Solo sailing guide – Tips, safety & how to sail single-handed

Solo sailing, or single-handed sailing, means sailing a boat alone without any crew or other people on board to help. You can do it on small dinghies, yachts, or ocean-going sailboats, depending on your experience. When solo sailing, you’re responsible for everything, including steering, trimming sails, navigating, handling emergencies, and staying safe.

In this guide, we explain the importance of mindset for solo sailing and discuss the boat setup required. We’ll share some watchkeeping and safety tips, and explore how to deal with mooring, challenging weather conditions, maintenance, and breakdowns when solo sailing.

Solo sailing mindset

Having the right mindset for solo sailing is one of the most important aspects of taking on this challenge. When you sail alone, your attitude and focus become your strongest tools, just as important as boat setup and technical preparation.

Single-handed sailing requires:

• Self-reliance
• Being able to stay calm under pressure
• Patience
• Discipline
• Problem-solving skills
• Adaptability
• Situational awareness
• Feeling comfortable when alone

Benefits of solo sailing include:

• Freedom and independence – You can sail wherever you want when you please, and take things at your own pace
• Challenge and adventure – Sailing alone tests your skills as a sailor, your endurance on the water, and your problem-solving ability
• Peace and solitude – Being alone on the water with just your boat for company offers a quiet escape from everyday life
• Training or competition – Many famous ocean races are for solo participants, so it’s a good way to train for a future goal

The boat system and setup required for solo sailing

When sailing single-handedly, your boat setup must be designed for simplicity, safety, and self-sufficiency as you’ll need to be able to handle everything alone.

Choose a boat that’s simple and sturdy, but small enough to manage alone. This should typically be 25 to 40 feet for ocean sailing and smaller for coastal sailing. It should also have a self-draining cockpit, an efficient shelter, and easy access to all lines.

You should be able to handle the sails from the cockpit, and autopilot systems can help you stay on course. Navigational equipment is also vital when solo sailing, and charts and compasses are important should your GPS fail or lose power.

When sailing alone, your safety gear must be high-quality and easily accessible. Important items include:

• Lifejacket with a harness
• Emergency locator beacon
• Fire extinguishers
• Bilge pumps
• First-aid kit

Watchkeeping tips for solo sailors

When you’re alone at sea, navigation and watchkeeping keep you safe, on course, and aware of what’s around you, even when you’re tired or distracted. Best practice tips to stay safe when out on the water include:

• Carrying out a 360° visual scan every 20 to 30 minutes
• Checking your AIS every 20 to 30 minutes
• Plotting or noting your position every one to two hours
• Updating your logbook every two to four hours
• Checking battery and power levels every four to six hours
• Being constantly aware of the weather and wind conditions

Check out our guide to the points of sail for more advice. 

Handling challenging weather conditions solo

When you’re sailing single-handedly, challenging weather conditions require a calm response as there’s no crew to help. Some top tips include:

• Reefing sails early will help you keep your vessel balanced
• Securing all equipment and belongings to avoid trip hazards or losing things overboard
• Using autopilot or a windvane carefully when weather conditions are particularly bad
• Staying rested and hydrated – you’ll also need to ensure you eat properly to keep your energy up
• Wearing a harness and lifejacket, and making sure your radio is easily accessible
• Simplifying your route and switching to paper charts if you lose power
• Staying calm and taking things one step at a time

How to moor a boat solo

Mooring a boat solo may sound daunting, but it’s perfectly manageable if you stay calm and ensure you’re confident about what you need to do.

Preparing in advance before you reach your mooring spot means you won’t have to rush and can take your time to do things properly. Put your fenders out, get your mooring lines and boat hook ready, and review the steps you need to follow so you know exactly what to do.

If you’re mooring to a buoy, approach slowly from downwind and aim slightly off centre so the buoy drifts along your side. Use neutral and short bursts of gear to control speed. When the buoy is alongside you, use your boat hook to grab the pickup line or buoy ring and secure a temporary line to it. Once you’re steady, you can replace this with a secured mooring line.

If you’re mooring alongside a jetty or pontoon, rig fenders and lines on the side you’ll berth on and approach slowly at a shallow angle of around 25°. When your bow reaches the pontoon, go to the rear of the boat briefly to stop forward motion and step off with the midship line. Secure the midship line to a cleat and attach bow and stern lines. Adjust all lines to allow for tides and movement.

Read our guide on crossing the English Channel if you're up for a solo sailing adventure. 

Dealing with maintenance and breakdowns when solo sailing

As with everything when sailing single-handedly, maintenance and breakdowns should be dealt with calmly, and preparing for potential issues in advance is recommended for peace of mind.

If a problem occurs while sailing, assess the situation and work out whether it’s:

• Urgent (safety or steering)
• Important but manageable (power or sails)

You’ll also need to think about whether it can wait until conditions improve. Once you understand the seriousness of the issue, you can develop a plan.

The first step in dealing with maintenance and breakdowns when sailing single-handedly is to take preventive measures to avoid issues from occurring in the first place. Before your solo trip, inspect the rigging, sails, lines, and fittings for signs of chafe or wear. Check the engine oil, coolant, belts, filters, and fuel lines, and test the bilge pumps, navigation lights, and autopilot. If anything causes concern, ensure it is addressed before you set sail and avoid taking any unnecessary risks.

You should also ensure you have equipment on board that can help you if you need to carry out maintenance while sailing. Recommended items include:

• Adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, and a multitool
• Socket set and ratchet
• Electrical tester
• Spare shackles, pins, and snap hooks
• Knife and spare rigging knife
• Duct tape, electrical tape, cable ties, epoxy putty, and sealant
• Head torch and spare batteries

5 safety tips for solo sailors

• Wear a lifejacket with a harness at all times, stay clipped onto jacklines whenever you leave the cockpit, move slowly, and always maintain three points of contact
• Run all control lines to the cockpit, keep decks clear of spare lines and gear, and install non-slip surfaces and grab rails
• Keep a regular watch routine, even if just visual. Make sure you always know your position and heading, and keep paper charts and a compass on hand in case electronics fail
• Ensure you have the means to request help or attract attention if needed – for example, a VHF radio, an EPIRB, flares, a whistle, and a waterproof torch
• Carry a well-stocked first-aid kit containing painkillers, seasickness tablets, antiseptics, and dressings

Specialist insurance through Craftinsure

Whether you’re sailing single-handedly or with a crew, you may want to consider boat insurance for extra peace of mind while you’re out on the water. 

Specialist boat insurance through Craftinsure can help provide financial protection against third-party liability, legal costs, theft, loss, accidental damage, and much more.

Get an instant online quote today.