SAILING WAS SOO GOOD…then he went overboard
Captains Log: Vava’u, Tonga January 2021
Today we raised the sails, turned off the motors, and used the wind to move our boat for the first time in one year and four months.
There was rain, wind, no wind, and even a little drama.
It was glorious!
We’re rusty and feel like a couple of stumbling newbies fresh out of the pond. It’s humbling and the gritty reality of being out of practice.
It would be easier to edit out all our mistakes and not open ourselves up to even more criticism than we already experience. Because in the world of social media, opinions flow harder and faster than any oceanic tide.
But, being the masochists that we are, we like to leave in our “learning moments”. Also because we’re human. We struggle, make mistakes, and generally muck things up as humans do.
With that said, if you want to go sailing with a couple of amateurs for the first time in over a year, please come aboard!
We had fun and we used the force of the wind to move our home. For us, it’s a damned good day. In the world of sailing, it’s whatever the opposite of the Vendée Globe or America’s Cup is.
We’ll get back in shape and until then, we’ll keep laughing at ourselves.
RESOURCES FROM THIS VIDEO!
🎥 CAMERA GEAR USED TO FILM THIS VIDEO
🎶 MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO:
- Source – Artlist, Get 2 Months FREE: https://bit.ly/artlist-GWTW
Artists – Racoon Racoon, The Originals
🙏 THANK YOU!
Ups, downs and all arounds, we share it all. We’re able to do so because people like you show up each week, read, watch, comment, share, shop our gear store, and toss a tip in our production jar. If you like what you see, there are lots of FREE ways you can show your support.
Tom Schex
Every Sunday morning my wife and I enjoy your weekly videos with a big cup of coffee.
Hope to see both of you enjoy your time and adventures at sea albeit your maintenance and repairs.
We enjoy it all.
“Worry a little bit every day and in a lifetime you will lose a couple of years. If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry: Worry never fixes anything”, Ernest Hemingway.
Deborah Kerr
Oh my that turquoise water is beautiful, I never tire of seeing it! And love the calming boat noises/water noises! If only I could smell that fresh SEA BREEZE!! 🌊⛵️
What was that deep honk in the background????? Great job sailing – you still make it look like fun, but it’s probably more challenging than I know of.
Keep smiling!!🤠
Angel Stafford
I enjoy y’all’s videos, and I particularly like to see the things you cook on your boat. Would you share your pizza crust recipe?
Brent
Great to see you out sailing again…always a joy to watch your adventures, the good, the bad and well …. sssstuff happens! (Love the horn). Your videos have always been a great escape especially now stuck in this COVID reality …you should not underestimate how your videos have lifted people’s spirits at these times … Great Job!
I noticed you mentioned Jason has some colour blindness and saw he couldn’t pick out the vibrant red peppers a video or two ago. Since your adventures revolve around visiting and seeing some of the most beautiful places on earth (I have also been lucky enough to have sailed into the BVI, Hawaii, and around New Zealand, Tasmania and a touch of Australia) has Jason ever tried the enChroma glasses(lens split the wave lengths better) to see if they help him out. I have no affiliation with the company but it might greatly improve the experience.
Brent
Great to see you out sailing again…always a joy to watch your adventures, the good, the bad and well …. sssstuff happens! (Love the horn). Your videos have been always been a great escape especially now stuck in this COVID realty…you should not underestimate how your videos have lifted people’s spirits at these times … Great Job!
I noticed you mentioned Jason has some colour blindness and saw he couldn’t pick out the vibrant red peppers a video or two ago. Since your adventures revolve around visiting and seeing some of the most beautiful places on earth (I have also been lucky enough to have sailed into the BVI, Hawaii, and around New Zealand, Tasmania and a touch of Australia) has Jason ever tried the enChroma glasses(lens split the wave lengths better) to see if they help him out. I have no affiliation with the company but it might greatly improve the experience.
Curious Minion
If they had known about the enChroma glasses while they were visiting the U.S. they’d have gotten him some! Unfortunately, the import and shipping fees to get them to Tonga would be pretty ridiculous, so they’re waiting until they’re someplace it makes sense to have them shipped.
Curious Minion
Diane Silverstein
Happy as a clam that all went well! Love traveling along with you! Keep safe and healthy and happy!
Sandra Strickland
Ya’ll are great, love you, and loved the video! You should can the “magical” water boat sounds and sell it…it’s so nice to listen to!
Michael
Funny and fun as always. Thanks.
BTW, I have learned from watching you that if I ever had a boat, it would have big batteries as ballast and all electric drive with bow thrusters. No more fuel, fumes, pollution, engine issues or starter problems. I’m beginning to see that its the only way to go! Can you say “automatic station keeping’? Wowser!
Roger B
Yikes! Whew. Everyone is safe.
Erica
Any person who would criticize you two just isn’t a nice person anyways! You certainly don’t deserve ANY negativity! Just keep being the amazing, positive, funny, silly, curious, adventure seekers that you are! I love that you are both so REAL! You make it seem possible for ANYBODY to do ANYTHING if they’re just open to the experience! Thank you!!
Paul Hutmacher
I flagged this one to watch immediately when you said Jason went overboard. After watching I was pleased to see that he jumped overboard and wasn’t knocked or fell overboard. I love your videos and watch all of them, but I really get concerned when I see you sailing offshore without PFDs and other safety gear. I may be over cautious, but I would love to see you show some of the safety items you use and was wondering if you did wear PFDs, use jacklines and harnesses, or what? I grew up sailing and we always wore PFDs on deck and regularly practiced MOB drills. Is this part of your routine that doesn’t show on camera? Sign me a caring fan!
Sonya
Hi! Love your videos. Just wanted to let you know that you wanted to put the Surf Shark link in your info below… 😉
BLT
So good to see you guys back at sail on Curiosity!
Alan Solomon
Cannot say enough about this video. It was Awesome.
There was some silliness going on and I like that. It was fun. One of your commenters said your smiles are contagious. She is correct.
We all can use more silliness today and in the future. Thanks..
I enjoy the rain as I do not have any in Coachella. Beautiful rainfall falling is an escape for me.
Treats for everyone, Best,
William Domb
Gotta wear that hair curler for ALL videos
Richard Fenters
Great video! So good to see you guys so happy to sail again!! :).
Brad
I have the same Marmot jacket, it’s excellent for a land lubbing jacket. How does it perform when the rain is coming up instead of down?
William Domb
put ads at end
Pat
Absolutely brilliant as always. Really enjoy Sundays with you two.
Fred Henderson
Just think, if all that had not happened the vlog would not have been nearly as interesting. By the way what is a ‘Pearl farm’?
Tammy
Thanks for the video 😊always exciting and Congratulations on soon be Aunt and uncle🎈
Robert Smith
You guy don’t have leather skin but you heart shows against all negativity, tough as nails! Sail on! With the same Spirit of adventure and joy you have shown in this latest edition!
NW Realm
Easy buoy capture. General enjoyment of your adventures thank you. Spent many happy months sailing Vavau in the 80’s 90’s, keep up the fun! Easy way to capture a buoy is to have a line on the boat one end cleated off and loop (toss) the remaining portion around to windward of the buoy retaining the other end and, drift back. Once hooked around the base you can take your time attaching your mooring lines to the buoy eye. Do not go overboard for a boat hook! what were you thinking? Capt. Remy
Sam W
Criticism?! Those make us love you more. You are already our heroes. If you were superheroes it would be hard to relate to you. Stay safe, but keep learning.
Bob S.
I can relate. I recently had a tensioner pulley seize on my Chevy Impala’s serpentine belt causing it to jump the remaining pulleys and destroy my water pump. I was lucky enough to pull out of traffic with no power steering. Needed a tow to the shop.
Also, in the past, had to race back to harbor under sail on Lake Michigan in a 19 foot Rhodes to beat a squall to our mooring ball. Missed both tries at the ball in the high wind and was blown onto the breakwater. A Chicago Police Boat came to our rescue, threw us a line but it ripped off the stern cleat. After tying the next line to the mast they pulled us off breaking our rudder. The police towed us to the mooring ball successfully after that. Sailing does have its ups and downs.
Eventually the rust will wear off of you guys and you’ll be back to normal.
Mark Krajcar
Shredded alternator belts. So much fun. You haven’t used your motors in a long while and it looks like there is rust on the pulley. On my new to me boat I went through 8 belts, destroyed multiple expensive Yanmar custom hoses because the rust was acting like sandpaper. I had bought the very expensive special pulley but not installed it yet figuring once I got to my new home port…. Anyway, I took a small painters stick and wrapped it in sandpaper and ran the engine without the belt. Making sure if the pulley grabbed the sandpaper/stick it would go away from me, not drag body part into the pulley. In a few minutes all the rust was gone and I’ve never had a problem since and still, 3 years later, have yet to install the new pulley.
Love you! Mom
When I heard the boat sound that awful noise, my heart skipped a beat! I am so glad it was an insignificant video delay.
I’m so glad you guys are back on the boat, as you always say to me, make that list! LOL.
I have a new photo to post of baby Mateo. He’s grown so much since that last sonogram!
Love you! Mom
Kathy McMahon
You guys are awesome-we love watching your videos!
Jeffrey Stenberg
Sailing with the wind, that’s what its all about. Nice. Looks like sooo much fun, more,more !
Nikki B.
Love that you share your stories so others can learn too. The bloopers are a great addition!😊👍
JOHN SCHRETLEN
Well, watching that was a fun way to start the day. The outtakes were fun – gives people some idea why sometimes it takes 45 minutes to make a 7 second clip.
Congrats to your sister. Perhaps one day the gift-giving will be reversed? (It would be fantastic for you to follow SV Delos and LA Vagabonde into the wonderful adventures of kids-on-boats.)
Keith Vauquelin
110 days until I can shout “Freedom!’ Again, great insight into the adventure’s meta details. More research for me, every day. One question, how often do you find yourself catching rain water as a method of elongating the life expectancy of your water maker? Be safe!!!
Curious Minion
Hey Keith. They usually don’t catch rainwater but are doing so right now because the watermaker only runs off the generator, and the generator starter is dead & they haven’t been able to find a replacement. All about how they usually obtain & purify their water is here: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/living-off-grid-rv-sailboat
Curious Minion
Stephen
Love, love, love the bloopers!! I remember several viewers (myself included) requesting them waaaay back in quarantine when you were stuck in the apartment and struggling for content. That seemed like a lifetime ago. Glad you’re scraping the rust off and getting back in the sailing groove.
David G.
PIPPER!!!
James Simon
In retrospect and with the benefit of hindsight, would you have handled the mooring ball/boat hook drop/engine alarm issue differently ?
Peter Drury
Wonderful (and very entertaining) update!
I think you both were not so much out of practice, just feeling a lack of familiarity after such a long layoff. I am sure it felt much worse than it looked. That engine alarm lead to a series of escalating challenges–lead you down the garden path, so to speak. Once there, you handled it like the seasoned sailors that you both are. On the bright side, from this day forth you will keep a healthy scepticism (sp?) concerning all things mechanical and electrical, alarms included.
Greg Dobbyn
Great video – so genuine and enjoy the bloopers. When my wife and I first encountered mooring balls in the Caribbean she was designated as the person picking up the rope and I would drive the boat. Unfortunately she took that literally and dove in the water, put the rope on the end of the hook and held it up in the air for me to run to the front of the boat and grab. We discovered this not to be a good technique, but it created a great spectacle for the other boats in the mooring field, who later explained that we were both supposed to stay on the boat.
KittyKat
The kids and I loved watching the update. Miss you guys and stay safe.
YDion
You guys are a breath of fresh air! I very much look forward to your Sunday morning video to brighten my week. Thanks!!!
Kenneth w Long
I love your videos and stories.
Kevin Healy
Another enjoyable update. I could list my many, many gaffs (and I am not talking about a sailplan) but it is all part of sailing and actually part of the reason it is a challenge to be enjoyed…albeit after the event and with a beer. Sadly social media gives the natural naysayers a voice – but not one that you need to heed. Keep it up!
Betsy
We were coming into a crowded mooring field late in the afternoon in the BVIs when my pole got stuck in the mooring ball loop. As we maneuvered around, a fellow sailor jumped into his dinghy and delivered our boat pole. We secured ourselves and the mooring field applauded! Guess we were their afternoon entertainment value!
About Creativity
Very good.
Tami Love
I love your outtakes! YOU TWO make this world such a better place; your smiles are contagious 😊. Thanks for sharing your humor, your triumphs and your everyday thoughts with us. Sundays mornings are my favorite! Cheering you two on from Seattle.