A famous English sailor (don't remember who) said : "If you wan't to know what yachting is, spend a winter day, fully dressed, under a cold shower, while tearing out 100£ bank notes" He probably forget to say that, sometimes it's a real pleasure to sail ...
This guy would be a lot of fun to spend a week sailing with. No bull, just straight forward, unassuming, and clearly knows his art. And, he's blessed with great hair, lol.
"The correct time to reef is the moment you first think of it. The time to let some sail back out is after a cup of tea." Wise decision to keep it in and you explained it well as to why others should do likewise. I had a halyard jam in a 7 once on a boat I was transporting. Wish we had reefed earlier. I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for taking the time and effort to talk at the camera for our benefit.
Not near as much experiance as I would like. But I know wisdom when I hear it. I reckon so long as I heed it then I'll get to accumulate the desired experiance in time. I enjoy many dangerous hobbies. I prefer to mitigate and reduce all the hazards I'm able so I can keep at them for as many years as possible.
UA-cam sped up human evolution x 100000000000000000. Now we all have Dad's online patiently and expertly guiding us through everything orally which is the way our brains were meant to take in new information. Reading is for losers. J/k
@@patricklaine6958Hi Patrick, this is Chad on Starry Night, an Chris White Atlantic 42', I want to second the comment above. It's like watching and learning from my sailing father I never had! We are crossing from SXM to Azores spring 2024, currently in Antigua, do you offer any type of consulting? We are a family of 4, myself , wife, and two children, 13 and 7. 4 season cruising the carribean. And thanks again for posting!
Just discovered Patrick's series of videos of his sailing adventures and plan to watch them all multiple times. Planning a major blue water voyage myself, I have watched many youtube videos and all offer some or a different perspective. What I like best about Patrick's videos is his analysis of different aspect of his boat, decisions he has made about equipment, post mortems of different situations and challenges that he has found himself in and how he dealt with them, lessons learned and his philosophizing about sailing and the different aspects of life aboard - in short, all of it. I also appreciate the distinct absence of 'infomercials', although all are forgiven because we know how expensive sailing is and unfortunately, while sailing, most of us are not earning and income. Favourable winds, Patrick and please keep the videos coming. Especially now (spoiler alert) with the refit of your new boat.
Making intelligent decisions isn't cowardly. You are a cautious sailor. Nothing wrong with that. Very informative. I hope you are safe and well. Cheers.
I worked on commercial fishing boats for 15 years. Worked my way up from a deckhand to a captain within that time. I left that profession to become a locomotive engineer.l look back fondly on my time on the ocean. I know next to nothing about sailing, but i maintain my masters license and hope to one day sail. I have enjoyed your video..thanks for sharing.
I am sure you will enjoy sailing jonny. It is much less stressful than commercial fishing. If the weather is a bit difficult, you stay in port and go to the bar!
Yeah the hot women of sailing. Great boats, drones, nice beaches and hot girls. I am starting to wonder if those couples on those channels are real copules.
I’m not a kid I’m not a old man But you’ll find some non typical sailing vids on my channel just random stuff And no begging for money I do it on the cheap with quality work
Good stuff ! You cover a lot of things in this video. Always something to anticipate and to think about - whether you are flying or sailing. Every trip is different. Always learning. Always watching. Always planning. Thanks for sharing Captain Patrick ! !
Thanks for the kind words Meredith. When I was a pilot I learned how critical it was to 'stay ahead of the aircraft.' As you suggest, that's good advice for sailing as well. Cheers.
Re: fenders over the side. Whenever someone gives me grief about it, i tell them to come over and crew for me, then Ill get it done. Otherwise, mind your own boat.
I have just discovered your videos. Not only are they interesting and informative, but it’s great to learn about the sailing lifestyle from someone who is so articulate and laidback. I’m going through some health issues right now, and your videos are a very helpful distraction. Thanks for sharing!
I couldn't agree more! Port manoevers are the most difficult parts of a sailing leg, even when you have a crew. When I am out on the water I feel secure of what I do, even under strong winds. When I approach a port I tend to get nervous. Three weeks ago I was sailing a Hanse 415 w/o a bow thruster, that was really challenging! Thanks for mentioning this, Patrick, I thought I am alone...
I have now filmed and posted on UA-cam more than 100 arrivals, and I can assure you, that last 5 minutes of each passage is still the most stressful....... :-)
Hope you are doing all right. Looking forward to hearing from you again and maybe seeing your videos again, even if you are not sailing. Like a day in the city, a day in the garage mending your car, shopping for sailing parts or in the marina maintaining the boat! God speed.
As an old singlehander, I have found that fatigue management is the toughest part of the enterprise. I did the Atlantic using a horizon scan every 15 minutes. So, using modern electronics is really a godsend. Kudos on a good presentation of the life.
Bravo. I can do the 15/20 minute thing for one night, but I can't imagine doing it over an extended passage. As you say, electronics have made life at sea much safer.
Well, what I did was train myself to get up every 15 minutes. A quick resetting timer beside the bed, and a piece of posterboard with a marker pen strung to it about 15 feet away. In the morning I'd count marks because I never remembered most of the wakeups. Did that for about 6 months. On the trip it was so much a habit that often I'd turn off the timer just as it started it's first beep. Bottom line it was a waste, as the sleep dep made the trip much more hazardous than it really had to be. And so on and on! Electronics suite,off the lanes as much as possible and down 45 at a time....That's the ticket!! Cheers.
@@ZCHRL4 How many of those mid-ocean scans were useful in detecting hazards? I'm just beginning my sailing journey but 15-minute scans in the middle of the ocean seems like overkill, even aside from the sleep deprivation aspect.
Just stumbled into your vlog. Wonderful. I'd be glad to have a dram wit you. I used to sail (race, actually) on San Francisco Bay in my youth. Now, all I can do is watch guys like you and wonder! :)
Stumbled upon your vlog and found it interesting, satisfying a knowledge gap on how solo sailors manage their ability to handle the conditions without being sleep deprived. After 20 years recently moved away from sailing and succumbed to the dark side. However it’s nice to know I can still enjoy being under sail, albeit vicariously, thanks to you and others who take the time to share these videos.
Same here, I sleep for 30-55 minutes depending on location, weather and speed and use two mechanical kitchen timers (one as a backup) to get me up reliably.
It takes a fast freighter about 15 minutes from the horizon to runnin' over ya. I've been so tired sometimes that there was a bagpiper in the cockpit with me....and he was taking requests. ex Herreshoff H-55 Valkyrie. 1975-1987 (Built her 1970-75)
Fantastic videos Patrick. A real pleasure to watch. Interesting, informative, enjoyable, educational, inspiring, humorous, honest & natural, the perfect combo 👍. Thank you for sharing these wonderful experiences. I will be sure to spread the word on this absolute gem of a channel. I look forward to watching more of your adventures. Thanks 👍👍
Wow! You've been a fighter pilot? Congratulations from a man who, although far from a fighter, also detached from ground. Once in the air, we belong to a different family.
Great down to earth, informative film. I remember my first line squall, delivering a boat to SXM. It hit couple of hours before sunrise, next thing you know the boat's a wreck, boom snapped in half, genoa split in half half, bugger! Ahh, the joys of a sharp learning curve!!
Many thanks Jim. On a scale of Beginner, Intemediate (has mastered the basics), Advanced (participates every weekend in regattas), and Expert/Pro, I consider myself an Intermediate, and still have much to learn. Please do go out with instructors to learn how to really do it well. Fair winds to you.
Thanks this is the best description of daily life on a solo voyage I have seen. Wish you would explain some other sailing issues also, like how sailboats balance on foils since you're so good at explaining this stuff (I know it's not exactly related to what you're doing here). Wish you would also talk a bit about your other safety equipment. There's a guy who does videos on van life. Bob Wells, and he humbly describes all the stuff you need to live in that situation. So it would be nice if someone like you could describe everything, like how you go to the bathroom, how or whether you shower, how much food you can have and so on. What it's like to live port to port or whatever. Also a video on emergency stuff like some button to get help in real life/death emergencies. Also how to choose a boat and how much it costs. Also how you manage electricity and a little description of all the features of your boat including the electrical capacity and solar and wind, also how and when you get internet and whether you are planning to use Starlink mobile when it becomes available. How you do your mail. Maybe you have all that in your videos, I'm going to watch more of your videos now. Thanks. My brother was a marine pilot. Thanks for great video and approachable understandable explanations. Thank you thank you!
Many great ideas there for future content topics Peter. Many thanks. I trained with Marine pilots. Great respect for them and their particularly demanding mission.
Many thanks Andrew. I am really just an 'intermediate' level sailor Andrew, sharing my numerous mistakes. :-) Please do take some lessons from a pro, but then don't be afraid to go out and experience the special sense of accomplishment that solo sailing gives.
Very enjoyable and very informative. Thank you for posting. Had to laugh when you talked about not necessarily keeping a “tidy” deck. I remember getting lectured on that when I first started sailing (forty plus years ago !) but like yourself as you get older these things do not matter so much!!
Good to see real advice on solo sailing I’m about to cross from N Z to U S as soon as lockdown finished so I can pickup my wife and children in SAn Francisco
hi Patrick, I’m glad I found your channel it’s very informative. I was wondering if you ever take crew or just passengers on board? Or if you purposely always sail alone.
Thanks ZF. The 'solo' aspect happened by accident. Most of my friends who were interested in sailing have business or family time constraints that I no longer have. Thus, I was forced to become truly 'self-sufficient' on the boat. I still take friends / acquaintances out on weekends, etc., but now do so with more confidence, because I know I can do it all by myself, even if the other is a total beginner. Fair winds to you.
Goodevening Patrick, yesterday eve i've been watching you rounding UK Shetland Faroe, from ep.20'24something 'till 37 i guess, this eve only an old episode refreshed, always nice. Gives me almost salty feelings.Thank you. Time to stop and rest. Fair Winds :-)
I try to get some zzz when I'm up on deck by the helm . You never really sleep but it's enough rest to get you though a 48 hour trip . I can sleep below scares me
I really appreciate the educational aspect of your videos. You articulate things very well and I've learned a number of things from your experiences ... regardless of your Navy background versus an Army one. Please keep it up.
I made my own system to wake me up in case the wind picks up while I'm asleep. Regular wind vane sort of thing which is attached to a sensor. That sensors sensitivity is adjusted by using an old thermostat dial. If it goes above that level for more than 10 seconds an alarm clock rings right above my head.
Patrick Laine yeah obviously while I'm awake any change in sound will have me bolting up onto deck to see what's changed. I don't sleep that much while soloing to begin with, only a few hours a day (4-5 usually). Found that it's much more enjoyable to sleep for a bit whenever I feel like it rather than having a set schedule.
Just found your channel and I am now a subscriber. Been sailing for 2 years now, not as often as I'd like but I plan on buying a boat within the next two years and solo sailing long distance within the next 5 years. Very glad to have found your channel.
Many thanks Luis. I like your plan. I started with group lessons in the local area. Then group lessons up the coast (a couple of one week passages). I then went out with an instructor locally where I did all maneuvers as if solo. I then purchased my own boat, and did a few more 'solo' trips, while accompanied by an instructor. As my confidence grew, I then started going truly solo locally, and then solo on coastal passages, and finally, solo on 2-3 day trips. I accompanied this at-sea training with radio training/licence, coastal license (motor), off-shore license (navigation), and weather training. The licenses are not mandatory, but aided in building confidence for finally doing long, solo passages. (Navigation and weather were very easy for me do to my aviation background.) Good luck to you on your adventure.
Hi Patrick, We agree. Some sailors say they THINK they sleep 20-minutes but discovered they really sleep 45 and didn't know it. I see you're alone but there's so much noise on deck I wondered if you had a crew member with a camera and sometimes tending helm and sail. ALS sounds good. If I can get away with it, I'd prefer a small dog. They hear well and are intelligent enough to bark at the sound of ships nearby. I may dare to single hand but it seems to me, if I can afford a yacht, I can afford a crew member. I'm in The Philippines and there are many with maritime college who would accept pay to help me go from here to Singapore and then fly home, or stay there and continue with me. I think you should neither SCUBA or sail alone.
Joshua Slocum had some help from the captain of the Pinta when he passed the Azores, and again the Captain woke Slocum when a rogue wave was approaching near South America.
Yep, I think most long distance solo sailors will have heard voices ---- a combination of fatigue and isolation --- or, there really are friendly spirits out there helping us along. :-) This gives new meaning to 'maintaining a permanent watch at sea'. Thanks Sleepy.
Seems to me mid-ocean ok to sleep esp with AIS alarm. However, near shore especially heavy traffic ports a companion would be super, but certainly difficult to find a companion who is compatible and can take the weeks or months fitting your schedule. Also maybe one wants the solo experience, ambiance. As for high traffic ports, avoid them, avoid commercial shipping, look for smaller ports.
I agree sleep is the biggest issue with solo crossings. I handled it better when I was in my 30s. Luckily I have a young wife to help me now days. Great video Patrick. We are about to do passage making videos and I've been doing a survey of how others present on UA-cam. I like your style.
Just found your channel and I gotta say its probably the best kept secret of sailing youtube. You remind me so much of robert redford in all is lost. Your deminor and monologue skills are very entertaining. Keep on chooglin dude
Thanks much John for the very kind remark. I recall that Robert Redford survived his ordeal also. Let's hope I continue to match his performance. ;-) Thanks for watching.
Can't tell you how much I enjoyed your first video. Looking forward to the rest. Have just gotten the sail bug and have a friend with a 6.5m that he's gonna bring up to speed in. You made me laugh when you said you were a "coward". I would just call it being cautious and learned from experience. Others might call that "wisdom". In any event... it serves you well. Really like the way you've outfitted your sailboat. I'm a year from retirement... but hope to get on the water more then. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us... and enjoy living the dream!
Hello IANL, Episode 1 was the first time I ever used a GoPro outside of my living room, and I made the mistake of recording much of it in the cockpit of my boat in moderate winds. The sound was so bad I decided not to publish it. in most of the other episodes (except #19), I made a real effort to reduce wind noise. Sorry for the confusion.
I get nervous w 15mph gusts over my 8' deep Michigan inland lake in my Southcoast 22. Takes some big brass ones to solo like you, fighter pilot legacy. Is risk a "turn on" for ya, challenge, your "Mother's milk? " The hi-wire Wallendas used to say, " there is only 'the wire,' and waiting to be up on the wire," or something like that. Wonderful pgms...keep it up!
Many thanks for the kind words of support Will. I think you give me far too much credit though. I'm just an intermediate level sailor trying to manage the boat as well as I can. I love watching the videos of those highly experienced salts who take the drama out of difficult situations by 1) avoiding them in the first place, and 2) using equipment and strategy to manage the occasional difficult circumstance. Those are the real pros. Boring is good at sea! :-) Thanks so much for watching.
Patrick Laine They say flying is "hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror." I still say you were born w a brass pair...hear'em clankin' over a white squall!
I can’t believe I’ve just found you So pleased I have Fantastic little sailing film Thank you We got a 10 mt Long keel classic steel cutter Ebbtide 33 and she is completely impossible to back or park ...... No bow thrusters on her
Fantastic videos, Patrick. Not just nice visuals, but so much insight packed into your videos, which is so helpful to a novice sailor, such as myself. Would love a video tour of your newest boat and also to hear about your background (sailing and otherwise!).
Sleep for 45 mins, get up, go back to sleep for another 45 mins, repeat.... Welcome to enlarged prostrate, I do that 20 times a night, and I'm not within a 100 miles of a sailboat...
The 20 minute sleep cycles for the most part are sea stories for solo sailors. I have always known that. Once you have AIS and/or radar aboard things change. Let's be real here, what are the odds of any tired sailor seeing something like a submerged shipping container at night from the cockpit? Yes a LOUD alarm is what is desired when sleeping. Common safety advice is to have a life raft that can host tow more people then will be expected to ever be aboard it. I myself find a a Pudgy dinghy to suffice. Harder to deploy but realistically, if the boat is indeed going down, just turning the thing over on deck and waiting does not seem to be a bad strategy to actually lifting it over the side in pitching seas as long as one avoids being trapped under by the rigging. Bow thruster; nice if you have the funds! Otherwise knowing WHEN to come in and out a berth is just what that is. Fishing and crab pots? Best to just not even go into the areas they are situated in if can avoid doing so. Not so bad under sail but nobody I know is into diving into cold water to cut a rope from their screw. Worse yet getting a shaft strut ripped off.
Thanks for the comments Spencer (but I'm not sure I understand some of them). Regarding the 20 minute cycle, I think you may be saying that solo sailors don't really do this. I certainly tried, but can't and don't. However, I have friends who swear they do, and I think the professional racers really do. I believe Ellen McArthur was even wired up to capture heart beat/temperature, etc. during her 20 minute sleep cycles. At any rate, I use my alarmed AIS, and do 35-40 minute cycles when in Blue Water, and I think that works pretty well. A fair compromise between fatigue and safety.Your dinghy solution looks good, but it would sure take up a lot of space on the foredeck, but if it works for you -- that's all that matters.Regarding the fish/crab pots, I don't think your suggestion (don't go there) is very practicable, at least here in Europe. The darn things are everywhere once you get within 10 miles of the coast. In one of "Guidos" popular UA-cam videos of his transat, he picked up one in the prop in the English Channel and had to dive in to cut it free. Nightmare. Erik Aanderaa's popular video reported he recently picked up one that ripped his engine off its mounts. I carry a wetsuit and mask/fins on my boat just in case it ever happens to me. So far, so good.Thanks for contributing to the dialogue.
I am not going to mention any names however I know of two instances of a rather world renown solo sailer that could only be explained with sleeping for longer than the proverbial 20 minutes. Doing it for a single night, alright. Yes, 40-45 minute clips is far more doable here than 20. However once I am a few hundred miles out even that gets dropped for whatever. You get into places like the Straights of Florida or the English Channel bottle neck though, you would be crazy to even think about not having a watch on deck. The Straights of Florida are totally off the hook with skippers who have no business being out there drunk. In fact nobody has any business out there drunk but youtube is loaded with videos the romanticize drinking at sea. But continuously night after night at 20 minute intervals IMHO strains the credible. A decent hookah rig for repair diving can be put together for rather little. I am not speaking of those rather higher priced pre-fab rigs either. An oiless compressor is cheap and the hose and security line are what they are. The pressure regulators by themselves are rather inexpensive. Lobster pots are a real issue around Boston harbor. This is why I tend to favor sailing vessels whose props are tucked up close to or into the keel. You wrap a pot line at any good throttle setting and getting the line free will most likely be the least of the issue.
Thank you and congratulations Patrick! You inspire me! I`m in Sitges, Spain, with a Bav 38 I love. And... a weimaraner dog. I am thinking about solo sailing next year, start humble, keep humble but go blue. Thank you!
Terrific Moviniphone. You live in a great place for sailing! I too think the world of my Bav 40. It has been very good to me. I'm having an inner forestay installed next week to give me more sail options in rough weather…….and I expect to test that fully next season! Fair winds to you.
Great narrating and helping us land lobbers make the transition to aware sailors! Btw...as we shop for our own ⛵ it's great to watch a Bavaria on sea 👍
@@patricklaine6958 honestly, yachting isn't as expensive as I imagined. I haven't watched the full video, so please forgive me if you've mentioned it herein - but how much are docking costs? Kind regards from South Africa
Docking costs vary significantly from country to country --- and of course, anchoring is quite often (but not always) free of charge. In my home port I have a long term contract: for my 12 meter (40 ft) boat, I pay €11 per day per year. While travelling to other marinas, I pay their visitor rates -- usually between €20 and €32 per night. Fees in the Med are quite higher, while in countries like Iceland or the Faroe Islands, almost free.
@@patricklaine6958 oh, that is certainly quite affordable. I would love to go yachting with someone one day! I am sure if I ask around on the right forums and circles, someone would be amenable to such a request :) cheerio!
It is one of the most difficult parts of solo sailing. Spare a minute for those Vendée Globe racers who live on 20 minute sleep cycles for 80-90 days. They all look completely shattered when they arrive at the finish line.
Yes Alex, I discovered that about a year ago. If you Google my name, you find 15 pages of the exploits of the Finnish hockey star (playing in Canada). My name translates from Finnish to English in a bit more nautical sense. It means "wave". :-)
everytime i try to sleep on the sea i end up pooping my pants, NO idea why. i don’t have any personal issues nor do i get sea sick, i love the waves. but i just for some reason cannot stop doing it..
An ex-sailor once told me that sailing is the most expensive way to travel 3rd class.
Did he elaborate
Love that!
Yet the view is first class
A famous English sailor (don't remember who) said : "If you wan't to know what yachting is, spend a winter day, fully dressed, under a cold shower, while tearing out 100£ bank notes"
He probably forget to say that, sometimes it's a real pleasure to sail ...
If it were easy..everyone would be doing it.. thanx for sharing
This guy would be a lot of fun to spend a week sailing with. No bull, just straight forward, unassuming, and clearly knows his art. And, he's blessed with great hair, lol.
Harbour Dog eew
haha very true ! May God continue to bless him and all of us :)
@@andrewmcgregor9691 God isn't real you halfwit.
crétin !
That hair!
"The correct time to reef is the moment you first think of it. The time to let some sail back out is after a cup of tea."
Wise decision to keep it in and you explained it well as to why others should do likewise.
I had a halyard jam in a 7 once on a boat I was transporting. Wish we had reefed earlier.
I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for taking the time and effort to talk at the camera for our benefit.
You speak with the voice of experience Zedex. One is well-advised to listen. :-)
Not near as much experiance as I would like. But I know wisdom when I hear it. I reckon so long as I heed it then I'll get to accumulate the desired experiance in time.
I enjoy many dangerous hobbies. I prefer to mitigate and reduce all the hazards I'm able so I can keep at them for as many years as possible.
Your mouth to the Lord's ear. I'll live by this rule until it fails. First priority : keep her above the sea.
UA-cam sped up human evolution x 100000000000000000. Now we all have Dad's online patiently and expertly guiding us through everything orally which is the way our brains were meant to take in new information.
Reading is for losers. J/k
Thanks so much for answering questions hardly anyone else will answer. Again thanks for teaching every thing you do!
Thanks for the kind feedback.
@@patricklaine6958Hi Patrick, this is Chad on Starry Night, an Chris White Atlantic 42', I want to second the comment above. It's like watching and learning from my sailing father I never had! We are crossing from SXM to Azores spring 2024, currently in Antigua, do you offer any type of consulting? We are a family of 4, myself , wife, and two children, 13 and 7. 4 season cruising the carribean. And thanks again for posting!
Just discovered Patrick's series of videos of his sailing adventures and plan to watch them all multiple times. Planning a major blue water voyage myself, I have watched many youtube videos and all offer some or a different perspective. What I like best about Patrick's videos is his analysis of different aspect of his boat, decisions he has made about equipment, post mortems of different situations and challenges that he has found himself in and how he dealt with them, lessons learned and his philosophizing about sailing and the different aspects of life aboard - in short, all of it. I also appreciate the distinct absence of 'infomercials', although all are forgiven because we know how expensive sailing is and unfortunately, while sailing, most of us are not earning and income. Favourable winds, Patrick and please keep the videos coming. Especially now (spoiler alert) with the refit of your new boat.
Thanks for the very kind feedback HA. Much appreciated. Fair winds to you too.
Making intelligent decisions isn't cowardly. You are a cautious sailor. Nothing wrong with that. Very informative. I hope you are safe and well. Cheers.
Very kind of you JPLX. Thanks for watching. Much appreciated.
Thats why hes around to tell!
I dont know why im watching this, I live on the prairies and have only seen the ocean once in my life lol
Never knew how much I needed the coast till I visited the prairie's
make some videos, i wanna see how you live
Didn't they have prairie yachts in the 1800's?
In a "Little House?"
Devin Hallsworth that’s exactly why you’re watching this lol..well, I have a boat and I’m watching also so..
I suppose leaving your bumpers out is the maritime equivalent of leaving your Christmas lights up all year. ;)
Just in case your hit by a freighter at nite.
"I'm soaking wet, and beat up pretty good" looking like he's having the best time of his life - a proper sailor!!
I worked on commercial fishing boats for 15 years. Worked my way up from a deckhand to a captain within that time. I left that profession to become a locomotive engineer.l look back fondly on my time on the ocean.
I know next to nothing about sailing, but i maintain my masters license and hope to one day sail. I have enjoyed your video..thanks for sharing.
I am sure you will enjoy sailing jonny. It is much less stressful than commercial fishing. If the weather is a bit difficult, you stay in port and go to the bar!
I don’t sail but I saw your video and thought I’d watch it. I enjoyed listening to you and learning a few things.
Thank you Patrick!
Nice videos!
I haven't had a father but thankfully there is a people on youtube like you who can explain something like that :)
Very kind of you Konstantin. Much appreciated. Thanks for watching.
Wait, what? You mean sailing is not about snorking and taking drone videos of your $600K catamaran tied up off pristine beaches?
You forgot the bikinis. :-)
Well I guess this guy could still afford that catamaran as well
Yeah the hot women of sailing. Great boats, drones, nice beaches and hot girls. I am starting to wonder if those couples on those channels are real copules.
so bitter about someone else living their dream ... lol
I’m not a kid I’m not a old man
But you’ll find some non typical sailing vids on my channel just random stuff
And no begging for money
I do it on the cheap with quality work
Wonderful live commentary to your trip. Thanks for your insights.
this has to be the most common sense approaches to sailing that Ive come across ,thanks for sharing your experience and thoughtfulness
Very kind of you. Thanks Mike.
Good stuff ! You cover a lot of things in this video. Always something to anticipate and to think about - whether you are flying or sailing. Every trip is different. Always learning. Always watching. Always planning. Thanks for sharing Captain Patrick ! !
Thanks for the kind words Meredith. When I was a pilot I learned how critical it was to 'stay ahead of the aircraft.' As you suggest, that's good advice for sailing as well. Cheers.
Well done! I like the effort of this! I love sailing and can't help myself from just enjoying other people sailing the seas.
Re: fenders over the side. Whenever someone gives me grief about it, i tell them to come over and crew for me, then Ill get it done. Otherwise, mind your own boat.
I have just discovered your videos. Not only are they interesting and informative, but it’s great to learn about the sailing lifestyle from someone who is so articulate and laidback. I’m going through some health issues right now, and your videos are a very helpful distraction. Thanks for sharing!
Very kind of you Anthony. Much appreciated.
A wealth of knowledge from a real sailing gent
Thanks for the great feedback Shaun. Much appreciated.
I couldn't agree more! Port manoevers are the most difficult parts of a sailing leg, even when you have a crew. When I am out on the water I feel secure of what I do, even under strong winds. When I approach a port I tend to get nervous. Three weeks ago I was sailing a Hanse 415 w/o a bow thruster, that was really challenging!
Thanks for mentioning this, Patrick, I thought I am alone...
I have now filmed and posted on UA-cam more than 100 arrivals, and I can assure you, that last 5 minutes of each passage is still the most stressful....... :-)
Amazing sharing of thoughts going on in your head during this experience and making us feel like we are sailing with you. Thank you 🙏
Many thanks. My filming technique (noise abatement) gets much better in the next season..... sorry for all of the distraction.
WOOOOW you have a ton of these videos. Glad I stumbled on the channel. This is awesome!
Fantastic video what an adventure it must be sailing the world 🌍 thanks
Hope you are doing all right. Looking forward to hearing from you again and maybe seeing your videos again, even if you are not sailing. Like a day in the city, a day in the garage mending your car, shopping for sailing parts or in the marina maintaining the boat! God speed.
Never watched sailing videos before, nor do I boat or sail. But I really liked your video very interesting and good watch. Happy sailing.
Very kind of you Mike. Many thanks.
Many thanks for sharing. Your love of the sea is manifest and infectious.
Matthew Hoopes - I agree with you! Great videos with a lesson every few moments. Really enjoyed and learned a lot. All the best and stay safe!
Thanks for the kind feedback Frank. Much appreciated.
As an old singlehander, I have found that fatigue management is the toughest part of the enterprise. I did the Atlantic using a horizon scan every 15 minutes. So, using modern electronics is really a godsend. Kudos on a good presentation of the life.
Bravo. I can do the 15/20 minute thing for one night, but I can't imagine doing it over an extended passage. As you say, electronics have made life at sea much safer.
Well, what I did was train myself to get up every 15 minutes. A quick resetting timer beside the bed, and a piece of posterboard with a marker pen strung to it about 15 feet away. In the morning I'd count marks because I never remembered most of the wakeups. Did that for about 6 months. On the trip it was so much a habit that often I'd turn off the timer just as it started it's first beep.
Bottom line it was a waste, as the sleep dep made the trip much more hazardous than it really had to be. And so on and on!
Electronics suite,off the lanes as much as possible and down 45 at a time....That's the ticket!!
Cheers.
@@ZCHRL4 How many of those mid-ocean scans were useful in detecting hazards? I'm just beginning my sailing journey but 15-minute scans in the middle of the ocean seems like overkill, even aside from the sleep deprivation aspect.
Just stumbled into your vlog. Wonderful. I'd be glad to have a dram wit you. I used to sail (race, actually) on San Francisco Bay in my youth. Now, all I can do is watch guys like you and wonder! :)
Stumbled upon your vlog and found it interesting, satisfying a knowledge gap on how solo sailors manage their ability to handle the conditions without being sleep deprived. After 20 years recently moved away from sailing and succumbed to the dark side. However it’s nice to know I can still enjoy being under sail, albeit vicariously, thanks to you and others who take the time to share these videos.
Thanks for watching and commenting Bart. Fair winds to you.
So glad I found you. There are too few sailing channels that are about sailing, not titillating clickbait. Thank you!
Many thanks for the kind feedback DLM. Much appreciated.
Impressive solo talker... Anyhow the most of the time interesting and clear. Great appreciations
Many thanks Italo. Thanks for watching.
Same here, I sleep for 30-55 minutes depending on location, weather and speed and use two mechanical kitchen timers (one as a backup) to get me up reliably.
heyt54 That just sounds dreadful.. I guess it's one of the disadvantages of sailing alone.
I enjoy an 8 hour sleep, not a 45 minute one.
It takes a fast freighter about 15 minutes from the horizon to runnin' over ya. I've been so tired sometimes that there was a bagpiper in the cockpit with me....and he was taking requests. ex Herreshoff H-55 Valkyrie. 1975-1987 (Built her 1970-75)
I really like your format right now. Calm, experienced, relaxed and informational. Enjoy your travels thank you
Glad you enjoy it Bryan! Thanks for the kind feedback.
I really love your videos and look forward to them. Keep them coming!!!
As a paragliding pilot I did really enjoy your wind powered trip.
I love this: "I'm less purist now" that rings true with me as well. (So does tinnitus, ha!)
How about it??? i completely agree - really enjoying his practicality!
You Sir are a true inspiration !!!!
You are truly enjoying life !!!! 🇺🇸
Thanks for sharing your sailboat experience, Patrick!
Welcome to my country Portugal :) amazing adventure you having there. Best of luck
Just found your channel.
Looking very good.
Subscribed and will watch it.
Thank you Sir!
Thanks for watching Albodes. Don't hesitate to comment if you have suggestions for me. Best.
Fantastic videos Patrick. A real pleasure to watch. Interesting, informative, enjoyable, educational, inspiring, humorous, honest & natural, the perfect combo 👍.
Thank you for sharing these wonderful experiences. I will be sure to spread the word on this absolute gem of a channel. I look forward to watching more of your adventures. Thanks 👍👍
Can't thank you enough for the kind encouragement OneMan. Much appreciated. Fair winds to you.
Wow! You've been a fighter pilot? Congratulations from a man who, although far from a fighter, also detached from ground. Once in the air, we belong to a different family.
Great videos, mate. "less purist" was a great way to put it, haha! Best regards from Brazil.
Great down to earth, informative film. I remember my first line squall, delivering a boat to SXM. It hit couple of hours before sunrise, next thing you know the boat's a wreck, boom snapped in half, genoa split in half half, bugger! Ahh, the joys of a sharp learning curve!!
I still get surprized occasionally, but much less often now. :-)
I like this guy and his video, thank you for making it , salute
Sir, I learned so much from this video. I still feel that I have much to learn, but appreciate your work, experience, and knowledge. Thank you.
Great to see actual sailing videos. Very informative. Keep up the good work........
Many thanks Jim. On a scale of Beginner, Intemediate (has mastered the basics), Advanced (participates every weekend in regattas), and Expert/Pro, I consider myself an Intermediate, and still have much to learn. Please do go out with instructors to learn how to really do it well. Fair winds to you.
Simply invaluable, thank you.
Great instructional video thank you!
Thanks this is the best description of daily life on a solo voyage I have seen. Wish you would explain some other sailing issues also, like how sailboats balance on foils since you're so good at explaining this stuff (I know it's not exactly related to what you're doing here). Wish you would also talk a bit about your other safety equipment. There's a guy who does videos on van life. Bob Wells, and he humbly describes all the stuff you need to live in that situation. So it would be nice if someone like you could describe everything, like how you go to the bathroom, how or whether you shower, how much food you can have and so on. What it's like to live port to port or whatever. Also a video on emergency stuff like some button to get help in real life/death emergencies. Also how to choose a boat and how much it costs. Also how you manage electricity and a little description of all the features of your boat including the electrical capacity and solar and wind, also how and when you get internet and whether you are planning to use Starlink mobile when it becomes available. How you do your mail. Maybe you have all that in your videos, I'm going to watch more of your videos now. Thanks. My brother was a marine pilot. Thanks for great video and approachable understandable explanations. Thank you thank you!
Many great ideas there for future content topics Peter. Many thanks. I trained with Marine pilots. Great respect for them and their particularly demanding mission.
Just discovered your channel.
very informative and a real pleasure to learn some actual sailing.
please keep them coming
Many thanks Andrew. I am really just an 'intermediate' level sailor Andrew, sharing my numerous mistakes. :-) Please do take some lessons from a pro, but then don't be afraid to go out and experience the special sense of accomplishment that solo sailing gives.
Very enjoyable and very informative. Thank you for posting. Had to laugh when you talked about not necessarily keeping a “tidy” deck. I remember getting lectured on that when I first started sailing (forty plus years ago !) but like yourself as you get older these things do not matter so much!!
Thank you for contributing to my sailing education. I plan to follow in your footsteps! Or I should say ‘wake!’
Good to see real advice on solo sailing I’m about to cross from N Z to U S as soon as lockdown finished so I can pickup my wife and children in SAn Francisco
That is a heck of an adventure ahead of you Robert. Good luck!
That is a real journey. I wish you luck!
Good luck Robert hope you enjoy your journey
Another nice video by you plane no music just all about sailing keep it up I look forward to you videos ⛵️👍
I've just discovered your channel - and I'm so glad I found it! The information is very useful. Thank you!
Super. Thanks for watching Natasha.
hi Patrick, I’m glad I found your channel it’s very informative. I was wondering if you ever take crew or just passengers on board? Or if you purposely always sail alone.
Thanks ZF. The 'solo' aspect happened by accident. Most of my friends who were interested in sailing have business or family time constraints that I no longer have. Thus, I was forced to become truly 'self-sufficient' on the boat. I still take friends / acquaintances out on weekends, etc., but now do so with more confidence, because I know I can do it all by myself, even if the other is a total beginner. Fair winds to you.
Joshua Slocum crossed the South Pacific without touching the helm... 3000 miles with the wheel lashed, so finely balanced was the rig of the Spray
Yep --- the first solo hero. A legend.
wow thes grandpa is a badass im a fan hoping for your great health and more years sailing leave the dream!
Goodevening Patrick, yesterday eve i've been watching you rounding UK Shetland Faroe, from ep.20'24something 'till 37 i guess, this eve only an old episode refreshed, always nice. Gives me almost salty feelings.Thank you. Time to stop and rest. Fair Winds :-)
I try to get some zzz when I'm up on deck by the helm . You never really sleep but it's enough rest to get you though a 48 hour trip . I can sleep below scares me
Solo mariners are my heroes.
I really appreciate the educational aspect of your videos. You articulate things very well and I've learned a number of things from your experiences ... regardless of your Navy background versus an Army one. Please keep it up.
I'm delighted that my mistakes are serving a useful purpose Adam. :-) Thanks much for watching and commenting.
Hello Patrick, Greetings and I take my Hat off to you for sailing solo, best wishes and Thank You 🙏 for sharing your experiences.
Regarding the AIS alarm, I added a supliment alarm which made it much louder.
I made my own system to wake me up in case the wind picks up while I'm asleep. Regular wind vane sort of thing which is attached to a sensor. That sensors sensitivity is adjusted by using an old thermostat dial. If it goes above that level for more than 10 seconds an alarm clock rings right above my head.
Why not? Good idea. To be honest, I've been on this boat so long now, that I quickly notice any unusual change in sound now.
Patrick Laine yeah obviously while I'm awake any change in sound will have me bolting up onto deck to see what's changed. I don't sleep that much while soloing to begin with, only a few hours a day (4-5 usually). Found that it's much more enjoyable to sleep for a bit whenever I feel like it rather than having a set schedule.
Just found your videos! Very informative, thanks so much! 21 months until I get to do this!
Super alex. I'm having a great time learning new things. I'm sure you will enjoy your time on the boat.
Just found your channel and I am now a subscriber. Been sailing for 2 years now, not as often as I'd like but I plan on buying a boat within the next two years and solo sailing long distance within the next 5 years. Very glad to have found your channel.
Many thanks Luis. I like your plan. I started with group lessons in the local area. Then group lessons up the coast (a couple of one week passages). I then went out with an instructor locally where I did all maneuvers as if solo. I then purchased my own boat, and did a few more 'solo' trips, while accompanied by an instructor. As my confidence grew, I then started going truly solo locally, and then solo on coastal passages, and finally, solo on 2-3 day trips. I accompanied this at-sea training with radio training/licence, coastal license (motor), off-shore license (navigation), and weather training. The licenses are not mandatory, but aided in building confidence for finally doing long, solo passages. (Navigation and weather were very easy for me do to my aviation background.) Good luck to you on your adventure.
Hi Patrick, We agree. Some sailors say they THINK they sleep 20-minutes but discovered they really sleep 45 and didn't know it. I see you're alone but there's so much noise on deck I wondered if you had a crew member with a camera and sometimes tending helm and sail. ALS sounds good. If I can get away with it, I'd prefer a small dog. They hear well and are intelligent enough to bark at the sound of ships nearby. I may dare to single hand but it seems to me, if I can afford a yacht, I can afford a crew member. I'm in The Philippines and there are many with maritime college who would accept pay to help me go from here to Singapore and then fly home, or stay there and continue with me. I think you should neither SCUBA or sail alone.
“.... Respect squalls .... “
Thank you again It’s marvelous video beautiful sailboat everything is perfect Patrick ! The best wishes to you my friend !
Much appreciated Rimas. Good luck on your challenging journey.
Great commentary on sailing. Fair winds. Happy sailing always. 🌷🌷👍👍
By the way...would love to know how you got into sailing and how long you've been doing it.
Joshua Slocum had some help from the captain of the Pinta when he passed the Azores, and again the Captain woke Slocum when a rogue wave was approaching near South America.
Yep, I think most long distance solo sailors will have heard voices ---- a combination of fatigue and isolation --- or, there really are friendly spirits out there helping us along. :-) This gives new meaning to 'maintaining a permanent watch at sea'. Thanks Sleepy.
Seems to me mid-ocean ok to sleep esp with AIS alarm. However, near shore especially heavy traffic ports a companion would be super, but certainly difficult to find a companion who is compatible and can take the weeks or months fitting your schedule. Also maybe one wants the solo experience, ambiance. As for high traffic ports, avoid them, avoid commercial shipping, look for smaller ports.
I don't know anything about sailing but i like watching your videos...thank you
Much appreciated Gary. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I will. The UK has many marinas. Wishing you a Happy New Year!
I agree sleep is the biggest issue with solo crossings. I handled it better when I was in my 30s. Luckily I have a young wife to help me now days.
Great video Patrick. We are about to do passage making videos and I've been doing a survey of how others present on UA-cam. I like your style.
The sleep issue is much easier to deal with in remote oceans (like Iceland where I am now). In busy shipping areas, it will turn your hair grey. :-)
Oh my, gonna love this channel. Really tired of begging, booze, bikinis and ...
Just found your channel and I gotta say its probably the best kept secret of sailing youtube. You remind me so much of robert redford in all is lost. Your deminor and monologue skills are very entertaining. Keep on chooglin dude
Thanks much John for the very kind remark. I recall that Robert Redford survived his ordeal also. Let's hope I continue to match his performance. ;-) Thanks for watching.
Can't tell you how much I enjoyed your first video. Looking forward to the rest. Have just gotten the sail bug and have a friend with a 6.5m that he's gonna bring up to speed in. You made me laugh when you said you were a "coward". I would just call it being cautious and learned from experience. Others might call that "wisdom". In any event... it serves you well. Really like the way you've outfitted your sailboat. I'm a year from retirement... but hope to get on the water more then. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us... and enjoy living the dream!
Many thanks for the kind words, and best wishes for your upcoming retirement. May you spend it all sailing downwind! :-)
Hi just found your channel but am a bit confused with your episode numbers. I can’t find Ep 1?
Hello IANL, Episode 1 was the first time I ever used a GoPro outside of my living room, and I made the mistake of recording much of it in the cockpit of my boat in moderate winds. The sound was so bad I decided not to publish it. in most of the other episodes (except #19), I made a real effort to reduce wind noise. Sorry for the confusion.
I get nervous w 15mph gusts over my 8' deep Michigan inland lake in my Southcoast 22. Takes some big brass ones to solo like you, fighter pilot legacy. Is risk a "turn on" for ya, challenge, your "Mother's milk? " The hi-wire Wallendas used to say, " there is only 'the wire,' and waiting to be up on the wire," or something like that. Wonderful pgms...keep it up!
Many thanks for the kind words of support Will. I think you give me far too much credit though. I'm just an intermediate level sailor trying to manage the boat as well as I can. I love watching the videos of those highly experienced salts who take the drama out of difficult situations by 1) avoiding them in the first place, and 2) using equipment and strategy to manage the occasional difficult circumstance. Those are the real pros. Boring is good at sea! :-) Thanks so much for watching.
Patrick Laine They say flying is "hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror." I still say you were born w a brass pair...hear'em clankin' over a white squall!
:-)
I can’t believe I’ve just found you
So pleased I have
Fantastic little sailing film
Thank you
We got a 10 mt
Long keel classic steel cutter
Ebbtide 33 and she is completely impossible to back or park ......
No bow thrusters on her
Fantastic videos, Patrick. Not just nice visuals, but so much insight packed into your videos, which is so helpful to a novice sailor, such as myself. Would love a video tour of your newest boat and also to hear about your background (sailing and otherwise!).
Sleep for 45 mins, get up, go back to sleep for another 45 mins, repeat.... Welcome to enlarged prostrate, I do that 20 times a night, and I'm not within a 100 miles of a sailboat...
😆😆😆
The 20 minute sleep cycles for the most part are sea stories for solo sailors. I have always known that. Once you have AIS and/or radar aboard things change. Let's be real here, what are the odds of any tired sailor seeing something like a submerged shipping container at night from the cockpit? Yes a LOUD alarm is what is desired when sleeping. Common safety advice is to have a life raft that can host tow more people then will be expected to ever be aboard it. I myself find a a Pudgy dinghy to suffice. Harder to deploy but realistically, if the boat is indeed going down, just turning the thing over on deck and waiting does not seem to be a bad strategy to actually lifting it over the side in pitching seas as long as one avoids being trapped under by the rigging. Bow thruster; nice if you have the funds! Otherwise knowing WHEN to come in and out a berth is just what that is. Fishing and crab pots? Best to just not even go into the areas they are situated in if can avoid doing so. Not so bad under sail but nobody I know is into diving into cold water to cut a rope from their screw. Worse yet getting a shaft strut ripped off.
Thanks for the comments Spencer (but I'm not sure I understand some of them). Regarding the 20 minute cycle, I think you may be saying that solo sailors don't really do this. I certainly tried, but can't and don't. However, I have friends who swear they do, and I think the professional racers really do. I believe Ellen McArthur was even wired up to capture heart beat/temperature, etc. during her 20 minute sleep cycles. At any rate, I use my alarmed AIS, and do 35-40 minute cycles when in Blue Water, and I think that works pretty well. A fair compromise between fatigue and safety.Your dinghy solution looks good, but it would sure take up a lot of space on the foredeck, but if it works for you -- that's all that matters.Regarding the fish/crab pots, I don't think your suggestion (don't go there) is very practicable, at least here in Europe. The darn things are everywhere once you get within 10 miles of the coast. In one of "Guidos" popular UA-cam videos of his transat, he picked up one in the prop in the English Channel and had to dive in to cut it free. Nightmare. Erik Aanderaa's popular video reported he recently picked up one that ripped his engine off its mounts. I carry a wetsuit and mask/fins on my boat just in case it ever happens to me. So far, so good.Thanks for contributing to the dialogue.
I am not going to mention any names however I know of two instances of a rather world renown solo sailer that could only be explained with sleeping for longer than the proverbial 20 minutes. Doing it for a single night, alright. Yes, 40-45 minute clips is far more doable here than 20. However once I am a few hundred miles out even that gets dropped for whatever. You get into places like the Straights of Florida or the English Channel bottle neck though, you would be crazy to even think about not having a watch on deck. The Straights of Florida are totally off the hook with skippers who have no business being out there drunk. In fact nobody has any business out there drunk but youtube is loaded with videos the romanticize drinking at sea. But continuously night after night at 20 minute intervals IMHO strains the credible. A decent hookah rig for repair diving can be put together for rather little. I am not speaking of those rather higher priced pre-fab rigs either. An oiless compressor is cheap and the hose and security line are what they are. The pressure regulators by themselves are rather inexpensive. Lobster pots are a real issue around Boston harbor. This is why I tend to favor sailing vessels whose props are tucked up close to or into the keel. You wrap a pot line at any good throttle setting and getting the line free will most likely be the least of the issue.
Thanks again. I hadn't thought of the hookah system for my boat. Will give it some more thought. Best to you. (BTW, I never drink at sea. Never.)
Thank you and congratulations Patrick! You inspire me! I`m in Sitges, Spain, with a Bav 38 I love. And... a weimaraner dog. I am thinking about solo sailing next year, start humble, keep humble but go blue. Thank you!
Terrific Moviniphone. You live in a great place for sailing! I too think the world of my Bav 40. It has been very good to me. I'm having an inner forestay installed next week to give me more sail options in rough weather…….and I expect to test that fully next season! Fair winds to you.
Great narrating and helping us land lobbers make the transition to aware sailors! Btw...as we shop for our own ⛵ it's great to watch a Bavaria on sea 👍
Very kind of you. Much appreciated, and good luck on your own adventure at sea.
Bow thruster is a worthwhile safety feature on any boat. No need to justify it.
Hi Patrick, what size of a boat, and model? Thanks!
It's a German-built Bavaria Cruiser 40, from 2008. A very nice cruising boat for single handers. Thanks for watching.
@@patricklaine6958 honestly, yachting isn't as expensive as I imagined. I haven't watched the full video, so please forgive me if you've mentioned it herein - but how much are docking costs? Kind regards from South Africa
Docking costs vary significantly from country to country --- and of course, anchoring is quite often (but not always) free of charge. In my home port I have a long term contract: for my 12 meter (40 ft) boat, I pay €11 per day per year. While travelling to other marinas, I pay their visitor rates -- usually between €20 and €32 per night. Fees in the Med are quite higher, while in countries like Iceland or the Faroe Islands, almost free.
@@patricklaine6958 oh, that is certainly quite affordable. I would love to go yachting with someone one day! I am sure if I ask around on the right forums and circles, someone would be amenable to such a request :) cheerio!
Incredibly informative, thank you!
Loved the sarcastic remark on the « Japanese research boats » 😄
Great video ! Very informative
They actually paint on their whaling ships in huge letters "RESEARCH VESSEL". Very sad.
how do you ever get enough deep/REM sleep with a schedule like that? i'd imagine you would go mad in a few days
It is one of the most difficult parts of solo sailing. Spare a minute for those Vendée Globe racers who live on 20 minute sleep cycles for 80-90 days. They all look completely shattered when they arrive at the finish line.
Do you know that ur name is a nhl superstars name
Yes Alex, I discovered that about a year ago. If you Google my name, you find 15 pages of the exploits of the Finnish hockey star (playing in Canada). My name translates from Finnish to English in a bit more nautical sense. It means "wave". :-)
Hey Patrick thank you...great insight
Great video Patrick, fair winds ⛵️👍
everytime i try to sleep on the sea i end up pooping my pants, NO idea why. i don’t have any personal issues nor do i get sea sick, i love the waves. but i just for some reason cannot stop doing it..
Sign me up..willing to learn and can do night shift .!