Jaysen wrote: ↑Wed May 05, 2021 7:25 pm
I actually prefer manual tailing. Problem is that I expect a significant amount of single handing without automatic steering. Self tailing kind of becomes important. My take is going to be using those blue rings that emulate self tailing. I have a few to test with.
I'll be interested in your feedback on those blue rings when you get there. I single-hand nearly exclusively and I don't think I have longed for self-tailers too much. The way the cleats work on the C&C is pretty clever and makes it pretty easy. Beating upwind in a narrow channel is the toughest challenge sheeting/winching-wise, that's when you really need 3-4 hands. I've found that(yes, I know you know how to sail, probably a lot more competently than me, but I'm the one typing, I have the conch!) if you can get the new working sheet all the way in and wrapped before the jib fills on the new tack, it's pretty effortless: you don't need to tail because you don't need to winch, it's already all the way in. Admittedly this means you really need to keep some way-on throughout the turn to ensure that sheeting tight on the new tack will actually be effective: if you lose too much speed then you're going to need to reach a little deeper initially, which then means winching, which then means tailing, which then means you need 3-4 hands again. Of course, 50% of the time the jib sheet will hang on some damned thing mid-tack; the open bow hatch, a stanchion, the chute pole, a paddleboard, or a spouse/sibling/niece/nephew/pet, and the whole thing goes to !@#$ in a hurry and threatens to upend your gin/tonic, but that's why I sail around in circles in Henderson Harbor and am not rounding the horn. Got to know your limits!
If you don't already have one, get a tiller-tamer. My boat is wheel and I swear I have the wheel lock on 90% of the time.