Singlehanded sailing Nauticat 38 - How to get the sails up on a ketch single handed?

Sailing the Nauticat 38 ketch singlehanded. How to get the sails up on a Nauticat? How to reduce sails? How is the Nauticat motor sailer actually sailing?
Follow me on this single handed cruise from Norway to Sweden, crossing the Oslo fjord. Leaving the fjord og Sandefjord (Norway), and entering the islands of Koster (Sweden).
On this cruise the wind was blowing about 15 to 20 knots, and the boat were sailing 4 to 6 knots, occasionally 7 knots. Considerable waves, but not too much.
I was sailing with a full genua, a full mizzen and two reefs in the main.
If you see things I can do better, or thing you dont fully understand, please do write a comment to the video. I am always open to new perspectives on these things, and I am by no means an expert on sailing this big and heavy Nauticat alone (yet).
Funny thing is, that on the ferry in the background, my crew is eating their lunch. When sailing with children, they some times want to the the ferry instead of sailing. So, whatever floats you boat. Then at least I get 6 hours of grown up time alone. I'll make a short video of the shots from the ferry later on.
This video if mainly shot with the Insta 360, with some small parts on an iPhone 15. Edited later with iMovie on a Mac.

[@Aacadian-xe8kq]

Love this post, more sailing please 🙏

[@Sailing-Maja]

Thanks for that. More sailing is coming, for sure.

[@seanchapman4031]

" i let out an actual laugh, audible level... when i saw, " Wait for 5+ hrs" .
Way to bring home the moment. I've subscribed. Living vicariously through you. Go beast the day!!
Thank you

[@Sailing-Maja]

@@seanchapman4031 👍👍👍⛵️

[@richardgard2009]

Excellent video thank you. In the 1980s I sailed a Nauticat 33 which was rigged as a sloop. I thought it sailed better, as a smaller boat, without the aero hamper of the mizzen and all the supporting mizzen rig. It also pointed much higher than the ketch 33s.
One small thing for your seamanship: when a rope is rigged or applied to a task it is called a line. A rope is something that is not rigged, or does not have a function. once a rope is rigged for a task or machine, such as sheet or halyard or reef, it becomes a line. Exceptions are the anchor rode, large mooring or dock lines are called mooring warps.
Have fun with this boat. A genuine comfortable adventure machine!

[@Sailing-Maja]

That is interesting, what you say about the sloop vs ketch on the 33. Also thanks for the input on rope vs line. As you might understand, english is not my native language, but I'm learning every day, and especially the maritime terms are very interesting.

[@ellelyn2000]

Yes I enjoyed our time together, it seems that you did all the work. Next time I'll try to help. Great information thanks.

[@Sailing-Maja]

Yes, thats the beauty of singlehanded sailing. You get to do all the work by yourself.

[@stephanebrun718]

You should go like this if I may :
- Genoa first
- Mizen second
- main last.
The best way to balance a ketch

[@Sailing-Maja]

@@stephanebrun718 Thanks. Earlier when I sailed a one masted boat I always hoised the main first, and then the genoa. Don’t know why, I’ve never really learned how to sail, I’ve just tried my best. RUclips did not exist when I started sailing. This is my first ketch, so I still learn. Thanks again for your input. 👍⛵️

[@richardgard2009]

Another method or two:
On my Fisher (before having an autopilot) I raised mizzen first to keep the bow pointed up into the wind. Inn light winds didn’t even bother with mizzen.
On Amel 53 we always raise mainsail first then mizzen if using it. Nice to have autopilot and electric furlers.
Does your autopilot have a wind vane parameter? That’s the best thing for a singlehander, it holds the bow to wind with a minimal amount of throttle. You want just enough forward motion to give steerage and no faster else you create more apparent wind to find while unfurling/ raising sail.
Great boat and video. A thousand thanks

[@Kosty19]

Nice sailing!

[@Sailing-Maja]

@@Kosty19 Thanks!

[@obiwanfisher537]

Very nice.

[@Sailing-Maja]

Thanks

[@sailingvisions]

[@Sailing-Maja]

👍⛵️💪

[@houstandy1009]

My wife are going to view a Nauticat in a couple of weeks to hopefully buy.
Do you sail ok just under sail power alone?
It will be a live aboard, can you give me any pros or cons

[@Sailing-Maja]

Hi there!
The Nauticat 38 is a semi long keel motorsailor. So, not a traditional long keel, but also not a modern fin keel. It has a mix of these, with a skeg in front of the rudder. To me this makes a lot of sense, the best of two worlds so to say. It1s not a racer, but still performs OK. Under engine she is like a displacement motor boat and performs well up to a good 7 knots. Under motor and sail together, she is really happy, and this is what she is built for. Under sail alone she still performs OK. Downwind and wind from the side is good. Give her a fresh breeze, and she dances in the waves. A gentle breeze is not enough for her.
Going against the wind is where she struggles. She can do it, but not as the modern fin keeled boats. So be prepared go go a little less against and fill the sails a bit more from the side, or start the engine and use both. This depends also on how good the skipper is to sail. Myself, I am quite lazy, and tend to prioritize comfort and security over speed. Going against the weather is generally uncomfortable, but in this boat you have things to help you out. She is heavy, that is good. She has a shape underwater that gives her comfortable movements in the sea. She has a doghouse where you can sit indoors, with the heater on and a cup of coffee in your hand. For me this is more important than the last knot of speed against the weather. I never race.
As a liveaboard, it is a great little ship. You sit inside but at the same time up with the life in the harbor or anchorage. If you want privacy you can go down in the basement as the others do, but you dont need to. When you are outside you have the raised aft deck that is fantastic in great weather. So as a liveaboard I would say its one of the best. What about cons? Well, she is expensive, so you need to consider that. on the other hand, it is a well known brand and she keeps her value. So you will get your money back if you maintain her well.
Hope this helps. Good luck with your Nauticat!

[@houstandy1009]

@@Sailing-Maja Thankyou very much for taking the time to reply, that' s great info thanks.

[@Sailing-Maja]

Hi again
I have now answered your question with a video. Please have a look here and tell me what you think.
ruclips.net/video/8F7YpPzYZW4/видео.htmlsi=9XBv3qQ9qw7X76_4

[@houstandy1009]

@@Sailing-Maja just watched it, great video thanks

[@jasonmcintosh2632]

I own a 1985 Nauticat 44. What did you think of the boat you saw?

[@Alextrip95]

1 person is really cool

[@Sailing-Maja]

Thanks 👍⛵️

[@Alextrip95]

@@Sailing-Maja 😶

[@Alextrip95]

@@Sailing-Maja 38 ft for one ...is best !

[@RustyKnorr]

Why not raise the mizzen first?

[@Sailing-Maja]

Well, I can't see any reason for raising the main first or raising the mizzen first. This is my first ketch, and it might me an old habit to raise the main first. Are there any good reasons for raising the mizzen first? Please advice.

[@richardgard2009]

@@Sailing-Majayes, mizzen will keep the bow heading up with little or no engine

[@gima_11]

😁😁

[@Sailing-Maja]

Thanks