12,000 Miles with NO Lifelines - Sailing Uma [Step 143]

Ever since we started our journey, we've been receiving many comments and questions about the fact that we have been sailing without lifelines. Although we had replacement plans from the beginning, we haven't spoken much of it. So in this episode, as we FINALLY sail out of Fort Lauderdale, we decided to clarify a few things and talk about why we did not have lifelines for the past 4 years and our solutions moving forward.
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[@davidc6510]

Beautiful spinnaker!!! This explanation on your thoughts about the "life lines" is so refreshing and informative. Your earliest videos were well lets say sounded kind of reckless with regard to the removal of the stanchions and wires but now I understand your thought process which makes a whole lot of sense. I am sure you know so many of us watchers by our comment whom raise concerns because we do not want to drag you down but help make sure you stay safe because over this journey of 143+ videos or even at step 10 we watched you grow as sailors and want to make sure you are safe and do not come to harm. This is the fault of our parental instincts (for us older peoples) and inherit in many of us. Love your videos, adventures, triumphs, and lessons learned. Well done you two. Fair Winds, remain clever, stay safe and take care.

[@hapnewsom9217]

I want you two to know how much I appreciate and enjoy your videos. I'm touching 70 years old, retired, and looking to get back into sailing. Had my last sailboat before I got married so it's been over 46 years since I've had my own deck beneath my feet. YOU GUYS, keep me grounded, and realistic about sailing (my memory does not do that nearly as well as your videos) and the realities and practicalities of boat maintenance and care, not just the joy of wind and sail. Thank you BOTH SO much for making these to share!

[@gbachnik]

Hap, I'm 70 too and it's not too old if you keep your focus on young people! My rule is not to hang out with old people, they just talk about pills and pains and its depressing. These guys have inspired me and I too am going sailing. See you out there!

[@hapnewsom9217]

@@gbachnik Thanks for the encouragement! I don't mind hanging out with "old" people...face it, pains and pills are part of our lives for most of us, but i don't get depressed about much and as I was told MANY years ago by one of my mentors, it never matters how many times you get knocked down.....it only matters how many times you get back up! I have set myself a weight goal and my wife knows when I reach that goal I'll be shopping for a sailboat again...not world cruising, but at least capable of blue water stretches and adventures. Where are you located? I'm in the northwest so there's plenty of good water to work on!

[@gbachnik]

I'm in Kunming, China! I ran into these guys after first binge watching Learning The Lines. I too love watching their videos! They are so good at doing things on the boat and they have so much fun doing it. I personally don't like the idea of electric but thats their generation. I want to encourage you re your goal, ask the Lord to help you! Keep your focus on how much fun it will be to be on the water and you watch you'll be sailing in no time! I'm from Florida so I too have lots of great water to look forward to. Bless you!

[@parmfamily]

I loved the boat work, such amazing designs and great ideas. Your videos are always the best no matter what you are doing, but I am looking forward to your coming adventures sailing again and using all of those improvements you have made. Thank You for continuing to produce such amazing and inspiring content and just being the awesome couple that you are.

[@BEElaine1008]

I grew up in North Miami Beach and had relatives in Broward & Palm Beach counties. I have to chuckle when I hear it took you 10 hours to sail Ft Laud to W Palm when you can drive in an hour... but I know it’s not about that... It’s great to be able to take the time and just enjoy what you love to do!

[@anneprincingmain2702]

SWEET COZIES!!!!! Too bad I'm a few years too late but I had to start at the beginning to enjoy your entire story. I love you two!!

[@fxpthl]

Absolutely Live your site! The two of you are so Up & positive, it makes watching your postings a very happy time! The improvements on Uma have created an almost new look to her as well as added functionality!

[@Eitharus]

I've binge watch this far your Videos in about a week and half. I think this is my favourite so far. I love the bottle holders are the end, and your galley is amazing XD

[@billb.6109]

Thank You for sharing,...we love seeing You two back under sail. Safe travels.

[@JimKJeffries]

I have friends that free climb, use ropes, & think it is insane & won't go. It is a spectrum. The unknown is always there, & people's comfort spectrums are different. As long as one is being thoughtfully prepared & accepting of out comes, go baby go...it is your life to live. Thanks for all the videos, sharing, and being yourselves.

[@robfraley4210]

Woo Hoo ... Finally heading out, Must feel good. Especially after all the neat MODS...!! And Wow, That new Spinnaker 5:45 Looks GREAT... ✅👍

[@tomas5376]

I replaced normal covered wire lifelines with rope and used trucker’s knots to secure them. Super tight, easy to drop when loading anything big. With the new high strength lines it’s worth thinking about. Good, solid stantions and 2 or 3 lines worked for me.

[@williambremner9022]

If you want to point higher with your assym kite crank down on the tackline a bit and create a little more luff tension and then sheet on a bit more. This will flatten the entry of the sail and enable a slightly higher course. Fitting a snatch block or removable block on the bow/stem will also enable you to run the tackline back to the cockpit and make it a whole lot easier to adjust on the fly (i.e. less friction). Cheers!

[@mike_skinner]

Just like to say that we lived off Peanut island for a while on a couple of boats. We would sometimes go down to Noname harbor in Key Biscayne after work on Friday and look for the Gulf stream to get home on Sunday afternoon. Only once did we experience the eddy that you talked about but is was so strong we had to come back to shore at 30ft to get back. Those extra 3 kts got us home pretty fast. SOG about 9 to 11 kts.

[@life_raft_fam8636]

FREE SOLO SAILING! It's a calculated risk. It was worth it for you guys, who cares what anyone else says. My hats off to you both for what you do! ❤️🇨🇦

[@sailorjim7115]

Because everything is better at anchor! Great to see you guys on the move again as I swing on the hook off Palm Beach thinking of heading to the Bahamas next. Fair winds!

[@Gladtobemom]

And we needed a good dose of happy today. Thank you.

[@elirivera4500]

I love to see that you all work together beautiful program

[@donzie13]

We enjoyed the video and LOVE what you two have done to the boat! Thank you both! Sail on!

[@BillyJC1]

Man, That deck looks slippery when wet! Hopefully you'll get those lifelines soon... I really appreciate your channel ~ Thanks so much and smooth sailing :)

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Sweet asymmetric!! No such thing as outrageous amounts of boat work!! Loved it.

[@gilbertogaidargi]

really good to see you again in the correct place - deep blue water !!... good wind guys !!!

[@saylaveenadmearedead]

Nice gift, galley and swanky guy doing the cookn & tending to the lady of the ship!!!

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Really love your videos. Glad to hear about the handrails, wouldn't want to hear about any tragedies. Can't wait to follow your trip around the Bahamas. Fair winds to you.

[@Austin_Book]

If you add a spinnaker pole to the clew of your new spinnaker when you are wing on wing, it will make driving much easier! It'll also make you a bit quicker too since the spinnaker will be more stable!

[@sorenkloster75]

You could also add a preventer to the main boom and run the asym spinnaker sheets through blocks as far aft as possible. Love your channel and energy. Safe travels. Looking forward to follow your European leg. Come to Denmark :)

[@adamwackerwood2039]

great to see you both so hyped to be out on the water and the galley is looking swanky

[@jerrys634]

Lifelines, rails, or whatever is your choice but thinking that your "rule" or your experience with rock climbing is sufficient is taking a huge risk. I admire all the work you've done on that boat and in editing videos. Be safe. Fair winds and following seas.

[@virgelmccluskey8700]

Thanks for the new video. Your enthusiasm is contagious. Keep up the great work

[@miket1638]

I love your ‘do it yourself’ attitude and lifestyle. Your common sense approach to fixing engines, electronics, rigging, etc is awesome. I’m not a full time sailor so from an outsider’s opinion please use the same common sense applied to your lifeline project. There are reasons 99% of similar sized yachts use cable and stantions. There are already plenty of comments with common sense reasons. Btw...great videos! Great channel! Keep up the great work inspiring all of us land lubbers to get out and sail!

[@dennisbrown3652]

Great video. Everything looks great. Tremendous amount of work. Well done. Glad you are sailing again. Looking forward to your upcoming videos.

[@bobbybaldeagle702]

Good seeing you kids having fun!!!!!!!

[@pubu2010]

In case you don't know (probably do) the Northern Lake Worth anchorage is the best for West Marine, Publix, going ashore, calm quiet anchorage, and basically preparing for the Bahamas. Everyone will be there. Then, when good weather window opens, head to Southern anchorage and leave Early Early next AM to anchor at Mangrove (if calm) or Sale Cay (if cold front is expected soon) before Sunset. See you there. Do you have SSB for Chris Parker weather?

[@tomwilliams8675]

It's great to see you guys back on the water. Spinnaker looks beautiful.

[@jannasmark]

Happy to see u back at sea...

[@donjvalley]

If you do a solid tube for the lifeline 'top rail' it will also give you the chance to add more solar, AND you could also do 1-2 strands of dyneema below the solid 'top rail'...Just a thought. Always having the jacklines available is a great safety idea, too...

[@beanowolf]

Just noticed this and the next step are not in the binge watch playlist so im catching up on em now

[@howardwhite9773]

14:03 - Dolphins!! They never get old, even for a landlubber like me. :D

[@AnnInghamlife-goals]

You have had lifelines. Those are the things to fasten to your harness and to a sturdy point on the boat. I've seen you wearing those. Stanchions and guard wires do little to add to safety, They're easy to slip under, or get caught in upside down and drown. If you fall heavily they may not be enough to hold you at all. And they are low, super easy to fall right over. I'm glad you have installed stanchions and guard lines but never think those are what will save your life if you fall on deck at sea. Wear a lifeline. Guard lines from Dyeema is a good idea. Keep using jack lines harnesses and those lifelines. And always one hand for the ship.

[@bodhi47]

movement is good. nice to see y;all moving again. Can't wait for your new adventures.

[@goulash75]

Nice to see you back out on the open water. Now that you've finished all the inside projects, could you please do another full walk through? We've seen the boat in bits and bobs, but not how the total work has come together. (I might have missed it, but I don't remember seeing the fully finished bathroom yet.)

[@erikwilliams7009]

I'm glad you are sailing again. 'what a productive couple of months you've had! I'm very impressed. I believe I heard K say " that we clip on" regarding the solid rails. PLEASE, do not clip to the lifeline/rail- it may well be strong enough ( maybe, those falling forces multiply really fast and get really large), but the real danger is being towed and drowning. PLEASE only clip to strong points well inboard so there in no possibility of going over the side if clipped in! Practical Sailor and Attainable Adventure both go into this concern/issue quite well. It's a huge danger, with multiple recent fatalities. Love you guys too much to read about that one!

[@flyingdutchman6984]

Totally agree. Tethers are meant to keep the sailor on the boat, not with the boat.

[@faircompetition1203]

I asked a solo around the world sailor what happens if he falls overboard while tethered thinking there would be some system to pull himself back on board - nope . He said you drown because you can not physically pull yourself back against current created by the boat . This if you went over uninjured .

[@LearnToSailMexico]

Exactly, we run our jack-lines down the centre of the boat and make sure there's not enough tether length to go overboard. Overboard = death

[@wjhann4836]

You'r absolutely right - i watched the emergency reports in Germany (in total very few!) - many were drowned by pulling along. They had no strategy how to get a person on board. As an analogy: suppose Dan to go over board and injured. How shall a small person like Kika get him on board again?

[@faircompetition1203]

@@wjhann4836 You can not . I had a guy fall in drunk in the marina and you can not lift him physically and he was alert and unhurt . . My main sheet un-clips and can be used as a hoist but I bet it would take me 5 min from sailing to being realistically sail down , topping lift on and ready to hoist a man . All assuming there is something to clip on to and I don't need to fabricate a sling .

[@vingreensill]

Great to see you on the ocean again

[@jessicajarnebergkarlsson3031]

You guys are amazing! Thanks for yet another great video! Greetings from Sweden. 🇸🇪

[@scs130773]

Wow check out Uma!!! You guys are rocking it still. Here,s to hoping that when you head to the UK, you do it via Bermuda so I can give you some dark-n-stormies for your trip across the pond. :)

[@captnrickealy4029]

you made me laugh out loud when I saw you in the cabinet... go girl.. Capt’n Rick... Mississippi, USA

[@zbeekerm]

Dolphins are the best! But pro tip: even if there is any truth to the notion that tapping/banging on the hull attracts them, which I doubt, don’t do it when your off watch crew are trying to sleep below. I’m looking at you, Clair.

[@paulcolbert8576]

Uma is really looking good!

[@kz4506]

I raced etchells for 12 years no guard rails on them , yes a couple of times bowman slipped off But going off shore , your being heroic, with your lives , as for the price , you can buy them on line , good luck

[@zbeekerm]

Jack lines are really the life saver. Especially with y tethers. Toe rails help keep your footing.

[@janbennetsen7292]

Hi guy's, thank you for some really fun, educational and basically interesting videos, You guy's rock! BUT (there is always a butt isn't there) make sure that Your Jack line, both the vest and on deck are changed frequently. Life at see is not good for these line's and to be on the safe side they need to be fresh - as do the harness. I lost a couple of friends some years ago in a storm in the Med. even though they used jack line's - they simply snapped because the were too old. I agree on Your points regarding staying on board, but I was once lifted of an Andersen 56 (a big winch) and thrown 3 meters away by a big wave - I simply couldn't hold on.

[@GarageTroll22]

THE BOAT LOOKS AMAZING!! GOOD JOB GUYS

[@sissy6159]

Your boat looks stupendous

[@MrRJBooth]

Cool you're back sailing . Good video guys , fanx

[@tomsmith5847]

Love your videos!! Pretty much binge watched them all now!

[@jupiteronkauai]

great to see ya all out again, I did enjoy following your uma upgrates aa well...

[@TAFla.]

love the galley guys. nice sail too. keep rockin'. (Tom Petty said it best, "You never slow down, you never grow old.") Sea ya in the salt.

[@erichcollar9810]

Loved your how-to videos but it’s great to see you sailing again. It’s evident that you missed it.

[@Kaymeron]

Great episode! Your videography is getting really good!

[@joesphbest3120]

Your boat really looks good inside, great job.

[@z_actual]

Rails are completely fine if they're intelligently applied so that they account for differences. The reason we use wire instead of rail is that they're more aerodynamic and they allow for gates. Gates aren't only for the dock which is just a matter of convenience, but you also have to consider getting a MOB back aboard when they might be somewhat incapacitated. Over a rail adds 2 feet of height to hauling them back into the boat. A ladder helps, but probably not if its on the stern. You could also use a crane or tackle off the boom but you need to rig the boom for it, and you need to detach the mainsheet to use it at a time when you ought not be using an engine. Granted most stanchions are too weak especially at the bases, but this is technically solvable with heavier tube, wider bases and reinforcement beneath, but it sounds like you are going to do this anyway. .. have a good one..

[@LearnToSailMexico]

In rough seas, nothing you've proposed is viable...really, if you go over the rail in rough seas off-shore, you're done for. There's no way my wife could pull my unconscious body up over lifelines, rails, the stern...run jacklines down the centre of the boat and keep tethers short enough to avoid going over.

[@faircompetition1203]

Wire is lighter - main reason , power boats , not so worried about weight are often railings .

[@w00db0x]

I spent the video looking for a spinnaker sock for our boat. It looks so much easier and safer to stow and deal with a 1600 square foot sail!Cheers.

[@rwdyer2263]

As always, another entertaining look into the exciting adventures of Dankika on the ocean blue! Dankika? That's a thing, right? 😉

[@Kevgs-241]

Made me Smile, enjoy your Journey and stay clipped in ! :-) x

[@JayCummins26]

Nice new reefing setup with some dyneema work! Also noticed a dyneema boom vang? Please share more...

[@RenegadeADV]

Kika in a closet. That was freaking hilarious! Have you guys seen how Tulias Endless Summer did their life lines? The used fiberglass rods epoxied through the deck into the hull, and then put a carbon fiber tube on top of that to make up the stantion! It really came out slick, I am going with that on my Spencer 42-2, going to run Dyneema life lines through it. Way cheaper than stainless, and on the up side it will never corrode or leak and can be repaired on the boat with what you have, no welding equipment required. Might save you a pile of cash! As doing it this way on mine is gonna be about 600 bucks. Personally I am opposed to running solid hand rails because if you ever get in a situation where another boat runs into yours, solid hand rails tend to really get tore up fast like with what happened with your bow pulpit a few months back! Anyways, stay awesome! I will be looking forward to seeing what you wind up doing!

[@jb9090]

Good to see you back underway! Looking forward to some nice sails and new adventures!

[@rimasmeleshyus6545]

Great video,I am really enjoy to see every video about sailing around the world. Because by myself sailing around the world. Thank you

[@GreatWhiteGT]

Uma looks grand!

[@mikeh720]

Absolutely love the galley/aft saloon makeover, looks amazing!

[@jackrabbit5047]

You guys are the cutest! Love your bubbly enthusiasm (and sorry, bud, but I'm in love with Kika!). Keep those vids coming! (from a fellow Canuck).

[@appick01]

Ahh yay you guys got a asym! With a sock no less lucky you guys. Hopefully you love it. I know I would.

[@flyboyben8384]

Great to see you guys on the water again. One question: don't you need a hard dodger to cross the Atlantic? What will you guys do in cold nasty weather that can persist for days?

[@SailingUma]

Not really. Soft dodgers work fine. We also don’t spend much time in the cockpit on long passages.

[@californiakayaker]

The first thing I do with sails will be wing on wing. Even if its taking me not quite where I want to go. Luckily, from here, the winds prevail south. Sailing away from the Redwoods.

[@theislandpackrat]

I always wonder if we will ever see the boat in Nanaimo? Your'e a long ways away!

[@briansaid1730]

I am near w.palm ...love to show you a sturdy alternative for stanchion mounting.

[@williamf.ryanjr.8599]

So smart to stay away from polishing the stainless. Dan, have you experienced polishing before? I did it at my last job and it was ugly. Fair seas

[@vraymond108]

We like you idea for the hand rail/lifelines. We have a aluminum boat and a few years ago I did just what you are planing but in aluminum. No gates until past the cockpit, then large webbing gates that allow us to launch our dinghy. The stanchions were replaced with longer ones so the height of the handrail is about hip height. Which is so reassuring in big seas. We took the old double SS lifelines and spaced them equally below the handrail. In hindsight I wish I had left a little less room like about 7” between the top of the toe rail and lower lifeline so a head would not pass through it if knocked down by a big wave. Needless to say we are delighted with this upgrade and feel much safer now. Hope you do too.

[@clarisd]

HEY you two!!!, Always lovely to see you out on the seas even if it is coastal for now! We can barely wait till you are here in The Med. We had a few questions for you both. We bought a small vacuum sealer for some Pesto's for you guys! We thought, takes up very little space, quick and easy to fix, and all round nice gift! We have many pesto's we really like. Regular Pesto, Tomato pesto and Asparagus! (are you guys allergic to pine nuts or walnuts?) We actually make pesto's out of all sorts! Do you like garlic? light or medium or heavy?! And there is Garlic /hot pepper, simple easy, as well. How do you like your WINE!!!!? Let us know what warmth you like? Medium light or Deep full body even a mix. We are testing our home made buckwheat noodles to see how they will stand up and cook after months in vacuum? That's about it, GREAT VID and as always happy to see you happy!!!

[@DavidMozingoREALTOR]

I sailed on an old schooner without lifelines. It was nice. You could get in and out of the boat easily at the dock. You could dive into the water as well. I took them off my cat. I trust a harness way more. I have been thrown into metal cable lifelines and it hurts. Who ever designed that probably never sailed. Think about it... a two foot high “fence” likely won’t stop you from going over board. In fact it will trip you. I may run larger size nylon on passages through the stanchens. Something you can grab.

[@tamaraplimmer1968]

Beautiful cabinets!!

[@majesticmark6054]

If memory serves your sitting in a 1972 Pearson 36...... Sure does not look like a 1972 boat...... Awesome job to you both for showing just how awesome an old boat can be.

[@Gpcas9]

9:05 Never understood why you called your old auto pilot "squeaky" :-) Now I know ;-)

[@wanderingaj6801]

Beautifully done...love to meet u guys before you leave Fla... Tampa here 🌊🌊🌊✨✨🤙🤙 have a couple brews... 🍻🍻 Cheers.

[@vingreensill]

Amazed at the quoted costs for labour in the Caribbean. Perhaps cruisers are a predated market?

[@tilleytristan]

minor thing, when sailing downwind, or even beam reaching, you can loosen your outhaul on your mainsail a bit. I noticed at 6:31 the foot of your main is way too tight.

[@SailingUma]

We don’t really have an adjustment for our outhaul. Otherwise we would.

[@tilleytristan]

@@SailingUma aye skipper. Bonus question: why no pole on the windward side (guy) of that spinnaker?

[@SailingUma]

It’s an asymmetric. No need for a pole.

[@tilleytristan]

@@SailingUma yes yes! Soo true! Love you guys, from Victoria BC. Thanks for responding to my sail trim nit picks.

[@SVSomeday]

The flash back to your hair being so small was wild

[@cliffstarks9579]

I really love you guys and your interaction and videos. ❤️

[@JBOhardhatdiver]

I’ve missed you guys being so happy! Never miss an episode but it is really great to have you back out on the water. You both have been a great inspiration for my girlfriend and me. We look forward to following your winter adventures while we wait out the snow until the day we can launch our new to us Catalina 30. Fair winds!

[@egolliher6933]

I'm glad to see you guys sailing again enjoy your videos very much just curious if you guys are thinking about radar or ILS or if you have ILS so you can see other boats around you

[@ihdieselman]

that step was awesome!

[@Arai80vlc]

Congratulations guys! You are great! And your boat looks awesome! Keep going!

[@erikwilliams7009]

The galley looks fantastic in use, BTW

[@Jmmondeau]

Lol. DIY Rails....Yes on the solid rails. However Sailrite has some parts for a diy on a solid rail. I did it and saved "thousand" bucks. It's a bolt together system. Welded is the best but you can't change a section if you bend it. Let me know if u want to see it.

[@unclemot2]

Great to see you back at the helm it’s been a joy watching you two. Hope to meet you out and about some day, till then, fair winds!

[@jez987s]

Please take care of that line clanging 😊- look forward to see in my neck of foods. Hope you consider Malta at part of your itinerary.

[@AppleRob]

Hi from Hollywood, FL!

[@EdToml]

Boat work _is_ interesting too as trying as it can be. How is solar at keeping the new batteries topped up?

[@davidmilitz2275]

Neither of you could stop smiling in this vid!!! So cute!!!!! Great Video.

[@marcoantoniofederico7891]

Thanks for share your movie.

[@TheCowpoop]

When you used your spinnaker, did you already have a halyard ready to pull it up? Does your mast set up for two halyards?

[@wellDunn1]

Great episode guys! It’s great to see you sailing again, but I actually enjoyed watching the work/transformation of your swanky boat. Looking awesome! And... I love your sense of humor with the bottle cozies.... “I pooped today” is funnier than hell. Cheers!