Joan Abrams

My best memories of dinghy cruising defy the first of our Boat Safety Recommendations. I sailed single-handed in a 15 foot boat and I weighed seven and a half stone. I did carry about twenty pounds of water ballast. She was a beamy and very stable boat, and I always reefed sooner rather than later. I avoided anything over force 4 when setting out on a coastal passage. I never felt myself to be in any danger of capsizing, and I liked to be able to move about the boat in a fairly leisurely fashion when hove-to to do essential jobs such as bailing.

There is a pleasure in single-handed sailing which makes some people choose it: no need to explain a decision not to risk setting out, which a crew might think cowardly; plenty of room to spread out comfortably and read in bed; no problems of argument or disagreement. Of course the really good partnership will offer advantages outweighing all this - but how easy is it to find the right partner free at the right time? Another point is that the partner is probably needed to drive car and trailer to the finishing point of the cruise!

However, one does have to know ones strength and ability to keep awake and lively for many hours at the helm, at least in most dinghies, when wind and sea do not favour a lashed helm. A helm impeder is most useful but long tacks and following seas are hard work. A crew to take over, or to row and do the anchor work, is a great comfort. Each to his or her choice.

It has been suggested that articles on boat-builders who produce boats suitable for dinghy cruising would be very useful. Any offers?