinding easier when manual handling gets too strenuous.
- Self-tacking jib – A jib that automatically tacks itself through the tack point is a huge asset.
- Autopilot – Essential for maintaining headings and boat balance when dealing with other tasks.
- Mast steps/handholds – Allows access aloft for reefing without requiring climbing from the deck.
- High boom – A boom positioned well off the deck enables movement fore and aft without ducking under.
- Open deck space – Unobstructed deck provides clear side-to-side passage between mast and shrouds.
When designed thoughtfully with short-handed sailing in mind, larger boats over 50 feet can become manageable for skilled solo sailors. However, even with all the right gear, physical strength and exceptional boat handling skills are required to control mega-sized yachts alone.
Record-Setting Singlehanded Vessels
Through historical solo sailing races and record attempts, experienced sailors have proven it’s possible to sail huge boats alone under the right conditions. Some examples of exceptionally large vessels sailed single-handedly include:
- Rambler 88 – 88 feet (27m) – George David – Completed 2011 Fastnet Race solo
- Club Med – 115 feet (35m) – Grant Dalton – 1994 Round New Zealand record
- Enza – 115 feet (35m) – Don Lidgard – 1992 Singlehanded Transpac Race
- Sodebo 4 – 131 feet (40m) – Thomas Coville – Solo mastery attempts
- Hugo Boss – 140 feet (43m) – Alex Thomson – 2016 Vendee Globe Race
- Maserati – 140 feet (43m) – Giovanni Soldini – 2018 Monaco to Monaco record
- IDEC 3 – 150 feet (46m) – Francis Joyon – Singlehanded transatlantic record
As the examples illustrate, today’s largest actively raced solo monohulls are right around 140-150 feet (43-46m). Beyond 50 meters, the loads on sheets and sailing gear would be difficult for a single sailor to manage manually, even with winches and powered assistance. At under 130 feet (40m), an experienced short-handed sailor still has a chance to muscle their way through maneuvers, but only just barely.
Maximizing Solo-Sailable Size
Certain types of sailboats can be designed with features that enable greater singlehand-able sizes compared to a conventional monohull yacht. Two approaches include:
Multihulls
Catamarans and trimarans have much shallower hulls compared to monohulls, so they require smaller keels/centerboards and less ballast weight. This reduces overall boat weight and the sail forces required to drive the boat. Their twin slim hulls also have less wetted surface area drag.
Without a bowsprit or large headsails and with twin rudders and a spacious central platform layout, huge cruising catamarans over 60 feet can be readily sailed alone once offshore. Record-setting offshore racing catamarans are rarely singlehanded, but some have exhibited the potential via short solo outings.
Downwind Speed Sleds
Specialized downwind surfing vessels reduce solo sailing challenges by eliminating complex upwind sailing. They utilize high-tech rigid “wing sails” instead of conventional soft sails, along with daggerboards instead of deep keels. This enables faster speeds when reaching downwind.
For example, the 120-foot trimaran Sodebo Ultim 3 was successfully sailed singlehanded from China to San Francisco by Thomas Coville in 2016. However, “wing sail” boats like this are focused on high-speed record attempts rather than general solo cruising.
Recommended Maximum Solo Monohull Size
For an average skilled club-level sailor seeking a capable and comfortable short-handed cruising monohull, a boat in the 45-55 foot range is recommended as a realistic maximum size limit. This provides sufficient space for liveaboard amenities and offshore passagemaking, while remaining manageable for one person in most conditions.
With extensive experience and ideal boat design, select advanced sailors may be able to push their solo capacity up to 70-80 feet. However beyond that range, the loads and effort involved make singlehanding unrealistic for muscle-powered vessels offshore.
For context, even professional short-handed racers competing in events like the Vendee Globe generally sail boats under 65 feet. And those sailors are top athletes with specialized training. Solo cruisers certainly don’t need racing-level performance, and a slightly smaller boat will provide a much more enjoyable and safe experience.
Notable Production Solo-Capable Monohulls
Here are some well-known modern monohull models that are well suited for singlehanded sailing based on their layout, rigging, and sail plan:
Boat Model | Typical Length |
---|---|
Hallberg-Rassy 352 | 35 ft |
Tayana Vancouver 42 | 42 ft |
Outbound 44 | 44 ft |
Oyster 545 | 54 ft |
Amel 55 | 55 ft |
Hallberg-Rassy 64 | 64 ft |
These and similar models from quality manufacturers include various singlehand-friendly features like roller furling, lines led aft, balanced sail plans, and open decks. While expensive new, used versions of proven solo-capable designs can provide excellent value and peace of mind for short-handed cruising.
Solo Sailboat Considerations
When evaluating potential boats to singlehand, keep these key factors in mind:
- Hull Type – Monohulls provide stability and are ideal for upwind work. Catamarans offer speed and space.
- Length Over All (LOA) – Aim for under 55 feet for a manageable solo monohull. Multihulls can go bigger.
- Displacement – Lighter boats require less sail power and are quicker to accelerate.
- Keel Depth – Moderate draft around 5-6 feet allows access to more anchorages.
- Rudder Design – Twin rudders give better control and balance than a single rudder.
- Sail Area – Rig should be appropriately sized for the boat’s length and displacement.
- Line Management – Prioritize boats with lines led aft to the cockpit.
Carefully evaluate how easy or difficult each boat’s deck layout and sailing characteristics will be for a solo sailor. Avoid boats with small cockpits, little visibility forward, and cumbersome systems. Test sail the boat in varying wind and sea conditions. An ideal solo cruiser should instill confidence, not apprehension.
Preparing for Short-Handed Sailing
To hone your skills for sailing alone:
- Take lessons and read guides about singlehanded techniques
- Start by sailing singlehanded on day trips in light air
- Master docking and maneuvering your boat by yourself
- Learn to reef, tack, gybe, and anchor solo in heavier winds
- Practice sailing at night and validating your senses without visual cues
- Gain experience responding to common issues like knots and malfunctions
- Test your stamina on long solo day sails of 6+ hours
- Build up to solo overnight and weekend passages offshore
Get very familiar with your boat’s systems and make modifications if needed to make critical controls accessible from the helm station. Equip your vessel with proper hardware, safety gear, navigational electronics, and redundancy in case of gear failure. Prioritize visibility and develop watchstanding routines to stay alert. Avoid overconfidence and build skills gradually in safer conditions before embarking on extensive solo voyages.
Conclusion
While extremely large boats can be sailed singlehandedly, a reasonably sized 35-55 foot monohull makes a much more sensible maximum for most solo cruisers. Focus on selecting a vessel designed specifically for short-handed sailing, prioritizing features like twin rudders, roller furling sails, autopilot, lines led aft, and a spacious, uncluttered deck. With mindful preparation and practice, an experienced sailor can safely voyage solo across oceans in a properly equipped boat under 50 feet.
Some sailors may pursue much larger vessels as a display of skill and ego, but they sacrifice comfort, safety margins, and overall enjoyment. For most singlehanders, erring on the smaller side provides greater peace of mind in handling the many inevitable challenges of sailing alone offshore.