Ep47 - Solo and Sinking!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- It's every sailors worst nightmare, being out at sea and taking on water. Added to this it was the first time I had sailed Fair Isle single handed, so made it even more heart stopping!
Greece is a great place to sail though and we've had a really good run heading South, Judy flying back to help out with our heavily pregnant daughter Emily and me continuing on single handed.
We also meet up with long time Patreons of ours on their fantastic X-yacht, so don't miss this episode!
You can see more of Paul and Nicole at: / @sailingsavvy
If you missed the episode I did on bilge pumps (I know it's geeky and boring, but doing this work saved me so it's really important stuff) check it out here :
• Bilge Pumps
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Great notes to make for sure. Thanks the videoing your quick response to the high water alarm and the this lesson about the anti siphon valve getting blocked. Anxious scenario with an easy fix think goodness. Jim Rodgers
Can I give you a tip, never touch the roof of those sea caves. I had a mate do exactly what you were doing here, pushing out backwards in a tender, a massive slab fell, split his head open and went through the floor of the tender
It did look a bit dodgy!
To me, the lesson is KNOW YOUR BOAT!!
Watching you move thru your boat, checking this and doing that...with a quickness. No guessing, no missed steps.
Impressive.
"Great, perfect sail, part of nearly sinking" lol, glad you're safe though. looking forward to more of these one-liners.
Steve is such a bad ass. Singlehandedly, calmly responds to the sinking alarm and films whilst troubleshooting it all! True sailor. As a former USN sub sailor I can speak from experience. If professional seaman was not a former occupation then someone in his bloodline surely was.
Steve grew up sailing with his father who was a "live aboard," as I recall from a previous episode, until his profound elder years. I would "kill" to have Steve's mechanical knowledge and electrical skills, I must say, most impressive and handy to have for Judy and Steve to "live aboard" full time as they do.
Steve, thanks for showing the piece on the anti-siphon loop issue. An unfortunate experience no doubt, but it reminded me that I need to check our anti-siphon loops on Panacea AND install a high water alarm as we prep the boat for cruising the Bahamas next year. You’re well versed in the systems on Fair Isle and that’s critical when something goes awry. I always enjoy your videos. And congratulations on the pending arrival of another grandchild.
You looked a bit 'windy' there mate when that alarm went off !! On your own out at sea and you're sinking - NICE !
Well caught anyway and thanks for a great, simple explanation of an anti-syphon valve in action.
Wow… Solo and the water Alarm rings! Guess your Pulse was up to top level. Well done, Steve.
Love this couple! Personalities can’t lie on camera. They are so courteous,gracious and genuine! Love their travels! Thank you so much!
Congratulations on the new addition to the family.
You show a very good example of taking the time to prepare for the worst in dealing with the siphon back. The redundancies, the alarm, and knowing your boat along with your calm demeanor have done you proud, on camera while sailing solo. That's a feather in your cap, to say the least. Like yourself, I am 4 square behind preparing for these little eventualities. So seeing the benefits as things play out in real-life situations is a master class in being a self-sufficient captain. Well done Steve.
Steve, great job explaining the back siphoning problem. Your attention to detail keeps your boat Bristol Fashion. From Louisiana.
🙂👍Good practice thank you for videoing it all😊 Good news 🙏 grand child. Great to see all the different boats all fun 😀
Great video Steve. I really enjoy the quality of your productions.
Sorry I just Watched the sinking Bit LOL Awsome Boat love it looks like you look after it well done
Well done Steve ! Great to single hand, increased stress but also increased awareness is the reward.
That was absolutely fantastic, thank you so much
Looks like hard work when you are alone. Well deserved Guinness. 👍
Great video again, enjoyed it and learnt something.
The X is a fast boat, but yours is more charming to live aboard.
Congratulations on the new family member
What a beautiful boat
Judy and Steve, I really enjoy this type of video! Seeing how things are done on "Fair Isle" is fascinating. I look forward to more of this type of video in the future!
Great stuff, looking forward to next one already ...
Never a dull moment. 👍😀
I enjoyed this video more than most
Congrats on your families addition to humanity.
Great vid Steve, even solo !
Hope the new arrival is all well and good !
Grest emotion ti se you and your boat this evening in Poros !!!
Nice to see you, we’ve just moved to the other side of Poros for tonight, less swell.
@@svfairisle Sorry, now the swell is not too bad. Tomorrow we'll try to set sail to Seriphos if the weather condition will be better than today..I hope to see you again while in Greece. Bye
My grandparents are from Kalamata and we sailed there a few years ago. Great to see it again!
Congrats on your second grandchild!
Steve is so cool under pressure!!!
He is. I am learning from the best!
It's an English thing , lol
@Judy Aslett arrrh!
Great episode, thanks
Wow when I saw your titling I started to worry, anyway good to see you safe and sound, well done Steve. Love the dig at La Vagabond, these two certainly would give the Aussie couple a run for their money all ways round. Keep safe.
Pity about the dig at La Vagabond. Riley and Elayna are not the competitive kind, they are into the experience, encouraging and sharing with others and appreciating all they have. And Steve, Riley has spoken many times of his admiration of solo sailors. There is enough room on the big blue for everyone who chooses this amazing life.
@@kalayne6713 I found it pretty amusing as that is exactly what Elayna has become. She is the businesslike one. Last year alone they turned over £10m on promotional items. Plus they're Patreon page earned them a further £5m. They live at sea so no tax. PKF's partners in AU have set up an investment plan so wherever they are they have access to money and their kids, one on the way, have a sound future. I predict that before Elayna is 40 she will be worth more than £50m. Watch this space. Sorry to murk your dreams of these two up.
Steve, I was told that the bilge pump handle should be tethered, just in case you are knocked over or something while pumping. A time when you definately dont want to loose the handle.
A valid point I’m sure but depends on the boat and conditions. I would say that would only be an issue on Fair Isle in the Southern ocean in a force 12!
Nice video Steve. 👍
Hello again. We chatted briefly in Kalamata Marina. Love your channel. Try Kythera. Nice island and very authentic. Safe winds
Thanks Lorenzo. Will do.
Your an inspiration to us all
Congratulations on your 2nd grandchild :-)
Situation with the syphon well handled! X-Yachts are nice looking boats but I wasn't impressed with their stiffness. In rough conditions doors started to jam. Would prefer Fair Isle anytime, despite the long keel.
Enjoyed the music while putting up the main solo.
Agree. Is it Damon? Did I miss the music credit?
Very interesting. The same thing happened to me in 2017 sailing across Lake Michigan in a new to me Valiant 47 with my daughter. A boatyard had apparently put in a new bilge pump in at a yard in California with no anti-syphon valve installed. I was checking the bilge midway across Lake Michigan and noticed that the bilge was 3/4 full. I was able to slow the boat down and mitigate the problem by running under power slowly and got across Lake Michigan without sinking. My daughter slept through the whole episode non the wiser (I told what happened later in the day). It was very hard to access where the anti-syphon valve should have been which is why it’s absence was overlooked. Sailor beware.
Valve installed. I was checking the bilge midway across Lake Michigan and had a 3/4 full bilge and traced it to back syphoning and was able take down the sails and motor slowly to mitigate the problem. A very scary moment for any sailor. My daughter slept through the whole episode.
We presume you have not told Judy about the Gyros. Don't worry, your secrets safe. Well, until the next time we share an anchorage. 😁Sail Safe Guys, Ant, Cid & the pooch crew.
Just introduced Robin and Fin to them in Monemvasia, not quite as good as the Koroni ones but close!
Top!
Strange design for bilge pump exhausts though, them being under the waterline. On my boat they're right under the hull/deck joint, so above the waterline. Still curious if I'd need a vented loop on that though. Glad to see it all worked out!
You shouldn’t do unless you regularly run the gunnels in the water when you’re healed over!
@@svfairisle heck no, that'd mean 45 degrees or more of heeling - I chicken out at 25 :D
great vid
That's nuts having a.bilge discharge under the waterline!
I agree why would they discharge bilge water under water line?
@@anthonygillesse7242 the only discharge needed below the waterline would be poop!
thanks
Puhh what a stressfull situationen but you handled it very well and I’m surprised you even managed to film it
Xp55 is a stunner, both stunners, RESPECT>SCOTLAND
smal yacht makes yu an extreme workaholic
Scary! Glad you figured it out quickly, I almost felt bad for you having to single hand the boat in the med there. Almost.
Well that was timely 🤓. I just sat down for lunch after a morning spent at my drafting table with the layout for our new bilge pump set-up and there you were. It may interest you to know that at least one manufacturer shows pump installation diagrams without anti-siphon loops. Thank you for another excellent video, which reminded me that I need to revisit your channel to catch up. E-propulsion outboard, stainless anchor and chain…. How’s it all holding up and whatever happened with the two sided solar panels? I have some happy viewing ahead.
Yes you have some catching up to do. But I can tell you all the things you’ve mentioned are holding out really well. The ePropulsion is excellent, can’t say a bad word about it. The bifacial panel is giving me as much power as the two other similarly sized panels put together, and the Cromox chain is simply the best around, just costs a lot of money!
@@svfairisle Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, I really appreciate that. I will look into bifacial panels for our boat👍. Congratulations on the addition to your family. Grandkids are life’s dessert even when they are far away.
I really like to watch your boat sail. Lovely.
Gosh, glad that you sorted out the heart attack, good knowledge imparted, thanks.
All modern dishwasher installation have a similar anti siphon valve installed top prevent sewage from entering the dishwasher.
Be careful solo sailing, it becomes addictive. Make sure you still keep missing Judy.🙂
I understand why the failure/blockage of the anti syphon valve caused the bilges to fill but I cant help but question why the outlet valve for the bilge pump is not located above the waterline (as it is on many other boats.
I agree, above the waterline bilge outlets has to be a better idea. They do have to be higher than you think to still be good while heeling though, maybe difficult with a low freeboard yacht such as Fair Isle?
@@svfairisle What about discharging in the centre of the stern ? Heeling would be less of a prob then.
@@bertmacdonald337 possible, maybe tricky with a canoe stern, but certainly a good idea
@@svfairisle Fair Isle doesn't have that low of a freeboard does it? Never seems like it in your videos :D Apparently though the "best" way to do bilge pump outlets is to take everything to the stern and do it up at the deck line, in the center of the boat. That way when heeling they don't get dipped under, and with the type that has an external flappy bit on the thru-hull a following sea can't fill up your bilges slowly either. That is of course the "ideal" setup that hardly anyone (including me) has... but it's worth considering at the next big haul-out/refit (I sure am :D).
@@gfimadcat yes with 3 bilge pump outlets below the waterline it might be a good idea for us!
I have just discovered your channel and I was happy to see you explained what you were doing to sail the boat and why. As a novice sailor myself I am interested in how to perform maneuvers and deal with urgent events on the boat. I do envy your location, I'm based in the Irish Sea and we are longing for a day with less than 20kns of wind for a pleasant sail.
I was once stuck in the Irish Sea for 3 days in a force 9 so I feel your pain! Lovely when the weathers good though
I'm sure you know, but the st6002 will steer to wind (vane mode) if you hit auto and standby at the same time. I use it for hoisting sails singlehanded.
If you hit +1 and +10 simultaneously it will auto tack too.
Congrats Grandma Judy.
I didn’t know that, will try it, thanks
@@svfairisle activate vane mode and then use +&- to line it up to wind.
It's a good setting for staying close hauled when you need to pinch too.
Steve, the benefit of knowing one’s boat inside out is ably and well demonstrated 😁.
I want to add, have you tried ordinary fine steel wool (not scourer) on the chrome?
I haven’t because I’m always wary of normal steel wool as the little bits that come off it can cause rust stains in the decks, maybe bronze wool would be better? Do you use steel wool?
@@svfairisle We use Cif (formally Jif for those of a vintage) domestic cleaner it also works very well!
Yes, I have used steel wool, but those little bits can be missed. I don’t know about the brass wool/scourer. CIF or JIF does help too. The steel wool doesn’t have to be one big job. Five minutes here, ten there, etc all culminates in a good looking frame work.
👍
Suggest you up the frame rate for recording or editing.. would make panning shots a whole lot smoother. Happy adventures 👍
Great content as always but the rapid camera movement in this one was hard to watch. Cheers!
I once owned a Hans Christian 38T and this brings back good memories...but I wish I could understand what the captain is saying...between ambient noise and the accent I only catch every other word...oh well, the video is grand.
Technically that's not a Park Avenue boom. The original Park Ave boom was on one of the America's Cup J boats (Endeavor I think) that had multiple transverse tracks spaced at intervals on a flat top boom. The foot of the mainsail had cars that attached to those transverse tracks so the foot of the main would slide to the leeward side with a controllable shape.
Interesting video, I feel your fear. But please....save us the yoga.
Is that where the nice black olives come from or is it just the name of the olive?
Yes it’s where they come from. They’re very proud of them
A singleton loose on the high seas...all mariners beware! No need for regular episodes when a little well edited excitement is on hand...
When will you be getting a canvas to go over your steering wheel so your not in the weather and can see and sail.
We had one made this winter it’ll go up in the summer. We prefer it open when it’s not too hot though
Fabulous channel, so glad I found you, great info which is invaluable. Please just slow down when you pan, I nearly fell out of bed, there you have it, just to complete the sh-t sandwich, your very easy to watch, I’m now subscribed, well done
Congrats ! By the way, did you ever caught a fish yourself ? hahaha. sorry.. good vlog again.
Love your videos
Yoga while giving us the bird? lol
I don’t like to make a negative comment especially about your channel. But your thumbnail is defiantly in the area Clickbait ll. As a solo sailor that knows what it’s like to have a boat sink with a loss of life
your title make people think you and your boat were both at risk, when we both know that not the case. Sorry, but that’s how I feel about this sort of title. Your vlog is better than that.
I understand your point and we do try and steer clear of click bait. But in this instance I wanted to bring bilge pumps to people’s attention. I made a video on the subject earlier this year with (understandably) poor views, but if I hadn’t fixed those problems I did have a real chance of sinking. Fitting the bilge alarm got me there in time, and having three properly working pumps meant I cleared it quick. I think even a person with a good working knowledge of there boat could panic if faced with the bilges awash and no properly functioning bilge pump. If just one person is promoted to fit a bilge alarm and regularly check there pumps I’m happy, so we’ll have to agree to disagree on that one.
@@svfairisle
I am glad in this world we can still agree to disagree. Clearly there is good click bate known a “type one” and the not so good stuff “type two”.
I think and it may be just me, but I think you jumped over to type two.
You intentions were good and it’s a really good subject to cover but your boat wasn’t sinking. I agree that the timely attention prevented equipment damage. But you would need to be in a position where at least one of your three pumps couldn’t keep up to make even the weakest of argument that you were sinking.
Any how thanks for responding and I like what you are doing.
Have fun,
Ian
You are better off with your heavy-displacement cutter than that rocket ship. All will be revealed when the wind and sea really get angry.
Don't worry I know!
@@svfairisle We own a Union 36 Polaris. A little smaller but the same idea. Best money I ever spent, 30 years ago, and we've still go the boat.
Another good video. Thank you. It was interesting watching you step through the emergency. It would not have occurred to me to start the engine immediately but upon reflection make sense. I often learn something watching your videos. A question from an inexperienced person: Do you periodically test the bilge pumps and alarm by pouring water in the bilge? And do you likewise try out your manual pump on occasion?
I just watched your technical video on bilge pumps which answered my questions so no need to reply. I should have known you'd have that covered.
@@erbrock1 Ha! Yes I’m trying to point people to the bilge pump video as it’s an often overlooked subject, I suppose you just expect them to work and from experience I’ve found often they don’t! In fact the float switch that I fitted in that video had already died! Less than a year. It’s a sealed unit you can hear the ball move inside but it does not close the circuit, had to replace it again.
Makes no sense to me having a bilge pump discharge below the water line. If it is up high you can see it or hear it discharging. And ingress even at failure is minimal to none. NOT A REAL FAN OF HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT
Those Xboats look like a sharp wedgie. Fit for a certain crowd. Call me old fashioned but there’s nothing sexier a pair of plaid boxers and an old tee shirt.
If you're not careful a fright like that could turn your hair grey. Let it happen again and you might start going bald! Perhaps you should get an au pair whilst Judy's away?
Good stuff
Sods law
So you are not solo and not sinking
Having one person on a boat is solo snd having it fill with water is sinking
milagros - yu ar stil at sea
Yet another "drama" on a sailing channel where the actual event isnt caught on camera. Yes headcams exist and more.
Where’s the Gyros pitta? 🤣
Don’t worry we’re making full use of the Gyros pittas while veggie Judy isn’t here, I’ll have to remember to film one for those who haven’t witnessed this miracle culinary delight!
@@svfairisle didn’t you film them at Koroni? You missed out on night 3 gyros 🤣
You are hard enough to here without the music where is the music you are impossible to hear
What are you .....sinking about?
So very disappointed that you of all channel would resort to these fake sensational title. Solo and sinking!
you had a bilge pump syphoning just simple bad design.
I had respect for the Fair Isle channel.