Great video. A few tips: -- The more the boat heels, the more stable it becomes. The boat was rollie because you didn't have enough sail up. Your boat should create it's best speed around 20 degrees heel. Most don't like that and try to keep it at 15 degrees, which isn't bad, but it will be more rollie at 15. Don't exceed 20 degrees though. It's hard on the boat and you will start to slow down due to overworked rudder acting as a break. -- I never liked having a rod and reel on the boat for fishing. I much prefer just a hand reel....just a piece of wood to wrap the line around as I pull the line in. Put a nice handle on the wood to give you something to pull with and wrap with the other hand. The hand reel works best as a circle but it can just be a board you wrap around. Sure beats having line all over the cockpit when pulling by hand. -- Those wheel AP housings are made of plastic that tend to get brittle in the sun. Get something to cover it when not in use or it will break on you at the wrong time. Also, hand steer as much as possible to save wear and tear on the AP. Not much more important for a single handler than a good working AP so you can sleep. If it does break on a trip and you need to get some sleep, heave-to, get some sleep, then get a good meal in and setup snacks and water around the helm before resuming sailing. Sheet to wheel can be a cheap backup plan but you will need to make a drum to bolt onto the wheel to wrap the line around. It takes a lot of practice to make that work. Preferably, get a new AP of the same make and model to keep as a spare so if it does break, just swap out the broken part. Those wheel APs are easy to work on. -- Hunters have a lot of creaking noises and it's mostly due to poor work. I had 18 defects in my boat where sections of the bulkheads were not caulked between it and the deck liner. There were also 3 spots where the fiberglass for the deck liner exceeded where it was supposed to be. It took me a long long time to get them all fixed. I would fix 1 or 2 and then find others. Look for places where there is no caulking between bulkheads and the deck or deck liner. Jam something like a screw driver between and then caulk it. -- On longer trips, get some good noise cancelling headphones and a tablet loaded up with movies or TV shows to watch along with a good music play list. Boredom is a problem for single handlers on extended trips. -- When sleeping, ways sleep stern to bow, even on downwind sails where it's really rollie. Sideways is too jerky on the body. On your crossing to the Bahamas, you will not be able to sleep but 10 - 15 minutes at a time as there is a lot of ship traffic on the other side, however, you do have AIS so turn on some alarms to wake you up if they get close and heading crossing yours within 1/4 mile. They will see you on AIS and radar but they don't mind getting close and most will not change course in that area like they are supposed to. Don't bother trying to reach them on the radio. At night most ships don't even have somebody in the bridge who speaks English. There are going to be stressful times and fun times. Soak it all up because when the time comes to move on to something else, you'll miss these days.
Nice to see the BBC has made a documentary of your early years.. adventures. 😉... So many more interesting stories await! Merry Christmas and catch ya on your future posts.
Wow! An excellent compilation of the past years journey. The voice of the 2nd person narrating was a good choice. Well done. Wishing you Happiness, Good Health, and much Success in 2025. ⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵
What an amazing well done video will be watching numerous times over it gave me goosebumps at times with the narration and such wonderful camera work. Merry Christmas 🎅 with much love ❤️
Doing what you enjoy and makes you happy ! That’s how life’s meant to be lived! Thank you Damon for taking us along for the ride! Merry Christmas 🎄cheers 🍻 my friend! 👋
Fairly new here. It was good to get a bit of background and to get to know of you better! Looking forward to the Bahamas trip! Love to watch the boatwork.
Thanks Damon, a really enjoyable wrap-up of the first year of your great adventure. Brilliant videography and narration, all delivered with a perpetual smile. Wishing you all the very best in 2025. ❤👍⚓⛵
Great recap seems like a great Dad also for supporting Damon, way to go. Hello from Center Point Texas, he is doing something that I would love to do but health issues say no way so I will live thru his adventures. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, may all your travels be filled with joy and great times. And please be safe.
Your boat is so clean. Encouraging. Stock up before you try the Caribbean. Always have extra limes and some for needy boats you bump into. Carry lots of hacksaws and files. You never know when you have to make a boat part. Some sailboats are having problems with mosquitoes on islands. Deep Woods Off.
That was a great video. I'm so jealous I wish I had done something like you're doing when I was your age. It's great you're doing it while you're Young and healthy. I definitely enjoy seeing your progress, keep it up! I'll keep watching
Awesome filming and editing! Great story and video. Not a fan of the English voice-over guy, you would sound better but don't listen to me, I'd watch anyway. Hope to see more from you! Thanks for all the hard work.
Great video.
A few tips:
-- The more the boat heels, the more stable it becomes. The boat was rollie because you didn't have enough sail up. Your boat should create it's best speed around 20 degrees heel. Most don't like that and try to keep it at 15 degrees, which isn't bad, but it will be more rollie at 15. Don't exceed 20 degrees though. It's hard on the boat and you will start to slow down due to overworked rudder acting as a break.
-- I never liked having a rod and reel on the boat for fishing. I much prefer just a hand reel....just a piece of wood to wrap the line around as I pull the line in. Put a nice handle on the wood to give you something to pull with and wrap with the other hand. The hand reel works best as a circle but it can just be a board you wrap around. Sure beats having line all over the cockpit when pulling by hand.
-- Those wheel AP housings are made of plastic that tend to get brittle in the sun. Get something to cover it when not in use or it will break on you at the wrong time. Also, hand steer as much as possible to save wear and tear on the AP. Not much more important for a single handler than a good working AP so you can sleep. If it does break on a trip and you need to get some sleep, heave-to, get some sleep, then get a good meal in and setup snacks and water around the helm before resuming sailing. Sheet to wheel can be a cheap backup plan but you will need to make a drum to bolt onto the wheel to wrap the line around. It takes a lot of practice to make that work. Preferably, get a new AP of the same make and model to keep as a spare so if it does break, just swap out the broken part. Those wheel APs are easy to work on.
-- Hunters have a lot of creaking noises and it's mostly due to poor work. I had 18 defects in my boat where sections of the bulkheads were not caulked between it and the deck liner. There were also 3 spots where the fiberglass for the deck liner exceeded where it was supposed to be. It took me a long long time to get them all fixed. I would fix 1 or 2 and then find others. Look for places where there is no caulking between bulkheads and the deck or deck liner. Jam something like a screw driver between and then caulk it.
-- On longer trips, get some good noise cancelling headphones and a tablet loaded up with movies or TV shows to watch along with a good music play list. Boredom is a problem for single handlers on extended trips.
-- When sleeping, ways sleep stern to bow, even on downwind sails where it's really rollie. Sideways is too jerky on the body. On your crossing to the Bahamas, you will not be able to sleep but 10 - 15 minutes at a time as there is a lot of ship traffic on the other side, however, you do have AIS so turn on some alarms to wake you up if they get close and heading crossing yours within 1/4 mile. They will see you on AIS and radar but they don't mind getting close and most will not change course in that area like they are supposed to. Don't bother trying to reach them on the radio. At night most ships don't even have somebody in the bridge who speaks English.
There are going to be stressful times and fun times. Soak it all up because when the time comes to move on to something else, you'll miss these days.
Happy Holidays! Great BBC content
Merry Christmas! Watching from North Port Florida. I love watching your journey so far.
⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵
Loved the quick look of your travels. Keep it up. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Love your videos, love what you’re doing!! ❤
Merry Christmas man!
Nice to see the BBC has made a documentary of your early years.. adventures. 😉... So many more interesting stories await! Merry Christmas and catch ya on your future posts.
Great recap! Many accomplishments! Merry Christmas.
Wow what a year and a great recap. Thanks for sharing and all the best for the ew Year.
Merry Christmas 🎅 love your journeys. Very few people do what they love.
Hey Damon, Another great video Keep up the good work Be safe
Wow! An excellent compilation of the past years journey. The voice of the 2nd person narrating was a good choice. Well done. Wishing you Happiness, Good Health, and much Success in 2025. ⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SAFE NEW YEAR!!
What an amazing well done video will be watching numerous times over it gave me goosebumps at times with the narration and such wonderful camera work. Merry Christmas 🎅 with much love ❤️
Doing what you enjoy and makes you happy ! That’s how life’s meant to be lived! Thank you Damon for taking us along for the ride! Merry Christmas 🎄cheers 🍻 my friend! 👋
Fairly new here. It was good to get a bit of background and to get to know of you better! Looking forward to the Bahamas trip! Love to watch the boatwork.
Pretty cool - the journey continues.
Thanks Damon, a really enjoyable wrap-up of the first year of your great adventure. Brilliant videography and narration, all delivered with a perpetual smile.
Wishing you all the very best in 2025. ❤👍⚓⛵
Thanks!
It's good to see you being safe and well. Many good tips in the comments..people looking out for you..
Stay safe, Stay sharp!
🎅 Christmas Greetings From Saint Louis, Missouri! Hoping You Enjoy A Safe Holiday! 🤶
Thanks for the Christmas gift!
Merry Christmas!
Great recap seems like a great Dad also for supporting Damon, way to go. Hello from Center Point Texas, he is doing something that I would love to do but health issues say no way so I will live thru his adventures. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, may all your travels be filled with joy and great times. And please be safe.
Great video keep it up, you've got a bright future.
Merry Christmas Damon! Looking forward to seeing your adventures in the year to come. Glad youre doing well.
What a great video! Congratulations on all your accomplishments so far and good luck with the up coming year of adventure.
Very Awesome Video! Look forward to your next episode. Happy Holidays and see you out there! 84H34 "Sir Vival"
Great video Damon! Merry Christmas!
Your boat is so clean. Encouraging. Stock up before you try the Caribbean. Always have extra limes and some for needy boats you bump into. Carry lots of hacksaws and files. You never know when you have to make a boat part. Some sailboats are having problems with mosquitoes on islands. Deep Woods Off.
That was a great video. I'm so jealous I wish I had done something like you're doing when I was your age. It's great you're doing it while you're Young and healthy. I definitely enjoy seeing your progress, keep it up! I'll keep watching
Merry Christmas Damon!
10:07 ngl I thought you were faded until you said you'd been sleeping 😅
Hopefully 2025 will quadruple or more your subscribers. There coming!
Awesome filming and editing! Great story and video. Not a fan of the English voice-over guy, you would sound better but don't listen to me, I'd watch anyway. Hope to see more from you! Thanks for all the hard work.
Ditch the British narration next time.