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CL 16

Solo sailing...

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Author	Topic: Solo sailing...
Leaky Bailer JuniorMember	posted July 31, 2002 05:54 PM Is it possible to sail a Cl16 solo (recreationally), or is it preferable to have a second person?
CL16-2695 Member	posted July 31, 2002 08:19 PM The CL16 is a powerful boat with almost 150 sq ft of sail so in windy conditions it can become a real challenge to single hand. In lighter airs it's do-able for an experienced sailor. If single handing is your only option I'd recommend the CL14 but if you have a crew the CL16 will always be a better sail. I have owned both and currently have a CL16... it's the greatest. I noticed that you are in London, Ontario... me too... so if you're interested I'd be willing to take you for a sail in mine. Fair winds, Norman CL16-2695 [This message has been edited by CL16-2695 (edited July 31, 2002).]
whited unregistered	posted July 31, 2002 10:39 PM Hi Norman Just read where you have owned both the CL 14 and CL 16. I had a choice two years ago and went for the CL 14 because I couldn't count on my wife crewing. What do you feel the CL 14 does better, and what about the CL 16? Are both cockpits fairly equal for sailing comfort? I'm sure the much wider gunwale on the 16 is better for hiking out. I'm interested to hear your comments. Don in Halifax
james JuniorMember	posted August 01, 2002 01:23 PM I have just recently aquired a CL-16. I have a self furling jib and so single handing is no problem. If you do not have one you may find that sailing with the two sails will be too much in mid to strong winds or gusty conditions. I have found it very easy to control with just the one sail though. Good Luck James
Tom D CL16 Member	posted August 01, 2002 03:27 PM I sail a CL16 almost entirely solo. I can sail in winds up to 15+mph with jib and main. With winds above that I use only the main. I have a downhaul on by jib. I had a furling jib but it would not retract very well with the wind blowing hard. The down haul is a light line attached to the head of the jib passed through either the shakles or gromets on the jib to a block at the foredeck behind the the forestay the line runs to the cockpit. If I need to drop the jib, I release the halyard and pull the downhaul. This brings it to the deck. I have a small bungee loop that I wrap around the jib. I am working on a means to sail with the spinnaker solo. My first attempt was not very successful. I wrote about that in my Lake Michigan sailing adventure. The CL16 is a fantastic boat and lots of fun to sail with a crew or solo. GREAT SAILING Tom D.
CL16-2695 Member	posted August 02, 2002 12:02 AM Don I have to tell you that I prefer the 16 to the 14. Part of the reason is that I'm 6'3" and find the 16 to be much roomier. I really enjoyed the 14 and she was a piece of cake to single hand as well as an enjoyable boat to sail with one crew but you likely wouldn't want much more than that aboard. The 16 is much roomier and, as I have said already, a much more powerful boat with nearly 150 sq ft of sail. It can also be single handed as a number of the other guys have said but I wouldn't recommend it if you're not an experienced sailor. If you're in that category you'll want to have crew with you. I too have a furling jib which helps a great deal when I'm alone and the breeze is a little fresh. I've adapted the furling mechanism so I can furl the jib from well back in the cockpit... behind the thwart, with a one handed tug on a line. You're correct about the wider gunwales on the 16... they make it more comfortable when hiking. In addition the aft portion of the bench seats are removable so you can lay a sleeping bag in the bottom of the boat and camp pout if you're that way inclined. I have a boom tent which facilitates this nicely. Add to all that the additional aft storage compartment and overall the 16 is a better boat. The 14 was a great boat to start in but I love my 16. Hope this helps. Norman CL16-2695
Celtic Kiss unregistered	posted August 02, 2002 03:40 AM Leaky Bailer; Personally I cannot say enough good things about the CL 16 nor the support provided by Cl Sailboats. This forum is an example of that. Rather than repeat what has already been said, I can only add that I have logged over 100 solo miles on my CL 16 and am currently outfitting the boat to do some intra-provincial travel in Atlantic Canada. There is a gentleman in Britain who owns a Wayfarer, which is a direct ancestor to the CL 16. This man, Frank Dye, has sailed from England to Iceland and wrote a fascinating book about it. He also sailed his Wayfarer from Florida to Atlantic Canada and onward to Ontario. I also spoke with a gentleman who sailed his Wayfarer from England to Ireland. Robert Celtic Kiss #2120

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