Disclaimer!! We know about the Ensign being incredibly funky 🤣 there is a few weeks between videos and TH-cam so you may have to just pretend it’s not there for the next few vids! Enjoy 😊
Good to see you both out there doin'it :D I was just about to mention about your flag Lol. The Ensign goes topside Against the mast ;) Another suggestion I might make is run the line around the winch 4 times where possible, slippage and grippage* is better controlled. Just a couple of handy hints going forward. :) * - is that even a word. haha Cheers from NZ ~ M
Thank goodness you will be correcting this ensign in future videos. You have no idea how stressed it make me (as an old Merchant seaman) to see if flying upside down 🤗 One thing worth remembering when manoeuvring a boat. You can always speed up to get out of trouble but you can seldom slow down quickly
I’ll never forget the first time I went sailing on a friend’s 30’ sailboat. Nothing like gliding silently across the water. Anchoring in a spot near an island 30 miles offshore and going for a swim with no one else around. Very special day. Glad you have many of those adventures ahead of you.
don't ever call it fear.... just call it stepping out of the comfort zone!! keep your boat in shape and do any operation with the confidence of a 4yr old wearing a batman shirt. well done guys & thx for sharing your journey.
.... Well ! .... that was certainly success .... as the old saying goes "if you are not pushing your boundary's, limits, you are not growing" ... you did good with the reversing to stop and watching beside you with glances to determine your progress in stopping .... had me wondering when you were heading out and you wanted to go slower thus giving yourself more time. The thing that had me wondering, hope it is not too slow so there is not enough water over the rudder and hence lack steerage .. you had it sussed and rocked it ... a huge thing is that you both stayed calm and collected ,,,,, well! an all round success ... thx for sharing, it is a pleasure to watch the two of you grow into this new adventure .... as always .. never stop dreaming, just dream bigger .. have fun be safe, save our oceans ....
There are 2 things that is going to happen to you on your boat! You're either going to grow closer together than you have ever been or farther apart. Good luck and God bless. 🇺🇸
That was fantastic to watch how far you both have come! Well done to you young lady for handling the boat when coming into your mooring your boat the way you did! My dad boat was 42 feet and I handled it getting out of our berth and know what a feeling it is like! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍
I'm impressed. I know from experience that this is the time when it becomes very easy to HATE each other! Everything is a challenge, nothing comes easy, manoeuvring, tacking, normally child's play when experience kicks in, is at this stage still something you need to think about before actually doing it, etcetera, etcetera. In your case, there wasn't any of that. You are aware of each other's inexperience, you give each other room and have each other's back. WELL DONE. For a first sail, I'd say you passed with flying colours!
It can be hard to navigate your own stress and other peoples stress at times and Zach and I are far from perfect but we have just about figured each other out enough to be able to surface through stressful times with a smile still on our face 😊 Thanks for the lovely comment Leo!
Fantastic guys. You had that all the way. You showed bags of confidence and a great team. The look on your face when Zach killed the engine and you realised that you were actually sailing......priceless. Looking forward to your skills and confidence growing over the next few weeks.
YES!!!! When we heard the beep of your engine turn off, and you exclaimed “We’re SAILING!” was soooo awesome! Loved every minute of this episode… your genuine happiness and authentic excitement is incredibly moving! The support and encouragement was beautiful! Well done you two!!! ♥️✌🏼⛵️
I love you two! I wish you the best! So happy to be taking this journey with you. You can do this! You've got this! If you don't make mistakes, you don't learn! You two are going to look back at this and laugh in a few weeks! KEEP GOING!
I've watched every video you have posted since you got your boat, and now on a rewatch of them all, It's Amazing to see how much you have both come along and from the start not knowing anything but just getting stuck in the present day you should be proud of yourself, your both a true inspiration and I'm debating on learning to sail and get myself a boat now.
Becka, please do not doubt your abilities, you were fully in control and sailed so so well, would never be able to tell that you were still getting used to the boat , incredibly well sailed and onwards and upwards! :-)
I would be absolutely cr***ing it if it was a boat i had invested so much onto - so you both seem pretty cool calm and collected to me, its great to see your journey
You guys must be so proud! Every moment of that first sail alone will be engraved in your memory... you guys work so well together. With your confidence reborn a new world awaits! I remember the moment when the sound of the engine and vibration is turned off and gives way to swish and hop of the waves, the lean of the boat, the sound of sails, the wind and loose sheets and a new language is formed between your soul and your boat, where you become one in this adventure of being in the moment with all the elements and that you are ACTUALLY sailing!!! Congratulations! You are an inspiration!
When we stop and think about it- i guess we are proud! Its all too easy to focus on the negative and the mistakes but we have come a long way from the first time haha! Lots and lots of exciting moments and adventures to be come- thanks for being here with us for it Peter 😊
Also Dale! Before I forget- would you mind sending your address to our email address in the description? We would love to send you a thank you card for the VHF and other items 😊
As an older now retired live aboard cruiser may I wish you the very best. May I offer a suggestion? Contact the boat builder and ask about your teak decks for this reason. You need to know If your decks are cored,( which is 99% likely) and if so what material was used for the coring. Many boat builders use wood sandwiched between layers of fiberglass for the purpose of added strength and stiffness in your decks!! However, if wood was used...... every hole in your deck, I.E., screws used to secure the teak and other places as well will at some point allow water intrusion/wicking over time. Should this happen, the sandwiched wood core decays and leaves behind rotted wood and 'soft spots' and will of course compromise your boats deck strength and unfortunately must be dealt with. I know this is not something you wish to hear but boats with teak decks and screws can be,..... well its a boat and the more you know the better. Sorry I don't mean to throw a cold bucket of water but.....something to think and know about.
Hi, thanks for all the advice! Ours in Balsa core. We have recently inspected our deck, taken all the screws and plugs out and resealed them back in and monitor it closely 😊
Well done. Everyone has a few bangs and scrapes so don’t worry about it. You did well with that cross wind coming into your berth. If you don’t make mistakes you can’t learn fro. Them. Keep going 👍🏽
Something about this video gives me the feeling you both are in for a truly amazing sailing journey. The work you've done to get here and the humility shown towards learning will provide many returns down the line. Fair winds and following seas to both of you
Hey guys, loving the channel. I’m a life long windsurfer but having stooped in 1999 shifted to sailing / racing other peoples yachts. In 2003 (when my daughter was 3 months old!) I bought an MG335 (33 foot racing yacht - as you do!) that was in sound condition but needed alot of work. A year later after a huge amount of work out of the water, she was lifted in and the first sail I will never forget. Watching your first sail on your own brought back all those awesome memories. I had the boat for 7 years and gained huge experience both in sailing the boat and in making the right decisions but also in handling the boat in marina’s and tight spots. I got divorced half through my ownership and therefore had to learn to handle the boat myself - which was amazing experience. The most advanced theory qualification I got was day skipper however I was assessed for yacht master practical and passed it. My point is you can sit all the exams you want in theory but it’s real experience that counts. Learning about how tides and wind affect the boat, learning to be prudent and sail within yourselves, respecting the wind and seas and always having a back out plan and a blackout for the blackout plan are more important. Practice boat manoeuvring until you’re bored and then practice some more. Also practice manoeuvring as if your engine has failed and you have to use sails, anchor, dingy to get out of trouble. These are the skills that count. Sailing in open water is the east bit 🤩 Watching video no 123, I think you should replace the whole traveller block system on your mainsail. I’ve never seen a caribeener set up like that and the first sign of a proper blow and that will snap. Most importantly have an awesome time. It’s so impressive what you’ve done. Now just make the most of it . Cheers. Paul 🤙💥
Thanks Paul! Thats epic about your racing yacht- what a story 😊 We did our day skippers too but have learnt soooo much since getting our own boat! We are going to head out this weekend and practice boat handling and MOB i think 😊 Also- the carabiner is very temporary! Our car is now fixed and fitted again and it all works a treat 😊
Thanks Gary, that is so lovely of you to say. We would love to fly the drone while sailing but we only have the mavic mini and fear it may get blown away! Something we will 100% do in the future!
Well done you two, that was a great first sail on your own. Also the boat handling looked great. Just need more practice and gain that experience now. Just a few possible tips: 1. Take a couple more turns on the Genoa sheet winch, I know the wind was light, but if it suddenly gets up, the sheets will slip on the drum. It's the friction on the drum, not the self tailing jammer that should do the work 2. The main sheet looks as though it could be the wrong way round (jammer should be at the bottom, always within easy reach). You need to make sure that with the main let out, you can reach the jammer, otherwise you cannot free it off quickly. 3. When you come alongside (or up to a mooring buoy), and you want to stop, look sideways from where you are at the helm to get a transit of something on land (pontoon if you can see it) or moored yachts and go in reverse until you can see the boat is stationary. It's a very heavy boat and will have a lot of momentum if it's still moving slowly. It's really the best way to check. Happy and safe sailing!
Thanks so much for all the advice- not sure why we had it in our heads that it was two turns but makes far more sense to have more! The main sheet and traveler system was just temporary while we were getting our car fixed- it is all done now and the right way round so you should see that in a few vids time 😊 Thanks again!! 😊
One thing to always remember, if you say you can or say you can't, you will be 100% correct! It looked good to me as a non sailor, hope to see you out more. Take care of each other, be safe and have fun bashing through the waves.
Well done - I think you may have forgotten to ease off the mizzen topping lift when you put the mizzen up - hence the rattling noise. Great to see you out enjoying the boat.
Realizing that you have to learn the feel of the momentum of the water and the wind on the boat. I experienced these things from before I could walk and 82 years later I am watching this on a water bed. AS the scripture says 'thrue use your preseptive powers are trained.
Something I find useful when I don't have a rudder angle indicator is to center the steering wheel by counting turns. Then once I know it is in midships position I whip a line or wrap some tape around the wheel to give me good idea of when the rudder is on the center line.
@@williamparker2809 generally in a car it goes in the direction you steer - boats don't! Especially in reverse! A lot of race cars and rally cars will have straight ahead markets as again they don't always go in the direction the wheels point
I love the way you encourage each other. Such a refreshing channel to watch.. like the sea you will experience the rough and the smooth and Remember even the smallest victories add up and count towards your sailing experience. Happy days.
I noticed you were happily on a starboard tack among those boats racing. Always remember, when the winds on your right, You're right. It's polite to let race participants to keep their course. The more you get out there, the less butterflies you'll have.
Absolutely enjoying your videos and journey🙌 I felt I was sweating with stress watching you guys go out and come back into berth. We are all on the learning curve of experience with this boating thing and I’ve learned some things from watching you guys already on your starting out. I’ve been sailing from childhood and now in my 50s had a bunch of boats( not expensive ones) up to 50ft and they all behaved differently under motor or outboard. My present 38ft yacht propwalks to port alot but getting used to it each time I go out. One tip I picked up from an old sea captain which has been gold for me is you need some speed for steerage through wind and currents etc but if you need to slow a big boat fast under motor put it in slow forward . The prop has more braking power this way , other than full reverse when the prop will cavitate. Once you’ve slowed down then go reverse. This has given me much more confidence in marinas. Thanks again for the great videos 🙏
So glad Jim! Its lovely to hear you can enjoy our experience as if it were your own. Lots of learning but all in it together! Thats a really good tip- thanks so much! We never thought about going slow in forward but it makes sense 😊 will give that a go and hopefully the prop walk will chill out a bit 🤣
So happy for you two, no greater feeling than trimming the sails and turning off the engine! Keep up with docking practice in different weather /tide states, it’s great for experience and what they call ‘character building’ I think 🤨 Most boat owners new and old dread that part, that why so many boats stay tied up in marinas, good for you getting out and enjoying yourselves
Well done ! Practice makes perfect. And you checked your gears when you left, and your rudder. top job. Try getting the crew to call out final distances as you approach the dock, you can then time your F - N - R well, to stop just where you want. So now you have cracked the sound and cawsands, the next challenge is the beautiful Yealm. Get up there for a night and try out a pick up mooring. Another skill to tick off. Plan well for depth and over the sandbar!
Thanks so much. Funnily enough- i had Zach shout distances in last vid but not this one 🤣 must have got distracted! We would LOVE to go to the Yealm- but because we have two very old leisure batteries, we aren't quite ready for overnight yet but fingers crossed we will upgrade them soon 😊
I will keep my fingers crossed for your first rough water sail. You are learning and your boat is strong and seaworthy so you just need to build confidence. Good for you
Consider taking an inventory of your video presentation skills, because I think there is much to learn here. You began with a comprehensible theme, brought us into your experience straight away, and took us along for the journey with a glorious end. The music was perfect, the audio clear. Only suggestion: Camera seemed to predominantly focus upon you and Zack. As a viewer, it would be great to get a view from just behind the pilot -- so we see what you see and get to experience your reactions (at least from behind). WELL DONE ALL!
Thanks so much for the feedback! Yes, we were planning on moving it more but were focusing too much on sailing 🤣 as we get more confident, the angles should improve! 😊
Hi Becka, hi Zach I love your positive mindset. You really seem to enjoy leaving the comfort zone. My view is sailing maneuvers are like a choreography. The crew must coordinate moves and timing. Like with dancing, the best theory does not help, but training does. Train docking and by doing so, you learn your boat. Even longtime cruisers train for docking (see Sailing UMA Step 226 minute 11ff). Think of taking a trainer (Any repairs are much more expensive). My proposal: For a couple of weeks plan to train docking every day in different situations, docks and conditions, rain, wind, night, tide… . Train your senses for wind and currents. Set up your roles and swap your roles. Do it single-handed, both. Do it in reverse. Try to do it using sails only. Start on easier docks with less hazards. Shit happens (Motto of Sir Russell Coutts). What counts is how you deal with it. Debrief afterwards with a cup of tea or so and laugh all frustration away. Follow your dreams and enjoy every moment, now.
Thanks Axel 😊 very clever to compare to dancing! Makes a lot of sense. We both want to be able to everything on board and swapping roles is a great start. We are going out this weekend to practice manovers, figure out our prop walk and do MOB practice but the docking practice sounds great too. Love the phrase shit happens 🤣 we are all too familiar with that!
Fabulous video and congratulations for your achievements so far.. lots of comments already about the sheets on the winches already, so won’t add anymore. One of the hardest bit about sailing is slow speed boat handling in tight spaces… the more you do it the easier it will become… I love the comment ‘I’m not worried, you are doing great…’ proper leadership - inspiring confidence into the crew. My only real question is what is going on with your ensign? Then I read your comment above!! All part of the learning journey :-)
Congratz ! The First Sail on what will be a Wonderful Journey. I am sure you still have some preparation to do, but you are definitely getting there. Fair Winds 😎
Well done. You are doing really well. Mayflower isn't the easiest marina to get in and out of with the tides, and it looked liked you nailed it this time. Two suggestions: First, try and sort out your mainsheet. The way it is rigged, you cannot easily uncleat if the boom is out for a reach, and also when dropping the mainsail, the boom is moving too much and risks knocking you off the deck. There should be a car on the traveller track, with the block and cleat attached to it - so in essence, your mainsheet is upside down! Second, I noticed that your mizzen was scandalised when you were sailing. Its a great technique when you want to de-power, but no so much when you are sailing. Let off the topping lift and allow the sail to take the weight of the boom. The leech will then tighten, the sail will generate more power and stop flapping. Hope that helps.
Thanks so much- it really isn't! The tides rip around here. The mainsheet was just temporary- our car was getting fixed. Its all fixed now though 😊 thanks for the advice!
You said it "I m bloody doing it" and you did now get her out as much as possible well done only got two oceans and 16000 miles to go to Keppel islands in Qld Australia I'll shout you a round or three. Jokes aside well done cheers n beers Marty Australia
Really good, TEAM, well done indeed! Always remember that even if you feel nervous going out and coming back in to your berth blue water cruiser crews are probably much more nervous than you when they do it!
If every time you go out you learn something about the boat or yourselves then its a successful trip. Good one and ffs get that ensign the right way around lol.
Elation! Good job both of you for your first time solo. There will be many more to come and you will succeed even if an issue arise. Just breathe and take it head on. Cheers
Well done !! getting in and out from marina can be a stress out , you did well for a first time sailing on your own the sail handling will come easy too the more you get to know your boat in diff conditions and using different sails etc
A great way to get confidence up vis-a-vis slow speed boat handling, without any worries about having a whoopsie, is to get out there and select any bouy with nothing around it, then practice approaching it from different directions and bringing the boat to a stop with the boat 1 metre from it, bow-to, stern-to, portside-amidships (in line with mainmast shroud) and starboard-amidships. Do all that under power, then mix it up and practice approaches under sail, bringing her to a halt bow-to, upwind, within pickup reach. Keep the engine on but in neutral unless you need it to avoid running the bouy down. By doing it from different directions, under power and sail, the variations in tidal and wind effects will require different approaches to the problem. After over 50 years day sailing, racing and cruising, I still do this at least once or twice if I’ve been off the boat for a few weeks, it’s just fun to do sometimes anyway for the challenge of getting it perfect. It’s a fantastic way to sharpen up your skills, once you’re confident at 1m clearance reduce it to 1ft, then to 1inch. I suggest that progression because it’s only polite to avoid wantonly abusing random bouys. Definitely. Above all keep laughing at yourselves, that and a large mug of hot tea plus Hob-Nobs are the best tonics for foul-ups, which you WILL have. A couple of weeks ago my mooring neighbour was serenely sailing onto his mooring, lovely calm evening, his mate helming, owner stood on bow, hands on hips, boat just creeping up to the pickup bouy….perfectly judged as they had done without fail for over 30 years, same people, same boat, same mooring, 30+ years. It was an exceptionally low tide. A motorboat went by nearby but in the narrow channel, quite a wake. When almost, but not quite, stationary the keel met the rock shelf, just kissed it, about 6ft short of the bouy. Owner, windmilling arms and legs akimbo, flying not even remotely gracefully ahead of his boat, made a perfect picture before it was spoiled by the splash and the quite atrocious language when he surfaced. There but for the grace of God go I, I thought once I’d jumped into my tender, wiping tears from my eyes and trying unsuccessfully to disguise my paroxysms of laughter. For some reason he was quite chilly towards me for a bit. Ah well, no sense of humour, some people. It happens and we all learn from our own and everyone else’s boo-boos, anyone who hasn’t mucked something up in a boat hasn’t been anywhere far from the club bar. Be chilled, R. 😎👍🍻
Thanks Rob- we are hoping to do that on Sunday (as well as MOB practice)- really good suggestion 😊 Hahah very funny about your mooring neighbour- we would have laughed too! Can't take life too seriously in the end can you!
Becka those things that make us feel uneasy scared and uncomfortable , this is the direction we must go , because this how we grow from the people we are to the people we wish to be. fair winds
Disclaimer!! We know about the Ensign being incredibly funky 🤣 there is a few weeks between videos and TH-cam so you may have to just pretend it’s not there for the next few vids! Enjoy 😊
Good to see you both out there doin'it :D
I was just about to mention about your flag Lol.
The Ensign goes topside Against the mast ;)
Another suggestion I might make is run the line around the winch 4 times where possible, slippage and grippage* is better controlled. Just a couple of handy hints going forward. :)
* - is that even a word. haha
Cheers from NZ ~ M
Thank goodness you will be correcting this ensign in future videos. You have no idea how stressed it make me (as an old Merchant seaman) to see if flying upside down 🤗
One thing worth remembering when manoeuvring a boat. You can always speed up to get out of trouble but you can seldom slow down quickly
@@MikeB-gf6dj Against the mast?????? I guess that's a NZ thing.
@@nigelspendlove9088 I think he means the union jack bit goes next to the flagstaff (it's in the hoist?).
@@Lightw81 You're right Nick, I'm sure that's what he meant. Flag pole would a lot less confusing, than mast.
I’ll never forget the first time I went sailing on a friend’s 30’ sailboat. Nothing like gliding silently across the water. Anchoring in a spot near an island 30 miles offshore and going for a swim with no one else around. Very special day. Glad you have many of those adventures ahead of you.
don't ever call it fear.... just call it stepping out of the comfort zone!!
keep your boat in shape and do any operation with the confidence of a 4yr old wearing a batman shirt.
well done guys & thx for sharing your journey.
Very true! haha i love that- will keep it in mind next time we need a boost of confidence 😊
@@TeuluTribe Perhaps a couple Batman sailing shirts are in order!? Ha!
Or say as Pippi Longstockings: I have never tried that, so I’ll do fine
Learning is LIVING & Living is LEARNING. Amazing
.... Well ! .... that was certainly success .... as the old saying goes "if you are not pushing your boundary's, limits, you are not growing" ... you did good with the reversing to stop and watching beside you with glances to determine your progress in stopping .... had me wondering when you were heading out and you wanted to go slower thus giving yourself more time. The thing that had me wondering, hope it is not too slow so there is not enough water over the rudder and hence lack steerage .. you had it sussed and rocked it ... a huge thing is that you both stayed calm and collected ,,,,, well! an all round success ... thx for sharing, it is a pleasure to watch the two of you grow into this new adventure .... as always .. never stop dreaming, just dream bigger .. have fun be safe, save our oceans ....
There are 2 things that is going to happen to you on your boat! You're either going to grow closer together than you have ever been or farther apart. Good luck and God bless. 🇺🇸
So far, we have been drawn much closer together 😊
The beginning is beautiful. Cherish your genesis. Only one first time for everything and never will it come again. Relish these moments, raw and real.
It really is! 😊
Definition of courage! Courage is being scared as hell, but doing it anyway. Way to go you two!
Thanks so much Erik 😊 It can only (hopefully!) get easier!
You made that look easy, like you're a pro. Should be incredibly proud of yourself
“Feeling the fear and doing it anyway” says it all superbly. Congratulations, fantastic effort!
Thanks David- that means a lot 😊
Great job , sailing by yourself and docking , relaxed and smooth very good. 👍👍👍👌👌👋👋
Thanks Martin! 😊
That was fantastic to watch how far you both have come! Well done to you young lady for handling the boat when coming into your mooring your boat the way you did! My dad boat was 42 feet and I handled it getting out of our berth and know what a feeling it is like! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍
It’s an incredible feeling when the berthing goes well!! 😄
Fear is so hard to conquer, you do so well!
Bravo!
Love that quote! We really worked on staying calm and collected- hopefully it will only get easier 😊
The joy on your faces is palpable!!
I'm impressed. I know from experience that this is the time when it becomes very easy to HATE each other! Everything is a challenge, nothing comes easy, manoeuvring, tacking, normally child's play when experience kicks in, is at this stage still something you need to think about before actually doing it, etcetera, etcetera. In your case, there wasn't any of that. You are aware of each other's inexperience, you give each other room and have each other's back. WELL DONE. For a first sail, I'd say you passed with flying colours!
It can be hard to navigate your own stress and other peoples stress at times and Zach and I are far from perfect but we have just about figured each other out enough to be able to surface through stressful times with a smile still on our face 😊 Thanks for the lovely comment Leo!
Fantastic guys. You had that all the way. You showed bags of confidence and a great team. The look on your face when Zach killed the engine and you realised that you were actually sailing......priceless. Looking forward to your skills and confidence growing over the next few weeks.
Thanks Terry 😊 that means a lot! Haha the best feeling in the world when the engine is turned off and you can actually breathe 😊
YES!!!! When we heard the beep of your engine turn off, and you exclaimed “We’re SAILING!” was soooo awesome! Loved every minute of this episode… your genuine happiness and authentic excitement is incredibly moving! The support and encouragement was beautiful! Well done you two!!! ♥️✌🏼⛵️
The best feeling!!! So glad you enjoyed it 😊 now the real fun really begins!! Thanks 😊
ALWAYS a nerve wracking experience...but any mooring up that doesn't require repairs/apologies is a good one.
Wise words Marc!
I love you two! I wish you the best! So happy to be taking this journey with you. You can do this! You've got this! If you don't make mistakes, you don't learn! You two are going to look back at this and laugh in a few weeks! KEEP GOING!
Thanks so much- thats such a lovely comment! We really will, lots of mistakes that we shall giggle about from years to come!
Love how you always keep it real. Years from know you will look back on this video and be so glad you documented your first solo sail.
Thanks Julia, its lovely having the memories- i think there will be lots of giggles and 'why an earth did we do that!!' moments watching it back 🤣
I've watched every video you have posted since you got your boat, and now on a rewatch of them all, It's Amazing to see how much you have both come along and from the start not knowing anything but just getting stuck in the present day you should be proud of yourself, your both a true inspiration and I'm debating on learning to sail and get myself a boat now.
YES YES YES what a difference from last week you’ve done it once so you can do it again. Great communication between the both of you keep it up
Such a difference! Thanks 😊
Brilliant, well done you two. Loving every video by the way.
Thanks so much 😊
Great job. Congrats. And good for you for wearing your PFDs. One saved my life once. Hopefully you'll never have to use them. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Alan, wow, that must have been scary- its not worth the risk not to!
Watch a few sailing channels but this is quickly becoming a fav, your honesty and rawness is beautiful to watch….new subscriber after today’s vid.
That means so much Jon!! Thank you!! 😊
Becka, please do not doubt your abilities, you were fully in control and sailed so so well, would never be able to tell that you were still getting used to the boat , incredibly well sailed and onwards and upwards! :-)
Thats so kind- thanks so much Rhys! 😊 Lots of pressure and still learning how to manage it but its so lovely to hear it wasn't (too) obvious 😆
I would be absolutely cr***ing it if it was a boat i had invested so much onto - so you both seem pretty cool calm and collected to me, its great to see your journey
Haha we make look cool and calm but inside we were pooping ourselves at times 🤣
Congrats! That first docking on a new boat always seems like a miracle. It soon will be no big deal.
Thanks William 😊 hope so!
Great work Guy's .... feeling the joy !!! ⛵️
Thanks Shaun! so much joy 😊
You guys must be so proud! Every moment of that first sail alone will be engraved in your memory... you guys work so well together. With your confidence reborn a new world awaits! I remember the moment when the sound of the engine and vibration is turned off and gives way to swish and hop of the waves, the lean of the boat, the sound of sails, the wind and loose sheets and a new language is formed between your soul and your boat, where you become one in this adventure of being in the moment with all the elements and that you are ACTUALLY sailing!!! Congratulations! You are an inspiration!
When we stop and think about it- i guess we are proud! Its all too easy to focus on the negative and the mistakes but we have come a long way from the first time haha! Lots and lots of exciting moments and adventures to be come- thanks for being here with us for it Peter 😊
Your skill and confidence will continue to grow with every sail. You guys did great!
Thanks Dale!! 😊
Also Dale! Before I forget- would you mind sending your address to our email address in the description? We would love to send you a thank you card for the VHF and other items 😊
Great job. Your nervous excitement brought back memories of my first solo sail.
Thanks John- definitely lots of nerves in that excitement 🤣
I have a Giant smile. Thank You both!
We are so glad!! Thanks Guy 😊
As an older now retired live aboard cruiser may I wish you the very best. May I offer a suggestion? Contact the boat builder and ask about your teak decks for this reason. You need to know If your decks are cored,( which is 99% likely) and if so what material was used for the coring. Many boat builders use wood sandwiched between layers of fiberglass for the purpose of added strength and stiffness in your decks!! However, if wood was used...... every hole in your deck, I.E., screws used to secure the teak and other places as well will at some point allow water intrusion/wicking over time. Should this happen, the sandwiched wood core decays and leaves behind rotted wood and 'soft spots' and will of course compromise your boats deck strength and unfortunately must be dealt with. I know this is not something you wish to hear but boats with teak decks and screws can be,..... well its a boat and the more you know the better. Sorry I don't mean to throw a cold bucket of water but.....something to think and know about.
Hi, thanks for all the advice! Ours in Balsa core. We have recently inspected our deck, taken all the screws and plugs out and resealed them back in and monitor it closely 😊
Well done. Everyone has a few bangs and scrapes so don’t worry about it. You did well with that cross wind coming into your berth. If you don’t make mistakes you can’t learn fro. Them. Keep going 👍🏽
Thanks so much- yes 100% agree, we sure have learnt a lot in a short amount of time!
Something about this video gives me the feeling you both are in for a truly amazing sailing journey. The work you've done to get here and the humility shown towards learning will provide many returns down the line. Fair winds and following seas to both of you
Thanks Jake- thats such a lovely comment. Lots of adventures on the horizon 😊
Hey guys, loving the channel.
I’m a life long windsurfer but having stooped in 1999 shifted to sailing / racing other peoples yachts. In 2003 (when my daughter was 3 months old!) I bought an MG335 (33 foot racing yacht - as you do!) that was in sound condition but needed alot of work.
A year later after a huge amount of work out of the water, she was lifted in and the first sail I will never forget. Watching your first sail on your own brought back all those awesome memories. I had the boat for 7 years and gained huge experience both in sailing the boat and in making the right decisions but also in handling the boat in marina’s and tight spots. I got divorced half through my ownership and therefore had to learn to handle the boat myself - which was amazing experience.
The most advanced theory qualification I got was day skipper however I was assessed for yacht master practical and passed it. My point is you can sit all the exams you want in theory but it’s real experience that counts. Learning about how tides and wind affect the boat, learning to be prudent and sail within yourselves, respecting the wind and seas and always having a back out plan and a blackout for the blackout plan are more important.
Practice boat manoeuvring until you’re bored and then practice some more. Also practice manoeuvring as if your engine has failed and you have to use sails, anchor, dingy to get out of trouble. These are the skills that count. Sailing in open water is the east bit 🤩
Watching video no 123, I think you should replace the whole traveller block system on your mainsail. I’ve never seen a caribeener set up like that and the first sign of a proper blow and that will snap.
Most importantly have an awesome time. It’s so impressive what you’ve done. Now just make the most of it . Cheers.
Paul 🤙💥
Thanks Paul! Thats epic about your racing yacht- what a story 😊 We did our day skippers too but have learnt soooo much since getting our own boat! We are going to head out this weekend and practice boat handling and MOB i think 😊 Also- the carabiner is very temporary! Our car is now fixed and fitted again and it all works a treat 😊
Good call on the main vs the iron sail. 😎
Just started from the beginning. Amazing!
My favorite video of yours yet. I wish we could get a video or see your yacht all dressed up. Ketches are soo beautiful with all the sails up.
Thanks Gary, that is so lovely of you to say. We would love to fly the drone while sailing but we only have the mavic mini and fear it may get blown away! Something we will 100% do in the future!
Well done you two, that was a great first sail on your own. Also the boat handling looked great. Just need more practice and gain that experience now.
Just a few possible tips:
1. Take a couple more turns on the Genoa sheet winch, I know the wind was light, but if it suddenly gets up, the sheets will slip on the drum. It's the friction on the drum, not the self tailing jammer that should do the work
2. The main sheet looks as though it could be the wrong way round (jammer should be at the bottom, always within easy reach). You need to make sure that with the main let out, you can reach the jammer, otherwise you cannot free it off quickly.
3. When you come alongside (or up to a mooring buoy), and you want to stop, look sideways from where you are at the helm to get a transit of something on land (pontoon if you can see it) or moored yachts and go in reverse until you can see the boat is stationary. It's a very heavy boat and will have a lot of momentum if it's still moving slowly. It's really the best way to check.
Happy and safe sailing!
Thanks so much for all the advice- not sure why we had it in our heads that it was two turns but makes far more sense to have more! The main sheet and traveler system was just temporary while we were getting our car fixed- it is all done now and the right way round so you should see that in a few vids time 😊
Thanks again!! 😊
@@TeuluTribe great, thanks for your reply. Fair winds and good luck
One thing to always remember, if you say you can or say you can't, you will be 100% correct! It looked good to me as a non sailor, hope to see you out more. Take care of each other, be safe and have fun bashing through the waves.
Very true! Thanks John 😊
Whoopee…Big Improvement…I’m sure yer feeling better about yer ability👍 Continue to Stay Safe & Enjoy😎
Sure was!! 🤣
Well done - I think you may have forgotten to ease off the mizzen topping lift when you put the mizzen up - hence the rattling noise. Great to see you out enjoying the boat.
Thanks Nick! Yes, we forgot to ease it off- doh!
Well done Teulu fach ni !!! 🏴🏴🏴
Cheers Howard 🏴
Great to watch….a great bit of team work✔️✔️✔️
Thanks Jim! 😊
Realizing that you have to learn the feel of the momentum of the water and the wind on the boat. I experienced these things from before I could walk and 82 years later I am watching this on a water bed. AS the scripture says 'thrue use your preseptive powers are trained.
Oh wow, bet you were quite the sailor 😊 glad you can still experience it now, albeit a slightly different means!
Something I find useful when I don't have a rudder angle indicator is to center the steering wheel by counting turns. Then once I know it is in midships position I whip a line or wrap some tape around the wheel to give me good idea of when the rudder is on the center line.
In a car you don't have a 'wheel indicator'. Put a piece of tape or rope on the wheel to mark dead ahead and it will come naturally very soon.
@@williamparker2809 generally in a car it goes in the direction you steer - boats don't! Especially in reverse!
A lot of race cars and rally cars will have straight ahead markets as again they don't always go in the direction the wheels point
@@williamparker2809 that's what I said.
Thats a good idea- we have a piece of tape marking the centre to make it easier for us at the moment but we like that suggestion!
We have put a piece of tape there- its just hard to see on camera 😊
I love the way you encourage each other. Such a refreshing channel to watch.. like the sea you will experience the rough and the smooth and Remember even the smallest victories add up and count towards your sailing experience. Happy days.
Thanks so much! Definitely- the rough and smooth and feeling them both! 😊
Proud of you both! Getting these first sails on your own, under your belt is really important and you both show the right mindset.
Thanks Peter- it was a steep learning curve but happy we did it 😊
I noticed you were happily on a starboard tack among those boats racing. Always remember, when the winds on your right, You're right. It's polite to let race participants to keep their course. The more you get out there, the less butterflies you'll have.
Thats a great saying as its easy to remember! Haha, yes, will avoid them next time- doh! 🤣
Becky just believe in U, because U can do anything, because U are Awesome. 🌈🐉👍
Thanks so much 🥺
Absolutely enjoying your videos and journey🙌
I felt I was sweating with stress watching you guys go out and come back into berth.
We are all on the learning curve of experience with this boating thing and I’ve learned some things from watching you guys already on your starting out.
I’ve been sailing from childhood and now in my 50s had a bunch of boats( not expensive ones) up to 50ft and they all behaved differently under motor or outboard.
My present 38ft yacht propwalks to port alot but getting used to it each time I go out.
One tip I picked up from an old sea captain which has been gold for me is you need some speed for steerage through wind and currents etc but if you need to slow a big boat fast under motor put it in slow forward . The prop has more braking power this way , other than full reverse when the prop will cavitate. Once you’ve slowed down then go reverse.
This has given me much more confidence in marinas.
Thanks again for the great videos 🙏
So glad Jim! Its lovely to hear you can enjoy our experience as if it were your own. Lots of learning but all in it together!
Thats a really good tip- thanks so much! We never thought about going slow in forward but it makes sense 😊 will give that a go and hopefully the prop walk will chill out a bit 🤣
So happy for you two, no greater feeling than trimming the sails and turning off the engine!
Keep up with docking practice in different weather /tide states, it’s great for experience and what they call ‘character building’ I think 🤨
Most boat owners new and old dread that part, that why so many boats stay tied up in marinas, good for you getting out and enjoying yourselves
Thanks Ian! Ah, it was an indescribable feeling 😊
Awesome job guys!! Hard bits over doing it the first time!! 😀👌👍👍
Thanks Pete!! Hopefully it will only get easier 😊
Congratulations to both of you, this is the real start of many adventures.
Thanks Pip- it really is!
Well done , you are learning from past mistakes. Keep on practicing tand confidence will grow as you get to know your boat and how it behaves.
Thanks Tim 😊 Each time gets a little bit less scary than before!
Well done both of you. Next task is for a sail then drop anchor somewhere overnight.
Then you are ready for anything
Thanks Neil 😊 Not quite ready for overnight as have two very old leisure batteries which only last about an hour but hopefully soon!
Very well done!! Don't be so hard on yourselves!! You guy's got this!!! Thanx for sharing the adventures with us.
Thanks! Will try not to! 😊
One down! Many to come….deep breath and enjoy! Thanks for sharing.
Deep breaths are vital!! You are right, many, many to come 😊
Well done you two!! What a team ⭐️⭐️⭐️🥰🥰🥰
Thanks Helen!!xx
Well done ! Practice makes perfect. And you checked your gears when you left, and your rudder. top job. Try getting the crew to call out final distances as you approach the dock, you can then time your F - N - R well, to stop just where you want. So now you have cracked the sound and cawsands, the next challenge is the beautiful Yealm. Get up there for a night and try out a pick up mooring. Another skill to tick off. Plan well for depth and over the sandbar!
Thanks so much. Funnily enough- i had Zach shout distances in last vid but not this one 🤣 must have got distracted! We would LOVE to go to the Yealm- but because we have two very old leisure batteries, we aren't quite ready for overnight yet but fingers crossed we will upgrade them soon 😊
Learn by doing, baby steps, great job guys
Thanks so much 😊
Port tack must give right away.
I will keep my fingers crossed for your first rough water sail. You are learning and your boat is strong and seaworthy so you just need to build confidence. Good for you
Thanks Jim 😊
Consider taking an inventory of your video presentation skills, because I think there is much to learn here. You began with a comprehensible theme, brought us into your experience straight away, and took us along for the journey with a glorious end. The music was perfect, the audio clear. Only suggestion: Camera seemed to predominantly focus upon you and Zack. As a viewer, it would be great to get a view from just behind the pilot -- so we see what you see and get to experience your reactions (at least from behind).
WELL DONE ALL!
Thanks so much for the feedback! Yes, we were planning on moving it more but were focusing too much on sailing 🤣 as we get more confident, the angles should improve! 😊
Great teamwork and so wonderful to see you actually SAILING ! 🎉
Thanks Julia!! 😊
Good for you guys.
Hi Becka, hi Zach
I love your positive mindset. You really seem to enjoy leaving the comfort zone.
My view is sailing maneuvers are like a choreography. The crew must coordinate moves and timing. Like with dancing, the best theory does not help, but training does. Train docking and by doing so, you learn your boat. Even longtime cruisers train for docking (see Sailing UMA Step 226 minute 11ff).
Think of taking a trainer (Any repairs are much more expensive).
My proposal: For a couple of weeks plan to train docking every day in different situations, docks and conditions, rain, wind, night, tide… . Train your senses for wind and currents. Set up your roles and swap your roles. Do it single-handed, both. Do it in reverse. Try to do it using sails only.
Start on easier docks with less hazards. Shit happens (Motto of Sir Russell Coutts). What counts is how you deal with it. Debrief afterwards with a cup of tea or so and laugh all frustration away.
Follow your dreams and enjoy every moment, now.
Thanks Axel 😊 very clever to compare to dancing! Makes a lot of sense. We both want to be able to everything on board and swapping roles is a great start. We are going out this weekend to practice manovers, figure out our prop walk and do MOB practice but the docking practice sounds great too. Love the phrase shit happens 🤣 we are all too familiar with that!
And look at you two now!! Well done 👍
What difference a week makes! 😊
Fabulous video and congratulations for your achievements so far.. lots of comments already about the sheets on the winches already, so won’t add anymore. One of the hardest bit about sailing is slow speed boat handling in tight spaces… the more you do it the easier it will become… I love the comment ‘I’m not worried, you are doing great…’ proper leadership - inspiring confidence into the crew.
My only real question is what is going on with your ensign? Then I read your comment above!! All part of the learning journey :-)
Thanks Andrew! Yes, three turns around the winches 😊 Hhaha the Ensign is an odd one- also getting fixed 😆
Great job coming alongsie there,No panic,plenty of confidence,Well done.
Thanks Phill 😊
Big beaming smiles, thats what its all about. Stay calm and enjoy the sail. 👌🏻
Thanks Steven 😊
Good job 👍 guys…. smashing it 🤙🤙
Thanks Darren 😊
Congratz ! The First Sail on what will be a Wonderful Journey. I am sure you still have some preparation to do, but you are definitely getting there. Fair Winds 😎
Thanks Darrell! 😊
Well done. You are doing really well. Mayflower isn't the easiest marina to get in and out of with the tides, and it looked liked you nailed it this time. Two suggestions: First, try and sort out your mainsheet. The way it is rigged, you cannot easily uncleat if the boom is out for a reach, and also when dropping the mainsail, the boom is moving too much and risks knocking you off the deck. There should be a car on the traveller track, with the block and cleat attached to it - so in essence, your mainsheet is upside down! Second, I noticed that your mizzen was scandalised when you were sailing. Its a great technique when you want to de-power, but no so much when you are sailing. Let off the topping lift and allow the sail to take the weight of the boom. The leech will then tighten, the sail will generate more power and stop flapping. Hope that helps.
Thanks so much- it really isn't! The tides rip around here. The mainsheet was just temporary- our car was getting fixed. Its all fixed now though 😊 thanks for the advice!
You said it "I m bloody doing it" and you did now get her out as much as possible well done only got two oceans and 16000 miles to go to Keppel islands in Qld Australia I'll shout you a round or three. Jokes aside well done cheers n beers Marty Australia
Haha a bit of a long way! But one that sounds like the adventure of a lifetime 😊 If we make it that far we will take you up on the offer!
Great job guys well done 👍
Thanks! 😊
Well done! I was nervous right along with you. Sometimes you just have to do things scared.
Very true! Thanks Cathy 😊
I love the raw emotion and the start of this incredible journey for the two of you! Awesome work!
Thanks Mark- just want to keep it super real 😊
Well that giant leap into to deep end was great, good on you both
It really was! 🤣
Really good, TEAM, well done indeed! Always remember that even if you feel nervous going out and coming back in to your berth blue water cruiser crews are probably much more nervous than you when they do it!
Thanks Chris 😊 ahha yes you are probably right! Its lovely to have some perspective! 😊
If every time you go out you learn something about the boat or yourselves then its a successful trip. Good one and ffs get that ensign the right way around lol.
Very wise words! and yes, we are fixing it but this footage is from a few weeks ago
Well done guys..... amazing ..confidence will grow
Thanks 😊
Bravo you two! Now I’m really looking forward to the next adventure!
Thanks Aaron! Lots of adventures on the horizon 😊
Elation! Good job both of you for your first time solo. There will be many more to come and you will succeed even if an issue arise. Just breathe and take it head on. Cheers
That word sums it up perfectly! Elation 😊 Thanks Stephan!
you should make him call you Captain when you are at the Helm! lol
Won’t be long before we watch you guys cross the Atlantic
Well done !! getting in and out from marina can be a stress out , you did well for a first time sailing on your own the sail handling will come easy too the more you get to know your boat in diff conditions and using different sails etc
Thanks John! 😊
Outstanding you 2, cheers 🍻 👏 mate. May 😇🥰❤️🔥🌎 🤲 always be with you and guide you ❤️🔥 👁🙏 Amen & Amen.
Thanks James!! 😊
Congratulations well done!
Thanks Tom 😊😊
Just brilliant
A great way to get confidence up vis-a-vis slow speed boat handling, without any worries about having a whoopsie, is to get out there and select any bouy with nothing around it, then practice approaching it from different directions and bringing the boat to a stop with the boat 1 metre from it, bow-to, stern-to, portside-amidships (in line with mainmast shroud) and starboard-amidships.
Do all that under power, then mix it up and practice approaches under sail, bringing her to a halt bow-to, upwind, within pickup reach.
Keep the engine on but in neutral unless you need it to avoid running the bouy down.
By doing it from different directions, under power and sail, the variations in tidal and wind effects will require different approaches to the problem.
After over 50 years day sailing, racing and cruising, I still do this at least once or twice if I’ve been off the boat for a few weeks, it’s just fun to do sometimes anyway for the challenge of getting it perfect.
It’s a fantastic way to sharpen up your skills, once you’re confident at 1m clearance reduce it to 1ft, then to 1inch.
I suggest that progression because it’s only polite to avoid wantonly abusing random bouys.
Definitely.
Above all keep laughing at yourselves, that and a large mug of hot tea plus Hob-Nobs are the best tonics for foul-ups, which you WILL have.
A couple of weeks ago my mooring neighbour was serenely sailing onto his mooring, lovely calm evening, his mate helming, owner stood on bow, hands on hips, boat just creeping up to the pickup bouy….perfectly judged as they had done without fail for over 30 years, same people, same boat, same mooring, 30+ years.
It was an exceptionally low tide.
A motorboat went by nearby but in the narrow channel, quite a wake.
When almost, but not quite, stationary the keel met the rock shelf, just kissed it, about 6ft short of the bouy.
Owner, windmilling arms and legs akimbo, flying not even remotely gracefully ahead of his boat, made a perfect picture before it was spoiled by the splash and the quite atrocious language when he surfaced.
There but for the grace of God go I, I thought once I’d jumped into my tender, wiping tears from my eyes and trying unsuccessfully to disguise my paroxysms of laughter.
For some reason he was quite chilly towards me for a bit. Ah well, no sense of humour, some people.
It happens and we all learn from our own and everyone else’s boo-boos, anyone who hasn’t mucked something up in a boat hasn’t been anywhere far from the club bar.
Be chilled, R. 😎👍🍻
Thanks Rob- we are hoping to do that on Sunday (as well as MOB practice)- really good suggestion 😊 Hahah very funny about your mooring neighbour- we would have laughed too! Can't take life too seriously in the end can you!
Just found ur channel! So excited 4 U both! U will never forget ur 1stsailing experience
Thanks Kenneth! We really won't 😊
Just getting into this series, enjoying if so far
Well done! You got this! 👍👍
Thanks Luke! 😊
well done guys no safety-blanket needed see you both very soon
Thanks Paul! No Paul (Saving the day) Gomm around!
Smooth as silk
Well done guys
Thanks David- far better than last time 😅
@@TeuluTribe can’t wait to shout you guys a beer when you come to australia
Becka those things that make us feel uneasy scared and uncomfortable , this is the direction we must go , because this how we grow from the people we are to the people we wish to be. fair winds
Very true, thanks for the wise words Jeff 😊
@@TeuluTribe no prob stay safe