A note to all those who criticize beginners about leaving the fenders out....I would prefer you actually leave them deployed while learning, it protects your boat and mine :-) Well done on your first sail! Next, you will run aground sooner or later (no big deal), just make sure you plan it on a rising tide...make tea and carry on when the tide comes in.
We only leave them out until we get out in the open, then put them in. But yes, would rather look an idiot and not damage our (or anyone elses!) boat! Thanks so much. Yes, we got pretty shallow on our trip out on Sunday evening which was a bit nervewracking to say the least!
This is why we call them sea trials as I stated in my comment last week! At the end of the day you learned what can go wrong, and how Fast it can happen ..You both handled yourselves very well when the transmission wouldn’t cooperate… Welcome to sailing ⛵️ you will have many more challenges but they make you more proficient at sailing and troubleshooting.
Moving a boat for the first time is aways going to be “interesting” …….. two top tips I was given. (1). BEFORE you untie from the dock, gently test the engine, in gear, both forward and reverse. (2). Again, before you untie, test the helm from lock to lock. It only takes 20 seconds and hopefully you will find any problems before you leave.
Oh youtube! Hallowed be thy algorithm! Thanks for bringing this awesome channel to my attention. Anyway I know we are a bit late to the party but looking fwd to catching up with real time releases... Only 90 something to go 🎉
Relax, What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I've been sailing for 60 years and it still goes wrong. Remember you can always drop the anchor. It is ready to drop isn't it?
Good suggestion- yes the anchor is ready. There are a few things I (Becka) am going to change this week for it, a swivel, more warp etc but we have dropped it a few times successfully which is nice to have as a backup!
Fair play to you guys, it’s a steep learning curve!- you could’ve easily edited a lot of that out and made it perfect, good for you for keeping it real and showing everything warts and all!
Thanks Ian- upon starting our boat adventure filming, Zach and I reflected upon what we wanted to 'achieve' out of it. Alongside documenting it for our future selves, we wanted to show the reality as we both think its incredible damaging (especially for the youth of today!) to see such a fabricated and perfect world- when it really isn't 😊
I have had a yacht for years and sailed thousands of miles and still make mistakes is all part of sailing .There is nothing better to hone your skills as Time on the Water.You have a lovely boat and it will make you smile ever time you sail her.What model is she .
Thanks Chris- yes, its hard to plan for the unplannable 🤣 so we will make mistakes now and in the future but its how we learn from them which i think is important 😊
Becka, I agree with you totally. The first time out really is an very exciting moment. At the same time I must say that especially out on sea every crew member mandatory needs to be calm and able not only to save himself but also to help saving your partner and the boat. Additionally I believe that all crew members need to be able to do any job on the engine, electrics, rigg or whatever can be necessary in an emergency situation. Imagine being one of two injured or seasick. The other one needs to be able to get the boat into next harbour with engine failure, fire or rigg down. I strongly believe the old roles of men and women must be thrown over board when sailing as a couple. There are survival courses including fire and swimming in bad sea conditions and additional ones for engine and electric service here in Germany. Even such ones especially for women.
Totally agree- Zach and I also want to be able to be proficient in single handed sailing before leaving anywhere properly just in case the other falls ill or injured. I (Becka) am loving that gender rules are thrown overboard- i never fitted them anyway 🤣 Thanks for your advice!
It is awesome that you made up your minds to always "keep it real". So many of your viewers will appreciate it and many of us can certainly relate. I was in the exactly in the same spot when learning to pilot a aircraft. Your going to be drinking from a fire hose trying to learn what you need. As your knowledge increases so will your capabilities and confidence. These things will make everything much more comfortable and enjoyable. Just continue to believe in yourselfs and take it slowly. Your behind a big learning curve at this point. Very proud of the two of you!
Thanks David, we thought about it before starting and realised how detrimental it is for people to always see the 'perfect' so made a vow we would never edit out the real bits. Baptism of fire isn't it! But definitely the quickest way to learn 😊
Becka, great to see you at the helm.The three of you worked well together and you two will only improve on your problem-wrangling skills. Captaining a small (50 ft) 1959 tug from Florida to Grenada, I lost hydraulic steering twice. The first time was motoring in to a harbor in Dominican Republic after 30 hours offshore. I shifted into neutral and my engine remained in forward; worse, the hydraulic steering locked up and my bow was pointed midships to the DR coastguard vessel moored to a dock. With no other boats in the Anchorage and the Coast Guard vessel being the only vessel in the harbor, it looked exactly like we motored in and were intending to ram the Coast Guard vessel! I had one crew member board and he dash down in the engine room to try to diagnose what was going on. Meanwhile we kept motoring straight at the Coast Guard vessel! I do have one lesson at the end of this to add to your repertoire. In this case we were Incredibly lucky that he was able to restore the hydraulics in under a minute and I regained steerage. It would have been funny afterward except for the fact that the coast guard crewmember Had already tried frantically to wave me off and when I didn’t respond finally resorted to raising his semiautomatic rifle and was preparing to shoot our boat. Problems always seem to happen at the excruciatingly and perfectly worst moment. That’s the first lesson Becca. I The second lesson is anytime, anytime you are underway make sure that your anchor is ready to drop. This sounds simple but this is not the case when you go to see. With our tug, we had “catted” our anchor back along the side of our boat and lashed it down. With the Coast Guard crewmember aiming his rifle at me, I was frantically trying to unleash the anchor to drop it and swing my boat to starboard and possibly even stop the boat -but at least I would miss ramming into The Coast Guard vessel. With hydraulics restored, I sprinted back to the helm and made the turn to starboard, just a few boat lengths from the coastguard vessel, coasted to a stop and dropped my Anchor. From the poor coastie’s perspective, I looked like a complete madwoman. We had a lovely stay in the Dominican republic and the Coast Guard was extremely understanding although very wary of us. I’d like to say this is the only thing that ever went wrong in my many years of selling a 57 foot cutter rigged ketch (a lovely, British-built Bowman 57) for charter or the years I spent captaining this tugboat in Grenada. It wasn’t. The only other time however, that my hydraulics failed and I lost steering was after an almost identical situation to yours. In my case I had successfully left the dock and made my first of two 90° turns to port needed to get out into the passageway. I spun the wheel to port for the second 90° tight turn in very close quarters which beautifully put me into the channel with the line of expensive yachts on my port side. This was the second moment the hydraulics locked up on the steering and my graceful 90 degree turn became an alarming 120 degree turn, and I started motoring straight towards line of boats. I managed to correct the turn by a series of “deadlifts”, squatting the standing and prying the wheel to starboard with a Herculean effort. I’m so happy for you that you are working with two men that are treating you as a peer. In my case an entire crowd of (all male) acquaintances had gathered on the dock and my two male crewmembers started screaming at me to turn.-I was feet away from these people and they could see me straining with all my physical strength to try to turn the wheel to starboard and yet for some reason their brain said: the woman is not steering the boat and she needs to start steering. Let’s scream at her to turn. That’s going to fix this problem. This was not a case of brute strength, no person could have steered that Tug without hydraulics. Anyway, Becca you’ll have many more misadventures on your boat. Planning ahead helps, but experience is what’s needed in order to be able to consider everything that might go wrong and a plan for each of those contingencies. You have all the basics needed to become great sailors. Don’t panic and most importantly, Enjoy the journey!
Wow Greta- what an incredible comment and storytime! Both of those moments sound incredibly scary but you seemed to manage it like a pro. Its women like you i constantly look up to and strive to be like. It was a long time ago i started disagreeing with gender norms (i became a 'boy' scout very early on, despite there being no other girls there). However, i can really relate to you when you mentioned the men saying 'let me take over'- there is nothing that angers me more! I bet you have a lot more stories to tell like that and would love to connect further at some point! 😊 Thanks for sharing that with me!
Bending it simple, knowing how and where to bend it - genius :-)! Well done it's one of those things that you learn from! Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us!
At the end of the day, your smile when you were at the helm says it all. Nothing worthwhile in life is easy. It's the difficulties along the way that you will laugh about when remembering the hardships.
Bravo to you both. Your best decision was to reach out for help with your sailing partner and your boat neighbour. together you conquered. You did it and the elation from both of you glowed on the screen. I'm sure you will learn everyday and Mother Nature will always reward and try and beat you down. The best of luck to you both. Adventure on. Cheers
Thanks Stephan, that means a lot. Pride would have made us not ask for help but at the expense of ours (and someone elses) boat, just was NOT worth it! We find it very grounding that mother nature shows who is boss- its something we think everyone should experience from time to time 😊
I was asked to go on a voyage to Hawaii with someone I've known all my life and had to say no. I sailed with him on a few times but didn't feel comfortable with his mechanical or electrical knowledge/ability. Knowing how to sail is only part of being a good/safe sailor. He did go on his voyage and he did make it safely. I still have no regrets staying home!
You did fine she's a big old girl you'll be like me now I've got 50 yrs sailing. A smile on my face when I use a radio I hate it. YOU WILL GET THERE guys. A bloody bent gear shift buggar me! Fair winds kids Don't give up you will enjoy sailing NOW THATS AN ORDER!!! Marty Australia
Hhaha it was harder than expected first time but done it a few times since and it gets way easier! I know right- what a challenge to be hit with on our first trip out 🤣 will keep enjoying- dont worry!
The first of MANY firsts!I was very impressed with the way you two handled your challenges. You had a excellent teacher onboard. As you said each time you set sail you will learn something new.
You are not experienced sailors, so relax, and pay attention, you both are smart enough to soak up the experience of others, and you will learn quickly, so at least you didn't get upset and throw in the towel early. and you've had someone by your side that is providing you with valuable knowledge. If I were you, I would be pretty proud of myself. Many stories to tell around a campfire on some tropical island, lol!
This reminded me of my times sailing when I lost steering or got blown towards rocks or the engine wouldn’t start at the worst time. Learning all the worst things that can go wrong teaches us never to take sailing for granted. Expect the unexpected. Well done to even get some footage.
Many of us have "crashed" before, IF you ever hear a captain say they haven't, they are lying! But see, once you are pointed in the right direction, it's all fun!
@@garyday4356 I've hit my dock at least 3 times over the past several years. We all have done it. Like he said, if you say you haven't, you're lying or you eventually will hit something.
@@Backnine907 3 times in several years is a big spread. But you specifically call everyone a liar who says they have not. I have not hit my dock and perhaps I will in the future but to say I am a liar because I am not admitting to something that may or may not happen in the future is just ignorant. Its similar to an addict saying everyone has tried illegal drugs in their life and if they say they haven't then they are a liar. Or the addict justifies the comment by saying or eventually you will try illegal drugs. Its just a way to make you feel like what experiences you have in your life is normal. And a way feel ok about mistakes. We all make mistakes but to call people names if they don't have the same mistakes as you is simple nuts.
@@garyday4356 Dude, seriously you are making a mountain out of a molehill. Lighten up. Sorry you took this so personal. I hope you NEVER hit anything with your boat, EVER! Chill out!
I have not done boating since the 1983! I am loving your vlogs and really enjoying them! Good luck with it all! 😀😊😉It's like a lot of things, the first time is the most nerve racking! Well done to you both and you have some great folk around you to help you too 😉👍
You both did great. I remember the first time my husband and I took the boat out on our own. I was terrified but we lived to tell the tale and laughed at our mistakes.
You clearly have lots of previous experience of outdoor activities, what you might lack in sailing experience is made up by that, you have the right attitude, that probably puts you ahead of 99% of the first timers. Im hoping that my time outdoors will carry me when i finally get my boat to sea. And what ever adventures i find myself on you are exactly the sort of person i want on my team.
We really loved this comment, its nice to see things from a different perspective e.g. not being good at one thing but maybe having strengths in another area which can overlap and help you! Thankyou for helping us see it from a different angle 😊
@@TeuluTribe One of my outdoors type mates, when things go sideways we don't have to talk, we can do first aid, take bearings, asses the weather, plan a route, ram food and water down, and be running down a scree slope all at the same time, we just switch to a new mode where nothing can stop us. Another mate on a camping trip as its getting dark asked if I had a spare sleeping bag he could use. Both of these people can buy a sailing boat with no experience and take it round the world, but only one of them should. Dont have to watch many of your videos to work out which group you fall in to.
Love it, this episode brought back memories of my formative sailing years. This Paul is a good bloke, I noticed he was keen to hand the helm over to you ASAP. A few tips: (1) For departure work backwards from the optimum tidal departure time and allow for 20 minutes between 'let's go and actually casting off. Double that to 40 minutes when non sailing guests are aboard because they always rush off to the marina toilets and then slap on sun cream the moment you want to leave. (2) In a channel when encountering another oncoming boat its "red to red go ahead". (3) There is no shame in manually pointing the boat 10 degrees the right way with muscle power 5 seconds before hoping aboard and applying engine power. (4) Keep an eye on that moderate marina jetty bump, it can sometimes take a few months for the gelcoat flex crazing to show up. No major worries if it does, gelcoat is like brittle cake icing over flexible grp marzipan. (5) If you are going to have a marina boat to boat parking bump don't try to power out of trouble which just adds energy and damage, instead just drift on to the other boat with a fender dropped in at the point of contact (6) Keep a spare "roving" untied and free to be quickly moved to any pending incident. (6) The helm looked very stiff. I would move inspection of the steering linkages up your maintenance to-do list or maybe the stiff helm is just an inherent attribute of the dual helm positions.
Thanks! Paul is a great guy- we are lucky to have met him 😊 Thanks for the tips! Will read over and digest those- interesting to know about the gelcoat. We are getting hauled out in a month so will inspect fully then 😊 We have also already gone over the steering (its lighter than it looks!)- i think it is just the fact you are turning two wheels that makes it seem harder 😊
Hi guys! Wow, look at all the great experience you’ve accumulated on your first sail! So glad that you continued to push through the difficulties and got all the sails up, that’s great! You can prepare all you want, but you can never prepare for everything! We always do our best to review and plan and be ready, but in the end you you deal with the events as they unfurl. Things will continue to happen, but your best resource is a calm mind to think through the dilemma and determine the best way to overcome. The video was fun to watch and reminded us of the challenges we faced on our first sail in our current boat many years ago. Have fun, Fraser and Jeff on S/V Storm Petrel
Thanks so much! It would have been really easy to go back in but SO glad we pushed on through (learnt soo much as well!). I (Becka) am working on the calm mind thing- not panicking is 100% the best approach! Glad you enjoyed the video and could relate to your previous times 😊
We all have had a learning period, great that you have friends to get you there, it won't be long, and you will be getting out of the bay and playing in the ocean
Well done you pair! I know how anxious you must have been on your first sail and you did just great. You're in for a wonderful and challenging adventure and with your boundless enthusiasm and desire - it will be an incredible experience for you both.
So happy for you both.. No other saiing couple on youtube more deserving to succeed in my opinion.. Im a Brit so i guess im a bit bias. ;) Good luck for your future voyages
Best episode I’ve seen from you guys. We all make mistakes and that’s how we learn. I would say every sailor learns something everyday, well done and keep at it, it’s so worth it.
How well I remember the tides in the Hamoaze. The Cremyll Ferry would 'crab' across to the other side of the river, when the tide was in full Flood, but was even worse in full Ebb tide; especially in Spring tides. It was always fun, watching HMS Ark Royal arriving or leaving the Dockyard. Now I really am showing my age. 'The Ark' was WAY before your time. Still, you both learnt some Very Important lessons. Glad you had lots of help from your friends and your next-door neighbour.
Well done...the more adversity the more confidence and enjoyment ..its not the destination its the journey. God in a few years time you will look back and laugh at all this and be proud of how you got there in the end.
Such a truthful statement- and yes, we will definitely look back and laugh- already giggling at the small errors like the ensign (we live and we learn!) 😆
Hey no worry 1st time I go out with my boat the low pressure fuel pump stop working (use hand pump to go back the marina) 2nd time wind and current push me the ground (stuck there 9 hours) 3rd time was amazing time 9 hour motoring and sailing with no issue. just keep going guys. shit can happening all the time.
Well done you two! Think about writing a little routine, a check list. Just like you checked the exhaust water, before you set off, walk around the decks, jib sheets free, fairleads set for wind conditions, furling line free, no lines crossed etc everything stowed. Start engine, check water, into fwd, into rev. All good. Tally Ho!
Thanks for your honesty and for including all the details. The most important advice I would offer is "Don't Panic". That can make not great turn really not great in a heartbeat. Celebrate everything you learn. It's easy to think that everyone else has done it, but you haven't felt what success feels like for so many tasks. The day will come when you do so much automatically without even realizing the progress you have made. Have patience. It will be rewarded.
Thanks Tim- just want to keep it really real. Yes, i (Becka) have learnt that panicking NEVER helps a situation. Still working on this but i have found breathwork has really helped 😊 Zach is a really good one to remind me that everyone starts somewhere. Its good to recognise that (and celebrate the successes- however small they may be) 😊
Good job, you were apprehensive, which is absolutely normal, but you did not panic, which says it all about how you will handle your future encounters with mother nature and the normal occurrences of being out on a boat. Always expect the unexpected. What you experienced with your hero is something that you will encounter throughout your sailing experience good people on the water. Congratulations on your first time out
Thank you 😊 Still working on keeping as cool as a cucumber but slowly getting there! People are so lovely in the boating world- we have entered such an amazing community and are so grateful for all the help 😊
I am very happy to see you finally hoisted the sails! Thank you for sharing even the unpleasant part of the story - I am learning with/from you. You two are a true inspiration! Fair winds!
Glad you made it happen, as an old guy I immediately thought the cable is probably not fully pushing the lever on the gearbox all the way . Which was the case . That just comes from having years of fixing things experience . You will get there. Glad you had friends to help. Cheers Warren
Thanks Warren! Yes, i guess with time, you just know those things, at least we know for next time (although fingers crossed there wont be one of those!) 😊
You can read/watch videos as much as you can but there’s nothing like doing something to learn. You’re not the first to make a mistake or two and you definitely will not be the last to make a mistake or two. As long as you learn and remember you will get better just look at your faces when you relaxed and started to enjoy what you were doing. Looking forward to seeing you both enjoying your next sail
Bruce from Canada. at 77 I still learn everyday.= Love your video, covered all emotions that will serve you well. = Tis called experience never ending.= We all need a good soul sometimes.
You guys are doing fantastic!!. I dont sail myself but its something I'd love to learn and do. Remember, it's a brand new skill so things will be harder to begin with, but become easier with time and practice. It's human nature to feel out of our depth and thats how we learn. By pushing our boundaries.. In years to come you will look back on that first sail and laugh about it. I'm really chuffed for the both of you, living the dream and making some fantastic memories. Thankyou for sharing your journey with us all.
Thanks so much for your lovely comment 😊 You should 100% go for it! We definitely have a few laughable stories already and only been doing it a few weeks!
Thank you for sharing an honest account of how your first sail went. Mine was similarly fraught, but I lacked a "Paul" to help. Still, strangers helped and everyone made it back in one piece, like your experience!
Becca, great inspirational video. We are the same as you just starting to learn to sail our own boat, being so new to this its really scary getting in and out of the marina lock each time. We are getting better and next time will be only our third time out! Keep up the good work of showing your Worts and all videos, they are a true inspiration to us! We make the same mistakes as you but you are brave enough to film them, thank you!
Thanks Shaun! It really is scary haha! However, i promise it does get easier and i think a little bit of worry is healthy- it means you care. Glad you like the vids 😊 See you on the water!
Congratulations guys on a really good first sail. Your boat was looking fantastic under sail. The river Tamar has massive flow rates and you are right at the mouth, but you handled the situation well and some of the issues were caused by lack of forward drive. You're going to really enjoy yourself and will soon be exploring places further afield
Slack tide until you have the experience to make it work for you, then you only have the wind to worry about. Where were your fenders when you bumped the dock? Don't worry about getting them in until you're clear of everything. The engine issue is a classic problem that you need to be prepared for. If you're struggling and things are going wrong very quickly, drop your anchor and radio the marina for assistance, or the coastguard if you're in coastal waters, they'll usually be able to get a nearby boat to help, and boaters love to help, it's all part of the fraternity. Use the radio all the time, get radio checks before you go out from the coastguard or the marina. Just use it as much as you can so it's second nature, you'll soon be relaxed using it and it's so vital. I always leave the radio on dual watch - channel 14 and 16 and just listen to other people (14 in Plymouth for Longroom Port Control for any shipping movements, ferries, and Naval ships that you need to avoid). ALWAYS make a passage plan with emergency procedures - even for short trips, it makes you think about all the possible issues and you'll be so much more relaxed. Pre-sail checklist will include the engine and so on - I'll let you look this up - Competent Crew by the RYA. Phew, sorry to throw all these unwanted instructions at you, but you do not want to scare yourselves to the point where you're nervous about taking the boat out. Great video and I really feel for you, I went through very the same when I first started sailing, but don't learn the hard way, there are just so many great UA-cam reference and instructional videos and boaters love to help. We're on A3 at Mayflower - I thought the flats looked familiar! Well done.
Thanks Bob 😊 We now go out at slack tide! We only have three on the other side because the boat next to us has three too so we have plenty and they were slightly further forward! We ran to move them but didn't get them far enough in time. Thanks great to hear about what to do if things go wrong- thanks for this advice 😊 Interesting about channel 14! We had it on 80 (marina) and 16 all the time but will listen to 14 now, thanks for all your help! 😊 Thats so cool you are also here, pop buy some time and we can show you around!
@@TeuluTribe Hahaa, get some more fenders, you can never have enough even though they are a pain to store. Thanks for the invite. I'm waiting for new batteries due very soon (lithium and that's another series of videos but worth it), but will be down in the next couple of weeks - work beckons at the moment. Plymouth is amazing - history, scenery and so many places to go boating and anchoring. Practice anchoring, and not just in the Sound, but no rocky locations! Sand ideally, but they are usually marked on the charts. Plymouth is also good because it has a large array of buoyage - cardinals and channel markers, hazards and others - get use to following them and your position in the channel, don't take shortcuts through the bridge even if your keel does allow for it - it's good practice for more challenging locations. Make regular calls to Longroom Port Control (14), it's not a requirement, but just tell them the name of your boat, destination and purpose or just outward bound by east(or west) channel and number of POB (persons on board). It is important to get comfortable with the radio. So, so much to talk about and say, but when the boating bug gets you it bites! Have fun!!
Nice to see that you are sharing the bits that go wrong as well as the nice bits. One of the reasons your boat swung across the back of your neighbour would be prop walk this is an effect that moves the stern sideways when you engage drive to the prop. combined with the fact yachts don't steer as well in reverse. What you need to do to get some control over the boat in reverse is to get the boat moving and then take the power off, this should then give you a bit f control with the rudder. When you understand how your boat reacts under power you can learn to use prop walk to your advantage. one other thing you need to rig the reefing lines on your main sail. If you get caught in a bit of strong wind while out sailing you will need them to be able to reduce sail.
Thanks John, we have been out a few times since and practices 360 degree turns and have now figured out the prop walk- phew! Adding the reefing lines is on our list!
It as I’ve been saying becca with a relaxed approach everything works out and with time even the things that seem impossible now become realistic and achievable in time see you soon
Well done you guys.. Moving ahead in leaps and bounds. Admire your attitudes. Keep on keeping on. :) Have a nice week. Cheers from NZ ! M like #30. lol
I think you did brilliantly, there's more than a few teddies get thrown out of prams when the dreaded Mayflower springs take control... and you kept your cool! It's so ironic how your first adventures always include the absolute hardest bit, getting in and out of of the b****y berth ! Congratulations!
Thanks Jon! Was a bit of a sh*t show at times but we managed it (and have gone out twice successfully since just me and Zach!). Bet you are so glad there is a pontoon between us watching that footage back 🤣
Great to see you out ! One of the reasons I left that marina was the tidal push as it runs down the Tamar. It can be evil, and the worst part of sailing for me - is getting on and off a dock - hence I moved from where you are ! Too stressful ! You can consider a swing mooring . 1. cheaper to stay on 2. easy to pick up and drop off (I can do it myself with no crew) 3. less foot traffic and likely theft ! But keep going, you will crack it.......
It really is brutal! We did consider a swing mooring but we don't have any off grid power supply (no solar panels yet or good batteries) and no holding tank so not quite ready for that- although its definitely something we will consider in the future 😊
I'm so happy to see you two out on the water under full sails. The looks on your faces at the helm says it all really. Huge confidence booster today despite the hardware faults. On that...Any mechanical brackets/linkage that can be bent by hand should be replaced with stouter fittings. The forward/reverse linkage is adjustable and shouldn't bend under stress (same with the steering linkage).
Hi guys, when we were still quite young my roommate's dad had a 28' sloop moored at Harbor Island in San Diego. The motor was inoperable but we chose to go out anyway. As we were clearing the dock the boat did a 180° & centerpunched the boat at the end of the dock on the starboard side. Whoops! There was no damage & everyone was happy. Still had a great day sailing down the coast a little to Point Loma, out to the Coronado Islands & back. There's more to it but will save it for later. Glad you're all ok. We're still looking for the "right" Pearson 385. So nice with 2 cabins & 2 heads especially for 3 older guys (64 to 70). We were thinking about the name "3 Amigos" or even 3 Stooges hahahaha. See you on the water, Mike (desert Viking).
Thanks for your comment Mike! Thats a crazy story- sounds quite scary! Good you still had a great day sailing though 😊 Thats all that matters! We like the 3 Stooges 🤣
Congratulations on your first sail. Well done and you managed to set all three sails. As you say you can learn all the theory but it means nothing until it's put into practice. Boat handling is a huge skill in itself, especially a boat of that size and even the experts get it wrong at times. Even despite the damaged gear shift you still had very strong tides, and lots of topside windage on this boat. You will learn with practice. BTW, your red ensign is flying the wrong way. Normally you can't fly it that way because the flag lanyard should be sewn onto the side with the union flag in the top corner. Also note, if the ensign is flown upside down (which yours wasn't) it is a signal of distress. Good luck and Happy Sailing!
Thanks so much! It really is- we have been out a few times since and it has gotten significantly easier since learning our boat. Our ensign is the wrong way, i have no idea why the attachments are on that side! So odd. Maybe it knew we would be a bit stuffed our first time out 🤣
I'm coming back to sailing after one even more expensive 'hobby' (raising a child) and we're getting our first boat soon, but not as massive a step as yours, just a Westerly Berwick 31' Sloop. We are going to be near neighbours as we'll be based in Cardiff, so maybe we'll see you out there sometime...Good luck 🤞
@@TeuluTribe Much nicer sailing down that way (where I learned years ago, Hamble/Solent etc), with less horrific tides and lots more choices of places to go, with still some 'challenges' with tidal races etc. Have fun 👍
Don't worry, it's all part of the learning curve. I won't bore you with my own trials and tribulations trying to come to grips with handling a 24ft-wide trimaran in and out of marinas or even just an open anchorage! I did have an engine, it had a "forward" and "back" position but no electric start! Meaning I had to jump down the companionway from the cockpit, turn left and race into a low passage way under the (centre) cockpit into the "engine room", such as it was, and start the engine by way of a big handle and a flywheel. Whenever I was in a tight spot and speed was of the essence, that flywheel quickly became the bane of my existence... And, finally, one thing I always found difficult in the early days of my sailing career was having other people on board! When you're not sure of yourself, having a bit of help is always a good thing, obviously. At the same time, for me, at least, it made me feel insecure and added to the stress! I always felt that if or when I made mistakes, I much preferred to do it without having anyone looking over my shoulder - no matter how much I knew I did in fact need him (or her) to be there...
24ft wide! Thats incredible! Sounds a really tricky way to start the engine- did you end up changing this in the end? We have only had Paul and his son on board and needed all the help we could get this time but we have been out by ourselves since and like the fact its only each other (well and 17k other people now 🤣) witnessing it with us. It will be quite the experience taking new friends and family out though in the future! Thanks for sharing 😊
So, I'm binge watching your channel right now and I have to say your learning curve is pretty steep at this point :) Well done, and I really like the quote that the video pretty much ends with. It's a good way of looking at life.
Brilliant guys you left the mooring.. So my view is.. The time you have more experience your become sailors.. Your also become engineers.. It a learning Massive curve.. Don't panic..it will amazing... Me and captin Jack will come and Visit you too.. Until then keep it up.. Fair winds and safe sailing 🎶⛵⚓✌️💜💪🇧🇲
You have definalty found an interesting yacht. The victor 40 is a very modern deck design for its age. The deck salon style did not show up in large production boats until years later. My father's last yacht a Contessa37 , colvic molded, owner finished was 10 yrs newer design for a different purpose but no deck salon( ctr cotpit ketch). Well done this should suit you well! Cheers Warren
.... laughing .... Well!, talk about having a "Character Building Day" followed by the reward of a brilliant sail to drive it home that it is all worth it ... well done ... thx for sharing .. as always .. never stop dreaming, just dream bigger .. have fun be safe, save our oceans ...
I got the Day Skipper and don't have that much more experience than you and suffered similar first few times out. The lesson to learn which I did forget was always to test forward and reverse while still tied up on the dock. The time I didn't a plastic bag had wrapped around the prop and I pushed off, spun round on the river current and straight in to a boat on the opposite bank. Fortunately a narrow river and could throw a line back to the dock and got pulled in. Another time throttle cable snapped while still on the dock! Something you'll learn from and move to the next challenge.
You did great. It’s VERY stressful when things go wrong and they DO go wrong for people of all ages and experience levels, but every time is a learning experience.
Started watching your channel recently. It’s nice to see two young Brits learning to sail/handle a boat. Must say it’s a lovely looking boat. Have you thought of doing the RYA a diesel engine course?
Thanks Simon! We have thought about doing it (and would love to) but currently have a long list to buy and its quite expensive so saving for it in the future and getting by with youtube videos for now 😊
I bet that next time you checked ALL of the equipment was working properly BEFORE leaving the dock! Good to see you all had a fun time learning things about the boat...
1:37 Real and More . This is just one reason I like your channel. Small thing, I have noticed other sailors have a wrap on the Helm Wheel for when the rudder is centered, consider this. Not just close to help but seeing that the sailing community is very helpful. Still Learning from UA-cam University and you are 2 of my teachers. Fair Winds 😎
Thanks Darrell- just trying our best to convey the whole picture! We have a bit of tape on it at the moment (we had to recentre the wheel on the first day we bought the boat but that is a whole another story!) and haven't got round to wrapping it yet- thanks for the suggestion 😊 Have a lovely day!
I'm pretty much at the same stage as you two. Did day skip last year, crewed on a few boats and have just bought my first boat, a 27 ft ketch. Like you I'm finding nothing goes to plan and the learning curve is a vertical wall that needs to be climbed. Good luck with you adventure and maybe we'll cross tracks one day.
You Learn the most while doing it . You Will get there, if you stay calm everything Will be alright. You should Come over to Holland, plenty of lakes to practice on with less currents and there are plenty of sailing schools.
Well done both of you, welcome to the sailing life. If you haven't learnt already that a sail never goes to plan. It is one of the things I love about sailing that you have to be ready for anything . It looks like you are in Plymouth my family and I lived up the cost at Kingsbridge if you ever need crew I would love to help. When you start to explore a little more you have to come and check out Salcombe and Dartmouth.
Well done for actually getting out there and doing it!!! Far too many will be sitting behind their keyboards telling you how they would do it - but you were there doing it for real - and you learnt some lessons and ended the day with huge smiles You are right - get out there as much as possible, experience how the wind and tide affect your boat and soon you will feel things happening slower, because you will be responding without thinking and giving yourself time to breath. You've been there before with all the other skills you've learnt I would say it's worth checking out some single-handed sailors & their methods for getting in and out Patrick Laine has some *really* good videos - if you practise as you would singlehanded then when there's 2 of you it's easy! (I would also say don't be so hard on yourself (Becka) in *that* situation you did the right thing asking for help as Paul was there. Without Paul there you would have handled things differently. & good on you both for sharing the hard times along with the great times)
Thanks Guy! Thats very true and something we remind ourselves off if anyone says anything negative (which hardly happens- we are so grateful for this amazing community!). We have now been out three times (theres a slight delay between videos and present day) and it has got significantly easier each time 😊 Will check out Patrick Laine- thanks for your recommendation! Will try not to be too hard on myself, i just felt a wimp asking for help but looking back, know it was the best thing to do as Paul saved the day- which i simply wouldn't have 😊 We live and we learn
A fantastic achievement, all three sails up on the first outing, awesome! Fifty years ago I worked in the boatyard next to the Mayflower marina, In fact it was built whilst I was there. The tides moving in and out of the Tamar were always very strong, you did well! BTW your ensign is not quite correct! The Union Flag should be at the upper part of the hoist and next to it, sorry for being pedantic!!
Thanks so much Roger 😊 Oh wow, what a blast from the past that is! Yes, they are really strong! Our ensign is incorrect as the fixings are on the wrong side, silly us for getting a weird one 🤣
A note to all those who criticize beginners about leaving the fenders out....I would prefer you actually leave them deployed while learning, it protects your boat and mine :-) Well done on your first sail! Next, you will run aground sooner or later (no big deal), just make sure you plan it on a rising tide...make tea and carry on when the tide comes in.
We only leave them out until we get out in the open, then put them in. But yes, would rather look an idiot and not damage our (or anyone elses!) boat! Thanks so much. Yes, we got pretty shallow on our trip out on Sunday evening which was a bit nervewracking to say the least!
This is why we call them sea trials as I stated in my comment last week! At the end of the day you learned what can go wrong, and how
Fast it can happen ..You both handled yourselves very well when the transmission wouldn’t cooperate… Welcome to sailing ⛵️ you will have many more challenges but they make you more proficient at sailing and troubleshooting.
Yes! You can feel prepared and then a curve ball like a bent gear selector hits you sideways 🤣 Thanks for your comment 😊
Moving a boat for the first time is aways going to be “interesting” …….. two top tips I was given. (1). BEFORE you untie from the dock, gently test the engine, in gear, both forward and reverse. (2). Again, before you untie, test the helm from lock to lock. It only takes 20 seconds and hopefully you will find any problems before you leave.
Great suggestions- thanks Dave! Have added them to the list 😊
Yep yeppers! 👌
Oh youtube!
Hallowed be thy algorithm!
Thanks for bringing this awesome channel to my attention.
Anyway I know we are a bit late to the party but looking fwd to catching up with real time releases... Only 90 something to go 🎉
Relax, What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
I've been sailing for 60 years and it still goes wrong. Remember you can always drop the anchor. It is ready to drop isn't it?
Good suggestion- yes the anchor is ready. There are a few things I (Becka) am going to change this week for it, a swivel, more warp etc but we have dropped it a few times successfully which is nice to have as a backup!
Fair play to you guys, it’s a steep learning curve!- you could’ve easily edited a lot of that out and made it perfect, good for you for keeping it real and showing everything warts and all!
Thanks Ian- upon starting our boat adventure filming, Zach and I reflected upon what we wanted to 'achieve' out of it. Alongside documenting it for our future selves, we wanted to show the reality as we both think its incredible damaging (especially for the youth of today!) to see such a fabricated and perfect world- when it really isn't 😊
I have had a yacht for years and sailed thousands of miles and still make mistakes is all part of sailing .There is nothing better to hone your skills as Time on the Water.You have a lovely boat and it will make you smile ever time you sail her.What model is she .
Thanks Chris- yes, its hard to plan for the unplannable 🤣 so we will make mistakes now and in the future but its how we learn from them which i think is important 😊
Becka, I agree with you totally. The first time out really is an very exciting moment. At the same time I must say that especially out on sea every crew member mandatory needs to be calm and able not only to save himself but also to help saving your partner and the boat. Additionally I believe that all crew members need to be able to do any job on the engine, electrics, rigg or whatever can be necessary in an emergency situation. Imagine being one of two injured or seasick. The other one needs to be able to get the boat into next harbour with engine failure, fire or rigg down. I strongly believe the old roles of men and women must be thrown over board when sailing as a couple. There are survival courses including fire and swimming in bad sea conditions and additional ones for engine and electric service here in Germany. Even such ones especially for women.
Totally agree- Zach and I also want to be able to be proficient in single handed sailing before leaving anywhere properly just in case the other falls ill or injured. I (Becka) am loving that gender rules are thrown overboard- i never fitted them anyway 🤣 Thanks for your advice!
It is awesome that you made up your minds to always "keep it real".
So many of your viewers will appreciate it and many of us can certainly relate. I was in the exactly in the same spot when learning to pilot a aircraft. Your going to be drinking from a fire hose trying to learn what you need. As your knowledge increases so will your capabilities and confidence. These things will make everything much more comfortable and enjoyable. Just continue to believe in yourselfs and take it slowly. Your behind a big learning curve at this point.
Very proud of the two of you!
Thanks David, we thought about it before starting and realised how detrimental it is for people to always see the 'perfect' so made a vow we would never edit out the real bits. Baptism of fire isn't it! But definitely the quickest way to learn 😊
@@TeuluTribe absolutely true!
Becka, great to see you at the helm.The three of you worked well together and you two will only improve on your problem-wrangling skills. Captaining a small (50 ft) 1959 tug from Florida to Grenada, I lost hydraulic steering twice. The first time was motoring in to a harbor in Dominican Republic after 30 hours offshore. I shifted into neutral and my engine remained in forward; worse, the hydraulic steering locked up and my bow was pointed midships to the DR coastguard vessel moored to a dock. With no other boats in the Anchorage and the Coast Guard vessel being the only vessel in the harbor, it looked exactly like we motored in and were intending to ram the Coast Guard vessel! I had one crew member board and he dash down in the engine room to try to diagnose what was going on. Meanwhile we kept motoring straight at the Coast Guard vessel! I do have one lesson at the end of this to add to your repertoire. In this case we were Incredibly lucky that he was able to restore the hydraulics in under a minute and I regained steerage. It would have been funny afterward except for the fact that the coast guard crewmember Had already tried frantically to wave me off and when I didn’t respond finally resorted to raising his semiautomatic rifle and was preparing to shoot our boat. Problems always seem to happen at the excruciatingly and perfectly worst moment. That’s the first lesson Becca. I The second lesson is anytime, anytime you are underway make sure that your anchor is ready to drop. This sounds simple but this is not the case when you go to see. With our tug, we had “catted” our anchor back along the side of our boat and lashed it down. With the Coast Guard crewmember aiming his rifle at me, I was frantically trying to unleash the anchor to drop it and swing my boat to starboard and possibly even stop the boat -but at least I would miss ramming into The Coast Guard vessel. With hydraulics restored, I sprinted back to the helm and made the turn to starboard, just a few boat lengths from the coastguard vessel, coasted to a stop and dropped my Anchor. From the poor coastie’s perspective, I looked like a complete madwoman. We had a lovely stay in the Dominican republic and the Coast Guard was extremely understanding although very wary of us. I’d like to say this is the only thing that ever went wrong in my many years of selling a 57 foot cutter rigged ketch (a lovely, British-built Bowman 57) for charter or the years I spent captaining this tugboat in Grenada. It wasn’t. The only other time however, that my hydraulics failed and I lost steering was after an almost identical situation to yours. In my case I had successfully left the dock and made my first of two 90° turns to port needed to get out into the passageway. I spun the wheel to port for the second 90° tight turn in very close quarters which beautifully put me into the channel with the line of expensive yachts on my port side. This was the second moment the hydraulics locked up on the steering and my graceful 90 degree turn became an alarming 120 degree turn, and I started motoring straight towards line of boats. I managed to correct the turn by a series of “deadlifts”, squatting the standing and prying the wheel to starboard with a Herculean effort. I’m so happy for you that you are working with two men that are treating you as a peer. In my case an entire crowd of (all male) acquaintances had gathered on the dock and my two male crewmembers started screaming at me to turn.-I was feet away from these people and they could see me straining with all my physical strength to try to turn the wheel to starboard and yet for some reason their brain said: the woman is not steering the boat and she needs to start steering. Let’s scream at her to turn. That’s going to fix this problem.
This was not a case of brute strength, no person could have steered that Tug without hydraulics. Anyway, Becca you’ll have many more misadventures on your boat. Planning ahead helps, but experience is what’s needed in order to be able to consider everything that might go wrong and a plan for each of those contingencies. You have all the basics needed to become great sailors. Don’t panic and most importantly, Enjoy the journey!
Wow Greta- what an incredible comment and storytime! Both of those moments sound incredibly scary but you seemed to manage it like a pro. Its women like you i constantly look up to and strive to be like. It was a long time ago i started disagreeing with gender norms (i became a 'boy' scout very early on, despite there being no other girls there). However, i can really relate to you when you mentioned the men saying 'let me take over'- there is nothing that angers me more! I bet you have a lot more stories to tell like that and would love to connect further at some point! 😊 Thanks for sharing that with me!
Huge COGRATULATIONS - it's the first of many but you'll never forget it - well done for not crying !
Thanks Patricia! Hhaha, i have to say, it did take every ounce of my strength not to when we crashed 🤣
Bending it simple, knowing how and where to bend it - genius :-)! Well done it's one of those things that you learn from! Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us!
Haha exactly! Seems every niche problem is like that but we know what to do if it (fingers crossed it wont!) happens again 😊
At the end of the day, your smile when you were at the helm says it all. Nothing worthwhile in life is easy. It's the difficulties along the way that you will laugh about when remembering the hardships.
Definitely a few moments there we can laugh about in the future! The best views are usually after the hardest hikes 😊
Bravo to you both. Your best decision was to reach out for help with your sailing partner and your boat neighbour. together you conquered. You did it and the elation from both of you glowed on the screen. I'm sure you will learn everyday and Mother Nature will always reward and try and beat you down. The best of luck to you both. Adventure on. Cheers
Thanks Stephan, that means a lot. Pride would have made us not ask for help but at the expense of ours (and someone elses) boat, just was NOT worth it! We find it very grounding that mother nature shows who is boss- its something we think everyone should experience from time to time 😊
I smiled all the way through. Particularly when Zak was at the helm looking like the 'cat that got the cream'!
Glad it made you smile Chris 😊 We both felt on top of the world once we got out!
I was asked to go on a voyage to Hawaii with someone I've known all my life and had to say no. I sailed with him on a few times but didn't feel comfortable with his mechanical or electrical knowledge/ability. Knowing how to sail is only part of being a good/safe sailor. He did go on his voyage and he did make it safely. I still have no regrets staying home!
You definitely have to feel comfortable! Think you made the right decision by listening to your insticts 😊
You did fine she's a big old girl you'll be like me now I've got 50 yrs sailing. A smile on my face when I use a radio I hate it. YOU WILL GET THERE guys. A bloody bent gear shift buggar me! Fair winds kids Don't give up you will enjoy sailing NOW THATS AN ORDER!!! Marty Australia
Hhaha it was harder than expected first time but done it a few times since and it gets way easier! I know right- what a challenge to be hit with on our first trip out 🤣 will keep enjoying- dont worry!
The first of MANY firsts!I was very impressed with the way you two handled your challenges. You had a excellent teacher onboard. As you said each time you set sail you will learn something new.
Thanks Gary- Paul was INCREDIBLE with us! We are very grateful he was on board 😊
You are not experienced sailors, so relax, and pay attention, you both are smart enough to soak up the experience of others, and you will learn quickly, so at least you didn't get upset and throw in the towel early. and you've had someone by your side that is providing you with valuable knowledge. If I were you, I would be pretty proud of myself. Many stories to tell around a campfire on some tropical island, lol!
This reminded me of my times sailing when I lost steering or got blown towards rocks or the engine wouldn’t start at the worst time. Learning all the worst things that can go wrong teaches us never to take sailing for granted. Expect the unexpected. Well done to even get some footage.
Being thrown in the deep end is a sure fire way to learn quickly! But yes, reminds us not to take the good times for granted 😊
They say make your first SAIL one to remember - well done guys all sailors start with a 1st sail
Thanks Dave- yes, definitely one we wont be forgetting anytime soon! 🤣
Many of us have "crashed" before, IF you ever hear a captain say they haven't, they are lying! But see, once you are pointed in the right direction, it's all fun!
WOW This guy knows everything and everyone.
@@garyday4356 I've hit my dock at least 3 times over the past several years. We all have done it. Like he said, if you say you haven't, you're lying or you eventually will hit something.
@@Backnine907 3 times in several years is a big spread. But you specifically call everyone a liar who says they have not. I have not hit my dock and perhaps I will in the future but to say I am a liar because I am not admitting to something that may or may not happen in the future is just ignorant. Its similar to an addict saying everyone has tried illegal drugs in their life and if they say they haven't then they are a liar. Or the addict justifies the comment by saying or eventually you will try illegal drugs. Its just a way to make you feel like what experiences you have in your life is normal. And a way feel ok about mistakes. We all make mistakes but to call people names if they don't have the same mistakes as you is simple nuts.
@@garyday4356 Dude, seriously you are making a mountain out of a molehill. Lighten up. Sorry you took this so personal. I hope you NEVER hit anything with your boat, EVER! Chill out!
@@Backnine907 I have been chill the whole time. I'm simply pointing out the abusive language you spouted.
Well done !!! Looking so forward to your journey!! Your video quality is top notch ! Keep’em coming !! Watching from Ohio , USA
Thanks Matt- that means a lot 😊
I have not done boating since the 1983! I am loving your vlogs and really enjoying them! Good luck with it all! 😀😊😉It's like a lot of things, the first time is the most nerve racking! Well done to you both and you have some great folk around you to help you too 😉👍
We are feeling more confident now than we ever have! Thanks Nigel 😄
@@TeuluTribe A pleasure 😊😉
Knowing your boat is paramount, learning by doing is essential, you will get it right
Thanks David 😊
You have a beautiful boat - one of the nicest Colvic Victors out there. Great video of your first sail - and thanks for keeping it real.
Thanks so much John- that really means a lot 😊
You both did great. I remember the first time my husband and I took the boat out on our own. I was terrified but we lived to tell the tale and laughed at our mistakes.
Hahah, you will understand the nerves then 🤣 We can laugh at it now which is really nice!
You clearly have lots of previous experience of outdoor activities, what you might lack in sailing experience is made up by that, you have the right attitude, that probably puts you ahead of 99% of the first timers. Im hoping that my time outdoors will carry me when i finally get my boat to sea. And what ever adventures i find myself on you are exactly the sort of person i want on my team.
We really loved this comment, its nice to see things from a different perspective e.g. not being good at one thing but maybe having strengths in another area which can overlap and help you! Thankyou for helping us see it from a different angle 😊
@@TeuluTribe One of my outdoors type mates, when things go sideways we don't have to talk, we can do first aid, take bearings, asses the weather, plan a route, ram food and water down, and be running down a scree slope all at the same time, we just switch to a new mode where nothing can stop us. Another mate on a camping trip as its getting dark asked if I had a spare sleeping bag he could use. Both of these people can buy a sailing boat with no experience and take it round the world, but only one of them should. Dont have to watch many of your videos to work out which group you fall in to.
Love it, this episode brought back memories of my formative sailing years. This Paul is a good bloke, I noticed he was keen to hand the helm over to you ASAP.
A few tips:
(1) For departure work backwards from the optimum tidal departure time and allow for 20 minutes between 'let's go and actually casting off. Double that to 40 minutes when non sailing guests are aboard because they always rush off to the marina toilets and then slap on sun cream the moment you want to leave. (2) In a channel when encountering another oncoming boat its "red to red go ahead". (3) There is no shame in manually pointing the boat 10 degrees the right way with muscle power 5 seconds before hoping aboard and applying engine power. (4) Keep an eye on that moderate marina jetty bump, it can sometimes take a few months for the gelcoat flex crazing to show up. No major worries if it does, gelcoat is like brittle cake icing over flexible grp marzipan. (5) If you are going to have a marina boat to boat parking bump don't try to power out of trouble which just adds energy and damage, instead just drift on to the other boat with a fender dropped in at the point of contact (6) Keep a spare "roving" untied and free to be quickly moved to any pending incident. (6) The helm looked very stiff. I would move inspection of the steering linkages up your maintenance to-do list or maybe the stiff helm is just an inherent attribute of the dual helm positions.
Thanks! Paul is a great guy- we are lucky to have met him 😊 Thanks for the tips! Will read over and digest those- interesting to know about the gelcoat. We are getting hauled out in a month so will inspect fully then 😊 We have also already gone over the steering (its lighter than it looks!)- i think it is just the fact you are turning two wheels that makes it seem harder 😊
most underrated channel on youtube
Thanks so much 🥺
Hi guys! Wow, look at all the great experience you’ve accumulated on your first sail! So glad that you continued to push through the difficulties and got all the sails up, that’s great! You can prepare all you want, but you can never prepare for everything! We always do our best to review and plan and be ready, but in the end you you deal with the events as they unfurl. Things will continue to happen, but your best resource is a calm mind to think through the dilemma and determine the best way to overcome. The video was fun to watch and reminded us of the challenges we faced on our first sail in our current boat many years ago. Have fun, Fraser and Jeff on S/V Storm Petrel
Thanks so much! It would have been really easy to go back in but SO glad we pushed on through (learnt soo much as well!). I (Becka) am working on the calm mind thing- not panicking is 100% the best approach! Glad you enjoyed the video and could relate to your previous times 😊
We all have had a learning period, great that you have friends to get you there, it won't be long, and you will be getting out of the bay and playing in the ocean
Thanks Doug- yes, i feel like Zach and I have come on leaps and bounds since this! We sure did learn a lot this day though!
Well done you pair! I know how anxious you must have been on your first sail and you did just great. You're in for a wonderful and challenging adventure and with your boundless enthusiasm and desire - it will be an incredible experience for you both.
Thanks Jeremy! Ooosh, soooo anxious 🤣 You can tell by how much i am clenching my lips/jaw throughout the whole vid! Haha it will get easier though 😊
Your honest feelings are very nice to see. God bless you both.
Thanks- just trying to keep it real 😊
So happy for you both.. No other saiing couple on youtube more deserving to succeed in my opinion.. Im a Brit so i guess im a bit bias. ;) Good luck for your future voyages
Thats SUCH a sweet comment- thank you so much! Reading it has really started our day off right 😊
Best episode I’ve seen from you guys.
We all make mistakes and that’s how we learn. I would say every sailor learns something everyday, well done and keep at it, it’s so worth it.
Wow, thanks Michael! We live and we learn but yes, its so worth it 😊
How well I remember the tides in the Hamoaze. The Cremyll Ferry would 'crab' across to the other side of the river, when the tide was in full Flood, but was even worse in full Ebb tide; especially in Spring tides. It was always fun, watching HMS Ark Royal arriving or leaving the Dockyard. Now I really am showing my age. 'The Ark' was WAY before your time. Still, you both learnt some Very Important lessons. Glad you had lots of help from your friends and your next-door neighbour.
Haha yes! 'Crab' across really is the best way to describe it 🤣 Glad our vids are bringing back memories!
Well done...the more adversity the more confidence and enjoyment ..its not the destination its the journey. God in a few years time you will look back and laugh at all this and be proud of how you got there in the end.
Such a truthful statement- and yes, we will definitely look back and laugh- already giggling at the small errors like the ensign (we live and we learn!) 😆
Hey no worry 1st time I go out with my boat the low pressure fuel pump stop working (use hand pump to go back the marina) 2nd time wind and current push me the ground (stuck there 9 hours) 3rd time was amazing time 9 hour motoring and sailing with no issue. just keep going guys. shit can happening all the time.
Oh no, that sounds a nightmare! It can really happen to all of us but just got to keep going 😊 Thanks for your comment!
So so proud of you kids 🥰. Also that guy that fixed the engine problem- his accent OMG love it.
Thanks Julia 🥺 - haha yes, very cornish!
Well done you two!
Think about writing a little routine, a check list. Just like you checked the exhaust water, before you set off, walk around the decks, jib sheets free, fairleads set for wind conditions, furling line free, no lines crossed etc everything stowed. Start engine, check water, into fwd, into rev. All good. Tally Ho!
Thanks Klaudia! We have a check list but checking forward and reverse wasn't on it (so silly looking back!) but have no added it in 😊
Thanks for your honesty and for including all the details. The most important advice I would offer is "Don't Panic". That can make not great turn really not great in a heartbeat. Celebrate everything you learn. It's easy to think that everyone else has done it, but you haven't felt what success feels like for so many tasks. The day will come when you do so much automatically without even realizing the progress you have made. Have patience. It will be rewarded.
Thanks Tim- just want to keep it really real. Yes, i (Becka) have learnt that panicking NEVER helps a situation. Still working on this but i have found breathwork has really helped 😊 Zach is a really good one to remind me that everyone starts somewhere. Its good to recognise that (and celebrate the successes- however small they may be) 😊
Good job, you were apprehensive, which is absolutely normal, but you did not panic, which says it all about how you will handle your future encounters with mother nature and the normal occurrences of being out on a boat. Always expect the unexpected. What you experienced with your hero is something that you will encounter throughout your sailing experience good people on the water. Congratulations on your first time out
Thank you 😊 Still working on keeping as cool as a cucumber but slowly getting there! People are so lovely in the boating world- we have entered such an amazing community and are so grateful for all the help 😊
I am very happy to see you finally hoisted the sails! Thank you for sharing even the unpleasant part of the story - I am learning with/from you. You two are a true inspiration! Fair winds!
Thank you for your lovely comment! We really hope to keep it as real as possible 😊
Glad you made it happen, as an old guy I immediately thought the cable is probably not fully pushing the lever on the gearbox all the way . Which was the case . That just comes from having years of fixing things experience . You will get there.
Glad you had friends to help.
Cheers Warren
Thanks Warren! Yes, i guess with time, you just know those things, at least we know for next time (although fingers crossed there wont be one of those!) 😊
You can read/watch videos as much as you can but there’s nothing like doing something to learn. You’re not the first to make a mistake or two and you definitely will not be the last to make a mistake or two. As long as you learn and remember you will get better just look at your faces when you relaxed and started to enjoy what you were doing. Looking forward to seeing you both enjoying your next sail
Living and learning! Excited to share the next video, it goes a little differently than this! 😊
Bruce from Canada. at 77 I still learn everyday.= Love your video, covered all emotions that will serve you well. = Tis called experience never ending.= We all need a good soul sometimes.
Thanks Bruce 😊 The experience (and learning) sure is never going to end but wouldn't have it any other way!
It is a steep learning curve for sure but then it smooths out and you learn to anticipate what your boat is going to do.
Very true!!
You guys are doing fantastic!!. I dont sail myself but its something I'd love to learn and do. Remember, it's a brand new skill so things will be harder to begin with, but become easier with time and practice. It's human nature to feel out of our depth and thats how we learn. By pushing our boundaries.. In years to come you will look back on that first sail and laugh about it. I'm really chuffed for the both of you, living the dream and making some fantastic memories. Thankyou for sharing your journey with us all.
Thanks so much for your lovely comment 😊 You should 100% go for it! We definitely have a few laughable stories already and only been doing it a few weeks!
Thank you for sharing an honest account of how your first sail went. Mine was similarly fraught, but I lacked a "Paul" to help. Still, strangers helped and everyone made it back in one piece, like your experience!
Becca, great inspirational video. We are the same as you just starting to learn to sail our own boat, being so new to this its really scary getting in and out of the marina lock each time. We are getting better and next time will be only our third time out!
Keep up the good work of showing your Worts and all videos, they are a true inspiration to us! We make the same mistakes as you but you are brave enough to film them, thank you!
Thanks Shaun! It really is scary haha! However, i promise it does get easier and i think a little bit of worry is healthy- it means you care. Glad you like the vids 😊 See you on the water!
Congratulations guys on a really good first sail. Your boat was looking fantastic under sail. The river Tamar has massive flow rates and you are right at the mouth, but you handled the situation well and some of the issues were caused by lack of forward drive. You're going to really enjoy yourself and will soon be exploring places further afield
Thanks so much. She felt in her element with the sails up! Noted to go at slack tides next time 😊
Its really great to follow your journey seeing the first sail, cant wait to see where this takes you!
Thanks Marcus 😊 lots of adventures on the horizon!
Brilliant learning video glad you finally got those sails up really well put together video thanks so much both of you 😎
Thanks Paul- it felt incredible to get the boat out of the marina and to where she should be- on the ocean 😊
Slack tide until you have the experience to make it work for you, then you only have the wind to worry about. Where were your fenders when you bumped the dock? Don't worry about getting them in until you're clear of everything. The engine issue is a classic problem that you need to be prepared for. If you're struggling and things are going wrong very quickly, drop your anchor and radio the marina for assistance, or the coastguard if you're in coastal waters, they'll usually be able to get a nearby boat to help, and boaters love to help, it's all part of the fraternity. Use the radio all the time, get radio checks before you go out from the coastguard or the marina. Just use it as much as you can so it's second nature, you'll soon be relaxed using it and it's so vital. I always leave the radio on dual watch - channel 14 and 16 and just listen to other people (14 in Plymouth for Longroom Port Control for any shipping movements, ferries, and Naval ships that you need to avoid). ALWAYS make a passage plan with emergency procedures - even for short trips, it makes you think about all the possible issues and you'll be so much more relaxed. Pre-sail checklist will include the engine and so on - I'll let you look this up - Competent Crew by the RYA. Phew, sorry to throw all these unwanted instructions at you, but you do not want to scare yourselves to the point where you're nervous about taking the boat out. Great video and I really feel for you, I went through very the same when I first started sailing, but don't learn the hard way, there are just so many great UA-cam reference and instructional videos and boaters love to help. We're on A3 at Mayflower - I thought the flats looked familiar! Well done.
Thanks Bob 😊 We now go out at slack tide! We only have three on the other side because the boat next to us has three too so we have plenty and they were slightly further forward! We ran to move them but didn't get them far enough in time. Thanks great to hear about what to do if things go wrong- thanks for this advice 😊 Interesting about channel 14! We had it on 80 (marina) and 16 all the time but will listen to 14 now, thanks for all your help! 😊 Thats so cool you are also here, pop buy some time and we can show you around!
@@TeuluTribe Hahaa, get some more fenders, you can never have enough even though they are a pain to store. Thanks for the invite. I'm waiting for new batteries due very soon (lithium and that's another series of videos but worth it), but will be down in the next couple of weeks - work beckons at the moment. Plymouth is amazing - history, scenery and so many places to go boating and anchoring. Practice anchoring, and not just in the Sound, but no rocky locations! Sand ideally, but they are usually marked on the charts. Plymouth is also good because it has a large array of buoyage - cardinals and channel markers, hazards and others - get use to following them and your position in the channel, don't take shortcuts through the bridge even if your keel does allow for it - it's good practice for more challenging locations. Make regular calls to Longroom Port Control (14), it's not a requirement, but just tell them the name of your boat, destination and purpose or just outward bound by east(or west) channel and number of POB (persons on board). It is important to get comfortable with the radio. So, so much to talk about and say, but when the boating bug gets you it bites! Have fun!!
Nice to see that you are sharing the bits that go wrong as well as the nice bits. One of the reasons your boat swung across the back of your neighbour would be prop walk this is an effect that moves the stern sideways when you engage drive to the prop. combined with the fact yachts don't steer as well in reverse. What you need to do to get some control over the boat in reverse is to get the boat moving and then take the power off, this should then give you a bit f control with the rudder. When you understand how your boat reacts under power you can learn to use prop walk to your advantage. one other thing you need to rig the reefing lines on your main sail. If you get caught in a bit of strong wind while out sailing you will need them to be able to reduce sail.
Thanks John, we have been out a few times since and practices 360 degree turns and have now figured out the prop walk- phew! Adding the reefing lines is on our list!
It as I’ve been saying becca with a relaxed approach everything works out and with time even the things that seem impossible now become realistic and achievable in time see you soon
Very true, you helped us to stay very calm in this situation 😊 See you soon Paul!
Every day is a learning experience, don’t panic, adjust.
I like that- don't panic, adjust. Thanks Harold 😊
Congrats on your first sail. Just remember, the best way to learn is trial and error. You guys did great.
Thanks so much 😊
Well done on your first time out you are already much more prepared for next time on your journey into sailing, fair winds and calm seas
Thanks John- yes, we really are so much more prepared already! Baptism by fire i think they call it!
Wonderful. Thank you so much for having us along with you.
Thanks Merle 😊 glad you enjoyed
Well done you guys..
Moving ahead in leaps and bounds.
Admire your attitudes.
Keep on keeping on. :)
Have a nice week.
Cheers from NZ ! M
like #30. lol
Thanks Mike- baby steps at the moment but feels great to be getting out 😊 We hope you have a great week too!
No one died, no one got injured and you did not sink or wreck the boat. I’d say well done!
A very good way to look at it! Mission accomplished!
Sailing is like flying, do the check list before leaving, as after it could be too late, even minor issues, yes I;ve been there too.
We have a checklist now 🤣
I think you did brilliantly, there's more than a few teddies get thrown out of prams when the dreaded Mayflower springs take control... and you kept your cool!
It's so ironic how your first adventures always include the absolute hardest bit, getting in and out of of the b****y berth ! Congratulations!
Thanks Jon! Was a bit of a sh*t show at times but we managed it (and have gone out twice successfully since just me and Zach!). Bet you are so glad there is a pontoon between us watching that footage back 🤣
@@TeuluTribe not saying a word..... 🤣
Great to see you out ! One of the reasons I left that marina was the tidal push as it runs down the Tamar. It can be evil, and the worst part of sailing for me - is getting on and off a dock - hence I moved from where you are ! Too stressful ! You can consider a swing mooring . 1. cheaper to stay on 2. easy to pick up and drop off (I can do it myself with no crew) 3. less foot traffic and likely theft ! But keep going, you will crack it.......
It really is brutal! We did consider a swing mooring but we don't have any off grid power supply (no solar panels yet or good batteries) and no holding tank so not quite ready for that- although its definitely something we will consider in the future 😊
I'm so happy to see you two out on the water under full sails. The looks on your faces at the helm says it all really. Huge confidence booster today despite the hardware faults.
On that...Any mechanical brackets/linkage that can be bent by hand should be replaced with stouter fittings. The forward/reverse linkage is adjustable and shouldn't bend under stress (same with the steering linkage).
Thanks Erik! We were soo happy once out 😊 Yes- we will look to replace it soon!
Hi guys, when we were still quite young my roommate's dad had a 28' sloop moored at Harbor Island in San Diego.
The motor was inoperable but we chose to go out anyway. As we were clearing the dock the boat did a 180° & centerpunched the boat at the end of the dock on the starboard side. Whoops!
There was no damage & everyone was happy. Still had a great day sailing down the coast a little to Point Loma, out to the Coronado Islands & back.
There's more to it but will save it for later. Glad you're all ok. We're still looking for the "right" Pearson 385. So nice with 2 cabins & 2 heads especially for 3 older guys (64 to 70). We were thinking about the name "3 Amigos" or even 3 Stooges hahahaha.
See you on the water, Mike (desert Viking).
Thanks for your comment Mike! Thats a crazy story- sounds quite scary! Good you still had a great day sailing though 😊 Thats all that matters! We like the 3 Stooges 🤣
Congratulations on your first sail. Well done and you managed to set all three sails. As you say you can learn all the theory but it means nothing until it's put into practice. Boat handling is a huge skill in itself, especially a boat of that size and even the experts get it wrong at times. Even despite the damaged gear shift you still had very strong tides, and lots of topside windage on this boat. You will learn with practice.
BTW, your red ensign is flying the wrong way. Normally you can't fly it that way because the flag lanyard should be sewn onto the side with the union flag in the top corner. Also note, if the ensign is flown upside down (which yours wasn't) it is a signal of distress. Good luck and Happy Sailing!
I was wondering about the flag myself, but I’m only an armchair sailor so I thought it might be some technicality I was not aware of. 🤔
Thanks so much! It really is- we have been out a few times since and it has gotten significantly easier since learning our boat.
Our ensign is the wrong way, i have no idea why the attachments are on that side! So odd. Maybe it knew we would be a bit stuffed our first time out 🤣
Nope- just our weird flag! 🤣
Great effort guy's, live the Dream ⛵️
Thanks Robert 😊
I'm coming back to sailing after one even more expensive 'hobby' (raising a child) and we're getting our first boat soon, but not as massive a step as yours, just a Westerly Berwick 31' Sloop. We are going to be near neighbours as we'll be based in Cardiff, so maybe we'll see you out there sometime...Good luck 🤞
Thats so cool! We are now down in Plymouth but if we come up that way will definitely say hi! Thanks Marc 😊
@@TeuluTribe
Much nicer sailing down that way (where I learned years ago, Hamble/Solent etc), with less horrific tides and lots more choices of places to go, with still some 'challenges' with tidal races etc.
Have fun 👍
That’s not rum! Good video, thanks for sharing x
Well done all , first time out bound to be teething problems, keep heading out on the good weather days to build your confidence in the boat . ⛵️🌞😊
Thanks Robert! Trying to get over every weekend 😊
Don't worry, it's all part of the learning curve. I won't bore you with my own trials and tribulations trying to come to grips with handling a 24ft-wide trimaran in and out of marinas or even just an open anchorage! I did have an engine, it had a "forward" and "back" position but no electric start! Meaning I had to jump down the companionway from the cockpit, turn left and race into a low passage way under the (centre) cockpit into the "engine room", such as it was, and start the engine by way of a big handle and a flywheel. Whenever I was in a tight spot and speed was of the essence, that flywheel quickly became the bane of my existence... And, finally, one thing I always found difficult in the early days of my sailing career was having other people on board! When you're not sure of yourself, having a bit of help is always a good thing, obviously. At the same time, for me, at least, it made me feel insecure and added to the stress! I always felt that if or when I made mistakes, I much preferred to do it without having anyone looking over my shoulder - no matter how much I knew I did in fact need him (or her) to be there...
24ft wide! Thats incredible! Sounds a really tricky way to start the engine- did you end up changing this in the end? We have only had Paul and his son on board and needed all the help we could get this time but we have been out by ourselves since and like the fact its only each other (well and 17k other people now 🤣) witnessing it with us. It will be quite the experience taking new friends and family out though in the future! Thanks for sharing 😊
So cool to see you get out and about. Also to be totally honest about your learning curve. Well done and I can’t wait to see more.👌👍❤️
Thanks so much! Was definitely a steep learning curve 😊
Those marks tell a story there will be more. Best of luck guys.
Thanks! 😊
So, I'm binge watching your channel right now and I have to say your learning curve is pretty steep at this point :) Well done, and I really like the quote that the video pretty much ends with. It's a good way of looking at life.
Brilliant guys you left the mooring.. So my view is.. The time you have more experience your become sailors.. Your also become engineers.. It a learning Massive curve.. Don't panic..it will amazing... Me and captin Jack will come and Visit you too.. Until then keep it up.. Fair winds and safe sailing 🎶⛵⚓✌️💜💪🇧🇲
Thanks! Yes exactly, the hardest part was slipping the dock lines- it can only get better from here 🤣 Hoping to see you on the water at some point!
Great job! I know it was stressful but an excellent job with the huge learning curve. It can feel overwhelming but you deal with it bit by bit.
Thanks- yes overwhelming at times but so worth it 😊
You have definalty found an interesting yacht. The victor 40 is a very modern deck design for its age. The deck salon style did not show up in large production boats until years later. My father's last yacht a Contessa37 , colvic molded, owner finished was 10 yrs newer design for a different purpose but no deck salon( ctr cotpit ketch).
Well done this should suit you well!
Cheers Warren
Oh cool, we love the light and airy deck saloon 😊
.... laughing .... Well!, talk about having a "Character Building Day" followed by the reward of a brilliant sail to drive it home that it is all worth it ... well done ... thx for sharing .. as always .. never stop dreaming, just dream bigger .. have fun be safe, save our oceans ...
Oosh, it was definitely one of those for sure 🤣 but 100% worth it!
I got the Day Skipper and don't have that much more experience than you and suffered similar first few times out. The lesson to learn which I did forget was always to test forward and reverse while still tied up on the dock. The time I didn't a plastic bag had wrapped around the prop and I pushed off, spun round on the river current and straight in to a boat on the opposite bank. Fortunately a narrow river and could throw a line back to the dock and got pulled in. Another time throttle cable snapped while still on the dock! Something you'll learn from and move to the next challenge.
Thanks John! Yes, its now on the list! oh dear, that sounds a right pickle- glad you could rectify it relatively easily 😊
You did great. It’s VERY stressful when things go wrong and they DO go wrong for people of all ages and experience levels, but every time is a learning experience.
Thanks Richy, yes- very stressful but lots of learning! And SUCH a great feeling when things start going right 😊
Started watching your channel recently. It’s nice to see two young Brits learning to sail/handle a boat. Must say it’s a lovely looking boat. Have you thought of doing the RYA a diesel engine course?
Thanks Simon! We have thought about doing it (and would love to) but currently have a long list to buy and its quite expensive so saving for it in the future and getting by with youtube videos for now 😊
I bet that next time you checked ALL of the equipment was working properly BEFORE leaving the dock! Good to see you all had a fun time learning things about the boat...
Yes we 100% did! It was added to the list very quickly 🤣
Everyday is a school day dont be afraid to push the boundaries that's where life is fun enjoy guys a good luck cant wait to follow your journey
Thanks- yes, 100% agree with that!
😂😭😂Leaving the fenders hanging over are called Irish burgerys lol.. Keep it up shin on you Crazy diamond's ✌️💜💪⛵🎶
You learn something new everyday! 😁
1:37 Real and More . This is just one reason I like your channel. Small thing, I have noticed other sailors have a wrap on the Helm Wheel for when the rudder is centered, consider this. Not just close to help but seeing that the sailing community is very helpful.
Still Learning from UA-cam University and you are 2 of my teachers. Fair Winds 😎
Thanks Darrell- just trying our best to convey the whole picture! We have a bit of tape on it at the moment (we had to recentre the wheel on the first day we bought the boat but that is a whole another story!) and haven't got round to wrapping it yet- thanks for the suggestion 😊 Have a lovely day!
Support is great, Experience is adding up, your starting to fill the sails. Food for the Awakening Minds. Great Vid.
Thanks George 😊
I'm pretty much at the same stage as you two. Did day skip last year, crewed on a few boats and have just bought my first boat, a 27 ft ketch.
Like you I'm finding nothing goes to plan and the learning curve is a vertical wall that needs to be climbed.
Good luck with you adventure and maybe we'll cross tracks one day.
Nice one Andy! In the ketch crew 😊 haha yes, lots of learning curves. See you on the water 😊
You Learn the most while doing it . You Will get there, if you stay calm everything Will be alright. You should Come over to Holland, plenty of lakes to practice on with less currents and there are plenty of sailing schools.
Would love to come to Holland- Zachs Omi is dutch so would be lovely seeing where she is from 😊
You did really well, these little issues make us stronger
Thanks James, yes they really do 😊
Good job. The hardest part is leaving the dock.
Thanks! Yes it really is 😊
Well done both of you, welcome to the sailing life. If you haven't learnt already that a sail never goes to plan. It is one of the things I love about sailing that you have to be ready for anything . It looks like you are in Plymouth my family and I lived up the cost at Kingsbridge if you ever need crew I would love to help. When you start to explore a little more you have to come and check out Salcombe and Dartmouth.
Thanks Peter- yes, it certainly seems that way! Oh that’s great- thanks so much for the offer 😊
It's so good to watch you to grow in the world of sailing.
Thanks Dale! 😊
Well done for actually getting out there and doing it!!!
Far too many will be sitting behind their keyboards telling you how they would do it - but you were there doing it for real - and you learnt some lessons and ended the day with huge smiles
You are right - get out there as much as possible, experience how the wind and tide affect your boat and soon you will feel things happening slower, because you will be responding without thinking and giving yourself time to breath. You've been there before with all the other skills you've learnt
I would say it's worth checking out some single-handed sailors & their methods for getting in and out Patrick Laine has some *really* good videos - if you practise as you would singlehanded then when there's 2 of you it's easy!
(I would also say don't be so hard on yourself (Becka) in *that* situation you did the right thing asking for help as Paul was there. Without Paul there you would have handled things differently. & good on you both for sharing the hard times along with the great times)
Thanks Guy! Thats very true and something we remind ourselves off if anyone says anything negative (which hardly happens- we are so grateful for this amazing community!).
We have now been out three times (theres a slight delay between videos and present day) and it has got significantly easier each time 😊
Will check out Patrick Laine- thanks for your recommendation!
Will try not to be too hard on myself, i just felt a wimp asking for help but looking back, know it was the best thing to do as Paul saved the day- which i simply wouldn't have 😊 We live and we learn
loved your excitement and then when it got tough you got it all sorted - its great for us dreamers to see the realities and thanks for sharing them
Thanks Richard- the tough bits were pretty hard but when we got out and felt the wind fill the sails, it all was worth it 😊
Nice video. Beautiful boat! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Dale! 😊
A fantastic achievement, all three sails up on the first outing, awesome! Fifty years ago I worked in the boatyard next to the Mayflower marina, In fact it was built whilst I was there. The tides moving in and out of the Tamar were always very strong, you did well! BTW your ensign is not quite correct! The Union Flag should be at the upper part of the hoist and next to it, sorry for being pedantic!!
Thanks so much Roger 😊 Oh wow, what a blast from the past that is! Yes, they are really strong! Our ensign is incorrect as the fixings are on the wrong side, silly us for getting a weird one 🤣
Massive congratulations. And I’ve just found your channel. A checklist is your friend before laving the marina 😃