Well actually, what I meant to say was "We're all singlehanders on this boat..." with a nod to the great Firesign theatre.
Just about every cruiser, no matter what the boat or crew size, is a singlehander if you stop for a minute and think about it. Most cruisers do watches alone and the boat and mindset should reflect this...
Basic tasks like taking in a reef, tacking, or trimming the sails should not involve having to wake someone up so they can come up and give you a hand. For most, this is simple common sense as waking off-watch crew disrupts their sleep patterns and adds to the sleep deprivation which is part and parcel of long distance sailing as well as a half-awake crew member on deck is much more prone mistakes or accidents.
There is also the fact that shit happens... Your better half could break a leg or develop a medical condition that means you might have to sail your boat to help and safety alone.
Yes... I know you have an EPIRB and an SSB, neither of which is a replacement for having the basic skills to sail and handle your boat on your own. Calling for help should always be viewed as the last extreme option and never thought of as the first.
Lucky for us is that the Singlehanded Sailing Society is a great resource for folks who go to sea on their own, as well as being a wonderful source of information for those of us who don't...
Case in point: they have an excellent book on singlehanding "Thoughts, Tips, Techniques, & Tactics For Singlehanded Sailing" by Andrew Evans which is a free download from their site and a must read!
