You solo-sailors out there get my highest praise and admiration. I honestly cannot see how it can be done. I couldn't live without having my wife and son around while I'm setting up to handle all the things I feel I need 3 more hand/arms to accomplish. Holding up a brindle while pulling on the forestay and attempting to capture it in the extender by feeding the pin in while my wife leans on the mast and my son holds the split ring ready makes me shake my head that anyone does this alone. I have a knack of finding the perfect time to accidently fumble and drop any pin when my arms aren't quite long enough to hold onto whatever I'm putting the pin in and still reach the pin to pick it up. I completely sympathize with putting the main sheet in your teeth buddy. Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, whatever. Fingers, Toes, Teeth, armpits, whatever it takes to get 'er done. I think I could cut the set up time in half if someone could tell me a suitable replacement for split rings. I've never counted but there must be 50 of them on this craft (Nacra 5.5 SL).
Easy to see why it's overwhelming to alot of newbies like me to get involved in it. Unless you have an orderly mind and just do one thing at a time it can appear daunting. My wife thinks it's remarkable we always get to the same place at the end even though we do it differently each time. (still talking sailing here) Maybe it's a guy thing. I think that is why so many threads on this forum ask the same questions in different ways. But I am still amazed you guys can do it solo. Love to watch that sometime. My hats off to you all. And thanks for all your help. Greg