How to Sail Oceans – Page 13

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Through-hull replacement and other fun things, part one
How to Sail Oceans

Through-hull replacement and other fun things, part one

I normally schedule my annual haulout for the month of September, but a failing through-hull fitting--even though successfully repaired--persisted as a source of anxiety and I wanted to get it replaced sooner than later. So the first task was to figure out how to remove the old through-hull. Afte...
  • Jul 13, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:11:33
Anchor down in Poquoson; haul out in Deltaville
How to Sail Oceans

Anchor down in Poquoson; haul out in Deltaville

Winds remain fickle but gradually settle southwesterly during the night of Thursday, June 6, enabling me to make Poquoson around 0400 Friday. Sleep deprivation is taking a toll as I discover the following morning that I had not secured the anchor rode properly and that it was slowly paying out(!) ....
  • Jul 05, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:11:33
Miami to Deltaville, Part Three
How to Sail Oceans

Miami to Deltaville, Part Three

A forecast for not quite as brisk northeasterly winds have me tiptoeing back into the Gulf Stream to take advantage of the favorable current. Come Tuesday morning, June 4, winds are around 15-18 knots out of the northeast and the Gulf Stream is far from comfortable. Winds fall light and veer south...
  • Jun 26, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:13:00
Miami to Deltaville, Part Two
How to Sail Oceans

Miami to Deltaville, Part Two

With the help of the Gulf Stream current we are logging over 160 miles per day, but I am opting to work my way to the northwest wall and out of the current in anticipation of a cold front and brisk northeasterly winds. I find a small land bird attempting to stow away, but he seems to have found the...
  • Jun 19, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:13:20
Miami to Deltaville, Part One
How to Sail Oceans

Miami to Deltaville, Part One

A period of southerly winds is on tap, bringing with it the infamous Miami heat (and humidity). But that also means good sailing weather for heading north to the Chesapeake Bay. First, however, we need to work our way out of the Old Florida Channel, and with east-to-southeast winds that means a t...
  • Jun 12, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:13:47
Waiting on a Wind Shift
How to Sail Oceans

Waiting on a Wind Shift

Well it's been a month at anchor behind Miami South Beach, and the infamous Miami heat (not the basketball team) has arrived. I took some refuge in the air-conditioned gym, but my membership has expired and it's time to head north anyway. Which means I have to reverse the tricky process ...
  • May 27, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:14:13
Tools, Spares, and Materials for Ocean Cruising, Part Two
How to Sail Oceans

Tools, Spares, and Materials for Ocean Cruising, Part Two

We move on to a spare parts list for the ocean cruiser, which of course will depend on what equipment you have. Following that I talk about adhesives and sealants, tapes and lubricants. Finally I go over materials I carry onboard, including cloths, leather, and lumber. Oh, and we finish up the re...
  • May 13, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:17:55
Tools, Spares, and Materials for Ocean Cruising, Part One
How to Sail Oceans

Tools, Spares, and Materials for Ocean Cruising, Part One

I decide to attempt a little more sturdy repair to the seacock and corroded elbow leading to the galley sink drain (see prior to heading offshore for Virginia. While gearing up for this project it seemed to me like a good time to discuss the tools, spare parts, and materials I keep on board. I tr...
  • May 03, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:16:31
Overnight to Miami; please don’t hit the bridge
How to Sail Oceans

Overnight to Miami; please don’t hit the bridge

So we begin our trek back to the northeast with an overnight run to Biscayne Bay from Marathon. Our promised southerly winds don't show up until late into the night, but we reach Fowey Rocks by daybreak and sail into the sheltered bay waters through the Old Florida Channel. After that I look ...
  • Apr 22, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:19:29
Brisk sailing; anchoring adventures; drone practice
How to Sail Oceans

Brisk sailing; anchoring adventures; drone practice

We turn to the northeast from Boca Grande Key, back toward Marathon, after which we will continue on to Miami. The onslaught of cold fronts ushering in strong northerly winds is making life difficult, resulting in some brisk sailing and forcing me to move my anchor several times to find shelter aro...
  • Apr 12, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:16:21
For Whom the Ship’s Bell Tolls
How to Sail Oceans

For Whom the Ship’s Bell Tolls

So of course a visit to Key West must include a visit to the home of Ernest Hemingway. I also have to check out the famous (or infamous) nightlife on Duval street and I am pleased to find a vibrant live music scene. I purchase a second hand Phantom 3 drone but find out that I cannot fly it in Key...
  • Apr 03, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:16:55
My Experience with the Splash Drone 3
How to Sail Oceans

My Experience with the Splash Drone 3

I wanted to get sailing footage of the boat at sea, but being a novice drone pilot I was afraid of launching and landing a drone from the boat. SwellPro appeared to have the answer with the Splash Drone 3, a fully waterproof drone with 4K video capability and, most importantly, the ability to take...
  • Mar 25, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:16:55
Cruising: repairing one’s boat in exotic ports of call
How to Sail Oceans

Cruising: repairing one’s boat in exotic ports of call

So with the boat peacefully at anchor I get a chance to dive and plug the offending through-hull from the outside so that I can disassemble the seacock. As I suspected, the tapered plug is corroded, which is the most likely reason for failing to shut off. I try to remedy this with some epoxy. I t...
  • Mar 13, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:23:24
Eleven days and done
How to Sail Oceans

Eleven days and done

February 4, 2019. Exiting the Old Bahama Channel we are beset by contrary currents and light winds which threaten to drag us back into the busy shipping channel, as well as toward the coast of Cuba. So I spend much of the evening on deck hand steering, trying to effect whatever headway I can make g...
  • Mar 02, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:14:39
Toward the Old Bahama Channel
How to Sail Oceans

Toward the Old Bahama Channel

The winds freshen from the east-northeast, sending us scudding toward the Old Bahama Channel. The epoxy-doped duct tape solution to the leaking elbow is holding the water back to just a slow weep, for which I am much relieved. Feeling my spirits rising a bit, I decide to film some easy meal prepar...
  • Feb 22, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:11:46
If one solution fails, try another
How to Sail Oceans

If one solution fails, try another

Winds and seas moderate as we enter the Caicos Passage, headed west-southwest toward the Old Bahama Channel. A band of heavy rain showers supply me with water for a much needed bath (and shave). Our temporary repair of the leaking through-hull begins to fail, however, and the leak increases to a s...
  • Feb 16, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:14:22
When you get that sinking feeling
How to Sail Oceans

When you get that sinking feeling

Just prior to weighing anchor, the galley sink refuses to drain. I remove the hose and clear the blockage, but discover that the seacock (valve) to the through-hull does not close all the way. I reconnect the hose and the boat is once again watertight. Or so I thought. I check on it while sailing...
  • Feb 11, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:11:56
Sailing out the anchor; Quiet time; Passage preparation
How to Sail Oceans

Sailing out the anchor; Quiet time; Passage preparation

In another edition of how to sail without an engine, I talk about sailing up to the anchor in such a way that 1.) does not require heavy windlass work to bring it up short and 2.) lets you sail away on a preferred tack. Then it's off to a tranquil (and internet free) anchorage in Culebra. And...
  • Jan 22, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:15:26
Repair Your Own Sails
How to Sail Oceans

Repair Your Own Sails

Ocean passages are hard on sails. When you travel to far away lands there may not be a sailmaker nearby, and not all sailmakers are equally skilled. It pays to learn how to repair sails yourself. Besides saving your cruising funds, it brings the added benefit of boosting your confidence and sense...
  • Jan 10, 2019
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:11:52
Offshore to the Caribbean: Sixteen Days and Done
How to Sail Oceans

Offshore to the Caribbean: Sixteen Days and Done

We finally pick up the easterly Trade Winds on Saturday, December 1. The winds freshen overnight, and by daybreak we have the Virgin Islands in sight. I decide to put into Francis Bay, St. John, which leaves me with one final challenge of picking up a park mooring under sail. I get it on the seco...
  • Dec 31, 2018
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:12:51
Offshore to the Caribbean: Misadventures, Meanderings, no Trade Winds
How to Sail Oceans

Offshore to the Caribbean: Misadventures, Meanderings, no Trade Winds

The winds finally lay down for us, but soon we are dealing with little to no wind at all. Taking advantage of the benign conditions I break out my camera drone and lots of fun ensues, especially when it suddenly flies away on me ... Less then 200 miles left to run to the Virgin Islands and we have ...
  • Dec 24, 2018
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:17:11
Offshore to the Caribbean: The Heavy Winds Cometh
How to Sail Oceans

Offshore to the Caribbean: The Heavy Winds Cometh

On Thursday, November 22, the winds are veering northerly and beginning to build. Hopes of avoiding gale conditions fade by Friday evening, and I end up heaving her to for several hours during the overnight as we get buffeted by powerful squalls. The strong winds continue into Sunday, making for a...
  • Dec 18, 2018
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:12:27
Offshore to the Caribbean: Across the Gulf Stream
How to Sail Oceans

Offshore to the Caribbean: Across the Gulf Stream

After a decent overnight run south toward Cape Hatteras, we enter the Gulf Stream late in the afternoon on Saturday, November 17. As usual the Stream tosses us about until we finally exit early the following morning. Winds then become southerly ahead of an advancing cold front, so we tack over to ...
  • Dec 12, 2018
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:16:57
Offshore to the Caribbean: Taking departure
How to Sail Oceans

Offshore to the Caribbean: Taking departure

I move into a slip at Hampton Public Piers for a night, primarily to charge up my battery bank as the shorter days and persistent cloud cover have cut my solar generation to a trickle. So the first challenge is to get the boat back out on anchor without scratching any of my fresh topside paint. I...
  • Dec 08, 2018
  • Language: EN
  • Play Time: 00:12:04
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