Book Review: Frank Mulville's Single-handed Sailing

With the weather warming up and the days getting longer in the northern hemisphere, many are starting to think about the sailing season. I sure am. So, it's time for another book review and pondering some other projects for the list.

Single-handed Sailing is not just a book for the single-hander, although written for single-handers. What do I mean by that? Most sailing is done by small crews - usually a couple. This means that most watches are taken with one person on watch. Why not set the boat up to single-hand? That way, the watch keeper doesn't need to wake the off watch person (who might be sleeping) to take care of a sail change, change course, or what have you.

Frank Mulville and Iskra (his 28' gaff-cutter) have appeared in Cruising World, Yatching Monthly, Practical Boat Owner and other sailing magazines. In addition, Mulville has written Terschelling Sands, In Granma's Wake; Girl Stella's Voyage to Cuba, Rustler on the Beach, Schooner Integrity, and Dear Dolphin. Single-handed Sailing was first published in 1981 (2nd edition in 1990), and republished in 1994. He and Iskra have completed six (or more) solo Atlantic crossings, a voyage to Norway and around Iceland.

Single-handed Sailing is of the old school (pre-GPS for instance) but full of sensible advice none-the-less. Mulville comes from the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Sailor) line of thought. His advice runs from the importance of staying aboard the boat (and how to do so), wind-vane self-steering, supplies to carry, storm tactics, maneuvering and anchoring, trade-wind sailing and even which rig to choose.

As an example: he insists that the single-handed sailor who falls overboard is done for, so make sure one doesn't fall overboard by wearing your harness when ever on deck, and making sure you are clipped aboard. He shows how to choose a harness and tether (he prefers a single tether with two hooks at 3' and 8') and rig jack-lines. For jack-lines, he prefers stainless steel running at shoulder height above the lifelines. That way the sailor who falls overboard, will be swung along behind the boat, where he can reach the lanyard rigged to the wind-vane. After pulling the wind-vane lanyard the boat heads up into the wind, and he can climb back aboard on the wind-vane mounting tubing. Try this out before departing, he warns, with another crew member aboard to help if needed. He even mentions that the single-hander will soon learn to use the harness and tether as another "pair of hands" to balance while working on deck.

 In addition, he has wonderful poetry-prose like the following.

After many days alone the single-hander may feel himself so much a part of the environment he finds himself in, so attuned to the changing moods and humours of the ocean, that he may not wish to interfere with its inhabitants. He himself is tolerated, even treated as a friend by the creatures with whom he shares his life. They all in their way contribute to his well-being - the flashing beauty of the flying fish, the grace and elegance of the dolphin, the deadly power of the shark, the ponderous and dignified bulk of the whale, the hurried, busy flight of the storm petrel or the deft, competent mastery of the gull as it endlessly plays the currents and eddies around the yacht - all serve to draw the single-hander closer to his surroundings. It is his ability to identify with the ocean and to become a part of its life which makes it possible for him, unlike any other creature, to survive and flourish in the ocean by himself. The substance of his existence is dependent as much on his state of mind as on his bodily health - the one is a much a part of his well-being as the other. He is a wise and generous man who passes across the ocean in peace, respecting the lives of his fellow wayfarers (160).

I know that some do not like the twin-headsail rig for sailing down the trade winds. But if one wants to give this rig a try, Mulville provides the means to do so.

He is also an advocate about two things with your mainsail that might be worth talking to your sail maker about. 1. Use a miter cut in the main, with a loose foot, to allow a significant roach at both leech and foot without the need for battens. 2. If using a bermudian/marconi rig, a down-haul on the main might make it capable to reefing while running downwind in a heavy wind. Mulville, himself, advocates the gaff rig.

All in all, I think the book is worth reading for the single-hander of a couple getting ready to set sail. I know that I gleaned pieces of information and "food for thought" by reading Single-handed Sailing. I enjoyed some of Mulville's other works, and this one, too. At this point in time, however, when shelf-space aboard is limited, I think this is one I'd get from the Inter-Library Loan system.