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125 Discussion Forum
Please note: This forum is read by a wide group of 125 sailors.
This is not the place for personal attacks or inappropriate comments on anyones race, sex, age or sailing abilities.
Return to the Forum List |  Re: 125 single handed? | Hi Andre - while the 125 is designed as a two-hander I have found that it is possible to sail it single-handed in light-medium conditions, as long as you are up for a bit of scramble when tacking. Once the wind or chop gets too strong though it is difficult to fight the heel when sailing solo. I'm a novice 125er, but I have found that in stronger conditions you can furl the jib (or replace it with a wire forestay) and sail entirely off the main. This modification is workable and fun but will compromise your performance, especially when sailing upwind. Good luck!
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| | Re: 125 single handed? | Hi Andre,
I bought a 125 in 2014 to teach myself to sail and spent some time setting it up for single handed sailing. I sailed regularly for 5 years capsising only 3 times, once when a wind gust caught me while pushing the rudder down and on the only 2 occasions I had crew. I am not young nor a heavyweight or particularly agile and found the 125 not too difficult to sail unless the wind was over 25 kmh. The only reason I no longer sail the 125 is that I have moved on to sailing a keelboat. My 125 is fitted with a separate forestay as has been suggested but I also rigged a jib halyard which runs back to the cockpit, this enables me to raise or lower the jib depending on wind conditions, which makes the boat far more versatile. It also has a mast float (A beach ball in a bag.) and floating righting lines which hang over the hull when the boat is on its side as the centreboard is too high to reach. These lines are attached to the bottom of the mast and are temporarily cleated to the jib fairleads to hold it in position over the step when the mast is being raised or lowered. This is made easier and safer by running a rope from the upper forestay attachment point, through the bow ring and back along the side of the boat. I fitted a bracket and cord to raise the rudder blade when coming in to shore. I have "rope ladders" attached to the transom to make climbing back onboard easier following a capsize. I also have a loop of shock cord to hold the trapeze ring on to my harness hook while I am climbing out with my hands full, but I have never had the conditions or the bravery to use it. There is a link to a Flickr photo of my boat fully set up on my entry in the Boat Register. Sail No. 361. Contact me if you need more information.
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