largest single sail sailboat

10 Best Sailboats for Solo Sailing (One Person)

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 27, 2023

The idea of single-handed sailing or solo sailing appeals to racers and cruisers alike. But what are the best sailboats for solo sailing? Well, let's find out.

Whether you've been thinking of going for a day's sail without assistance or dreaming of a solo passage to Bermuda, the desire and the magic of venturing out alone at the sea is something that any sailor can experience. It doesn't matter if you're cruising or racing, solo sailing, of course, requires you to change your thinking as you'll be solely responsible for the entire operation of the boat. More importantly, choosing a well-founded boat is critical to solo sailing.

When sailing with a crew, things may seem a little easy because you share the responsibilities among the crew and support each other in case of anything. But what happens when you decide to venture out alone or sail single-handedly? Whatever motivates you to go out sailing solo, you should choose a good boat that you can perfectly operate single-handedly.

In this article, we'll highlight 10 best sailboats for solo sailing, their prices, their best rigs, and everything else that you might need to sail them comfortably and safely.

Table of contents

General Features of Best Sailboats for Solo Sailing

Here are the general features to look for when choosing the best sailboat for solo sailing.

The Availability of Automation Systems

The forces that you sometimes have to deal with when out sailing can be extreme, to say the least. It doesn't matter whether you're sailing solo or with a crew, it's always very important not to underestimate the power of the wind and tide. While you can do a lot on your own, having some automation systems in place is an important feature if you're planning to sail single-handedly. In other words, a good sailboat for solo sailing should have various automation systems to make your work a lot simpler.

So if you're planning to go solo sailing, it would be great to consider a boat with the following systems:

• ‍ Autopilot for steering
• Lines running aft (running to the cockpit)
• Roller furling
• Electric windlass
• Hydraulic bow/stern thrusters with remote

Stability and Ease of Use

Again, the best sailboats for solo sailing are generally not known for their speeds. This is because they typically have wide beams and short waterlines, which are vital in providing stability thereby limiting their speeds. In short, the best sailboats for solo sailing usually sacrifice speed and additional performance for ease of use and stability.

Boat Features

When it comes to the structure of the boat itself, it's important to go for a boat that is close to the water, relatively small when compared to the wave height, and has lighter ballast, especially when compared to the displacement ratio. The idea here is that these features can combine to increase the boat's performance when you're sailing solo.

Additionally, a good solo sailing boat should be designed with a flat profiled aft bottom section. This is to ensure that the boat can come up on a plane when the wind conditions are breezy or marginal.

When it comes to the best sails for solo sailing, you can go for the unique sail design that combines both a Bermuda sail and a gaff sail. This can be essential in giving you a more sail area on a shorter mast than is possible when using either a gaff sail or a Bermuda sail. More importantly, the combination of a gaff sail and a Bermuda sail not only gives you a greater sail area on a shorter and easy to control mast but can also reduce the heeling force that's common in boats with taller and narrower sails.

Still on sails, it makes a lot of sense to choose easily operated sail controls. You certainly want a sail that one person can tuck a reef in quickly and be able to easily adjust the sheets. You should, therefore, prioritize the reefing and sail handling systems.

In terms of rigs, the gaff rig is arguably the best when solo sailing. Although the Bermuda rig is the most common, especially in modern sailboats, you can lose some windward abilities because of its lower aspects. As such, you can choose to use the gaff rig thanks to its ease of use and superior downwind performance.

10 Best Sailboats for Solo Sailing

There are numerous sailboats out there that can be easily and properly handled by a skilled and experienced sailor. To make it a lot easier for you, the following boats are great choices when solo sailing. Whether you're just looking to experience how it feels to solo sail or short-handed, they all offer easy, comfortable, and safe sailing.

Jeanneau Sunfast 3200

{{boat-info="/boats/jeanneau-sun-fast-3200"}}

From the outset, it's easy to see that the Jeanneau Sunfast 3200 is designed with offshore short-handed sailing in mind. In addition to being a purist's sailing boat, this boat is a small and light boat that can be easily handled. Even better, it has the stability and strength to handle long passages and that's exactly why it was initially designed with the Trans-Atlantic race in mind.

With this boat, you can easily attain double figures in terms of speed even if you're sailing downwind. In essence, the Sunfast 3200 is designed with some of the latest technology to afford you the best strength-to-weight ratios. It has all the necessary features to allow you to easily adapt it to perform perfectly either as a cruising or racing sailboat. Some of its greatest features include the two double cabins, the chart table, a galley, and a head compartment.

This boat is particularly impressive when sailing off the wind and it's designed to ensure that it's functional and reliable even when solo sailing. This is perhaps because it's designed and set up for racing, so it can be great for you especially if you're looking for a coastal cruiser that can be easily handled.

Using the sloop Marconi can be the best way to go given that this vessel has a keel-stepped mast. Its maximum beam begins at 60% aft of the stem before extending to the transom, which can result in the sled hull being driven by a mainsail-heavy rig. This can then fly the masthead asymmetrical off a short sprit.

Given that the Jeanneau Sunfast 3200 is a very modern boat that's equipped with some of the latest boating technology; it comes with a base price of about $160,000. This is a vessel that's built by one of the world's premier builders and offers an intriguing blend of technology, reliability, functionality, practicality, and performance.

Having been the European Yacht of the Year for 2008, the Sunfast 3200 may just be the godsend boat for your solo sailing dreams.

{{boat-info="/boats/hanse-371"}}

If you're looking for a slippery cruiser-racer that's always ready to sail single-handedly, you might perhaps want to take a serious look at the Hanse 371. Introduced in 2003, the Hanse 371 is a mid-sized boat that was designed in a true blend of old and new boating technology. Thanks to its furling and self- tacking jib, the Hanse 371 becomes an instant single-handed sailing vessel that takes much of the strain out of your solo sailing adventures. That's not all; this boat is more popular as a result of its autopilot system. Press a few buttons and you'll be ready to go.

Although it's a little bigger and not one of the smallest boats out there, it can be a great option if you're planning to sail solo but on a vessel that offers a tremendous amount of space. Whether you love a boat with a shallow or deep center of gravity, the Hanse 371 has a commendable large galley and a spacious cabin layout.

Everything about rigging this boat is designed to be easy. Again, the jib on a roller furler is self-tacking. In essence, everything is standard and easy to use, which makes this boat a dream when sailing single-handed.

Already a classic that's known for its stylish interior, timeless look, and ultimate performance, the Hanse 371 is a coveted vessel that may cost you around $60,000.

Hunter Channel 31

{{boat-info="/boats/hunter-channel-31"}}

Launched in 2001, the Hunter Channel 31 is structured with a hull and keel design that makes it easy to sail single-handed. This is a British-made vessel that has steadily moved from the racing scene to become a well-respected cruiser, especially among the solo sailing community. Thanks to its faultless handling and impressive turn of speed, the Hunter Channel 31 provides near uncomplicated sailing without losing its impeccable handling features.

Its well-balanced hull shape can either be structured with a low or deep center of gravity. It also has an efficient twin keel to give it more stability, which is perfect for solo sailing. This is, without a doubt, one of the main reasons why Hunter Channel 31 has proved popular among solo sailors trying to sail across narrow channels.

The Hunter Channel 31 is also designed with a great standard deck layout, as well as a non-compulsory self-tacking jib that comes with a single line mainsail reefing. That's not all; the tiller steering is also efficient if you're sailing single-handed as you can steer it with your legs while trimming sails.

It should, therefore, not come as a surprise that owners of the Hunter Channel 31 keep them for a long time, so finding them on the market will be a long shot. But if you're lucky enough to find one, you'll be getting a great vessel that will never let you down if you want to sail solo.

Like many Hunter designs, the Hunter 31 can be fractionally rigged given that it has a relatively large mainsail to give it a more sail area in light winds and a small headsail with a lower sheet load. In other words, you can efficiently and easily reef from the cockpit.

At about $35,000, the Hunter Channel 31 is quite affordable and is a great bargain in its category.

{{boat-info="/boats/j-boats-j109"}}

The J/109 is unquestionably one of the best single-handed or double-handed sailboats that money can buy. Whether you're looking for a coastal cruiser or a long-distance single-handed vessel, the J/109 will rarely disappoint. That's essentially why its single-handed offshore capabilities remain popular with sailors looking to make North Atlantic crossings.

Even though it is widely categorized as a planing sailboat, this vessel is too heavy for simple planing. Instead, this is a superb boat that offers an all-round performance. It doesn't matter whether you're solo sailing or sailing with a crew, its performance is always top-notch.

Thanks to its asymmetric spinnaker, you can easily jib it from the cockpit, especially in light wind. But when the wind is on the north of 20 knots, you can pole out the jib to give you a quick downwind speed. No matter which type of rig you choose to use, the J/109 offers a fair degree of control.

In terms of price, the J/109 is one of the relatively expensive sailboats out there, though this is compensated with the high standard equipment and outstanding quality of construction. For about $58,000, you can get a great boat that offers excellent solo sailing adventures.

West Wight Potter 19

{{boat-info="/boats/west-wight-potter-19"}}

Designed for safety and easy handling, the West Wight Potter 19 is a great sailboat for solo sailing. Although its name might not be one of the catchiest in the sailing scene, it's been around for over three decades and is steadily becoming a popular pocket cruiser. The original design draws inspiration from the U.K. but is currently built by the International Marine in California.

Over the years, this boat has seen several improvements even though its original look and features still attract a large and dedicated group of followers. This is not only a tough little boat but its hard-chine hull offers incredible stability. This makes it a very easy and ultimately forgiving sailboat. Whether you're looking to sail from California to Hawaii or across the Atlantic, the Potter 19 is outstanding for solo sailing.

This is a Bermuda-rigged sloop. Its sail plan is huge enough to propel the sailboat in various conditions. This makes it a perfect single-handed boat as you can easily set it up or take it down with no special equipment.

This is a remarkably affordable boat. At around $5,000 you can get a superb solo sailing sailboat. But if you want a new Potter 19 with additional features, you could pay about $25,000.

Beneteau 31

{{boat-info="/boats/beneteau-31"}}

As a small cruiser keelboat, this French-designed boat is primarily built of fiberglass and is perfect if you want a vessel that's great for solo sailing while still offering maximum space for comfort. Its galley is equipped with superb stowage and counter space and even a sit-down navigation station with a small table.

Maneuvering this boat under power is quite easy and is well worth it for any solo sailor who is in the market for a coastal cruiser.

It has a fractional sloop rig, which makes in-mast furling a great option. This makes it easy to handle but also powerful in light winds. If you're sailing the boat off the wind, bow pulpit and an optional asymmetric cruising chute can keep things lively.

The new 31 can cost around $115,000, which is quite expensive but certainly worth it if you want to cruise the world in this French masterpiece.

Catalina 315

{{boat-info="/boats/catalina-315"}}

This is a nifty pocket cruiser that raises the quality bar for solo sailors with extreme comfort and performance. With just a 9.45 meter hull, the Catalina 315 has more internal room than most classics and remains superb for solo sailing.

Although it's a much bigger boat, it has little but significant features that make all the difference. For instance, the split backstays are great for balance and functionality. This is one of the main reasons why it won the Cruising World's 2013 Boat of the Year Best Inshore Cruiser award.

With a masthead sloop, rigging the Catalina 315 is a lot easier as it is equipped with both an in-mast roller furling mainsail and a roller furling genoa.

Even though the Catalina 315 will exceed your expectations when sailing solo, it's a high-end sailboat that will cost you north of $175,000. But if that seems expensive, you can look for a used model, which will cost you slightly lower.

{{boat-info="/boats/vanguard-laser"}}

A boat that has become a staple in the Olympics Games, the Laser may be simple and small but a real-go to boat if you want a vessel that will rarely let you down for your solo sailing escapades. As one of the world's most popular single-handed sailboats, its main feature is its sheer simplicity. This might not be the best boat for you if you love those fussy, big boats. But if you're looking for an amazing boat with a two-part free-standing mast and a sleeved sail, the Laser should be on top of your list.

The fact that it has a lightweight hull and is easy to rig makes it one of the most popular racing sailboats in the world with over 200,000 boats in over 140 countries. This is undoubtedly a perfect boat that's specifically designed for solo sailing.

This boat can be rigged using various rigs, so you should go with whatever works for you. We, however, prefer cat rigging the boat since it has no headsail and only has one mainsail. This is a boat that is designed for speed, particularly in high winds. It's also easy to set up, which makes it a marvelous option for solo sailing.

For around $7,000, this is probably one of the most affordable solo sailing sailboats you could ever get your hands on. You should, however, keep in mind that its price may widely vary depending on their availability in your area.

{{boat-info="/boats/oday-rhodes-19"}}

A real classically-styled sailboat, the Rhodes 19 is an ideal family daysailer that can be perfect for you if you're a spirited solo sailor. Whether you're planning to sail in heavy weather or fast, the Rhodes 19 is designed with a forgiving hull and is an accomplished heavy-weather performer. For over 5 decades, and with more than 3,500 boats built, this sailboat has proven time and time again that it has the characters for both beginners and experienced sailors.

With a low center of gravity, this boat remains a classic beauty that's very fast, easy to trailer, and will get many compliments whenever you're solo sailing. No wonder it is still actively raced throughout the United States.

A simple sprit rig can work greatly on this boat but you can also consider Bermuda-Rigged sloop, which is efficient in propelling the boat in various wind conditions.

Its price may vary depending on your location but something around $20,000 will get you a sailboat that's still in tip-top condition.

{{boat-info="/boats/dehler-29"}}

If like most Americans, you have a soft spot for finely engineered German automobiles, the Dehler 29 can be a great option for your solo sailing escapades. Even though the Dehler 29 hasn't attracted a huge following in the American shores, it remains an excellently-structured German sailboat, especially for sailors looking for a stable, agile, adaptable, and comfortable sailboat.

Whether you enjoy a smooth and solo cruise on a breezy afternoon or is energized by speed, the Dehler 29 is one of the most adaptable sailboats. This is certainly why it has received numerous accolades in the boating scene including the 1998 Cruising World Magazine Boat of the Year, as well as Sailing World Boat of the Year award.

Given that it's a single-handed sailboat, you can tiller steer it and cat rig it with ease to give you easy maneuverability, confidence, and absolute versatility.

With powerful dynamics and maximum safety, the Dehler 29 is one of the best German-produced sailboats that will set you back around $55,000.

Related Articles

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

by this author

Best Sailboats

Most Recent

What Does "Sailing By The Lee" Mean?

October 3, 2023

The Best Sailing Schools And Programs: Reviews & Ratings

September 26, 2023

Important Legal Info

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Similar Posts

Affordable Sailboats You Can Build at Home

September 13, 2023

Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom

December 28, 2023

Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K

Popular posts.

Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats

Can a Novice Sail Around the World?

Elizabeth O'Malley

June 15, 2022

4 Best Electric Outboard Motors

How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England?

10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

December 20, 2023

7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat

Get the best sailing content.

Top Rated Posts

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. (866) 342-SAIL

© 2024 Life of Sailing Email: [email protected] Address: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244 Disclaimer Privacy Policy

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Perini Navi’s new 60m sloop Perseus^3 boasts the world’s largest single sail

• Elaine Bunting
• May 26, 2015

The new Perini Navi sloop Perseus^3 has the world's third largest carbon mast and her A2 spinnaker is the world’s largest single sail, bigger than all the giant Maltese Falcon’s 15 sails combined. Mike Owen and Rob Peake report

Perseus^ 3 is the second in Perini Navi’s new 60m series, launched earlier this year and in Palma for her first regatta and she is likely to turn heads, if only for her sheer scale.

This line is designed with performance much higher in mind than any previous Perini flybridge yachts, as already demonstrated by Seahawk, the first of the range, at the Bucket this year and last. Perseus^3 (Perseus Cubed) clearly goes a step or two further.

She is sloop rigged and her carbon mast stands third tallest in the world. Her Doyle inventory comprises a whopping 10,000m2/107,640ft2 of sails, and her A2 spinnaker is the world’s largest single sail, measuring 2,602m2/28,010ft2. For scale, this one sail alone is bigger than all the giant Maltese Falcon’s 15 sails combined.

The new 60m Perini Navi, Perseus^3

Doyle reports that initially there was simply no existing fabric capable of this job, so they developed their own new cloth, blending Polyester with Dyneema to give the cloth high strength and tear resistance, as well as light weight and enough softness for easy handling.

Future Fibres was responsible for the 16.4-tonne mast, one of the three tallest ever built, saying: “We have managed to produce a tube with a perfect exterior surface and a flawless Clearcote gloss carbon finish with zero filler – which can add up to three per cent to the weight of a mast.”

A new rig load monitoring system will use strain gauges to detect the loads acting on the carbon fibre rig components.

To manage this massive sailplan, Perini has been busy creating its own new generation of fast, quiet captive winches and furlers with variable-speed motors, a max loading of 30 tonnes for headsail, and varying line speeds aboard between 40 and 110 metres a minute. Forward there’s a carbon sprit, also a first for Perini, for the huge flying sails, the Code 0 calling for Future Fibres’ largest ever top-down furler.

But Perseus^3 has more than one focus. Her owner sailed his previous Perini, the 50m/164ft Perseus (now Silencio) in a circumnavigation with his young family. They enjoyed the cruising and also competed in the Hamilton Island Race Week. Charter was useful, too. All this will continue with Perseus^3 , perhaps just faster.

There’s a top bluewater and race-experienced permanent crew on board, vital to the safe handling of such an immense rig, and the accommodation is well suited for private and charter use.

Bruce Brakenhoff of Perini Navi USA explains: “When it came to planning his new, second Perini, the owner said: ‘I really love cruising, having my family aboard the boat, having a successful charter boat and I really love doing Buckets, so I want a boat that has as few compromises as possible to cover all of those bases.’

“When we started from that blank sheet of paper, not only with the engineering systems and changes like chainplate relocation for the sloop rig, I remember a meeting with Ron Holland with the owner saying what else can we do to make this even faster? Ron had just delivered a twin-rudder boat he’d had good experience with and suggested this. The owner thought it a great idea.

“But at the same time as it’s fast, this boat will be as popular a charter boat because it has a fantastic layout, an amazing owner’s suite, a humungous flybridge, and it’s got a pool, one of those lap pools where you swim against the jets – the thing’s like eight metres wide, it’ll turn into the biggest spinnaker pit you’ve ever seen!”

That could come in handy with that huge spinnaker.

With a centreboard Perseus^3 still can cruise in the Bahamas, but she will not manage the Panama Canal as she is too tall to fit under the Bridge of the Americas.

LOA 60m 197ft

LWL 50.4m 164ft

Beam 11.4m 37ft 5in

Draught 4.3-12.3m 14-39ft

Displacement 570 tonnes

One of the world's largest sailing yachts arrives on Vancouver Island

One of the largest sailing yachts in the world cruised into a small Vancouver Island community this week, drawing a constant stream of onlookers to the Mill Bay Marina.

At 78 metres long and nearly 90 metres tall, the sloop M5 is hard to miss.

According to Boat International magazine, the Cayman-flagged vessel is the largest single-masted sailing yacht in the world.

The M5 sailed into the Saanich Inlet marina on Sunday, with a floatplane housed on its rear deck.

Built in 2004 by U.K. shipyard Vosper Thornycroft at an estimated US$50 million, the vessel is owned by Texas oil billionaire Rod Lewis, according to Boat International.

Marina staff say the vessel is due to depart on Friday.

Top Stories

B.C. landslide 'dramatically' impacts salmon spawn but conditions improve: task force

B.C. man sentenced for assaulting, intimidating homeless couple with skid-steer loader

Woman and child fall to their deaths from North Vancouver balcony, homicide team called in

Vancouver Aquarium welcomes 'otterly adorable' pups following rescues

From meat to car and gas shortages, here's how rail work stoppages may impact Canadians

Man charged with second-degree murder in Surrey, B.C., stabbing

Mounties arrest 4 after man injured in shooting in Prince George, B.C.

More B.C. police drop surnames in missing person alerts to avoid 'negative lasting impact'

Ctvnews.ca top stories.

Homicide investigators have been called in after two people fell to their deaths from an apartment building balcony in North Vancouver early Tuesday morning.

High-profile Canadian-Israeli influencer detained in Russia: reports

Police detained a prominent Canadian-Israeli influencer at a Russian airport on Monday, Russian media are reporting.

LIVE | DNC Day 2: The Obamas and second gentleman Doug Emhoff set to speak

Former U.S. President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will speak at the DNC, a day after the unofficial farewell for President Joe Biden, who served eight years as Obama’s vice president.

Senior who killed 8-year-old sentenced in London, Ont. court room

Inside a packed London, Ont., courtroom, the 79-year-old woman who was convicted of driving her vehicle into a troop of girl guides, killing one and injuring several others, was sentenced to two years house arrest, followed by three years of probation.

Humans age dramatically at two key points in their life, study finds

Scientists have found that human beings age at a molecular level in two accelerated bursts – first at the age of 44, and then again at 60.

Halifax police officer shoots, kills three dogs that attacked woman

Police say they shot and killed three large dogs after the animals attacked a woman in Halifax Tuesday morning.

See the best photos from Monday's super blue moon

A rare celestial event was seen around the world, when a blue moon and a supermoon teamed up.

Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck after 2 years of marriage

After a relationship that spanned two decades, two engagements, two weddings and headlines too numerous to count, Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck.

Ex-officer convicted in George Floyd's killing is moved to new prison months after stabbing

Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd, was transferred to a federal prison in Texas almost nine months after he was stabbed in a different facility.

Shopping Trends

The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.  Read about us.

Editor's Picks

Our guide to the best meal prep containers for everything from snacks to lunches, we tested out the best printers on the market, and here are our honest opinions, 16 boring (but very useful) back-to-school supplies that cost less than $15, 19 handy organization products that'll help keep your home neat and tidy, our guide to the best automatic pet feeders in canada in 2024 (and where to get them), if you're on the hunt for new patio lights, here are a few of our favourite options, 20 birthday gifts that won't disappoint, 14 of the best gifts for 10-year-olds you can get online right now, 15 practical gifts that cost less than $50, 15 of the best hair products for split ends, according to reviewers, if you're looking for a hyaluronic acid serum, here are a few that reviewers are loving right now, here are 19 of the absolute best liquid and cream blushes — and reviewers swear by them, the best amazon canada deals on kitchen products this week, from lululemon to amazon canada: here are all the best sales, deals, and discounts you'll find online right now, amazon prime day may be over, but you can still take advantage of these 70+ amazing deals, as hate-crime landscape evolves, a reminder — online behaviour exists in real life.

A lawyer with the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association says it's wise to remember that even though charges over offensive social media activity are rare, online posts exist in real life and involve real people.

Man charged with mischief for allegedly starting several fires Vernon, B.C.

A 33-year-old man is facing multiple charges for allegedly setting several fires in Vernon on Monday.

West Kelowna police seek help identifying break-and-enter suspect

Mounties in West Kelowna are looking for a suspect they say broke into a local home while a mother and her child were inside.

One year later: Hazards, progress, frustration in wake of West Kelowna wildfire

When the McDougall Creek fire sparked on Aug. 15, 2023, no one could’ve imagined it would mushroom in size, consuming homes, infrastructure and livelihoods in the West Kelowna area with damage that will take years to address.

Man charged after attempting to steal police cruiser, assaulting officer: EPS

A 35-year-old man is facing charges after police say he attempted to steal a police cruiser and assaulted an officer on Monday.

RCMP looking for male assailant after women sexually assaulted west of Edmonton

Hinton and Edson RCMP are asking the public to identify a man who allegedly approached several women from behind, forcibly pulled their pants down and took photos.

'I feel we will do a great job': Jasper council approves new task force to aid in recovery efforts

It could take months just to assess the damages as Jasper looks at rebuilding, but planning for the arduous task is top of mind for the municipality.

Calgary water main update: 13 of 21 pipe repairs will be on 33 Avenue N.W.

City officials say more than half of the segments of Calgary's Bearspaw feeder main that require fixing are along 33 Avenue N.W.

Suspicious death in Carrington deemed a homicide; victim identified

The suspicious death of a person in the northwest community of Carrington last week has been deemed a homicide by police.

Cost of a new home in Calgary up more than 5% since last summer: StatCan

The price of a new home in Calgary has risen more than five per cent since last summer – marking the largest increase among Canadian cities.

Whoop-Up Days 2024 kicks off in Lethbridge

Whoop-Up Days are here and plenty of people have already made their way to the exhibition grounds to see what this year has in store.

2024 Whoop-Up Days parade brings out thousands of spectators

Thousands of people dusted off their cowboy hats and boots to take in the 2024 Whoop-Up Days parade on Tuesday.

Missing kayaker may be on South Saskatchewan River between Grand Forks, Medicine Hat: Lethbridge police

Lethbridge police are searching for a 40-year-old woman they believe is kayaking down the South Saskatchewan River.

Residents evacuated due to flooding in Downtown Winnipeg apartment

People living in a downtown apartment building have all been evacuated due to "significant flooding" according to the property manager.

Should Manitoba change its flag? New survey finds Manitobans are split

There is a polarizing debate among Manitobans when it comes to our provincial flag. Probe Research wanted to know if we should replace the flag which contains a Union Jack and a bison. The results of a survey showed almost a complete split.

Manitoba chiefs call for PM to rescind Charles Adler's appointment to Senate

First Nations chiefs in Manitoba are calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to rescind the appointment of veteran broadcaster Charles Adler to the Senate.

Woman 'significantly injured' in dog attack, Regina police searching for 2 people

Regina police are looking for two suspects after two dogs attacked a woman on Monday morning causing 'significant injuries.'

Katepwa Provincial Park opens accessibility dock to visitors

A new accessibility dock has been installed at Katepwa Point Provincial Park.

Saskatchewan establishes $10M innovation fund for physicians

The provincial government has partnered with the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) to establish an innovation fund – meant to support the development of family physician led, team-based health care clinics across Saskatchewan.

Saskatoon's 'complex needs' shelter is open and accepting patients — whether they like it or not

Saskatoon's long-awaited complex needs emergency shelter has opened and begun accepting patients.

Saskatoon police chief defends use of force in cruise weekend arrest caught on video

Saskatoon's police chief said he's watched videos of a Saturday night arrest and is defending his officers.

Rural Saskatchewan fire department offers $20K reward as it battles hay bale arson attacks

A string of suspected arsons on hay bales, grass and crops around a west-central Saskatchewan town has been both agitating and perplexing, says the local fire chief.

'Detrimental impacts': Ontario announces closure of 10 supervised drug consumption sites

The province's decision to close 10 sites offering supervised consumption services (SCS) across Ontario, including five in Toronto, will have 'far-reaching detrimental impacts on our communities,' says the chair of the city's Board of Health.

Toronto Crime Stoppers is offering a $5K for auto theft tips, but for a limited time

Toronto Crime Stoppers is stepping up its efforts to help combat auto theft in the city by offering a $5,000 cash reward to those who provide information that will help police identify and arrest those responsible for it.

4 suspects allegedly posed as food delivery service in armed home invasion in Milton

Police are searching for four suspects who posed as a food delivery people before allegedly robbing a home at gunpoint in Milton.

Plante 'chose to deflect' by criticizing opposition for asking question in English: Pierrefonds-Roxboro mayor

The opposition at Montreal City Hall is accusing Mayor Valerie Plante of trying to avoid scrutiny of her handling of the devastating floods earlier this month by attacking a council member for asking a question in English.

Pro-Palestinian groups call for the resignation of Montréal Pride CEO

Protesters identifying as "Queers of Conscience" and pro-Palestinian activists are demanding the resignation of the executive director of Montréal Pride, an organization they accuse of supporting the Palestinian genocide.

Precautionary boil-water advisory in effect for Montreal-North

The City of Montreal issued a precautionary boil-water advisory for the Montreal-North borough on Tuesday afternoon.

Somerset West supervised drug consumption site to close under new Ontario rules

The head of the Somerset West Community Health Centre says she was not consulted before the government revealed it would be closing the centre's supervised drug consumption site.

Renfrew, Ont. man credits good karma with Lotto Max win

Renfrew's David Forrest says he was raised to always do the right thing. Now, he believes good karma has repaid him. He won big playing the lottery and found out after doing a good turn.

Income needed to buy a home in Ottawa drops in July

For homebuyers entering the market, some relief may be on the way as new numbers from Ratehub show the income needed to buy a home dipped in July for 13 major Canadian cities, including Ottawa.

'Horrifying and terrifying': Victims of knife attack at Halifax-area school deliver impact statements

Victims of a stabbing at a high school in Bedford, N.S., in March 2023 took the witness stand Tuesday and delivered their emotional victim impact statements.

Migrant workers file lawsuit against N.B. seafood company, alleging exploitation, mistreatment

Two migrant workers from Mexico have filed a lawsuit against a seafood processing company in northern New Brunswick.

West Grey mayor reprimanded for hospital comments

Kevin Eccles’ frustration over cuts to the Durham hospital have landed him in hot water.

London woman stabbed by a stranger while walking a dog

Around 6:30 a.m. on Monday, police said a woman was walking a dog in the 1200 block of Brydges Street near Highbury Avenue when a man approached her, pushed her to the ground and stabbed her multiple times before running from the area.

Area farmers ride the rainfall rollercoaster

Experts say record rainfalls are putting crops at risk, but the growing season can still be salvaged.

Kitchener, Guelph drug consumption sites to close due to Ontario ban

As part of the new rules, any supervised drug consumption site within 200 metres of schools and daycare centres will be banned from operating.

'Significant delays' expected this weekend as parts of Hwy. 7/8 close for pedestrian bridge installation

A portion of Highway 7/8 in Kitchener will be closed this weekend as the Region of Waterloo installs a new pedestrian bridge.

Serious collision closes road in Puslinch

Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police responded to a report of a serious collision involving a motor vehicle and transport truck around 7:50 a.m. Tuesday.

Northern Ontario

Ontario woman accidentally overpays Visa bill by nearly $13,000

Many of us pay our bills using online banking because it's simple, fast and usually problem free, but if you make a mistake and pay the wrong amount, it can sometimes be difficult to get your money back.

Pentagon funds cobalt refinery plant expansion in northern Ontario

A battery materials refinery plant south of Temiskaming Shores has signed a multi-million-dollar contract with the United States military for a large expansion.

Wednesday hearing in Sudbury, Ont., to set date to hear criminal charges against Ministry of Labour

The next step in criminal charges against Ontario's Ministry of Labour takes place Wednesday in a Sudbury courtroom.

Trial begins for Newfoundland RCMP officer accused of assaulting unruly air passenger

A trial is underway for an RCMP officer accused of assaulting an unruly flight passenger after he was escorted off an international flight that had been diverted to the airport in Stephenville, N.L.

Hurricane Ernesto to swing south of Newfoundland, but it will bring heavy rain and high seas

Newfoundland has caught a lucky break with Hurricane Ernesto expected to pass south of the island, but the fast-moving storm will still bring a lot of rain in a short time overnight on Monday, Environment Canada says.

Do you know this missus? Newfoundland folklore archive hopes to give women their due

The project of the university's Folklore and Language Archive aims to find the first names of women who contributed remedies, recipes and local beliefs, but were only credited as a 'missus,' with their husband's last name and often his first name or initials.

Stay Connected

What’s the Largest Boat One Person Can Operate?

So you're looking for something big, but want to go at it alone. Sailing single-handed (also known as short-handed) is perfectly doable, although not always ideal. As every 28-year old, I want something over 30 feet - but is it actually practical?

So what’s the largest boat one person can operate? Most experienced sailors seem to stay under 35 feet - anything over 50 feet is uncommon. But there really is no upper limit. It depends on skill, experience, and courage. Generally, if you're a reasonably skilled sailor, you'll be capable of sailing these boats alone:

• Without systems: under 28 ft or 8 m
• With systems: under 46 ft or 14 m
• Typically, experienced sailors stay under 35 ft
• Anything over 50 ft or 15m is uncommon

If the manufacturer bothered to include a crew cabin, it's probably a good idea to have a crew.

Length is not really the issue with short-handed cruising. There is no limit, except for your experience and ability. The real questions are: what do you feel comfortable with; and what's the amount of sailcloth you can safely handle?

Another factor is stability - bigger boats tend to be more stable, and can be operated from the cockpit entirely (with the lines running aft and having remote controls). Besides docking, there really isn't an issue, and larger boats might be more easy to handle on your own than smaller boats having the wrong configuration.

On this page:

How many hands do you need, why do you want to go big, how much sail can you handle, the downside of sailing a large boat alone, preparing for passages, 3 incredible sailboats you can sail solo, related questions.

Apart from the question of whether it's technically possible to sail a boat solo, let's also check whether it's comfortable. Because you're probably not buying a boat to prove anything to anyone (or are you?), but to have a great experience. The following boat lengths are comfortable to sail ...

• single-handed: under 35 feet
• double-handed: 35 - 50 feet
• crew: 50 feet and up

So why is it more comfortable to sail anything over 35 feet double-handed?

Sailing is the easy part - everything else gets more difficult with added length. The biggest limiting factor is how you're planning to dock. Get this right and you've lost your biggest bottleneck. Some marinas offer assisted docking to facilitate single-handed sailing, which can be of great help.

How much does it cost to own a sailboat? Read our complete sailboat ownership cost guide for a complete overview of all the ownership costs and the purchase cost of a new & used sailboat.

Docking aside, it helps to have someone to handle the lines while you helm the boat.

Another important factor is troubleshooting any (technical) problems when you're on your own. There should be enough people on board to address any problems that come up. If you're not comfortable with possibly having to deal with change in weather, emergency reefing, technical issues, and so on, you should probably consider getting your significant other, or a friend along.

Check what the specific boat is built for. Purpose-built solo racers can be very large (120 ft) and are easy to maneuver single-handed (which isn't to say they're all of a sudden easy to dock - anything big just isn't).

If it isn't about length ...

... then what's it about? I think more important then length is:

• boat layout
• systems and remote control availability - check out the full list of systems below
• home berth conditions - if these are good (upwind, assisted docking, protected water) docking will be way easier

Think in displacement instead of length

Another way to go at it is by thinking in displacement instead of length. The amount of crew you need for the amount of displacement:

• 12 - 30 tonnes: one experienced boat hand or two inexperienced ones
• 30 tonnes and up: an experienced crew

Also, consider why you'd want to go big. I would encourage you to really think this through. It's perfectly possible to sail anything over 50 feet solo, but there's a point at which I start to wonder why. This is around the 42' mark. It simply becomes more uncomfortable quickly. So if you don't have any good reason to get a bigger boat besides ego, don't do it - you will probably come to regret it.

On the other end, if you do have a solid reason for needing more length, then please, go for it. Consult yourself to get to the bottom of it. Some legit reasons, I believe, are:

• You're planning to live on the boat
• You're doing multi-day trips and need a place to sleep
• You really like to polish endless amounts of hull surface

One sailor can typically manage about 300 - 400 sq ft. of sail. Anything up to and it becomes unmanageable quickly, especially if the weather turns. Following this rule, you can increase your hull length a bit if you choose a boat with more and smaller sails. So you can sail a somewhat larger yawl or ketch.

Things that become difficult on your own:

You can do lots on your own, especially if you have some automation systems in place. But there are some jobs you just can't do without a helping hand.

• getting in and out of the slip
• docking - catching dock lines
• standing watch / sleeping

Systems you probably want to consider:

If you're going to sail something over 35' alone you should definitely consider the following systems:

• autopilot for steering
• lines running aft (running to cockpit)
• electric windlass
• roller furling
• hydraulic bow/stern thrusters with remote

Skills you want to develop and get right:

• Docking: dock, dock again, dock some more. Practice until you can effortlessly maneuver in tight spaces while allowing yourself the time to walk up and down the entire hull length
• Get the steering configuration right
• Get the right cockpit layout

A great example of how to successfully sail solo:

Don't underestimate the power of the wind and tide. The forces you need to deal with are extreme. The longer the boat, the larger the grasp of the wind on your sails becomes. Longer boats are heavier as well, which is why they gain more momentum once they're set in motion. Stopping a 50-footer is difficult - not being able to do so very risky. A larger hull means the tide can get a better hold of you.

Single-handed sailing means that you're solely responsible to manage all of these forces. Also, if something breaks, you're on your own. It can get quite stressful at times. If you don't mind this kind of challenge, and you're in good physical shape, there's no reason to stop dreaming at a certain hull length. Just be aware of what you're signing up for.

Another thing to consider is that larger boats take longer to prepare to make way. You can get a small 26-footer up and running in half an hour, but a 46-footer can just as easily take you up to a week. The time you'll need to spend on maintenance will also increase exponentially.

We all know that anything that takes that too much effort will happen less often. If you want to get out there a lot, get something that's quick to set up.

With any passage, I believe it's best to have at least one other capable sailor on board. This way you have your backup, just in case anything happens; and you greatly reduce any possible (serious) risks.

If you need to go solo because you don't have any (sailing) friends or companions, I highly encourage you to find another (solo) boat and stay within the vicinity and stay in touch throughout. Having some form of backup is in my mind important with these kinds of prolonged trips.

• Phocea - 246 ft or 75 m
• Trimaran Spindrift 2 (Banque Populaire V) - 130 ft or 40 m
• Macif - 100 ft or 30 m

What’s the largest yacht for couples?

With the two of you, the sky is the limit. If you're planning on both learning all sailing skills, that is. With two fully capable sailors on board, there isn't any reason to limit yourself, other than what you're capable of handling based on your experience.

However, if one of you is doing all the work, I would regard it as having one sailor and one pair of helping hands on board. I'd stay in the 35 - 50 ft range at most.

What size boat requires a captain's license?

In the US there isn't a required license based on length, though it's smart to get your license. It allows you to take along paying passengers, which is a great way to earn some extra money and get the extra hands you need on board.

The captain's license consists of a comprehensive exam, helping you to understand coastal navigation, deck knowledge, and rules and regulations. It's a good way to increase your theoretical knowledge, increasing safety on every vessel you set foot on.

A license will cost you between $500 - $800 and lasts for five years. Think you can earn it back by taking some folk along for the weekend?

Also, if you own a large boat (say 50 ft and up) your insurance company may require you to get a license or hire a licensed captain.

How much does it cost to hire a boat captain?

On average, a boat captain cost about $1,000 per year per foot. If you're just hiring for the week, the price is more in the $300 - $400 ballpark. On average, a week trip will cost you:

Fernando Affonso

Hi, congratulations for your post. It was very clarifying. Rgds

Shawn, Your post and information was extremely helpful Thanks very much! Regards, Casey Milton Ontario Canada

Yes, you can sail 75 meter long Phocea single handed. Sailing it is the easy part. But can you enter (moor or dock her) or leave harbour with her single handed? That is the question.

Sonal joshi

Dear sir we are staying far drom sea and in life once saw sea but me and my husband wanr to sail in sea please gyide us how to start and which boat is suitabke fir us for sailing and living in budget , we are from India

thanks 🙏 great info!💪

Excellent. Well thought out and clear, with good examples. Thank you!

I tried to read this article. But stopped after 100 words cause stuff kept popping up.

Shawn great job explaining BUT ads kill the reading popping up and change screen from top to bottom and bc versa. I am out Ben

Tamika Ligar

Hello improvesailing.com admin, Your posts are always well-balanced and objective.

Leave a comment

You may also like, how long does it take to sail around the world.

My big dream is to one day sail the world seas with my wife. But I was unsure how long it actually takes. So I got into it and wrote this article.

The Difference Between Freshwater and Saltwater Boats

How Long Does it Take to Sail Across the Atlantic? (With Maps)

How Far Can You Sail In One Day?

Cool San Diego Sights!

Colorful photos of San Diego places and events.

World’s largest single-masted yacht returns!

The world’s largest single-masted yacht has returned to San Diego!

The M5 , originally called the Mirabella V, is now docked on the Embarcadero near the Maritime Museum of San Diego. You can find it directly across from the County Administration Building.

I spotted the towering mast while walking nearby, so I had to go take a look. That mind-blowing mast, over 290 feet high, is visible from many streets downtown!

I first saw the M5 in San Diego eight years ago behind the convention center and blogged about it here . Read that old blog post (including its comments) to learn more about this incredible sailboat.

It took these photographs this morning. It’s hard to depict the staggering size of this sloop-rigged super yacht. Suffice it to say, the mast rises higher than many downtown San Diego buildings!

You can see the mast from the other side of the County Administration Building in the next photo. (The exterior of the historic building is being painted.)

The first weekend of October I noticed the M5 had moved to a spot behind the San Diego Convention Center–where I first saw it eight years ago…

Yes, it’s enormous!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter !

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Published by

Richard Schulte

Downtown San Diego has been my home for many years. My online activities reflect my love for writing, blogging, walking and photography. View all posts by Richard Schulte

One thought on “World’s largest single-masted yacht returns!”

I love my hometown of San Diego! I lived in an old Victorian at 5th & A St as a child, but was raised 4 blocks from the beach in Imperial Beach. The photo shot from behind the county building gives a great perspective of the height of that impressive mast!! I love to sail so I can only imagine being on that boat! Thanks!!

Like Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

672 Wine Club

• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Benchmark Wines
• Brian Fox Art
• Disneyland Resort
• Gateway Bronco
• Royal Salute
• Sports & Leisure
• Health & Wellness
• Best of the Best
• The Ultimate Gift Guide

Boat of the Week: Inside the 7-Year Quest to Build ‘Dream Symphony,’ the World’s Largest Sailboat

Dream symphony may be the most amazing boat we'll never see. years after its owner dropped the project, it sits idle in a turkish shipyard., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

• These Charter Yachts Let You Tag Hammerhead Sharks and Count Spirit Bears for Research
• These Luxe Villas Are the Place to Stay in This Retro-Chic Enclave on the Tuscan Coast
• The 7 Most Exciting New Superyacht Marinas in the World
• Share This Article

Size matters: If Dream Symphony is ever completed, it would dwarf the 289-foot Maltese Falcon, currently the world’s fourth-largest sailing yacht.

When Dream Symphony was first announced in 2014, the yachting world was all aflutter. At 462 feet in length, it promised to be not only the largest yacht produced in Turkey, but the largest sailing yacht ever built (except for the sail-assisted motoryacht Sailing Yacht A, which is technically more motorsailer than sailboat).

Related Stories

• This New 2,100 HP Rimac Makes One of the World’s Fastest EVs Even Faster

Tech Mogul Mike Lynch and 5 Others Are Missing After a Yacht Sinks in Italy

• This New Dodge Durango Hellcat Might Be the Last With a Hemi V-8 Engine

Even more incredible is that Dream Symphony was to be constructed entirely out of wood. The use of epoxy laminated iroko (African teak) forms an integral part of boatbuilder Dream Ship Victory’s vision to successfully bring laminated wood into modern shipbuilding. The yard has a successful track record. In 2013, it delivered the 212-foot Mikhail S. Vorontsov , built entirely out of laminated mahogany.

At more than double the length, Dream Symphony is a much larger technical challenge. Of course, the biggest challenge since its announcement seven years ago has been finding an owner—or rather a second owner. After the initial brouhaha about the world’s largest sailboat, Dream Symphony went dark.

The sleek, minimalist hull works well with the yacht’s 462-foot length.  Courtesy Ken Freivokh

“The original owner pulled out when the Ukrainian crisis came about,” Dream Symphony ’s designer Ken Freivokh told Robb Report . “The project went on up to a point, a bit slower, but now we’re looking for a new owner.”

Actually, the project has been stalled. Freivokh shared images of a partially built hull inside the shipyard, and he says it has since progressed, but not to the point where it’s anything resembling his majestic renderings. While gigayachts in the motoryacht segment are being ordered and delivered with regularity, the world’s-largest sailing yacht will require a very special owner.

When—or if —the yacht is completed, it will be worth the wait. Dream Symphony reunites the same A-team that conceived the iconic sailing superyachts, the 350-foot Black Pearl and 289-foot Maltese Falcon . The hull design and engineering were completed by Dykstra Naval Architects, while Freivokh was responsible for the interior and exterior.

“Building the largest sailing yacht is what the shipyard owner has always wanted to achieve,” says Freivokh. The shipyard’s preference for wood is based on the material’s renewable and recyclable properties. But the yard’s principals take it a step farther by asserting that wood produces a vessel of “equal or even greater strength” than steel and aluminum.

An early image of Dream Symphony under construction. The build has progressed, but is still waiting for an owner to see it to completion.  Courtesy Ken Freivokh

It has not been smooth sailing, though. When Dream Ship Victory approached RINA to certify construction, the Italian marine agency balked. It had never certified any wooden vessel over 98.4-feet in length. There followed an exacting process managed by Dykstra Naval Architects, involving composite experts Gurit, and exhaustive testing by laboratories at the Delft University of Technology in Holland and Italy’s University of Messina. The results satisfied RINA to certify construction and the build began.

“It’s almost the equivalent of a huge composite build,” said Freivokh. “The epoxy lamination is quite a complex system, but it preserves the wood, which means it should last a long time and behave very predictably.”

The original owner called for elegant use of wood across the interior. “The idea was to express the beauty of wood, so the owner was keen to have a fairly classic interior, and even the exterior is a modern interpretation of a classic,” says Freivokh. “At one point, we considered a contemporary style like Black Pearl , but the owner resisted that in favor of something more traditional, so it stands as a four-masted schooner.”

The four masts tower 229.7 feet above the water, carrying furling staysails on Hoyt booms with a total sail area 54,680 square feet. If built, the boat will also have a diesel-electric propulsion system for a maximum range under power of 5,900 nautical miles. A two-deck atrium with a spiral staircase is twinned with an owner’s duplex apartment spread across two decks. The “convertible conservatory” links the owner’s living quarters with the main lobby via an glass winter garden that opens to the elements. More glass features in the double-height glass swimming pool on the aft deck, with a bottom that rises to serve as a dance floor or helipad. Like motoryachts its size, Dream Symphony was designed with a spa, treatment rooms and gym.

The interior is designed to be classic, rather than contemporary, using mahogany throughout.  Courtesy Ken Freivokh

Freivokh is now working on two other wooden superyachts currently in build at Dream Ship Victory, and is finalizing a 243-foot yacht for Turquoise, another Turkish yard. “Owners who want to build in wood still remain in the minority, but it’s highly personal and some just love the passion of associated with beautiful old classics,” says the designer.

Perhaps. But the new owner has to be willing to take on a much larger technical challenge to claim the title of world’s largest sailboat.

Read More On:

• Ken Freivokh

More Marine

A Fleet of Candela’s Electric Foiling Yachts Is Rolling Out to the Red Sea in 2025

This New 116-Foot Pocket Explorer Will Make Larger Expedition Yachts Jealous

Meet Zephyr, a Giant 378-Foot Megayacht With Not One But Two Pools

Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently.

Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

12 Must-See Yacht Debuts at This Year’s Cannes Fest

11 Fascinating Facts About Tankoa’s Library-Quiet 169-Foot Project Secret

More from our brands, wwd time capsule: designer kevan hall recalls his brand’s rise from the red carpet to the runway, nwsl expansion talks include cincinnati, cleveland, denver, box office: ‘blink twice’ and ‘the crow’ to close strong summer movie season with a whimper, court documents show christie’s fighting back against us-china trade war, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Falmouth Sailing Week 2024

Related Articles

Upcoming Events

Yacht expert breaks down luxury superyacht tragedy after boat capsizes in freak storm: 'Always limits'

A luxury superyacht like the Bayesian , which capsized and sank early Monday with more than a dozen people on board, is typically built to withstand extreme weather conditions, but not everything is 100% guaranteed, says one expert.  

Fox News Digital spoke with eSysman of the YouTube channel eSysman SuperYachts , to find out what could have gone wrong with the vessel. 

The host, who identifies publicly as eSysman, told Fox News Digital that a high-caliber yacht like the Bayesian, should typically be able to withstand up to "extreme weather conditions," but qualified that "there are always limits." 

"Obviously, any voyage plan will take into account the weather. Wind, wave sizes, and frequencies of the waves will be studied and precise prediction of weather has improved over the years, but it’s still not 100%," eSysman said, noting that it is ultimately the captain who is responsible for the vessel. 

WHO IS MIKE LYNCH, THE BRITISH TECH ENTREPRENEUR MISSING AFTER YACHT SANK?

The Bayesian was notable for its single 246-foot mast — one of the world's tallest made of aluminum and which was lit up at night, just hours before it sank. Online charter sites listed it for rent for up to 195,000 euros – or around about $215,000 – a week.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Sicily's civil protection agency said that a tornado over the water known as a waterspout had struck the area overnight. 

British tech magnate Mike Lynch and five other people were missing after their luxury superyacht sank during a freak storm off Sicily early Monday, authorities said. 

Lynch's wife and 14 other people survived. Lynch was among six people who remain unaccounted for after their chartered sailboat sank off the Italian city of Porticello, near Palermo, sometime after 4 a.m. 

"There’s always the possibility of survivors. This is why the search and rescue will keep going, no matter how slim the chances are," eSysman said. "But life expectancy in cold water is short."

If a vessel is caught in high-winds, eSysman, [they] will start their engines, and maneuver into a position where the wind is on the bow, avoiding the beam or the side of the vessel from being against the wind. 

"We’re not sure if the yacht was at anchor or was sailing. The eyewitness report seems to suggest the vessel was anchored in the bay, but the AIS data's lost position said she was underway, so we're not sure which is correct," eSysman said. 

"AIS" refers to "Automatic Identification System," which is a short-range coastal tracking system used on ships. 

Per its YouTube channel, the team at eSysman SuperYachts comprises all serving or ex-maritime professions, with eSysman himself having more than two decades in the industry working on various SuperYachts of all sizes "including some of the largest in the world." 

The crew and passengers of the Bayesian hailed from a variety of countries: In addition to Britain and the United States, passengers and crew were from Antigua, France, Germany, Ireland, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch is deploying a team of four inspectors to Italy to conduct a preliminary assessment. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development office said it was "providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families."

Built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Navi, the yacht can accommodate 12 passengers in four double cabins, a triple and the master suite, plus crew accommodations, according to Charter World and Yacht Charters.

Original article source: Yacht expert breaks down luxury superyacht tragedy after boat capsizes in freak storm: 'Always limits'

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

25th SMU-RM Western Circuit Sailing Regatta: TWCSR successfully concludes its 25th edition

Related Articles