Winter Sailing In New England - Episode 293 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat
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- Опубліковано 21 гру 2023
- Price drops: www.acorntoarabella.com/merch...
Join us for a frosty maritime adventure as we take Arabella out for a winter sail to move south with the south shore of Massachusetts as the destination. In this video, Steve, Robin, and special guest George defy the cold and get some night sailing in while still enjoying the beauty of winter sailing on this handmade wooden boat. Steve also shares the way he layers and gears up for the challenges and joys of sailing in the colder months.
Bundle up as we explore the serene winter landscapes, witness the boat's resilience against the elements, and discover the unique experiences that come with winter cruising. We catch up with a Wicked Tuna boat named Kraken that's leaving Gloucester, Massachusetts at about the same time as us to fish one more day for tuna before they end their fishing season.
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Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38' wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin's Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel's gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat-sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they've built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.
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Thank goodness you’re escaping the arctic wastelands of Maine for the tropic paradise of coastal Massachusetts.
Being out in the cold is always easier when you know it's warm and cozy inside. Safe travels.
Ready to put my life back together
11
From about 17:50 to 19:00 Steve is "fighting" the boat with the rudder to counter the bow's natural tendency to describe circles in the air.
A good helmsman learns to minimize rudder usage. Helm pressure always generates drag which reduces boat speed.
Instead of fighting the boat's natural movements on the waves, try to keep the rudder more or less fixed while letting the bow "circle" around your desired heading.
Ideally, the helmsman is always trying to find the helm position that keeps the boat pointing to the right place IN AVERAGE.
In other words, let the boat move in the water, keep the helm as fixed as possible.
I was noticing that as well. Excessive "weather helm" it appeared to me. The tendency to round up can often be improved by moving the center of effort of the wind forward, i.e. helping push the bow down wind. So more jib, less main may help balance Arabella. So maybe a reef in the main and unfurl the jib or bust out the stays'l if it's not already out. Weather helm is however much better than lee helm!
@@allgonquin the weather helm seems to be consistent with the sea and wind conditions given the design's age, weight and other considerations.
We can see Steve bringing the helm a lot to weather and then some to lee again and again as the waves pass. He needs live coaching. Also, Arabela is heavier than she should be. I just hope he doesn't learn from his own mistakes. It's expensive and often painful.
@sysfx
Having grown up sailing heavy, full keeled, tiller-helmed boats, what you describe is spot-on. Folks new to helming will always over-steer until they get the feel for what the boat wants to do and learn that they shouldn't fight it. I do wonder if having a gaff rig puts an undo amount of weather helm on, as the lower clew will always be trimmed more inboard than you'd ideally want for that point of sail.
DO NOT KICK OFF YOUR BOOTS IF YOU END UP IN COLD WATER SAILING!!!! Your lifejacket has more than enough buoyancy to keep you afloat. Even full of water, your feet will be way warmer keeping the boots on. It is not the recommended thing to do in safety at sea courses. I know someone who ended up in the water kicked off his boots and instantly regretted it.
They looked up at the sky and saw a million stars.
Its great seeing you enjoying all those years of hard work. Our quick trip to see Arabella being built was the highlight of my year. It was surreal for sure. Not everyone gets to say they got to see and touch and smell all of that hard work. Akiva is a great ambassador. He guarded the property and also gave us such a sweet greeting. My prayers for your mom and for your safety continue. See you next week.
See you next week, Kathy! Happy holidays to you!
No! If you think weather sucks in your home where you live/////// NO? it is 1000% on the water! Those who have been there know!
Akiva must be finally enjoying the weather.
Yup! Hahah
"my world is covered in dog hair" I know the feeling, wouldn't trade it for anything.
Steve, when you are running offshore you can run a temp lifeline from the toe rail near the bow back to the shrouds and then back to the cockpit. Should be waist high or so. Will give a some security and something to grab in the case of a misstep. Much better than nothing at all. I've done it on a catamaran I sailed without lifelines. At the shrouds either use a clove hitch with the line itself or using a temp lashing with a short piece of line.
Love that Akiva is living her best life. Fair winds and following seas ...
Sailing off the Maine coast in December can be cold and I like all of your layers. So others don't get the impression that winter sailing is always like the artic, sometimes it can be in the forties, sunny, light to moderate winds like sailing on a fall day...and always beautiful!
Yup! It’s actually more temperate than people know.
Gulfstreamalicious. Coastals get winter but less hard thanks to the warm water conveyor. Bomb cyclones are the big concern now combined with nor’easters. Happy New Year 🎉😊
My grandmother grew up in Anisquam, right next to Gloucester. Love me some New England clam chowder.
I've been watching A2A since around episode 10, at that time I was going through cancer treatment for stage 2 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It was Steve's channel along with Leo's Tally Ho and Salt & Tar's Rediviva that got me through it. I've been in remission now for going on 4 years and continue to watch each week. I was surprised Christmas day when I opened a present and it was an Acorn to Arabella T-Shirt that my daughter got me. Keep up the great work Steve, nice to see you have added a life partner to your crew. Your weekly video's got me through some tough times. Hoping you had a great holiday and even a better New Year...
Thank you so much for sharing this, how great to hear about your remission and I hope your health is ever-improving! You’ve made our day. Happy new year! -Anne
Dear Anne, Robin, Steve and all others who worked with Arabella,
Willeke and I love seeing Arabella in her element while sailing across the ocean because that’s the reason she’s designed for. It strikes us that a relatively small ship like Arabella is still very stable at sea. We think we’ve to wait till next year for the next episode so we like to offer you all including all your relatives a very merry Christmas and a happy new year plus we send you love from the Netherlands
WE. ARE. SAILIN'!🤪
🌊🌊🌊
The win to Mom and G-ma knit wear.
Beautiful things and so very useful!
I like how Akiva is always calm & comfortable no matter how much the boat is rolling. 😊
Merry Christmas to all the A2A crew both on board & ashore.
Right. Akiva spent alot of time getting to know that boat way before she was in the water.
Hello Steven crew, Friday once again, and I have enjoyed the episode today. Such a change from watching woodchips and sawdust fly in the boathouse, which I always love to see. Now here you guys are on the great Atlantic ocean sailing south. I think I want to just congratulate you guys again. Let the adventure continue,
I’ll keep watching!
Jim from Arkansas
Nice to see Arabella under full sail at the end , looks fantastic
Cheers!
Those home made sweaters keep you extra warm with the love they were made with
So so true.
Hardy souls, all!
You started this journey in a far different phase. Building is so different than sailing and the life arc is fascinating to think about. I've gone through a similar transition while watching and working on my house. I enjoyed the journey and now I'm transitioning to enjoying the product. Thanks for brining us along and sharing the ups and downs.
Enjoy the fruits of your hard work!
It looks like you ARE affiliated to two of the 'brands' that you are wearing. Affiliated as derived from filus or filial (= son)! Mad knitting skills in your family, warms the heart as well as the rest of the body...
Ha!! Good point!
It is so cool watching you guys riding the waves. No commentary necessary, just the sights passing you by.
You might want to find an indoor pool that will let you see what happens if you fall into the water, with all your clothes on. practice helps!
Continued prayers for Steve's mom and safety for the crew of Arabella. Great to see her out on the water. Steve & Robin look pretty comfortable and I continue to be impressed with their journey of learning how to sail and gaining experience. I have been tuning in and always look forward to the new things. I noticed the clamps holding up the bimini and will be excited to see the final version someday. Akiva sure seems comfortable enjoying his retirement. God bless you all and Merry Christmas!!
Thank you so much and Merry Christmas to you, too.
Winter sailing buts hair on your chest. But, only if your not in the Bahama's. The best to your mother, your a caring son, best to both of you
Great vid I love the old tradition boats that is so common in New England But you can have the cold
Dear Old Warm Hands.
👍👌👏 Nice trip, a bit cold but a nice trip. I'm sooo happy that Akiva is enjoying life onboard. He always looks as if he is smiling (especially when seeing his profile). 2) Please tell us if the packing and the new sacrificial anode solved the electric issue. Thanks a lot for making explaining recording editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards, luck and especially health to all of you.
Yes! We do need to update on that. Ben and I are hoping we can fit in something with a continuity test on the old packing. Cheers to you, and awoooo from Akiva! -Anne
Good Morning from Sandwich, MA
Happy Friday, Bud!!
I can't wait to see the spaceship your (great) grandkids make from whatever's left of Arabella in 100 years!
Oh wait, I'll be dead.
Bummer....
Ha!
I'm sure there will be a video that starts out something like "Hi, my name is Leo and I recently purchased this vintage sailing yacht Arabella for 1 dollar..."
Your photography skills are beyond impressive!
Aw, that's so kind, Charles! Happy belated Friday to you, I didn't catch this yesterday. :) -Anne
🥰@@AcornToArabella
Absolutely amazing to see this yacht in its element. And as I study each shot I recall the creation of each and every part that makes Arabella. What an amazing accomplishment. Looking forward to the next adventure.
You have no idea how envious I am of those home made sweater and socks....beatiful workmanship!!
That moment about 13 mins in, with just arabella sailing quietly into the sunrise was lovely! It reminded me of Steve's kayak videos during covid, and reminded me that I miss that. It would be awesome to get just an unedited 30mins video of darkness thru sunrise to early morning, just looking out from arabella. I vertaintly would watch that! And more that once
Layered up. Help from George. Chatting with Kracken fishermen. Warm and cozy inside.
Really like your navigation set up . Early morning sailing is the best. Glad to see you have dinghy on the deck. Always better motorsailing
Glad to see you’re both having fun and enjoying life! Love the episode….the confidence in your voices is awesome. Enjoy Cape
Love that the details are getting worked out and enjoyment of a life-long beautiful project is being realized... So many congrats to all involved.... Love the videos... Keep living the life...
That was an educational lecture and demonstration of how to dress up for actual cold weather. I imagine that the strategy Steve described most likely works on cold weather land activities, and not just at sea.
That’s true!
So awesome seeing Steve meet the guys from the Kraken. You are using Arabella for what you built her for going on adventures meeting people I can’t wait to see who you’ll meet next year in 5 years or even 10 years. I especially enjoyed the last few minutes where your guest talked about how he enjoyed being on the boat with you and Robin
Boots that float (Even slightly buoyant) should be left on in the event of an MOB. Water in the boot is not heavier than water outside the boot... Even if they fill with water they will help keep you harm and afloat.
The dog hair helps keep you warm. lol
sweet last image. I don't know if i've seen a full set from a distance like that. She looks very balanced. And I keep thinking about that port toe rail damage. A repair that will certainly be easier in Florida weather.
We won't be seeing Florida weather. Final destination is somewhere along the cape or nearby.
What a beautiful boat. Congratulations
Thank you!
Awesome views of the sea, Seeing Steve sailing like he has been doing it for years. What amazing editing and talks within this Episode 293.
Thanks for the kind words, Sonya!
Gloves, don't need gloves. Remember what they used to say, "if your hands or feet get cold, put on a sweater." Keep the core warm and the rest will take care of itself.
“Gloves! We don’t need no stinkin’ gloves!”
That sweater is the most amazing thing. For every reason
Arabella (Crew and all) will always be "rock stars" in the boat-building community, but it's so great to see you mesh with the entire maritime community. Being known to sailors is wonderful, and easy, but I have no doubt that Arabella will soon be known to Fishermen, Tug Captains, onshore diner operators, and merchant marines, and this is what will make you so special! Well done! DD
Hi Dennis! Thank you for your kind words and support as always... what a nice thought. I think the most amazing and magical thing about being on the water is having connections all over the place with folks who approach the water for work, play, food, adventure... whatever! Happy holidays to you. -anne
WOW!!! Activa really, REALLY loves George! That cool, as dogs know when a person is a dog-person and often know when a person is potentially trouble.
George and Akiva have a special relationship.
Lucking out with the weather!
Happy Christmas and A2A day to everybody. from Plymouth UK
Happy Friday and merry Christmas to you, Phil.
I've been capsized and rescued twice. I suggest you do two things.
1. Throw yourself overboard while strapped in and see if you can get back in the boat without help (while under way). Not as easy as it sounds.
2. Jump in the water with your pfd on and see if it fits. Most people have the straps too loose (for comfort) and the pfd can't work properly.
So glad to see "New Ironsides" doing so well in some moderate seas. I was worried the weight of the Oak planking would fault her bouancy calculations. Sail on Me Hearties!
So glad to see the knitted items. Wool is the original high tech fiber. Merry Christmas!
!00% wool including base layer, it breaths and maintains body heat. Sheep has proven it works, synthetic is all about marketing and it stinks where wool doesn't
14:21.. I see you sweating the lines.. I’m always learning something new.. “don’t sweat the small stuff”
To all the Arabella's crew and the craftsmen (and women) who built her; it's incredibly stirring to see her under sail in the open waters, handling well and proudly, while Steve is transitioning from builder to a blue water sailor and skipper. Steve, Robin, Anne, (and Akiva), Merry Christmas and a wonderfully Happy New Year,
Thank you very much, wishing you the best, too!
As someone who lives in tropical Australia where winter temps are never below freezing seeing how you keep warm is pretty crazy.
Akiva certainly looked cozy, wrapped up in a blanket and with his head in the lap of whoever is at the helm 😂
Steve, don't say sorry about all the Akiva fur. It's just extra insulation - extremely useful when sailing in the winter. 😊
Merry Christmas
🌲🌊❄️
I wish you all a very happy time with your close relatives. Merry Christmas and appreciate the moments surrounded with family.
Hey Skipper, at sea add a real LIFE-LINE runing port and starboard but a flate one because the round one slide under the boot, SAFETY FIRST.🤐🤔🤨😉😊😊😊
Great look offshore.
Nice vidéo of ARABELLA living its proper life.
Bon courage and stay safe all together.
HAPPY CHRISMAST O ALL.😉😉😊😊😊😊😊
enjoyed the clothing/gear review 👍👍
Akiva the master he's so calm and such a wonderful human I've often thought that he was the captain even before the launch it look like you guys really had a good time on this sail may they all be as enjoyable
I really enjoyed the build process and wondered if I’d lose interest once she hit the water. Well I had nothing to fear, seeing Arabella become a living, breathing entity and watching you, Robin and Akiva adapting to your new life and skills is every bit as fascinating. Friday is still the most important day in my calendar. Thank you all and have a brilliant Christmas.
Loved seeing you at the tiller. Best way to learn a boats tendencies: hand steer. Bravo.
And Akiva is in heaven. A new dog, a new life. Wonderful to see. Cheers.
He's a happy boy.
It's great to hear the wind snapping in the sails!
Good morning from tasmania Australia
Happy belated Friday to you! Cheers to you! -Anne
Nice episode. "Wet Nose" Steve is learning fast 👍🏻
Its a true beauty when you see her sailing!
Good for you guys enjoying the fruits of your labor. Living the life you want. Happy for you all.
Good to see all those layers and mother's jumper is lovely. The Helly Hanson flotation jacket I gifted you would work as mid cold season gear, and it will keep you buoyant if you did fall overboard.
Chaque jour qui passe nous permet d'apprendre.
Ce beau voilier est un ketch, pour qu'il navigue bien équilibré il lui faut la voile d'artimon, chaque grand coup de barre rappel ce principe. Sur un voilier à longue quille , la route est très stable, sinon,penser à envoyer l'artimon , même avec des ris.
Joyeux Noël et bonne année.
Happy Friday, 'bella fam! A very Merry Christmas to all! ☕🎄
Happy Friday! And merry Christmas to you, too. Thanks for being here every week. ☕️
@@AcornToArabella Wouldn't miss it for the world!🙂
Arabella sails very well and lifting the water line looks great. Its amazing how adding a bit of sail steadies things down and stops the rocking around. Cheers and keep warm from a 25 degree Auckland as we move into our summer down here. Ian
Merry Christmas to the crew and supporters of Arabella 🤗🤗.
Hip hip to the supporters and community here on UA-cam!
I worked on a party/charter boat out of belmar nj back in the 80s. Loved getting up in the morning and going fishing THEN, getting paid for it THEN, hitting the bar.
Ha! Nice.
Steve is starting to get that look around his eyes, like a sailor.
Great kit layout, loving that you use multiple generations of clothing, very in keeping with your whole vibe on the channel. Much love from England
Dear Steve enjoyed the video. Hope this is taken as a positive criticism. From what I saw your rudder is too small. Think High aspect ratio. You will never replicate the wing of a an airliner but you can give yourself a lot more control with less effort. Your rudder looks pretty but it is not effective. It needs to be strait up and down (more or less). More surface area and less width reduces weather helm and is far more powerful. Good to see you sailing.
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it! The rudder is built to the plans, and William Atkin's designs are proven, and the rudder feels good to both Steve and experienced people like myself who come aboard. Thanks for the thoughts! -Anne
Wish you all a good Christmas. Youve worked so hard. Great to see you made a success of the build and the transition to sailing.
I've been watching for an hour now - and Steven is STILL putting clothes on!!! ;)
hahahahaha :D
It's great to see the boat on the water. A bean bag cushion on our boat was so comfortable when on watch. Just saying. Stay focused and enjoy the journey.
I’ve got this little one called a “Free Bag” that’s the greatest! -Anne
It's the network! Almost from the start we were addicted. I'm pretty that a lot of sailing is on way. m
Man really all is well. Stay safe. What beautiful video!! 💯❤️❤️
Thank you so much for being on the journey with us, and very glad you're here every week and enjoying what we do!
This is what it’s all about! Being out on the ocean and making way. Be safe, warm and have a Merry Christmas and new adventures in the New Year!;) next time I see you on FB I’ll post a picture of the Organs I took yesterday.
Good to have knitters in the family...
Great video! It would be great if you could show a tracing of the course you sailed to get from one port to another.
Stray bits of Akiva fur are bonus insulation.
merry christmas everyone. best wishes
"Old Warm Hands" 😄 Nice to meet you, I'm Old Freezing Hands. The keel is looking so much better now 👍
:D
Great video
Steve i worked on tug boats for 7yrs it gets cokd on deck especially on a steel boat. We always wore commercial waterproof jackets that has built in pfd. Mustang makes great pfd jackets that are warm. Just my 2 cents plus you can move around alot better without the inflatable pfd.
I drink a Rum that is called the Kracken it's 80 proof and goes down like a monster !! LOL 😂
Now that's the proper technique with a tiller! Do not disturb the sleeping dog. So reminded me of our Lab Boo, who loved sailing, motoring, or just sleeping on the boat. One of her best spots was up under our overturned dinghy and although she was always clipped in, she loved as we pulled in to a new dock to rush out furiously barking and wagging her tail to scare the crap out of dockhands who had come down to help with the lines. Quite a year for all of you, thanks for sharing it with all of us. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! Jeff and Julie s/v OoLaLa Westsail32 #81 PS, Steve thanks for the reminder about why we sail out of the west coast of Florida now!!
Awww thank you for sharing your memories of Boo. :) Send some warmth up would ya?! Happy Merry to you as well! Cheers! -Anne
Very cool reminds me of bringing my Pearson 42 back to CT. From Tortola Feb 2000. Winter sailing is great u just need to be safe
Happy Holidays ! ;)
Enjoyed the voyage thanks so much.
Good work🍻👨🏻🏭🇨🇦
Nice to see her rocking and rolling , have a nice Christmas ❤