B14 single handed?

   Forget the idea of a B14. You won't be able to sail it with just the main, and it'll be close to impossible with the jib on too. The jib on a B is quite powerful and if you try to "cleat it and leave it", it'll have you in the piss before you know it. 
An old-rules single-trapeze Cherub can be a right laugh single-handed and two-up in a blow it'll carry your weight and it won't hang around. 
Have fun...

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bernie Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 11 Oct 06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 24	Post Options Post Reply Quote bernie Report Post Quote Reply Topic: B14 single handed? Posted: 24 Nov 06 at 7:04pm
	Forget the idea of a B14. You won't be able to sail it with just the main, and it'll be close to impossible with the jib on too. The jib on a B is quite powerful and if you try to "cleat it and leave it", it'll have you in the piss before you know it. An old-rules single-trapeze Cherub can be a right laugh single-handed and two-up in a blow it'll carry your weight and it won't hang around. Have fun...
	Never sheet out.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Nov 06 at 11:33am
	Dart 18's have long skegs, do moving the centre of effort has less effect on the centre of lateral resistance. With a daggerboard, things become more critical, and a tiny movement of Cof E can throw the balance out. Even too much or too little mast rake will feel strange.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

porkyman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Nov 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote porkyman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Nov 06 at 11:07am
	thanks for the physics lesson english dave. perhaps my lack of understanding of these technical issues explains why I have never won any races. I am still a little confused. i used to sail a Dart 18 without the jib [single handed]as is the norm for the class. i could tack the dart with no jib,{most of the time], and cats can be a bugger to tack even with the jib up. so how come a mono hull with no jib will be a problem. Doug, my budget is only about £1750, so two boats is not on option. my money i know will have to a long way
	porkyman

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 16 Nov 06 at 11:40pm
	What is your budget?? Im sure you'd be able to pick up the likes of BOTH a B14 and an RS600 quite cheap.

49erGBR735HSC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 30 Mar 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1991	Post Options Post Reply Quote 49erGBR735HSC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Nov 06 at 10:29pm
	13 stone is a good weight for boats like the 600, MPS, etc as TT mentioned. Either go for a double-hander, with a consistant crew, like the B14 or go for something like a 600, Contender, etc. As Dave mentioned, the B14 will be totally unbalanced to sail with just the main and very difficult, 600 would be much nicer and quicker round the course.
	Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 Helensburgh S.C Boat Insurance from Noble Marine

jpbuzz591 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 05 Location: England Online Status: Offline Posts: 793	Post Options Post Reply Quote jpbuzz591 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Nov 06 at 6:36pm
	I would say the buzz singlehanded is good fun, get a telescopic extension, and you'll be fine on the wire. I'm about 14st with a lighter crew, and sailing singlehanded is not much of a problem unless it gets above a strong 4.
	Jp Indoe Contender 518 Buzz591 Chew Valley Sailing club Bristol

sten Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 07 Mar 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 208	Post Options Post Reply Quote sten Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Nov 06 at 3:16pm
	on a B14. I would keep the jib as the boat will be in balance then and quicker. the kite is in a bag so would be very difficult to get down with out swimming.

English Dave Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 06 Location: Northern Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 682	Post Options Post Reply Quote English Dave Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Nov 06 at 3:15pm
	Porky, it's all about sail balance. If you take the jib off the centre of effort of your sail aft. However, the centre of lateral resistance stays the same so the boat will always have a tendency to head up into the wind (weather helm). Una rigged boats like the Laser have the mast well forward to achieve overall balance. On a B14 you will go into tacks really well but may struggle to come out on the other side as there is no jib drawing on the new tack. When powered up you will struggle to bear away. This would be bad enough on any boat but on a B14 you are relying on moving fast to make the boat stable. In order to manoeuvre you will have to dump power and lose that stability just at the point when you need it most - crossing the boat. As you say, you are not a heavy man. I think you would struggle with even the mainsail of the B14. Losing the jib will not take much away from the tipping moment of the mainsail.
	English Dave Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700

porkyman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Nov 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote porkyman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Nov 06 at 2:50pm
	many thanks for the suggestions, Buzz sounds a possibility. Please not however that dispite my "am i too fat this signature", i only weigh 13st. i have put 2 stones in the last couple of years, and am certailnly carrying some exess lard/blubber. sorry for the confusion. I am still drawn to the B14, can any body tell me, if two up with a huge kite and a massive jib, and no trap, a crew of two can cope, why cant one man [13st], sail the thing with no jib and no kite. I was not thinking of modding it to take a trap. it does look very simaler to an RS 600 without its jib and kite.
	porkyman

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 06 at 11:15am
	Looking at the name and the "am I too fat for this" comment, I think the Buzz and 29er would lack the weight carrying ability when sailed 2 up! The thing you would need to find out is what the balance of the B14 is like when sailed with just the main up. I would at a guess say it would be terrible. If you got a skiff with a self tacking jib, then singlehanded sailing becomes much more possible with all 3 sails, especially if on the large side. Might be worth looking at the thread about sailing Flying Dutchmen and 505s singlehanded too.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686