James Fair

First off…Who are you? Where are you from? What would you consider your Home Port and sailing locale?

My names is James Fair and I am from Mountain View, CA. My homeport is Berkeley, CA and would consider my sailing locale to be the San Francisco Bay.

Please describe your sailboat. What type of boat is it? Year? Make? Model? How long have you had it? Any major modifications made to your boat for solo sailing or offshore sailing?  My boat is an Outbound 46 which I purchased in 2006. Had it for 4 years. Added Genset, Monitor windvane and emergency rudder, dodger and bimini, radar, AIS, chartplotter, SSB, water maker, refridge and freezer, plus lots of little stuff. Also have a Merit 25 which I also did the Singlehanded Transpac in 1986.

How long have you been sailing? When did you decide that the solo experience was for you?

35 years. I dccided the solo experience was for me in 1981.

A piece or pieces of gear you would not do without? Self-Tailing winches? AIS? Egg Timer? Gimbaled cup holder? What do you value and consider vital for safe, comfortable Singlehanded Sailing?

ST Winches, AIS, Egg Timer. The most important thing is an integrated AIS.

Most memorable trip/passage/ adventure you have had so far sailing solo?

#1 – 1986 SSS transpac on Merit 25. #2 – 1981 SSS Farallons, #3 – 1985 SSS Longpac

Worries and or concerns when you are out solo? Pirates? Tankers? Whales? Flying fish? What is on your mind?

Running into large object or being run over by a large object. Pirates? Minor, but always in the back of my mind in some parts of the world.Tankers? Not so much since advent of AIS. Whales? Absolutely. Already had one major collision. They do not use AIS and the ocean is full of them. Flying fish? No What is on your mind? Fishing boats. Too small for AIS.

What is your favorite thing or things about being out in the middle of the ocean by yourself?

Boat preparation is complete. You get a chance to relax.

Solo sailors who have inspired you to do what you do?

Sir Francis Chichester – “Gypsy Moth Circles the World”

Future sailing plans or aspirations?

Circumnavigation in Chesapeake, Outbound 46.

Why do you think people are drawn to solo sailing?

It is the one time in your life you are on your own and completely responsible for yourself. That never happens for most people. They are always in intimate contact with someone who will take care of them.

And now for the rapid fire, stream of consciousness, quick response section of the questionnaire…

Hank on or Roller Furling? Roller
Wheel or Tiller? Big boats require a wheel, but for little boats tillers are better.

Fin or Full keel? Either, or… No preference
Dacron or Kevlar? Cruising – Dacron. Otherwise no preference

LED Tricolor or Deck mounted Kerosene Running Lights? Mast head LED tricolor.
Mast Steps or Ratlines? Neither
Depth sounder or lead line? Depth Sounder
Bucket or a well plumbed head? Bucket
Water or Whiskey? Water
Whiskey or Rum? Rum.
Rum or Kool Aid? Kool-Aid
SSB or Sat Phone? Both. Sat Phone is more reliable
Large meals or Steady Snacking? Steady snacking
Coffee or Tea? Tea
Dodger or No Dodger? Dodger
Autopilot or Windvane? Both, Autopilots are better, but they fail, sooner or later.

Traditional Boom Vang or Rigid BoomVang? No Preference

Fresh water or saltwater showers? Fresh water 
Solar Panels or Wind generators? Solar Panels
Three Strand or Spectra? Spectra.