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    Better broaching for singlehanders

    How to Unwrap a Spinnaker: I learned last night that some experienced skippers don't know the trick to unwrap a spinnaker that is wrapped around the forestay. The answer is really quite simple. Just gybe back to the other side with only the mainsail. Then sail deep downwind. Then wiggle the boat...
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    Jeanne Socrates heads out .... again .... again.... Again!

    More honours for Jeanne. The City of Victoria has just mounted a bronze plaque in her honour on the Harbour Wall of History, just across from the Provincial Legislature. This is separate from naming a dock in her honour several months ago.
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    Pelagic Autopilot - any experiences?

    Ha! Who'd have thought I'd come up with the perfect example, just two days later. I'm out and the wind comes up to 18 so I put in a reef. But I didn't cleat the halyard properly and it popped, letting the sail drop down the mast and shaking like Elvis. This blew out all the rivets holding...
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    Pelagic Autopilot - any experiences?

    I just realized that I started this discussion some years ago so I should give an update. After several years of sailing with just a bungee cord (launching and dousing in 25 knots is lots of fun) I've finally got my Pelagic installed and working. We had significant trouble getting it to...
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    Better broaching for singlehanders

    After singlehanded broaching lots and lots and lots of times, I’ve learned a few lessons that I thought I’d pass along. You can download my paper here: https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D7718709_68878570_6221527 And don’t forget the paper I wrote on the invaluable gybing without shifting the pole...
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    Robin Knox-Johnston report on knockdowns in the Golden Globe

    Very interesting report by Sir Robin (That's what his friends call him) on knock downs in the Golden Globe, and the use of warps or drogues. Well worth reading for all of us who one day dream of sailing in 70 knot winds and 70 foot waves.
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    Singlehanded Tips & Techniques book - Download for FREE

    Believe it or not, it's sold more than 10,000 copies all over the world over the past four years. And lord knows how many times the free version has been downloaded. Now if I can just get the same for My Brother Chuck, I'll be able to buy a spinnaker to replace what I shredded on Sunday...
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    Gybing

    You're all familiar with the main-first gybing method. It was first taught to me by a Figaro sailor. I just ran across this really good video about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j5ec7PP87s&t=3s What I've always pushed is the idea that for short term situations, it's not necessary to...
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    Pelagic Autopilot - any experiences?

    I'm looking for a new autopilot for my Olson 30 after my 10 year old Raymarine finally died. I see California company Pelagic is claiming several users from our group (http://pelagicautopilot.com) including an Olson 30 and other boats of similar ilk. What are your experiences with it? Can...
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    Chinese Singlehander Lost

    Update on this. When his shore crew boarded the boat, they found the broken off end of his tether. Lord knows what happened. Just another warning for us all.
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    Follow up study for Singlehanded Sailing Tips book

    The time has come to see if there is an actual benefit arising from the recommendations in Chapter 15 of my Singlehanded Sailing Tips book (or chapter 8B in the free version), and the Meals Planning considerations paper (elsewhere in these forums). My goal has always been to improve the sport...
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    Webb Chiles interview

    Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEVF6L7BgSw for an hour long interview with Webb Chiles. I'd think that there is no one who more fully represents the singlehanded sailor as we know it.
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    Meal planning for SH performance improvement

    I have completed my paper on "Considerations in meal and nutrition planning for improved performance in trans-oceanic singlehanded sailing races" I think it should help to reduce fatigue/lethargy and improve racing performance. Comments and questions are always welcome. Andy
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    Singlehanded tips book now published on real paper

    Hi everyone. My Singlehanded Tips book has now been published on real paper by the good folks at McGraw Hill / International Marine. It was printed last week and will be on the shelves soon. I see that it is available for pre-order on Amazon. Just search for Singlehanded Sailing. The current...
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    Jeanne Socrates heads out .... again!

    Jeanne, SHTP racer from 2006, has just left Victoria on her third non-stop circumnavigation attempt. She has gone around twice, but was forced to stop both times. The second time after a 360 at Cape Horn...
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    Singlehanded Winning Attitude Study is Complete

    I have finished my study on “How to Maintain a Winning Attitude for the Duration of a Long Distance Singlehanded Race” based on the 2012 SH Transpac. Seven of the racers completed twice daily surveys on their moods, attitudes and how aggressively they sailed. I compared this with a study...
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    Update on SHTP racer competitiveness study

    I've got a half dozen racers signed up to take part in the study. This is good, but I'd really like to get a dozen of you on board to get the best possible result. I've been given support from a sports PhD from South Africa and a sailing coaching expert in the U.K. in developing the study and...
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    Detailed study on competitive/winning attitude during Transpac

    I've been given Ron's OK to do a detailed study on maintaining a competitive/winning attitude during the SH Transpac. Here is my idea: There have been several studies done on how singlehanders deal with stress during long races. I have referenced all of these in my book. However, I have not...
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    Singlehanded Tips & Techniques book - Download for FREE

    I've written a book "Thoughts, Tips, Techniques & Tactics for Singlehanded Sailing" that you can download for FREE. It's available as a PDF on the San Francisco Singlehanded Sailing Society website at http://sfbaysss.org/tipsbook The book, all 146 pages (70,00 words) is formatted to be easily...
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    AIS during the TP. Experiences?

    Did anyone have any good or bad or neutral experiences with their AIS systems during the Transpac? Did it add more safety than other measures?
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