Many viewers have commented that my emergency VHF antenna should work on all marina frequencies, and not just Channel 16. I did my experiment with the emergency antenna again today, and THEY ARE CORRECT. The emergency antenna DOES work on all marine freqs. I can only think that when I did my original test 3 years ago, my VHF antenna ran through a partially used splitter (no AIS at the time), and that I did not connect it correctly. Sincere thanks to all those who commented to correct my error.
What's this -- two episodes in a day? Don't spoil us Patrick! If it rocks and rolls - show us your "moves like Jagger", Patrick. Once this Corona ends, can we see more of château neuf du pape requests?
Something I can finally help with! Antennas. The straight, stick-type antenna you showed is omni-directional. It’s called 1/4 wave antenna - and is cut to suit the frequency band of intended use at 1/4 of the wavelength. VHF signals and wavelength are relatively long and are good for use in long rage applications such as aviation etc. Gain of the antenna is achieved through good design and sometimes active electronic boosters. Passive gain is better than ‘noisy’ active gain. Try and look for a dBi rating to express gain if possible when comparing products. 25w is actually quite a powerful transmitting signal, as with all signals a few golden rules should be followed for greatest success. If you can get the antenna as high as possible, and without obstruction this will be best. Top of the mast on a sailboat... The cable is the most likely place to suffer losses - especially where reception of signals is concerned. Keep the cable as short as is practical and ensure you get the highest quality and lowest loss coaxial cable for your used frequency range. Ensure all connections are properly grounded and no lose fittings. The highest sensitivity, and best quality receiver available will be best also. In WW2 the UK could listen in to radio communications in Europe and beyond because of highly sensitive receivers, rather than high powered transmitters... Consider the use of band-pass filtering to reduce ‘noise’ from unwanted frequencies. Follow the above and you should be grand! As a side note - an alternative to the 1/4 wave antenna is a design called a dipole. This is still omni-directional, but has 3dB of inherent passive gain by design. Although I’m no expert on marine antennas I would suggest to you a company that I use here in the UK to procure all my custom antennas - RW Badland. Google should help you find them and they are super-helpful and not over-priced. Hope this helps anyone and thanks for the videos!
Awesome, double joy. According to wikipedia, marine VHF occupies mostly, a rather narrow frequency band from 156.000 to 157.425 MHz . It's unusual that an antenna has an extremely narrow band usage, although antenna may have been optimized, impedance wise for channel #16 (156.800 MHz) at the factory. You can measure with an antenna analyzer how the antenna actually works over a broader range. A figure of merit of how well the antenna is impedance matched for a certain frequency is the standing wave ratio. A VSWR value under 2 is considered suitable for most antenna applications. The antenna can be described as having a "Good Match". So when someone says that the antenna is poorly matched, very often it means that the VSWR value exceeds 2 for a frequency of interest. I would guess that your antenna will work (VSWR
The 6dB gain from a long antenna will give you a marginal signal increase, BUT there will be a severe (20dB) null away from the main radiation pattern, as stated earlier. A simple half wave voltage-fed antenna will give you a good 3-4dBi gain, which is a good compromise with a minimal null. If you need better, then look at LMR400 coax, or a masthead 100W power amp / pre-amp ham-radio stylz (not legal but very very good.) You can easily push well past earth curvature, that is a myth, ham radio people routinely work 100's of km with 25-100 watts.
More please. You ace 3 areas: the sailing life alone on a boat, interesting technical briefings on various kit and always interesting introspections and observations. Thanks.
Hello Patrick! I've been watching your sailing videos from the beginning, but there is one thing I don't understand. Where is episode 1 of your sailing adventures?
Your emergency antenna will work across the marine frequencies -- it's length has been adjusted to be best on Ch. 16. I've often used my boat antenna for the 2m ham radio frequencies (which are close enough) and have had good results.
I’m always impressed with how you emphasize safety. In every video you post on the boat you’re always seen wearing a personal floatation vest. To anyone this seems like commonsense, but I’ve watched other utube videos of open ocean sailors not always wearing a flotation device or tied in in someway when going forward to tend the sails.
Another great instalment, I love your literary, Nautical, Musical and scientific references, sometimes I have to use professor Google to check where they come from, Professor Google helped with the Antoine de Saint reference.
Good stuff, Patrick! Leaky boat story: a friend of mine is a delivery skipper. He picked a brand new boat up in the States and took it to the BVI's. I'm not going to say what make it was, but his report back to the factory was " The windows stopped leaking when the boat was full" ! Love it!
I went on a drip hunt, armed with tissues to reveal the original source and some sikoflex. Found them all in the end. Almost all were tracking in through bolts for deck fittings.
Hi Patrick - is there a cleat near that leaky spot? Apparently they need occasional resealing with butyl on Bavarias. The other item that that we use to keep damp out of mattresses is DryMat. It is not cheap, but it does a great job of reducing or stopping the capillary action. We are looking forward to your "long way home" video 👍
What a good day, just finished one episode and the second pops up. Thanks Patrick, very enjoyable. Im in Scotland and we are only slowly opening up. A question if I may. How is the EFOY holding up after a couple of years use? Im thinking of putting my hand in my pocket for one. Is there a way to wire it up so it only senses battery voltage and not other charging voltages? Thats two questions sorry.
To be honest --- I'm disappointed in my EFOY, but I am not sure it is its fault. I have the '140' model --- and my boat really needs more power. It functions perfectly -- turning on when the battery hits the programmed 12.2 V --- but I rarely see it recharging above 4 amps, which means it will bring the battery back up to 12.6 or so, but never reach fully recharged (and thus it just remains on all the time once it starts up). Would the larger size model satisfy me? Maybe. If I had a wind vane autopilot rather than an electro-hydraulic pilot, would the capacity be adequate? Maybe. Mine is wired directly to the battery --- so just reflects the state of the battery --- and if you also have solar or wind, it shows whatever the state of the battery is.
Mr. Laine: In my household we watch a lot of sailing vlogs. We are glad to see you back out there, and we thank you very much for yet another judiciously edited presentation of your passages. Less is more! PS: Music references were hilarious (to the older of us).
I guess once again I wonder how you deal with fatigue being solo through the passage it’s not a cakewalk. The video is splendid and your thought process is much appreciated.
Dear Patrick: I missed you. Thank you for comming back. So, in my opinion you should condiderate the IMO regulations in the zones where you usually sail: I think you need Radar and MF . I wish you fair winds and following seas from Spain.
As a former signaller in the army and an avid sailor myself don’t over worry about the emergency antenna , it’s been cut to length for maximum performance at the channel 16 frequency, though you can use other frequencies and take small losses in range and optimum performance . Love the vids 👍🏻
Sorry Patrick , only just re read through the comments ; didn’t realise others had posted the same. Though it is worth pointing out the “slim Jim antenna” for ones grab bag/ ditch bag for the liferaft. Chances are if the unlikely event you do ditch and end up in a raft that you’d have a handheld vhf in your bag( if not get one ☝️) however at 5w you would have typically a small line of sight distance , we’ll increase your chances with a slim Jim antenna cut to channel 16 length and attached to the top of the raft whilst your snug inside the liferaft .maybe I’ll Do a video and expand the subject . Will let you know. Stay safe matey
@@itsjustplainsailing5189 Yes, I have two handheld VHFs, and two sat comm radios (IridiumGO and Garmin InReach) that will be the first thing to go into the liferaft. I had not heard of a Slim Jim. Will look into it. Thanks.
As I replace my VHF radios for new features every few years I revert the old one as my spare to a permanently installed second antenna.on my stern rail.
At VHF freqs the coax is more important than the antenna....assuming an omni-directional. Your description of the transmit/receive 'donut' is correct, but buy good coax.
Thank you for the explanation Patrick. I didn't for once think you were being foolhardy, too much of an old sea dog 😀. I more or less guessed it was something to do with the sail but it did look a bit scary for an old landlubber to watch.
Perfectly adequate understanding of your VHF gear and capabilities. Consider HF or Sat for distance. ARRL has great resources for continued study. Radio engineers and operators enjoy sharing knowledge. 73s KC7MRD Fair winds. aprs.fi/#!mt=roadmap&z=8&lat=46.9310&lng=-3.0310&timerange=3600&tail=3600
And an Amy McDonald reference. Have you any opinion on watches? I use a Zeno. The thought popped into my head when you mentioned Zeno in the last video, not relating to watches but it just made me think.
@@adam8642 No, nothing special about watches. When I was a fighter pilot, there was all of this hype about super sophisticated models, but the truth is that most of us just wore a cheap Timex. :-)
I’m thinking of learning to sail , I’m considering the possibility of selling all my possessions and sailing the med, I’m from U.K. , just turned 40, got 3 kids with different mums , kids are expensive lol , I’d love to learn and eventually travel LOTS , good video
Hey there Patrick. I also enjoy your filming and experiences. How about your comments on foul weather gear. The good and the bad. Recommendations? Stay well. Stay safe.
Yeah, others have asked me that too. I wear really old stuff --- as I'd rather spend money on the boat.....and all that new, fancy, expensive foul wx gear creates an unhealthy image for the sport. I will need to replace for next season though, so I'll give this important topic some thought. It would be a good video topic if properly done.
On a Danish Bavaria forum a person just found a serious leak at the mast where the wires is entering at the "goose neck" and also by his "dorade" (air vent) the water was running inside the sandwich construction and into the sides. The boat is a Bavaria 38. Hope you find the leak on your boat 😊
Thanks Tino. I have re-seated the mid-ship cleat, and rebedded the goose neck at the base of the mast also. The dorades are terrible. I have reseated them with various materials (butyl and sika), but they always end up leaking a few months later -- including down the air hole! Finally, one of the port lights that is below the waterline when heeled over leaks. It was impossible to remove this portlight because it is locked in place by 12 large SS bolts --- which have now fused with the aluminium frame. All I could do was seal the external edge of the portlight, but am pretty sure it will leak again within a year....... I will see on my next passage in rough seas how well my sealing efforts work.
Patrick welcome back. A little over 1000 miles sailed and more than half solo. I get you. When I dabble into thoughts in conversations some people would suggest that I am speaking rubbish not to say exact word, since this is a discrete channel. I am sure this happens to you too. When this happens I pulled out one of my favorite quotes "The time of human life is but a point, and the substance is a flux, and it's perceptions dull, and the composition of the body corruptible, and soul a whirl, and fortune inscrutable, and fame a senseless thing. In a word, everything which belongs to the body is a flowing stream, and what belongs the soul a dream and a vapor, and life is a warfare and a stranger's sojourn, and future fame is oblivion. What then is there which can guide a man? One thing and only one, PHYLOSOPHY", Marcus Aurelius. Thanks for all your tips and keep those philosophical comments coming.
Patrick, Do you have an extra back-up autopilot on board in case it fails? Some kind of windpilot with an auxiliary rudder may come handy too if something hits the rudder? Sorry for asking, I don't have your experience! Best regards
Thanks for the question JG. If you watch my episode 47 at 14:55, I discuss the issue with having a windvane on my boat. I'd really like to have one, but have learned to live without.....
Patrick, after watching all your videos (some many times) I would like to hear your docking steps at night. The video showed you docking, but I didn't see any deck lighting on. Would love to hear your technique and how it differs from you awesome day practices.
Thanks Keith. It is actually the same process. There is usually enough background light in marinas that I can arrive as I always do. I have a mast-mounted deck light, but I don't use it (though maybe I should). I have a powerful headlamp that I wear and it is quite helpful. One of the darkest marinas I ever arrived in was in Madeira (during Covid lockdown). It was a bit tricky ---- (you can see it in Episode 48, 18:00). Most have much more background light.
I was in Madeira coming from Cape Verde and Canary Islands on the 27th of June. They also ask me for the covid19 test, in case I wanted to go on shore. Decided not to do it since we had a very short weather window to reach Gibraltar. We must have been close........Still waiting that, one day, you keep sailing south, to visit me in the Cape Verde Islands.
Yeah......they asked me to go to a quarantine anchorage. I went there, but then decided to just keep going. A real shame. I would have enjoyed visiting the island, but I understand their concern. Would love to make it to Cape Verde....but then it is easier to continue across than to come back North. ;-)
I suppose you could mount your antenna on a gimbal, but I doubt it would be worth it for what it gave you in range. Not fun coming into port in the dark. Glad you had a reasonably comfortable passage. I'm disappointed you didn't chronical your wine extravaganza in Madeira. Your in a place for good food now. Fair winds.
Actually, Madeira was a miss for me. The officials insisted I quarantine, and informed me that although airports were open, ports were not (my bad). I'll have to return when circumstances are better.
Super interesting video! Is there a reason why you prefer looking at apparent wind instead of at true wind? I guess Long Way home means you’ll sail directly to La Rochelle. Have fair winds and a safe sail back home.
True wind is really irrelevant on a boat Alberto. The boat 'experiences' apparent/relative wind, and will decide when and how you will arrive at destination. True wind is interesting, but not much more.
Hi! Thanks for another great video. A majority of sailing channels "never" go into port in the dark. You don't seem to mind? Is it because you have been to these places before or you just can't bother to slow down and wait out another night? Would be interesting to hear your view :)
I have never understood this fear of going into new marinas at night. Perhaps it is because of my countless hours of flying (and landing) at night. I'm just not concerned about going into marinas at night. On the other hand, I would wait until dawn if it were to go to an unknown anchorage at night. The risks are much greater there. Better to wait for light.
Hi Patrick, electronic engineer with PhD in satellite Comms here! Your explanation of impact of dB gain and tx range is correct. However, please note that the signal transmission technically happens across the length of the antenna so if you can imagine once your start broadcasting lots of circle shape waves are being generated vertically and and each of them travel horizontally across the line of sight. Hence, if you choose a long antenna (not just installing it high on the mast) you can increase the transmission rate (known as effective radiated power or ERP). In sensitive marine vessels always you have VHF aerial with multiple gains- that’s to exactly address the concern you have correctly identified.
Great episodes Patrick. Very informative and concise. You get a lot in within the 20 or so minutes. Your a true sailor and a great example. I love your quotes, are they off the top of your head or scripted, regardless, they’re great.
A mix of things that pop into mind, and some that stick in my mind when listening to music ---- "Hey; those words apply to a fog bank perfectly...." I have fun with my daughters to see if they can spot them.
Yes it does Rod. When I turn on my chart plotter (which I don't do often), I can see AIS targets while at the helm. Things don't happen on a sailboat fast enough that having to go below to look at the Vesper Marine screen has been a problem at all. I don't even think about it. On the other hand -- having the Plotter on 24/24 uses quite a bit of energy.
No ---- heaving to is a great tactic to get some rest in at any time (severe weather or not). In this case, I just continued sailing because my boat is fairly comfortable, even in tough conditions. I actually don't use an alarm clock. I automatically wake up every 30 minutes or so -- I even have to force myself back to sleep. (In deep blue water with almost no traffic, I go about 50 minutes between checks --- but with alarmed AIS of course. Closer to shore where there will be fisherman, I go 20-30 minutes between checks; along the coast-line, I just don't sleep. I try to limit passages in those coastal waters to 18 hours.)
You are slightly off on your antenna info. Actually antenna efficiency is increased by it proportion to the wavelength you are using. VHF marine is a little under 2 meters wavelength , so the closer you get to that length the more efficient the antenna is at getting your signal in and out(I.e. max range) it looks to me that you have a 1/8th wavelength, pay no notice to dB gain, length is key.
Always a pleasure absorbing your travel experiences. As you're solo, are you just getting an hour of sleep at a time? That must be exhausting. I regularly sail on both a Bav 32 and a Bav 34 and I have to say I'm impressed by how how well they point, much better than my boat. Almost like sailing dinghies for grown ups :)
I usually settle into a routine of 45 minutes sleep, and then a quick check (when in Blue Water). When in coastal waters, the frequency of checks is much more frequent, and sometimes even continuous.
That is what I have on my boat --- transmit and receive AIS. Of course, the purists will argue that not all boats are equipped with AIS, so there is a hole in that defense. That said, in blue water ops, 99% of the ships/boats are equipped with AIS, either as a legal requirement, or to satisfy their insurance company. Local and coastal sailing is more exposed, as many there don't have or turn on their AIS. An acknowledged risk.
Your comment am I fixing the boat or is the boat fixing me has put me on a new path. Im now activaly looking at a yatch and have signed up for a sailing school. A broker in California said if I purchase a yatch from him he will find a competent sailor to come out with me for a month or so to teach me how to blue water sail. Once again, thank you and keep up the splendid movies
That's the problem of having a galley on the side of the saloon instead of port & starboard sea berths, 60 deg. to the wind isn't really beating though she was making good time . Fair winds
Yeah -- most of that passage was at about 40°. I should have edited the example better. Completely agree about opposing sea berths. Lee cloths are a pain in the rear, literally.
"Every boat has a leak, somewhere". Thank you, that is actually a comforting remark for someone like me who has been fighting small leaks for many years with sometimes only temporary succes. And as a radio engineer, I can only confirm what you already found out about your spare VHF antenna. It should not have stated a single operating frequency, or at least mention that it is the center frequency for the band for which it was made.
I'm sure that I'm not the only follower of yours the likes the information you give, the way you explain any mistakes you make, it's all good knowledge but the one thing we love is your dry sense of humor. I think if you solo or even in a small crew, you have to have a sense of humor.
Antenna length is usually a half wave or quarter wave length. Annoying both locations have made you relocate after arrival. Last thing you want to do after a long passage!
It was my second visit to wonderful Sao Miguel. For obvious reasons, this visit was less cheerful than in the past. I'l have to make up for that by returning again in the future.
Hello Patrick. This is the first of your videos I have watched. Great. I noticed that you sail with the French flag, OK matches your name but you speak with what I would call a Mid Atlantic accent and cook Wiener Schnitzel which I associate with The Netherlands. I love Wiener Schnitzel and, in my younger days, did a lot of sailing. You can see my boat here ruclips.net/video/jMtjpADGz7k/видео.html I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to watching more of your adventures. Regards Michael
You fly the flag of the country in which your boat is registered, much like a car license plate. For the record, I am dual nationality French-American. I grew up in America, but have lived in Europe longer than in America.
@@patricklaine6958 Thanks for responding Patrick. Having been a sailor myself I am aware of the flags. It was the mix of flag/food and accent that I wondered at. Happy sailing and regards Michael Chartres
In summary, the EFOY works great, but I am not satisfied with mine. I really needed the large capacity one (rather than the 140 model I have) . The 140 just does not have enough power to charge my battery bank. If I had a wind vane, it would probably be enough, but I need more power due to my electricity-hungry autopilot.
Patrick Laine do you ever find yourself in places that do not have methanol? Also what are your thoughts on wind vane steering? I've had success with Cape Horn products... though in very light air and motoring it doesn't work so well.
You would have been doing scary things in Newfoundland and Greenland @#$%&*! but for Covid. A walk in the park for you :-))) I'm happily at anchor, feeling old, in a creek on the Essex coast of the UK. I'm happy to be with you in mind and spirit. Bravo Patrick. Fair winds for the next leg. Stay safe. ATB James
Hey, Patrick! Big boys don´t cry! 😜 Better you should invest in a 15 Millimeter camping mat,made of closed cell foam,like I did. It saved me a lot of nights in wet bunks. By the way,at the floor,with any dry mattress,you can find a bed in the same comfort class, you surely know! 😂 And what do you think about to fly a kite or balloon with a wire as a spare antenna? This way you could surely reach a real nice altitude,in case of a lost mast. 🎈🪁
In the forward berths, I do have a type of insulating layer beneath the mattress, but I can't sleep there at sea ---- the pounding seas and movement is too much. :-)
@@patricklaine6958 Wrong solution,Sir! 🙄 The layer is to put ON TOP of the wet mattress! So it will insulate from cold and moisture,and keeps your butt warm and dry. 😊👍 Oh! And you better buy more than just one of them (you can find them in supermarkets for 5 or 10 € ,or maybe same material in a hardware store). Because if you use it in the cockpit at night ( highly recommended ) they like to be airborne very much. 😜
Amazing videos Patrick. Many thanks for posting these. I am just going through your Iceland trip as well. Amazing. Been there but not by boat and it’s so different! I had a question. You use a lot of electronic equipment such as vhf, autopilot, ais, fridge. How do you keep your batteries charged when on long passages? If you can’t reply here, it would be great if you could please spend a few minutes in a next video. Many thanks and I am a fan of your channel now!
I have a methanol fuel cell, that turns on when voltage drops to 12.2 and charges the batteries back up. It works well, but mine is sized improperly for the boat, so does not pack quite the recharge power that I really need. I almost always have to run the engine at least 1+15 each day.
It is very common to have acceleration zones around headlands / islands ---- and seas that correspond with those difficult conditions. The best defense is to enter these areas fully reefed and prepared for a difficult 20 minutes. :-)
Patrick, it looks like you have made some significant investments in Isabelle for offshore passages over the years. I'm curious about what your thoughts are about Autopilot vs. Wind Vane (eg. Hydrovane, which has the advantage of the additional rudder in case you lose your primary rudder). I would think that power consumption is a challenge with the Autopilot. Thanks!
Crumbing schnitzel ! We're doing it all wrong. We never get more than 10 miles from home and all we get is cold beans from the tin... I'm sending this clip to the captain. You know who you are Steve...
Hi Patrick, very much enjoy your sailing videos and the information provided. I do remember, I think, a while back you talked talked about the Efoy fuel cell you installed. I am wondering how this is working out and any thoughts you may have as I am thinking of doing the same thing. Marshall
I'm not real happy with mine ---- it works fine --- but its capacity is below what I need to fully recharge the batteries. Would the 'large' size do better? I don't know......theoretically yes.
Hi Patrick, my wife and I have followed your videos for a bit and we wanted to ask you about your log book. We've caught a glimpse of it in some of the videos, and would like to know a bit more about it, how it is organized, etc. Perhaps you could do a video on your log keeping methods? Thanks!
I'll do that. I think France just changed its policy on log books. They used to be mandatory. Now I don't think they are required. I log my position (lat/lon) every 4 hours, along with speed and wind. When in challenging wx conditions, I also log the barometer to monitor how it is falling/rising. And then I throw in a comment as to whatever comes to mind --- usually nothing very profound, e.g., "tough slogging against seas now." I've never ever had to refer to my log after a passage, but I think it a good idea to record lat/lon in case you have to transmit a position quickly and are sinking with no electricity.
![NOSFERATU - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters December 25](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nulvWqYUM8k/mqdefault.jpg)
Many viewers have commented that my emergency VHF antenna should work on all marina frequencies, and not just Channel 16. I did my experiment with the emergency antenna again today, and THEY ARE CORRECT. The emergency antenna DOES work on all marine freqs. I can only think that when I did my original test 3 years ago, my VHF antenna ran through a partially used splitter (no AIS at the time), and that I did not connect it correctly. Sincere thanks to all those who commented to correct my error.
Awesome, a sailing channel that isn't dependent on half naked women being pimped out by their husbands or boyfriends for clicks.
I had no volunteers..... :-)
@@patricklaine6958 I'm no woman, but I look great in a speedo. Hit me up next time you cross the pond.
100% true! We do not want to see Patrick in a tanga... ;-)
No speedo but with a thong in his heart..
Excellent point on other "channels" where the women are displayed for eye candy clicks.
What's this -- two episodes in a day? Don't spoil us Patrick!
If it rocks and rolls - show us your "moves like Jagger", Patrick.
Once this Corona ends, can we see more of château neuf du pape requests?
I really quite enjoy your videos and the intellectual perspective you inject during your passages. Well done.
Sailing. The most expensive way to travel 3rd class :)
Something I can finally help with! Antennas.
The straight, stick-type antenna you showed is omni-directional. It’s called 1/4 wave antenna - and is cut to suit the frequency band of intended use at 1/4 of the wavelength. VHF signals and wavelength are relatively long and are good for use in long rage applications such as aviation etc. Gain of the antenna is achieved through good design and sometimes active electronic boosters. Passive gain is better than ‘noisy’ active gain. Try and look for a dBi rating to express gain if possible when comparing products.
25w is actually quite a powerful transmitting signal, as with all signals a few golden rules should be followed for greatest success.
If you can get the antenna as high as possible, and without obstruction this will be best. Top of the mast on a sailboat...
The cable is the most likely place to suffer losses - especially where reception of signals is concerned. Keep the cable as short as is practical and ensure you get the highest quality and lowest loss coaxial cable for your used frequency range.
Ensure all connections are properly grounded and no lose fittings.
The highest sensitivity, and best quality receiver available will be best also. In WW2 the UK could listen in to radio communications in Europe and beyond because of highly sensitive receivers, rather than high powered transmitters...
Consider the use of band-pass filtering to reduce ‘noise’ from unwanted frequencies.
Follow the above and you should be grand!
As a side note - an alternative to the 1/4 wave antenna is a design called a dipole. This is still omni-directional, but has 3dB of inherent passive gain by design. Although I’m no expert on marine antennas I would suggest to you a company that I use here in the UK to procure all my custom antennas - RW Badland. Google should help you find them and they are super-helpful and not over-priced.
Hope this helps anyone and thanks for the videos!
Hi. Patrick. Great to sea you back. Two in row excellent. Hope to get on the water soon. Take care.
Haha, the comfort meter! It's good to learn how you fare through different environments. Great videos as always Patrick!
I have one on my boat. It belongs to my wife.
I really can feel it when he boat hits 15° -- without even looking.
Awesome, double joy. According to wikipedia, marine VHF occupies mostly, a rather narrow frequency band from 156.000 to 157.425 MHz . It's unusual that an antenna has an extremely narrow band usage, although antenna may have been optimized, impedance wise for channel #16 (156.800 MHz) at the factory. You can measure with an antenna analyzer how the antenna actually works over a broader range. A figure of merit of how well the antenna is impedance matched for a certain frequency is the standing wave ratio. A VSWR value under 2 is considered suitable for most antenna applications. The antenna can be described as having a "Good Match". So when someone says that the antenna is poorly matched, very often it means that the VSWR value exceeds 2 for a frequency of interest. I would guess that your antenna will work (VSWR
The 6dB gain from a long antenna will give you a marginal signal increase, BUT there will be a severe (20dB) null away from the main radiation pattern, as stated earlier. A simple half wave voltage-fed antenna will give you a good 3-4dBi gain, which is a good compromise with a minimal null. If you need better, then look at LMR400 coax, or a masthead 100W power amp / pre-amp ham-radio stylz (not legal but very very good.) You can easily push well past earth curvature, that is a myth, ham radio people routinely work 100's of km with 25-100 watts.
@@SteveWrightNZ Yes. See my pinned comment above. :-)
Great background info. Yes. See my pinned comment above. :-)
1:07 "Everyone knows Bavarias can't beat to windward" says Patrick, doing 8 knots in rough seas at 60 degrees into the wind ! :-P
Except 60 degrees is hardly beating in my book.
eramba I was going to say, maybe a Bavaria with a Solent rig can
Bavarias can beat to windward, their owners/skippers just prefer not too!
More please. You ace 3 areas: the sailing life alone on a boat, interesting technical briefings on various kit and always interesting introspections and observations. Thanks.
Very kind feedback. Many thanks.
Patrick great to be back aboard as a "phantom shipmate" Ive missed your videos.
Welcome back to Stuart.
I live vicariously through you Mr. Laine and love your videos! You do a great job! Safe passages to you on your way home. Bon voyage!
Hello Patrick! I've been watching your sailing videos from the beginning, but there is one thing I don't understand. Where is episode 1 of your sailing adventures?
Your emergency antenna will work across the marine frequencies -- it's length has been adjusted to be best on Ch. 16.
I've often used my boat antenna for the 2m ham radio frequencies (which are close enough) and have had good results.
Yes. See my pinned comment above. :-)
Springsteen and Amy McDonald in one trip. Nice. Love your work and glad you’re safe.
And Pink Floyd!
Dancing In The Dark is one of my favorite song of all time.
You guys weren't sleeping. Bravo!
It is good to hear, 1. Someone other than me has an occasional drip. 2. Over 15 degrees is the magic point to start reducing sail.
I’m always impressed with how you emphasize safety. In every video you post on the boat you’re always seen wearing a personal floatation vest. To anyone this seems like commonsense, but I’ve watched other utube videos of open ocean sailors not always wearing a flotation device or tied in in someway when going forward to tend the sails.
If you do not clip on wearing a life vest merely serves to prolong the agony
@@chrisswallow3734 But provides some closure for the family......
Another great instalment, I love your literary, Nautical, Musical and scientific references, sometimes I have to use professor Google to check where they come from, Professor Google helped with the Antoine de Saint reference.
Many thanks Johnny....
Good stuff, Patrick! Leaky boat story: a friend of mine is a delivery skipper. He picked a brand new boat up in the States and took it to the BVI's. I'm not going to say what make it was, but his report back to the factory was " The windows stopped leaking when the boat was full" ! Love it!
I reseated all my 'portlights', but do indeed have one that still leaks. Very frustrating.
Nice Pink Floyd Quote
So glad to see you back, Patrick. Love your adventures!
It doesn't matter how long your antenna is, it's how you use it. At least, that's what they tell me...
Where have I heard that before........
I went on a drip hunt, armed with tissues to reveal the original source and some sikoflex. Found them all in the end. Almost all were tracking in through bolts for deck fittings.
I think I found mine too, but it will require some major dismantling when I get home. I'll live with wet for now.
Hi Patrick - is there a cleat near that leaky spot? Apparently they need occasional resealing with butyl on Bavarias. The other item that that we use to keep damp out of mattresses is DryMat. It is not cheap, but it does a great job of reducing or stopping the capillary action.
We are looking forward to your "long way home" video 👍
What a good day, just finished one episode and the second pops up. Thanks Patrick, very enjoyable. Im in Scotland and we are only slowly opening up.
A question if I may. How is the EFOY holding up after a couple of years use? Im thinking of putting my hand in my pocket for one. Is there a way to wire it up so it only senses battery voltage and not other charging voltages? Thats two questions sorry.
To be honest --- I'm disappointed in my EFOY, but I am not sure it is its fault. I have the '140' model --- and my boat really needs more power. It functions perfectly -- turning on when the battery hits the programmed 12.2 V --- but I rarely see it recharging above 4 amps, which means it will bring the battery back up to 12.6 or so, but never reach fully recharged (and thus it just remains on all the time once it starts up). Would the larger size model satisfy me? Maybe. If I had a wind vane autopilot rather than an electro-hydraulic pilot, would the capacity be adequate? Maybe. Mine is wired directly to the battery --- so just reflects the state of the battery --- and if you also have solar or wind, it shows whatever the state of the battery is.
Another great insight of a single handed sailor 👍
Inspiring, Patrick! Thank you. "Ain't Nothing but tired? Were you dancing in the dark?
Yep. And I'm still dancing on my own.
Mr. Laine: In my household we watch a lot of sailing vlogs. We are glad to see you back out there, and we thank you very much for yet another judiciously edited presentation of your passages. Less is more!
PS: Music references were hilarious (to the older of us).
I think many of the musical references flew right past the youngsters. Great fun.
I guess once again I wonder how you deal with fatigue being solo through the passage it’s not a cakewalk. The video is splendid and your thought process is much appreciated.
Very Nice Video
Well done, the spirit we all need: If you cannot do as planned, then plan again.
Dear Patrick: I missed you. Thank you for comming back. So, in my opinion you should condiderate the IMO regulations in the zones where you usually sail: I think you need Radar and MF . I wish you fair winds and following seas from Spain.
As a former signaller in the army and an avid sailor myself don’t over worry about the emergency antenna , it’s been cut to length for maximum performance at the channel 16 frequency, though you can use other frequencies and take small losses in range and optimum performance .
Love the vids 👍🏻
Exactly Dave. Yes. See my pinned comment above. :-)
Sorry Patrick , only just re read through the comments ; didn’t realise others had posted the same. Though it is worth pointing out the “slim Jim antenna” for ones grab bag/ ditch bag for the liferaft. Chances are if the unlikely event you do ditch and end up in a raft that you’d have a handheld vhf in your bag( if not get one ☝️) however at 5w you would have typically a small line of sight distance , we’ll increase your chances with a slim Jim antenna cut to channel 16 length and attached to the top of the raft whilst your snug inside the liferaft .maybe I’ll
Do a video and expand the subject . Will let you know. Stay safe matey
@@itsjustplainsailing5189 Yes, I have two handheld VHFs, and two sat comm radios (IridiumGO and Garmin InReach) that will be the first thing to go into the liferaft. I had not heard of a Slim Jim. Will look into it. Thanks.
@9:30 put some bin liners around your cushions ? take em off when sleeping .
As I replace my VHF radios for new features every few years I revert the old one as my spare to a permanently installed second antenna.on my stern rail.
The problem I have had going to windward in an AWB is not the pointing, but the leeway when close hauled in a blow
At VHF freqs the coax is more important than the antenna....assuming an omni-directional. Your description of the transmit/receive 'donut' is correct, but buy good coax.
Thanks. Please see my pinned comment too.
Thank you for the explanation Patrick. I didn't for once think you were being foolhardy, too much of an old sea dog 😀. I more or less guessed it was something to do with the sail but it did look a bit scary for an old landlubber to watch.
Met zo'n Bavaria is dat allemaal mogelijk! @WoesteWolden!
Love all the song lyrics! Thanks for sneaking those in there. (The Springsteen was a surprise.)
Spare antenna? I'd just squawk 7600... 😉 Seriously, great to see you back, Patrick.
nah... we're all on 1200 over here. ;-) No one cares if the radio goes. Ultimate emcon.
Agh ha - Ponte Delgado as you suggested - well done - Azores
Great to see you back in the saddle Patrick, looks a bit rocky but you're going like a rocket!
Thanks so much for sharing. Praise be indeed!
Perfectly adequate understanding of your VHF gear and capabilities. Consider HF or Sat for distance. ARRL has great resources for continued study. Radio engineers and operators enjoy sharing knowledge. 73s KC7MRD Fair winds. aprs.fi/#!mt=roadmap&z=8&lat=46.9310&lng=-3.0310&timerange=3600&tail=3600
Thanks, I do also have an Iridium GO now.... nice to receive full weather briefs at sea when on major transits
Awesome. Two videos in the same 24 hrs. Great stuff.
And an Amy McDonald reference. Have you any opinion on watches? I use a Zeno. The thought popped into my head when you mentioned Zeno in the last video, not relating to watches but it just made me think.
Much appreciated.
@@adam8642 No, nothing special about watches. When I was a fighter pilot, there was all of this hype about super sophisticated models, but the truth is that most of us just wore a cheap Timex. :-)
I’m thinking of learning to sail , I’m considering the possibility of selling all my possessions and sailing the med,
I’m from U.K. , just turned 40, got 3 kids with different mums , kids are expensive lol , I’d love to learn and eventually travel
LOTS , good video
The Med is a very expensive place to sail in........especially during the season. Take some lessons, and go on an expedition to Norway. :-)
Hahahaha. Amy Macdonald quoted .... This is hilarious. 😆😂I bet you have lots of them?
I'm a big Amy fan. What a unique and powerful voice she has...... :-)
Hey there Patrick. I also enjoy your filming and experiences. How about your comments on foul weather gear. The good and the bad. Recommendations? Stay well. Stay safe.
Yeah, others have asked me that too. I wear really old stuff --- as I'd rather spend money on the boat.....and all that new, fancy, expensive foul wx gear creates an unhealthy image for the sport. I will need to replace for next season though, so I'll give this important topic some thought. It would be a good video topic if properly done.
On a Danish Bavaria forum a person just found a serious leak at the mast where the wires is entering at the "goose neck" and also by his "dorade" (air vent) the water was running inside the sandwich construction and into the sides. The boat is a Bavaria 38. Hope you find the leak on your boat 😊
Thanks Tino. I have re-seated the mid-ship cleat, and rebedded the goose neck at the base of the mast also. The dorades are terrible. I have reseated them with various materials (butyl and sika), but they always end up leaking a few months later -- including down the air hole! Finally, one of the port lights that is below the waterline when heeled over leaks. It was impossible to remove this portlight because it is locked in place by 12 large SS bolts --- which have now fused with the aluminium frame. All I could do was seal the external edge of the portlight, but am pretty sure it will leak again within a year....... I will see on my next passage in rough seas how well my sealing efforts work.
Patrick welcome back. A little over 1000 miles sailed and more than half solo. I get you. When I dabble into thoughts in conversations some people would suggest that I am speaking rubbish not to say exact word, since this is a discrete channel. I am sure this happens to you too. When this happens I pulled out one of my favorite quotes "The time of human life is but a point, and the substance is a flux, and it's perceptions dull, and the composition of the body corruptible, and soul a whirl, and fortune inscrutable, and fame a senseless thing. In a word, everything which belongs to the body is a flowing stream, and what belongs the soul a dream and a vapor, and life is a warfare and a stranger's sojourn, and future fame is oblivion. What then is there which can guide a man? One thing and only one, PHYLOSOPHY", Marcus Aurelius. Thanks for all your tips and keep those philosophical comments coming.
And good luck to you to Juan as you build experience single-handing. Bravo!
Patrick,
Do you have an extra back-up autopilot on board in case it fails?
Some kind of windpilot with an auxiliary rudder may come handy too if something hits the rudder?
Sorry for asking, I don't have your experience!
Best regards
Thanks for the question JG. If you watch my episode 47 at 14:55, I discuss the issue with having a windvane on my boat. I'd really like to have one, but have learned to live without.....
Patrick, after watching all your videos (some many times) I would like to hear your docking steps at night. The video showed you docking, but I didn't see any deck lighting on. Would love to hear your technique and how it differs from you awesome day practices.
Thanks Keith. It is actually the same process. There is usually enough background light in marinas that I can arrive as I always do. I have a mast-mounted deck light, but I don't use it (though maybe I should). I have a powerful headlamp that I wear and it is quite helpful. One of the darkest marinas I ever arrived in was in Madeira (during Covid lockdown). It was a bit tricky ---- (you can see it in Episode 48, 18:00). Most have much more background light.
I was in Madeira coming from Cape Verde and Canary Islands on the 27th of June. They also ask me for the covid19 test, in case I wanted to go on shore. Decided not to do it since we had a very short weather window to reach Gibraltar. We must have been close........Still waiting that, one day, you keep sailing south, to visit me in the Cape Verde Islands.
Yeah......they asked me to go to a quarantine anchorage. I went there, but then decided to just keep going. A real shame. I would have enjoyed visiting the island, but I understand their concern. Would love to make it to Cape Verde....but then it is easier to continue across than to come back North. ;-)
I love watching your videos Patrick. Just wondering which model of Garmin Inreach you use?
It is the Explorer +, but that is not necessary. They now make a very small one, that does everything you need. :-)
As a boating chef, I love the dredging comment 😂 Awesome channel you show what others don’t while doing it, BZ.
I wondered how many would know what dredging is. :-) Thanks.
I suppose you could mount your antenna on a gimbal, but I doubt it would be worth it for what it gave you in range. Not fun coming into port in the dark. Glad you had a reasonably comfortable passage. I'm disappointed you didn't chronical your wine extravaganza in Madeira. Your in a place for good food now. Fair winds.
Actually, Madeira was a miss for me. The officials insisted I quarantine, and informed me that although airports were open, ports were not (my bad). I'll have to return when circumstances are better.
Super interesting video! Is there a reason why you prefer looking at apparent wind instead of at true wind? I guess Long Way home means you’ll sail directly to La Rochelle. Have fair winds and a safe sail back home.
True wind is really irrelevant on a boat Alberto. The boat 'experiences' apparent/relative wind, and will decide when and how you will arrive at destination. True wind is interesting, but not much more.
Hi! Thanks for another great video. A majority of sailing channels "never" go into port in the dark. You don't seem to mind? Is it because you have been to these places before or you just can't bother to slow down and wait out another night? Would be interesting to hear your view :)
I have never understood this fear of going into new marinas at night. Perhaps it is because of my countless hours of flying (and landing) at night. I'm just not concerned about going into marinas at night. On the other hand, I would wait until dawn if it were to go to an unknown anchorage at night. The risks are much greater there. Better to wait for light.
Hi Patrick, electronic engineer with PhD in satellite Comms here! Your explanation of impact of dB gain and tx range is correct. However, please note that the signal transmission technically happens across the length of the antenna so if you can imagine once your start broadcasting lots of circle shape waves are being generated vertically and and each of them travel horizontally across the line of sight. Hence, if you choose a long antenna (not just installing it high on the mast) you can increase the transmission rate (known as effective radiated power or ERP).
In sensitive marine vessels always you have VHF aerial with multiple gains- that’s to exactly address the concern you have correctly identified.
Excellent comment. Much appreciated. (The new antenna works fine!)
Great episodes Patrick. Very informative and concise. You get a lot in within the 20 or so minutes. Your a true sailor and a great example. I love your quotes, are they off the top of your head or scripted, regardless, they’re great.
A mix of things that pop into mind, and some that stick in my mind when listening to music ---- "Hey; those words apply to a fog bank perfectly...." I have fun with my daughters to see if they can spot them.
Does your AIS system share data with your Raymarine chart plotter screen? Seems like having the AIS data when you're at the wheel would be handy
Yes it does Rod. When I turn on my chart plotter (which I don't do often), I can see AIS targets while at the helm. Things don't happen on a sailboat fast enough that having to go below to look at the Vesper Marine screen has been a problem at all. I don't even think about it. On the other hand -- having the Plotter on 24/24 uses quite a bit of energy.
Awaiting the next episode.... Your mention of a detour makes me curious.....
Just got home. I'll put up a video soon.
Did you heave-to? For how long and do you use an alarm clock to awaken? Most interesting video. Thank you.
No ---- heaving to is a great tactic to get some rest in at any time (severe weather or not). In this case, I just continued sailing because my boat is fairly comfortable, even in tough conditions. I actually don't use an alarm clock. I automatically wake up every 30 minutes or so -- I even have to force myself back to sleep. (In deep blue water with almost no traffic, I go about 50 minutes between checks --- but with alarmed AIS of course. Closer to shore where there will be fisherman, I go 20-30 minutes between checks; along the coast-line, I just don't sleep. I try to limit passages in those coastal waters to 18 hours.)
You are slightly off on your antenna info. Actually antenna efficiency is increased by it proportion to the wavelength you are using. VHF marine is a little under 2 meters wavelength , so the closer you get to that length the more efficient the antenna is at getting your signal in and out(I.e. max range) it looks to me that you have a 1/8th wavelength, pay no notice to dB gain, length is key.
Thanks -- and please see the comment that I pinned above.
Nice to see that there are alternatives to eating Erik's cold dogfood in a tin
I admit to occasionally adopting Eric's culinary technique at times -- but usually not out of the can! :-)
@@patricklaine6958 There should be medals awarded for such bravery XD
Always a pleasure absorbing your travel experiences. As you're solo, are you just getting an hour of sleep at a time? That must be exhausting.
I regularly sail on both a Bav 32 and a Bav 34 and I have to say I'm impressed by how how well they point, much better than my boat. Almost like sailing dinghies for grown ups :)
I usually settle into a routine of 45 minutes sleep, and then a quick check (when in Blue Water). When in coastal waters, the frequency of checks is much more frequent, and sometimes even continuous.
Another great video Patrick. Enjoy the long way home. Fair winds etc
Thanks, will do! Arrived home yesterday.
In lieu of radar, wouldn’t a send and receive AIS accomplish the same?
That is what I have on my boat --- transmit and receive AIS. Of course, the purists will argue that not all boats are equipped with AIS, so there is a hole in that defense. That said, in blue water ops, 99% of the ships/boats are equipped with AIS, either as a legal requirement, or to satisfy their insurance company. Local and coastal sailing is more exposed, as many there don't have or turn on their AIS. An acknowledged risk.
Hi Patrick I think Erik Aanderaa could take some cooking tips from you.
Ha! Eating cold ravioli out of a can must be a rite of passage for Vikings!
Change my clothes, my hair, my face… Nice Springsteen reference 👍
Well spotted!
enjoyed. Thanks
Your comment am I fixing the boat or is the boat fixing me has put me on a new path. Im now activaly looking at a yatch and have signed up for a sailing school. A broker in California said if I purchase a yatch from him he will find a competent sailor to come out with me for a month or so to teach me how to blue water sail. Once again, thank you and keep up the splendid movies
Excellent. Here's wishing you as much fun as I have had doing this!
That's the problem of having a galley on the side of the saloon instead of port & starboard sea berths, 60 deg. to the wind isn't really beating though she was making good time . Fair winds
Yeah -- most of that passage was at about 40°. I should have edited the example better. Completely agree about opposing sea berths. Lee cloths are a pain in the rear, literally.
It is really good see you again sailing. Me, desperate, 8 months far from my boat....
Yes, difficult times for all.........
One of the best videos I've seen in a while. Thank you. Enjoy!
"Every boat has a leak, somewhere". Thank you, that is actually a comforting remark for someone like me who has been fighting small leaks for many years with sometimes only temporary succes. And as a radio engineer, I can only confirm what you already found out about your spare VHF antenna. It should not have stated a single operating frequency, or at least mention that it is the center frequency for the band for which it was made.
Yeah --- and every time I fix a leak, a new one pops up in the next major sortie. :-)
I'm sure that I'm not the only follower of yours the likes the information you give, the way you explain any mistakes you make, it's all good knowledge but the one thing we love is your dry sense of humor. I think if you solo or even in a small crew, you have to have a sense of humor.
Thanks for the kind feedback Steve.
Antenna length is usually a half wave or quarter wave length. Annoying both locations have made you relocate after arrival. Last thing you want to do after a long passage!
Thanks Mark. Also see the comment I pinned about the emergency antenna.
Love your 70's musicl references.
Wow amazing you are a courageous man amazing welcome to Sao Miguel beautiful island 😃
It was my second visit to wonderful Sao Miguel. For obvious reasons, this visit was less cheerful than in the past. I'l have to make up for that by returning again in the future.
Hello Patrick. This is the first of your videos I have watched. Great. I noticed that you sail with the French flag, OK matches your name but you speak with what I would call a Mid Atlantic accent and cook Wiener Schnitzel which I associate with The Netherlands. I love Wiener Schnitzel and, in my younger days, did a lot of sailing.
You can see my boat here ruclips.net/video/jMtjpADGz7k/видео.html
I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to watching more of your adventures.
Regards Michael
You fly the flag of the country in which your boat is registered, much like a car license plate. For the record, I am dual nationality French-American. I grew up in America, but have lived in Europe longer than in America.
@@patricklaine6958 Thanks for responding Patrick. Having been a sailor myself I am aware of the flags. It was the mix of flag/food and accent that I wondered at. Happy sailing and regards Michael Chartres
Congratulations thanks for the physics and philosophy tough going but at least you weren’t lashed to the tiller
Now don’t get whacked by a low off the Irish coast: windy.com
Enjoying your videos. What type of vessel are you sailing?
A 40 foot German-built Bavaria from 2008. Thanks for watching.
Great to hear from you Patrick. I hope that your family and you are well in this difficult time.
Thank you kindly
Patrick... which edition did you share your fuel cell power supply? Never mind I found it... episode 14. I'm fascinated with this.
In summary, the EFOY works great, but I am not satisfied with mine. I really needed the large capacity one (rather than the 140 model I have) . The 140 just does not have enough power to charge my battery bank. If I had a wind vane, it would probably be enough, but I need more power due to my electricity-hungry autopilot.
Patrick Laine do you ever find yourself in places that do not have methanol? Also what are your thoughts on wind vane steering? I've had success with Cape Horn products... though in very light air and motoring it doesn't work so well.
Chapeau Patrick. It is not an easy circuit. Very well done indeed. Stay safe ... James
Passages inspired by the guy who did it first (and best). ;-)
You would have been doing scary things in Newfoundland and Greenland @#$%&*! but for Covid. A walk in the park for you :-))) I'm happily at anchor, feeling old, in a creek on the Essex coast of the UK. I'm happy to be with you in mind and spirit. Bravo Patrick. Fair winds for the next leg. Stay safe. ATB James
Hey, Patrick!
Big boys don´t cry! 😜 Better you should invest in a 15 Millimeter camping mat,made of closed cell foam,like I did. It saved me a lot of nights in wet bunks.
By the way,at the floor,with any dry mattress,you can find a bed in the same comfort class,
you surely know! 😂
And what do you think about to fly a kite or balloon with a wire as a spare antenna?
This way you could surely reach a real nice altitude,in case of a lost mast. 🎈🪁
In the forward berths, I do have a type of insulating layer beneath the mattress, but I can't sleep there at sea ---- the pounding seas and movement is too much. :-)
@@patricklaine6958
Wrong solution,Sir! 🙄
The layer is to put ON TOP of the wet mattress!
So it will insulate from cold and moisture,and keeps your butt warm and dry. 😊👍
Oh! And you better buy more than just one of them (you can find them in supermarkets for 5 or 10 € ,or maybe same material in a hardware store). Because if you use it in the cockpit at night ( highly recommended ) they like to be airborne very much. 😜
Amazing videos Patrick. Many thanks for posting these. I am just going through your Iceland trip as well. Amazing. Been there but not by boat and it’s so different! I had a question. You use a lot of electronic equipment such as vhf, autopilot, ais, fridge. How do you keep your batteries charged when on long passages? If you can’t reply here, it would be great if you could please spend a few minutes in a next video. Many thanks and I am a fan of your channel now!
I have a methanol fuel cell, that turns on when voltage drops to 12.2 and charges the batteries back up. It works well, but mine is sized improperly for the boat, so does not pack quite the recharge power that I really need. I almost always have to run the engine at least 1+15 each day.
Patrick Laine thank you very much for your feedback Patrick. Fair winds and happy sailing!
You look like David Byrne.
What were sea conditions in the acceleration zone? Is that a steady feature or just a regular feature?
It is very common to have acceleration zones around headlands / islands ---- and seas that correspond with those difficult conditions. The best defense is to enter these areas fully reefed and prepared for a difficult 20 minutes. :-)
Patrick, it looks like you have made some significant investments in Isabelle for offshore passages over the years. I'm curious about what your thoughts are about Autopilot vs. Wind Vane (eg. Hydrovane, which has the advantage of the additional rudder in case you lose your primary rudder). I would think that power consumption is a challenge with the Autopilot. Thanks!
Patrick, no need to reply. I just watched a previous video in which you answered my question. The autopilot has served you well over the years.
Yeah EP 47 covers the autopilot issue on my boat.
Long way home? Back via Ireland then? 😉
That was a strong option at one point. Need to check quarantine requirements again. Lovely island.
Crumbing schnitzel ! We're doing it all wrong.
We never get more than 10 miles from home and all we get is cold beans from the tin...
I'm sending this clip to the captain. You know who you are Steve...
Nah. I faked that video by filming it in a marina. ;-)
@@patricklaine6958 I was being fast and loose too. Banana muffins with chocolate chips from Steve's better half : )
Hi Patrick, very much enjoy your sailing videos and the information provided. I do remember, I think, a while back you talked talked about the Efoy fuel cell you installed. I am wondering how this is working out and any thoughts you may have as I am thinking of doing the same thing. Marshall
I'm not real happy with mine ---- it works fine --- but its capacity is below what I need to fully recharge the batteries. Would the 'large' size do better? I don't know......theoretically yes.
@@patricklaine6958 Thanks Patrick, good to know
Hey Patrick I'm sure you've maybe been in a storm. Is there any way you could film you going through a little storm or even a bug one?
See Episode 12. Lots of mistakes/learning opportunities there.... I've put those lessons to use since then.
Okay I'll check it out. 👍🏻 Maybe if you get caught on a big one you could be the new owner of thei Bunba Gump shrimp company, with lieutenant Dan.
Hi Patrick, my wife and I have followed your videos for a bit and we wanted to ask you about your log book. We've caught a glimpse of it in some of the videos, and would like to know a bit more about it, how it is organized, etc. Perhaps you could do a video on your log keeping methods? Thanks!
I'll do that. I think France just changed its policy on log books. They used to be mandatory. Now I don't think they are required. I log my position (lat/lon) every 4 hours, along with speed and wind. When in challenging wx conditions, I also log the barometer to monitor how it is falling/rising. And then I throw in a comment as to whatever comes to mind --- usually nothing very profound, e.g., "tough slogging against seas now." I've never ever had to refer to my log after a passage, but I think it a good idea to record lat/lon in case you have to transmit a position quickly and are sinking with no electricity.
@@patricklaine6958 thank you!
Hi Patrick...thanks for taking me sailing with you :) It was a nice ride ;) -Rebecca
Very kind of you Rebecca. I pay a modest homage to you and Patrick in the first minute of my Episode 48. Thinking of you at this difficult time.
Hi, love your channel, are you familiar with Tom Cunliffe, he's amazing full of knowledge , tales and is really a top bloke .
I have been listening to and reading Tom's wisdom for a long time now. A legend.
Mr Laine, where did you sleep with all that water on your mattresses?
There is a solution to every marine problem -- if you just get creative. I put a covering of plastic over the wet mattress and slept on it. :-)