Can you sail a N12 solo?

[Davidlan (Guest)]

Hi,
I'm looking for a faster dinghy to sail on the North Sea in club racing.  I could go for a Laser 1 but the N12 really appeals.  While I could get my son to sail with me it is likely that I will end up with no crew and hence the subject question.  I'm 17 stone while my son is closer to 8 stone.  Am I looking at the wrong boat? Would a Big Issue or final chapter be okay?  I would appricate any views.
Thanks,
David

[Alistair Edwards]

It is certainly possible to sail a N12 single handed. I do it quite frequently. Some clubs do allow you to race a N12 single handed with a suitable handicap adjustment.
An all up weight of 25 stone is heavy by N12 standards but you would still have fun. In light winds inland you would struggle in handicap racing but in stronger breezes at sea this would probably be less of a problem. If you check through the guide to the various designs on this website it highlights which designs are the best weight carriers.

[Chadders]

Whilst it is perfectly feasable to sail a properly set up 12 single handed the rules specifically say a crew of 2 and therefore it would not be possible to sail in any open meetings.  Your own club may well agree that you can sail single handed however on an agreed handicap but I would ask the question before buying a boat if it is likely that you will need to sail single handed often.  Having said that the Twelve is a great boat and if you can sort a crew to sail with you it is well worth the effort.  As Alistair says above 25 stone is a bit on the top side but on the sea and with that weight then a Final Chapter would be a good bet and the website has at least one good one for sale currently in Yorkshire.  Where on the North Sea are you sailing?

[Davidlan (Guest)]

Thank you both for your comments, I intend to sail out of North Berwick (Scotland).  You have given some things to think about.  I guess I'm going to have lose some weight though as my son gets bigger. I am looking at the Big Issue, Final Chapter and Paradigm, though due to my cuurent budget it will probably be a single bottom version Final Chapter.

[ifoxwell]

You would have a blast single handed as well because at 17st your close to the bottom end of the weight range on your own... so you would have all bases covered. I sail our Chapter single handed in anything up to a F4 comfortably and I'm only 11st!

Ian
3453

[JonathanReubin]

I sail 443, an Uffa King single handed.  I have done so in up to a F5 and she planes in that.  Its a bit hairy though! And I only have myself to blame when she submarines!

[icecreamman]

Although it not so far to walk from one side of you Uffa King Jonathan, I think it would most possibly be a tad hairier than a Chapter. I remember sailing our Whisper 4 single handed back in the day and that was when I found out that adrenalin could at times be brown and smelly. Good learning curve though.

[Crusader 3244]

I was about your weight three and halve years ago when I purchased my Crusader, David and I regret I still am. I could afford to shed at least four stone and be better for it. Back then my boy was quite light and the plan was to lose weight faster than Ben would gain it. Erm, that is not quite what has happened. I've remined pretty constant but Ben has shot up, and while lean, he has gained weight in the passing from age eleven to fifteen.
12s are brilliant fun, thoough I say that as someone who has turned out (at all) since the Nationals at Thorpe Bay in 2008. (!!!!) Despite my lack of progress our twelve remians one of my best incentives to lose weight. One of the reasons that I haven't sailed, besides working queer hours, is that I have become very interested in the long term dietary trends of our species and it turns out to be quite interesting. I am also interested in the rlationship between modern ill health and the modern diet, and add to that a particular interest in cholesterol. I devote a lot of time to reading and research.

Really, we've never eaten less in the way of fat and more in the way of carbohydrate than the peoples of developed nations (like us) do now. Plus, despite them advising us to the contrary for nigh on five decacdes neither saturated fat and cholesterol are actually bad for us. It beggers belief in the face of all the marketing and guidance, I know, but saturated fat anbd cholesterol are actually good for us.
It easy to think that we gain weight, or resist weight loss, from simply being weak-willed, greedy, or otherwise eating too much. However weight gain is mediated by levels of the hormone insulin, and weight loss can be impeded if insulin levels are chronically high. The body secretes insulin as it digest carbohydtates. Insulin causes our levels of blood sugar to 'yoyo' and that can be a stimulus for feeling hungry and the compulsion to eat.
Another way of thinking about matters might be the idea that people gain weight from a decline in the ability to self-regulate the appetite, and something that might contribute to that is a trend towards low-fat foods and a low fat - high carbohydrate paradigm. Barry Groves is an author who has committed to print the opinion that social trends regarding obesity and diabetes arise, not so much in spite of all this healthy eating advice but, because of it. After a lot of reading I wouldn't disagree.
Dr John Briffa is a qualified and experience GP, now working in a private setting, who is a knowledgeable cholesterol sceptic and who subscribes to this outline of thinking. Weight management and weight loss can be acheived by being careful about the quantity, and quality, of the carbohydrate sources we select. With no reason to be fat phobic good fats can be used to help satiate appetite and stabilise blood sugar. Contrary to the popular (and commercially lucrative) paradigm polyunsaturated fats are not really 'good' fats if consumed to excess. Despite some polyunsaturates are 'essential', excess is a quantity not far removed from very little.
John Briffa has a book out, new this month, 'Escape The Diet Trap', in which I think he covers some of these bases and many more. I haven't read this volume yet, but I am aware of the other works of Dr Briffa and consider he sets a good standard. He maintains a well esteemed blog and in this link to his blog he sets out the synopsis for Escape The Diet Trap.
http://www.drbriffa.com/2011/12/23/my-new-book-escape-the-diet-trap-will-be-published-on-5th-january/

[Chadders]

All interesting stuff Chris but have you got your 12 painted and varnished yet??  Happy New Year and hope to see you back on the circuit this year or is Ben on the rent a crew list again? Love to see Jonathan R planing in his Uffa King and sadly I do remember Icecream Man when he was but a lad.  Single or double handed Twelves are a great boat that grabs you and keeps you for long time it being about 59 years since my first sail in a Twelve and I am just doing my entry for Burton again this week, just not sure which one to sail at Hayling, decisions decisions.

[Crusader 3244]

Alas Chadders fit-out not yet complete, but full fees for home club paid for 2012, There must have been some optimism when I wrote the cheque !!  .. .. .. And if it wasn't so perishin' cold at 2am I'd bike the 12 miles to work to get fit !! !!

[icecreamman]

Ha ha nice one Howard and I can remember sailing at Yeadon when there were motorboats there as well, not to mention................. yawn I will not bore everyone with anecdotes!!

[angus]

Ahh Chadders were you so young when you first sailed a 12;D

[icecreamman]

Angus, Chadders is like Old Father Time compared to me.

[angus]

I didn't know anbody compared to you ICM. I must admit that when I mentioned Chadders and age in the same sentence I thought I was getting into areas that maybe best left to Stephen Hawkins and alike.
Getting back to the subject when my son and I first started sailing a national 12 we had an all up weight of under 15 stone and although it was true we did struggle a bit when it was windy this was more due to the boat set up and lack of skill (thats still a problem) than lack of weight and we certainly had great fun. But now football and other things like not cool to be seen alive with Dad has left me with out a crew although my club will allow me to sail my 12 singlehanded and I have one races that way I have bought a Europe and my 12 is up for sale.

[duncan]

wait till you try to sail one with a 13 stone crew - ( or letting the crew have a wee play ) - put the stem right under.  crew decided they were good enough to go out with another youngster as crew - ie achieved conversion to 12s