So basically, you're just a human being being human? Cannot fault that, too much pressure has to be relieved somehow. In the meantime, what a tremendous achievement, and what a truly beautiful boat. Well done all.
No wonder that your are nearly running on fumes. You have given so much to this grand endeavor but also you have given so much of your self to take all of us on this extraordinary adventure. May our unconditional support give you a deserved top off.
I sort of saw that coming, Steve. Very understandable you hit a wall after so many years working hard on Arabella. As they say: one hand for the ship, one hand for yourself. Please recover, but in your own time. And thanks for the honesty. Fair winds to you all, from Amsterdam, NL.
I took a new job in March of 2016. I was away from my family for 1 year 9 months and 3 days (but who’s counting) I found this channel and watched the lead pour by accident one day. I was hooked. Never being interested in sailing, my curiosity got the best of me. My wife would ask me if I was still building a boat and when would it be finished almost once a week for 7 years now. She, like me, couldn’t understand my interest in it. Im not sure I still do yet but here I am still enthralled. Thank you for the dedication to the videos of your journey. I can’t put into words how I feel like ‘we built a boat’. It kept me sane a few times, while missing my family tremendously. I got to tell my wife ‘we’ sailed for the first time today. Thank you to everyone who was/is involved in this absolutely amazing endeavor. You are all amazing.
even in a time of perceived weakness, you give strength to others. Your ability to self reflect is an example for all of us. I started to watch this channel years ago because of the carpentry skills and challenges in front of you, but I stayed because of you and the people that are around you. You got this Steve
One of my favorite moments of sailing is when the sails are up and the engine shuts off. All of the sudden you have that rumble sound disappear and the sound of lapping water hit the hull as the wind takes full control moving the boat! The burdens of the modern world workings disappear and I enjoy that moment of zen. Happy sails!
Yep, we all struggle keeping things in proper perspective. Your video documentary exhibits years of focused hard work in creating and now to reset the mind for adventuring is not as simple as it sounds. Great job reflecting on that Steve and congrats to the entire crew!
Bringing Arabella from a dream and lines lofted out, your wood selected and felled, through to this day under sail is a huge achievement Steve. To all involved hands on during the build, well done. You’ve shown the best side of humanity in giving your skills and effort to help a dream become reality. That is something to carry with satisfaction and pride in seeing the result of your shared labours now in her true element. To all of you who brought this dream to the rest of us, all around the world, through your own skills with camera, editing, beautiful music and the telling of the story, you have all excelled in producing a body of work that is a story, a diary, a reference and a work of art to be proud of. Most of all, Steve, you’ve not only made a thing of beauty, an expression of your mind, skills and determination, but also a home for your and Robyn’s dreams of your tomorrows. My heart is singing now for you both. Well done all, I for one cannot wait to see you learning to stretch your wings and find your next dreams through your travels. I can only offer you all my heartfelt respect, my congratulations and my very best wishes for all of your futures, you’ve inspired so many and that is a gift beyond measure. Take care, fair winds, regards, Rob. 😎👍🍻
It's so great to see Robin enjoying Arrabella too steve has spent so many hours in the boat house making her its so nice to see Steve and Robin finally enjoying her together..
It must be so surreal looking at Arabella, and just thinking "wow, we made this". The cool thing is at this point its really just her starting point, and she will likely be with your family for generations!
Wondered when "the wall" might catch up with you, Steve...you, however, have acknowledged it and are taking steps to recover and refocus !! SMART MAN!! Your journeys have just begun and they WILL BE GLORIOUS!! Best to you, Robin and all the crew--including the beautiful furry one...⛵⛵⛵🤩🤩🤩
Steve, many things could be said, but others have said them. So i'll just congratulate you on being a person with an ironclad will. You had a goal, you worked that goal, you adhered to it through every step good or bad, and now you have achieved it. Few in this world, today, can say they've chased a dream to completion as you did.
Nice 'pre-shakedown cruise' shakedown cruise vid. I scanned the comments and didn't see anything concerning the anchors waggling in their brackets. That would be a HUGE wear issue for me. I'm assuming the anchors will be addressed in future "fit and finish" vids. With the push to make launch and your mom's health issues, you deserve to be 'a little cranky'. One HELL of an accomplishment!
Hard to believe this is your first sail. I'm sure you have done a ton of reading and know more about it than most sailors. Now comes the fun part, getting the experience. The sound of the Nanni diesel is delightful. We wish you fair winds and calm seas. I'm jealous.
Mr. Doyle and the rigging crew did great, Arabella is faster under sail in a fair breeze than the engine. I own a small Boston Whaler, and was surprised when someone at the launch told me they were originally made in Boston! The only time I have seen the word 'Sakonnet' was as a classic Boston Whaler model. Enjoy the relaxation Steve and Robin and enjoy the wind in the sails, you truly deserve it.
Hiya Andrew! Even nuttier than that about the Boston Whaler: a friend of mine is the grandson of the original designer/inventor. His father really got into bronze working, specifically bell making, so Josh’s grandfather sold the company rather than passing it to family. US Bells still exists up on mount desert island in Maine, Josh is a very talented graphic artist, and the family is absolutely stunned at how big the brand became! -Anne
Steve, Arabella turned out really amazing. I've been watching off and on since the tree cutting and keel casting days. You've touched a lot of lives, including mine. Thank you.
Cool to see the drone footage credit to Paul Jackman, I kinda forgot that he's up in that neck of the woods now. Take care everyone! Steve, don't forget to take some deep breaths. I totally understand that pressure to get "all the things" done, and I know you'll manage to get some rest, and start being able to enjoy. Thank you, as always, to the whole crew, KP, Satchell, Anne, and Ben for keeping all of us in touch, and helping keep Steve sane.
good to see you at the tiller Steve. After cutting down all of the trees and learning so much, you built a sailboat without knowing how to sail. That, honestly, seemed a bit daft. However, dreams don't necessarily have to have a definite order. And as I watch you sail your boat, it occurs to me that you learned to sail, all of the time you were building the boat. Everything done was ultimately designed, figured out, problems solved, built and finished with one ultimate purpose... Sailing. it would be like a guy building an airplane. by the time he's done, he knows intimately how it works. the actual flying would be the sum total of all of the working pieces and so too, you know a ton about sailing, more than you even yet know. The rest of the story and this is from someone that has sailed most of my life, you will sail and learn. always. Strangely enough, each sail, each learning experience is what keeps it interesting. Congratulations sailor!
Beautiful wood, nice rig, workshop, a living boat, schooner rigged, easy sailing, life is good. Happy days always and hope to cross tacks sometime! SkipRay, Kerry, Ireland.
Steve, you have now officially built a sailboat ... launched a sailboat ... motored a sailboat ... and sailed a sailboat! Congratulations to you Sir, and the whole crew. KP, so happy you are doing better.
I am surprised you never crashed before, I think I have been watching you for 7 years or so and ever bit I saw was uphill. You made the deadline, it's able to sail, take some sweet quiet time and relax until your better. See you soon.
What is a personal achievement without taking the personal time to experience it? Life changing events (especially the most awesome ones) are always stressful. You've a lot to take in. You've been working under our eyes for the past 7 years. Enjoy your break. Come back when you're ready.
8:50 - missing some screws on the deck side of that brace/bracket... She’s looking Grand Guy’s... what an epic effort to get to this point in time... Happy Sails to You.!! 🌞✌🏼
Your dog looks very comfortable on the boat. Even going down the companionway steps. I last had my great dog on a catamaran and he adapted. Unfortunately he aged and we had to put him down. I miss having a dog so much…this month it is 3 years dogless. And now I have a monohull. Tougher for the dogs. Yours is great!
Steve, thank you for sharing where you are at. So many times, we don't want to admit that we are just worn out. It sounds like you and Robin need to take a few days and find a rock to climb!
He also has a very seriously ill mother and I know from personal experience even being fully grown what an awful emotional toll that takes on a young man. Stacked in with EVERYTHING else he's dealing with (good and bad).
I've done that to myself on more than one occasion. Push hard to get something done so you can enjoy it and then find you are so shattered by the experience that you don't enjoy it. While I have not managed to solve the problem, I have found that taking your eyes of it for a while does change your perspective. You return to it happy at the completed task. So enjoy land with Ben for a bit.
Company is always interesting on a small boat . For Us my wife and I we always enjoyed friends out sailing but were always more relaxed and comfortable alone . Boat looks great and the sound track was tight one of the best .
Arabella has beautiful lines. You have a magnificent ketch. Congratulations Steve and all your crew. Akiva looks duly pleased with his new enlarged kennel!
I have built a house and hired subs to do some of the tasks. The pressure of trying to meet a deadline made me grumpy at times. Building a boat is hundreds of time harder and trying to meet a deadline while worrying about loved ones has to to take a tole. I’m sure your crew recognizes that. Take care of yourselves and take some extended time off. Beautiful boat!!!!
Give yourself all the time you need to recharge your batteries. You deserve it. You took on a monumental task and accomplished it quite well. It's absolutely normal that you need some time to regroup and refresh yourself both mentally and physically. It's great to see that akiva seems to love boat life. I'm looking forward to seeing where your journey takes you. Thanks for bringing us along
Ben, you did a excellent job at that end by allowing us to just take in Steve's words and watch the video instead of filling it with background music. You music is awesome and it really makes the video, but in this case, leaving out the music was a masterpiece. Thank you. Keep up the great work Steve, and take all the time you need to take care of yourself. I hope you were able to sail with your mom. BTW, I never noticed anything tense, but thank you for being open.
I can’t believe have been following y’all since logging and there is a sailing boat now. This has been my Friday or every other Friday since before my PhD.
Its been an awesome journey to follow- I've been here since the keel pour. I look forward to more content in the future, but definitely remember to slow down and keep your mental health. We can wait a bit longer for the next video if we have to. Fair Winds and Following Seas!
Congratulations Steve. You've finally crossed that magical line in the COLREGS. Going from powerboat to sailboat. No small thing. I hope you enjoyed the moment.
Cranky? Grouchy? Here here! Guilty as charged, yeronner! You built a massive pyramid here, I would not have the energy. WHen I get super pressed for time (and PARTICULARY when I can't find hand tools) I go berserk. You're better at that than I am. Last night I took the dog out for a walk and played on the lawn with solitude, quiet, and a spectacular sunset all around me, and chilled out and also this morning. I can handle what's next. Hopefully Stephen, you get some o' that quality time. It's certainly earned!
Wow doesn't Arabella look amazing in the water under sail, well done all, what a great journey so, you must all be so proud, if a little tired, fair winds Arabella and crew, and I am looking forward to the next stage of the journey.
Steve ,Robin......this Is we're I will .....leave you ......your journey now is private ....its been a fantastic journey from keel pouring to launch ....I wish all the joys and adventures to come take care sail safe ....regards from Stuart in the uk
❤❤I've been following you on insta and youtube since almost the beginning. And now, seeing this beautiful ship gliding smoothly on the waters, it fills my heart with happiness and with enthusiasm to follow my projects. You, as well as everyone around you, a big hug from here in Brazil. Now waiting for Sampsom to finish Tally Ho. keep caressing our hearts with the videos another big and strong hug. Ass: Erickson ❤❤
I've watched this for for years, you've been head down working on it for a very long time, you'll probably find it'll take while to unwind from all that's been. Enjoy the boat and a well earned rest!
Steve....Grab every minute of downtime on a mooring you can. The main systems are finished, and after, there will always be "something to do." You and your crew deserve it, and the Sea will demand it!! DD
I think it may take a lot longer than you expect to learn how to relax again, it's not just like riding a bike. But you have created your own enviroment that is generaly seen as one of the best ways to decompress so I am confident you will find a new grove that works.
To be fair, I didn't really notice the tension. I mean, I've been sailing a lot when tired and / or stressed out, so I guess someone being a bit tense or stressed out on a boat is just business as usual :D You did great, and I hope you got the time to relax and decompress! This is a marvelous thing you've built there!
Every Friday night at work i enjoy watching the latest AtA. It's that little treat to make the final push to the weekend. So thanks for all the Fridays that go a little smoother. Steve i hope you get some good decompression. With 4 people a dog and a list of things to finish, i am sure your "weekend" has been pushed back a bunch. So enjoy some rest, and see you all next Friday.
Steve, I gotta say man, whatever joyless grinding you have put yourself through these last years and especially lately has resulted in huge enjoyment for the public that your endeavor has drawn like moths to a flame! For my part thank you for your pains and may you reap bountifully what you have sown thru your grinding perseverance to your goal! Good on ya mate, job well done!
I have been cruising on my own boat for the past week first time in 10 years with my two dogs for the first time. Steve and crew you have been doing soooo much, I cant imagine hiw exhausted you must have been and hiw hard that "wall" must have felt. As you are now learning sailing and sailing vessels, particularly traditional ones, cant be rushed. In that slowness there are lessons. Arabella will teach you things, protect you and nurture you as you have her. Take your time, continue to recover.
Couple videos ago I was about thinking your stress level must be very high. So much to do and everyone watching at the same time. Things will calm down. ❤
Should have a video, what works, what does not work, issues, waterline miscalculation, what should have been done differently, etc. Looks great at 14:45. Congrats Steve, job well done!
I think that the emotion and mindset that you are feeling is because you spent so much of your life over the past years building the boat and identifying as a builder and now it is winding down. Who are you and what are you going to do now that you are not building the boat? It will take a while to relax and move into the new life. Enjoy, you are allowed to relax now and move onto new adventures. Goodbye boat builder, hello adventurer!
Congratulations Steve, an absolutely brilliant achievement to get this far. I have been watching this channel since the keel lead pour, and sensing the trials and tribulations along the way. I watched this episode with a mixture of excitement twinged with melancholy. It felt like the pressure of the build, the launch and all the accompanying tasks were almost too much. I hope you get some time to relax, reflect and enjoy some quiet time under sail.
Whew! Sailing! Glad that part is finally accomplished. We all hit walls. At least you know what the big deal is… it… isn’t. You get the sails up and everything is flapping around and the anticipation of your imagination runs, and then… boom. Your moving along. It wasn’t as climactic as you thought. You’re just holding onto a tiller for hours after that. That’s a pretty small boat for so much crew. We wondered where everyone was sleeping! Enjoy the space and freedom of some peace and quiet. You deserve it. ✌️❤️
I'm looking forward to the video in a year's time from now when you've become the weathered sailor (and capt) befitting of Arabella and are comfortably at home in your (new) natural habitat. Well done and sail on!
Dramatically and abruptly changing a lifestyle is not a race. Rather, controlled chaos until such time as familiarity takes hold. The questions are your own as the answers are your own. Acheivements take on a new scale in a new lifestyle. Follow your bliss, whether it be building a boat or sailing a boat. You're on a less traveled path with vicarious discerning spectators. Continue owning your path and enjoy the likeminded.
I've had a thought rattling around my brain for a day or two... 'Fighting with someone you love is noble and good, when your goal is to be certain they win.' Keep loving the people around you... including yourself.
Decompressing? Interesting word to use. I call that, relaxing. I ease the stress i have had with finishing up what needs to be done, then relax.. I decompress when i am diving, but hey words are great. There will be issues to debug as the trip unfolds. Best of luck on the sail.
Stephen man....take care of yourself. What you accomplished in leading this project is eons away from what I have the energy for. I think I speak for everyone here that we don't mind if you take the time you need to recharge. What is ahead in terms of content and quality of life for you, Robin and the crew, is totally worthy of a personal reset for you guys.
Congratulations on the completion and launch of Arabella. It truly has been a long long road but you stuck with it and now Steve and company it's time to learn how to sail Arabella. I'm sure you're keenly aware by now that building a boat and sailing one are distinctly different activities. Each has it's own rewards! And yes, there is a rather steep knowledge curve in learning how to sail a boat properly but you guys will get the hang of it with patience and a fair amount of practice. Things on board the boat will go wrong now and then, to be expected, but the rewards and joy of sailing your own boat are immeasurable. Too bad about Arabella not floating on her waterline properly but certainly correctable later on. Have fun!
![ARGENTINA vs. BOLIVIA [6-0] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 10](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/C3wPtKNbAOA/mqdefault.jpg)
So basically, you're just a human being being human? Cannot fault that, too much pressure has to be relieved somehow. In the meantime, what a tremendous achievement, and what a truly beautiful boat. Well done all.
'So basically, you're just a human being being human?'... could not have said that any better, steve you're just human.
Yeah totally just normal. Thanks for sharing with us the real Steve
No wonder that your are nearly running on fumes. You have given so much to this grand endeavor but also you have given so much of your self to take all of us on this extraordinary adventure. May our unconditional support give you a deserved top off.
I sort of saw that coming, Steve. Very understandable you hit a wall after so many years working hard on Arabella. As they say: one hand for the ship, one hand for yourself. Please recover, but in your own time. And thanks for the honesty. Fair winds to you all, from Amsterdam, NL.
@maruiacancerc One day, one step, at a time. Never give up, Never surrender, and don’t let the bastards wear you down. #FuckCancer
I took a new job in March of 2016. I was away from my family for 1 year 9 months and 3 days (but who’s counting) I found this channel and watched the lead pour by accident one day. I was hooked. Never being interested in sailing, my curiosity got the best of me. My wife would ask me if I was still building a boat and when would it be finished almost once a week for 7 years now. She, like me, couldn’t understand my interest in it. Im not sure I still do yet but here I am still enthralled.
Thank you for the dedication to the videos of your journey. I can’t put into words how I feel like ‘we built a boat’. It kept me sane a few times, while missing my family tremendously.
I got to tell my wife ‘we’ sailed for the first time today.
Thank you to everyone who was/is involved in this absolutely amazing endeavor. You are all amazing.
even in a time of perceived weakness, you give strength to others. Your ability to self reflect is an example for all of us. I started to watch this channel years ago because of the carpentry skills and challenges in front of you, but I stayed because of you and the people that are around you. You got this Steve
Thanks for those kind words and for watching!
One of my favorite moments of sailing is when the sails are up and the engine shuts off. All of the sudden you have that rumble sound disappear and the sound of lapping water hit the hull as the wind takes full control moving the boat! The burdens of the modern world workings disappear and I enjoy that moment of zen. Happy sails!
Happy Friday, Kevin!
Well done Steve and all the great people who assisted you along the way. Enjoy your dream!
Yep, we all struggle keeping things in proper perspective. Your video documentary exhibits years of focused hard work in creating and now to reset the mind for adventuring is not as simple as it sounds. Great job reflecting on that Steve and congrats to the entire crew!
Cheers!
Bringing Arabella from a dream and lines lofted out, your wood selected and felled, through to this day under sail is a huge achievement Steve.
To all involved hands on during the build, well done. You’ve shown the best side of humanity in giving your skills and effort to help a dream become reality. That is something to carry with satisfaction and pride in seeing the result of your shared labours now in her true element.
To all of you who brought this dream to the rest of us, all around the world, through your own skills with camera, editing, beautiful music and the telling of the story, you have all excelled in producing a body of work that is a story, a diary, a reference and a work of art to be proud of.
Most of all, Steve, you’ve not only made a thing of beauty, an expression of your mind, skills and determination, but also a home for your and Robyn’s dreams of your tomorrows.
My heart is singing now for you both.
Well done all, I for one cannot wait to see you learning to stretch your wings and find your next dreams through your travels.
I can only offer you all my heartfelt respect, my congratulations and my very best wishes for all of your futures, you’ve inspired so many and that is a gift beyond measure.
Take care, fair winds, regards, Rob. 😎👍🍻
I've followed the series all the way but now the boat is actually sailing it's surprising how untidy everything is! Come on do some tidying up!
It's so great to see Robin enjoying Arrabella too steve has spent so many hours in the boat house making her its so nice to see Steve and Robin finally enjoying her together..
It must be so surreal looking at Arabella, and just thinking "wow, we made this". The cool thing is at this point its really just her starting point, and she will likely be with your family for generations!
Wondered when "the wall" might catch up with you, Steve...you, however, have acknowledged it and are taking steps to recover and refocus !! SMART MAN!! Your journeys have just begun and they WILL BE GLORIOUS!! Best to you, Robin and all the crew--including the beautiful furry one...⛵⛵⛵🤩🤩🤩
When it comes to health,, MENTAL health is essential!
After 7 years I think Steve deserves a few weeks off. Greetings from the UK
Yup! -Anne
i was in the navy,, you have 3 jobs on a boat,, cleaning the boat,, operating the boat, and cleaning the boat. LoL.,,, THAT,, is a gorgeous boat!
Steve, many things could be said, but others have said them. So i'll just congratulate you on being a person with an ironclad will. You had a goal, you worked that goal, you adhered to it through every step good or bad, and now you have achieved it. Few in this world, today, can say they've chased a dream to completion as you did.
Some folks don’t have the opportunity, despite their hard work, too. A lot of luck and community support here that can’t be overlooked. Thanks!
Nice 'pre-shakedown cruise' shakedown cruise vid.
I scanned the comments and didn't see anything concerning the anchors waggling in their brackets. That would be a HUGE wear issue for me.
I'm assuming the anchors will be addressed in future "fit and finish" vids.
With the push to make launch and your mom's health issues, you deserve to be 'a little cranky'.
One HELL of an accomplishment!
Hard to believe this is your first sail. I'm sure you have done a ton of reading and know more about it than most sailors. Now comes the fun part, getting the experience. The sound of the Nanni diesel is delightful. We wish you fair winds and calm seas. I'm jealous.
Mr. Doyle and the rigging crew did great, Arabella is faster under sail in a fair breeze than the engine. I own a small Boston Whaler, and was surprised when someone at the launch told me they were originally made in Boston! The only time I have seen the word 'Sakonnet' was as a classic Boston Whaler model. Enjoy the relaxation Steve and Robin and enjoy the wind in the sails, you truly deserve it.
Hiya Andrew! Even nuttier than that about the Boston Whaler: a friend of mine is the grandson of the original designer/inventor. His father really got into bronze working, specifically bell making, so Josh’s grandfather sold the company rather than passing it to family. US Bells still exists up on mount desert island in Maine, Josh is a very talented graphic artist, and the family is absolutely stunned at how big the brand became! -Anne
Nice to see Arabella under Sails, finally!
Steve, Arabella turned out really amazing. I've been watching off and on since the tree cutting and keel casting days. You've touched a lot of lives, including mine. Thank you.
Cool to see the drone footage credit to Paul Jackman, I kinda forgot that he's up in that neck of the woods now.
Take care everyone! Steve, don't forget to take some deep breaths. I totally understand that pressure to get "all the things" done, and I know you'll manage to get some rest, and start being able to enjoy.
Thank you, as always, to the whole crew, KP, Satchell, Anne, and Ben for keeping all of us in touch, and helping keep Steve sane.
Cheers! -Anne
good to see you at the tiller Steve. After cutting down all of the trees and learning so much, you built a sailboat without knowing how to sail. That, honestly, seemed a bit daft. However, dreams don't necessarily have to have a definite order. And as I watch you sail your boat, it occurs to me that you learned to sail, all of the time you were building the boat. Everything done was ultimately designed, figured out, problems solved, built and finished with one ultimate purpose... Sailing. it would be like a guy building an airplane. by the time he's done, he knows intimately how it works. the actual flying would be the sum total of all of the working pieces and so too, you know a ton about sailing, more than you even yet know. The rest of the story and this is from someone that has sailed most of my life, you will sail and learn. always. Strangely enough, each sail, each learning experience is what keeps it interesting. Congratulations sailor!
Beautiful wood, nice rig, workshop, a living boat, schooner rigged, easy sailing, life is good. Happy days always and hope to cross tacks sometime! SkipRay, Kerry, Ireland.
There are no words that can speak of your accomplishments! Arabella is a beautiful lady! May God smile upon you.
@@bartymurns maturity is realizing how many things don't require your opinion.
Steve, you have now officially built a sailboat ... launched a sailboat ... motored a sailboat ... and sailed a sailboat! Congratulations to you Sir, and the whole crew. KP, so happy you are doing better.
I am surprised you never crashed before, I think I have been watching you for 7 years or so and ever bit I saw was uphill. You made the deadline, it's able to sail, take some sweet quiet time and relax until your better. See you soon.
Really great job guys. You should be proud of your homemade boat... been watching from the beginning.
Cheers for being on the journey with us!
What is a personal achievement without taking the personal time to experience it? Life changing events (especially the most awesome ones) are always stressful. You've a lot to take in.
You've been working under our eyes for the past 7 years. Enjoy your break. Come back when you're ready.
8:50 - missing some screws on the deck side of that brace/bracket...
She’s looking Grand Guy’s... what an epic effort to get to this point in time... Happy Sails to You.!! 🌞✌🏼
Make me feel better about myself to know that even Steve runs out of energy sometime. Enjoy the relaxing.
EVERYONE runs out of energy. The trick is to stop before causing damage to one’s self, friends, or boats. -Anne
Your dog looks very comfortable on the boat. Even going down the companionway steps. I last had my great dog on a catamaran and he adapted. Unfortunately he aged and we had to put him down. I miss having a dog so much…this month it is 3 years dogless. And now I have a monohull. Tougher for the dogs. Yours is great!
How wonderful!!! All of it, every darned bit of it.
Steve, thank you for sharing where you are at. So many times, we don't want to admit that we are just worn out. It sounds like you and Robin need to take a few days and find a rock to climb!
He also has a very seriously ill mother and I know from personal experience even being fully grown what an awful emotional toll that takes on a young man. Stacked in with EVERYTHING else he's dealing with (good and bad).
Thanks for your kind words.
I've done that to myself on more than one occasion. Push hard to get something done so you can enjoy it and then find you are so shattered by the experience that you don't enjoy it. While I have not managed to solve the problem, I have found that taking your eyes of it for a while does change your perspective. You return to it happy at the completed task. So enjoy land with Ben for a bit.
Company is always interesting on a small boat . For Us my wife and I we always enjoyed friends out sailing but were always more relaxed and comfortable alone . Boat looks great and the sound track was tight one of the best .
Love every little thing about this episode!! So happy we got to spend a few weeks with you here in Bristol!! Thank you!
Cheers! Love you guys, thank you soooo much!
Y’all appear to have been an amazing sponsor and supporter. Thank you for your generosity to this project.
Arabella has beautiful lines. You have a magnificent ketch. Congratulations Steve and all your crew. Akiva looks duly pleased with his new enlarged kennel!
It’s a lot smaller than his sweet spot plus the house in Granby, but yes, he’s definitely enjoying himself.
Chapter 1. The building of Arabella is finished
Chapter 2. The adventures of Arabella, is being made now
This channel gets better and better
Well, you've gone from a building channel to a sailing channel. Great looking vessel. Wishing you fair winds and following seas.
I have built a house and hired subs to do some of the tasks. The pressure of trying to meet a deadline made me grumpy at times. Building a boat is hundreds of time harder and trying to meet a deadline while worrying about loved ones has to to take a tole. I’m sure your crew recognizes that. Take care of yourselves and take some extended time off.
Beautiful boat!!!!
I've built a large home by myself and a boat similar to Steve's. The home was more stressful by far.
Give yourself all the time you need to recharge your batteries. You deserve it. You took on a monumental task and accomplished it quite well. It's absolutely normal that you need some time to regroup and refresh yourself both mentally and physically. It's great to see that akiva seems to love boat life. I'm looking forward to seeing where your journey takes you. Thanks for bringing us along
Ben, you did a excellent job at that end by allowing us to just take in Steve's words and watch the video instead of filling it with background music. You music is awesome and it really makes the video, but in this case, leaving out the music was a masterpiece. Thank you. Keep up the great work Steve, and take all the time you need to take care of yourself. I hope you were able to sail with your mom. BTW, I never noticed anything tense, but thank you for being open.
I can’t believe have been following y’all since logging and there is a sailing boat now. This has been my Friday or every other Friday since before my PhD.
Happy Friday!
Its been an awesome journey to follow- I've been here since the keel pour. I look forward to more content in the future, but definitely remember to slow down and keep your mental health. We can wait a bit longer for the next video if we have to. Fair Winds and Following Seas!
She's a beautiful boat, something for you and your crew to be proud of.
Congratulations Steve. You've finally crossed that magical line in the COLREGS. Going from powerboat to sailboat. No small thing. I hope you enjoyed the moment.
Nice to see her look so great under sail. Relax and unwind, you have been under a lot of pressure . Thank you again.
I love you all. Thank you, Steve, for a magnificent, inspiring, olympian quest. Looking forward to the next chapter of wonderful human beings afloat!
She's really beautiful on the water. I wish you decades of happiness and safe sailing❤
Cranky? Grouchy? Here here! Guilty as charged, yeronner! You built a massive pyramid here, I would not have the energy. WHen I get super pressed for time (and PARTICULARY when I can't find hand tools) I go berserk. You're better at that than I am. Last night I took the dog out for a walk and played on the lawn with solitude, quiet, and a spectacular sunset all around me, and chilled out and also this morning. I can handle what's next. Hopefully Stephen, you get some o' that quality time. It's certainly earned!
Steve, post-achievement depression is a real thing...take some time for yourself and Robin....we will all be here!
Proud of you man. Been watching since the keel pour. Sorry I didn't watch from the very beginning. Really cool to see people follow their dreams.
Wow doesn't Arabella look amazing in the water under sail, well done all, what a great journey so, you must all be so proud, if a little tired, fair winds Arabella and crew, and I am looking forward to the next stage of the journey.
Steve ,Robin......this Is we're I will .....leave you ......your journey now is private ....its been a fantastic journey from keel pouring to launch ....I wish all the joys and adventures to come take care sail safe ....regards from Stuart in the uk
Way ti go Steve and crew. Time for the all important if at times seemingly impossible gear shift to less stress. You have worked for it!
❤❤I've been following you on insta and youtube since almost the beginning. And now, seeing this beautiful ship gliding smoothly on the waters, it fills my heart with happiness and with enthusiasm to follow my projects. You, as well as everyone around you, a big hug from here in Brazil. Now waiting for Sampsom to finish Tally Ho. keep caressing our hearts with the videos another big and strong hug. Ass: Erickson ❤❤
I've watched this for for years, you've been head down working on it for a very long time, you'll probably find it'll take while to unwind from all that's been.
Enjoy the boat and a well earned rest!
Breath … your up to the challenge. Trust in your mates. Walk before you run . Great video. Many years in the making 🎉
That boat looks so smooooooth well done
Steve....Grab every minute of downtime on a mooring you can. The main systems are finished, and after, there will always be "something to do." You and your crew deserve it, and the Sea will demand it!! DD
Super!!!! Congratulations; looking good....richard Normandy, Fra.
Oh that anchor stowage won't end well Steve! glad your sailing, boat looks good..well done
Can't get over how beautiful that tender is. And I have never seen a dog happier to hang on a boat with his pack.
I think it may take a lot longer than you expect to learn how to relax again, it's not just like riding a bike. But you have created your own enviroment that is generaly seen as one of the best ways to decompress so I am confident you will find a new grove that works.
To be fair, I didn't really notice the tension. I mean, I've been sailing a lot when tired and / or stressed out, so I guess someone being a bit tense or stressed out on a boat is just business as usual :D You did great, and I hope you got the time to relax and decompress! This is a marvelous thing you've built there!
Every Friday night at work i enjoy watching the latest AtA. It's that little treat to make the final push to the weekend. So thanks for all the Fridays that go a little smoother. Steve i hope you get some good decompression. With 4 people a dog and a list of things to finish, i am sure your "weekend" has been pushed back a bunch. So enjoy some rest, and see you all next Friday.
7 long years of continuous work has really paid off. Congratulations. Hopefully you guys can get some down time soon.
Love it! Happy Friday, 'bella fam! ♥️☕
Happy Friday!
Well done Steve and Crew! I came here for the build several years ago but now Im staying for the sailing.
I appreciate very much you being able to recognise your issues at the end and sharing it with us although you really didn't need to do so.
Steve, I gotta say man, whatever joyless grinding you have put yourself through these last years and especially lately has resulted in huge enjoyment for the public that your endeavor has drawn like moths to a flame! For my part thank you for your pains and may you reap bountifully what you have sown thru your grinding perseverance to your goal! Good on ya mate, job well done!
So sweet to see out on the water. I so envy you all.
I have been cruising on my own boat for the past week first time in 10 years with my two dogs for the first time. Steve and crew you have been doing soooo much, I cant imagine hiw exhausted you must have been and hiw hard that "wall" must have felt. As you are now learning sailing and sailing vessels, particularly traditional ones, cant be rushed. In that slowness there are lessons. Arabella will teach you things, protect you and nurture you as you have her. Take your time, continue to recover.
It can be a lot of juggling. Thanks for taking the time to bring us along for the ride! Great to see the boat underway.
Awesome .... a little left wing and rushed at the end ...it floats !!!
Take it easy Steve. I can wait.
Couple videos ago I was about thinking your stress level must be very high. So much to do and everyone watching at the same time. Things will calm down. ❤
Should have a video, what works, what does not work, issues, waterline miscalculation, what should have been done differently, etc. Looks great at 14:45. Congrats Steve, job well done!
Stay tuned, that very video is in the works!
Hey Steve and crew, I’m marking this down, my video journey today has taken me to the Cape cod Canal. It’s my first trip. Thanks for taking me along.
Hooray! That’s what we love to hear, Jim. Thanks for coming along with us!
Totally understandable. I'm amazed you kept it together this long!
I think that the emotion and mindset that you are feeling is because you spent so much of your life over the past years building the boat and identifying as a builder and now it is winding down. Who are you and what are you going to do now that you are not building the boat? It will take a while to relax and move into the new life. Enjoy, you are allowed to relax now and move onto new adventures. Goodbye boat builder, hello adventurer!
Congratulations Steve, an absolutely brilliant achievement to get this far. I have been watching this channel since the keel lead pour, and sensing the trials and tribulations along the way. I watched this episode with a mixture of excitement twinged with melancholy. It felt like the pressure of the build, the launch and all the accompanying tasks were almost too much. I hope you get some time to relax, reflect and enjoy some quiet time under sail.
Whew! Sailing! Glad that part is finally accomplished. We all hit walls. At least you know what the big deal is… it… isn’t. You get the sails up and everything is flapping around and the anticipation of your imagination runs, and then… boom. Your moving along. It wasn’t as climactic as you thought. You’re just holding onto a tiller for hours after that. That’s a pretty small boat for so much crew. We wondered where everyone was sleeping! Enjoy the space and freedom of some peace and quiet. You deserve it. ✌️❤️
Happy sailing to you Arabella.
I'm looking forward to the video in a year's time from now when you've become the weathered sailor (and capt) befitting of Arabella and are comfortably at home in your (new) natural habitat. Well done and sail on!
Dramatically and abruptly changing a lifestyle is not a race. Rather, controlled chaos until such time as familiarity takes hold. The questions are your own as the answers are your own. Acheivements take on a new scale in a new lifestyle. Follow your bliss, whether it be building a boat or sailing a boat. You're on a less traveled path with vicarious discerning spectators. Continue owning your path and enjoy the likeminded.
I've had a thought rattling around my brain for a day or two... 'Fighting with someone you love is noble and good, when your goal is to be certain they win.' Keep loving the people around you... including yourself.
"I'll just have Steve whittle me a new spoon out of driftwood." Love that. 🙂
Decompressing? Interesting word to use. I call that, relaxing. I ease the stress i have had with finishing up what needs to be done, then relax.. I decompress when i am diving, but hey words are great. There will be issues to debug as the trip unfolds. Best of luck on the sail.
Simply amazing! All the best!
Hope to see you in St. John's, Newfoundland in you northerly travels. Arabella looks just beautiful
Great progress everyone!
Did not expect to see Xyla Foxlin on the east coast!
Stephen man....take care of yourself. What you accomplished in leading this project is eons away from what I have the energy for. I think I speak for everyone here that we don't mind if you take the time you need to recharge. What is ahead in terms of content and quality of life for you, Robin and the crew, is totally worthy of a personal reset for you guys.
Now is when your new life begins, enjoy it as long as it lasts. I wish you calm seas and safe harbors as long as you sail!
Thank you for letting us be a part of your journey. You have a beautiful boat and a great crew to enjoy it with. Well done! 🍾 🥂
You did an amazing thing - keeping the focus on a project like this takes a lot out of every one. Relax, and not worry about videos.
Oh boy, he's sailing 😮 they grow up so fast 😢
Happy Friday everyone!🎉🎉
HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!! Great to see her on the water.
Happy Friday, Aynsley!
Good morning Akiva 🐺 and Crew 😸😺
Congratulations on the completion and launch of Arabella. It truly has been a long long road but you stuck with it and now Steve and company it's time to learn how to sail Arabella. I'm sure you're keenly aware by now that building a boat and sailing one are distinctly different activities. Each has it's own rewards! And yes, there is a rather steep knowledge curve in learning how to sail a boat properly but you guys will get the hang of it with patience and a fair amount of practice. Things on board the boat will go wrong now and then, to be expected, but the rewards and joy of sailing your own boat are immeasurable. Too bad about Arabella not floating on her waterline properly but certainly correctable later on. Have fun!
Yup, a bit of paint. Thanks!