This is one of the main benefits of owning an old, fully depreciated boat. You don't worry about that kind of thing. Imagine if they did this to your expensive $1.5 mn lux yacht...
He is just like Captain Kirk, but without the crew of the Enterprise; a renegade and lone explorer aboard a dated a ancient shuttle! If only he had Scotty, hearing him say "She (Pickled Herring cannot take much more o' that, Captain!"
Sam you're a maniac. I love this channel. Super sketchy sometimes. I hate lifestyle of the rich and famous sailors channels. You show that you don't have to have the bells and whistles of the expensive boats to sail anywhere. You are an inspiration to the average guy. I've been following your channel since you sailed a Ranger 23 to Hawaii. I was hooked.
If this has happened to ANY other sailing RUclipsr, the entire episode would be about the oh so harrowing experience, full of dramatic voiceover and recounting of the nightmares they've had about the experience since. But Sam's just like, damn that got my adrenaline going, op, just got stung by something, die, time to sail.
I warned of this many months ago when you first approached West Africa from the USA. I am surprised it has not happened to you before. These guys watch the AIS with their lights off, then pick their victims. You are a very lucky guy. If you are still contemplating a cruise up the river, expect more trouble. It's not Miami.
Douanes is French for Customs. That was a Senegalese Customs boat that was trying to stop you. Kinda got lucky on that one... "Get away from my boat!" doesntly normally work. Ha ha, no international incidents today.
@@z1z2z3z The real name is"DOUANES SENEGALAISES" yet the boat has only "SENEGALA" written ont its hull. Four letters missing, might be a fake custom boat...
They rolled up with their lights off, in full face paint, in a shitty old boat with their own agency name misspelled on the side! The guy on the spotlight was not in a uniform, he was wearing overalls. No rank or Signia on anyone. Those were pirates. I don’t honestly know how this guy is still alive, the way he reacts to stuff!
Every time you have autopilot engaged Sam, for a few seconds I think you have a cormorant hitching a ride! Then I remember it's the autopilot. Thanks for the awesome content as always
Chinese fishing fleets bullying others, including locals, often hiding identifying marks, and fishing waters to exhaustion has become common around Asia and Africa, and increasingly around the South American continent.
The locals in Senegal & Mauretanie lost there fishing grounds an now no work at the chinese fishmeal industry to feed the pigs an chikens in china maybe the Sardinella won't migrate at this time an the fishing trawlers are anchoring
So crazy you got rammed, but the second they started cruising so close to you, I'd have been shouting to gtf away. Gesturing at the boat, to the best of my ability, that they might do damage. Being friendly first doesn't hurt but there is 100% a boundary of space they crossed and you asked "what do you need?" So glad to see they didn't actually pirate your ship or use weapons.
there are no pirats around Senegal or Gambia. Those locals are some of the nicest people in Africa. They did not speak french, or english like the gambians do, so they might well have been chineses in customs disguise!
You were lucky! My dad was on a 45' C&C when pirates tried to board him off the coast of Guyana. He had a Winchester 1300 shotgun and exchanged fire. Pirates had a 38 revolver. He was down to two shells when the took off. Mid 80's.
WOW! scary! 80's? I was sailing in the 60's and we didn't have an issue with pirates back then. However this was on a 40 foot double ended steel ketch and the captain was a scary looking dude you did not wanna mess with. Nothing like mild mannered looking Sam, here.
Serious stuff. On Grenada heard a tale of a group of pirates boarded a sailboat near Trinidad and shot the owner in the face for refusing to cooperate ! .. true or not it gets ya thinking wow
when one takes part in an adventure like this, one should familiarize a bit about countries which one might have the need to visit. Senegal and Gambia are safe places as far as the locals are concerned. Those on that Douane Boot did neither speak french nor english, as far as I could hear. Maybe chineses in disguise.
I cannot imagine rolling around like that without at least a rifle. Those were 100% pirates on that boat you encountered. So incredibly lucky they decided that one loan guy was not worth their trouble, even though they totally got the drop on you. Best of luck and stay safe my friend.
The boat said "Customs." They wanted to extort a little money out of him as he left he country. This is standard practice in west Africa. He played dumb and didn't give them "un petit cadeau" so they damaged his boat and effed off. Would been better to just flip them $20. They were pretty much operating as pirates though, just not the dangerous kind.
I remember watching a solo sailor female who is 80 I think she was from Canada. She was able to have somebody put pepper spray in her fire extinguisher, and it just looked like a fire extinguisher :-) Might be good to have around when people want to bump into your boat or our suspicious!
Resident of TZ in East Africa here. It’s been very interesting to see video of Dakar and Gambia, places I’ve never been. But I was surprised to see that they’re so, erm, run down. For some reason I always thought west Africa was much further along than we are in east Africa. Then I realized that it’s probably the port areas which are almost universally junky across Africa. I bet there’s some lovely spots in downtown Dakar
i have travelled extensively in East and West Africa. I find East Africa is more developed and more comfortable to travel in, including TZ. But West Africa has spectacular beautiful rain forest (Gabon / Cameroon) and wildlife in some countries. Gambia has great beaches, quite a lot of tourists. I did not go up the river.
Fishermen had rammed into my sailboat in north Borneo at anchor while I was on shore what a bloody mess they made only last week still repairing the damage the joys of boat ownership
Sam, looks like you handled all the drama about as good as anyone could. Bright flashlight in their eyes and yelling. Not sure I could have slept at all after that.
You’re the man, Sam. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself and certainly the best and most unique sailing channel, but thank you for the reminder that I never want to travel to that filthy place. lol! Be safe, man.
maybe making a report about that incident when you get to your destination would be a good idea. these where most probably pirates but they saw there was nothing to gain from a young pissoff dude that had his small ship ramed.
No problem swimming in the river the first 200 km (120 miles) because of the salt water After that you'll have to be careful with parasites (schistosomiasis and giardiasis), crocodiles and hippos... Edit; mosquito nets make a big difference, it actually feels like you're being eaten alive....
@@zatoichi1 they were actual Customs. I googled pictures of douanes senegal and I saw smaller boats like the one on the video. Plus... if they were pirates carrying firearms, some yelling wouldn't be that effective at sea in the middle of the night.
The boat said Senegal customs and they were saying "Senegal customs, stop recording!". But were they really? I guess it's better that you'll never really know and they left, i don't know whether of each would have been better to encounter.
While I love that you explore different places, you gotta be wise about where you go in the world, man. Not saying you were being reckless or careless but you should probably be smarter about what countries you go to and when you chose to set sail. Those guys could have killed you, sank your boat and no one would have ever known.
I didn’t see my post come up, so sorry if this is a duplicate. I like to watch your videos in the morning when we’re starting our day. My wife just listens to them as she gets ready for work. She was excited to hear the word Senegal she grew up there in a missionary home so that was one of the few times she popped her head out and looked at your video.. scary encounter you had there glad it turned out OK
Great video! That is a horrible coast for small boats, probably sailing west to Cabo Verde, altering your plans, heading S to Brazil would be a possible alternative.
Sam you are so adventurous going to Senegal and Gambia. The risks of insects, dirty water, and difficult local officials multiply. I have been to both capitals, Dakar and Banjul, but would never think of sailing there. But so cool to go way up the river in Gambia. Looking forward to your next video
Dirty Water with trash in harbor 🤢Pirates crash into Pickled Herring 😳 Pirates damage stanchion 🤬 Dolphins and little bird visits Pickled Herring 😍 So many emotions in a single sail...🙂 Another great video, Thanks!!!
sam is always smiling, no matter what happens. doesnt that tiller squeaking drive you nuts? put alittle silicone on it.. also a propane torch will straighten that bent stantion out.
You should consider installing an under deck autopilot driver to replace your tiller steerer. Quiet operation and very reliable. I installed one on my tiller steered Olson 30.
Tuned in for inspiration as I deal with a minor internal health issue tomorrow. Watching you continue to cruise the world while dealing with pirates and difficult check ins did the trick. Thanks Sam. 👍🤘
Dude... that bug looked like a botfly. Keep an eye on that spot, because you might be carrying some larvae that you don't want for your trans atlantic...
Hi Sam. Good for you to sail in West Africa which can be tricky and a little dangerous. A like you are going to few places people on boats will dare to go. Keep up the good work! Night shots are appreciated and food is always welcome. Food taste so so good on a boat at sea and I know you will agree. DOD here in Palm Springs, CA
“My boat just got rammed by pirates. Anyway, what’s for dinner?”
That’s why people love this channel!
It sounds like click bait. Mrbeast's boat rammed by pirates!
This is one of the main benefits of owning an old, fully depreciated boat. You don't worry about that kind of thing. Imagine if they did this to your expensive $1.5 mn lux yacht...
@@DIYDaveT You also would have money to prepared with armed guard's, if you really needed to go there.
Senegalese Customs or pirates disguised as Senegalese Customs….
@@kensmith3665 Same thing.
In a sea of unwatchable copycat influencer channels, one man boldly sails his own course. Love the channel.
He is just like Captain Kirk, but without the crew of the Enterprise; a renegade and lone explorer aboard a dated a ancient shuttle! If only he had Scotty, hearing him say "She (Pickled Herring cannot take much more o' that, Captain!"
Well said! Thanks Sam.
A little over a year ago you introduced me to sailing. I took classes and I have been sailing ever since. Just wanted to say thanks. ⛵ ⛵ ⛵
Sam you're a maniac. I love this channel. Super sketchy sometimes. I hate lifestyle of the rich and famous sailors channels. You show that you don't have to have the bells and whistles of the expensive boats to sail anywhere. You are an inspiration to the average guy. I've been following your channel since you sailed a Ranger 23 to Hawaii. I was hooked.
Funny. That's when I started watching sam. His little sail boat across to Hawaii. A real adventurer!
Yes !
Sam is an inspiration
So true, his authenticity is what drew me to his content. I live vicariously through his adventures.
Ditto
Yup , same !!
It soon becomes evident why the northwestern coast of Africa is not a cruising Mecca. Thanks for taking one for the team.
The eastern side isn't either.
😅@@Elle-gc6fh
If this has happened to ANY other sailing RUclipsr, the entire episode would be about the oh so harrowing experience, full of dramatic voiceover and recounting of the nightmares they've had about the experience since. But Sam's just like, damn that got my adrenaline going, op, just got stung by something, die, time to sail.
Yes, this is why I like watching Sam. 😃
That's one the things I like about Sam. He treats his viewers with respect rather than exploit them.
Haha I thought the same thing...That could have run over a 3 part mini series
Right
Don’t agree, I can’t imagine Luke/Adam from the Sailing Brothers would have made a big deal of it, nor The Old Dog. You generalise too much methinks.
the softly spoken adventurer. You are one of the bravest people on this planet, mate. I am in awe.
I love that, "back, back, get away from my boat" I never knew that trick worked with Douanes, I'll try it next time ;)
Senegal Douanes have boats looking like any developed country. Those were 100% not Douanes.
Hardcore pirates would switch their nav lights off..
@@IntertropicalConvergence-gf3bm bcs you are an expert.
@@IntertropicalConvergence-gf3bmnot if they’re trying to pretend to be police
@@IntertropicalConvergence-gf3bmsays the only thing stopping a softcore pirate from becoming a hardcore pirate is a willing mouth.
The absolute master of understatement.
I warned of this many months ago when you first approached West Africa from the USA. I am surprised it has not happened to you before.
These guys watch the AIS with their lights off, then pick their victims. You are a very lucky guy.
If you are still contemplating a cruise up the river, expect more trouble. It's not Miami.
They were just fans and were trying to help you put holes in your boat.
Lmaooo
😆
Too funny
😂
It sounds like you're sailing with a lamb. That tiller pilot is so funny 😂😂
Oh, I thought the dolphins were laughing at him.
Best Sailor since Vasco da Gama 🇵🇹
Douanes is French for Customs. That was a Senegalese Customs boat that was trying to stop you. Kinda got lucky on that one... "Get away from my boat!" doesntly normally work. Ha ha, no international incidents today.
Not sure the was the real "Douannes" though, being as they rolled up with their lights off, then just gave up and left.
@@z1z2z3z The real name is"DOUANES SENEGALAISES" yet the boat has only "SENEGALA" written ont its hull. Four letters missing, might be a fake custom boat...
Probably right i.e. pirates !
They rolled up with their lights off, in full face paint, in a shitty old boat with their own agency name misspelled on the side! The guy on the spotlight was not in a uniform, he was wearing overalls. No rank or Signia on anyone. Those were pirates.
I don’t honestly know how this guy is still alive, the way he reacts to stuff!
@TheGrobe Did Sam say the pirates came to him right after he turned that fluorescent thing on 5:00?
Every time you have autopilot engaged Sam, for a few seconds I think you have a cormorant hitching a ride! Then I remember it's the autopilot. Thanks for the awesome content as always
Sam is going upriver in his boat, maybe he will find Kurtz ....
I love the smell of Gambia in the morning. 😂
The horror.
Charlie don't surf!
@@koalamullet… but Sam does
Amazing video, Sam! Your channel has, by far, the best Sailing Adventures.
Chinese fishing fleets bullying others, including locals, often hiding identifying marks, and fishing waters to exhaustion has become common around Asia and Africa, and increasingly around the South American continent.
The Chinese catch and eat anything and everything. No regard for sustainable fishing
The locals in Senegal & Mauretanie lost there fishing grounds an now no work at the chinese fishmeal
industry to feed the pigs an chikens in china
maybe the Sardinella won't migrate at this time an the fishing trawlers are anchoring
So crazy you got rammed, but the second they started cruising so close to you, I'd have been shouting to gtf away. Gesturing at the boat, to the best of my ability, that they might do damage. Being friendly first doesn't hurt but there is 100% a boundary of space they crossed and you asked "what do you need?" So glad to see they didn't actually pirate your ship or use weapons.
get the fu@k away. NOW.
there are no pirats around Senegal or Gambia. Those locals are some of the nicest people in Africa.
They did not speak french, or english like the gambians do, so they might well have been chineses in
customs disguise!
@@juttaweiseSorry but it’s not nice to come up that close to someone with no lights on and ram their boat
You were lucky! My dad was on a 45' C&C when pirates tried to board him off the coast of Guyana. He had a Winchester 1300 shotgun and exchanged fire. Pirates had a 38 revolver. He was down to two shells when the took off. Mid 80's.
WOW! scary! 80's? I was sailing in the 60's and we didn't have an issue with pirates back then. However this was on a 40 foot double ended steel ketch and the captain was a scary looking dude you did not wanna mess with. Nothing like mild mannered looking Sam, here.
@@leecowell8165 Yeah, 1980-81 IIRC. I was born in '84.
Times have changed human life is devolving.
Serious stuff.
On Grenada heard a tale of a group of pirates boarded a sailboat near Trinidad and shot the owner in the face for refusing to cooperate !
.. true or not it gets ya thinking wow
pain in the ARSE world wide LOL
so happy you made it. there is still a lot of holes to be drilled
You’re so brave stopping there!
when one takes part in an adventure like this, one should familiarize a bit about countries which one
might have the need to visit. Senegal and Gambia are safe places as far as the locals are concerned.
Those on that Douane Boot did neither speak french nor english, as far as I could hear. Maybe chineses
in disguise.
You are quite the character buddy....stay safe.You are truly living the Dream...I have Envy....but am Happy for your Success 🎉
Sam- be careful out there brah. Been following you for a few years now. First time I’ve been concerned for your safety. Rooting for ya.
Looking forward to the ramming pirates musical piece. Sketchy boats all up in those waters !
The stories you’re gonna have to tell for the rest of your life. Awesome.
I get so giddy when I see a new Sam Holmes vid pop up!! Hahah
Love it!
Hey Sam ! Great episode . Those visitors where scary ! Happy all is good ❤
I cannot imagine rolling around like that without at least a rifle. Those were 100% pirates on that boat you encountered.
So incredibly lucky they decided that one loan guy was not worth their trouble, even though they totally got the drop on you.
Best of luck and stay safe my friend.
The boat said "Customs." They wanted to extort a little money out of him as he left he country. This is standard practice in west Africa. He played dumb and didn't give them "un petit cadeau" so they damaged his boat and effed off. Would been better to just flip them $20. They were pretty much operating as pirates though, just not the dangerous kind.
You are sailing in a dangerous part of the world Sam...
An adventure is a positive euphemism of words Sam. Keep doing what you’re doing! 💯👍
I remember watching a solo sailor female who is 80 I think she was from Canada. She was able to have somebody put pepper spray in her fire extinguisher, and it just looked like a fire extinguisher :-) Might be good to have around when people want to bump into your boat or our suspicious!
Glad you are save . Love your adventures .and your good as gone again . Not a lost sailor
You are hilariously optimistic. Got messed with by pirates and then immediately stung by some bug and he kept a smile.
Thank's Sam that you take us to all those places !!
Gotta say, that was about the scariest thing I could imagine! Way to handle it. And way to not give that bee a 2nd chance! Stay safe!
i thought it was a clickbait video…i should have known better…stoicism at its finest…smiling in the face of danger…gotta love sam…
You dodged a mighty big bullet! Stay safe out there!
Exciting adventure. Thx for sharing.
Christian Williams has some good pacific crossing videos. Hes a cool old cat IMHO.
True sailor!! you rock Sam Holmes!
Sam nos encanta tus aventuras genial……lo acertado y calmado siempre sonriendo a las situaciones complicadas , inspirador Gracias
Sam es lo Mejor
Mas cervezas y tequila por favor!
Looking forward to the next episode. Glad you’re ok after the pirate incident! Stay safe.
Wow!! So sorry they crashed your boat, but glad you are safe!!
Resident of TZ in East Africa here. It’s been very interesting to see video of Dakar and Gambia, places I’ve never been. But I was surprised to see that they’re so, erm, run down. For some reason I always thought west Africa was much further along than we are in east Africa. Then I realized that it’s probably the port areas which are almost universally junky across Africa. I bet there’s some lovely spots in downtown Dakar
i have travelled extensively in East and West Africa. I find East Africa is more developed and more comfortable to travel in, including TZ. But West Africa has spectacular beautiful rain forest (Gabon / Cameroon) and wildlife in some countries. Gambia has great beaches, quite a lot of tourists. I did not go up the river.
Dude, you're my hero; really enjoy it
Great film Sam- what an incredible adventure!
Not sure if it too late Sam but if you are still upriver then try find Eddie Yoyo (Dende Sound System) little rasta coloured plywood sailboat 😊
Fishermen had rammed into my sailboat in north Borneo at anchor while I was on shore what a bloody mess they made only last week still repairing the damage the joys of boat ownership
You keep it cool, continue that! Great adventure Sam!!!
Sam, looks like you handled all the drama about as good as anyone could. Bright flashlight in their eyes and yelling. Not sure I could have slept at all after that.
Thanks Sam! ❤
Love you dude. Great videos. Be safe.
Quite the "official greeting"...but at least it was overwith quickly- who knows how bad it would have been if they had succeeded in boarding!
You’re the man, Sam. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself and certainly the best and most unique sailing channel, but thank you for the reminder that I never want to travel to that filthy place. lol! Be safe, man.
yay! I'm glad your spinnaker is fixed and the hoist went okay this time.
That was crazy, you have some stones rolling in those waters. Thanks for posting.
Every time I visit this channel, I'm reminded that survival marks the line between YOLO bravery and foolhardy idiocy.
next level, dogg. im solo traveling/living around usa in a 40' motorcoach. i bow to you.
really interesting African experiences - thanks for sharing
Inspirational as always video, thanks Sam!
Really cool videos, thanks for sharing!
Another cool video Sam!!!! Thank ya brah!!!!!
Keep safe Sam!
Excellent video, Sam!
maybe making a report about that incident when you get to your destination would be a good idea. these where most probably pirates but they saw there was nothing to gain from a young pissoff dude that had his small ship ramed.
Very interesting to watch. You always are.
To get tiny birds so far offshore like at 12:10 must be such a rare thing, that's probably the first landing spot that bird has seen in hours
I think that bird was the inspector, checked the rigging all the sheets, tiller linkage lol
@@ranchosinnombreannjimmy8427 He was an EXTREMELY attentive inspector
Your humour is incredible. I would have panicked if I had an encounter with the Senegalese douaniers. Lucky you they turned away.
I had an encounter with a Senagalese seamstress. She was not to be trifled with!
No problem swimming in the river the first 200 km (120 miles) because of the salt water
After that you'll have to be careful with parasites (schistosomiasis and giardiasis), crocodiles and hippos...
Edit; mosquito nets make a big difference, it actually feels like you're being eaten alive....
Thanks!
Seeing how you jump to the water with no rope attached was even worse than the Customs boat.
Thank you!
sails were down , boat lightly drifting. im sure he was dragging a rope behind that he could grab if a gust came up. Right Sam?
@@ranchosinnombreannjimmy8427 What you suggest here would indeed be sensible. Do you honestly believe that's Sam's style?
"Customs"
@@zatoichi1 they were actual Customs. I googled pictures of douanes senegal and I saw smaller boats like the one on the video. Plus... if they were pirates carrying firearms, some yelling wouldn't be that effective at sea in the middle of the night.
Looking forward to the river episode. I've been watching on the garmin site, wondering what's been happening. Judging by the ending it should be good!
The boat said Senegal customs and they were saying "Senegal customs, stop recording!". But were they really? I guess it's better that you'll never really know and they left, i don't know whether of each would have been better to encounter.
I'm glad you are safe, mate
Live the dream of your life and don't be the slave of this world...
Great cliffhanger Sam :) can't wait!
Its amazing you're still alive. Sailing these seas alone is stupid. Youre just asking to be taken.
great as usual. cheers)
The dust is called Calima / Kalima. Sand dust from Sahara. I am living in Gran Canaria and we had some wind from Sahara as well.
Great episode! Watch out for hippos, crocs & maybe even bull sharks in the river...
While I love that you explore different places, you gotta be wise about where you go in the world, man. Not saying you were being reckless or careless but you should probably be smarter about what countries you go to and when you chose to set sail. Those guys could have killed you, sank your boat and no one would have ever known.
This vid makes me grateful for where I live.
I didn’t see my post come up, so sorry if this is a duplicate. I like to watch your videos in the morning when we’re starting our day. My wife just listens to them as she gets ready for work. She was excited to hear the word Senegal she grew up there in a missionary home so that was one of the few times she popped her head out and looked at your video.. scary encounter you had there glad it turned out OK
Great video! That is a horrible coast for small boats, probably sailing west to Cabo Verde, altering your plans, heading S to Brazil would be a possible alternative.
Sam you are so adventurous going to Senegal and Gambia. The risks of insects, dirty water, and difficult local officials multiply. I have been to both capitals, Dakar and Banjul, but would never think of sailing there. But so cool to go way up the river in Gambia. Looking forward to your next video
Dirty Water with trash in harbor 🤢Pirates crash into Pickled Herring 😳 Pirates damage stanchion 🤬 Dolphins and little bird visits Pickled Herring 😍 So many emotions in a single sail...🙂 Another great video, Thanks!!!
They might have been customs officers. I looked up the lettering on the boat. It translates into Senegal Customs
Because pirates wouldn't pretend to be officials to board vessels unopposed @@kman-mi7su
@@kman-mi7su Customs = Pirates in many countries 😂
Better than a female roller coaster ride 😂
sam is always smiling, no matter what happens. doesnt that tiller squeaking drive you nuts? put alittle silicone on it.. also a propane torch will straighten that bent stantion out.
You are welcome in Africa!
You should consider installing an under deck autopilot driver to replace your tiller steerer. Quiet operation and very reliable. I installed one on my tiller steered Olson 30.
Glad the pirates didn’t harm you. ❤be safe
Cheap thrills with your visitors... looking forward to your river trip!
I've read about the desert sands going across the atlantic to the West. I believe that's what you were tasting.
You handled that well bro. There are no rules in and around Africa. Need your wits and wit.
your angels are with you Sam..very sketchy place!
Tuned in for inspiration as I deal with a minor internal health issue tomorrow. Watching you continue to cruise the world while dealing with pirates and difficult check ins did the trick. Thanks Sam. 👍🤘
Thanks. Best up luck on your procedure and a speedy recovery.
Me too😂😂😂
Dude... that bug looked like a botfly. Keep an eye on that spot, because you might be carrying some larvae that you don't want for your trans atlantic...
Does he need Ivermectin?
Man I don't know about sailing solo in that part of the world. I think you got really lucky.
Man, that must have been scary- not sure how you were able to sleep again after that! Take care buddy.
Wonderful real sailing sir
Hi Sam. Good for you to sail in West Africa which can be tricky and a little dangerous. A like you are going to few places people on boats will dare to go. Keep up the good work! Night shots are appreciated and food is always welcome. Food taste so so good on a boat at sea and I know you will agree. DOD here in Palm Springs, CA
Smooth sailing brother.