Hi guys, thank you for watching! Part 3 is already online for our Patrons! Get early access from as little as $1 per month here ➜ patreon.com/sailingbritaly We make these videos for you, so please give us your honest feedback so that we can improve them in future. Some free stuff for you! 👇👇👇 📖 Be first in line to receive a FREE Financial Freedom PDF which explains how we can afford to go cruising, and how YOU can too! (I am writing this right now) ➜ bit.ly/FinancialFreedomPDF 📖 Get a FREE PDF ebook with details of over 3,500 knots & Splices here ➜ bit.ly/knotsPDF Fair winds! Chris, Rossella and Emma 😊
Thank you! In many ways these short passages are much more challenging than open water ones because you’re hardly ever more than a few boat lengths away from a potential disaster! Cheers, Chris 👍
Single handing is not only doing everything but thinking about what you have to do next. You must give yourself enough time to engage and to complete the job before you go onto the next. I love the challenge and find I do a lot of talking to myself as I think most single-handers do.
Absolutely Doug, passage planning was taking me an eternity each day. There really is never a dull moment, which is probably part of why it is so enjoyable. The bigger the challenge the bigger the sense of satisfaction. I swore at myself a few times on this trip, but it was all very good natured. 😂 Cheers, Chris 👍
Chris ,Please put a few links of chain or a decent size " D " shackle between your anchor and swivel . The swivel is designed to work in tension ,not shear . As you have an excelkent holding anchor when you boat swings either due to tide or wind the whole weight of your boat is taken one one cheek of the swivel and in anything of a blow it will fail . When you are up forward next ,and before deploying the anchor, just pull your anchor chain at 90 degrees to the anchor shank and you will see what i mean . All the best and fair winds Terry.
Hi Terry, I understand your concern, but this is something I have considered. It is my understanding that the three links of chain technique was developed by a gentleman called Vyv Cox, who wrote a Yachting Monthly article about it, before this was then shared widely and is now quite common. If you look at Vyv's article on this: coxeng.co.uk/anchoring/swivel-problems-and-solutions/ the problem he wanted to solve was 'dog-legging' of the swivel against the anchor shank (as per the pictures in the article). I found another, even simpler solution to this problem, which was simply to add a shackle to the slot in the anchor shank, which prevents this happening under any circumstances, as there is not enough room for the swivel to slide back in the slot in the anchor shank. The Kong anchor swivel we use has a maximum working load of 5000 kg for a straight pull, or 2000 kg for a pull perpendicular to the anchor shank (I chose this swivel because it has a very well designed and robust construction, unlike many of its competitors). I am confident that the anchor would rotate a long time before it has the maximum safe load of 2000 kg applied and - as I have yet to see a shackle which could fit our system without reducing the maximum working load for a straight pull - I prefer to attach the swivel directly to the anchor. Cheers, Chris 👍
Sailing solo is a mix of absolute boredom peppered with brief moments of terror. You picked quite a voyage for your first solo sail, made only more difficult by documenting it with video for us. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
Thank you Jacobus! I didn’t have much boredom on this particular trip but everything was new to me so that’s probably why. I hope you & your son are making good progress, send me an email if you get a chance as I’d love to hear how you’re getting on. Cheers, Chris 👍
Well thats me on the edge of my seat now... I will post the vid of my rescue on the FB group as my echo sounder crapped out at christchurch... Couldnt have chosen a more apt place to have no depth reading. we would have been ok if we arrive half hour later. Great vid Chris. Cant wait till you reach open water... Oh and lets look where we anchored up... Oh yeah, in the middle of nowhere lol
Hi Vince, I'll look forward to seeing your video in the Facebook Group! We had our depth sounder stop working on our last boat the very first time we moved her. The previous owner was on the tiller all the way to the River Magra, then just before we entered the river (Which has shifting sands and an unmarked channel leading up to where we were going) he handed the tiller over to me and said something along the lines of "She's yours now!". When I looked at the depth sounder it was no longer working (It had been earlier in the trip). Cue a very nerve-wracking journey up river. Made it ok thankfully. The depth sounder was a piece of cake to fix: there was a little bit of air in the oil-filled transducer housing. I took the transducer out, poured in a little bit of olive oil, and it worked absolutely perfectly ever after! Very best regards, Chris 👍 (Plus Rossella & Emma) 😊
The hardest bit about a trip with as many important obstacles as this is the mindset of leaving harbour. Especially when moving through somewhere like the Thames Estuary and into the English Channel, and especially when solo. Sailors who have never sailed in these waters just don't understand the amount of planning and decision making required. Its tricky to show this is in a video however you have done this very well and covered many of the factors. Nice one Cap'n!
Good video Chris. Having crept around Poole Harbour with literally inches under the keel I felt your stress. Please remember the effect air pressure has on depth when planning such passages. The levels you see on charts are in general set on a mean level of 1013 mbs. Each mb is a cm of water. So if you're passage making with a pressure of say 1023 (high pressure) you will lose 10 cms ... 4 inches of water, which really can be critical. It also helps explain the irony of low pressure systems and flooding. Low pressure often brings storms and flooding from rain, AND fails to push the water down so say a 993 pressure makes for a tide 8 inches higher. 953 doesn't bear thinking about. 😳
Hi there, you're absolutely right about atmospheric pressure and its effect on the height of tide. This wasn't causing me problems on this day as it was 1006 mb, what did throw my calculations off was the effect of the sustained westerly winds which were around in that period, which also reduce the height of tide from its astronomical prediction. A lesson learned for sure! Cheers, Chris 👍
My sailing grounds. Some times it's more like paddling in a ditch! The real fun is when you are sailing downwind and current running with you and you hit the mud.
Hi Mike, paddling in a ditch sounds about right! It's definitely a challenging area to sail but if you are unlucky then you will often be ok in the mud.... There are worst places to run aground for sure! Very best regards, Chris, Rossella & Emma 😊
Nice one Chris. Good to see you tidying all your lines after curling in your Genoa. You never know when you might need to use them again. It was always a must when I was racing as any foul ups could be very costly and possibly dangerous. When I was racing and Decca navigators were first available to yachts we all used to name our Decca. Names like Desmond Decca, Mary Decca and other names like Jaws. I have named my tiller pilot Peter Pilot but still deciding what to call my Wind vane, maybe Carly as it is so vane... cheers. Andy UK
Anchor ball off first and in the calm of on-hook.... In that wind you could have had a halyard & shackle dangling at 45° and working its way up to the sheave. Meanwhile it thrashes around while you're moving leeward.
Engels I am a solo-sailer for about 12 years. I sail on the Ijsselmeer, Waddenzee and Northsee.. I recognize a lot of solo sailing. In particular, passing bridges and locks requires a lot of insight skills and patience. I recognize the stressful moments. Keeping calm and not panic are important conditions for being able to sail undamaged solo. I also recognize that it is a matter of doing and finding out what you can handle on your own. Thanksfot the video’s. The otter video’s helpt,e te prepareren my solo sailing thuis summier ro Denmark and Sweden. Greatings John (sailing A Fisher 30)
Thank you Janise! The plan is for me to share everything on this trip in detail so that we can all learn together. We're glad you are enjoying these videos! Send our love to the gang! Very best regards, Chris, Rossella & Emma 😊
Singlehanded sailing is challenging and you learn a ton of things. So I understand your anxiety. Most of My sailing is single handed for years and I feel quite confident now. But new challenges keep popping up anyway now and then. Good job Chris
It's a steep learning curve for sure but I had tons more confidence after just a week, so I can definitely see it getting a lot easier with experience. Cheers, Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly Everybody can challenge themselves to singelhanded sailing, that is if they are interested to do it. But I would say it is not for everybody though. Many of the abilities a singlehanded sailor must have, apply to all kind of sailors that are sailing with a crew as well. But a singelhanded sailor must be a more dedicated multi tasker and must be stronger to sense the boat and forsee situations. On a multi crew vessel a bad decision can be saved afterwards. But on a singlehanded boat a bad decision can end up losing the boat or even your life.
Hi Chris, you make it feel very real! Glad to see you had ready to eat food, it is virtually impossible otherwise in restricted waters. Great to see you taking this route, we hope to head round Britain soon and seeing others experiencing part of the route is hugely helpful. We have a large pump action thermos for short handed sailing, good for hot soup, tea, coffe, hot chocolate - stay warm! Fairwinds and looking forward to the next instalment. Gary
Hi Gary, thank you! Pre-made food is a godsend and a brew on the go is always nice. There are lots of little things I could have done with on this trip but I was in a mad rush to get the boat across the channel (So I could be reunited with Rossella & Emma) so I just did the major things and got by without. Good luck with the planning for your adventure and I'm glad you are enjoying this series. Cheers, Chris 👍
This series is fantastic. Well done & many thanks. Love the first-person video, I'm going to do the same with a second camera fixed on the transom rolling like your Part 1.
Well done Chris. A steep learning curve and all ended well. One thing to think about (if you haven't already) is the jackstay for solo sailing. As you have them they won't stop you from going overboard, but they will keep you near the boat if you do fall overboard. I think if these 'port and starboard' jackstays as great for two handed sailing, but for single-handers I think the jackstay should be down the boat centreline (somehow) - stopping you from actually going overboard. Just my thoughts. What are yours?
Excellent 2nd part. I've always thought it strange that when someone's in trouble we describe them as being in "deep water" We sailors know that we should really say, "you're in shallow water now" Good luck for the rest of the journey.
Well done Chris, superb video coverage somewhat marred by wind noise, but you don’t need me to say that. Always a challenge in windy conditions. Your honest approach, mistake and all makes for compelling viewing.
Great work mate! Having only done short day sails single handed, I fully understand the angst that comes with it, and the amount of work to be done. What I’m getting better at is preparing before I leave the mooring, which requires less work under pressure. Cheers!
Prior preparation prevents p*** poor performance. This is a saying from my armed forces days which applies well to solo sailing. Like everything, experience makes all the difference and I saw a huge difference in how I was handling everything at the end of this journey compared to the first couple of days. Cheers, Chris 👍
Well done! Take your time, don’t rush on deck, (it’s safer) you have more time then you think and the boat will only travel a few meters from anchorage, until you have her under full control. Also motor sail with jib or both sails. It makes a great difference, in comfort, saves fuel pushes closer to the wind the list goes on. Enjoy!
Hi Dave, thank you! Regarding the motor sailing here is a copied reply to another comment "I didn't want to raise the mainsail as I had only ever had it out once before in anger and I had a nightmare when the wind came up and I had to put the sails away as well as deal with being at the helm whilst navigating an unfamiliar river. I tried the Genoa as this is easier to manage solo and the thing that put me off was the fact that I couldn't stay in the narrow channel when I took away the revs from the engine - because I would have had to sail too close to the wind... Although I could have perfectly carried on with the Genoa up, my concern was, "What happens if I get some rope caught in my prop?" The answer was that with the sail up I would have been aground in a shorter amount of time than I would have had to do anything about it, which is why I decided that the safer option was to just motor. In this case If I got some rope caught on my prop I would have had time to deploy an anchor before running aground, as I wouldn't have had a sail to blow me towards the lee shore. Here is a chart of the channel I was in, centred on where I made this call. webapp.navionics.com/#boating@13&key=%7DryxHugnC There isn't much room in there to begin with, there are hundreds of boats and moorings to contend with, this was the first time I had ever been there in a boat, and there was a 20 knot plus westerly wind at the time. This was the right decision for me at that time but of course every skipper would have their own views about this and make their own decisions based on their own judgement." I hope this helps you understand my reasoning on this passage. Cheers! Chris 👍
Solo sailing for me is "Do as little as possible and as much as necessary". You can make things easy or hard based on how much you think about things before hand. one of the key elements is managing yourself to avoid stress and exhaustion. Experience is a key factor in decision making and that takes time to gain. Great videos, now get offshore where solo sailing becomes blissful :-)
Wise word there. I definitely agree that the closer you are to the coast you are the more you have to think about due to all the hazards. I felt a huge difference in my confidence and experience between the start of this trip and the end and I hope this will come through in the videos too. Cheers, Chris 👍
Hi crew,greetings from nottingham👋,planing and more planing is the only safe way to go when deciding on a route you are going to sail..As you have said before Chris safety is the prime requisite on the seas especially if you have your family with you as well which makes it doubly important to carry out all the safety checks ASAP. Learning were you went wrong with past mistakes should be thought through with a determination not to make the same mistakes again.Chris you give the amateur sailor strength to try and succeed as you are doing and as you’ve said it’s all down to the planing ahead, stay safe on the water and all the best to you and your family, till the next time cheers🇬🇧👍
Thank you very much Peter, for you very kind words. I spent almost as much time planning on this trip as I did moving the boat! I had to as I was taking on a huge amount of new things all in one go. There's no way I'd have done this trip in the windy October weather with Rossella & Emma on board, which is one of the reasons I did it solo. Cheers, Chris 👍
Enjoyed the video, i sail mostly solo and totally go along with motoring in narrow channels unless very gentle conditions. Gusty winds can easily catch you out when solo with little sea room. I would also put the anchor ball away before setting off. I have never needed to deploy the anchor in emergency but think in the conditions you were in if I had engine failure i would go for the anchor rather than try and sail out. If you get sailing and have no where to get some sea room you would need to anchor to sort engine anyway is my thinking. Having said that my engine failed to start and i sailed 20 miles to my home port and dropped a line around a buoy and then got a tow in, but it was gentle conditions.
Hi Mick, I agree with everything you just said, especially considering my relative inexperience with the boat. The beginning of this trip was effectively the first proper shakedown cruise (I planned to do more test sails prior to me leaving, but life events conspired againsts that and we only used the boat for some short day sails prior to the start of this trip) so I was trying to reduce the chances of things going wrong caused by a combination of new things happening all at the same time. The difference between how things went at the start and the end of this short journey was massive and I gained a lot more confidence in the boat and my ability to handle her solo in a very short space of time. Cheers, Chris 👍
Hi there, just going from memory I think about 20 knots. I would have been better raising the mainsail rather the Genoa, but I had very little experience with it (roller furler) so it didn’t seem like a good idea to start experimenting in that area with restricted space. Fair winds! Chris 👍
When I solo my small sailboat I have things I do that are temporary fixes while I get underway or go into the marina. Having a solution that "works for now" is OK just as long as you go back and make it shipshape later. So dumping your anchor ball in with the chain is OK as a temp fix. Also, I would have a line with a clip on the end ruining from a bow stanchion or a small cleat. You clip onto the tang of the anchor temporarily instead of fiddling with the pin & ring that makes it more secure. Tying the anchor down is a great thing to do, but not while you are still getting underway. Go back and do it once things calm down. Just be sure to go back and fix it correctly. When you are solo, sometimes getting something secured quickly (but not permanently) is the best thing to do while you are busy with the boat.
Handy that you can get the genoa furling line on to a self-tailing winch & be in control of it and the genoa sheet at the same time, details are important. I'll be honest I'm not convinced with jacklines when singlehanding, you go over the side are you going to be able to get back on? I guess if you have a sugar scoop that makes it a lot easier assuming you can get back to it. Singlehanding I always wear my PLB and if I go over the side that I reckon gives me a better chance of survival than being dragged along at 5 knots. To have thought things through and having a plan for different scenarios though, especially when solo, gives us a significantly better chance if (when!) things start to go awry. Fair winds...
Hi David, these jacklines were a last-minute solution and I agree that they are not ideal - I will improve the system in the future. However, I believe that these imperfect jacklines were likely to help me stay on the boat if I tripped or got hit by a wave, compared to not using jackstays at all (of course we all have our own opinions on this). I had two 'box cutter' knives in my jacket pocket at all times to cut myself away should the need arise, I had a PLB attached to my harness (The yellow pouch you can see in the video) and I've done several offshore sea survival courses over the years. I'm confident I would like to get ashore (and then get myself a lift to chase after the boat!) but hopefully I'll never have to prove this theory! Cheers, Chris 👍
I named my tiller pilot "Brain Dead" because it wouldn't hold a course. A REAL pain in a narrow inlet when sailing solo. I quit attempting to put up my main because it was a pain to reef or drop without someone at the helm. "Brain Dead" was only good for power steering, not for moving about the boat and setting sails. Good on you for being cautious. It's amazing how many things should be done all at once, at times. I haven't run aground since my small motor boat days, but I never wanted to test the keel bolts by doing it. Cheers, Chris! P.S. Take a wee in a handy jug, you'll feel better.
Hi Joel, a tiller pilot or autopilot can make or break a trip like this and I could have kissed ours if that wasn’t such a weird thing to do! I had a bottle for that purpose but as I was being watched from the bridge and couldn’t leave the helm due to the wind & current I just had to wait untile they opened the bridge and let me through. Cheers, Chris 👍
Thanks good video ye single handed sailing can be stressful don't mind sailing when i go to pick up my swinging mooring then i get up tight very tight with lots of boats😱 in the winter the club i am in is way up the river so can only go through the weir on a high tide but still got to watch the depth. Last year there was a rowing club race and i guy on loud speaker was shouting at me move out the way a race is on! I had to shout back NO will stay in the middle at a stand still, I draw to much depth, don't think he got it as he kept shouting move out the way!
I'm not one to leave comments all over the place, but in your case, I feel the need to at least say something. I love your rationale and manner. I'm on a budget, in an attempt to getting myself on a boat also, but I'm in for a buck a month, or whatever the minimum is. I reckon you'll give me a great insight of what's ahead for me and I am looking forward to seeing your other videos. Hopefully, you'll be able to get yourself a windlass before too long. Cheers.
Hi Trev, we'd love to see you over on Patreon and we have set things up so that the minimum contribution is just $1 per month to make it affordable for everyone - including those who run a tight budget (We have a post specifically explaining how our Patrons can get the most rewards possible here www.patreon.com/posts/how-to-maximise-24620113 You set your pledge to $1 and then by setting the maximum number of pledges to one per month you will never be charged more than $1 per month, even if we were to publish 10 videos in a month.) Here's what our Patrons get for $1 per month: ✔️ Access to patron-only posts, polls etc. (Join our community and get involved in our production!) ✔️ Early notification of crewing opportunities (If we're looking for crew for a passage, you'll here about it before anyone else!) ✔️ Adblock Absolution (If you have ever used AdBlock on our RUclips videos you are hereby relieved of all feelings of guilt!) ✔️ Early access to Episodes (See our Episodes before anyone else in the world.) ✔️ Ad-free viewing (During the Early-Access period, we disable the ads on our RUclips videos so that you can watch without any interruptions.) ✔️ Access to 🌟 The Sailing Britaly Patreon Family 🌟 (Our private Patron-only Facebook Group) We believe that's great value and we are very happy to have a wonderful community of people on Patreon who help us to continue making our videos. We hope to see you there! Cheers! Chris (plus Rossella & Emma) 😊
I've always felt that jacklines should do more than keep you attached to your boat if you fall overboard, they should prevent you from falling over board. Thus they need to be tight, as inboard as practical, with the shortest tether practical. Love your videos.
Hi - love your vids! - you may find it better to put the lifeline under the jack lines and back onto your lifejacket - it's shorter - you don't go overboard so far and the metal clip doesn't/can't damage the decks...🙂
I love your yacht. What is it again? Also just wee off the back. On mine I stand on the scoop. Wish I had a wheel now with decent autohelm. I grounded my previous fin keel on Blythe sands about 5 years ago. Lost the rudder in it as got towed off. My current old 1988 Jeanneau is a lift keel. Great video Chris. Look forward to the next installment. Don't worry about the wind noise, makes it more real
Hi John, she’s a 1992 Bavaria 350. I have a wide-necked bottle for that purpose (to avoid the possibility of falling overboard ‘mid-stream’) but I was under the watchful eye of the bridge crew so I couldn’t use it and I couldn’t leave the helm either so I had to just wait! Sorry to hear about the damage to your previous boat, it happens a lot near shifting sands. Lifting keels can be very handy in such places, and are brilliant for getting to secluded anchorages too. Cheers, Chris 👍
looking really good chris hope everything goes as planed you could try put thing like the anchor ball away and tidy lines before lifting the anchor i found it to be silly thing that took the time.
Hi there, these are good tips thank you. I usually take than anchor ball down after we are underway because if anything goes awry during the retrieval at least you don't have to worry about if other vessels are going to expect you to move for them while you are wrestling with your anchor. However, as I was the only boat in the anchorage, and as I was single handed, you are right: it would have been better to take the anchor ball down before starting to weigh anchor. Cheers, Chris 👍
Yes it was an exciting trip! :-) The 'cheap plotter' video is on our to-do list but if you want to know the details send us a p.m on Patreon and I will dig out the details and send them to you first. Very best regards, Chris 👍
Grazie mille Mimmo! I wouldn't have gone down the Swale for the first time at night - I'd have been a nervous wreck! 😂 We have a brand new private Facebook group for our Patrons which is off to a great start... There are people sharing details of where they are and photo's of their boats and there looks as though there may be crewing opportunities. Dai un'occhiata! Very best regards, Chris 👍
Good job sir, and helpful to me also, thanks. Very worried about your jack-stays, will leave you to do the research and assess what works on your boat; as they were I doubt they would be effective. Some long distance truck Driver solve the wee challenge with a plastic bottle.
Those shallow areas are nerve wrecking indeed. I didn’t see any channel markers there, or maybe they were further away? I bet you took a big risk at low tide (could tell as the other boat was drying out on your port side).
Hi Darshan, there were some channel markers but in between then I was flying by the seat of my pants somewhat. Even if it would have been no big deal if I’d have touched the mud, it was still one to remember! Cheers, Chris
Hi Samantha, I was planning on taking this video up until the end of the night, but the video got to this length (and therefore would have been about 45 minutes long to cover the whole day - unless I cut a load of footage out) so I thought “I’ll do a Homeland”. 😂 I hope the suspense is intriguing rather than annoying... The thing to remember is that I myself did not know how this was going to end up and with 15 cm below my keel I was cutting it very fine! 🙏 Cheers, Chris
Night sailing is a whole different kettle of fish if you’ve not done it before. It’s bloody awesome, but in a slightly terrifying, discombobulating way, I think you probably know what I mean. If you’ve not done it before (to anyone reading this) I would seriously advise trying it with more experienced sailors before venturing out alone. I would love to swap some of your engineering prowess for a little of my seamanship/close quarters handling! Please stay safe . 👍👍
Hi Chris. Thanks for sharing the infos. I probably missed something but why didn't you proceed on river Thames rather than going the other way ? Keep going!!!
So true. Everyday people diminish the operations guy, I hope to see this trend shift soon. Doing the work is alot harder than most think.... A colateral from the high-degree flood from the past few decades perahps?
Nice video! Did you consider motoring with your main up? I find unless I need to go a lot directly into the wind the main does not flap around (and helps with speed) at 20 deg AW and higher.
Nice series! Picked it up again now I see you've come to Belgium (where I live). What's the plan thereafter? Truck it to the Med? I see you have a VHF with AIS receiver. Do you have a transmitter as well?
Hi there, we plan on taking the inland waterways down through Belgium and France to the Med. (Goodness knows when that will be: we’re currently on lockdown in Italy...) The VHF has DSC, GPS and is an AIS receiver. No transmitter. We have a substantial RADAR reflector (Echomax EM230) and I take full responsibility for avoiding collisions with ships. Cheers, Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly Sounds like an amazing plan, if you've got the time, because the French canals take a long time to cross. But it's on my bucket list as well! In which port is Britaly now?
I filmed a passage plan video on this trip (which will be published down the line) which shows the method I use. Basically I let Navionics give me an automatic route - which is extremely quick and convenient for this purpose - so that I can work out an approximate timescale for the passage to use during my passage planning, then I go over the route and move the automatically generated waypoints to where I want them, then I follow the route rather than slavishly following the waypoints. Cheers, Chris 👍
Reminds me to my first experiences navigating the river "Schelde" in Belgium...whilst we had to stay clear from all the in and outbound traffic..You did good, the thinking ahead was very well explained..The scary part is the change in bottom profile because of the tidal currents, chart are a "guide" but your "reading" of the water is way more important...Good job..
Hi Jeremy, yes I made it from some stainless I had left over from our DIY solar arch. It has transformed the ease with which we can weigh anchor! No windlass yet - I’ll fit one when we get to the Med (I could manage without one, but anchoring is our default and I have to consider what would happen if Rossella had to weigh anchor if I was incapacitated for whatever reason.) Cheers, Chris 👍
Sailing Britaly soon as I get back to work and get some bills paid, I’ll get on Patreon. I was a UH1 mechanic for 10 years. You and the Mrs are rocking it.
Hi Ben, I got it from a website called "absolute industrial" (no affiliation whatsoever) I got a 100 metre roll as I will also be making up a DIY webbing roll to deploy from the stern to quickly & easily take lines ashore or for deploying a stern anchor. Cheers, Chris
Cheers Bob, I agree regarding the balance of the boat with the main but I'd only ever used the main once before and it was a very narrow channel (Which I had never seen before) so for me I would have been biting off more than I could chew. I'm sure with more practice I'd have sailed with a reefed main and no headsail. Cheers, Chris 👍
Fantastic Channel. You shouldn’t be so conservative in the beginning getting through your early stage fast is safer and cheaper than staying in it for a long time - that where you make all the mistakes! Keep pushing your boundaries.. going through the Swale is definitely and example that conservative can be much riskier.. getting any type of problems there single handed could be a nightmare!!! so much riskier than biting the bullet and going the Cant where there is much more margin to react!
Why sail in February when conditions are going to be difficult, or what was it done much earlier? Is there some time constraint? Anyway, I needed valium just watching ......
Ha ha! This was in October when conditions were going to be difficult! The reason was that I was doing this in such a hurry was so that I could be reunited with Rossella & Emma once the boat was moved. I’d been away from them for over a month (doing the last essential boat work to get Britaly ready for the channel crossing) and I really, really wanted to get back to them. Cheers, Chris 👍
As a solo sailor, I found this incredibly useful. Thank you. I think part of the difficulty is not having anyone to discuss or share concerns with. You do lots of preparation, which is critical, and you are on the side of caution. I am sure you will be fine, and every mile further on makes you a more experienced sailor and is another sailing experience which is no longer unknown. Best of luck old chap.
Hey! you have done very well, got to destination in one piece! bravo !! on my first solo i learned that when weather wasn't nice i did not have much time for food preparation ... so i learnt to always keep a "termo" with soup or pasta and another one with coffee or tea. This works for winter weather of course. I just don't work well without food. I always run into the same problem as i i believe you did ... my "legs" are planned to ambitiously and then in the end i tend to make them shorter for one or another reason. I think you had the same. I'm not sure about your Bavaria (?), my sailboat tends to sail better with both head and main at the same time ... more balanced, less leeway, more comfortable, it has more push when i need to break into waves too, less helm, Etc. A bit more I rarely sail only with head sails. Well done!!
@@SailingBritaly Awesome...thanks for the quick reply. Just found your series of videos and liking them. What made you change out from your other 30' ? size seems similar.
@@davidwarner6755 The Bavaria is much bigger (37 ft vs 30 ft, with a much wider stern) and has a lot more liveable space. In financial terms we pretty much swapped one boat for the other, so this deal made a lot of sense for us, and with Emma on the way te extra space was a huge bonus.
@@SailingBritaly Great Stuff! Good luck with it. I'm on a 30' Bombay Clipper currently trying to work out how I will manage it singlehandedly. Got some good tips from your videos... Thanks again.
I'm worried about your hands going through the wheel all the time. Fine when you're at rest, but it's a habit that could see some nasty bruises if you're in a swell
Our wheel is bigger than I'd like it to be really. When I feel the need I sit sideways on to the wheel so I can get at the throttle without reaching through the spokes. When it's flat calm I don't feel it's a problem. Thank you for your suggestion. Chris 👍
Grandissimo.Ma la bandiera andrebbe issata a dritta 😉 Sarebbe utili a molti un video che chiarisca e spieghi una volta per tutte come installare open cpn e soprattutto dove prendere le mappe da quale sito scaricarle e come utilizzarlo offline inoltre se serve installare un gps esterno o no .On line ci sono molti video spazzatura realizzati per fare visualizzazioni non per aiutare.Buona vita
Ciao, grazie! Ho provato Open CPN ma visto che avevo fretta di spostare le barca per vedere Rossella ed Emma ho deciso di usare Navionics, come ho sempre usato nel passato. Quindi e' un Samsung tablet economico che ha un recevitore di GPS interno che funziona anche quando sei offline e senza rete cellulare, le mappe sono scaricate prima di partire, e hai tutto quello che serve sul tablet. Un saluto, Chris 👍
I think your motorsailing experiment misled you. It can be very efficient, and has it's own physics that are not the sum of it's parts. The excess leeway with motor off should not be offfputting; what matters is the aero sail boost. The motor doesn't work hard to counter leeway, as you might tell from rpm vs kts. I have found boost almost directly into the wind: www.sailmagazine.com/cruising/the-art-of-motorsailing Best wishes, and I hope I haven't misunderstood you.
Hi there, thank you for your comment. I didn't want to raise the mainsail as I had only ever had it out once before in anger and I had a nightmare when the wind came up and I had to put the sails away as well as deal with being at the helm whilst navigating an unfamiliar river. I tried the Genoa as this is easier to manage solo and the thing that put me off was the fact that I couldn't stay in the narrow channel when I took away the revs from the engine - because I would have had to sail too close to the wind... Although I could have perfectly carried on with the Genoa up, my concern was, "What happens if I get some rope caught in my prop?" The answer was that with the sail up I would have been aground in a shorter amount of time than I would have had to do anything about it, which is why I decided that the safer option was to just motor. In this case If I got some rope caught on my prop I would have had time to deploy an anchor before running aground, as I wouldn't have had a sail to blow me towards the lee shore. Here is a chart of the channel I was in, centred on where I made this call. webapp.navionics.com/#boating@13&key=%7DryxHugnC There isn't much room in there to begin with, there are hundreds of boats and moorings to contend with, this was the first time I had ever been there in a boat, and there was a 20 knot plus westerly wind at the time. This was the right decision for me at that time but of course every skipper would have their own views about this and make their own decisions based on their own judgement. Cheers, Chris 👍
Hi Sheila, that area has seen lots of military action for a very long time and many of the wrecks will be from the age of sail and the more conflicts. The number of recreational boats wrecked is minuscule - which may make us sailors feel a bit better!
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Fair winds!
Chris, Rossella and Emma 😊
Patreon appears to be down for the moment. Well, a little longer than that for now. I will try again afterwardss
8
Real sailing. Thank you for showing that small, less spectacular passages can also be demanding.
Thank you! In many ways these short passages are much more challenging than open water ones because you’re hardly ever more than a few boat lengths away from a potential disaster! Cheers, Chris 👍
Single handing is not only doing everything but thinking about what you have to do next. You must give yourself enough time to engage and to complete the job before you go onto the next. I love the challenge and find I do a lot of talking to myself as I think most single-handers do.
Absolutely Doug, passage planning was taking me an eternity each day. There really is never a dull moment, which is probably part of why it is so enjoyable. The bigger the challenge the bigger the sense of satisfaction. I swore at myself a few times on this trip, but it was all very good natured. 😂 Cheers, Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly It is so frustrating when you have to tell yourself off for a dumb action that you took. HA HA
Chris ,Please put a few links of chain or a decent size " D " shackle between your anchor and swivel . The swivel is designed to work in tension ,not shear . As you have an excelkent holding anchor when you boat swings either due to tide or wind the whole weight of your boat is taken one one cheek of the swivel and in anything of a blow it will fail . When you are up forward next ,and before deploying the anchor, just pull your anchor chain at 90 degrees to the anchor shank and you will see what i mean . All the best and fair winds Terry.
Hi Terry, I understand your concern, but this is something I have considered. It is my understanding that the three links of chain technique was developed by a gentleman called Vyv Cox, who wrote a Yachting Monthly article about it, before this was then shared widely and is now quite common. If you look at Vyv's article on this: coxeng.co.uk/anchoring/swivel-problems-and-solutions/ the problem he wanted to solve was 'dog-legging' of the swivel against the anchor shank (as per the pictures in the article). I found another, even simpler solution to this problem, which was simply to add a shackle to the slot in the anchor shank, which prevents this happening under any circumstances, as there is not enough room for the swivel to slide back in the slot in the anchor shank. The Kong anchor swivel we use has a maximum working load of 5000 kg for a straight pull, or 2000 kg for a pull perpendicular to the anchor shank (I chose this swivel because it has a very well designed and robust construction, unlike many of its competitors). I am confident that the anchor would rotate a long time before it has the maximum safe load of 2000 kg applied and - as I have yet to see a shackle which could fit our system without reducing the maximum working load for a straight pull - I prefer to attach the swivel directly to the anchor. Cheers, Chris 👍
Sailing solo is a mix of absolute boredom peppered with brief moments of terror. You picked quite a voyage for your first solo sail, made only more difficult by documenting it with video for us. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
Thank you Jacobus! I didn’t have much boredom on this particular trip but everything was new to me so that’s probably why. I hope you & your son are making good progress, send me an email if you get a chance as I’d love to hear how you’re getting on. Cheers, Chris 👍
Well thats me on the edge of my seat now... I will post the vid of my rescue on the FB group as my echo sounder crapped out at christchurch... Couldnt have chosen a more apt place to have no depth reading. we would have been ok if we arrive half hour later. Great vid Chris. Cant wait till you reach open water... Oh and lets look where we anchored up... Oh yeah, in the middle of nowhere lol
Hi Vince, I'll look forward to seeing your video in the Facebook Group! We had our depth sounder stop working on our last boat the very first time we moved her. The previous owner was on the tiller all the way to the River Magra, then just before we entered the river (Which has shifting sands and an unmarked channel leading up to where we were going) he handed the tiller over to me and said something along the lines of "She's yours now!". When I looked at the depth sounder it was no longer working (It had been earlier in the trip). Cue a very nerve-wracking journey up river. Made it ok thankfully. The depth sounder was a piece of cake to fix: there was a little bit of air in the oil-filled transducer housing. I took the transducer out, poured in a little bit of olive oil, and it worked absolutely perfectly ever after! Very best regards, Chris 👍 (Plus Rossella & Emma) 😊
The hardest bit about a trip with as many important obstacles as this is the mindset of leaving harbour. Especially when moving through somewhere like the Thames Estuary and into the English Channel, and especially when solo. Sailors who have never sailed in these waters just don't understand the amount of planning and decision making required. Its tricky to show this is in a video however you have done this very well and covered many of the factors. Nice one Cap'n!
COuldn't agree more Sam, it's a very challenging area to sail, especially solo. Cheers, Chris 👍
Good video Chris. Having crept around Poole Harbour with literally inches under the keel I felt your stress. Please remember the effect air pressure has on depth when planning such passages. The levels you see on charts are in general set on a mean level of 1013 mbs. Each mb is a cm of water. So if you're passage making with a pressure of say 1023 (high pressure) you will lose 10 cms ... 4 inches of water, which really can be critical. It also helps explain the irony of low pressure systems and flooding. Low pressure often brings storms and flooding from rain, AND fails to push the water down so say a 993 pressure makes for a tide 8 inches higher. 953 doesn't bear thinking about. 😳
Hi there, you're absolutely right about atmospheric pressure and its effect on the height of tide. This wasn't causing me problems on this day as it was 1006 mb, what did throw my calculations off was the effect of the sustained westerly winds which were around in that period, which also reduce the height of tide from its astronomical prediction. A lesson learned for sure! Cheers, Chris 👍
My sailing grounds. Some times it's more like paddling in a ditch! The real fun is when you are sailing downwind and current running with you and you hit the mud.
Hi Mike, paddling in a ditch sounds about right! It's definitely a challenging area to sail but if you are unlucky then you will often be ok in the mud.... There are worst places to run aground for sure! Very best regards, Chris, Rossella & Emma 😊
Nice one Chris. Good to see you tidying all your lines after curling in your Genoa. You never know when you might need to use them again. It was always a must when I was racing as any foul ups could be very costly and possibly dangerous. When I was racing and Decca navigators were first available to yachts we all used to name our Decca. Names like Desmond Decca, Mary Decca and other names like Jaws. I have named my tiller pilot Peter Pilot but still deciding what to call my Wind vane, maybe Carly as it is so vane... cheers. Andy UK
Hi Andy, thanks mate. I'm glad we're not the only ones to name things on board, that makes me feel a bit more normal. 😂 Cheers, Chris 👍
Really brave .. you’ll be glad you did this ... looking back
Thank you Shaun, I absolutely loved this trip, challenging as it was - or probably because it was so challenging! Cheers, Chris 👍
Anchor ball off first and in the calm of on-hook.... In that wind you could have had a halyard & shackle dangling at 45° and working its way up to the sheave. Meanwhile it thrashes around while you're moving leeward.
Keep at it Chris, brings it all to life in a very real way and helps all us novices!
Thank you Tim 👍
Thank you for this. It is very helpful for myself as an aspiring solo sailor. You’re not afraid to share your fears. Great stuff.
My pleasure Pedro, we all learn from each other on RUclips and I'm just trying to do my bit to give back to the community. Cheers, Chris 👍
Engels
I am a solo-sailer for about 12 years. I sail on the Ijsselmeer, Waddenzee and Northsee.. I recognize a lot of solo sailing. In particular, passing bridges and locks requires a lot of insight skills and patience. I recognize the stressful moments. Keeping calm and not panic are important conditions for being able to sail undamaged solo. I also recognize that it is a matter of doing and finding out what you can handle on your own. Thanksfot the video’s. The otter video’s helpt,e te prepareren my solo sailing thuis summier ro Denmark and Sweden. Greatings John (sailing A Fisher 30)
Thank you John & fair winds! Chris 👍
Yikes!! Perfect cliff hanger! 😯😁
Keep keepin' it real! I learn so much from you and it helps knowing that I'm getting the straight scoop. 👍👍
Thank you Janise! The plan is for me to share everything on this trip in detail so that we can all learn together. We're glad you are enjoying these videos! Send our love to the gang! Very best regards, Chris, Rossella & Emma 😊
Singlehanded sailing is challenging and you learn a ton of things. So I understand your anxiety. Most of My sailing is single handed for years and I feel quite confident now. But new challenges keep popping up anyway now and then. Good job Chris
It's a steep learning curve for sure but I had tons more confidence after just a week, so I can definitely see it getting a lot easier with experience. Cheers, Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly Everybody can challenge themselves to singelhanded sailing, that is if they are interested to do it. But I would say it is not for everybody though. Many of the abilities a singlehanded sailor must have, apply to all kind of sailors that are sailing with a crew as well. But a singelhanded sailor must be a more dedicated multi tasker and must be stronger to sense the boat and forsee situations. On a multi crew vessel a bad decision can be saved afterwards. But on a singlehanded boat a bad decision can end up losing the boat or even your life.
Hi Chris, you make it feel very real! Glad to see you had ready to eat food, it is virtually impossible otherwise in restricted waters. Great to see you taking this route, we hope to head round Britain soon and seeing others experiencing part of the route is hugely helpful. We have a large pump action thermos for short handed sailing, good for hot soup, tea, coffe, hot chocolate - stay warm! Fairwinds and looking forward to the next instalment. Gary
Hi Gary, thank you! Pre-made food is a godsend and a brew on the go is always nice. There are lots of little things I could have done with on this trip but I was in a mad rush to get the boat across the channel (So I could be reunited with Rossella & Emma) so I just did the major things and got by without. Good luck with the planning for your adventure and I'm glad you are enjoying this series. Cheers, Chris 👍
Well done. I think solo is the hardest to do as you have all the pressure
Thank you Sean, the buck stops at yours truly. It's a big challenge but very liberating at the same time! Cheers, Chris 👍
This series is fantastic. Well done & many thanks. Love the first-person video, I'm going to do the same with a second camera fixed on the transom rolling like your Part 1.
Thanks mate, fair winds! 👍
Well done Chris. A steep learning curve and all ended well. One thing to think about (if you haven't already) is the jackstay for solo sailing. As you have them they won't stop you from going overboard, but they will keep you near the boat if you do fall overboard. I think if these 'port and starboard' jackstays as great for two handed sailing, but for single-handers I think the jackstay should be down the boat centreline (somehow) - stopping you from actually going overboard. Just my thoughts. What are yours?
Excellent 2nd part.
I've always thought it strange that when someone's in trouble we describe them as being in "deep water"
We sailors know that we should really say, "you're in shallow water now"
Good luck for the rest of the journey.
Thank you! Yes and we're much safer when we're a long way from the coast, counterintuitive as that may seem for many. Cheers, Chris 👍
Well done Chris, superb video coverage somewhat marred by wind noise, but you don’t need me to say that. Always a challenge in windy conditions. Your honest approach, mistake and all makes for compelling viewing.
Thank you for your feedback. Chris 👍
Great work mate! Having only done short day sails single handed, I fully understand the angst that comes with it, and the amount of work to be done. What I’m getting better at is preparing before I leave the mooring, which requires less work under pressure. Cheers!
Prior preparation prevents p*** poor performance. This is a saying from my armed forces days which applies well to solo sailing. Like everything, experience makes all the difference and I saw a huge difference in how I was handling everything at the end of this journey compared to the first couple of days. Cheers, Chris 👍
Well done! Take your time, don’t rush on deck, (it’s safer) you have more time then you think and the boat will only travel a few meters from anchorage, until you have her under full control. Also motor sail with jib or both sails. It makes a great difference, in comfort, saves fuel pushes closer to the wind the list goes on. Enjoy!
Hi Dave, thank you! Regarding the motor sailing here is a copied reply to another comment
"I didn't want to raise the mainsail as I had only ever had it out once before in anger and I had a nightmare when the wind came up and I had to put the sails away as well as deal with being at the helm whilst navigating an unfamiliar river. I tried the Genoa as this is easier to manage solo and the thing that put me off was the fact that I couldn't stay in the narrow channel when I took away the revs from the engine - because I would have had to sail too close to the wind... Although I could have perfectly carried on with the Genoa up, my concern was, "What happens if I get some rope caught in my prop?" The answer was that with the sail up I would have been aground in a shorter amount of time than I would have had to do anything about it, which is why I decided that the safer option was to just motor. In this case If I got some rope caught on my prop I would have had time to deploy an anchor before running aground, as I wouldn't have had a sail to blow me towards the lee shore. Here is a chart of the channel I was in, centred on where I made this call. webapp.navionics.com/#boating@13&key=%7DryxHugnC There isn't much room in there to begin with, there are hundreds of boats and moorings to contend with, this was the first time I had ever been there in a boat, and there was a 20 knot plus westerly wind at the time. This was the right decision for me at that time but of course every skipper would have their own views about this and make their own decisions based on their own judgement."
I hope this helps you understand my reasoning on this passage.
Cheers!
Chris 👍
Great stuff, I find when I’m single handing preparation is key!
Absolutely Rich! 👍
My auto helm ah800 is called captain Ray (not a difficult choice) , oh and I bottom out at 1.2m. So I think that's from the sounder to the sea bed.
Solo sailing for me is "Do as little as possible and as much as necessary". You can make things easy or hard based on how much you think about things before hand. one of the key elements is managing yourself to avoid stress and exhaustion. Experience is a key factor in decision making and that takes time to gain. Great videos, now get offshore where solo sailing becomes blissful :-)
Wise word there. I definitely agree that the closer you are to the coast you are the more you have to think about due to all the hazards. I felt a huge difference in my confidence and experience between the start of this trip and the end and I hope this will come through in the videos too. Cheers, Chris 👍
Hi crew,greetings from nottingham👋,planing and more planing is the only safe way to go when deciding on a route you are going to sail..As you have said before Chris safety is the prime requisite on the seas especially if you have your family with you as well which makes it doubly important to carry out all the safety checks ASAP. Learning were you went wrong with past mistakes should be thought through with a determination not to make the same mistakes again.Chris you give the amateur sailor strength to try and succeed as you are doing and as you’ve said it’s all down to the planing ahead, stay safe on the water and all the best to you and your family, till the next time cheers🇬🇧👍
Thank you very much Peter, for you very kind words. I spent almost as much time planning on this trip as I did moving the boat! I had to as I was taking on a huge amount of new things all in one go. There's no way I'd have done this trip in the windy October weather with Rossella & Emma on board, which is one of the reasons I did it solo. Cheers, Chris 👍
Sailing Britaly you’re most welcome Chris,all the best
Fantastic ep your honesty and sharing of knowledge is refreshing
Thank you Bruce 👍
Enjoyed the video, i sail mostly solo and totally go along with motoring in narrow channels unless very gentle conditions. Gusty winds can easily catch you out when solo with little sea room. I would also put the anchor ball away before setting off. I have never needed to deploy the anchor in emergency but think in the conditions you were in if I had engine failure i would go for the anchor rather than try and sail out. If you get sailing and have no where to get some sea room you would need to anchor to sort engine anyway is my thinking. Having said that my engine failed to start and i sailed 20 miles to my home port and dropped a line around a buoy and then got a tow in, but it was gentle conditions.
Hi Mick, I agree with everything you just said, especially considering my relative inexperience with the boat. The beginning of this trip was effectively the first proper shakedown cruise (I planned to do more test sails prior to me leaving, but life events conspired againsts that and we only used the boat for some short day sails prior to the start of this trip) so I was trying to reduce the chances of things going wrong caused by a combination of new things happening all at the same time. The difference between how things went at the start and the end of this short journey was massive and I gained a lot more confidence in the boat and my ability to handle her solo in a very short space of time. Cheers, Chris 👍
@13:25 I really appreciate your sincerity. Do you remember how many knot of wind approximately you had at that moment?
Regards from Brazil!
Hi there, just going from memory I think about 20 knots. I would have been better raising the mainsail rather the Genoa, but I had very little experience with it (roller furler) so it didn’t seem like a good idea to start experimenting in that area with restricted space. Fair winds! Chris 👍
When I solo my small sailboat I have things I do that are temporary fixes while I get underway or go into the marina. Having a solution that "works for now" is OK just as long as you go back and make it shipshape later. So dumping your anchor ball in with the chain is OK as a temp fix. Also, I would have a line with a clip on the end ruining from a bow stanchion or a small cleat. You clip onto the tang of the anchor temporarily instead of fiddling with the pin & ring that makes it more secure. Tying the anchor down is a great thing to do, but not while you are still getting underway. Go back and do it once things calm down. Just be sure to go back and fix it correctly. When you are solo, sometimes getting something secured quickly (but not permanently) is the best thing to do while you are busy with the boat.
Good suggestions there, thank you. Chris 👍
Handy that you can get the genoa furling line on to a self-tailing winch & be in control of it and the genoa sheet at the same time, details are important. I'll be honest I'm not convinced with jacklines when singlehanding, you go over the side are you going to be able to get back on? I guess if you have a sugar scoop that makes it a lot easier assuming you can get back to it. Singlehanding I always wear my PLB and if I go over the side that I reckon gives me a better chance of survival than being dragged along at 5 knots. To have thought things through and having a plan for different scenarios though, especially when solo, gives us a significantly better chance if (when!) things start to go awry. Fair winds...
Hi David, these jacklines were a last-minute solution and I agree that they are not ideal - I will improve the system in the future. However, I believe that these imperfect jacklines were likely to help me stay on the boat if I tripped or got hit by a wave, compared to not using jackstays at all (of course we all have our own opinions on this). I had two 'box cutter' knives in my jacket pocket at all times to cut myself away should the need arise, I had a PLB attached to my harness (The yellow pouch you can see in the video) and I've done several offshore sea survival courses over the years. I'm confident I would like to get ashore (and then get myself a lift to chase after the boat!) but hopefully I'll never have to prove this theory! Cheers, Chris 👍
I named my tiller pilot "Brain Dead" because it wouldn't hold a course. A REAL pain in a narrow inlet when sailing solo. I quit attempting to put up my main because it was a pain to reef or drop without someone at the helm. "Brain Dead" was only good for power steering, not for moving about the boat and setting sails.
Good on you for being cautious. It's amazing how many things should be done all at once, at times. I haven't run aground since my small motor boat days, but I never wanted to test the keel bolts by doing it. Cheers, Chris! P.S. Take a wee in a handy jug, you'll feel better.
Hi Joel, a tiller pilot or autopilot can make or break a trip like this and I could have kissed ours if that wasn’t such a weird thing to do! I had a bottle for that purpose but as I was being watched from the bridge and couldn’t leave the helm due to the wind & current I just had to wait untile they opened the bridge and let me through. Cheers, Chris 👍
Simply great, thanks!
Thanks good video ye single handed sailing can be stressful don't mind sailing when i go to pick up my swinging mooring then i get up tight very tight with lots of boats😱 in the winter the club i am in is way up the river so can only go through the weir on a high tide but still got to watch the depth. Last year there was a rowing club race and i guy on loud speaker was shouting at me move out the way a race is on! I had to shout back NO will stay in the middle at a stand still, I draw to much depth, don't think he got it as he kept shouting move out the way!
Hi Al, there's a lot to do when you're on your tod for sure! I've never done any racing, as is more than evident from our videos! 😂 Cheers, Chris 👍
I'm not one to leave comments all over the place, but in your case, I feel the need to at least say something. I love your rationale and manner. I'm on a budget, in an attempt to getting myself on a boat also, but I'm in for a buck a month, or whatever the minimum is. I reckon you'll give me a great insight of what's ahead for me and I am looking forward to seeing your other videos. Hopefully, you'll be able to get yourself a windlass before too long. Cheers.
Hi Trev, we'd love to see you over on Patreon and we have set things up so that the minimum contribution is just $1 per month to make it affordable for everyone - including those who run a tight budget (We have a post specifically explaining how our Patrons can get the most rewards possible here www.patreon.com/posts/how-to-maximise-24620113 You set your pledge to $1 and then by setting the maximum number of pledges to one per month you will never be charged more than $1 per month, even if we were to publish 10 videos in a month.)
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Cheers!
Chris (plus Rossella & Emma) 😊
No apologies necessary,great vid.
Thank you Roger 👍
I've always felt that jacklines should do more than keep you attached to your boat if you fall overboard, they should prevent you from falling over board. Thus they need to be tight, as inboard as practical, with the shortest tether practical. Love your videos.
Hi John, I appreciate your feedback and I will be reviewing our jackline setup to see what I can do to improve it for the future. Cheers, Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly this might be a bit overkill, but it has the basic idea.
www.sailrite.com/Stay-Safe-at-Sea-With-Custom-Jackline-System
Hi - love your vids! - you may find it better to put the lifeline under the jack lines and back onto your lifejacket - it's shorter - you don't go overboard so far and the metal clip doesn't/can't damage the decks...🙂
Thank you for the tip John, I'll give this a try. Chris 👍
I love your yacht. What is it again? Also just wee off the back. On mine I stand on the scoop. Wish I had a wheel now with decent autohelm. I grounded my previous fin keel on Blythe sands about 5 years ago. Lost the rudder in it as got towed off. My current old 1988 Jeanneau is a lift keel. Great video Chris. Look forward to the next installment. Don't worry about the wind noise, makes it more real
Hi John, she’s a 1992 Bavaria 350. I have a wide-necked bottle for that purpose (to avoid the possibility of falling overboard ‘mid-stream’) but I was under the watchful eye of the bridge crew so I couldn’t use it and I couldn’t leave the helm either so I had to just wait! Sorry to hear about the damage to your previous boat, it happens a lot near shifting sands. Lifting keels can be very handy in such places, and are brilliant for getting to secluded anchorages too. Cheers, Chris 👍
looking really good chris hope everything goes as planed you could try put thing like the anchor ball away and tidy lines before lifting the anchor i found it to be silly thing that took the time.
Hi there, these are good tips thank you. I usually take than anchor ball down after we are underway because if anything goes awry during the retrieval at least you don't have to worry about if other vessels are going to expect you to move for them while you are wrestling with your anchor. However, as I was the only boat in the anchorage, and as I was single handed, you are right: it would have been better to take the anchor ball down before starting to weigh anchor. Cheers, Chris 👍
Nice one sir, really enjoyed this, thanks for sharing. Great to be able to share that learning curve with you. Subscribed!
Welcome aboard Matthew, I hope you enjoy our previous videos and all the upcoming ones too. Cheers! Chris 👍
Love the vid and just letting the vid roll showing what it is like to be on the boat
Thank you! 👍
Yikes that’s not tense at all!! Mudlarking.... 😳 Can you give us an overview of your nav station in a future vid?
Yes it was an exciting trip! :-) The 'cheap plotter' video is on our to-do list but if you want to know the details send us a p.m on Patreon and I will dig out the details and send them to you first. Very best regards, Chris 👍
The autohelm is always George. Apparently it comes from flying and you can find explanations aplenty, but George it has to be.
Thaks for the heads up Nick, our last one was Fred. We'll have to see with this one. Maybe Emma can name it for us. 😇
Well Done Cris that was a close shave!! Good job u planed to do during day this passage.By the way ilike to see tidy lines.Saluti
Grazie mille Mimmo! I wouldn't have gone down the Swale for the first time at night - I'd have been a nervous wreck! 😂 We have a brand new private Facebook group for our Patrons which is off to a great start... There are people sharing details of where they are and photo's of their boats and there looks as though there may be crewing opportunities. Dai un'occhiata! Very best regards, Chris 👍
Good job sir, and helpful to me also, thanks. Very worried about your jack-stays, will leave you to do the research and assess what works on your boat; as they were I doubt they would be effective. Some long distance truck Driver solve the wee challenge with a plastic bottle.
Kings Ferry bridge only lifts once an hour, subject to trains passing over. Now is only when merchant ships pass through, due to engineering works...
Glad I missed the engineering works!
You are doing great kid!
Cheers! 👍
Love these videos great job,
Hi Richard, very much obliged, thank you! Very best regards, Chris (plus Rossella & Emma) 😊
Those shallow areas are nerve wrecking indeed. I didn’t see any channel markers there, or maybe they were further away? I bet you took a big risk at low tide (could tell as the other boat was drying out on your port side).
Hi Darshan, there were some channel markers but in between then I was flying by the seat of my pants somewhat. Even if it would have been no big deal if I’d have touched the mud, it was still one to remember! Cheers, Chris
Oooh a cliff hanger, that's sneaky 😜
Hi Samantha, I was planning on taking this video up until the end of the night, but the video got to this length (and therefore would have been about 45 minutes long to cover the whole day - unless I cut a load of footage out) so I thought “I’ll do a Homeland”. 😂 I hope the suspense is intriguing rather than annoying... The thing to remember is that I myself did not know how this was going to end up and with 15 cm below my keel I was cutting it very fine! 🙏 Cheers, Chris
@@SailingBritaly I love the suspense, I'd be watching anyway this just makes it more interesting... Cliffhangers and always fun. 😁
Night sailing is a whole different kettle of fish if you’ve not done it before. It’s bloody awesome, but in a slightly terrifying, discombobulating way, I think you probably know what I mean. If you’ve not done it before (to anyone reading this) I would seriously advise trying it with more experienced sailors before venturing out alone. I would love to swap some of your engineering prowess for a little of my seamanship/close quarters handling! Please stay safe . 👍👍
Hi there, I agree with everything you just said! Cheers, Chris 👍
Wow, great adventure!
Thanks Gus! 👍
Hi Chris. Thanks for sharing the infos. I probably missed something but why didn't you proceed on river Thames rather than going the other way ?
Keep going!!!
Hi Pierre, I wanted to avoid shipping as much as possible. Cheers, Chris 👍
Great fun mate
Cheers John 👍
So true. Everyday people diminish the operations guy, I hope to see this trend shift soon. Doing the work is alot harder than most think.... A colateral from the high-degree flood from the past few decades perahps?
Nice video! Did you consider motoring with your main up? I find unless I need to go a lot directly into the wind the main does not flap around (and helps with speed) at 20 deg AW and higher.
The Suspense! :)
I know Claire, I lived it: I had no idea what was coming next! 🙏
Nice series! Picked it up again now I see you've come to Belgium (where I live). What's the plan thereafter? Truck it to the Med?
I see you have a VHF with AIS receiver. Do you have a transmitter as well?
Hi there, we plan on taking the inland waterways down through Belgium and France to the Med. (Goodness knows when that will be: we’re currently on lockdown in Italy...) The VHF has DSC, GPS and is an AIS receiver. No transmitter. We have a substantial RADAR reflector (Echomax EM230) and I take full responsibility for avoiding collisions with ships. Cheers, Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly Sounds like an amazing plan, if you've got the time, because the French canals take a long time to cross. But it's on my bucket list as well! In which port is Britaly now?
Looking at Navionics, are you putting your waypoints in manually?
I filmed a passage plan video on this trip (which will be published down the line) which shows the method I use. Basically I let Navionics give me an automatic route - which is extremely quick and convenient for this purpose - so that I can work out an approximate timescale for the passage to use during my passage planning, then I go over the route and move the automatically generated waypoints to where I want them, then I follow the route rather than slavishly following the waypoints. Cheers, Chris 👍
Reminds me to my first experiences navigating the river "Schelde" in Belgium...whilst we had to stay clear from all the in and outbound traffic..You did good, the thinking ahead was very well explained..The scary part is the change in bottom profile because of the tidal currents, chart are a "guide" but your "reading" of the water is way more important...Good job..
Thank you! 👍
Christopher, that chain brake, did you make that? It’s cool! Does this boat have a windlass?
Hi Jeremy, yes I made it from some stainless I had left over from our DIY solar arch. It has transformed the ease with which we can weigh anchor! No windlass yet - I’ll fit one when we get to the Med (I could manage without one, but anchoring is our default and I have to consider what would happen if Rossella had to weigh anchor if I was incapacitated for whatever reason.) Cheers, Chris 👍
Sailing Britaly soon as I get back to work and get some bills paid, I’ll get on Patreon. I was a UH1 mechanic for 10 years. You and the Mrs are rocking it.
We look forward to seeing you there when the time is right Jeremy. Cheers, Chris, Rossella & Emma 😊
where did you get your webbing from for the lifelines please? Great vids!
Hi Ben, I got it from a website called "absolute industrial" (no affiliation whatsoever) I got a 100 metre roll as I will also be making up a DIY webbing roll to deploy from the stern to quickly & easily take lines ashore or for deploying a stern anchor. Cheers, Chris
thats a bit close for comfort Chris !!
Yes it was! 👍
Does motoring use much fuel?
Assuming no wind or current, how many litres (or gallons) of diesel would you use to cover say 100 km or miles?
Did you make some error in your tidal planning to leave you with so little water in the channel?
Impossible to sail for any distance without an auto pilot. As for naming it.... Reefed main would have balanced the boat. Great video.
Cheers Bob, I agree regarding the balance of the boat with the main but I'd only ever used the main once before and it was a very narrow channel (Which I had never seen before) so for me I would have been biting off more than I could chew. I'm sure with more practice I'd have sailed with a reefed main and no headsail. Cheers, Chris 👍
Fantastic Channel. You shouldn’t be so conservative in the beginning getting through your early stage fast is safer and cheaper than staying in it for a long time - that where you make all the mistakes!
Keep pushing your boundaries.. going through the Swale is definitely and example that conservative can be much riskier.. getting any type of problems there single handed could be a nightmare!!! so much riskier than biting the bullet and going the Cant where there is much more margin to react!
Why sail in February when conditions are going to be difficult, or what was it done much earlier? Is there some time constraint? Anyway, I needed valium just watching ......
Ha ha! This was in October when conditions were going to be difficult! The reason was that I was doing this in such a hurry was so that I could be reunited with Rossella & Emma once the boat was moved. I’d been away from them for over a month (doing the last essential boat work to get Britaly ready for the channel crossing) and I really, really wanted to get back to them. Cheers, Chris 👍
As a solo sailor, I found this incredibly useful. Thank you. I think part of the difficulty is not having anyone to discuss or share concerns with. You do lots of preparation, which is critical, and you are on the side of caution. I am sure you will be fine, and every mile further on makes you a more experienced sailor and is another sailing experience which is no longer unknown. Best of luck old chap.
Thank you James, there’s no better way to learn: I gained more confidence in a week than I would have in a year of ‘normal’ sailing. Cheers, Chris 👍
I’m on pins and needles!
So was I Frank! 👍
What make is your boat and where are u heading? New here..
Hi there Klemen, she’s a 1992 Bavaria 350 and we’re taking her to the Med. Cheers, Chris 👍
We call our auto pilot “Hugo”. When we want him to take over we laughingly point and say “Hugo there” wish a Spanish accent!
😂👍
Great video. Watching you today teminds me how much harder I work when my wifes isnt with me.
Hey! you have done very well, got to destination in one piece! bravo !! on my first solo i learned that when weather wasn't nice i did not have much time for food preparation ... so i learnt to always keep a "termo" with soup or pasta and another one with coffee or tea. This works for winter weather of course. I just don't work well without food. I always run into the same problem as i i believe you did ... my "legs" are planned to ambitiously and then in the end i tend to make them shorter for one or another reason. I think you had the same. I'm not sure about your Bavaria (?), my sailboat tends to sail better with both head and main at the same time ... more balanced, less leeway, more comfortable, it has more push when i need to break into waves too, less helm, Etc. A bit more I rarely sail only with head sails. Well done!!
Thanks for sahring Esteban, once I have had the mainsail out more than a handful of times I'll have a lot more confidence with it! :-) Cheers, Chris 👍
Oh mamma 😱 i’ve got scared when depth was 1.8... while sitting on my sofa 😂😂😂
Ha ha, it was an interesting trip for sure! Buon vento! Chris 🌅⛵️👍
What make/length vessel is this?
She’s a Bavaria 350
@@SailingBritaly Awesome...thanks for the quick reply. Just found your series of videos and liking them. What made you change out from your other 30' ? size seems similar.
@@davidwarner6755 The Bavaria is much bigger (37 ft vs 30 ft, with a much wider stern) and has a lot more liveable space. In financial terms we pretty much swapped one boat for the other, so this deal made a lot of sense for us, and with Emma on the way te extra space was a huge bonus.
@@SailingBritaly Great Stuff! Good luck with it. I'm on a 30' Bombay Clipper currently trying to work out how I will manage it singlehandedly. Got some good tips from your videos... Thanks again.
I’m glad to hear that David. Single handing is as brilliant as it is challenging, I’m sure you’ll love it! Cheers, Chris 👍
Autopilot name ? I call mine George, LOL.
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And the GPS ? Freddie ! LOL.
Can anyone tell me the year and make of Britaly?
Hi there, she’s a 1992 Bavaria 350. Cheers, Chris 👍
Another good vid. For us viewers it’s a bit of a shame you’re heading to the Med - Northern Europe sailing is so much more interesting!
Ha ha! It’s more challenging up there with the tides & currents for sure! A huge learning curve for me. 👍
I'm worried about your hands going through the wheel all the time. Fine when you're at rest, but it's a habit that could see some nasty bruises if you're in a swell
Our wheel is bigger than I'd like it to be really. When I feel the need I sit sideways on to the wheel so I can get at the throttle without reaching through the spokes. When it's flat calm I don't feel it's a problem. Thank you for your suggestion. Chris 👍
@@SailingBritaly I had an instructor who constantly nagged me about it :D Love the chain stopper idea and the content. Good luck!
Grandissimo.Ma la bandiera andrebbe issata a dritta 😉
Sarebbe utili a molti un video che chiarisca e spieghi una volta per tutte come installare open cpn e soprattutto dove prendere le mappe da quale sito scaricarle e come utilizzarlo offline inoltre se serve installare un gps esterno o no .On line ci sono molti video spazzatura realizzati per fare visualizzazioni non per aiutare.Buona vita
Ciao, grazie! Ho provato Open CPN ma visto che avevo fretta di spostare le barca per vedere Rossella ed Emma ho deciso di usare Navionics, come ho sempre usato nel passato. Quindi e' un Samsung tablet economico che ha un recevitore di GPS interno che funziona anche quando sei offline e senza rete cellulare, le mappe sono scaricate prima di partire, e hai tutto quello che serve sul tablet. Un saluto, Chris 👍
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there is no shame in motoring or motor sailing if that's what the conditions require, actually its good seamanship and to be commended
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I think your motorsailing experiment misled you. It can be very efficient, and has it's own physics that are not the sum of it's parts. The excess leeway with motor off should not be offfputting; what matters is the aero sail boost. The motor doesn't work hard to counter leeway, as you might tell from rpm vs kts. I have found boost almost directly into the wind: www.sailmagazine.com/cruising/the-art-of-motorsailing Best wishes, and I hope I haven't misunderstood you.
Hi there, thank you for your comment. I didn't want to raise the mainsail as I had only ever had it out once before in anger and I had a nightmare when the wind came up and I had to put the sails away as well as deal with being at the helm whilst navigating an unfamiliar river. I tried the Genoa as this is easier to manage solo and the thing that put me off was the fact that I couldn't stay in the narrow channel when I took away the revs from the engine - because I would have had to sail too close to the wind... Although I could have perfectly carried on with the Genoa up, my concern was, "What happens if I get some rope caught in my prop?" The answer was that with the sail up I would have been aground in a shorter amount of time than I would have had to do anything about it, which is why I decided that the safer option was to just motor. In this case If I got some rope caught on my prop I would have had time to deploy an anchor before running aground, as I wouldn't have had a sail to blow me towards the lee shore. Here is a chart of the channel I was in, centred on where I made this call. webapp.navionics.com/#boating@13&key=%7DryxHugnC There isn't much room in there to begin with, there are hundreds of boats and moorings to contend with, this was the first time I had ever been there in a boat, and there was a 20 knot plus westerly wind at the time. This was the right decision for me at that time but of course every skipper would have their own views about this and make their own decisions based on their own judgement. Cheers, Chris 👍
Not really the equivalent of say, Panama to Fiji. A short ferry ride.
:)
😊😊😊
Rather sickening # of charted wrecks on that map....
Hi Sheila, that area has seen lots of military action for a very long time and many of the wrecks will be from the age of sail and the more conflicts. The number of recreational boats wrecked is minuscule - which may make us sailors feel a bit better!