In this video, Simon recounts the valuable lessons learned during a 20-day, 1000-mile sailing passage from Baltimore to Fort Lauderdale. He mentored a couple, Mike and Sheena, who had recently purchased a Hylas 46 sailboat, helping them relocate their new boat and gain confidence in long-distance cruising.
Simon begins by introducing himself and giving a brief personal update, including selling their own boat, Britican, and settling into a new home in North Carolina with a new dog, Henry. He explains that while his family has moved ashore, he continues to help sailors on the East Coast with new boat familiarization and passages, as well as running sailing experiences in St. Martin and Grenada.
The core of the video focuses on the practical lessons gleaned from Mike and Sheena’s journey, emphasizing preparedness, flexibility, and a calm demeanor when facing challenges at sea:
- Preparation is Key: Simon stresses the importance of a thorough pre-passage checklist, covering everything from engine and rigging checks to provisioning. He highlights that unlike on land, there’s no roadside assistance at sea, making self-reliance crucial.
- Smart Food Prep: To avoid the challenges of cooking in rough seas, Simon recommends preparing and freezing one-pot meals beforehand, which can be easily heated up for a hot dinner before night shifts.
- Securely Stow Everything: The video demonstrates the consequences of unsecured items, recounting an incident where a rogue wave caused a “bomb to go off” downstairs due to loose plates. Simon advises packing everything tightly with towels and tea towels to prevent breakage and noise.
- Safe Hot Drink Practices: A crucial safety lesson involves preparing hot drinks in the sink and only filling cups three-quarters full to prevent burns from spills in a moving boat.
- Have a Flexible Plan (and Bolt Holes): The initial “Plan A” for the passage quickly derailed due to adverse weather. Simon emphasizes the need for multiple contingency plans (Plan A, B, C… M!) and identifying “bolt holes”—safe havens to duck into when conditions are unfavorable. He stresses that working on “your own time plan” is paramount, prioritizing safety over rigid schedules.
- Backup Navigation Systems: Mike’s primary navigation system malfunctioned 60 miles offshore, highlighting the critical need for multiple backup navigation systems (e.g., phone, iPad with apps like Navionics, and paper charts).
- Have Lines Handy: A sudden freak wave damaged their dodger and dislodged jerry cans. The lesson learned was to always have spare lines readily available to secure loose items.
- Know Your Boat’s Systems: Simon recounts an instance where the boat’s complicated fuel system caused the engine to die. He emphasizes the importance of understanding your boat’s fuel, electrical, and water systemsbefore embarking on a long passage.
- Don’t Panic When Things Go Wrong: Losing a propeller and ripping a mainsail were significant challenges, but Simon demonstrated the importance of staying calm and clear-headed as a skipper. He showed Mike and Sheena how to handle such emergencies without panic, emphasizing teamwork and clear communication.
- Carry Spares: With a blown nav light and a lost propeller, the importance of carrying essential spares (engine, electrical, plumbing, etc.) was underlined, as supplies aren’t readily available at sea.
- Combat Tiredness: Simon discusses the toll of short sleeps during a long passage, sharing an anecdote of running aground due to fatigue. He underscores that tiredness can lead to mistakes and highlights techniques for getting unstuck from mud or sand.
- Reassurance is Invaluable: Mike and Sheena found great comfort in Simon’s presence, as he could reassure them that common occurrences like large waves or minor breakages are normal for sailing. This reassurance helped build their confidence.
The video concludes with Simon reflecting on the pleasure of sailing with Mike and Sheena, who gained the confidence to continue their sailing journey independently. He offers his services to new or experienced boaters looking for assistance with long passages or boat handling skills like docking and anchoring, which he believes are crucial but often overlooked in standard sailing courses (Click here for Sailing Lifestyle Experiences).
