Pacific Solo Archive – Page 2

As you may have seen in my previous video, I've now moved up my departure date for my solo sail from Tokyo to Vancouver via "Nemo North" (the furthest point from land in any direction in the Northern Hemisphere) to spring/summer 2021. And boy, do I have wo...

There is a typhoon off the coast of Japan making it a cold and rainy day, so I have turned my attention to passage planning and preparing for the voyage in 8-months' time. I am grateful to Kirk, Paula, Rick, and Maurice who all have extensive passage ex...

While "Pacific Solo" refers to my eventual solo effort to cross the Pacific and pass-through "Nemo North," there is no way I'd be able to set sail without the group behind me that has been encouraging me and helping me learn. (And if you're reading this, I...

In just a few months I am crossing an ocean, by sailboat and by myself, to see my mom. And I am kinda scared. I have never sailed across an ocean before. I have identified ten fears and am seeking to address them. The list includes storms, falling overboar...

Soon I will be sailing solo across the North Pacific, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and I am going to be on the lookout for Nurdles! They sound and look cute, but in fact, they are anything but. As lightweight building blocks for the Plastic product in...

I will be entrusting my life to the vessel that will carry me across the Pacific, through the Garbage Patch, and north to Vancouver after passing through Nemo North. SV Wahine has some years behind her, and my friend Gregor Neumann (who has been staying wi...

Is my Gib'Sea 402 safe for an ocean crossing? A major -- and perhaps obvious -- part of my preparations to set sail across the Pacific alone on SV Wahine is ensuring that she's safe for offshore sailing and can handle the long journey in the open waters o...

It is a remarkable morning in Tokyo Bay and has the potential of being a milestone day. So I spent it solo sailing. Just Wahine, Skylie ll and me. The lightest of winds at the start but they did pick up some later. Skylie ll ( aka the Hydrovane) manages...

Last episode, I discussed what I'm asking from my boat, SV Wahine, and if she's safe enough to get me across the Pacific on my solo crossing. It's only fair she ask the same of me. I'm readying myself both physically and mentally, and there is much to do...

One of my lifelines snapped a month ago when someone was stepping off the boat so I thought it best to replace them last Sunday Morning. When I finished, I invited three friends to join me for an afternoon sail with Skylie ll, Wahine, and me. The wind wa...

Lots to do and to think about as the new year fast approaches. In February, I will leave my mooring at Yumenoshima Marina and set off to Okinawa. Between February and my departure for the solo crossing of the Pacific in June, I will not have permanent harb...

Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season. December always prompts reflection and probably this year more than ever we been provoked to ponder issues that are larger than ourselves. Let`s continue to dream and hope and put those aspirations into action in ways ...

As 2020 comes to a close, I am strongly focused on the challenges ahead in 2021. There is much to prepare before I depart in June. But I feel it's important to take a look back and see how far I've come, the ups, the downs, mistakes (er...learning opportu...

I said goodbye to 2020 with a wintry dip in the ocean, sang happy birthday to my mom, pondered the importance of setting goals and Mt Fuji drive by! January is a month of jobs for wahine and me. Electrics, new sails, new furler, solar, dodger and bimini p...

With just six weeks to go before Wahine and I depart our slip for the last time, we are working hard at getting ready to go. There is a whole lot going on including a complete audit of the electrical system. I am learning every day and this week was a less...

The countdown continues to my departure from Tokyo to Okinawa. It will be a two-month practice run. Many challenges to face to get there but i keep pressing forward with the help of patrons and supporters. In this episode, i reveal a special device th...

Just four more weeks until I depart M14 berth in Tokyo, Wahines`s home for the last ten years. It is full on with much to do this month. This episode features a sewing blunder and a Diesel Engine Workshop with my friend and mechanical genius Tony. Tha...

It`s February and I leave this month. Work continues on board including moving unnecessary stuff from the boat to our log house in Aichi. A lot of time this week clearing stuff from the boat and making room for the essentials still to come . . solar, lith...

It's the beginning of 2021, I was working hard to prep my boat for departure from the marina in February for a test sail south to Okinawa. In answering the question I had 12 things to check Thanks to all those making this voyage possible: Keel Club Foun...

Wahine is leaving her home of nearly ten years and on Valentines Day she said goodbye to past crew and friends.. She seemed to take it in good grace but the skipper was a tad emotional! Also this week was my last work out at the UFC Gym, sailing with the...

Solar Array installation was a big feature in the last few days. Thanks to Merlin Solar for making this happen. Still lots to do and a tad bit of self doubt occasionally creeps in. Just a couple more days. Thanks to all those making this voyage possi...

It's March 1st! I am still at the Marina but now as a visitor. It looks like my departure will be on the 4th of March. I am waiting on the Life Raft on Board. Wahine now has a permit to sail offshore for 30 days and the permit starts on March 6th and en...

Hi .. . this is not a normal episode. Just wanted to update on my whereabouts. I have made it to Havu Port on the southern tip of Oshima. It was a bit of a miserable day yesterday sailing from Misaki here but I learned a lot facing mild adversity. Have ...

Yes, that day threw a lot at me. 27 hours non-stop. It's my birthday this week and I make another important incremental step forward in training for my Pacific Crossing. I learned a lot including what changes I need to make on the boat before I proceed...

Updated Note: This video was made when I left Tokyo Port for good in March 2021 and is the first episode of Season 3 of this Channel A lot happened during the last few weeks and I finally had my first sea trial. I learned a lot including what changes I ...

Thanks for joining my first YouTube Live. I have had a good week. I had a Birthday Dinner with Kande, Mac, Hitomi, and Ryan at our Log House on Thursday nite. Maria and Eli were unable to attend due to being in the Philippines to renew their passports. ...

I was all ready to go for a multiple night training at sea and was faced with a dilemma Only ten days left on the offshore training permit so I felt pressure but given the absence of a working autohelm and that I am not allowed to use the AIS Transponder,...

I had no idea when I bought a sailboat I would have to contend with so many rules and regulations. I believed I could just sail off into the sunset. But no. So this has been an education of how to navigate the Marine rules of Japan. Also, I have learned ...

I have spent countless hours, no, days and weeks trying to figure out how to legally sail my bot Japanese Registered sail boat offshore and to Canada. I naively thought that I could buy the boat of my choice and sail off into the sunset. Not so. At least ...

As I mentioned in a previous episode I have had to postpone my solo crossing of the North Pacific for one year because the boat and I are not ready. I was looking into the option of sailing across with a Crew and spend the next year training on the West Co...

Here is the second episode of Season 3 of Pacific Solo. I took a very important decision that will greatly affect Pacific Solo, but the last few weeks have been a lot happier. I keep learning and growing every day as a sailor. This episode is directed and...

I was simply enchanted with the secluded cover that harbors a secret. ( hint: government censorship and survival) Once arriving in Mie after 200 + Nautical mile solo sail from Tokyo without a working autohelm and AIS. But I wanted to keep moving so I ...

I was hacked while Wahine and I were in corona limbo. It seems to have been a sophisticated attack. Arghhhh!!!! But it is not all bad news. I am told my autohelm part is to arrive any day and that along with other encouragements means that I will so...

Yay. I waited 40 days and it arrived and now I can solo again. This is a Two in One Episode. A current updated ( as of today) and a collage of scenes of my cruise around the most southern tip of Honshu, Japans largest island and the news that my auto helm...

I first visited Kochi on my epic bicycle trip following the Cherry Blossom front from Kyushu to Hokkaido and I had an extraordinary conversation with a gentleman who explained to me the connection between the Cherry Blossoms and the spirit of the Kamikaze....

I woke every morning for forty days to a wonderful view at Uchinoura Sea Station ( Umi no Eki) based at the Shinjo Fishermen’s Cooperative. The entire team there was very helpful and went beyond the call of duty to assist in helping getting parts, organi...