My thanks to Andy Smith, who stood by as back-up when I first practiced deploying the pole in a simulated single-handed situation, on the Atlantic crossing.
Now I’ve done it for real in a genuine single-handed scenario (with harness and helmet on). Key is using two control lines, led fore and aft, attached to the outboard end of the pole, in addition to the pole halyard, and then bringing the pole slowly into position bit by bit, so it is never out of control and swinging around wildly smashing things (or me) up.
I’m managing 4 kts speed over ground in about 6.5 lots of wind. Predict wind has me being becalmed Saturday and some of Sunday, so figured it would be worth the (very hot and sweaty) effort to get the pole out so I could sail dead down wind and make the required 298 degrees course over ground so I don’t get hundred of miles off course, too far East of the Bahamas.
Now all I have to do is be able to stow it away without mishap, when the winds change and it becomes necessary to change the sail plan.
Now for breakfast, which I’ve earned this morning!
