You're so right about the hardest part of solo sailing being the absence of someone else to assuage the anxieties that are such a natural part of any new experience. Every creak, groan and whine sounds ominous when there's nobody with more experience whose body language you can read off of. This was such a wonderful recounting of a once in a lifetime experience (no matter how far and wide you roam there'll only ever be one first offshore voyage) and you did spectacularly. The next one'll be easier!
What a wonderful adventure for you. Well done! Excellent filming too. As a novice single-hander at age 67 who gets palpitations and a dry mouth just from casting off at a marina, I was very encouraged by the honest way you described your fears and uncertainties. And kudos for getting a good comment from Patrick Laine, who's always an inspiration.
I was very excited at Patrick's comment for sure! Thanks for your lovely comment and good luck in your single handed sailing career, the nerves will probably always be there for me but it's crazy rewarding.
“I’m actually loving this apart from the rig the sails and the ropes chafing” and the fishing boats heading straight for you! You really love solo sailing don’t you? Enjoying your no frills no bullshit videos.
Impressed by the rawness and honesty of this report, and cognizant that careful planning and prior sailing experiences served you well on this blue-water adventure. Those big waves though...
I watch so many sailing videos from international people. It’s great to see an Irish man make one and produce such quality giving a great honest insight to your experience and thoughts along the way. Inspirational stuff! Thank you! 🇮🇪
That background moan of the wind is enough to drive a man up the walls ! You are a brave man to sail alone. As for racing men flying a spinnaker in those conditions?, well, leave that sort of stuff to them.
Dont think you need to 'toughen up', i think being cautious and looking after your boat is priority, not ego. Thanks also for again being honest about how your going mentally/emotionally. I feel like im some what behind you in terms of experience for sure but look forward to single handed adventures like you are on now.
Totally. The psychological factors in long duration, solo sailing is very real and a part of the total picture that needs to be taken into account in planning. So definitely interesting to hear.
Brilliantly filmed. It felt as though we were all with you. We ARE all with you. I've only ever sailed with crew before but you're inspiring coverage is really motivating. I'm looking forward to the next installment. Fair winds!
Thanks David, I'm loving that people are enjoying the videos and feel like you're along for the trip. I'll feel that way too going forward, it's weird and amazing
Did Biscay trip several years ago, left Cross haven south of Ireland few days nice sailing then all hell broke loose, storm off Finnistare, didn't think we would make it.
I really like your discussion, spoken like a true sailor. Respect to you and the little boat, our boats are in most cases tougher than us and teach us great deal about keeping our nerves and trusting ourselves. You've done fantastically!
Great sail, love the honesty of how you are felling at anyone one time, enhances the context of the sailing moment. Fine yacht you have totally handles conditions with panache, thanks and best.
Love it! Thanks a million for sharing, brings back so many memories of our early trips (especially one from Crookhaven to Portugal). Please keep filming your adventure as it unfolds 😊
Perfect repor of your feelings, the initial worries, the top of worries when the weather increased, and then, a regular good sailing conditions. Amazing report. Congratulations
I did the reverse trip in a Halmatic around 6 yrs ago, she was in Castlehaven last I saw her. They are great boats to look after their crew, I only had a handful of heavy wave tops break against the coachroof in gale or near gale conditions. Tacking up the coast against the Portuguese trades was the most worrying thinking about rig failiure but she sliced through the waves. The windvane is worth two crew.
Absolutely, delighted with the Aries wind vane. Very solid boats, the Halmatics, interesting to hear of your trip. Haven't seen any others around Ireland although when I was in Holyhead last year I think there were 3 in the harbour including me
The Bay of Biscay can be a little scary at times, well done in conquering your fears. Looking forward to seeing how you progress in confidence an this tremendous adventure.
The French solo sailors probably have more modern hull shaped boats, also performance/cruising yachts, like JPK, Pogo, RM like. So, it make sense to use the planing capabilities having a strong code zero on, increasing overall speed/planing and lowering the apparent wind.
As a flat water sailor on lakes :-) , just started my 6th sailing lesson, I am very impressed how you cope with this environment. Love to be part of your endeavours on sea in this series online. Stay positive and battle the oceans, coffee cheers Jaap
Nicely done and the commentary is wonderful. You make the experience vivid and real for those of us at home. I can only imagine the ups and downs of such an endeavor and you handled it perfectly.
I always think that when the wind gets up and the sea gets rough, that's when you appreciate the design of the boat. It is then the boat looking after the skipper.
I crossed Biscay some years ago but not singlehanded- its not for me Im afraid I like company- but really well done to you! I met a bloke this year who did exact trip as you singlehanded but was terribly seasick which must have been a nightmare. He left his boat in Portugal and never went back for it! Enjoyed your vid stay safe
Hats off to you….bloody well done….we moved to Spain 5 years ago after doing the Camino De Santiago from France….on mountain bikes …the weather is just better here……best wishes from from Murcia….
Great video, thanks a lot for that! My experience with single hand sailing is that it’s all about expanding one’s circle of confidence with each trip. But I must say seeing you sailing, your is much much wider than mine 😊 looking forward to me videos! Greetings from Denmark 🇩🇰
Quite the sight getting passed so close by an IMOCA fleet. You were in good company choosing to run down the meridian. That one not only had full main and A-Sym but a staysail as well. Enjoying your videos, lots of real sailing content … you’re off to a great start. Looking forward to what comes next. Cheers.
This is the stuff I want to see. Well done for having the balls to get out there. I have the boat, I have the kit I just haven’t got the time (or money) but one day my time will come.
Fair dues, longest trip we did was 30 hours Brest to isles of Scilly & our 3 boys were with us 2011. Can't imagine how you cope ALONE. Seriously impressed
Never heard of the boattype but it is a cool boat for sure and well prepared by the looks of it. Solo crossings are a bit scary sometimes, but you obviously have the cojones. Hope to see more of this channel. :)
Thanks for the honest video on solo sailing ! I have dreamed of doing a similar journey, maybe I can sometime . But at least I can watch you, best of luck !
i once worked on a small ship and passed bay Biscay many times, never got used to how rough that area was. I cant even imagine how it would be on a sailing boat.. Youre so brave man !!
Haha, thanks! Biscay was actually fine for me with the weather I got, it was that area South of Ireland and west of Cornwall that was rough. Delighted to have done it 😊
The food: after a 3 day trip from Norway to the Netherlands we split the food that was left. I took home the ready meal home, the same which tasted super delicious at the middle of the sea. At home I warmed it up: yeach! awful! I like your honest report of the trip, and you are really know what you are doing. I hope that you will post the third part soon, keep up the good work!
@@SoloSailingSapphira Ahh it's pure lovely to be able to share in your story - and kudos on the filming/editing too! Will catch you in Sept. to hear about the tales in person, sending much love and hugs always cuz 💞
Nice videos mate, look forward to the rest from one single handed sailor to another. Heading off to Mexico in a month or so. You will soon come to completely trust your boat, she will always handle the conditions better than you. After 10 years I still get nervous leaving on a crossing
Well done mate, captured the wave size well on camera i thought , looked exhilarating nothing wrong with fear when sailing on the ocean it gives no quarter if you dont have any fear
Thanks so much John. Agree completely that a respectful fear is healthy! A lot of my fears were based on not fully trusting my boat and I've definitely gained a lot of confidence on that front
Hi Mark,loved you honesty in the video. I shared the exact same feelings on Monday night (1st August) when I got a real kicking by a 38kt gale approaching A Coruna. Like you I am alone, it was dark and it was terrifying at times and I just wanted to get off. I see you are currently just around the corner so maybe we share a beer along the way. My boat is called Rival Spirit on Ais. I do hope we get to share our stories at some stage 😎
Wow John that sounds extreme. I was worried that those sort of conditions would meet me when coming inshore to Galicia, but I was lucky. Definitely will keep an eye out for you on AIS, would love to meet for a pint! I'm a bit south at the moment, in Ria de Arousa, lovely here. Where's your general goal? I'm heading for Canaries, Cabo Verde, Carribbean all going well.
All being well we are on the same route. I’m waiting now for a window to get around Finisterre and that should be the difficult bit done, or at least some easier day sails and good anchorages. Keeps the videos coming, they are a good honest account of what it’s like to doing what we are doing. I wish I had the skills to do the same. Hope to catch up soon.
How do you like your Aries? I have the opportunity to purchase an older one here in the USA, but am concerned about parts availability for the older units.
I love the Aries, very few negative points really, just the weight for a smaller boat. There's a fairly active Facebook page of owners who are a really useful source of information about them, I think the people who build the latest models post there sometimes. You'll be able to get information there about what parts will and won't match, folk on there seem to have Aries units going back to the very early days and still seem to manage to keep them running.
I think summer time gives the best chance of an easy crossing. My crossing was very easy in retrospect, no more than 30 knots of wind (although had that for almost 18 hours) and downwind the entire time, 15 knots for most of the last 3 days.
Can you tell me what B&G set up you have please? Does that tablet mount outside? I’m binge watching your channel today really good. My problem I’m going to have in provisioning is that I’m on a gluten free diet. I love seeing what people cook when out at sea 👍 I can see this channel getting big I’ll share it on our Albin Vega owners group and I know another Irishman that will like this too (Mark )
I have a Vulcan 9 chartplotter at the chart table, and a triton 2 display in the cockpit which I have set up to display course information. I had B&G wind, which broke while still in Ireland and I didn't get a chance to replace. Depth and speed through water also came with the B&G package, and a Halo 20 radar. I have an old raymarine tridata display for depth and speed through water, mostly to free up space on the triton. The Vulcan 9 provides a wifi connection to a tablet or smartphone, which I use in the cockpit. The app for doing this is a bit buggy and has been for years, I believe the android app is worse than the apple app, in retrospect I'd get an ipad instead of android tablet with this setup. It's usable though, especially for offshore where you don't really need much detail in the cockpit. I have a vesper marine 6000 AIS, in retrospect I wish I had gone for the 8000 which has wifi, then it would allow me to turn off almost everything offshore except AIS and a tablet. As is, I need to turn on my whole NMEA2k network to get AIS on the chartplotter which is extra amps. Don't use the radar much, was handy for extra peace of mind in Biscay. Thanks for sharing and I'm really glad you are enjoying the videos!
With regard to eating, I cooked up a red curry satay, And a Tikka masala in Mindelo and ate these for the first week alternate nights, with rice. Then I had gnoci pesto for a couple of nights, then alternated between some tinned chilli with rice and some Spanish bean thing. Caught a mahi mahi in the last few days that meant mahimahi mayo on wraps for lunch and mahimahi fillets for dinner.
Yeah have a loud pizo wired up to the chartplotter. Just don't 100% trust the AIS alarm yet. It rarely goes off as the settings I have I think are CPA of less than half a mile and time to CPA of 5 mins or less. I'd have a heart attack if a boat actually got that close and that was the first I heard of it so I need to update that probably
@@SoloSailingSapphira Fantastic stuff mate. Love your honesty on-board. Keep it real! I'm often a nervous bloody wreck but I guess settling down comes with confidence and experience. I have a Nicholson 36 down in Plymouth and am taking her across to the med this summer hence asking which month. I want to cross Biscay in May (Weather dependant). It would be my first first big trip with my boat. I sailed her down from Scotland through the Irish Sea but nothing like this would be. Fair seas.
Really enjoying sharing your journey. You manage to capture the reality of being solo and all the emotions that accompany it. Looking eagerly forward to the next instalment Just found you on Instagram so a new follower
![Best Sailboat For Solo Sailing {Budget Liveaboard Cruiser} [Capable & Affordable 35' $ailboat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6sd-tc3xDf0/mqdefault.jpg)
You're so right about the hardest part of solo sailing being the absence of someone else to assuage the anxieties that are such a natural part of any new experience. Every creak, groan and whine sounds ominous when there's nobody with more experience whose body language you can read off of. This was such a wonderful recounting of a once in a lifetime experience (no matter how far and wide you roam there'll only ever be one first offshore voyage) and you did spectacularly. The next one'll be easier!
Thanks for the lovely comment John! It has gotten easier for sure, still lots more to learn.
Appreciate the honesty in this one, fear gets all of us at times and its great to see you overcome it. Thanks
Thank you for watching, it's nice to be able to share the experience
What a wonderful adventure for you. Well done! Excellent filming too. As a novice single-hander at age 67 who gets palpitations and a dry mouth just from casting off at a marina, I was very encouraged by the honest way you described your fears and uncertainties. And kudos for getting a good comment from Patrick Laine, who's always an inspiration.
I was very excited at Patrick's comment for sure! Thanks for your lovely comment and good luck in your single handed sailing career, the nerves will probably always be there for me but it's crazy rewarding.
“I’m actually loving this apart from the rig the sails and the ropes chafing” and the fishing boats heading straight for you! You really love solo sailing don’t you? Enjoying your no frills no bullshit videos.
Thanks Richard! I am completely hooked on it, looking forward to my next one already.
Impressed by the rawness and honesty of this report, and cognizant that careful planning and prior sailing experiences served you well on this blue-water adventure. Those big waves though...
I watch so many sailing videos from international people. It’s great to see an Irish man make one and produce such quality giving a great honest insight to your experience and thoughts along the way. Inspirational stuff! Thank you! 🇮🇪
Thanks Lorcan that's lovely to hear!
it's exciting, a thousand thanks for allowing us to live your adventure🙏
Thanks so much for watching!
There's nothing wrong with getting emotional.......well done, look forward to the next episode.....
Thanks Terry!
That background moan of the wind is enough to drive a man up the walls ! You are a brave man to sail alone. As for racing men flying a spinnaker in those conditions?, well, leave that sort of stuff to them.
Dont think you need to 'toughen up', i think being cautious and looking after your boat is priority, not ego. Thanks also for again being honest about how your going mentally/emotionally. I feel like im some what behind you in terms of experience for sure but look forward to single handed adventures like you are on now.
Thanks for the comment! Wishing you success on your single handed journey
@@SoloSailingSapphira Muchly appreciate, all the best and fair winds.
Totally. The psychological factors in long duration, solo sailing is very real and a part of the total picture that needs to be taken into account in planning. So definitely interesting to hear.
Thanks for explaining how you are truly feeling. Many men cannot do this because it take too much courage.
Thanks Dan!
Brilliantly filmed. It felt as though we were all with you. We ARE all with you. I've only ever sailed with crew before but you're inspiring coverage is really motivating. I'm looking forward to the next installment. Fair winds!
Thanks David, I'm loving that people are enjoying the videos and feel like you're along for the trip. I'll feel that way too going forward, it's weird and amazing
Did Biscay trip several years ago, left Cross haven south of Ireland few days nice sailing then all hell broke loose, storm off Finnistare, didn't think we would make it.
Sounds like a nightmare, was braced for that but luckily got off very lightly
I really like your discussion, spoken like a true sailor. Respect to you and the little boat, our boats are in most cases tougher than us and teach us great deal about keeping our nerves and trusting ourselves. You've done fantastically!
"A break in the sails and the ropes chipping."
Great sail, love the honesty of how you are felling at anyone one time, enhances the context of the sailing moment. Fine yacht you have totally handles conditions with panache, thanks and best.
Thanks so much, she really is a great boat. Glad you're enjoying the videos
Some lock outs on the cooker gimbals would make things much quieter and put less strain on the gas connections 😮
Yes, good suggestion, might try to rig something up!
Love it! Thanks a million for sharing, brings back so many memories of our early trips (especially one from Crookhaven to Portugal). Please keep filming your adventure as it unfolds 😊
Thanks so much Mattis! Will do, really enjoying the adventure so far
Perfect repor of your feelings, the initial worries, the top of worries when the weather increased, and then, a regular good sailing conditions. Amazing report. Congratulations
Was surprised to already see part 2 of your journey. Great footage, storytelling. Lust for more
I did the reverse trip in a Halmatic around 6 yrs ago, she was in Castlehaven last I saw her. They are great boats to look after their crew, I only had a handful of heavy wave tops break against the coachroof in gale or near gale conditions. Tacking up the coast against the Portuguese trades was the most worrying thinking about rig failiure but she sliced through the waves. The windvane is worth two crew.
Absolutely, delighted with the Aries wind vane. Very solid boats, the Halmatics, interesting to hear of your trip. Haven't seen any others around Ireland although when I was in Holyhead last year I think there were 3 in the harbour including me
The Bay of Biscay can be a little scary at times, well done in conquering your fears. Looking forward to seeing how you progress in confidence an this tremendous adventure.
Thanks Paul, was definitely venting my fears into the camera!
Ahoy mate!
Pretty inspiring journey! I'm looking at my 1st sailboat now, hoping to solo also. Fair winds!
Cheers Jeff
Thanks Jeff!
Very good and honest sailor ,boat is well set by him
She sails so beautifully, great boat (y) and very nice, honest and inspirational video. Thank you ;)
Thanks for watching, she is an amazing boat for sure 😊
Well done Mark, a great lesson in resilience.
Wonderful footage. Thanks!
Great stuff , thanks for the great sailing and editing work.
Brilliant, really enjoyable. Thanks for posting.
As always brilliant content! Its takes guts to take on those waves. 👏
The French solo sailors probably have more modern hull shaped boats, also performance/cruising yachts, like JPK, Pogo, RM like.
So, it make sense to use the planing capabilities having a strong code zero on, increasing overall speed/planing and lowering the apparent wind.
That is true, I'm sure those things are still exhausting to sail. I'd love a go at some stage, looks exhilarating.
As a flat water sailor on lakes :-) , just started my 6th sailing lesson, I am very impressed how you cope with this environment. Love to be part of your endeavours on sea in this series online. Stay positive and battle the oceans, coffee cheers Jaap
Thanks Jaap!
Very enjoyable video, thank for for sharing your travels with us. I look forward to following your progress across Biscay and beyond.
Nicely done and the commentary is wonderful. You make the experience vivid and real for those of us at home. I can only imagine the ups and downs of such an endeavor and you handled it perfectly.
Biscay builds confidence in your boat!! Nice video👍
Great achievement. Good to share it all.
Long keels give a comfortable ride when things kick up.
Yep very happy with her, solid boat. Thanks for the comment Craig
Thanks for the very honest vlogs and congratulations on the crossing.
Great video, thanks for sharing, cheers from Tasmania
Great stuff! Lovely boat and a good challenge well handled.
Great video, thank you for sharing
Well done again stay save mate looking forward to the next one.
Fear gets us all. But what you have done is a great self achievement. Very jealous.
Great episode. Keep them coming.
Thanks very much Gerry! Hope all well with you.
Not a sailor but really enjoing these. Facinating watch. Subbed.
I always think that when the wind gets up and the sea gets rough, that's when you appreciate the design of the boat. It is then the boat looking after the skipper.
I crossed Biscay some years ago but not singlehanded- its not for me Im afraid I like company- but really well done to you! I met a bloke this year who did exact trip as you singlehanded but was terribly seasick which must have been a nightmare. He left his boat in Portugal and never went back for it! Enjoyed your vid stay safe
Wow, I presume he had done some other offshore sailing before?! Terrible time to find out you get seasick!
Big seas but you are calm and confident, well done. 👏👏👏
Hats off to you….bloody well done….we moved to Spain 5 years ago after doing the Camino De Santiago from France….on mountain bikes …the weather is just better here……best wishes from from Murcia….
Great video, thanks a lot for that! My experience with single hand sailing is that it’s all about expanding one’s circle of confidence with each trip. But I must say seeing you sailing, your is much much wider than mine 😊 looking forward to me videos! Greetings from Denmark 🇩🇰
Quite the sight getting passed so close by an IMOCA fleet. You were in good company choosing to run down the meridian. That one not only had full main and A-Sym but a staysail as well. Enjoying your videos, lots of real sailing content … you’re off to a great start. Looking forward to what comes next. Cheers.
Thanks very much Phil. Yes those boats are insane, it was amazing to see them at sea
Excellent videos! Looking forward to more fun through your lens! I enjoy hearing your thoughts and feelings, the fear and excitement is palpable!
Thanks Rory! Delighted you're enjoying them.
Well done. Good decisions.
Awesome video 👌. Thanks for sharing this awesome adventure with us 👍👍👏👏watch out for the orcas and I wish you the very BEST🤞🤞
✌❤🍀 🌬⛵
Ah thanks! Yes we're on Orca watch along the Galician coast at the moment! Hoping they've gone further north than where we are 🤞
This is the stuff I want to see. Well done for having the balls to get out there.
I have the boat, I have the kit I just haven’t got the time (or money) but one day my time will come.
Fair dues, longest trip we did was 30 hours Brest to isles of Scilly & our 3 boys were with us 2011. Can't imagine how you cope ALONE. Seriously impressed
Ah thanks! I wasn't sure how I'd take to it but it was very rewarding in the end. And great to get to Spain, feels very different already
Never heard of the boattype but it is a cool boat for sure and well prepared by the looks of it. Solo crossings are a bit scary sometimes, but you obviously have the cojones. Hope to see more of this channel. :)
I'm loving this
Thanks for the comment, delighted you're enjoying it!
Your doing great really impressed. Good filming and storytelling. Enjoy your first anchor beer 👍
Thanks Mark! Anchor beers were definitely enjoyed
Hi Mark! I’m really enjoying the vlog. Very impressive and well-done! Such a big adventure! Keep filming brother :)
Ah thanks so much PJ! Great to hear from you, hope all is well.
Fantastic that sea looks huge.
Thanks so much! Glad it came across, I was recording thinking it wouldnt look that impressive but it came out alright.
Thanks for the honest video on solo sailing ! I have dreamed of doing a similar journey, maybe I can sometime . But at least I can watch you, best of luck !
Thanks John, dreaming is where it starts for sure! Glad you're enjoying the videos
Great stuff - captures all the drama of your solo passage. Lovely looking boat. (think a downhaul on the pole might help stabilise the jenny).
Thanks! yep definitely need a downhaul for pole for windier downwind passages
The dish looked delicious.
I’m defo going to try apricots chorizo and onion. Better than tinned mackerel and couscous any way!
Lovely
i once worked on a small ship and passed bay Biscay many times, never got used to how rough that area was. I cant even imagine how it would be on a sailing boat.. Youre so brave man !!
Haha, thanks! Biscay was actually fine for me with the weather I got, it was that area South of Ireland and west of Cornwall that was rough. Delighted to have done it 😊
The food: after a 3 day trip from Norway to the Netherlands we split the food that was left. I took home the ready meal home, the same which tasted super delicious at the middle of the sea. At home I warmed it up: yeach! awful!
I like your honest report of the trip, and you are really know what you are doing.
I hope that you will post the third part soon, keep up the good work!
Thanks so much! Yes food becomes very important and tastes amazing 🙂
Fair winds Mark, you’re feckin amazing 💞
Thanks so much Ita! Glad you're following along. Should be home in Sept if you're about
@@SoloSailingSapphira Ahh it's pure lovely to be able to share in your story - and kudos on the filming/editing too! Will catch you in Sept. to hear about the tales in person, sending much love and hugs always cuz 💞
Nice videos mate, look forward to the rest from one single handed sailor to another. Heading off to Mexico in a month or so. You will soon come to completely trust your boat, she will always handle the conditions better than you. After 10 years I still get nervous leaving on a crossing
Thanks for the comment 🙂 trust in the boat is key for sure, im getting there with Sapphira! Fair winds for your Mexico passage
Your the man. Love John love to sail with ya
Thanks John!
Well done mate, captured the wave size well on camera i thought , looked exhilarating nothing wrong with fear when sailing on the ocean it gives no quarter if you dont have any fear
Thanks so much John. Agree completely that a respectful fear is healthy! A lot of my fears were based on not fully trusting my boat and I've definitely gained a lot of confidence on that front
Hi Mark,loved you honesty in the video. I shared the exact same feelings on Monday night (1st August) when I got a real kicking by a 38kt gale approaching A Coruna. Like you I am alone, it was dark and it was terrifying at times and I just wanted to get off. I see you are currently just around the corner so maybe we share a beer along the way. My boat is called Rival Spirit on Ais. I do hope we get to share our stories at some stage 😎
Wow John that sounds extreme. I was worried that those sort of conditions would meet me when coming inshore to Galicia, but I was lucky. Definitely will keep an eye out for you on AIS, would love to meet for a pint! I'm a bit south at the moment, in Ria de Arousa, lovely here. Where's your general goal? I'm heading for Canaries, Cabo Verde, Carribbean all going well.
All being well we are on the same route. I’m waiting now for a window to get around Finisterre and that should be the difficult bit done, or at least some easier day sails and good anchorages. Keeps the videos coming, they are a good honest account of what it’s like to doing what we are doing. I wish I had the skills to do the same. Hope to catch up soon.
Marvellous. Bet you enjoyed that nosh.
I certainly did. Thanks very much for watching!
Well done!
Very nice entertainment. You do fine.
Hi man. Clever you sailor. Doing fine 😎😎
Conner O'Brien would be proud of u mate
I sial on his dream. Boat. The best experience in my life. The deep blue sea humbleing. Enjoy I'm enjoying your adventure.
Great trip Mark , enjoy stay safe and we,ll have a nice pint when we meet again
Hi Francie! Should home in Sept, will have to meet for a pint for sure.
I,ll put the pint, on chill today
A bit of fear is a good thing, over confidence gets more people in more trouble than fear.
Be safe. Fair winds.
Have good talk to the boat
Just found this post. Well done for keeping your head and for praising the boat. (How patronising!) What's the design and build?
She's a Halmatic 30, learning to trust her.
Fantastic, enjoyed this video, what plotter AIS set do you have there?
Thanks Neil! I have a B&G Vulcan plotter with a vesper marine AIS on the NMEA2k network.
I’m Not Hungry right now sir, Perhaps a little later standing by would be good for me , but Thnks for that lovely waiter Anyhow Private Pile Sir😃
🤣
Bay of Biscay has a nasty reputation. Well done.
Yeah I think that got into my head a bit! Glad I got a relatively good weather window and that I've got that particular crossing done
Balla and beautiful
Thanks Mandeep!
How do you like your Aries? I have the opportunity to purchase an older one here in the USA, but am concerned about parts availability for the older units.
I love the Aries, very few negative points really, just the weight for a smaller boat. There's a fairly active Facebook page of owners who are a really useful source of information about them, I think the people who build the latest models post there sometimes. You'll be able to get information there about what parts will and won't match, folk on there seem to have Aries units going back to the very early days and still seem to manage to keep them running.
Is there a good time to cross the bay maybe when not so rough. Or is it always rough.
I think summer time gives the best chance of an easy crossing. My crossing was very easy in retrospect, no more than 30 knots of wind (although had that for almost 18 hours) and downwind the entire time, 15 knots for most of the last 3 days.
Saoirs.
A+++. Sub'd.
Can you tell me what B&G set up you have please? Does that tablet mount outside?
I’m binge watching your channel today really good.
My problem I’m going to have in provisioning is that I’m on a gluten free diet. I love seeing what people cook when out at sea 👍 I can see this channel getting big I’ll share it on our Albin Vega owners group and I know another Irishman that will like this too (Mark )
I have a Vulcan 9 chartplotter at the chart table, and a triton 2 display in the cockpit which I have set up to display course information. I had B&G wind, which broke while still in Ireland and I didn't get a chance to replace. Depth and speed through water also came with the B&G package, and a Halo 20 radar. I have an old raymarine tridata display for depth and speed through water, mostly to free up space on the triton. The Vulcan 9 provides a wifi connection to a tablet or smartphone, which I use in the cockpit. The app for doing this is a bit buggy and has been for years, I believe the android app is worse than the apple app, in retrospect I'd get an ipad instead of android tablet with this setup. It's usable though, especially for offshore where you don't really need much detail in the cockpit. I have a vesper marine 6000 AIS, in retrospect I wish I had gone for the 8000 which has wifi, then it would allow me to turn off almost everything offshore except AIS and a tablet. As is, I need to turn on my whole NMEA2k network to get AIS on the chartplotter which is extra amps. Don't use the radar much, was handy for extra peace of mind in Biscay.
Thanks for sharing and I'm really glad you are enjoying the videos!
With regard to eating, I cooked up a red curry satay, And a Tikka masala in Mindelo and ate these for the first week alternate nights, with rice. Then I had gnoci pesto for a couple of nights, then alternated between some tinned chilli with rice and some Spanish bean thing. Caught a mahi mahi in the last few days that meant mahimahi mayo on wraps for lunch and mahimahi fillets for dinner.
What model of AIS is that one? I need to get one.
It's a vesper marine 6000 linked to my B&G Vulcan on the N2k network. Very happy with the setup.
She goes well has your aid got a buzzer
Yeah have a loud pizo wired up to the chartplotter. Just don't 100% trust the AIS alarm yet. It rarely goes off as the settings I have I think are CPA of less than half a mile and time to CPA of 5 mins or less. I'd have a heart attack if a boat actually got that close and that was the first I heard of it so I need to update that probably
Please tell me what type of boat you have
Hi Ross, she's a Halmatic 30, British build long keel cruiser built in 1979.
Which month was this?
Hi Will, this was the middle of July 2022.
@@SoloSailingSapphira Fantastic stuff mate. Love your honesty on-board. Keep it real! I'm often a nervous bloody wreck but I guess settling down comes with confidence and experience.
I have a Nicholson 36 down in Plymouth and am taking her across to the med this summer hence asking which month. I want to cross Biscay in May (Weather dependant). It would be my first first big trip with my boat. I sailed her down from Scotland through the Irish Sea but nothing like this would be.
Fair seas.
How alive do you feel now?
Extremely! Definitely blew away the cobwebs.
Do you want me to post a spinnaker out to Spain for you?? 😜😜
🤣 I think I'll be ok thanks Paul
Really enjoying sharing your journey. You manage to capture the reality of being solo and all the emotions that accompany it.
Looking eagerly forward to the next instalment
Just found you on Instagram so a new follower
Ah thanks so much for following! Definitely lots of emotions!