I'm a beginner sailor. And I already know that I won't learn something until I make a mistake doing that thing, and the mistake has consequences. In only a few months I've been in so many situations, including having to be rescued by a tourist party boat (and I party'd with the tourists). Videos like this one, when one can almost feel being in the boat with you, making the right or wrong decisions, and seeing the consequences, are priceless. Thanks for sharing your adventures!
i am similar to you but started 10 years ago in a 26ft. it's been 10 good years and I enjoy watching you go through the same experiences. etc. Kurt from Denmark
Great videos. Darcy says wear a harness Jason and clip in. We want to continue to see your videos. Cooler than Queretaro but even more fun. Don't sweat the little miscalculations. Every sailor has made numerous mistakes. We learn from them.
After all the headaches I think you are just doing great. 👍. You are very brave to have undertaken this whole trip, your planning has been great, no one gets by without a mistake. Stop beating yourself up.
Good lesson learned, when in tight quarters always pay attention to the markers. Troubleshooting electronic devices should always be secondary. Everyone runs aground.
I've watched your sailing videos thus far and thank you for documenting and sharing your experience as a new sailor. It has certainly helped me to get a better perspective as to what to look for as I start my journey into being a new sailor. I will also start in freshwater as that is the closest resource for me. (Northern Ohio). ASA classes are there and discounts to veterans. I would like to get a boat to grow into being I want a liveaboard. I have at least the fall and winter months to make preparations. Looking forward to spring '25. Keep the videos coming.
Sounds like a cool future adventure. I would definitely recommend the ASA courses as you get started. I learned a lot and will likely continue to learn through their programs
We all learn by mistakes, just go out there, make them and learn. Started out 15 years ago as a novis solosailor and would like to add some things: PFD with safety harness!, clip in to the middle of the boat with a short safetyline. If theres is nowhere to clip in...make them points yourselves. If you fall overboard in those temperatures, your done. Backup working electronics thats ON, AND papercharts if everything goes black on the screens. As a temporary autopilot, rubberlines. Learn to balance the sails for the course/boat and you can sail with a rubberline at the tiller for hours. Sorry for the bad english...I´m Swedish. Fair winds and keep going!
Awesome! Thanks for the tips. I couldn’t get a pdf with harness in time for the trip but do tie myself in sometimes (should be always). A lot to learn Thanks again
I just watched one of your other videos where you were installing the reef cringles in your main sail and I remembered seeing this episode where your sail tore. I had reef cringles installed last off-season as part of my yearly re-stitching PM and I noticed that the sail shop put 6 layers of patch panels before punching the cringle holes through the sail to keep what just happened from occurring. It's a bummer but I would go back and sew patch panels for your cringle holes. There is a lot of force on the reefing points. My Pearson Vanguard has a rotating boom which is used for reefing the main sail (so therefore no cringle reef points were ever installed in my main) but I had slab reefing points installed to be used as a back up reefing system w Single Line Reefing brought back to the cockpit. I learned the hard (scary) way that leaving the cockpit to reef in a storm will refocus your mind set to have a strong reefing system that is easy, safe & reliable. Sh*t happens and we learn stuff. All the best my friend and keep up the great adventures!
I ran aground for the first time this year, after 30+ years of sailing. Super embarrassing, but no harm done. Happens to every sailor eventually! I spent 7 hours dried out in the sandy mud!
Yeah… I knew it would happen eventually, but as you say, super embarrassing and I had hoped it wouldn’t happen for a while. At least I was close to a tow off 🤣
Shit Happens Jason! At least you didn’t hit the rock or do what a skipper of mine did and ran us aground on a reef where huge waves were crashing over our boat. Had to wait for a wave to lift us up enough to get off. It happens to the best of us. You are doing awesome, keep going. And it’s fun to watch. Imagine how boring this would be if it all went to plan! Neill
You should always have at least one navigation backup. Besides my chartplotter, I have navionics on my old iphone6 and it has never failed me. In addition, I carry a garmin gpsmap 64 onto which I download multiple tracks for different destinations in the North Channel and Georgian Bay, as well as Lake Huron harbors. I’ve never needed them, but it is sometimes convenient to watch the gps instead of the phone or chartplotter. It’s easy to transfer navionics routes to the garmin but requires a laptop. At least, that’s how I do it. Good luck and happy sailing.
In your situation, I would have put the main to bed and sailed (Downwind) with the head sail. Less heal and, with the furler, you can shorten sail easily if overpowered.
I've sailed the North Channel for about 10 years, most of them using a handheld gps with a small screen, not unlike your phone screen. Last year a purchased a refurbished large iPad and a mount which placed it right in front of my face at the helm. I was quite surprised at the significant difference in safety that change provided. I didn't have to take my attention away from the water and buoys to get a look at my course on the screen. A quick glance and my course was obvious. The investment is worth it,, particularly as a solo sailor.
Hey, thanks! I'm definitely going to upgrade my navigation system. The boat was boat in Michigan and this is the first sailing. I'll be doing a major refit of the boat, including electrical and nav. There were far too many times when the phone lost sat signal and the navionics was useless. Of course I managed but one less headache in the future will make sailing solo a lot more fun.
Thank you. I just want to make the most of my life. I’d only suggest that you start slow, get used to being self-reliant and alone in nature. Then slowly expand within your comfort zone.
if your outboard prop is not out of the water you probs want it running dead ahead? if not the prop may well be contributing to what looks like a bit of weather helm there.
I like the video a lot but I do have a few questions! (1) I did not see a safety boat or raft is that a concern for you? (2) I have seen a few sailing vessels and I did not see a wind power generator to keep the battery for the electronics charged do you have something like that or solar panels? (3) when you anchored you said you paid out over 30 feet of anchor line the shoreline looked closer than that I’m guessing that the channel you were in was flowing and there was no way that the boat could end up on the bank of the river?
I'm a beginner sailor. And I already know that I won't learn something until I make a mistake doing that thing, and the mistake has consequences. In only a few months I've been in so many situations, including having to be rescued by a tourist party boat (and I party'd with the tourists). Videos like this one, when one can almost feel being in the boat with you, making the right or wrong decisions, and seeing the consequences, are priceless. Thanks for sharing your adventures!
You’re not tired to the boat,the sea will take you.
Thanks and thanks for watching
Great video, thanks for your honesty and humility. Fair winds to you.
My pleasure! 😇 thanks
I hope everything’s going well for you. I know it must feel really nice to be back in
Canada. Enjoy.
Thank you 😊
i am similar to you but started 10 years ago in a 26ft. it's been 10 good years and I enjoy watching you go through the same experiences. etc. Kurt from Denmark
Great videos. Darcy says wear a harness Jason and clip in. We want to continue to see your videos. Cooler than Queretaro but even more fun. Don't sweat the little miscalculations. Every sailor has made numerous mistakes. We learn from them.
Noted! 😊 say hi to Darcy for me. Hope you’re both doing well.
After all the headaches I think you are just doing great. 👍. You are very brave to have undertaken this whole trip, your planning has been great, no one gets by without a mistake. Stop beating yourself up.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for sharing, even the not so pleasant moments ❤
Everyone got a lesson and that's how everyone made progress.
Good lesson learned, when in tight quarters always pay attention to the markers. Troubleshooting electronic devices should always be secondary. Everyone runs aground.
Looks like a fab sail you got after the little boo-boo.
Thanks. Yeah, it did the trick
Well done 🙌✨️⛵️ learning a lot 🩵
Thank you 🙌
I've watched your sailing videos thus far and thank you for documenting and sharing your experience as a new sailor. It has certainly helped me to get a better perspective as to what to look for as I start my journey into being a new sailor. I will also start in freshwater as that is the closest resource for me. (Northern Ohio). ASA classes are there and discounts to veterans. I would like to get a boat to grow into being I want a liveaboard. I have at least the fall and winter months to make preparations. Looking forward to spring '25. Keep the videos coming.
Sounds like a cool future adventure. I would definitely recommend the ASA courses as you get started. I learned a lot and will likely continue to learn through their programs
We all learn by mistakes, just go out there, make them and learn. Started out 15 years ago as a novis solosailor and would like to add some things:
PFD with safety harness!, clip in to the middle of the boat with a short safetyline. If theres is nowhere to clip in...make them points yourselves. If you fall overboard in those temperatures, your done.
Backup working electronics thats ON, AND papercharts if everything goes black on the screens.
As a temporary autopilot, rubberlines. Learn to balance the sails for the course/boat and you can sail with a rubberline at the tiller for hours.
Sorry for the bad english...I´m Swedish.
Fair winds and keep going!
Awesome! Thanks for the tips.
I couldn’t get a pdf with harness in time for the trip but do tie myself in sometimes (should be always).
A lot to learn
Thanks again
I noted for the log, that you did not clip in when you went forward. You must be lucky than I am. Also I noticed no one was around.
Yes. Both points true
I just watched one of your other videos where you were installing the reef cringles in your main sail and I remembered seeing this episode where your sail tore. I had reef cringles installed last off-season as part of my yearly re-stitching PM and I noticed that the sail shop put 6 layers of patch panels before punching the cringle holes through the sail to keep what just happened from occurring. It's a bummer but I would go back and sew patch panels for your cringle holes. There is a lot of force on the reefing points. My Pearson Vanguard has a rotating boom which is used for reefing the main sail (so therefore no cringle reef points were ever installed in my main) but I had slab reefing points installed to be used as a back up reefing system w Single Line Reefing brought back to the cockpit. I learned the hard (scary) way that leaving the cockpit to reef in a storm will refocus your mind set to have a strong reefing system that is easy, safe & reliable. Sh*t happens and we learn stuff. All the best my friend and keep up the great adventures!
😳 6 layers! 😆 I guess that’s where I went wrong.
Comment! I just realized your boat is green. Nice.
Hell of a day Jason...let me guess...it was the spreader that put the tear in the main?
Keep getting back up in the saddle...you are doing great!
Thanks 👍 actually it was a reef tie down point 😕
At min. 20:09 good time to heave too and put at least one reef in the main, maybe 2, & then adjust your head sail for balance?
Heave to? Why?
I am too proud. I would have stripped, jumped in and pushed it off myself. I would have tried I think. lol.
Maybe someone already mentioned it but a Tiller Tamer will make your solo sailing so much easier.
Yeah, I’ve been looking into options. But, thanks
I ran aground for the first time this year, after 30+ years of sailing. Super embarrassing, but no harm done. Happens to every sailor eventually! I spent 7 hours dried out in the sandy mud!
Yeah…
I knew it would happen eventually, but as you say, super embarrassing and I had hoped it wouldn’t happen for a while. At least I was close to a tow off 🤣
Shit Happens Jason!
At least you didn’t hit the rock or do what a skipper of mine did and ran us aground on a reef where huge waves were crashing over our boat.
Had to wait for a wave to lift us up enough to get off. It happens to the best of us. You are doing awesome, keep going. And it’s fun to watch. Imagine how boring this would be if it all went to plan! Neill
Yep. A day of shit happening. Do I have your contact? I wanna ask you about something
You should always have at least one navigation backup. Besides my chartplotter, I have navionics on my old iphone6 and it has never failed me.
In addition, I carry a garmin gpsmap 64 onto which I download multiple tracks for different destinations in the North Channel and Georgian Bay, as well as Lake Huron harbors. I’ve never needed them, but it is sometimes convenient to watch the gps instead of the phone or chartplotter.
It’s easy to transfer navionics routes to the garmin but requires a laptop. At least, that’s how I do it.
Good luck and happy sailing.
The one thing you don’t mention is A CHART. 🤦♂️ Maybe not pay attention to the whiz bang electronics and actually look at a chart? 🤷♂️
In your situation, I would have put the main to bed and sailed (Downwind) with the head sail. Less heal and, with the furler, you can shorten sail easily if overpowered.
I've sailed the North Channel for about 10 years, most of them using a handheld gps with a small screen, not unlike your phone screen. Last year a purchased a refurbished large iPad and a mount which placed it right in front of my face at the helm. I was quite surprised at the significant difference in safety that change provided. I didn't have to take my attention away from the water and buoys to get a look at my course on the screen. A quick glance and my course was obvious. The investment is worth it,, particularly as a solo sailor.
Hey, thanks!
I'm definitely going to upgrade my navigation system. The boat was boat in Michigan and this is the first sailing. I'll be doing a major refit of the boat, including electrical and nav.
There were far too many times when the phone lost sat signal and the navionics was useless. Of course I managed but one less headache in the future will make sailing solo a lot more fun.
How do you push yourself to take on these amazing challenges? Inspiring. I just retired but too afraid to do these things.
Thank you.
I just want to make the most of my life.
I’d only suggest that you start slow, get used to being self-reliant and alone in nature. Then slowly expand within your comfort zone.
These things happen. I try to look after so I can keep an eye out for it. It will happen again, such is life
if your outboard prop is not out of the water you probs want it running dead ahead? if not the prop may well be contributing to what looks like a bit of weather helm there.
Ah, good suggestion and thanks
A vang would keep the mainsail off the spreader
Yeah, I’m planning on changing a lot with the rigging
I like the video a lot but I do have a few questions! (1) I did not see a safety boat or raft is that a concern for you? (2) I have seen a few sailing vessels and I did not see a wind power generator to keep the battery for the electronics charged do you have something like that or solar panels? (3) when you anchored you said you paid out over 30 feet of anchor line the shoreline looked closer than that I’m guessing that the channel you were in was flowing and there was no way that the boat could end up on the bank of the river?
reminds me of the hole i put in my whelen.
What is the location of this video?
Drummond Island Michigan and then onward into Canadian waters of the north channel
I don't think you will live long .
😂 why not?