25.06.2026
Single-handed sailing: checklist & tips from a professional
Single-handed sailing: When you’re alone with the waves and the wind
Single- and double-handed regattas have experienced a real boom in recent years. At the Silver Rudder, the Baltic 500, the Brassfahrt, the Med Max and the Offshore Double-Handed World Championship, amateurs and professionals compete in races ranging from 50 to 500 miles. The online entry lists for these events are often fully booked within minutes of opening. But where does the appeal of shorthanded sailing – that is, alone or in pairs – come from, and what should you bear in mind to ensure you’re well prepared?
As Marketing Manager at BAVARIA and an experienced regatta and cruising sailor with several thousand miles under his belt, Marcus Schlichting shares his personal checklist here.
What exactly is single-handed sailing?
In a nutshell: single-handed sailing means sailing a boat entirely without a crew – from navigation and manoeuvring to mooring and casting off in harbour. It is precisely this combination of responsibility, freedom and concentration that makes it so appealing to many.
You don’t have to take part in a regatta to sail alone or as a pair. For most sailors, this is just part of everyday life. They usually sail as a pair with their partner, but also enjoy sailing alone from time to time. Even when you go on a sailing trip with friends who are on a sailing boat for the first time, as the skipper you feel very much on your own on board and have to think like a single-handed sailor.
One hand for you, one for the ship
By the way, why is it called ‘single-handed sailing’ when you’ve got two hands? An old captain, who used to sail on large traditional sailing ships and whom I met in the harbour, always used to say to me: ‘Lad, always keep one hand for yourself and one for the ship! Remember that, otherwise the waves will simply wash you off the deck and into the sea.’ By that he meant the first basic rule of good seamanship (see info box). You need one hand to hold on tight on board and thus ensure your own safety. The other hand is for the boat and the sails – in other words, for single-handed sailing.
Every now and then I sail my boat single-handed. These aren’t usually long trips; often I just sail for a few hours in the bay on Sundays – so it’s more like ‘short-time single-handed’. But there really is a clear difference between being alone and being with one other person or a crew on board. Everything must be prepared perfectly and with plenty of foresight; nothing must be allowed to take you by surprise.
I’m making myself sound like an expert here, but really, every kid in an opti sailor is essentially a little single-handed sailor. However, if you want to handle a sailing yacht over 30 feet long with more than 50 square metres of sail area, you should plan it carefully and not set off without giving it proper thought.
My checklist before setting sail when I’m sailing solo
- Mast and sails:
The mainsail and jib are already prepared for hoisting whilst still in harbour. The halyards, sheets and stretchers are checked to ensure they run freely. Everything must run smoothly; nothing must get tangled up later and cause chaos. With a furling mainsail, I wind the outhaul from the foot onto one winch and the mainsheet onto a second. For the furling jib, the furling line is ready to be released, and the sheet is also already on a winch.
Engine and bow thruster:
Check that the most important systems are working whilst still in harbour. You should start the engine well in advance of setting sail. It may annoy the neighbours, but if the engine runs for 15 minutes without any problems, it will continue to do so for the next few hours. Once the mooring lines are securely fastened, engage first gear once and reverse once. This prevents any nasty surprises during harbour manoeuvres.A bow thruster can also be switched on whilst still in the berth and tested briefly. The autopilot, however, can only be checked once you’ve left the harbour. It requires a forward speed of at least three knots.
Navigation and weather:
I’m the sort of person who checks the ‘weather forecast’ 24/7, and I start doing so days before I plan to set sail. Wind direction and wind strength determine my route, sail configuration and even my personal mindset. There are a number of good apps, such as Windfinder and Windy, which provide forecasts and weather station reports on your smartphone. For the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, you can also find the marine weather forecast in the DWD’s Warnwetter app. Official weather forecasts are available for other sailing areas too. These are often displayed on noticeboards at many harbour master’s offices.I practise entering routes into the chart plotter whilst still in harbour, so that I don’t have to spend time thinking about it at sea if I want to change my route quickly during the trip. I also always keep a paper nautical chart with me in the cockpit. This gives me the feeling of having a better overview of the entire sailing area without having to constantly change the map section on the chartplotter. Furthermore, it is a legal requirement, for example in German waters, to have up-to-date paper charts on board.
The binoculars with a bearing compass, the VHF handheld radio and everything else I need on deck are, of course, within easy reach in the cockpit.
- Food, drink and other essentials:
When I’m out at sea on my own, I like to treat myself a bit. Even though you can always pop below deck for a few minutes whilst on autopilot to fetch something to eat or drink, I prefer to have everything with me in the cockpit. So, before setting sail, I stow plenty of water and other drinks, as well as a few snacks and other essential items such as reading glasses and tissues, in the cockpit. I also keep a jacket or jumper within easy reach by the companionway. I wear an automatic lifejacket in all weathers, whether I’m sailing alone or with a crew.
Manoeuvring in harbour:
When you’re solely responsible for the bow and stern lines, mooring and casting off need to be planned particularly carefully. Here, too, my first glance goes to the mast to check the wind direction on the Windex. If there’s a strong crosswind, when casting off I release the mooring lines on the leeward side as far as possible before concentrating on the windward lines. Depending on the situation, I swap the mooring line to shore for a longer line that I can let out. When I then sail out of the berth, it gives me a bit more guidance. This also works if you’re moored with the stern at a mooring. You can then let out the line and release the mooring at your leisure. Whilst I’m slowly letting out the shore line, I can use the bow thruster to fine-tune the boat’s heading a little.When I leave the harbour, I usually do so at a very slow speed and on autopilot, so that I have time to collect the fenders and tidy up the deck. When heading back into the harbour, I start preparing everything well before we reach it.
Conclusion: Single-handed sailing can be great fun – if you prepare properly.
You’ve achieved something all on your own, been right up close to the sea and the wind, and perhaps even pushed yourself to your personal limits. There are numerous tutorials on this topic online and on YouTube, where you can learn further techniques for various manoeuvres. However, if you don’t like being on your own even on land, you’re better off trying double-handed sailing. I certainly find that sailing in pairs is more enjoyable, especially on long overnight trips. You can always discuss the weather and navigation, and even get a bit of sleep now and then. And at the end, you can celebrate your trip together in the harbour.
BAVARIA models for single-handed sailing
On the C38 and C42 models, the ‘sheet winches at the helm’ option allows the mainsheet and the self-tacking jib sheet to be routed directly to the helmsman. The winch layout, featuring halyard and sheet winches at the helm on the Bavaria C46, C50 and C57, is also single- and double-handed ready. Those who want more sailing power on broad reach courses will find that, with the bowsprit and a permanent Code 0 from Elvström Sails, they can sail quickly and safely, whether alone or as a pair.
Author: Marcus Schlichting
When Marcus Schlichting was asked as a young boy what he wanted to be when he grew up, he didn’t want to be a train driver, an astronaut or a refuse collector. He always replied with firm conviction: a single-handed sailor or a round-the-world sailor – or, ideally, both. His childhood dream hasn’t quite come true, but it’s almost there. Today, he is Marketing Manager and Press Officer at BAVARIA YACHTS and is one of the most experienced sailors in the team. As well as having sailed several thousand miles as a cruising sailor, he has also enjoyed many successes as a regatta sailor. Among other achievements, he topped the German rankings for double-handed sailing on the Baltic Sea. Single-handed sailing has always fascinated him, as you have to be able to do everything: navigate, sail, carry out repairs, cook, sleep, persevere, and stay alert at all times – in short, be a true sailor, all on your own on board.