Is it DANGEROUS to Sail Across the Atlantic Ocean? | S06E45
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2024
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Crossing an ocean has been a dream of ours for a long time, and now that we’re getting close to actually doing it, we’ve been talking to a lot of our friends and family about this big undertaking ahead of us. A question we hear a lot is “how dangerous is crossing an ocean”? In this week’s episode, we dive into this question as we continue to tackle our projects to get our sailboat ready to sail across the Atlantic!
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WHY does Babble NOT have Thai??? I Only want to learn Thai😥😥
Hi Desiree, I appreciate your effort to learn Portuguese. However I’m afraid you are learning the Brazilian Portuguese instead of European Portuguese spoken in the Azores (and also in Madeira and the mainland, by the way). There is a huge difference between the two variants. The Queen’s English and the US Deep South English are much closer…
Anyway, English is widely spoken and understood, so you will be fine. Fair winds!
That Portuguese you showed in your video is Brazilian Portuguese and not European Portuguese. Of course that in Portugal, we speak European Portuguese. If Babel only has Brazilian Portuguese, I wouldn't say it's a very good service.
Excited praying for you guys
@@americanbornwalkaway9110 I'll shoot them a message and see if they plan to offer Thai anytime soon 😁
You’re the only sailor on TH-cam that uses and talks about the word: RISK.
This is so so important.
Thx for the vid. 🙏💪💪💪
My wife even says that you guys are doing everything right, she is the most cautious person I know. You have sailing experience and you have a great boat, you know how to plan and take advice. Be teachable and have fun. When you are old and look back on your life, you will not regret this. You got this! God bless.
I want to thank you for keeping the babble ad to an absolute minimum. Much better, Thank you.
I love it when you guys show us the dumb mistakes that happen during boat projects! Joy to the humanity!!
I think the best comment was "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good" or as we say in my field of work Analysis Paralysis. When I was flying I could not always wait for perfect weather, when I sailed there was always a surprise, and now with my horses they've taught me the value of being 'in the moment'. You have a date, don't let it slip, live the adventure.
Another thing he said I found understanding in, sailing is not about bookends but what's in the middle. When I competed in cross country jumping, you had a start box a finish line, and so many people only talked about those two moments. I re-read some of my past blogs and saw how much I reveled in the journey. The connection I had with my horse, what it looked like between fences, how my horse felt moving under me and that made the moment whole. You already know the solace, the peace, and the beauty of being away from land, this is no different other than time.
when I was in my 20's I dreamed, planned about crossing the Pond before thirty. Got a Captain's license, got a Masters with Sailing, but life switched the gate and took me down a different, yet just as wondrous one. It was a blessing to stumble across your videos a couple of years ago for you both present a world that matches my dreams, I get to live it through you. As John pointed out, you have a solid boat, a good team and I figure, if Joshua Slocum could sail around the world without an engine and survive...the rest is icing on the cake.
Fair winds, smooth seas.
Worried no, prepared yes, be always aware that the ocean doesn't play. You guys have a lot of experience.
I came by the Washington Marina yesterday. My wife had made some cookies but I felt uncomfortable approaching you guys in your “home” . Rude just to drop by so I just admired Atticus II and my dog talked with little dude a bit and we carried on. You guys are my favorite channel. I your story, your mindset and approach in general. I bought a sail assisted trawler in October and I’m refitting it now in Deltaville. You and the Documentary Chasing Bubbles have been my biggest inspirations, amongst a myriad of others. The trip that your getting ready to make is number one on my list. The Azores and Canary Islands look to be some of the most beautiful places on Earth. Through sailing channels like yourself I have learned that. I’m a motor sailer and I have 4k range so I hope I can get there someday. GOOD LUCK and I cant wait!
Know this, after the first crossing is done, without much fanfare, your confidence level will increase dramatically. You will both look back and say, " What were we so worried about?"
I can't wait to follow your journey. Thanks!
I've crossed the Atlantic on a 50' sailboat with three other people and 2 autopilots. We experienced a gale. It was uncomfortable, but doable.
Yes, there were things that went wrong. The boat itself was solid, but there was a lack of handholds, the stove wasn't gimbaled, both autopilots developed issues. There was a lot of water in the diesel, so we were drifting in big swells with no wind, changing out the fuel filters. Have backups/spares for everything!
I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. The Azores were wonderful. I've lost whatever Portuguese I learned, but did use it. I look forward to getting back out there. I actually teared up when John Kretschmer described his perspective on the wonder of sailing in the middle of an ocean. There is nothing like it. Whales, dolphins, a rainbow from horizon to horizon, a sense of peace....
We used our tethers primarily at night or alone on deck, and a short tether when leaving the cockpit. I have seen advice that you always clip to the windward jackline, since you're more likely to fall towards the low side. I have a friend who was on his boat alone in "the Perfect Storm" and got knocked overboard. He hung by his tether for hours and got beat up badly getting slammed against the boat, but he survived. Better to stay on the boat.
A boat is for the sailors the water is for the fishes. It doesn't matter day or night or how many people are on board or on deck. The preferred place to be on a sailboat is "on the boat". In the water is a crapshoot.
What a great episode kids. I use the term "kids" in the kind way possible. At 62 almost everyone looks like kids. Thank y'all so very much for allowing folks like me to experience a journey that realistically we'd never be able to do. You kids ROCK!!
At 75, 62 years olds look like kids! 🤪
I'm 62 and I'm planning on crossing the Atlantic maybe I bring some kids maybe solo.
@@billhamilton319 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😂Witty!
At 62 I am thinking of planing a kid 😍😍🤣🤣🤣
The Niña and Pinta where Christopher Columbus two other ships. They were only 50 to 70 feet long From bow to stern. So, Atticus ll is only 10 feet shorter. It’ll be a safe passage with a 40 foot Pacific Seacraft And much more comfortable especially with the Galley they have.
I learn a lot from your projects as you do such a great job of describing the details without spending too much time showing me all the tedious work (most channels don't realize how boring it is to watch the actual work). You give me just enough detail on the work but mostly focus on explaining the 'why' and the 'how' so well.
Are you guys familiar with the life-vests of TeamO, they have a built-in 'back-tow feature'? These life-vests are designed such that they basically eliminate the risk of drowning when being towed through the water at speed, after having falling overboard. In that way the wearer at least stays connected to the mothership safe from drowning.
Trying to find someone who fell overboard in a sea state with over 3ft waves is going to be a hell of a challenge. The size of ones head is roughly the size of a soccer ball, not very large and easy to lose sight of in any 'wavy' sea state...
I first saw TeamO live vests trialed and tested by Sailing Uma, they also showed the back story to the design and this company in the UK: a real eye-opener...
Looking forward to the launch in T-4 weeks! 🙂 I've sailed the coast of Alaska for over 25 years. I came to the conclusion pretty quickly that the most dangerous part of sailing was driving the 120 miles on a narrow two lane road to our boat in Seward, Alaska... I also made it a point to not be obsessed about "Destination" I figured once I left the dock and was out sailing I had arrived at my destination... 🙂 Good Luck. Fair winds and following seas. Sail On!
Hey guys, good luck in your final preparations. I can't fault your decision making and boat preparation
In my estimation your safety is 60% picking your weather, 20% boat preparation, 20% your boat handling skills
I am not a sailor, but I have been very impressed with the quality of the people and the service you have received from Pacific Seacraft.
Regarding crossing the Atlantic you should really talk to your good friends on UMA -- which I am positive you already have. They did some epic North Atlantic sailing in the winter in a boat less capable than yours. They minimized the risk through extensive planning and the utmost in patience -- they never let time or a schedule dictate what they were doing, weather predictions and the sea conditions drove all there decisions. They just did a North Atlantic crossing from Greenland to Ireland that they make look easy and boring by letting nature drive their schedule. You will be fine crossing the Atlantic as long as you are prepared, have done all the planning and most importantly let nature tell you when the time is right. You will only have trouble if you let time and schedule be a variable in the equation,
I think Dan and Kika have a different risk tolerance level and overall drive for unknown that is almost without peer (at least among the TH-cam sailing channels).
Maybe La Vagabonde is another good source of information. Riley and Elayna have made the crossing three times, the last time (with Greta Thunberg on board) in VERY extreme weather conditions involving separate "typical" North Atlantic winter storms.
My favorite part of Saturday morning is making breakfast and watching your videos.
The first item on my list was the weather.
secondly, regarding your shipmanship that I will be cautious.
You can make it. You guys have good experience in sailing. Don't be fearful of the adventure.
Bring enough things to entertain you, books movies cards, and games.
Also, good food that is easy to cook...Spaghetti and meat sauce. Pre-cook the meat sauce if possible.
I made breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the 28 days on our adventure
Most there will be a lot of people supporting you.
With our best wishes,
Raul and Joan Bryan Texas
.
It's all about the Journey, not the destination! Love you guys!
I am a kayaker, and have only sailed on lakes, so you can ignore this... I am 75 and retired and only kayak on "safe" class 1 rivers now, however in my opinion, other than sex and food, risk is the spice of life. If you sit at home safely and take no risks, are you living or just being alive? I now watch a lot of sailing videos, and you never know what the couple is willing to show of themselves. I watched a couple "seem" to load the boat and sail across the Atlantic without showing any serious emotion, only having fun. They spent a few days in really bad weather, but they didn't show any real fear, just discomfort. I think people, including myself like your channel because you are totally real, and show the caution and the emotions involved. But John is right, once you are comfortably prepared, put that behind and enjoy the moment and the accomplishment of doing what you set out and prepared to do!
I agree Kenneth G. Jr., "I think people, including myself like your channel because you are totally real, and show the caution and the emotions involved. But John is right, once you are comfortably prepared, put that behind and enjoy the moment and the accomplishment of doing what you set out and prepared to do!". Enjoy your trip my friends, good health, happiness, and good sailing.
Great video as always.
I have always been shocked at how people run their safety lines and the length of their tethers. I’m not talking about amateurs, I’m talking about TH-camrs with 50,000 miles. They all missed the point that the tether is to keep you from falling out not to save you, if you do.
Beautifully said. For 20 years that was my personal philosophy. "Don't go overboard". "Don't do anything that can or will put you overboard. All safety lines were used with this thought paramount in their placement and use.
correct, ive done 60.000 miles offshore my harness line is short enough so it cant catch in between my legs if im moving quick .that hurts.
@@robertcooke1774 Now, that makes good sense. It should keep you from going over and all the bad stuff that happens because of landing in the water.
Forgive me, I do so envy what you are about to do and I am grateful that you share your adventure with us. Because of your hard work to tell your story, others are being inspired to reach beyond themselves and sail for the horizon; some on the water and some in everyday life. My heart and prayers sail with you.
Kretschmer's point about having the fundamentals of the boat well-crafted is good advice. If one or several of the high-tech features suddenly fails, the boat's fundamentals are sound. And Jordan has done a very good job fixing all the small issues. I'm reminded that travelers on the Oregon Trail started their journeys in April.
Over on Sailing Uma Dan and Kika demonstrated the "Man Over Board" drill over and over in one of their Steps. But they also purchased these special life jackets that had the safety line running to the upper back of the jacket. That way, if you went overboard, you were dragged/towed with your head up and back first. I think there's less resistance with that position as well.
On a kind of different topic, I have lost a "favorite" hat overboard a couple times. I single hand my smallish 20' sailboat on large local lakes. Generally, when I've lost my hat(s), the winds were in the 10-12 mph area. In at least two of the occasions I was able to keep an eye on the hat, reverse course and grab the hat as it slid by next to the boat. Neither time was the maneuver just that simple. A second try was often necessary. But I was amazed at how my own "auto pilot" took over and in less than 5 minutes I had my hat back. This kind of connects with picking up a person who has fallen over board.
Now, your boat can't alter course as quickly but it would be interesting for you guys to, while one of you single hands the boat, tries to retrieve some smallish floating object that "falls" overboard unexpectedly. Maybe just see if you can stop the boat swiftly. Can you keep an eye on the object while trying to alter course to back where the object is. Clearly don't try practicing this if it's blowing a gale. Get your confidence up in mild/moderate conditions. BTW - This is a FUN game too! I was almost jumping for joy after I got my hat(s) back. PS - You would need gaff since you're higher off the water.
I used to do the same thing (also while sailing on a lake). It's good practice. It's probably also a good idea to practice hauling a person onto the boat who cannot help. I've never tried doing that, but I think it would be very difficult.
@@LVQ-so5th Practice, practice, practice "all the time" and even that is no guarantee of a successful recovery to onboard status for the person that went overboard.
Love the good advice of not forgetting to enjoy the journey. The journey is perhaps just as meaningful than the destination itself.
For the crew member that will be crossing the Atlantic with you. Since he has never sailed before, consider purchasing an electronic anti-seasickness wrist bracelet, I use a EmeTerm one, costs around $130, has rechargeable bat and has variable electric impulse which stops the signal going to brain that causes seasickness. John mentioned being uncomfortable being one of the issues crossing the Atlantic- seasickness is one of those uncomfortable issues.
Do these actually work??
@@readmycomment3157 It has worked for me, Regular wrist pressure point Seabands did not work but the electronic version noted did. It takes a bit of getting used to the tiny electric impulse but your brain/body adapts to it. Some people's inner ear mechanism never get "used" to the wave motion on a boat and can be seasick a lot, If your new crew member is like that then the crossing will be uncomfortable. Motion sickness pills may help but usually make the person sleepy and useless for night watches and other chores/duties. The electronic seaband version just may be the insurance you need for a useful crew member.
I loved John Krechmar's attitude to the Atlantic crossing. The advice to calm down and enjoy it, don't just grind through it as if it was a chore. Don't panic if a couple of things break or stop working. The boat is sound. It will get you there. I really understood from that interview why you have such respect for him. Amazing teacher.
I would agree, "Amazing teacher".
I had the opportunity of doing 2 Atlantic crossings as a complete sailing novice as a crew member (Participating in the Cape to Rio Yacht Race) albeit on a slow and comfortable boat but to tell the truth the thought of serious danger never crossed my mind for some reason. I don't know if it was because we had a very competent and accomplished skipper or that there was always so many crew jobs continuously happening that there was never time to think about the huge waves and running at a 40 degree angle. Having never put a foot on a sail boat before that I really loved the experiences and especially the learning of the intricacies of ocean sailing. The was and will always remain one of my most memorable and enjoyable accomplishments even when we had huge swells and spending days in the mid Atlantis doldrums we managed to keep it all together and complete the journey there and back. I believe you will have the same experiences and I will be rooting for you both all the way.
What a nice, smart and humble man John is. Great episode - as always.
Hey Jordan, that autopilot bracket and backing plate are simply superb. Pacific SeaCraft did you really fine. I love how much attention to detail you pay. Great good fortune.
Risk has a formula... it's Impact x Likelihood.
You can also mitigate risk to reduce either the impact or likelihood of a particular event. For example:
Falling overboard can be mitigated by having effective safety equipment / procedures.
Equipment failure can be mitigated by making sure systems are in good working order.
You're doing a great job and keep up the good work!
The risk also increases as conditions change. A tack alone increases MOB probabilities by hundreds of percentages. Experience of the sailor is another factor and so is fatigue. So probability factors has two sides.
Getting really excited now Buds, the boat is nearly bullet proof and I’ve got no doubt you’ll enjoy this trip and make the most of it. All this hard work will mean that you’ve got the peace of mind now to enjoy this trip without worrying about the next thing that’s going to break..
Hey, you got this! I honestly have not seen two people soo prepared for a crossing! I faced a similar risk last week driving into Atlanta for a show. I checked the oil in the Honda fit, kicked the old tires and hurlted myself and my drunk friend at 85 mph into six lanes of traffic on I75.
We all take risk in exchange for reward. You have the boat. You have the ability. You evidently have John Kretschmer on speed dial "you know he took a Contessa 27 the wrong way around Cape Horn"?!
You got this!
Love that thought on the risk of not taking on an adventure!
At 3:30 , you could have just re- tapped the same hole.
When we crossed the Atlantic we were advised to go North first to avoid the Azores high, an area of low wind,
It it was colder then we expected.
We loved The Azores, all of the 9 islands are great, don’t be in a hurry to leave there.
I crossed in 2019 with another sailor. 3 hrs on 3 hrs off overnight watches totally doable. AIS and radar were reassuring for "seeing" approaching vessels. Tha magic of those 19 days at sea are something I'll never forget. You have a super boat, have fun!
What great advice about enjoying the journey and not concentrate on the “bookends of the journey.” He didn’t play down the risk of your journey but put it into perspective, careful not to take the enjoyment of your adventure away from you.
Just a tip Jordan.. Always good practice after a few days of operation, to go back and check the tightness of the bolts on the mounting bracket for the auto pilot. This always good practice for any fasteners you use on the boat.
Great stuff. For safety, I would play a little what if with the systems on the boat. For example, If the autopilot fails we will A. Hand Steer or B. Rig up the wind vane backup. You may not have a wind vane back up but that 's okay if you plan to hand steer. I would do this with the major systems on the boat. Especially furlers, halyards, etc. Stuff is going to break, just think about the workarounds. Once that is complete, just go and enjoy.
Wind vanes are great Redundant auto pilot esp. if there is loss of electricity. Do you think of any way of adding one with your present stern setup?
Do not worry. We crossed the Atlantic in the 1980s with a sextant, Casio watch, and an analog depth sounder on a Dufour 35, presently cruising the Bahamas on a Bristol 35.5, but you guys have made amazing preparations and the technology is so much better now than 40 years ago. It will be interesting to see what you change after your crossing. Respectfully I recommend you do not take crew. The two of you need to understand the deep-ocean, easily done without the noise of several outside personalities. This is your personal adventure, not a yacht delivery.
Great couple, great skill set, and an incredible yacht. It has been said that “Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life. The secret is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can.” Enjoy every minute…safe journey.
You guys really picked a great friend in John Kretschmer. I've followed you guys and John when you were boat shopping. His knowledge and yet so humble an approach really came thru. You can really trust your boat.
Jordan is always so detail orientated .
Love it!
Get yourselves an ACR-RLB 9 emergency radio beacon which functions on a internationally recognised signal i e 245 mghz or a R 99 and when activated (water) can pinpoint your location within 5 meters.These are available on all commercial aircrafts. Be well, be safe. Bon Voyage from very far away
I'm sure they have a radio beacon. Lol.
Thanks for that useful info and don't mind the dipshit commenters. They're just looking for weird attention.
@@chad1755 They wouldn't drown/starve. They are very resourceful and have a high-end life raft with survival gear.
Nice video. Again. As "risk" is a constant theme with the Attics, look at it this way. Make a list of things that can go wrong. When you are done with making the list, write next to it "plus an equally long list that we could not have known in advance". For each known, what are chances that will happen? For each, what will be the impact, liability, consequential damage, etc.? Extremely low chance and extremely low impact: forget it. Some risks have too high an impact to do nothing, others too high a chance of materializing. If you can have insurance, you may be able to transfer the (financial) liability associated with the impact, but that does not reduce chances and impacts in themselves.
For example, having the electronic/hydraulic autopilot fixed is one thing, but it still can break and if that happens someone needs to be at the helm at all times. For a solo-sailor that may mean 10 days without sleep (killing). You reduced the chance by a lot but did not mitigate the impact (other than having 3 people on board). Having the autopilot revamped means that the likelihood is extremely low and I would not worry at this moment - as it was improved on all levels. If you were to cross the ocean (Earth only has one ocean ...) multiple times in a row, then the electronic/hydraulic autopilot might have its risk-impact mitigated with a windvane version that is purely and transparently mechanical.
And this is the somewhat academic approach. How you guesstimate chances and risks says more about you than about reality.
The most important thing is to be aware that a ship is as seaworthy as its crew. Prevent problems by sailing at 70% or 80% instead of making it a race at 105%. Here it is all important that communication is clear between participants, as well as roles and responsibilities. In emergency situations people should be able to postpone their panic attack until after the emergency got solved. And in stressful moments, it should be clear who has most experience in handling such situations - no debates, get things done >now< without adding new risks or problems.
And if you bring an inexperienced sailor on board, make that person cook when the going gets tough and train/educate them when the sailing is easy - to begin with.
Wanting to go from A to B also dictates motoring or not. If you do not need to be at B before date-time X then you do not need to motor out of a few days of calm wind/waters. Making your own drinking water and having enough food or catching food might be enough in those cases and an inexperienced sailor might be an excellent fisherman, too.
I am not a sailor. I am a pilot. Really I am concerned over having no shakedown/ test flight or a few sails to check out all those new systems. And there are many. You are the skipper. Wish only the best and safe passages for you.
All right we’re back to an episode length that satisfies my need for Sailing Project Atticus! Thank you so much you guys for your time! You two are amazing! Thanks for taking us along with you on your journey. I’m inspired, I’m stoked, I’m excited with you and for you! Like I’ve said before I have learned so much from you two! Not just about sailing or repairs but perseverance, sticking to it, teamwork proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance! And as you pointed out not pursuing your dreams as much of a risk as what can happen on the way to your dream! Thanks team Atticus I’ve got you in my prayers and as always Fairwinds and following seas from Central Pacific RV Transport Pismo Beach California!
I always "thumbs-up" on spec during the intro ads and so far, I haven't taken one back. Keep crushin' it! I may never sail (let alone cross an ocean) but I still get to live life to my fullest here on land...whether it be pushing my street bike towards 200mph or getting massive air on my dirt bike...it's always an adventure, and that's what I love about what you guys are doing...sharing your adventure with those of us who don't have the means. Thank you!
The bigger risk is not grabbing the opportunity....love that!!
Hi Desire,
I’m Portuguese.
In Portugal, most part of the Portuguese understand Spanish, so you can speak Spanish that they will understand.
I hope everything goes well with your Atlantic crossing.
I know I'm a pest but, Safety is so very, the most important thing. My safety line went from the cabin top at the cockpit to the mast and ahead to the anchor roller on. My focus was always on, "preventing anyone from falling overboard", "ever", thank God, it worked. I have often wondered why folks on TH-cam have a safety line at the rub rail and not on the centerline of the boat.
My BIL was doing his Navy Cruise years ago. There was a storm, but the Navy goes on schedule and did not wait for the storm to pass. He was on nightwatch. He was tied in, but had to go on deck for some reason. He was washed over the side. He said that he was calling for help, but no one inside could hear him over the storm. He got himself back on board. If he had not been tied in, the would have been over and gone and no one would have heard him, storm or no storm.
I think your risk is minimized by all the work you are doing preparing your boat as well as the fact that you have a boatload of skills and knowledge! (meaning, you will be able to troubleshoot and fix any issues better than most, if you did have trouble.)
I have never understood some of the watch schedules that some sailors set for crossings. I am not a sailor, but I am a Mom, and I know how difficult is is to function on little sleep. I have never understood why sailors don't make sure that they get at least one full sleep cycle each day and 2 cycles every other day. For me, a 4 hour sleep is the worst, but 4.5 hours is a full cycle for me and I can wake up well. 5.5 hours catches me in the middle, but 6.5 works well. But no one talks about studying their sleep and arranging the watches around that. Not every watch would have to last that long, but it feels like some should be longer to make sure that they are best able to function. Having your nephew along is the best plan of course, so that won't be a worry. It will be a wonderful adventure and a memory that will last a lifetime. He may also learn lessons that will carry him through his life.
I am looking forward to seeing your crossing!
Study weather patterns! Knowing whats coming prevents anxiety, and embrace boredom! Bon voyage!!!
Great episode and story that is unfurling!
Here's something apropos for this moment to think about and it kind of ties in to the risk assessment that John Kretschmer elaborated on.
"Time is not something that you have....
Time is something that you make"
All the projects, repairs and upgrades you have been engrossed in are only "making time" so that when you push off for the Atlantic crossing you will be able to fully engage and enjoy the experience of the sail and journey itself! Which is what really matters. And when we make time for what really matters, you really can get the best out of life that it offers!! Looking forward to setting sail.
Crossing the road, getting in a car, or even riding a bicycle, and many more examples, are all activities that carry the risk of getting killed, people don't go asking you how risky they are, people tend to think these are low risk activities, but they are not really any less risky than sailing a boat in the ocean, the difference is those are familiar land activities. the prep you are doing is the equivalent to servicing your car and making sure the tyres are good before you do a long trip, sensible and wise precautions to lower the risk of having a bad trip. I wouldn't suggest crossing the USA in a car that was overdue for service, just like I wouldn't suggest the preparations you've done were un necessary, but discuss it in the same terms and and family might feel less concerned.
I am not a sailor.......yet..... but loved Sailing a Serious Ocean! Awesome book, and now i've read 2 additional books by John. What a great dude and great author!
I would keep a definite watch for floating unidentified objects, especially containers that have fallen off ships, logs, etc.
Prep work is the key, have critical key parts as backup. You will get into a rhythm with this crossing. Do a shakedown cruise at sea for a day or two,prior to departing .
You found a few wonky hose clamps? The first thing, when finally a Captain, I would do on a new-to-me boat was to change ALL hose clamps. I could write up a thru-hill-diagram which was placed in a plastic sleeve and taped under the nav table …. In case of emergency.
Years before I was crew on a 64 footer. Offshore a hose clamp on the fresh water system blew. Our entire fresh water supply went into the bilge.
Offshore I managed to siphon the water remaining at the bottom of the tanks …. Enough for each crew to have a gallon and a few gallons for the galley. (4 days out of St Thomas).
Change ALL hose clamps. Learned the hard way.
Going to be great to see you sail that boat as you have intended and to her capabilities….crossing oceans. Fair winds and following seas. Have fun!
My wife and I recently crossed the Gulf of Mexico following your route to Isla Mujeres and Rio Dulce. I'm a pilot and took a hand held nav/com radio with us. It allows communication with aircraft overhead as well as ground based facilities and control towers. All airliners and military aircraft monitor the international distress frequency 121.5Mhz. It is line of sight as are our VHF radios but your radius of of potential contact increases greatly if you take the potential contacts up to 40,000 feet. If you need somebody you just get on 121.5 and declare a May Day. You'll get a response if anyone is listening. The radios are the same price and size as our typical hand held VHF. You were talking about ditch kit contents this week and this might be a good addition. You're supposed to have a license to transmit with them, which most pilots would, but when you're life is on the line as a sailor I wouldn't hesitate.
For the worse case sailing scenarios, read "Fastnet Force Ten" and watch videos on the Sydney Hobart Race disaster. Then avoid those conditions. We had two man overboard events locally. When I was pulling my Chrysler 22' into it's slip my friend reached out for a piling but the wind had move the boat and he fell in. Even though the boat was in a slip in the marina, it was almost impossible to get him back into the boat. I finally grabbed the back of his belt and managed to pull him over the side. There's no way I could have done that out on the water. On a different occasion a crewman on a J-24 slipped under the lifeline while tacking 100 yards from shore. It was cold, blowing hard and everyone had on winter sailing clothes. Someone immediately threw a life ring tied to the man overboard pole but he ignored it. The boat spun on a dime. The crew got their hands on the guy but he didn't help and he slipped out of their hands. Again they approached him and got their hand on him but he slipped away for good. He was found the next day. I would suggest wearing an inflatable harness as I'm sure you will. The mainsheet hanging from the boom can be used as a hoist when clipped to the harness to get someone back on board. And make sure everything in the boat is tied down and secures so that if the boat ever did a 360 roll, a flying battery or stove won't do you in. But mostly stay out of dangerous conditions if possible.
If I remember my sailing days way back in 1975 -1996 on lake Ontario, NY, and Ontario, Canada, the St Lawrence River, and the Thousand Islands, and my beginning days on Lake Erie, challenging weather, high winds, waves, or heavy fog always caused us to stay in port until thing cleared up or quieted down. "But mostly stay out of dangerous conditions if possible". It is interesting how many times that " challenging weather" would seek us out or catch up to us from someplace else on the lake or in the river. I believe that our success was related to our sailboat, planning, preparation, and practice. We did a lot of that, I, my wife, and 2 boys that started sailing from scratch at 7 and 11 in 1976.
So a couple of quotes to share here:
1) "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit". Aristotle
So from what I have seen these past 6 or so years, is you both making it a "habit" to know your boat, your systems and to challenge each other to grow from mistakes. You have already crossed vast water so I am confident you will succeed. When you reach your distant shore,(s) the experience will alleviate your fear and anxiety. We always fear the unknown....until we do it!
2) "How very little can be done under the spirit of fear" Florence Nightingale
Go forth and explore
Is it true that a "habit" is created by practice?
@@generossano2800 I'm guessing that "repeatedly" doing something is in fact "practice" so I think habit is indeed continuous practice. (Common sense from someone who lived 2500 years ago) That was my point to the Buds, keep on sailing (practice) until it becomes fearless. Nobody can prepare for every circumstance they may encounter, (rogue wave comes to mind), but have the knowledge and the systems in place to deal with black swan events. They are clearly not novices at this point, and they are extremely tech savvy and can easily pin down a departure window to mitigate the risk. Nothing ventured, nothing gained........
That new auto pilot bracket is awesome looking! I also saw the bench vise in use again!!! Yeah this was a killer episode!
Hi, The weather the charts have changed now, you can not rely on predicted weather at all, still go, yes, you can't be prepared for the unexpected, that's why it's called unexpected, your prep is good so go do and enjoy, it will be amazing for you both. love sent, Paul.
So happy that you guys are getting close to completing all the boat work. This next chapter is going to be great. These videos are great… don’t get me wrong. But also getting to see you guys explore and have fun and enjoy the sun, wind, and the sea. (And the land once you get there.) Good luck!
I’ve never owned a sail boat, but your apart of my Saturday mornings. Love your videos.
So nice to hear something other than EDM on a TH-cam video!
It IS reassuring to have so much of your vital systems done with such good quality like your AP servo bracket. Will you plan on a wind vane so you can save electricity on those cloudy rainy days? Do you have a 'wind' function on your autopilot so you can steer a constant relative wind course at night so you don't have to re-trim the sails after dark at sea or in heavier weather?
JK's advice is always nice to hear. Though he did say something I was uneasy with. If you are in the water and being dragged by your tether, you should unhook and proceed with a MOB rescue at sea scenario!? Here are two alternatives to try before I would ever let a MOB disconnect from the boat since that is the primary objective to recovering someone is to reattach them to the boat! Being drug by the boat on a short tether certainly does set you up to your head being forced underwater. So one of the things to alleviate this is to change the way the tether attaches to your PFD harness. Most attach to a 'D' ring near the chest which I think is what can lead to your head going under the water if the tether allows you to go down to the water level. John mentioned using a really short tether that doesn't even allow you to reach the gunwale much less go over the rail. That is the best solution! But if a short tether doesn't meet your maneuvering needs on deck then put a sling strap on your harness that attaches to the shoulder straps of your harness with the 'D' ring attached to that in the middle. With the pull being centered over your head it allows you to use your arms and legs to rotate your body into any position while being drug. Navy & Marine Corps aviators all go through a water survival course which includes simulating being drug through the water by your parachute. With the attachment points to the harness centered above the head we could rotate the body much more easily being towed from the back of a large LCM (Landing Craft-Mechanized) boat at 15 kts. This could prevent the victim in the water from gulping in the entire ocean while waiting to be hauled in.
The other thought might be to have your tether run through a fairlead to a cam cleat on the cockpit coaming with a figure 8 stopper knot in it to prevent it from slipping through. You could constantly keep it adjusted by pulling the line through the cam cleat one way or the other. If you fall over board and your length of tether is preventing you from righting yourself, the one left in the cockpit can can release the tether from the cam cleat and give you full length of tether to give you the chance to right yourself while they turn up wind to de-power the boat and put it in irons. Then the victim can either pull themselves to the stern ladder or the dinghy davit. But at least they are never detached from the boat, which is absolutely vital at night and in bad weather, the time when a MOB is most likely to occur. The long-line tether can be put on a winch and pull the victim in.
You two should have a plan to allow Desiree to get Jordan back in the boat if he's unconscious without ever having to release the tether. If you have a side ladder that attaches to the toe-rail ensure it can lock in place and not come off if kicked or grabbed by a victim being raised on the boom. It will probably involve the boom being raised up about 4' higher than normal with the topping lift, with 2 double blocks with halyard quick release clips attached to both blocks. One end will go on the boom end and the other should be attached to the 'D' ring on the victim's harness. The boom needs to be fixed in place with preventers or a boom brake while the victim is hauled up and then swung in over the rail. If your main sheet running rigging is already set up to serve in that capacity, so much the better. It's going to take several practice sessions at anchor to do something as important as this safely. You will also need to secure Oso down below or his excitement and concern during a rescue will interfere and may result in him going overboard also. You should also have your spreader lights switch readily available in the cockpit as they will be needed to affect the rescue once the victim is to be hoisted aboard.
Great advice from John and I am really glad to hear you are taking along a 3rd crew for the crossing. That eases the watch schedule giving everyone time to rest, and if one member gets injured or suffers debilitating seasickness you have 2 up to complete the passage. You guys are more prepared than 98% of those who make this crossing and you are cautious in your approach so I am sure it will be a great experience. I wish I was going along for the ride!
Cheers!
As good a boat as Pacific Seacraft originally built, I will just bet that the company and all of its people that have worked with Desiree and Jordan will agree that Atticus II is a better constructed and outfitted craft than it was the day it was originally first launched.
Added note, we now take your video quality for granted, but they are among the very best on TH-cam. Most of us would settle for less to see longer or more videos, but you have a standard that we tend not to notice at times...
I remember watching your video about David
Great video! We learned so much in the short interview with the one and only J.K. Looking forward to more. (He’s so approachable!) 😎😎😎
Do you guys have a spare ram for the auto pilot for the crossing? Can't wait to see you guys start the crossing! My wife and I love watching you each week.
Don’t be worried you guys got this I believe in you guys can’t wait
And that's why I check the threads on the tap by laying the bolt on top before I tap the every hole........I learned the same way too,lol. Hope you remembered the corrosion killer on the bolt threads on the mast and something to isolate the aluminum from the bolts on the clutch. Remember the mast step. She's looking more and more fit every time I watch, keep up the good work.
1. Taking a novice sailor, with no offshore sailing experience, is a bad idea. I would think you would want an experienced sailor to help you with your first Atlantic Crossing. Remember, this crossing will be 3-4 weeks, depending on your weather window after you arrive in Bermuda, and you don’t want a crew member leaving your boat when they realize this is not what they expected. Maybe your nephew can join you in the Azores and sail to Madeira with you?
2. Your autopilot is like having a crew member. If it fails, someone has to be at the helm 24/7. I would suggest having a spare if you can afford it. When Ryan (Ryan & Sophie Sailing) was recently sailing solo from Cape Verde to Antigua he had to replace his autopilot steering unit.
3. Yes, risk management is important in making your first Atlantic crossing safe, but also an educational and fun experience!
Your photography is incredible so sharp and beautifully focused 👏🏻👏🏻
Great video content. Preparation with safety in mind is energy well spent 👍🇺🇸😎...
Hey guys -- super cool video, as always. Just one tip about learning Portuguese as you cross the Atlantic: the soundbite I heard in this video was from Brazilian Portuguese, which has an accent that sounds quite different from Portugal's Portuguese . The written languages are almost identical -- the spoken, not so much. So, unless you are planning to sail down here (to Brazil) real soon, perhaps you want to get the other version of Portuguese in your language-learning app!
Good winds for your ocean crossing!
All my positive vibes and good energy for you. Your Atlantic crossing will be awesome and you will enjoy it. 😍😍😍 What kind of spare parts are you going to bring and redundant systems in your boat??
Great episode. I will always remember having to read Sailing a serious ocean while being in an insane multi day gale off the Oregon coast on my previous sailboat. I can't recommend that book enough to anyone who's serious about doing some ocean passages.
Crossed Newport - Bermuda - Horta - Gib and on into the Med on a 44' in 1979. No autopilot, no AIS, sextant and VHF and SSB only. 5 on board Bermuda to Horta, 3 on board Horta to Gib. Some of the finest sailing I've ever done. Chute up for 6 days straight at one point. Bad weather? Sure, some, but mainly a matter of comfort, much more than safety. You guys will be fine. Atticus is ready and you are ready. Did you know that you can hear the thrum of a big ship's engine before you can see them - while they are still below the horizon? And Faial has the best fresh milk e.v.e.r. Feeling adventurous? Climb Pico! Keep up the good work and have a great trip.
I am impressed how thorough you two have been about every detail. Hey, Jordon that vice setup you made has gotten a lot of use. You guys will do fine.
It seems like I'm going to cross th ocean with both of you. I'm super excited with your project. Godspeed.
Good luck on this crossing, we've come far. Still remember 2021 as the year where you found the sailboat, then enjoyed it in the summer up in Maine, lets see some new adventure.
I'm so pumped that you are going to visit my country! Açores is wonderful! You will definitely love it!
I follow a couple other Atlantic crossing sailors and neither were as prepared as you. I'm in awe at how detailed and technical you are. I'm beginning to wonder if you are enjoying the preparing more than the actual journey. I think John might be onto something...
Hey Guys. Make sure you have a forward plan. Crossing is fine but where to from the Azores. You only have 90 days visa for all EU countries. Too short for the Mediterranean. On to the UK for the winter or turn round back towards the Caribbean? Make sure you plan. Don't worry about the passage. Thousands do it every year. Tony
I can hardly wait to spend the next chapter with you. This crossing and the interview with John was eye opening. You guys rock and my very best to you. 💕
Come to Brazil and learn the best português ever! Amo vocês e quem sabe um dia, vejo vocês por aqui o Brasil é lindo!
Looking forward to watching the adventure unfold crossing the Atlantic
Best episode in a while! I love John, what a wealth of knowledge!!! I’m getting excited!!!
I learned "don't not sail across the Atlantic" ...looking forward to your trip 🤙
I have never sailed across the Atlantic but I have sailed from where you are down to keywest and across the gulf of Mexico and all over some of the carabian Like you have. I don't see a crossing being all that bad. Yes there are places in the Atlantic that can be rough like the point off North Carolina its a little bit tricky there at times. But it should be fun overall. The big thing is enjoy it.
I can’t believe how exciting is to watch you guys prepping yet again! We have to head to our boat to grind the keel☹️ But then again it is soooo exciting getting through those boat jobs before splashing the boat. Your video is a great start to our boat work day😊
Great episode and information!
Following you two with great interest. Never offshore, never crossed the Atlantic, sailing, but did watch all episodes of SV Bora Bora. They used a HydroVane for steering offshore - no electrics required. May want to check it out. All the best!
Outstanding. Enjoying the channel. Tks for sharing.
OH MY GOODNESS!!! It’s getting sooooo close. Wishing you guys the best always!!