What's the largest sailboat a single person can sail without any help?

Question

Can a single person sail a 35' or 40' sailboat? Also can a 35' or 40' foot sailboat handle deep water sailing?

Answer 1

The person who said "This depends a lot on the person and a lot on the boat and how she is rigged." is bang on the mark.  

There are small boats of 15 foot that take two, boats of 26 foot that take five and then there are specially equipped 60 footers that take one fit ape who never sleeps.  

That you are asking shows you don't yet have the skills to be a single hander.  The smaller the boat the more quickly you will learn and acquire the skills.  

I suggest you start with a small seaworthy and quick boat that handles nimbly.  Unfortunately most old race boats were designed to have six apes sitting on the rail to keep them upright.  You want a boat that is upright in a blow with only you on board.

For setting out single handing I suggest something around 25 to 28 foot in length.  Certainly no more than 32 foot.  A boat rigged so the halyards come back to the cotpit and with a light weight wind driven self steering gear on the back.

Maybe you can find one already equipped by a single hander who is now upgrading to a larger yacht because he now has a family or is going to Tiheti.   Maybe an ex-mini transit boat.

The largest sailing boat I have skippered was a 115 foot tall ship and my current personal boat is 26 foot with a Navic hung on the back.

In answer to your question about blue water.  The smallest boat I have been blue water sailing in was 19 feet.  It was quite comfortable.  The smallest any of my friends have crossed an ocean in was 14 feet, that was a little on the small side, at least for the Atlantic crossing.

Answer 2

This depends alot on the person and alot on the boat and how she is rigged. I know of several people who have solo sailed around the world in 40' yachts. One of these was a man in his mid sixtys. I have been sailing for 30 years. I sail a Pearson Triton 28.6' I wouldn't be afraid to sail her anywhere solo. ut  yes a person can successfully sail a thirty-five to forty ft boat solo.

Answer 3

Round the world races are done in open 60's and some of them are singlehanded.

Answer 4

A 24' or less can handle Blue Water. Is nigh on suicidal, but it has and can be done.

Anything over 40' is just too much rigging for a solo, unless the solo has about $2 million in gear and support.

Robin Lee Graham sailed 'Dove' a 23' Ranger..

Does anybody know what happened to Robin Lee Graham or Patti his wife? Robin was the youngest boy who did a solo sircumnavigation in the 60's in his 23 ft yacht, Dove.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f48/...

Then there is good old Joshua Slocum,

http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/js/saaw....

'The Spray'

http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/js/img/a...

So yes it can and has been done.

deep water sailing is also and mainly called Blue Water Cruising.

Answer 5

Ever heard of Jesse Martin?

He circled the world solo in his 34' when he was just 17.

So yeah, a single person can sail a 35' and it can handle deep water sailing.