How to Sail Solo: Master the Seas, One Task at a Time
The Art of Solo Sailing, More Prep, Less Panic
Solo sailing isn’t a test of how brave you are, it’s a game of preparation. Picture it like chess, where the ocean always makes the next move, and your job is to stay three steps ahead. It’s less about fighting the waves and more about working with them, knowing your boat like the back of your hand, and staying calm when things get choppy. In this solo sailing guide, we’ll break down everything you need to master your journey. From mooring to a buoy without an extra set of hands, to jibing solo like a pro.
How to Sail Solo: Master the Basics by Knowing Your Boat and Your Limits
Get to Know Your Floating Home
Before you think about setting off solo, the most important thing you can do is get to know your boat like it’s an extension of yourself. The more familiar you are with every winch, line, and sail, the smoother your solo journey will be. It’s not just about sailing, it’s about knowing how your boat reacts to every gust of wind, every wave, and every tug of the helm.
I remember when I encouraged the deckhands to focus on guests during charters. While they were busy making sure everyone was sipping cocktails and enjoying the view, I learned to handle the boat myself. Some of them were happy to have fewer responsibilities, while others who were more passionate and wanted to learn were eager to trim the sails or have a go at steering.
What I did to satisfy my need of getting those solo sailing abilities, and some crews’ eagerness to learn, was to let them fulfill the functions that when sailing solo would be fulfilled by automatic systems.
Tasks like raising the mainsail, setting the genoa, and even pulling the bumpers in before docking became second nature because I practiced doing them alone.
Tip
Before you go solo, practice each task with your crew, but do them yourself. Raise those sails, drop the anchor, and secure the fenders.
Foreseeing Tasks Before They Happen
Solo sailing is a lot like playing dominoes. It’s not just about reacting to the first piece falling, you’ve got to set things up before they tumble. The secret to a smooth solo trip is foreseeing what’s coming next and preparing for it well before you’re in the thick of things.
For example, don’t wait until you’re pulling into a marina to start thinking about fenders. You want them in place before you’re even close to the dock. The same goes for adjusting your sails before a jibe. Solo sailing is about always being a few steps ahead.
Practical advice
Plan each step of your journey ahead of time. Make a mental checklist for every task, whether it’s preparing the anchor, adjusting your sails, or docking. Set everything up before the moment hits, so you’re calm, collected, and already ahead of the game when it does.
Essential Gear for Sailing Solo, Make Life Easier
Safety Tips for Solo Sailing
When you're out there alone, safety is more than just a priority, it's your lifeline. And while solo sailing offers freedom, it also means there’s no one to count on but yourself. That’s why having the right safety gear is non-negotiable.
Here’s a checklist of the essentials
Life Jackets: A no-brainer, but it’s worth repeating. Always wear a high-quality life jacket, especially when the weather turns or when you’re leaving the cockpit. [Soon: Best life jackets for solo sailors].
Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs): These little devices can be a literal lifesaver. If things go wrong and you’re tossed into the drink, a PLB will help rescuers find you fast. [Soon: Top-rated personal locator beacons].
VHF Radios: A must for staying in contact with nearby boats or the coastguard. Whether you need to call for help or just let someone know you’re safe, a VHF radio is your voice when you're far from shore. [Soon: Best VHF radios for solo sailors].
Redundancy is key, meaning, don’t just have one system for safety, have backups. Think of it like packing two parachutes: one is great, but having a second in case of failure? Even better. Whether it's an extra handheld VHF or a second personal beacon, these backup systems ensure you’re never stranded without a plan.
Tip
Keep all your essential safety gear within easy reach at all times. You don’t want to be crawling for a life jacket when things go south.
Tech Tools to Boost Your Solo Game
Technology is your best friend, even more so when you’re sailing solo. Sure, it’s great to feel in control of everything, but even the most experienced sailor can benefit from a few tech tools to make the journey smoother.
Electric Winches: These bad boys take the grunt work out of hoisting sails and trimming the genoa. When you're handling everything by yourself, electric winches make raising the mainsail or adjusting sails a breeze. [Soon: Best electric winches for sailboats].
The first boat I ever worked on was a Fountaine Pajot Lavezzi 40 Catamaran. I vividly remember the first time I had to raise the mainsail on my own, pulling by hand with sweat pouring down my face. Back then, I didn’t know the technique of pulling toward myself. Later, on the Lagoon 38 S2, I learned a more efficient way: I’d brace my right foot against the mast, grab the rope above head level, and pull it down toward my chest while the captain kept the line tight.
When I started sailing solo on the Lagoon 38, I developed a new method. I’d close the stopper, loop the line around the winch a couple of times, and keep it close to the mast so I could grab and pull while the autopilot held the boat steady against the wind. I’d carefully lift the mainsail, guiding it through the Lazy Jack system with precision.
Things completely changed when I sailed the brand-new Lagoon 42, equipped with an electric winch. Now, I could lift the mainsail without even leaving the helm—just a press of a button with my right foot, and up it went effortlessly.
I also had a Bavaria 39 Cruiser, a monohull with a manual system where the mainsail rolled inside the mast. It was a clever setup, but after fully unfurling the sail, rolling it back could sometimes be tricky. From my experience, the best setup is having the mainsail on the boom combined with an electric winch. It’s a real game-changer.
Autopilot Systems: You can’t always have your hands on the wheel, especially when you’re multitasking. An autopilot system is like having an invisible crew member who holds the course steady while you’re busy trimming sails or preparing for the next maneuver. [Soon: Top-rated autopilot systems for solo sailing].
Weather Apps: You don’t want to be caught off guard by bad weather. Weather apps allow you to track storms, winds, and tides in real time, helping you make informed decisions before things get hairy. [Soon: Best weather apps for solo sailing].
By investing in the right tech tools, you’re not just making life easier, you’re making it safer. These tools allow you to focus on the bigger picture, while they handle the details.
Mooring, Anchoring, and Docking, Handling the Boat on Your Own
Mooring to a Buoy, It’s Just You and the Buoy Now
Mooring to a buoy when you're alone can feel like threading a needle, except the needle is moving, and you’re the one holding the thread. The secret is preparation and patience. Here’s how to get it done:
Prepare Your Lines: Before you even approach the buoy, have your lines ready. This isn’t the time to be scrambling around the deck. Attach the mooring line to your bow cleat, leaving enough slack so you can grab it once you’ve reached the buoy.
Approach Slowly, But Not Too Slow: As tempting as it is to get this over with, take your time. Approach the buoy at a slow pace, preferably from upwind so you have better control of the boat’s movement. If you are going too fast, never try to stop the boat yourself by pulling the buoy line, even if you think you are strong enough, just go around and try again.
Hook the Buoy: Use a boat hook to grab the buoy’s line and feed your mooring line through it. It might take a couple of tries but don’t rush it.
Tip:
The key is to prepare everything before you reach the buoy. When all your lines are in place and the boat is moving slowly, you’ll have all the time in the world to make that connection.
Personal Reflection:
This it's one of those moments where you wish you had an extra hand, but with practice, you won’t need one. After a few attempts, it becomes as second nature as tying your shoes, just don’t rush it. And if it doesn't go as it should, just go around and try again, be careful with the boats around you.
Anchoring Solo, Laying Down Roots for the Night
Anchoring solo is infinitely easier than mooring to a buoy. But like everything else on the water, it’s all about preparation and practice.
Positioning is Key: Choose your anchoring spot wisely. Look for a place with good holding ground, sand or mud is ideal. Once you’ve found your spot, head into the wind and bring the boat to a near stop. Read about how I lost three anchors during the years in the Expert Tips for Troubled Seas: Sailing Challenges and Solutions article and check out best practices and valuable resources in the Ocean Conservation and Sailing: How You Can Protect the Seas While Navigating the Waves. The truth is, anchoring is very important, especially if you are spending the night or leaving your boat.
Drop the Anchor: Lower your anchor slowly, paying attention to how much chain you’re letting out. A good rule of thumb is five to seven times the depth of the water. In busy or deep places this is not an option though.
Set the Anchor: Once the anchor hits the bottom, reverse the boat gently to set the anchor firmly in place, or just wait for the wind to do that for you.
Chain Control: Keep an eye on how much chain you have out. Too little and the anchor might drag; too much and you’ll be taking up more space than you need.
Anchor Windlasses and Battery Power to get that anchor back on the boat: The last thing you want to do is manually haul up an anchor. [Soon: Best anchor windlasses and remotes for solo sailors].
The anchor’s your best friend out here. Treat it well, and it won’t leave you stranded. Neglect it, and you might wake up drifting toward the nearest rocky shore, not exactly the morning view you were hoping for." Read how I almost lost my boat in Ibiza in the Expert Tips for Troubled Seas: Sailing Challenges and Solutions article.
Docking Without a Deckhand, It’s All About Precision
Docking solo can feel like parallel parking a semi-truck in a crowded city street, while the asphalt is moving. It's intimidating at first, but with practice, you’ll hit the mark every time.
Approach Slowly: Just like mooring to a buoy, slow and steady wins the race here. Approach the dock at a low speed so you can make adjustments as needed without the risk of a hard landing, but keep in mind that if you go too slow the helm doesn’t do anything, especially on a monohull, and the wind and currents are always influencing, and if you go too fast you’re never going to stop that boat.
Prepare Your Lines: Set up your fenders and dock lines well before you reach the dock, but in such a way that the possibility of a line getting into a propeller is non-existent.
Use Wind and Current to Your Advantage: Factor in the wind and current when lining up your approach. Let them guide you to the dock instead of fighting against them.
Products for Docking Assistance: Consider investing in remote-controlled docking systems to give you that extra bit of control when you’re handling everything solo. [Soon: Top-rated remote docking systems]. I never had this, in either of the tens of boats I captained.
It might take a few tries to get the hang of it, but once you do, you’ll wonder why you ever needed a crew.
Handling the Sails, Jibes, Tacks, and All Things Wind-Related
Raising the Main and Setting the Genoa—It’s Easier Than You Think
When you’re sailing solo, raising the mainsail and setting the genoa can feel like trying to juggle and ride a unicycle at the same time. But with the right techniques, and a little help from modern tech (or not), it’s much easier than you might think.
Lifting the Mainsail:
Positioning is Everything: Before you start hoisting, make sure you’re heading into the wind. This keeps the sails from catching and makes raising the main a lot smoother.
Use Your Electric Winch: If you have one (and you really should), now’s the time to make the most of it. Attach the halyard to the electric winch and start raising the mainsail. You’ll be amazed at how quickly and effortlessly it goes up.
Setting the Genoa:
Unfurl the Sail: Slowly unfurl the genoa, keeping an eye on the sail to ensure it’s filling correctly. The most important thing here is that you don’t want to unfurl while the boat goes against the wind, never try to do that if you don’t want to have some lines whipping all over the deck.
Trim the Sail: Once it’s unfurled, trim the sheet to get the best shape and control out of the sail.
When I was learning, I found that letting others steer while I focused on the sails helped me refine my solo skills. It gave me the space to practice and learn each task until I could do it without thinking. Now, when I’m solo, I can handle both steering and sail adjustments like it’s second nature.
Jibes and Tacks, How to Sail Solo Without Breaking a Sweat
Jibing and tacking solo might sound like nightmares at first, but with a little preparation, and a deep breath, they can become smooth, fluid motions. The key is to make the boat do most of the work for you, this is where electric winches and an autopilot come in handy, again.
Jibing Solo: Working with the Wind
Jibing can be a bit tricky, I won’t lie. The key is to work with the wind, not against it, because if you do it wrong, you risk causing damage. Over time, I’ve developed different methods for jibing solo, depending on the boat I’m sailing.
On boats like the Lagoon 38 or the Bavaria 39, while using autopilot, I always start by preparing the lines. Honestly, it’s almost second nature to me at this point—so explaining it in words feels strange because it’s become a fluid, automatic process.
Let’s assume the wind is coming from the starboard side. First, I secure the port genoa line on its winch with about three loops, then I ensure the stopper is open. If the stopper is closed, you’ll need to use the winch handle to transfer the pressure from the stopper to the winch—otherwise, it’s tough to open.
Next, I move to the starboard genoa line, wrap it two or three times around the winch, and either close the stopper or secure it on the winch. Personally, I prefer leaving the stopper open and securing the line on the winch with two loops, as it lets me make adjustments easily if needed.
For the mainsheet, I check that the stopper is open and secure the line on the winch with three loops.
Now comes the actual jibe. I turn off the autopilot, take the helm, release the line from the winch stopper, and gradually turn the boat to port until the mainsail crosses to the starboard side. I pull the line until the sail fully crosses, then smoothly release it and secure the mainsheet on the winch.
The genoa comes next, and it’s a fairly simple process once you understand how much travel the starboard line will need. You just release the port line once the sail passes the wind’s angle. To avoid putting excessive pressure on the mast, I give the genoa a bit more slack than it needs and adjust it once the boat is properly aligned.
Finally, I switch the autopilot back on and trim the sails for optimal performance.
If the wind is coming from the port side, the steps are the same, just reversed.
When I’m on a boat equipped with an electric winch, like the Lagoon 50, Lagoon 40, or Lagoon 44, the process becomes even easier. I keep the stoppers closed until I’ve secured the lines on the electric winch. After looping the line around the winch a few times, I give the winch a quick tap to transfer the tension, adjust the sails, close the stopper, and switch the line on the winch. I repeat the process for the next sail.
The thing with electric winches is that they mask how much tension is on the line and, by extension, how much strain is on the mast and rigging. That’s why I recommend doing it manually a few times to better understand the physics of the system.
I’ve also completed jibes entirely on autopilot, adjusting the course by 10 degrees at a time for a smoother maneuver.
And if you’re using a tiller with no winches, like on a dinghy, the process is the same—just follow the same steps in order.
Tacking Solo:
Prepare the Genoa: Before starting your tack, get ready to release the Genoa sheet from the winch. As you steer the boat through the wind, release the current sheet and pull in on the opposite side.
Turn Slowly: Make your tack in a controlled, steady motion. Don’t rush it—take your time to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Trim the Genoa: Once the boat has completed its turn, trim the Genoa to match the new course.
Tacking is much easier and gives you plenty of time to adjust everything if you do it slowly. Many beginner sailors prefer tacking, even if it means turning the boat nearly a full circle, rather than jibing. I guess it’s the "better safe than sorry" mindset, though I never went that route myself.
My first and only shipwreck
I once broke a mast while jibing. It was one of the first times I took a sailing boat out to sea. The boat was a beautiful Wayfarer dinghy that hadn’t seen much maintenance. It wasn’t mine, it belonged to the harbor, and no one was really taking care of it or using it.
While I was inside the bay, everything went smoothly. But as soon as I went into open water, on the first jibe, a rusty shroud turnbuckle gave way, and with it, the mast. I had to turn the boat around by pushing it from the water, got back on, and tried to lift the sail by hand until a gust of wind caught under it. That wind was enough to capsize the Wayfarer before I could loosen the mainsheet.
I ended up being rescued, along with the capsized, waterlogged dinghy, by the crew of a diving school’s boat. I didn’t have a life jacket or a VHF radio, and when the boat capsized, I ended up under the sail, which pushed me down underwater. Instinctively, I dove deeper and surfaced further away to breathe in some of the salty breeze. Thankfully, I wasn’t hit by the mast or tangled in the lines, but it was a lesson I’ll never forget.
Update: Interestingly, in that situation, wearing a life jacket would have made my self-rescue more difficult. I wouldn’t have been able to dive and escape from under the floating sail without first removing the vest. That’s why staying on top of your boat’s maintenance is crucial. Another important factor to consider is the quality of materials, consumables, and spare parts. I’ll be dedicating a separate article to help you choose the right parts for your boat.
You can find more safety tips for sailing and maintenance best practices in various articles like Sailing in Bad Weather: Expert Safety Tips & Best Practices and Understanding Spinnaker: A Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Downwind Sailing on the Salty Breeze website.
Solo Sailing Tips: Stay Safe, Stay Smart, Mental and Physical Prep
Mental Preparation, Be Ready for Solitude
Sailing solo isn’t just about handling the boat, it’s also about handling yourself. The ocean can be both peaceful and isolating, and when you’re out there alone, it’s just you and the waves. Mental preparation is just as important as physical prep.
Managing Fear and Isolation:
Acknowledge the Silence: Solitude can be overwhelming at first. It’s not uncommon to feel uneasy when the only sounds you hear are the wind and water. But don’t shy away from it, embrace the quiet and use it as a time for reflection.
Stay Positive: It’s easy to let your mind wander, especially when things aren’t going as planned. Keep your focus on the task at hand, and remember that every problem has a solution. The only problem without a solution is death was what I would tell myself. Keeping your thoughts clear is key to staying in control.
Keep Busy: A busy mind is a calm mind. Create a routine, whether it’s checking the sails every hour or jotting down your thoughts in a logbook.
Personal Reflection: It’s funny how, on a boat full of people, you miss the silence. But when you’re alone, you miss the chatter. There’s something about the quiet that brings out a deeper connection with the ocean, but every now and then, you’ll wish for a bit of noise.
Staying Connected:
Use Technology to Keep in Touch: Even if you’re miles from shore, there’s no reason to feel completely cut off. Satellite phones, texting devices, or a satellite internet connection allow you to reach out to loved ones and check in with the world beyond the horizon.
Social Media Breaks: Whether you’re posting a quick photo or sending an update, staying connected through social media can help break the sense of isolation. Plus, nothing says "adventure" like a picture of the endless sea.
Solo Sailing Tips For Emergency Procedures and Protocols
When you’re the only one onboard, you need to be your own emergency team. Practicing emergency procedures might feel unnecessary when everything’s calm, but once the wind picks up and equipment starts acting up, you’ll be thankful for the practice.
Essential Emergency Procedures:
Equipment Failure: If something breaks, like the autopilot or a winch, don’t panic. Have a toolkit and spare parts ready to make quick repairs. Keep a list of backup procedures in case something critical fails, like steering or navigation.
Man Overboard (Yes, Even When You’re Solo): Always wear a safety harness, but just in case, have a plan for getting back onboard. An automatic engine cutoff system and self-recovery techniques are essential.
Navigating Bad Weather: Storms don’t wait for company, and neither should you. If the weather starts turning, reef your sails early, secure loose equipment, and trust your instincts. Always have an escape route planned. ( More on Navigating Bad Weather, here)
Emergency drills might seem dull, but trust me when the wind picks up, you’ll be glad you practiced. When you’re alone and the boat’s bouncing around, there’s no time for second-guessing.
Additional Sailing Alone Tips:
Use Checklists: Keep an emergency checklist near the helm. Whether it’s for bad weather, equipment failure, or even a medical emergency, having a clear list of steps helps keep you focused.
Stay Calm: In any emergency, your calm is your greatest asset. Take a breath, assess the situation, and act methodically. Panic doesn’t solve problems, steady thinking does.
By mentally preparing for both the solitude and potential emergencies, you’ll be ready to handle anything the sea throws your way. Keep connected, stay sharp, and most importantly, trust yourself.
Conclusion: Solo Sailing, It’s Not Just About Skill, It’s Also About Anticipation
Learning how to sail solo is all about preparation, anticipation, and trusting your skills to navigate the journey ahead. Is a journey that goes beyond just knowing how to handle a boat. It’s about looking ahead, foreseeing what needs to be done, and staying prepared for the challenges that lie beyond the horizon. Whether it’s raising the sails, anchoring for the night, or docking without a deckhand, the key to success isn’t just in your skills, it’s in your ability to anticipate and stay one step ahead.
From knowing your boat inside and out to staying mentally prepared for the solitude and surprises of the open sea, solo sailing requires more than technical knowledge. It calls for a balance of preparation, confidence, and flexibility. The ocean doesn’t play by your rules, but with the right mindset and tools, you’ll be ready for whatever it throws your way.
Ready to put your solo sailing skills to the test? Grab your gear, study your route, and let the ocean be your guide, or at least let it give you a gentle nudge.
