Episode 25 Sailing Solo from France to Shetland Islands
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- Опубликовано: 5 май 2018
- I sail the Eastern coast of the UK from Dover to Blyth -- showing how I dock at various new ports (to me). I show a potentially helpful tip on how to get your reefing point placed perfectly, and I show an interesting collision avoidance sequence: Stand On, or Give Way?
TY for having the CC on, it's good for the hearing impaired and when there's wind noise. Very good channel. I'm enjoying it
Brilliant reference to Scarborough Fair!! Love it!! 😂😂
"That's part of the fun of coming to a new place - they scare you." Well said, and it is nice to hear that from a seasoned captain such as yourself, it gives hope to us rookies. Thank you for these excellent videos!
For sure Wibutsi, the most stressful parts of my passages are the arrivals in unknown ports…… Riding out high winds and rough seas is much less stressful for me. :-)
As a not-yet-sailor (but interested), I find your videos fascinating and entertaining!
Great video Patrick. Thank you for demonstrating the techniques needed to dock singlehanded. The bit we all fear most! Your calm and clear instructive style is so easy to watch and should encourage all sailors to have confidence with their planning and execution of complex passages, evolutions and sail handling. Even your radio work is a lesson to all in clarity and efficiency. Thank you for sharing. Please will you start to video your undocking maneuveres too. Certainly as challenging as arrivals for single handers. Fair winds.
Very kind Nick. OK, I'll try to film a couple of departures --- not always easy, as I often leave very early in the morning (still dark.....). I'll make an effort.
Loved the Scarborough Faire reference. I guess that makes me one of the oldies 😆😁😁
Yep. You are officially 'of a certain age'.
i have to say your videos are more informative than most ....keep up the good work ...fair winds my friend !
Damn. I got the Scarborough joke, so I must not be young!
Love your videos, very informative and no fabricated drama like many of the other sailing channels. Just pure seamanship. Please continue!
Thanks for the feedback Matt.
Dover, Felixstowe and the Thames Estuary... wow... some busy high traffic areas... Yikes!
I am just recommencing sailing after years out and I am enjoying your videos... entertaining and informative 🏆
Yep -- that is a busy stretch of water. I was relieved to finally get further North. That said, I have friends who live there, and they say once you get familiar with those waters, they become less daunting.
Very helpful, watching the execution of your well practiced docking. Staying cool and collected seems to be key . Thanks again for sharing
Excellent vid again, I could watch you all day👍👍,keep them coming
Many thanks Phil. Kind of you.
Love your videos. Thanks for taking the time to teach so many.
Many thanks yroklj. It all starts with lessons, private or group, with a professional. After that, you just have to do like I am doing --- just go for it. :-)
Awesome video!! You're the best! I learned quite a lot just in this one presentation...thank you, and I'm glad you're back:)
Many thanks Frances. Very kind of you.
Very enjoyable series... Thanks :)
Much appreciated John. Thanks for the feedback.
Great video, can't agree more on a proper voyage plan ahead of time:) "She once was a true love of mine"
Yet again hats off to your great and well edited videos, thank you for putting time and effort in sharing your sailing adventures with us “phantom shipmates” 👏🏻👌🏻⛵️
Many thanks Jacob.
Patrick- thanks so much for taking me and all of us on your sailing trips. Notwithstanding some experience I am learning a good deal from you as all of us always learn when going along with an experienced guy. Keep it up, these videos are wonderful.
Too kind Martin. Thanks
Yet another great video in your adventure North, very helpful tip on reefing and there is no question you dock like a boss :-)
Many thanks Les. It took me a while to think the reefing point through. I was tired of the aft point floating two feet too high. :-)
Thanks again for the enjoyable hop along with you Patrick.
Many thanks Tim.
You must have made a roast with those fine Scarborough herbs! Love the videos, I'll get there soon LOL...favorable winds!
Hello Patrick, thoroughly enjoyed this episode, as always you make docking single handed a pleasure to watch, no matter how i rehearse a dock approach in my minds eye, they never seems to turn out quite so beautifully choreographed as your own, well done ! Keep them coming 👍
Ha. They get away from me from time to time. I don't lose sleep over it. ;-)
Another great sail, thank you for taking us along. ,,,,,,,,,,,/),,,,,,,,,fair winds.
Thanks again Dan.
Looks beautiful you’re my window on the real world - thanks
Hope you are feeling better my friend.
Great video Patrick, Shetland is a great destination you will so enjoy it
I already am having a wonderful time here.
Thank you for demonstrating how to take a reeve and how to dock , it was a mystery to this novice up to this point .
Looking forward to your Viking journey.
Very kind of you Bea. Much appreciated.
Hey.Skip!
Nice trick,the marked halyard! There is always something to learn from you! Thanks! 😎👍
That little trick (which someone else showed me) has saved me a lot of grief! Thanks.
Parsley, sage... Nicely done. 😋
haha yep i got it,one of my fav songs
Very impressive. Some very difficult sailing well executed!
Many thanks Snapography. I'm sure experienced UK coastal sailors snicker at my efforts, but it was a fun challenge. I spent a lot of time planning each leg --- to be sure to get tidal currents and harbour entrance depths correct. For once, it all came right. A good plan. Thanks for commenting.
Bryn Terfel's Scarborough Fair is terrific! Enjoy!
Love your videos Patrick cheers from Australia
Hello Down Under. Thanks for the kind words.
"Nice one Skip", "That's the way it's done", says the helpful dockhands at Scarborough. Best regards
Thanks again SV. Much appreciated.
I also noted that. Hearing that would have made my day :-)
Patrick Love your series. Here in Thailand when confronted with a Thai Fishing Boat the rule of "get out of my way or ill drive through you" is in play. If you hold you nerve and follow the rule that sailing boat holds course only the worst outcome possible will transpire. Thats the down side. The upside is all this happens whilst dressed in a T Shirt and Shorts .... no cold weather gear necessary. Keep up the great Solo vids... i'm learning a lot.....thank you.
:-) Someone else explained that to me as 'the rule of gross tonnage'. I imagine there are many places around the globe where the ColRegs are poorly respected. Thanks for the kind remark.
Great video Patrick!
Great vlog and great reference to Simon and Garfunkel.
For a landlubber I think I have an unnatural affinity to these videos... I'm learning a lot about things I have little use for, at least for the immediate future. Well, one thing that applies to every day life is the importance of preparation and planning, especially for complex tasks that requires quick and precise multitasking.
Keep the videos coming Patrick!
You'll get out to sea one day Mikael. Your mindset will get you there, I'm sure.
Thank you Patrick for your reply very helpful. Watching ep 27 Shetland to faro, in my opinion strengthens my suggestion for another crew member. At least two can share the watch especially when you have autopilot problems. But then of course you know that better then me. Thks again for such helpful insightful videos
Your hilarious about the Thames Estuary! Well done for explaining that to the folks. Its just where I've sailed so much. Actually draw a line from North Foreland to Lowestoft and everything within I would call the Thames Estuary. And very funny you had my old berth in Suffolk Yacht Harbour. Folk are terrified by our depths! To have a few inches under the keel in our parts is more than enough!! Good movie YET again Patrick.
Too kind James. I have to tell you that entering that channel to SYH, with mud clear visible on both sides made me ease back on the throttle a tad. :-) Also delighted that I did not break anything in your old berth! (It looked like it belonged to someone with all those fenders attached, so I thought I had come down the wrong side of the pontoon. All went well on the day.) Best regards to you my friend.
Hi Patrick - We are really enjoying your videos as we own a Bavaria 36 so your boat looks very familiar. Your tips for reefs and such are similar to what we do, but still a few obvious improvements that we can add to our boat. Fantastic stuff and we are in awe of your solo mooring skills
Bavaria owners of the world unite (especially as our mother company has just declared bankruptcy). Ouch! It's a big company, so I image they will just restructure and be acquired.
Something similar happened to Oyster Yachts last month and it is trading again, so hopefully Bavaria will be OK.
We tried your "ramming the pontoon" mooring technique a few days ago. Since we did it by accident, in reverse and with the dinghy being an unintentional fender we are not counting it a success (no damage done thankfully). Luckily, it was not captured on video :-)
I see you’ve been through our home cruising grounds Patrick! Really interesting video, with tricky pilotage and excellent singlehanded berthing. I had previously thought a 40ft Bavaria would be a bit big to sail singlehanded, but you’re opening my eyes to what is possible!
I think the key to safe single-handed sailing is to be able to do EVERYTHING from the cockpit. I wouldn't buy a boat as a single-hander that requires me to go to the mast to reef. That said, I note many do exactly that -- but it scares me too much. I go forward much more often than I would like as it is.
Had a yacht for a couple of years. Watched your videos Patrick, and thought it was time I had a go on my own. A bit different, but I managed it. Cheers!
Congrats. The first few (dozen!) sorties solo cause the heart to go pitter patter a bit, but it's great fun. Slow and easy at first, and build up the degree of difficulty gradually --- and I still call on professionals for the odd lesson here and there. Thanks for the great comment. Made my day.
Outstanding. Thank you for sharing your solo docking maneuvers. I would have lost my nerve long before the fourth attempt at lassoing that dock cleat.
Yeah -- I hate it when I miss the cleat. Did you note how fast the wind blew the bow off? Others suggest using a bridle attached (fixed) midships, and the rear point to a winch. That method works great -- and I agree that you don't have to run 6 or 7 steps to midships to pick up the line, BUT, you still have to lasso the cleat. It sounds easy, but in my cockpit, I've the frame of the bimini that interferes with movement a bit....... I have missed the cleat enough times at midships, that I think I'll give the aft bridle another chance. There is no miracle solution. It will always be a bit of a challenge for solo sailors, but need not be dangerous.
Yes indeed I noticed the bow fall off and how little room you had to the dock downwind of you. I wish I had advice to offer on this, but I'm as dock-shy as they come. Undoubtedly you've seen 'boat loops'--basically a lasso on a stick--but there are trade-offs with that technique as well. So, thank you again for taking the time to share your sailing with us. Turning on the camera when approaching a new harbor and a tight slip is hard for me to imagine.
Well done!
Love your videoes.
I've been enjoying this very useful series. Thanks! I've been wonder if anybody anchors out in that part of the world......I see you moving from slip to slip, and doing an elegant job of docking.
I'd love to explore that part of the world, but I'm used to dropping anchor in some quiet spot for the night, rather than spending the night in a marine parking lot ;-) .....
I would estimate that at about 60% of the places I stop during this journey, there are also anchoring solutions available. You may have to go an extra couple of miles, and the anchoring sites may not be very convenient for shopping or eating/drinking, but you definitely are not required to stop at marinas. I like the convenience of running water and electricity and shops/restaurants, but you can certainly do this avoiding marinas if that is your preference! :-)
Nice idea to mark the halyard.
Great video very educational on a lot of points. Seven and a half knots its a dream come true for a lot of us dont listen to silly comments. Your backing manoeuvring was exceptional. On the other hand catching that bull horn with a lasso was entertaining lol. Keep on sailing Patrick cheers sir.
I love reversing in when there is wind George. Isabelle behaves very well in those circumstances. I really do need to find another method for those 'parallel' situaitons where I try to lasso the cleat. I'll bet I miss 30% of the time. That is not good enough. Thanks for returning this season.
Hi Patrick, as a resident of Tollesbury on the Blackwater, often heading to and fro Ramsgate, I’m well familiar with those crossings of the Thames Estuary. No two passages are ever the same! The tidal conditions, the wind angle and speed, the hour of the day, the shipping .... so many permutations. PPP - Proper Preparation Pays - every time. As always, really enjoy your videos. And as one boat handler to another ... many congratulations on that masterclass in stern-board berthing in Scarborough. As a one-time warship Captain I’ve done that manoeuvre at scale too ... works so well, with the stern invariably seeking the wind. I had to berth HMS Invincible in Cadiz some years ago. The wind was over 25 knots, but exactly down the line of the berth. Stern-board did it then too! Happy voyaging ... Roy
I am honored Captain. Yes, I am really pleased I spent quite a number of hours planning my Thames Estuary crossing. It will be easier the next time for sure, but I can see that it is a place that does not tolerate complacency. One must do the planning. I was never a ship driver (aviation is my background), but I wondered if some of the principles of sailboat handling apply at scale. Thanks for answering that. My Isabelle behaves very well reversing into a wind. Everything aligns very nicely, and I feel in complete control. I really should use this method more often rather than bashing into the side in parallel park mode. Thanks for watching Sir.
I find in my 40 ft fin keeler in reverse that the bow tends to wander and in narrow fairways this causes me grief
Excellent. Please keep including the port entry footage. It is really interesting and useful. I am probably going to keep Serenity at Ramsgate for a while when she is back in the water and am tempted to turn left and complete a lap of the UK. I'm using your videos as a reference point. Cheers.
Too kind JAS. I'll send you a private note with some insights on my experience. Good luck with getting Serenity back in the water soon. You were right by the way, the current at the entry to Dover took my breath away. ;-)
Really enjoying this series. With the Cargo vessel, I call any potential large vessel that I am concerned about on the VHF to confirm they have seen me and their preferred intentions. I have always had a courteous response and it removes some anxiety - especially at night!
That's a ver safe practice J&J. I try to avoid the radio discussion if possible, but as you have seen in other videos I have made, I don't hesitate to call if I feel the situation is soon reaching decision time.
Hi Patrick
I just love the coastal cruising videos.
I thought for a second in the scene where you talked about cowboys that you had actually got on the pontoon and the boat was gradually slipping away - not the case of course. The lesson that i learned in my limited single-handed experience was never, ever, get off the boat until attached.
Cheers Philip
I firmly believe that Philip. I see people often leap from smaller boats and heave them into the pontoon. My boat weighs 10 tonnes, and in wind over about 15 knots, good luck. I just never leave the boat until it is securely locked against a finger, or a line is over a pontoon cleat. Thanks for commenting.
Enjoying your vids.
Much appreciated Phantom. Thaks for commenting.
Hi Patrick I love your vids. Your laid back manor is pure gold, you are a gentleman as well himPatrick,total opposite to Erik the Viking, but you must like him also to refere to him I also like his movies as well .take care Patrick
I love Erik's spirit and attitude of living life to the fullest. His appetitie for risk is perhaps greater than mine, and I can't imagine EVER sailing across the North Sea in January like he did, but you have to love the guy. Thanks for watching.
I love yous videos. Like before see it!
Too kind wandern. Many thanks.
Nice docking sequences. I prefer to catch the stern cleat first too, if I can. If you in the locks you usually need to catch the spring line to keep you parallel to the wall.
Loved the cowboy bit! 😂
:-) I've repeated that performance on a number of occasions. Always to a standing ovation. !
Good to see the col regs at work.
This is a tough one. Many sailboat skippers automatically give way. I'm not sure that is a good thing, because it sends the message to merchant vessels, "Ahh, he'll get out of the way eventually." My opinion, right or wrong, is respect the ColRegs as they were written.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks again.
"Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine"...
I think those of us 'of a certain age' quickly picked that one up. ;-)
and even some below 40 :)
I got your reference to Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme. So I guess it means I'm not a youngster (I am not!). I'm an "armchair sailor". Your sailing videos are among the best despite an absence of b@@bs and b##ms. Fair winds and following seas to you.
Thanks Murali. ;-)
Ok Patrick that docking was Great! S/V Teak Key..
Many thanks Teak Key. Much appreciated.
ive done a bit of sailing up that coast , mostly single handed in a 26ft macgregor , the eastern English coast , is littered with WW2 aircraft wrecks especially between the wash and the thames
Glad I didn't know about the aircraft wrecks. More hazards to navigation to worry about! ;-)
Pity you didn't Visit Whitby, would have been nice to have met up, maybe id you pass this way again :) really enjoy watching your Videos
It will be a pleasure Paul. Sorry I missed it the first time.
Nice job Patrick
Much appreciated Darryl.
Always finding right berth...wow
Patrick, I just love your videos. But may I make a comment about your docking, and the frustration you express in having to go up mid-ships to make fast on arrival. There's little doubt that the mid-cleat is the best first point of attachment if you have a choice, but you seem to struggle to get a line from the boat onto the cleat or bollard. The reasons you're struggling are two-fold . . . first you don't have a proper lasso setup coiled and ready to throw. Second, the secret of lassoing is to throw the coil in each hand OUTwards rather than forwards, ie spread your arms wide as part of the throwing action. Do that with pre set up coils and you'll soon hit the spot first time, every time. Going forward will then be so much more relaxing. Forget that costly docking stick!
OK Pete. I have practiced dozens of times the lasso grab and throw, and have tried various methods to coil the line to facilitate the grab. It's great that you can make this work. I'm sticking to the Docking Stick. I have a 100% success rate with it, so I'll stick with what works for me. Fair winds.
Love the lockdown, without which I wouldnt have discovered you. Sold my much loved Southerly 100 and sailing with you by proxy is a treat. So much agree with your decision making, and Ive learned a lot too, although Im not going to be able to put it into practice?
Sounds a lot like you need to buy another one! :-)
Trip going fast for us. Booo. :) More open water video! Hope ur having a great trip, Patrick.
Hello again Silky. Thanks for coming back this season.
Wow!! I'm amazed by your lasso mooring technique. Next days I'll try it. Hope it works for me XD.
I really need to improve on this. There are other methods (a bridle attached on a midships cleat running back to a winch for example), but you still have to lasso that damn cleat on the shore! I'll get better at it I'm sure. Thanks for watching.
I use to sail alone and when parallel mooring I jump off the boat with the 2 lines on the hand... but it's really safer stay on the boat specially on windy days or if something goes wrong. Really interesting vieos, Patrick.
Yeah -- I can't really jump off a 10 tonne boat and hope for the best. That works fine for smaller boats, but I need to get a line around a cleat first. Thanks again.
Scarborough, my old home town. I hope they treat you well Patrick.
My arrival was 'entertaining' --- at 0200 in 25 knots of wind. I tied up to a fishing boat, because it was too dangerous to enter the narrow berthing space of the marina. I enjoyed many fine meals along the seafront, and even back in the center of town. Lovely city.
well done!
Very kind of you Sjakie. Thanks
Do you whistle when you are nervous as well? I can watch all of your blue (or grey) water sails just fine, but watching you berth gives me flashbacks. I’ve sailed extensively around the UK, channel, crossed Biscay, etc. And I STILL hate taking her in to a berth. I don’t have a bow thruster, but even so, you make it look easy. But I had to laugh when you started whistling as you berthed in ?Scarborough? - thats exactly what I do! :D
Many thanks Joel. Yes, despite having a fair amount of experience now, mooring is still the most stressful part of any sortie. (For the record, it was the gent who heled me on the pontoon who was whistling ---- I was too busy crying.)
Hi Patrick
It’s my 3 day in ITC having been admitted to Torbay with strangulated hernia and blocked small intestine, part of which had be removed. Your Vlog and the advice you share is really helpful to me as it takes me away from my immediate reality,in a way you never envisaged. My apologies to die hard yachties for going ‘off piste’, I’m sure there are many frustratated yachties who also enjoy vicariously your experiences. Thanks
Speedy recovery my friend.
I was discharged from Hospital on Tuesday evening, now back on Course, heading North - great to be home
Terrific news EF. Delighted that you are feeling better. Hope you are back out to sea soon. Best regards
Patrick, I absolutely love you videos and I've watched every single one. Can I ask you? Did you buy your Bavaria 40 cruiser new? If not new what year is she? How do you find her and what additions would you make, to make her the perfect boat? I look forward to watching your next video. Kind regards Daryl (London UK)
Too kind Daryl. My boat is a 2008 Bavaria Cruiser, 12 meters lond, 4 meters wide, and 2 meters of draft. If I could only do one thing to make it better, my top priority would be to add an inner forestay so that I only use the big genoa when the winds are kind, and when they get above 17 knots or so, I'd pop out the smaller, easily controlled staysail. I really miss that ability to scale down the foresail when the wind begins to howl.
Hi Patrick, thanks for another great vídeo. Learning from you quite a bit. How easy is to find the berth that has been assigned by the harbour master? I couldn't see any markings or numbers.
They are usually very clearly marked on pylons Kleman (the row), and the actual berthing space on the floating finger pontoon. There was only one port I visited this trip (so far) where I could not find them, and that was because it wasn't really a marina for visitors.
I always learn something new from your videos , many thanks and my respects for you Patrick !! where and how do you get the direction , speed at an exact time of tides and currents ? Buen viento y Buena Mar !!
They are listed in several reference books readily available Sailing Hotai. To get the times of high/low tide at a port is important and easy -- listed in reference books published annually, or even easier, via Google e.g., 'Tides at Dover'. Slightly more difficult, but just as important, are the tidal currents along the part of the coast you are travelling. Again, tidal almanacs published annually show the coast and each hour of the 12 hour cycle of high to low tide. A good reference in Europe is 'Reeds' or in French, the 'Bloc Marine' published each year --- or you can buy 'Tidal Almanacs' from the UK for their waters. Good question.
Patrick Laine , thank you for taking from your time to answer !!
Would love to see how you exit out of your slip as well. Great video
Thanks Charles. Episodes 29 and 19 show this (exiting slip) with a bit of commentary.
Lol "c'était fastoche". 😂
We cross shipping lanes every time we sail out. I always hail the cargo ships to let them know where I am. As for priority, it's the man with the biggest boat. The cargo ships will almost never give way to sailboats, and so I would never expect it. I'm sure you know this, though.
With all due respect, except in busy shipping lane areas, I have found the crews to big ships to generally be very professional --- and yes, they will give way. I see it very often (because I apply the rules to the letter), and have filmed it on many occasions. I think 2 or 3 of my videos in this series show exactly that. That said, I understand that many people feel as you do, and systematically 'give way' to the big guy. I won't criticize that ever.
Thanks Patrick another great video, you passed my sailing ground of Felixstowe, should have popped in for tea. Are you sure you don’t have some form of ILS when you dock, you sure impressed those guys at Scarborough 👍
Ha. That's what we need on boats! In fact, that approach at Scarborough was quite stressful. The fairway looks 25 meters wide, but in fact there is zero maneuvering space to my right (underwater cement blocks and silt build-up)
--- and the wind was blowing in gusts off the pontoon. I thought, 'Geez,
if I miss the cleat, the bow is going to immediately swing into the hazard to
starboard.' I decided then to back into the spot -- into the wind,
which Isabelle does perfectly. I didn't know the marina staff would be
there to help, but when I saw them, I just decided to stick with my Plan
A. That was one that could have gone seriously wrong. Sigh of
relief. (I arrived at Scarborough at 0200 in 25 kts of wind. The
Marina manager on duty told me not to try to dock, but instead raft-up
next to a big fishing boat as the safest alternative. I readily
agreed.) Thanks for the kind remark.
Patrick Laine you underestimate your boat handling skills, my Moody has a transom mounted rudder and she will not steer in any direction astern, unless I increase the power which isn’t an option in close quarters. Have thought about installing a bow thruster however think a stern thruster would be an advantage. Keep up the good Work and sail safely. 👍
Sir, you are just awesome! Love everything about your videos! Why did you get rid of Isabele?
instant like!
Much appreciated.
Parley, sage
etc. yes I got it. Couple of things; sailing the San Juans and the Gulf Islands of BC currents are a way of life. Much the same as using the jetstream as a pilot. I once made it from San Diego California to Ohio in three hours and forty minutes using the Stream. Also you have given me food for thought. I am going to put a dodger on my boat and I saw yours and I really like the idea of being able to drop it forward. It improves visibility and there are days when the breeze over the coach roof is a pleasant thing. Isabelle is undoubtedtly a well found vessel and I really like the sound of her when you reverse approaching the dock. Another great video Patrick. Fair Winds and thoroughly enjoy esailing with you!
Yes, I watched some videos of a major annual sailboat race in the San Juans. The current was just ripping by. In fact I think I recall some of them anchoring while waiting for the tide to turn. People who sail in those waters would be right at home in UK coastal waters, or in the Channel Islands. :-)
That Scarborough pun, it was fair.......
I'm not the only one.
I enjoyed that lowestoft was the quick way to Antwerp in the days of john of guant who had a house nearby. Its said the sailors of the hanseatic league did not suffer scurvy even before our dr lind discovered lime juice as they had casks of sauerkraut i always carry some
I learn something every day! Thanks Sean.
As ever love to see how you are getting on. With regard to reefing and speed. As a rule of thumb the fatter and more modern cruiser comfortable style it is the moor upright she will need to be. It is simple friction, drag and flow coefficients and a few more complicated principals. The older sleek racing hulls will go faster as they heel over but the white caravans of today do not.So the early reef is ALWAYS a good idea, if you are thinking of reefing you should already of done so. Just my ten penneth worth and I'm sure other will disagree but like you I have defended the right to be wrong if you want to be. :-)
We are completely aligned on this one Leon. To be honest, I often reef just to keep the boat flat for reasons of comfort, not for speed or control. It is fatiguing on a long passage to always have your muscles tensed against the heel. I first ease the boom vang, if that isn't enough, I ease the sheets, and if that isn't enough, I put in the reef. Life is too short to be fatigued all the time at sea.
Nice motoring … oops … sailing! ;-) Thanks again for sharing your experience (collision avoidance with cargo vessels, so important)!
Did you ever have a health challenge, in particular, sea sickness? I never did, but some crew members, any recommendations?
Sorry. I was a fighter pilot for 10 years, so only suffer from very mild sea sickness symptoms (slight headache), in the very worst sea conditions. Can't really give any advice there.
Love the single handed tips. Thanks for your effort on these vids. Really enjoy them.
It seems on your dockings you hit it really well do you ever use a stern or spring line plus the motor to hold you along side?
Thx for your videos. It seems that you have an interesting davits to lift your dingy. Do you have pictures or a video of this?
They are standard davits Snellen. I just swivel the davits to the forward position to take up less space when entering/leaving marinas. Nothing special about them. Kind of like when people remove their anchor to reduce possibility of damage to others.
What a lovely video! Really like the berthing and harbor entry parts! Just wondering when you spoke of the ATC situation at Dover, do you miss Aviation a lot? Or is sailing just as nice?
I will always have a special place in my heart for aviation, as it dominated a large part of my life for 25 years. I lost my flying licenses due to a serious illness (all is well now). Learning how to sail late in life has been a wonderful experience. It is certainly not as demanding as flying, though it has its challenges, and I'm learning a broad range of new skills ---- a great retirement activity. Life is good. :-)
@@patricklaine6958 I am very glad to hear all is well these days and you found solo sailing as a new and valuable pastime. I basically found your videos after having binged the channel of the Sailing Frenchman, Hugo Picard, and it is great to see you sailing to many places from La Rochelle in France. As a Dutchman sailing has always been a love of mine, just like flying, but time and cost have prevented me to indulge in both for several years now. Still, it is a joy to watch your trips and your tips on sailing, and the nice thing in these videos I find is that you do not shy away from the learning experience, including errors. The scene in which you made the hot cocoa and then went to your card table with the cup still on the galley springs to mind. ;-). Fair winds and following seas!! Keep at it! J'espere de voire plus de votre videos! A la prochaine!
Thanks for the very kind feedback AT. Much appreciated. I hope to get back out on the water and filming again within the next week or so.
Even youngsters appreciate Simon & Garfunkel;)
Yeah -- a viewer 18 knew exactly what that meant. I was surprised, but also delighted. !
Paul Simon is easily one of the greatest song writers of our time.
Thank you, Patrick. East Coast 3D sailing at its best. Re Thames Estuary crossing - why not going outside, i.e. East of all the bars and banks?
There is a 'eastern track' in the guide books Igor that avoids much of the aggravation (and danger). From memory it is only about 10-12 miles longer. I seriously considered it --- but then my Viking spirit took hold and said, 'Just Do It'. :-)
Patrick Laine Oh, yes. Where would we be without that Viking spirit? Mowing the lawn? :) I actually once got aground taking a shortcut between Black Deep and Barrow Deep channels. I was crossing from Ramsgate to Bradwell. With twin keels, on the flood and in fair conditions it wasn't a big deal but charts are a bit unreliable for the area with sandbanks shifting.
Hi Patrick, I enjoy your trips and narrative. But I was wondering why you don't anchor out more? Just curious. Take care,
I do anchor from time to time. The truth is, after several, or even many days at sea alone, the last thing I want to do is spend more time alone at an anchorage. I love going into port and having a Coke at the bar where other crews are unwinding and sharing their stories. It really isn't any more complex than that. I do anchor, but prefer 'contact' after a passage.
How do you know where to navigate in all of these different marinas and docking locations? Is it clearly marked? Are there maps online (like runway maps)?
There are 'pilot books' that usually contain a drawing of the layout of the marina (including the numbering of the pontoons). On entering the marina, the pylons usually have a big letter on each of them, and each berth will (usually) have a number. Thanks for watching.
Hi Partick, I will be on the West Coast of Scotland in June and Shetland in July. I Know these video's are a little delayed a little in time, but will you still be around this area by then? It would be good to meet up? Great videos. Keith Walker.
Sorry Keith, I'll miss you. Would have been nice to share a beer. Thanks for watching.
Just wondering why you didn't call the vessel you were on a collision course with - or did he change course early enough?
I've discussed this issue in other videos Tom. I do occasionally call ships on the radio, but as a general rule, it's best to avoid this and just follow the rules as written. Several major shipping lines have internal policies NOT to talk to sailing vessels unless in extremis. There have been several high profile accidents between ships (not sailing vessels and ships) where the bridges tried to 'negotiate' a crossing rather than just following the rules. Language problems and just misunderstanding makes this practice problematic.
Hi Patrick. Hope you are well. I am doing a RUclips video about the estuary and would like to use of exctract of your comments about the challenges of crossing it that you mention here. I will credit you, of course. Enjoying your series too.
Sure, no problem. Use anything you want, and no need to credit unless you need to for other reasons. Thanks for the kind remarks.
Funny...your description of sand bars and strong tides sound just like the southeast GA coast.
Well exaclty Slow Hand. I imagine there are a lot of similar places with similar challenges. If you learn to handle it well in one place, I'm sure there will be a lot of carryover to help in another.
I’m 18, still got the reference. I listen to a little Simon and Garfunkel every now and then.
Well good for you young Arailt! It's great to have some cultural exposure to the generation of your grandparents. I'm almost certain my daughters would not have picked up the reference. They were more into the Spice Girls. :-)
Do you have a bow thruster on your boat? Seems like it sometimes coming into the slips by yourself
I do Darrell, but I use it perhaps for one in 15 moorings (fro example, if I start the turn in a bit too late). I use it much more in situations where there is no way on the boat, and I'd like the bow to move one way or the other. As such, it is more useful to me for leaving docks, than arriving. ;-)