TOPIC:

Hi - Could anyone advise on the suitability of an Albacore for sailing single-handed, please? I prefer light wind sailing but can they be reefed or sailed with main only in stronger winds? I weigh 11 stone. Thanks in advance for any information.

Richard wrote:

I just thought

You can use a full rig in windy conditions, you just need to eat a lot of pies

Richard

Works for me!! [img]smileys/smiley36.gif[/img]

Can you keep your pies dry on an Albacore?

Sounds like I need to reconsider.



Thanks again.


Craig

I just thought

You can use a full rig in windy conditions, you just need to eat a lot of pies

Richard

Hi All, when I spoke to Michael Mac about suitable sails to use as reduce rig, he suggested an old GP14 main and perhaps an Enterprise jib. It depends what you want from the single handed sailing. If it is just for fun, then the Alb is great - comfortable, and forgiving. If you want to race a single hander, then I have an Albacore for when I can get a crew (and in the winter) and a Supernova for racing on my own and after Supersonic is wrapped up in the garage for the winter. The Supernova is much more comfortable and fun than the Laser, but getting back into the Alb in the spring is magnificent!

Craig,



you're too light, you won't be able to single hand in anything over a 10 mph wind using standard sails. Have a look at the Firefly.



Rob

Thanks to all for that.



Craig

Open water + light breeze, use the full rig.



Medium to stiff breese or confined waters, use main only and rake the centerboard aft to balance CE & CLR



If its windy you need a reduced main. Either something off a 12' boat or an Alb main with cringles for slab reefing.



Beats sailing a Laser any day

Hi chaps, greetings from Bahrain, daytime temps now down to 27 degrees, feels like I'll need a sweater soon!!



I was visiting Swanage SC one summer with my Alb and one of their bank holiday races was a single handed race. I took part and blitzed the rest of the dinghies. I reckon it was force 2-3+ and I comfortably managed the full Alb rig (my 16 stone helped). Having a dangly pole was also a big help for down wind control of the jib. I was convinced I'd won the event only to learn that I'd been beaten on handicap by a cat that I hadn't even seen on the race area. Ho hum.

But overall the Alb was very nice to sail single handed, no painful knees like after grovelling around in the bottom of a Laser!!

Steve (formerly Covenham & Grimsby)

I have seen an albacore sailed regularly single handed. The guy had a national 12 main sail and a smaller jib, it sailed quite well. The 12 main was almost as tall as the Alb main but a lot shorter on the boom. I suspect you could do a similar thing with firefly sails

I have single handed my Alb just using the Alb main. I have a wire the same length as the jib and haul this up so I can put some tension on the rig. To move the centre of effort forward I pull the mast forward by easing off the shroud adjusters and pulling up on the jib hayard. I also do not put the plate all the way down and the boat balances reasonably well to windward.



I hope this helps



Richard Smith






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Craig,

The one thing that most Albs have is plenty of CUPBOARDS well enough room for breakfast, dinner and tea.

CrawfyCrawfyReid2008-11-19 23:50:56