Part 2 is already online for our Patrons! Get early access from as little as $1 per month here ➜ patreon.com/sailingbritaly We make these videos for you, so please give us your honest feedback so that we can improve them in future. (Part 2 was filmed in daylight, which helps!) Some free stuff for you! 👇👇👇 📖 Be first in line to receive a FREE Financial Freedom PDF which explains how we can afford to go cruising, and how YOU can too! (I am writing this right now) ➜ bit.ly/FinancialFreedomPDF 📖 Get a FREE PDF ebook with details of over 3,500 knots & Splices here ➜ bit.ly/knotsPDF Fair winds! Chris, Rossella and Emma 😊
I've just started following you on RUclips and absolutely love your videos. I like the fact that your videos are more relevant than many of the channels out there and you're doing something that is feasible for many people...rather than, say, sailing a million pound catamaran around the South Pacific. I also like the fact that you're looking to get the most value from anything you put on your boat, rather than having a massive budget...again it's just more relevant for more people. I don't own a boat currently but am looking to go on an RYA Start Yachting course next year (delayed this year due to Covid) and would like my own boat at some point in the future so your channel is a great resource to understand the different elements that go into owning and maintaining a boat. Thank you.
You're very welcome Tom, sailing doesn't have to break the bank: we sold our previous boat after 4 years of use for more than we paid for her, and as a result of this we pretty much swapped a 30 ft boat for a 35 footer (We used to be boat dealers so we know how to get a good deal!) We can help others get a great deal too so if you want a hand to buy in future give us a shout. Cheers and fair winds, Chris
Nice one. Looking forward to seeing the others. I enjoy your talking through different options and safety aspects and admitting when you stuff up. Helps us to learn also.
Great video, which brought back many wonderful memories. Spent 3 months between jobs sailing my Twister, mostly single handed, many years ago. No great adventures, Scillies, Channel Islands, Brittany, but what an amazing experience! Small adventures are just as exciting as big ones, and being alone on a yacht, completely responsible for everything is life changing. How right you are about the effect of darkness, it does take courage to face it alone. Your practical and safety based approach makes for great education, and I’m sure you will have given many sailors the encouragement to try single handing for themselves. i was struck by the differences between my experiences, for example sailing to St Malo before GPS and not being sure exactly which Minquiers buoy I was seeing, compared with the much heavier traffic you had to deal with. All your worries that you so honestly discussed were so like my own. Without wanting to go overboard, what you demonstrated was bravery/courage.
@bill from Germany Bill from UK here Yes, no great dramas... Until you think about it and remember that there were and always are. Those memories just fade, because you want them to and just remember the smooth enjoyable bits. What doesn't fade is your wisdom learned from those dramas. They become your gut feel for future sailing and other, different dramas.
Thank you very much Bill, sailing solo is very liberating and a huge learning curve! Thank you very much for your kind words and I hope you enjoy the rest of this series. Cheers, Chris ⛵️👍
Chris, you are doing great. I still remember how nervous I was before my first channel crossing and this was with a group of eight plus an instructor who went single handed around the world twice. You are not just moving out of your comfort zone, you are really achieving a great deal. I am already looking forward to the next episode. Fair winds!
Thank you Michael, I was really stretching myself with this trip for sure. The small distances involved really bear no resemblance to the number of challenges encountered, especially for someone with very little practical tidal sailing experience. The seas in this area deserve a lot of respect! Part 2 is out to the world this weekend and I hope you will enjoy the rest of the series. Very best regards, Chris 👍
Hi crew,greetings 👋from Nottinham,Chris,this mini series about the ups and downs of life on a sailing yacht just get better and better,your approach to problems,analysing them ,and then proceeding to rectifying them with knowledge and logical thoughts ,just shows what is possible if you just think things through thoroughly,and hopefully fellow sailors will follow your lead,night time sailing looked pretty scary so you stay safe and all the best to you and your lovely family,until the next vlog👍
I enjoyed being half-way between Italy & Corsica a lot more than I did here. Sailing during the day is challenging enough in the UK - at night I really was at my limit. 👍
And another thing! No you're not in trouble. This is just overall feedback. I've commented a number of times on this one, which shows how much it engaged me.... a standard non solo sailor. But overall, this was one of your best. 1).I know you have sometimes used it but, no music! It added to the reality and enabled me (well we, the privileged us) to feel your stretched nerves. 2).Your (both of you) reasoning for being solo. Not just it cleared your decks for a new challenge. But the risk to them. 3)your sound preparation. The engine worked because it had no reason not to etc. 4)you didn't pretend to be someone else (you never do) and made an honest video. "I honestly don't know what to do". 5)"human point of view" showed always. Not just when missing validating what the lee shore actually looked like off the chart. Thanks for taking us on more than just your physical journey. You are respected out here....and for much more than some imagined masterful seamanship prowess.
@@SailingBritaly but I didn't mention telling pathetically bad jokes..... To yourself. Your channel isn't coming across as Naff, cringe worthy or irritating (like this comment). It's good useful, entertaining and respect worthy. Stand-on course. Can we see docking with the stick sometime?
@@SailingBritaly many - probably most- of your viewers are not expert seamen, including me. This is precisely the kind of video we need to see - someone else who is in the learning process. We all share the fears and conserns that you've expressed - thanks for being mature and forthright about yours.
Hi Chris, another fine video. I love your honesty and willingness to push yourself, whilst being aware of and mitigating the risks wherever possible. Fair winds and hope you findyour weather window.
you need another pair of holes on your "gripper", so you can put a lanyard on it. Too useful to have it fall in the drink when you're mounting it - unless it's there all the time
Fab start to the series Chris, I got caught out at Christchurch with the moving sandbanks... So not fun but hey ho its all a lesson for next time. Hope all is well with you and family. I shall be refitting my mast in the next few weeks. Poor old Jazzi Girl just doesn't look right mast-less :)
Hi Vince! Thank you very much, it was hard to make a video from this first step of the journey as filming at night is far from ideal - I had to just roll with it and get what I could. Shifting sands make life interesting that's for sure!... We're all great thanks, and we are looking forward to seeing your progress with Jazzi Girl in our new Sailing Britaly Patreon Family Facebook Group, where you will easily be able to post photo's & videos for everyone to see. There will be a post about this imminently over on Patreon. We hope to see you and Jazzi Girl soon! Very best regards, Chris, Rossella & Emma 😊
Well done Chris! my first solo at night was a little anxious too but im sure all sailors go through the same thoughts, weather they admit to it or not is another thing!
Hey you guys got like over 8k subscribers over the last year, didn't you? Way to go! You've made some great videos. I bet your channel will only get bigger edit: and to the point of this particular video, congratulations on your first solo! I've never done one
Hi Dan, we’ve put a huge number of hours work into this channel (se at thousand hours) so we are very grateful to see people clicking on that subscribe button! Cheers, Chris 👍
Nice video Chris. I know how you felt going out solo for the first time, caution is always a good call. Look forward to the next videos. Before I set off I have one of those top pump conference flasks strapped in my galley. I fill it up with boiling water and it is then ready for a very quick coffee or tea without having to keep recoiling the kettle. Keeps hot for ages and then you also have a bit of hot to do the washing up. Fair winds. Andy UK
It's very cool that you're sharing all this! Wow! I don't have anything to compare it to but it looks super challenging. I like what you said about stretching yourself though! Looking forward to the second part!
Hi Janise! Please don’t be put off sailing by the videos in this series: it is usually a lot less stressful than this! I was doing this in unfamiliar waters, in October which is a very windy time of year, the tides are big, currents strong, and there’s lots of shipping to contend with in the English Channel. I would say it’s about 50 times harder than any sailing I’ve done before, so like I say, don’t be put off if it looks like hard work! Send our love to all the gang and enjoy part 2 on Patreon! 😊❤️
4 года назад+1
Not put off in the slightest! Watching your videos makes me feel WAY more confident about sailing because you're addressing the things that I worry about (only because of lack of knowledge) and you show the real life ways to deal with them. It's all well and good for people to "wait for a weather window" but in real life (especially when kids are involved) there are times when you need to adapt to the situation and take reasonable alternatives. You're showing nuances that give more options and lessen the feeling of helplessness that could come from unexpected changes, of which there are MANY in sailing/travel. 👍👍
living yūgen Sailing / cruising is always an adventure as you really have to let nature lead you, and there are so many variables that you can only really plan a day or two in advance. My original plans went out of the window straight away (I was rushing like mad to get to see Rossella & Emma before I realised that this was going to make me take unnecessary risks)... I just took it one day at a a time after that, which was a much better way of going about things. Doing this trip without Emma (and therefore Rossella) on board was definitely the right call as I could concentrate on the task in hand and I didn’t have the extra 172 extra variables that a toddler brings to each day. (There is no way I’d have attempted this trip with Rossella & Emma on board in October as it was always going to be a dodging-the-weather-fest and I wouldn’t have wanted to put them through that.) I’m glad you’re enjoying this series and as I type this I am currently editing part 3... 😊🌅⛵️
Brilliant Chris really enjoyed that one, I only began solo sailing recently myself, feels like it anyway and the dark is very dark so you chose well with the fullmoon, pulling over to get your breathe back was a winner, I've been trounced a few times now ha ha ha, and deadlines be dead lines so keep a weather eye :-) looking forward to more. Cheers
Well done mate. I only hope my first solo, day or night, goes as well. I can only imagine at this stage, how daunting the challenge that you took on was, to take off at night. You made me smile though, is tea the only bloody beverage that you could come up with, after such an achievement? How bloody Pommy of you. This is the first of your videos that I have seen. I am about to check out what else you've been up to. Cheers!
Don't think I would have challenged myself in doing a night passage as my first passage, especially in a confined waterway; but hey you pushed yourself and learnt a few lessons in doing so. Love your cheap DIY anchor chain lock, bet that's going to be copied by a lot of yachties.
Good to see your learning experience - maybe summarising your top 5 learning points at the end of the video would have been great too - thanks for sharing
I did very similar on my Corsair (similar size to yours)in October 2018 - Plymouth to Roscoff single handed with little experience. The trip was not without incident but I got there in one piece and made it back a few weeks later. Did wonders for my confidence and I learned a lot - I totally agree, push yourself a little to extend your boundaries.
Absolutely Rich the start and end of this trip were like day & night (Or as it happens, night and day...) My confidence in myself and Britaly were 1,000 times higher at the end of the trip compared to the start. The best way to learn anything is to just get stuck in and do it! Cheers, Chris 👍
I used to sail around the North Ket Coast and across the Channel to Belgium, France and Holland and across the Thames Estuary up to the Crouch and Blackwater when plotters hadn't even been invented. You were reliant on paper charts, tide tables, old style weather forecasts, hand bearing compasses, sextants and good navigation to know where you were and where you should be going and not going. Modern day GPS plotters make it sooooooo much easier, takes all the fun out of sailing, especially at night. Have you thought of doing an RYA Yachmaster or Skipper course?
I used to phone my family and friends from a phone box having previously memorised all their numbers. Pressing the green button on a smartphone has rendered this a distant memory - for better or for worse. I have studied for and passed the Yachtmaster theory examination, so I do know how to use paper charts and am familiar with all the things in your list, bar the sextant, which is on my "things to learn one day" list. However, the plotter was more convenient all things considered.
@@SailingBritaly Thanks for your reply. I only suggested the RYA sailing courses if you hadn't considered them as they USED to be very good. If you are already doing and progressing with them then great as they were the benchmark to gain competence at sea. I wonder how much old style paper chart based navigation they still teach given that plotters with GPS are so common place now? They have made sailing safer so hopefully fewer people get into difficulty but also made it less challenging in terms of navigation. The Channel off the coast of Ramsgate and Dover with the shipping lanes is one of the busiest stretches of water in the world. All those migrant boats to avoid ;@).
@@alexmorgan3435 RYA syllabus still concentrates on Paper charts especially for passage planning - only a few of the most expensive chart plotters will show you a passage with proper allowances for tide streams. GPS Navigation is a section in the syllabus but it also includes things to remember to do just in case your electrics, plotter or the GPS signals are not available... for instance has a nav app on a phone as a BACKUP but lots of things can go wrong with a phone and most will not last more than a few hours without a charge so not good for long passages.....
Aloha from beautiful Hawaii islands . Great learning skills . I like it you captain doing very well. I m washing all you sailing episodes .remarkable doing a good quality . Good luck captain. My ambition to sail alone around the world from Hawaii islands in 2023 . welcome to visit to to the garden island Kauai , Hawaii . I m 40 years living in Hawaii islands.
Nice to see its not just me when things go wrong, I always say I'm always learning something new every time I go out. Last summer I planned a perfect day out in the Bristol Channel sailing from Cardiff out to Flatholm then Steepholm, back to Flatholm for lunch at anchor then back to Cardiff. Wind blew up bad and only got to Flatholm before turning around and going back home. One yacht that stayed out even got demasted and another got grounded on rocks it was that bad.
Well, what can I say. I’ve just caught up with your channel, after a friends recommendation. I do sail myself, usually single handed. From the outset, I have found you vlogs informative and, full of useful tips. As you said, you tell it like it is. The technical videos are really good and, one thing I particularly like, is that you also include sailing tips, that work for you. You have a wonderful family and, I was amazed at how Emma had gone from baby to toddler, in the break. How time flies. I’m quite disappointed, that I have now caught up and, look forward to watching your families progress. Keep up the good work and, stay safe, during this exceptional time in our lives. PS: I forgot to add that coincidentally, a friend of mine’s son, was recently ground crew, with the Red Arrows.
Hi Keith, thank you very much for your comment, I can’t tell you how much hearing from people like you helps us stay motivated to keep making our videos. We have plenty more in the pipeline and we hope you will enjoy those too. Small world re. The Red Arrows! Stay safe, Chris, Rossella & Emma 😊
Thank you John, it's challenging and satisfying in equal measure, so I hope you give it a go some time (with a buddy boat is a perfect way to do it). Cheers, Chris 👍
Great learning experience. I’ve done a number of these various tasks on these series of videos. Good job in being transparent on the pros and cons of these. One I would 100% disagree with is your compromise on the thru hull fittings. Of all the items you chose price over reliability, this was one I would have gone the other direction completely. I checked out the website you went to for the fittings and while not fully understanding the metallurgy, the Groco-type fitting has features not available on the others. I understand about the backing plates in under cabinet areas, but that does not apply to engine areas, for example. Also, no grounding...? Well, it’s done in no uncertain terms now, so let’s see how things go... good job in staying with the videos - easy to let them slip amongst everything else! Fair winds!
Hi Chris, thank you for your feedback. Some "Bronze" Groco seacocks have brass or stainless steel internal components, so just because someone buys a sturdy looking bronze seacock doesn't mean that they have bought the best item for the job. The skin fittings and ball-valves I bought, although perhaps costing less, have no brass or stainless steel components whatsoever (DZR brass is not the same thing as brass), so are therfore less likely to fail than some of the "Bronze" options out there with inferior internal components. The grounding is a difference of opinion between the UK (where the MCA have advised against bonding through-hull assemblies in their recommendations after an accident report) and the USA, where ABYC insist on grounding. I can understand both arguments and I prefer not to bond. Cheers, Chris
I like your sensibility and honesty. Very real sailing and trip planning, just as it is on our little boat with similar experience levels. 1 note of caution on your safety lines, they look quite slack. I like the idea of using the windward lines and perhaps taking them around the "wrong" side of the mast so you're nearer the centre of the boat. Needs 2 end clips on tether. All the best, looking forward to the rest of the trip
Hi Alex, thank you. The idea with the jacklines was that if I should have been unfortunate enough to go over the side, I'd have been swept back to the stern where there is a sugar-scoop style swim platform, and a pull down boarding ladder, waiting for me. I reckon I could get back on board from there (Although I know it wouldn't be easy). In the very worst case I carried 2 knives (box cutter types) in my jacket pocket so I could cut myself free, rather than be dragged along by the boat with no way of releasing myself. After cutting myself free (a truly desperate measure) I had the PLB on my waist - which is what was inside the yellow webbing pouch - which I could use to call for help and then whilst trying to make my way leisurely to the nearest shore(!) I could have put into practice some of the techniques I have practiced on all the sea survival courses I've done over the years for my offshore work. Of course the best option of all is to stay on board in the first place, so perhaps your suggestion is a better method. You would have to be absolutely sure you can't end up with your head in the water under any circumstances though, as dragging yourself up whilst fighting the full force of the water running along the sides of the boat would almost certinly be impossible, in my humble opinion. I'm interested in hearing other thoughts on this, so if you have anything to add Alex, please do, and if anyone else reading this has something to share then go ahead as it is by discussing things like this that we can all find the best way forward. Cheers, Chris 👍
Hi Chris, there's been lots of discussion on safety lines since the last fatality on the Vendée globe race when the crew couldn't get the bowman back on board and drowned being dragged along attached to the lines. Here's the article that gave me some thoughts on the subject; www.yachtingmonthly.com/sailing-skills/stay-deck-avoid-mob-51411
Hi there, that's what I did, but it's much easier to say it than it is to do it when you have 50 things to think about and do at the same time! No doubt it all gets a lot easier with practice. Cheers, Chris
Sailing Britaly I did the reverse journey last week (Wednesday - Friday) ahead of Storm Ciara, from Willemstad Netherlands to Titchmarsh marina. Fair winds.
It helps to learn or practice in day light. A second mate would take a lot of stress away. A good spot light comes in handy. You did fine. Didn't hit anything, run aground or break anything. Before you know it you will be good sailor and the stress will go away.
I'm sad for you Chris. What is weeks in the video world has been month in the viewing world. I hope you and Rossella are fine. I miss Emma too she makes me smile. Safe travel Chris.
Hi Tom, we're together now so all is good in the world! Emma & Ro make a guest appearence in Part 3 (Whatsapp Videocall) Cheers! Chris, Rossella & Emma 😊
Great video. My ‘project’ for the coming season is to take my boat out single handed so this was entertaining and informative in equal measure. Subscribed!
Thank you! I learnt a huge amount on this trip and I share everything, so I hope you will find the rest of the series entertaining & informative too. Welcome aboard! Chris 👍
First crossing and solo and night and strong weather systems........ and not even a spray hood. I was impressed that your berth sketch included your pivot point.... And with your patent pending "chain locker". Sailing alone means decisions not discussed. I'm just going to go for it.... Bet you questioned yourself over and over. Where did you get the steering spares?
Thank you. The biggest advantage of this is that you just have yourself to think about (while thinking of the consequences for others should things go awry for you), so you have the complete freedom to do as you think best. I really enjoyed that and it took me back to my solo mountain adventures, which are very different but have a lot of similarities too. I bought the bearings from a local bearing supplier rather than the pedestal manufacturer. I had the sizes and just ordered stainless steel bearings. The whole job cost me about $60. Cheers! Chris 👍
Really useful to follow your observations, assessment and application of techniques even if on reflection you feel a different approach would be better. We all learn through sharing, thank you for your commentary.
You're very brave. I can envisage how sailing through those marshy estuaries would be a nightmare. Especially with the narrow width of some channels and presumably they're busy shipping routes. I would rather be starting from Brighton i think!
@@SailingBritaly also thanks for educating everyone about algae in diesel tanks....that kind of information is so valuable but unpublicised/unknown! Probably like most people I would have assumed fuel is toxic and nothing could possibly build up in a fuel tank.
It's actually a "fishing" suit, which equals nice and cheap, as apposed to a "sailing" suit, which would be extortionately priced for no apparent reason... It is the best £75.90 (full suit, including shipping) I have spent in a long time! Cheers, Chris 👍
Grazie Mimmo! Yes, it's a furling main and this was the first time I had ever used it! (I'd tested it in the marina a few times but had never used it in anger with Rossella & Emma on board) 👍
@@SailingBritaly Hi again. Will that be a permanent base in the Med ? Hats off to you for going solo Chris. Looking forward to part 2 and many more enjoyable videos.
In your position you need to assume single-handed always. I know you know that. So get the risky stuff to be cockpit based. If you lead any reef back make it the 3rd. Make it 2 line adding a downhaul to the normal leech reef line.
Hi Barnie, yes we bought this first (it was a bargain and with Rossella pregnant with Emma we wanted a bit more room) then we sold our 30 footer as soon as we could afterwards. Cheers, Chris 👍
Hi Chris, well done :) great hug from Belgium :) where i'm sailing on my 20Ft Raspberry (between Neuwpoort - Calais, or Zeeland ),.. it's pleasure to discover your side of Channel , enjoy the crossing :D perhap's my turn with more time than a WE :D
Random question, I noticed you've a trolling electric outboard I'm assuming for the tender. How do you find & how do you manage getting the battery on & boat as well as charging it under way? Many thanks
Hi Paul, we love our trolling motor! It’s a 12 volt model so we can run it from a spare 85 Ah AGM battery we have for this purpose and charge it from any of the charging methods we have on board - including our 400 watt DIY solar set up. The battery only weighs around 18 kg so is easily managed. So far we love this set up! Cheers, Chris 👍
Paul Holborn Hi Paul, I don’t have the figures to hand but I have collected the data to make a video specifically about this. Off the top of my head it draws about 15 Amps on a low speed setting up to a max of 55 Amps for a “bollard pull test” at the maximum speed setting. You can work out the battery size you need from that. As for the tide it has no trouble getting our inflatable up to its displacement hull speed, which is the most we would ask from it. The video will come at some point: finding the time to edit them is always our biggest challenge... Cheers, Chris 👍
Yes Gary, I bit off a bit too much on this first solo passage, but it was a great learning experience. The software I was using is Navionics and here is a video about how I was doing my passage planning: ruclips.net/video/An4o4kD2bhA/видео.html Cheers, Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly thanks Chris, been binging your series, educational and entertaining, I used to live and work in and around Medway Towns so know exactly where you were moored, just didn’t know at the time 😂
Hey Chris, great job and I am so jealous of your "First Time Experience" rush! Just wanted to ask if you are running radar on your boat? If so, what kind and model?
Hi David, thank you! We have an old "Autohelm" radar, but I had so much going on in the cockpit that there was no way I could have got any use out of it whilst underway. I'm sure the radar will be very useful at times, but so far I find it a bit labour intensive to operate in the manic environment of coastal solo sailing. (When I went down below whilst underway on this trip it was for the bare minimum number of seconds then I was straight back out again) If I had an extra person on board I would have time to go and use it, but on this trip I wanted to be in the cockpit the whole time. I fitted an AIS/GPS/VHF combo unit just before I left and this was brilliant when I got to the shipping lanes, as it was very quick to use to avoid potential conflicts with ships. I could nip down below, check the CPAs of the nearest 3 ships, and be back in the cockpit before I'd have had time to get anything at all out of the radar. (A lot of this is due to my lack of practice with the radar and I'm sure as I get some hours in I'll find it much quicker to use). Cheers, Chris 👍
The technical video's are great, but this one is honestly said not showing responsibility. The trip could be done at day as a first solo sail. No need in putting you in danger as a challenge or to get some experience.
good one chris you can't beat the feeling when you achieve your first solo sail hope all went to plan please check out sailing timeless and leave me a comment good look and fair winds with calm seas.
*_ Chris, with all due Respect, I love your channel as I'm sure you know, BUT.... this WOULD have been a great vlog if you like hundreds of other vloggers filmed the night scenes with a Night Light (Red ambience) but besides that, Fair winds and trust you and the family are 'Fine'? **** Rating: Educational +9 .. Flim Quality: -2 Entertainment: +8 *** _*
Hi mate, thank you for the honest feedback, it really helps us understand what is going through our viewers' minds. I had planned to be anchored and eating a nice pizza before dark. The situation changed, I decided to just go for it, and I just recordeed what I could on the fly. I absolutely agree that a red light would have helped show something (my face if nothing else) in the video and if I ever film in the dark again I will try to have a red light at hand for this. Cheers! Chris 👍
I have a head lamp which has both white and red light options. Wouldn’t sail anywhere without it, easy to find in outdoor shops/online. Necessary bit of kit. Fair winds, Elaine
This kind of testing is best left to the professionals and not amateurs. Any results you get are automatically suspect, suspicious, and unreliable and worthless. After all, would you go for treatment at an amateur dentist?
😂 Your comment reminds me of the saying “Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.” Every professional you have ever met started out as an amateur. The only difference between the two is that one has experience and the other has never done anything to gain any. I have worked as a technician for over 20 years and I have made one-off non-standard parts to keep aircraft flying when they would have otherwise been grounded, as well as many custom tools for subsea use with the underwater robots I operate and maintain. You may find my testing worthless and you are entitled to your opinion, but you’re missing the point that this testing is for me, not for you. I have gone for treatment at an amateur dentist: me. I once removed some wire from my gums which had been fitted by a surgeon months before. This was the first time I had ever attempted anything like this and guess what, it worked out perfectly with 5 minutes of work... I believe that with a “can do” attitude you can achieve anything, and with a “can’t do” attitude you achieve nothing. You are perfectly entitled to disagree. Fair winds, Chris
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Fair winds!
Chris, Rossella and Emma 😊
I've just started following you on RUclips and absolutely love your videos.
I like the fact that your videos are more relevant than many of the channels out there and you're doing something that is feasible for many people...rather than, say, sailing a million pound catamaran around the South Pacific. I also like the fact that you're looking to get the most value from anything you put on your boat, rather than having a massive budget...again it's just more relevant for more people. I don't own a boat currently but am looking to go on an RYA Start Yachting course next year (delayed this year due to Covid) and would like my own boat at some point in the future so your channel is a great resource to understand the different elements that go into owning and maintaining a boat. Thank you.
You're very welcome Tom, sailing doesn't have to break the bank: we sold our previous boat after 4 years of use for more than we paid for her, and as a result of this we pretty much swapped a 30 ft boat for a 35 footer (We used to be boat dealers so we know how to get a good deal!) We can help others get a great deal too so if you want a hand to buy in future give us a shout. Cheers and fair winds, Chris
Nice one. Looking forward to seeing the others. I enjoy your talking through different options and safety aspects and admitting when you stuff up. Helps us to learn also.
michael bundy Hi Michael, thank you. The other videos are in daylight too! 🌅 Very best regards, Chris (plus Rossella & Emma) 😊
No substitute for experience. Well done for moving a little outside of the comfort zone - sharpens the skills and concentrates the mind 😉
Thank you! It does indeed... 👍
Great video. I like that you are clipping in and talking about safety.
Thank you Bob 👍
Handy little gizmo in your roller!
Hi guys, yes making that was the best hour I've spent in a long time! 👍
Great video, which brought back many wonderful memories. Spent 3 months between jobs sailing my Twister, mostly single handed, many years ago. No great adventures, Scillies, Channel Islands, Brittany, but what an amazing experience! Small adventures are just as exciting as big ones, and being alone on a yacht, completely responsible for everything is life changing. How right you are about the effect of darkness, it does take courage to face it alone. Your practical and safety based approach makes for great education, and I’m sure you will have given many sailors the encouragement to try single handing for themselves. i was struck by the differences between my experiences, for example sailing to St Malo before GPS and not being sure exactly which Minquiers buoy I was seeing, compared with the much heavier traffic you had to deal with. All your worries that you so honestly discussed were so like my own. Without wanting to go overboard, what you demonstrated was bravery/courage.
@bill from Germany
Bill from UK here
Yes, no great dramas... Until you think about it and remember that there were and always are. Those memories just fade, because you want them to and just remember the smooth enjoyable bits. What doesn't fade is your wisdom learned from those dramas.
They become your gut feel for future sailing and other, different dramas.
Thank you very much Bill, sailing solo is very liberating and a huge learning curve! Thank you very much for your kind words and I hope you enjoy the rest of this series. Cheers, Chris ⛵️👍
Chris, you are doing great. I still remember how nervous I was before my first channel crossing and this was with a group of eight plus an instructor who went single handed around the world twice. You are not just moving out of your comfort zone, you are really achieving a great deal. I am already looking forward to the next episode. Fair winds!
Thank you Michael, I was really stretching myself with this trip for sure. The small distances involved really bear no resemblance to the number of challenges encountered, especially for someone with very little practical tidal sailing experience. The seas in this area deserve a lot of respect! Part 2 is out to the world this weekend and I hope you will enjoy the rest of the series. Very best regards, Chris 👍
Applause.
Hi crew,greetings 👋from Nottinham,Chris,this mini series about the ups and downs of life on a sailing yacht just get better and better,your approach to problems,analysing them ,and then proceeding to rectifying them with knowledge and logical thoughts ,just shows what is possible if you just think things through thoroughly,and hopefully fellow sailors will follow your lead,night time sailing looked pretty scary so you stay safe and all the best to you and your lovely family,until the next vlog👍
Thank you Peter, much obliged buddy! 👍
Nice to see a fellow Medway sailor. I often drop a hook in sharfleet creek if I need somewhere to duck out of the wind. See you out there.
Cheers Stu, we bought Britaly in the area but she’s in Belgium now on her way to the Med. We loved Kent and will miss the Medway. Chris 👍
Great video! I absolutely love nighttime sailing, there’s just something in it. 🥰
I enjoyed being half-way between Italy & Corsica a lot more than I did here. Sailing during the day is challenging enough in the UK - at night I really was at my limit. 👍
Honesty and sincerity!
Brilliant for sharing with us and for challenging yourself out of the comfort zone.
Safe winds always.
Thank you Carlos! ⛵👍
Great stuff Chris, l didn't mind the wind noise ! :)
Thank you Claire! ⛵️
And another thing!
No you're not in trouble. This is just overall feedback. I've commented a number of times on this one, which shows how much it engaged me.... a standard non solo sailor. But overall, this was one of your best.
1).I know you have sometimes used it but, no music!
It added to the reality and enabled me (well we, the privileged us) to feel your stretched nerves.
2).Your (both of you) reasoning for being solo. Not just it cleared your decks for a new challenge. But the risk to them.
3)your sound preparation. The engine worked because it had no reason not to etc.
4)you didn't pretend to be someone else (you never do) and made an honest video. "I honestly don't know what to do".
5)"human point of view" showed always. Not just when missing validating what the lee shore actually looked like off the chart.
Thanks for taking us on more than just your physical journey. You are respected out here....and for much more than some imagined masterful seamanship prowess.
Thank you mate, that’s all very useful feedback for us. Chris ⛵️👍
@@SailingBritaly but I didn't mention telling pathetically bad jokes..... To yourself.
Your channel isn't coming across as Naff, cringe worthy or irritating (like this comment).
It's good useful, entertaining and respect worthy.
Stand-on course.
Can we see docking with the stick sometime?
Really enjoyed this. Good stuff, looking forward to the onward journey. Ant, Cid & the Pooch crew.
Thank you Ant & Cid, fair winds! 👍
@@SailingBritaly many - probably most- of your viewers are not expert seamen, including me. This is precisely the kind of video we need to see - someone else who is in the learning process. We all share the fears and conserns that you've expressed - thanks for being mature and forthright about yours.
Hi Chris, another fine video. I love your honesty and willingness to push yourself, whilst being aware of and mitigating the risks wherever possible. Fair winds and hope you findyour weather window.
Cheers Gary, much obliged. 👍
you need another pair of holes on your "gripper", so you can put a lanyard on it. Too useful to have it fall in the drink when you're mounting it - unless it's there all the time
👍
Fab start to the series Chris, I got caught out at Christchurch with the moving sandbanks... So not fun but hey ho its all a lesson for next time. Hope all is well with you and family. I shall be refitting my mast in the next few weeks. Poor old Jazzi Girl just doesn't look right mast-less :)
Hi Vince! Thank you very much, it was hard to make a video from this first step of the journey as filming at night is far from ideal - I had to just roll with it and get what I could. Shifting sands make life interesting that's for sure!... We're all great thanks, and we are looking forward to seeing your progress with Jazzi Girl in our new Sailing Britaly Patreon Family Facebook Group, where you will easily be able to post photo's & videos for everyone to see. There will be a post about this imminently over on Patreon. We hope to see you and Jazzi Girl soon! Very best regards, Chris, Rossella & Emma 😊
Well done Chris! my first solo at night was a little anxious too but im sure all sailors go through the same thoughts, weather they admit to it or not is another thing!
Thank you! 👍
Hey you guys got like over 8k subscribers over the last year, didn't you? Way to go! You've made some great videos. I bet your channel will only get bigger edit: and to the point of this particular video, congratulations on your first solo! I've never done one
Hi Dan, we’ve put a huge number of hours work into this channel (se at thousand hours) so we are very grateful to see people clicking on that subscribe button! Cheers, Chris 👍
Excellent video. I felt like I was onboard with you, thanks for sharing. Keep the content going. Always enjoy your channel. Thanks. 😊
My pleasure, thank you for the feedback. Cheers, Chris 👍
p.s. You forgot to subscribe... 😉😀
Valeu o vídeo pois é bom ver o início de quem está aprendendo a velejar pois ajuda muito e incentiva os novatos. Parabéns.
Obrigado! 👍
Very informative! Just what I was looking for. Thanks! Can't wait for the next episode.
Thank you Camilla! It’s out now for Patrons and will be live this weekend for the rest of the world. The next one was filmed in daylight! 🌅⛵️😊
Nice video Chris. I know how you felt going out solo for the first time, caution is always a good call. Look forward to the next videos. Before I set off I have one of those top pump conference flasks strapped in my galley. I fill it up with boiling water and it is then ready for a very quick coffee or tea without having to keep recoiling the kettle. Keeps hot for ages and then you also have a bit of hot to do the washing up. Fair winds. Andy UK
Great tip Andy, thanks mate 👍
1st lesson on STS Sir Winston Churchill 40 years ago "reef early, reef deep" stood me in good stead, but well done tested yourself and passed.
Wise words Drew 👍
Like the way you challenge your self. I do this also often with my boat and that is a great way to learn.
I reckon it’s the best way to learn. 👍
It's very cool that you're sharing all this! Wow! I don't have anything to compare it to but it looks super challenging. I like what you said about stretching yourself though! Looking forward to the second part!
I'm glad I can go see it on patreon now! Lol
Hi Janise! Please don’t be put off sailing by the videos in this series: it is usually a lot less stressful than this! I was doing this in unfamiliar waters, in October which is a very windy time of year, the tides are big, currents strong, and there’s lots of shipping to contend with in the English Channel. I would say it’s about 50 times harder than any sailing I’ve done before, so like I say, don’t be put off if it looks like hard work! Send our love to all the gang and enjoy part 2 on Patreon! 😊❤️
Not put off in the slightest! Watching your videos makes me feel WAY more confident about sailing because you're addressing the things that I worry about (only because of lack of knowledge) and you show the real life ways to deal with them. It's all well and good for people to "wait for a weather window" but in real life (especially when kids are involved) there are times when you need to adapt to the situation and take reasonable alternatives. You're showing nuances that give more options and lessen the feeling of helplessness that could come from unexpected changes, of which there are MANY in sailing/travel. 👍👍
living yūgen Sailing / cruising is always an adventure as you really have to let nature lead you, and there are so many variables that you can only really plan a day or two in advance. My original plans went out of the window straight away (I was rushing like mad to get to see Rossella & Emma before I realised that this was going to make me take unnecessary risks)... I just took it one day at a a time after that, which was a much better way of going about things. Doing this trip without Emma (and therefore Rossella) on board was definitely the right call as I could concentrate on the task in hand and I didn’t have the extra 172 extra variables that a toddler brings to each day. (There is no way I’d have attempted this trip with Rossella & Emma on board in October as it was always going to be a dodging-the-weather-fest and I wouldn’t have wanted to put them through that.) I’m glad you’re enjoying this series and as I type this I am currently editing part 3... 😊🌅⛵️
Brilliant Chris really enjoyed that one, I only began solo sailing recently myself, feels like it anyway and the dark is very dark so you chose well with the fullmoon, pulling over to get your breathe back was a winner, I've been trounced a few times now ha ha ha, and deadlines be dead lines so keep a weather eye :-) looking forward to more. Cheers
Thank you! 👍
Well done mate. I only hope my first solo, day or night, goes as well. I can only imagine at this stage, how daunting the challenge that you took on was, to take off at night. You made me smile though, is tea the only bloody beverage that you could come up with, after such an achievement? How bloody Pommy of you.
This is the first of your videos that I have seen. I am about to check out what else you've been up to. Cheers!
Thanks mate, welcome aboard and I hope you enjoy our other videos. Cheers, Chris 👍
Don't think I would have challenged myself in doing a night passage as my first passage, especially in a confined waterway; but hey you pushed yourself and learnt a few lessons in doing so. Love your cheap DIY anchor chain lock, bet that's going to be copied by a lot of yachties.
Good to see your learning experience - maybe summarising your top 5 learning points at the end of the video would have been great too - thanks for sharing
Thank you Paul, I was ready to collapse in to bed at the end of this video!
Great to have you back sailing Chris!
Cheers George! 👍
I did very similar on my Corsair (similar size to yours)in October 2018 - Plymouth to Roscoff single handed with little experience. The trip was not without incident but I got there in one piece and made it back a few weeks later. Did wonders for my confidence and I learned a lot - I totally agree, push yourself a little to extend your boundaries.
Absolutely Rich the start and end of this trip were like day & night (Or as it happens, night and day...) My confidence in myself and Britaly were 1,000 times higher at the end of the trip compared to the start. The best way to learn anything is to just get stuck in and do it! Cheers, Chris 👍
I used to sail around the North Ket Coast and across the Channel to Belgium, France and Holland and across the Thames Estuary up to the Crouch and Blackwater when plotters hadn't even been invented. You were reliant on paper charts, tide tables, old style weather forecasts, hand bearing compasses, sextants and good navigation to know where you were and where you should be going and not going. Modern day GPS plotters make it sooooooo much easier, takes all the fun out of sailing, especially at night. Have you thought of doing an RYA Yachmaster or Skipper course?
I used to phone my family and friends from a phone box having previously memorised all their numbers. Pressing the green button on a smartphone has rendered this a distant memory - for better or for worse. I have studied for and passed the Yachtmaster theory examination, so I do know how to use paper charts and am familiar with all the things in your list, bar the sextant, which is on my "things to learn one day" list. However, the plotter was more convenient all things considered.
@@SailingBritaly Thanks for your reply. I only suggested the RYA sailing courses if you hadn't considered them as they USED to be very good. If you are already doing and progressing with them then great as they were the benchmark to gain competence at sea. I wonder how much old style paper chart based navigation they still teach given that plotters with GPS are so common place now? They have made sailing safer so hopefully fewer people get into difficulty but also made it less challenging in terms of navigation. The Channel off the coast of Ramsgate and Dover with the shipping lanes is one of the busiest stretches of water in the world. All those migrant boats to avoid ;@).
@@alexmorgan3435 RYA syllabus still concentrates on Paper charts especially for passage planning - only a few of the most expensive chart plotters will show you a passage with proper allowances for tide streams. GPS Navigation is a section in the syllabus but it also includes things to remember to do just in case your electrics, plotter or the GPS signals are not available... for instance has a nav app on a phone as a BACKUP but lots of things can go wrong with a phone and most will not last more than a few hours without a charge so not good for long passages.....
Aloha from beautiful Hawaii islands . Great learning skills . I like it you captain doing very well. I m washing all you sailing episodes .remarkable doing a good quality . Good luck captain. My ambition to sail alone around the world from Hawaii islands in 2023 . welcome to visit to to the garden island Kauai , Hawaii . I m 40 years living in Hawaii islands.
Nice to see its not just me when things go wrong, I always say I'm always learning something new every time I go out. Last summer I planned a perfect day out in the Bristol Channel sailing from Cardiff out to Flatholm then Steepholm, back to Flatholm for lunch at anchor then back to Cardiff. Wind blew up bad and only got to Flatholm before turning around and going back home. One yacht that stayed out even got demasted and another got grounded on rocks it was that bad.
That was a good call Lee! My first posting in the RAF was at St Athan so I lived in your neck of the woods for a while. I loved it! Cheers, Chris ⛵️👍
Hi there. Can I ask if you ever posted a Video on how you cleaned out your diesel fuel tanks please? I'm gonna have to do the same.
Well, what can I say. I’ve just caught up with your channel, after a friends recommendation. I do sail myself, usually single handed. From the outset, I have found you vlogs informative and, full of useful tips. As you said, you tell it like it is. The technical videos are really good and, one thing I particularly like, is that you also include sailing tips, that work for you. You have a wonderful family and, I was amazed at how Emma had gone from baby to toddler, in the break. How time flies. I’m quite disappointed, that I have now caught up and, look forward to watching your families progress. Keep up the good work and, stay safe, during this exceptional time in our lives.
PS: I forgot to add that coincidentally, a friend of mine’s son, was recently ground crew, with the Red Arrows.
Hi Keith, thank you very much for your comment, I can’t tell you how much hearing from people like you helps us stay motivated to keep making our videos. We have plenty more in the pipeline and we hope you will enjoy those too. Small world re. The Red Arrows! Stay safe, Chris, Rossella & Emma 😊
loved this, thank you. im too nervous to sail on my own anywhere. will be hopefully going with friends this year to France. Lovely big boat too.
Thank you John, it's challenging and satisfying in equal measure, so I hope you give it a go some time (with a buddy boat is a perfect way to do it). Cheers, Chris 👍
Our previous forefathers did this with a huge crew,today we become self reliant perhaps with a first mate adventuring.,be safe.
Great learning experience. I’ve done a number of these various tasks on these series of videos. Good job in being transparent on the pros and cons of these. One I would 100% disagree with is your compromise on the thru hull fittings. Of all the items you chose price over reliability, this was one I would have gone the other direction completely. I checked out the website you went to for the fittings and while not fully understanding the metallurgy, the Groco-type fitting has features not available on the others. I understand about the backing plates in under cabinet areas, but that does not apply to engine areas, for example. Also, no grounding...? Well, it’s done in no uncertain terms now, so let’s see how things go... good job in staying with the videos - easy to let them slip amongst everything else! Fair winds!
Hi Chris, thank you for your feedback. Some "Bronze" Groco seacocks have brass or stainless steel internal components, so just because someone buys a sturdy looking bronze seacock doesn't mean that they have bought the best item for the job. The skin fittings and ball-valves I bought, although perhaps costing less, have no brass or stainless steel components whatsoever (DZR brass is not the same thing as brass), so are therfore less likely to fail than some of the "Bronze" options out there with inferior internal components. The grounding is a difference of opinion between the UK (where the MCA have advised against bonding through-hull assemblies in their recommendations after an accident report) and the USA, where ABYC insist on grounding. I can understand both arguments and I prefer not to bond. Cheers, Chris
Thanks for All your hard work and the videos you create safe travels
Cheers Joey 👍
I like your sensibility and honesty. Very real sailing and trip planning, just as it is on our little boat with similar experience levels.
1 note of caution on your safety lines, they look quite slack. I like the idea of using the windward lines and perhaps taking them around the "wrong" side of the mast so you're nearer the centre of the boat. Needs 2 end clips on tether.
All the best, looking forward to the rest of the trip
Hi Alex, thank you. The idea with the jacklines was that if I should have been unfortunate enough to go over the side, I'd have been swept back to the stern where there is a sugar-scoop style swim platform, and a pull down boarding ladder, waiting for me. I reckon I could get back on board from there (Although I know it wouldn't be easy). In the very worst case I carried 2 knives (box cutter types) in my jacket pocket so I could cut myself free, rather than be dragged along by the boat with no way of releasing myself. After cutting myself free (a truly desperate measure) I had the PLB on my waist - which is what was inside the yellow webbing pouch - which I could use to call for help and then whilst trying to make my way leisurely to the nearest shore(!) I could have put into practice some of the techniques I have practiced on all the sea survival courses I've done over the years for my offshore work.
Of course the best option of all is to stay on board in the first place, so perhaps your suggestion is a better method. You would have to be absolutely sure you can't end up with your head in the water under any circumstances though, as dragging yourself up whilst fighting the full force of the water running along the sides of the boat would almost certinly be impossible, in my humble opinion. I'm interested in hearing other thoughts on this, so if you have anything to add Alex, please do, and if anyone else reading this has something to share then go ahead as it is by discussing things like this that we can all find the best way forward.
Cheers,
Chris 👍
Hi Chris, there's been lots of discussion on safety lines since the last fatality on the Vendée globe race when the crew couldn't get the bowman back on board and drowned being dragged along attached to the lines. Here's the article that gave me some thoughts on the subject; www.yachtingmonthly.com/sailing-skills/stay-deck-avoid-mob-51411
Great design,you should patent something like this for smaller vessels.
Thank you Harry, if I get enough interest in this I'll look at bringing it to market. Cheers, Chris 👍
Great video mate, lots of tips and tricks, best wishes to you and the family. Cheers, dan.
Thank you Dan! ⛵️👍
Unfurl the main while you are head to wind (or slightly off head to wind - which tack depends on which way the sail is furled in the mast).
Cheers Nick: there will be plants of opportunity to offer advice during this series so keep it coming! 👍
If it gets too much wrestling with sails and the autohelm turn the boat into to wind in neutral, drop the sails then motor on your course.
Hi there, that's what I did, but it's much easier to say it than it is to do it when you have 50 things to think about and do at the same time! No doubt it all gets a lot easier with practice. Cheers, Chris
Great video Chris. Thanks!
Thanks mate! 👍
Sailing Britaly I did the reverse journey last week (Wednesday - Friday) ahead of Storm Ciara, from Willemstad Netherlands to Titchmarsh marina. Fair winds.
It helps to learn or practice in day light. A second mate would take a lot of stress away. A good spot light comes in handy. You did fine. Didn't hit anything, run aground or break anything. Before you know it you will be good sailor and the stress will go away.
👍
I'm sad for you Chris. What is weeks in the video world has been month in the viewing world. I hope you and Rossella are fine. I miss Emma too she makes me smile. Safe travel Chris.
Hi Tom, we're together now so all is good in the world! Emma & Ro make a guest appearence in Part 3 (Whatsapp Videocall) Cheers! Chris, Rossella & Emma 😊
Great video. My ‘project’ for the coming season is to take my boat out single handed so this was entertaining and informative in equal measure. Subscribed!
Thank you! I learnt a huge amount on this trip and I share everything, so I hope you will find the rest of the series entertaining & informative too. Welcome aboard! Chris 👍
First crossing and solo and night and strong weather systems........ and not even a spray hood.
I was impressed that your berth sketch included your pivot point.... And with your patent pending "chain locker".
Sailing alone means decisions not discussed. I'm just going to go for it.... Bet you questioned yourself over and over.
Where did you get the steering spares?
Thank you. The biggest advantage of this is that you just have yourself to think about (while thinking of the consequences for others should things go awry for you), so you have the complete freedom to do as you think best. I really enjoyed that and it took me back to my solo mountain adventures, which are very different but have a lot of similarities too. I bought the bearings from a local bearing supplier rather than the pedestal manufacturer. I had the sizes and just ordered stainless steel bearings. The whole job cost me about $60. Cheers! Chris 👍
Thanks chris this will be a interesting series 👍🏻⛵🏴
Cheers Al! 👍
Really useful to follow your observations, assessment and application of techniques even if on reflection you feel a different approach would be better. We all learn through sharing, thank you for your commentary.
Thank you! 👍
Great video. Really enjoyed it.
Thank you Sean 👍
Well done Chris!
Cheers Randy! 👍
You're very brave. I can envisage how sailing through those marshy estuaries would be a nightmare. Especially with the narrow width of some channels and presumably they're busy shipping routes. I would rather be starting from Brighton i think!
It was a huge learning curve for me, that's for sure! 👍
@@SailingBritaly also thanks for educating everyone about algae in diesel tanks....that kind of information is so valuable but unpublicised/unknown!
Probably like most people I would have assumed fuel is toxic and nothing could possibly build up in a fuel tank.
Great video Chris 👍
Thank you! 👍
Thank you for sharing the adventure
Thank you Gus 👍
See you have an Imax Sailing suit, What's it like?
It's actually a "fishing" suit, which equals nice and cheap, as apposed to a "sailing" suit, which would be extortionately priced for no apparent reason... It is the best £75.90 (full suit, including shipping) I have spent in a long time! Cheers, Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly Thanks for the tip!!
Chris, your industrial webbing for the jackstay - care to share the supplier? Cheers.
Hi Dan, I got ours from a website called "absolute industrial". Cheers, Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly Thanks Chris. Enjoy your vids. All the best.
Very brave navigate those waters in the dark.Do you furling main in your boat?? Good luck look forward to the next leg. Fair winds Skipper.
Grazie Mimmo! Yes, it's a furling main and this was the first time I had ever used it! (I'd tested it in the marina a few times but had never used it in anger with Rossella & Emma on board) 👍
cheers from Vancouver Island :)
..
Cheers and hello to beautiful Canada! 🌅⛵️👍
Hi Chris. As you have now said goodbye to your home marina, what are your plans for this year ? 👍
Hi there, Britaly is currently in Belgium and we plan on taking her to the Med this year. 👍
@@SailingBritaly Hi again. Will that be a permanent base in the Med ?
Hats off to you for going solo Chris. Looking forward to part 2 and many more enjoyable videos.
you are doing well, rather safe than fast
Thank you! 👍
Well done!
I felt all of your anxiety - liked and and sub'ed
Thank you and welcome aboard Greg! 👍
You are doing great kid!
Cheers! 👍
Hey Chris great video, what size boat are you on?
Hi Mike, thank you! Britaly is a 1992 Bavaria 350. Cheers, Chris 👍
In your position you need to assume single-handed always. I know you know that.
So get the risky stuff to be cockpit based. If you lead any reef back make it the 3rd. Make it 2 line adding a downhaul to the normal leech reef line.
both sails are roller reef from the cockpit....!!!!
Great video, well done
Thank you Peter
Great video. Thanks
Thank you Richard! Very best regards, Chris (+ Rossella & Emma) 😊
Binoculars work really well at night to find hazards😉
Thank you for the tip Dominic 👍
Great video. Best wishes.
Thank you Philip. 👍
Great video chris. Live the honesty. Did you sell your other boat after, presuming this is the newer one.
Hi Barnie, yes we bought this first (it was a bargain and with Rossella pregnant with Emma we wanted a bit more room) then we sold our 30 footer as soon as we could afterwards. Cheers, Chris 👍
Were you running a Radar and AIS ??
Hi Chris, well done :) great hug from Belgium :) where i'm sailing on my 20Ft Raspberry (between Neuwpoort - Calais, or Zeeland ),..
it's pleasure to discover your side of Channel , enjoy the crossing :D
perhap's my turn with more time than a WE :D
Hi Steph, thank you! We're looking forward to seeing more of Belgium, it's a beautiful country. Cheers, Chris 👍
Great video thanks !!!
Cheers Wayne 👍
Random question, I noticed you've a trolling electric outboard I'm assuming for the tender. How do you find & how do you manage getting the battery on & boat as well as charging it under way?
Many thanks
Hi Paul, we love our trolling motor! It’s a 12 volt model so we can run it from a spare 85 Ah AGM battery we have for this purpose and charge it from any of the charging methods we have on board - including our 400 watt DIY solar set up. The battery only weighs around 18 kg so is easily managed. So far we love this set up! Cheers, Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly sorry to ask yet more questions, how does it fair against a tide & how long does the battery tend to last?
Loving the channel btw
Paul Holborn Hi Paul, I don’t have the figures to hand but I have collected the data to make a video specifically about this. Off the top of my head it draws about 15 Amps on a low speed setting up to a max of 55 Amps for a “bollard pull test” at the maximum speed setting. You can work out the battery size you need from that. As for the tide it has no trouble getting our inflatable up to its displacement hull speed, which is the most we would ask from it. The video will come at some point: finding the time to edit them is always our biggest challenge... Cheers, Chris 👍
Scary in the dark!
This has probably been answered before, but what navigation app do you use please?
Yes Gary, I bit off a bit too much on this first solo passage, but it was a great learning experience. The software I was using is Navionics and here is a video about how I was doing my passage planning: ruclips.net/video/An4o4kD2bhA/видео.html Cheers, Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly thanks Chris, been binging your series, educational and entertaining, I used to live and work in and around Medway Towns so know exactly where you were moored, just didn’t know at the time 😂
13 min mark,don’t apologies for wind noise,if not for the wind we would be watching car racing.lol
Hey Chris, great job and I am so jealous of your "First Time Experience" rush! Just wanted to ask if you are running radar on your boat? If so, what kind and model?
Hi David, thank you! We have an old "Autohelm" radar, but I had so much going on in the cockpit that there was no way I could have got any use out of it whilst underway. I'm sure the radar will be very useful at times, but so far I find it a bit labour intensive to operate in the manic environment of coastal solo sailing. (When I went down below whilst underway on this trip it was for the bare minimum number of seconds then I was straight back out again) If I had an extra person on board I would have time to go and use it, but on this trip I wanted to be in the cockpit the whole time.
I fitted an AIS/GPS/VHF combo unit just before I left and this was brilliant when I got to the shipping lanes, as it was very quick to use to avoid potential conflicts with ships. I could nip down below, check the CPAs of the nearest 3 ships, and be back in the cockpit before I'd have had time to get anything at all out of the radar. (A lot of this is due to my lack of practice with the radar and I'm sure as I get some hours in I'll find it much quicker to use).
Cheers,
Chris 👍
Never apologize for wind on a sailboat :P
Wow, thanks for sharing your experience. Great video.
Thank you! 👍
Well done 👍🏻
Cheers Andy 👍
Well done as asalways!
Thank you!
Great!
It will always be different from expected.
That's what makes it an adventure! 👍
This is sailing. You can't just plan everything. Cheer up!
👍
You remind me of Lee Mack.
The technical video's are great, but this one is honestly said not showing responsibility. The trip could be done at day as a first solo sail. No need in putting you in danger as a challenge or to get some experience.
Where's that forking ratchet!?
Interesting, invest in a radio mic.
Yes the audio from the GoPro was a challenge on this trip.
I am commenting for the youtube algorithm
Thank you, it does help! 👍
good one chris you can't beat the feeling when you achieve your first solo sail hope all went to plan please check out sailing timeless and leave me a comment good look and fair winds with calm seas.
Cheers mate, Chris 👍
*_ Chris, with all due Respect, I love your channel as I'm sure you know, BUT.... this WOULD have been a great vlog if you like hundreds of other vloggers filmed the night scenes with a Night Light (Red ambience) but besides that, Fair winds and trust you and the family are 'Fine'? **** Rating: Educational +9 .. Flim Quality: -2 Entertainment: +8 *** _*
Hi mate, thank you for the honest feedback, it really helps us understand what is going through our viewers' minds. I had planned to be anchored and eating a nice pizza before dark. The situation changed, I decided to just go for it, and I just recordeed what I could on the fly. I absolutely agree that a red light would have helped show something (my face if nothing else) in the video and if I ever film in the dark again I will try to have a red light at hand for this. Cheers! Chris 👍
I have a head lamp which has both white and red light options. Wouldn’t sail anywhere without it, easy to find in outdoor shops/online. Necessary bit of kit. Fair winds, Elaine
I sailed with people who always took down their flag so there’s one less thing flapping about
Ensign should be dropped at Sunset anyway!!
Absoultely right David, an oversight on my part as my mind was elsewhere.
:)
😊😊
This kind of testing is best left to the professionals and not amateurs. Any results you get are automatically suspect, suspicious, and unreliable and worthless. After all, would you go for treatment at an amateur dentist?
😂 Your comment reminds me of the saying “Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.” Every professional you have ever met started out as an amateur. The only difference between the two is that one has experience and the other has never done anything to gain any. I have worked as a technician for over 20 years and I have made one-off non-standard parts to keep aircraft flying when they would have otherwise been grounded, as well as many custom tools for subsea use with the underwater robots I operate and maintain. You may find my testing worthless and you are entitled to your opinion, but you’re missing the point that this testing is for me, not for you. I have gone for treatment at an amateur dentist: me. I once removed some wire from my gums which had been fitted by a surgeon months before. This was the first time I had ever attempted anything like this and guess what, it worked out perfectly with 5 minutes of work... I believe that with a “can do” attitude you can achieve anything, and with a “can’t do” attitude you achieve nothing. You are perfectly entitled to disagree. Fair winds, Chris
Well done Chris!
Thank you James! 🌅⛵️👍