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February 13, 2014 / by admin / Marine / 25 Comments

Mistakes in Open Ocean Sailing

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Mistakes, Ocean, Open, Sailing

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Sailing Around the World (Sailing La Vagabonde) Ep. 1 – Intro & Turkey
Boating Bloopers

25 comments on “Mistakes in Open Ocean Sailing”

  1. DrakeParagon's Real Cruising Life says:
    February 13, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    Liked, commented and subscribed! You guys are awesome! Really looking
    forward to watching continuing adventures. Hadley Harbor is one of my
    favorite anchorages. I see you’re in Annapolis. Are you guys headed to
    the Bahamas? Please keep filming! You’ll treasure these videos forever.
    

  2. Christopher Young says:
    February 13, 2014 at 3:01 pm

    Really great video and great lessons. I was horrified when I saw you towing
    your dinghy and was glad when you discussed it! I have the following
    suggestions:

    1. Address a global audience. I’m from Seattle and have no earthly idea
    what Hadley Harbor or a Noreaster is so it would be nice to have some
    exposition on them.
    2. It appeared that your lifeline gate was not secured which would be
    another mistake. Not only only is it a place for you to fall out, it
    weakens the structural integrity of the entire lifeline system.
    3. You should have had PFDs on in seas that rough.
    4. You should have simply tethered yourself with a line when you were doing
    the dinghy rescue.

    I’ve made all of the you mistakes you did. That’s how you learn. 

  3. tents forpaddies says:
    February 13, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    The issue with the dinghy, sure, that was a mistake and it’s good to see
    that you’ve learned a lesson from it, — worst case scenario is maybe that
    you lost the dinghy. But, you are making other more serious mistakes which
    could cost your life, your partner’s life, or your dogs life, at a moments
    notice. For example you mentioned that you are not harnessed in to safety
    equipment of any kind, and you’re not wearing a life-jacket, or preserver,
    yet at 3:40 I notice that you also have a gap in your safety lines
    (probably this is where your boarding ladder is, and you forgot to close it
    off after leaving the dock). You also implied that your girlfriend/wife is
    less capable than you in handling the boat, so I suggest that you ask
    yourself the following question(s):
    “What happens if (scrub the “IF”) … WHEN I fall overboard through that
    gap after tripping on a rope? … Is my “less capable” wife/partner going
    to be able to bring the boat around while keeping me in sight, find me and
    get me back on board before I drown because I’m not wearing any
    life-preserver?”
    I think you really need to take a sailing safety course before you venture
    out again, because some of the smallest mistakes made on land, at sea, can
    cost you your life, and you appear to be making some simple mistakes, from
    which you may not get a second chance.
    Do you have man-overboard equipment in the stern of your boat? Have you
    ever even practised man-overboard procedures in light conditions in a
    harbor using a floating object of some kind, preferably of similar weight
    to you? — This might be an eye-opener for you, especially when you find
    out how long it takes for you, or more particularly, your wife/partner to
    solo-sail the boat to “save” your object and get it back on board.

  4. SkyVector Aerial says:
    February 13, 2014 at 4:08 pm

    Davits!! ..and ALWAYS use jacklines when making a bluewater passage!

  5. Terrence Bradley says:
    February 13, 2014 at 4:15 pm

    Sheesh. Learned something that had never really occurred to me. I have
    towed my dingy and was always thinking of it being flipped or suddenly
    coming aboard over the stern but never thought about the towing line being
    ripped out of the dingy. Now I will be more cautious thanx to to guys. 

  6. Michael Caton says:
    February 13, 2014 at 5:15 pm

    Really like your channel. Fantastically honest about your learning
    experiences. I think that makes for good viewing. Pleased to hear you got
    your dinghy back. I think sailing is learning a thousand wet, often cold
    and expensive lessons but if you can learn them you are set for anything
    life can throw at you. 

  7. flyingtigre1 says:
    February 13, 2014 at 6:02 pm

    maybe if you bought a much smaller dingy it would be easier to put on
    board. Or a more expensive dingy that would break down easier to stow away
    after your done on it for you passage way.
    And maybe instead of punching thru the waves you need to learn how to heave
    ho to them in a more comfortable cruising way. Im sure she would love you
    more for it.
    cheers
    Salty Seaman

  8. Ed Hastings says:
    February 13, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    The exact same thing happened to me. Looks like you have the same dinghy as
    me ( Solstice ). Though in my case when the D ring let go, it hit me in the
    shoulder and left quite a welt. I don’t know if your raft is equipped with
    it, but since then I have run a double line from the two rings further back
    on the bow. Also, I keep the dinghy closer to the stern. When the incident
    happened my boat and dinghy were in separated troughs, so the stress was
    too much for a single ring. I was alone in a gray stormy sea with gray
    skies, trying to keep watch on a gray dinghy while trying to drop my sails
    to maneuver back to my dinghy. I had planned to change the line, but never
    got around to it. It’s a mistake I won’t make again. 

  9. Bobby John says:
    February 13, 2014 at 6:54 pm

    Great learning experience!!!! Getting ready to cross Atlantic?? Glad
    everything came out OK.

  10. IanCaine4728 says:
    February 13, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    Buy a real dingy with a better hull shape, put a cover on it, and tow about
    100 feet back. Lots of people tow dingys that way even on ocean passages.
    Those little RIBs are awful things to tow or row. A nice wooden pram with
    some rocker would be so much better.

  11. Brian Hess says:
    February 13, 2014 at 7:01 pm

    You could deflate the dingy and stow it below, that’s what I would do. You
    could also invest in dingy davits $$$. Nobody should tow a dingy when
    sailing off shore, besides, it will slow you down with the drag. Good
    lesson learned though! Good luck and stay safe! Brian Hess, Skipper,
    SV Triton
    Camper & Nicholson 33

  12. Skipper Hawk says:
    February 13, 2014 at 7:14 pm

    Very good vid… folks learn so much more from people doing it who are
    willing to share stuff learnt the hard way.

  13. Buddy Guy says:
    February 13, 2014 at 8:05 pm

    I’m sure someone has already said this…but what I do is run lines back to
    the transom of the dinghy and around the perimeter (there’s usually
    something near the oar locks to go through) and then up through the D
    ring…that way you’re not trying to support the whole load just on that
    weak D ring/patch thingy…

    hope that helps…GREAT vid btw…liked, commented and subscribed!

  14. James Newsome says:
    February 13, 2014 at 9:02 pm

    You are learning, often the hard way, but nevertheless learning. Suggest
    doing a lot of reading on coastal cruising and keep it inside the ICW
    unless you have a weather window that allows offshore sailing. 30 knots
    offshore in 6-8 foot waves is no fun in small boat. Plan ahead, listen to
    the weather forecast and determine your comfortable limit for your boat.
    For example, you and the boat can tolerate more wind doing downwind travel
    offshore than beating into the wind. Generally speaking, anything over
    10-12 knots is not going to be fun, but can be done fairly comfortable
    downwind. All I have to say is that Kate is a real trooper! Most ladies
    would depart at the dock as soon as you land after the day you just
    described. Hey, you are living the dream and learning as you go. That’s a
    lot more than most of us did at your age. I have a lot of admiration for
    you and Kate. Just keep it safe! Always, jacklines and PFDs when offhsore
    or leaving the cockpit.

  15. U Shine says:
    February 13, 2014 at 9:27 pm

    I am so fascinated by ocean sailing. Weird bc I don’t like boats or the
    thought of being on some tiny boat in the middle of the ocean but I am so
    fascinated. Ocean sailing reminds me of life it’s self, even my faith,
    walking with the Lord. Life is a journey. Life is calm and other times it
    is stormy. When it rains, it pours. Life is hard and difficult. Life is
    beautiful. Ocean sailing is so like life.

    God bless you guys and my His great protection continue to be upon you two.
    Awesome sweater too. 😉 

  16. Kerry Campbell says:
    February 13, 2014 at 9:30 pm

    First you learn to sail in harbour, then coastal, then ocean, lots to
    learn. Looking forward to you experiences, very honest approach, good on
    you. I too have towed my dinghy on many occasians. I realize it’s a no no
    for open ocean. However I would very much feel that your dinghy fixture let
    you down also. It looked like a poor attachment. Is it an inflatable with
    solid bottom?

  17. freeamericausa1 says:
    February 13, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    Great video. But being at sea IS NOT where you learn about your mistakes.
    Going to sea should be treated like a carpenter with a saw. Measure TWICE,
    cut once. In other words. 

  18. Kamau Iandiataiyero says:
    February 13, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    Great post about keeping up with the weather and preparing your vessel. I
    sail in the Chessspeak Bay and have been out in 30 knots and tremendous
    chop, so it’s not just in the open ocean where we need to take appropriate
    measures. Glad to see you guys are ok.

  19. Rob Noll says:
    February 13, 2014 at 10:51 pm

    Double clamp your thru hulls and carry some boat plugs. Hope you have an
    epirb. Watch your charts on the Newport approach especially in the fishing
    areas. Good place to snag a net.

  20. James Melvin says:
    February 13, 2014 at 11:11 pm

    That was some good advise. I appreciate you telling your messups. It’s
    helps the rest of us. After a ten thousand dollar mistake….. my advice is
    …when it says shoals…. stay away

  21. Shaun Sim says:
    February 13, 2014 at 11:52 pm

    Great job, keep up the good work. practical skills are worth 10x more than
    any certificate, ps has your dog has a life vest?. peace!

  22. Steve Philipson says:
    February 14, 2014 at 12:26 am

    Thanks for sharing your learning experience.

  23. Susan Hahn says:
    February 14, 2014 at 12:47 am

    thanks for sharing so others can learn as you do.

  24. HomieG75 says:
    February 14, 2014 at 1:07 am

    Please keep doing this. I want to one day do exactly what you did, buy a
    boat and sail on the open ocean. I’m glad you show your mistakes so I can
    know what not to do. I can’t wait for episode 10.

  25. Douglas Tate says:
    February 14, 2014 at 1:35 am

    Guys, I sailed Buzzards Bay out of Marion for the past 25 years, and what
    you experienced for weather is not surprising. Because Buzzards Bay is
    relatively shallow, when an outgoing tide interacts with a freshening wind
    you experience the seas you had. The mornings may start nice and calm, but
    about mid day, the fun begins. I am glad you survived your adventure. The
    sea can be an unforgiving teacher at times. I strongly recommend jack
    lines and tethered inflatable harnesses for ofshore conditions. Love your
    attitude and the crew-dawg! Fair Winds and Following Seas!

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