I sail from Brest to Cherbourg enroute to the Shetland Islands. I film mooring arrivals along the way and discuss other miscellaneous topics, e.g., Do military ships show up on AIS?, and How 'inefficient' is tacking? How to sail through tidal races?
(I realize this should have been published before the episode crossing the Channel. Internet logistics issue.)
I launch my 2018 sailing adventure: sailing solo to the Shetland Islands. This first phase (La Rochelle to Brest, France) is the core of this ...
I plan the navigation (Course to Steer) for the 90 mile solo passage between Cherbourg France and Brighton UK. I also discuss sailing around windfarms.
I assist in delivering a high performance cruiser sailing yacht (RM 1270) from Portugal to France. Along the way, I test a low cost alternative to an Iridium GO, the Garmin InReach Explorer+.
Isabelle suffered an engine failure due to a blocked fuel line at an awkward moment -- during a gale in Episode 12. Safely home in France, I build a home-made 'diesel polisher' to remove water and sediment from my tank. (No sailing in this one friends....
I test my ability to deploy (solo sailing) my new Storm Bag jib. I also demonstrate my departure and arrival procedures from/to my berth slip (supplementing Episode 18). A Storm Bag is a good compromise solution for gales for boat owners that do not ha...
Four examples (and a blooper) under various conditions of how I dock my 40' Bavaria sailboat while solo. These occur in relatively light winds, but I use the same techniques (frequently) in 15-20 kts at my home port of La Rochelle, France (Les Minimes)....
My final arrival in Muros Spain is marred by a jammed furler (which I manage to unjam without too much drama). I then ask the eternal (unanswered) question that sailors have been asking for thousands of years.........
Passing the halfway point on a 900 nm passage back to the Continent. At night in rain I cross a large fishing boat only 3 miles away, but never see it. I discuss deep broad reaching with only the genoa -- pure joy. I am torn about fishing at sea while...
I continue my 900 nm solo sail from the Azores to Spain. I am astonished to see a dangerous 'fisherman's pot' 200 NM from land. I also admit 'operator error' for not having secured the pins in my shackles. Three came undone during this trip -- fortun...
Beginning my solo sail of 900 nm back from the Azores. I describe the fuel cell that is installed on my boat. In the category 'continuous learning', I admit I did not know you could tension the leech line at each reef point (and not just at the clew).
I am nearing the end of an 1100 nm passage ---- when with 100 nm to go, a warm front arrives. I wonder how interesting my arrival will be. Episode 12 (the next one) shows my arrival in a gale with a bit of drama......
The wind continues to back on me until nearly head-on at 20+ kts with high seas. I search for a solution to make headway (with some embarrassing results). Sail, engine, or both? I learn a novel way to furl the genoa if the furler breaks.
I discuss why I (almost) always put in a reef at sundown, and then will surprise you by saying I have no way to update weather at sea (and outline how you can get this weather for longer passages).
Winds drop causing the boom to swing back and forth (with a crash). I drop the mainsail, and make excellent progress on the genny only. (This also works great in very high winds when running downwind.) I did not launch the spinnaker due to very wet fo...
Port call Northern Spain ---- with many warnings........; Calling harbormaster on radio; Sailing the Bay of Biscay single-handed;
Running aground in a sailboat
'Isabelle' sails from Spain for Azores (solo sail) and uses AIS to avoid collision with cargo ships. Practical example of constant bearing, decreasing range using Vesper Marine WatchMate.
Sailing Bavaria 40 single-handed through a gale to arrival in Horta, Azores. My engine fails as I approach the islands.
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