16 | Voyage across the Central Pacific on a Wooden Boat

After waiting for a weather window, we set sail from French Polynesia for an 1800 nautical mile passage to Fiji. This stretch of ocean is notoriously squally and unpredictable. We experienced variable winds and some significant swell rolling in from systems in the southern ocean. After a successful voyage, we made landfall in the beautiful country of Fiji.
Our boat Julia is an Atkin designed Ingrid ketch. She is a traditional wooden boat, built of fir and cedar on an oak frame in 1960. This type of blue water passage making is exactly what she was designed for.
All music courtesy of Epidemic Sound
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Featured artists:
Olympus by Dream Cave / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
The Pyramide by Edgar Hopp / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
A Million Upheavals by Edgar Hopp / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
In the Red Soil by Bonnie Grace / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Across the Waters by Dream Cave / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

[@bin_chicken80]

I still don't understand why this channel has such a small subscriber base. I'd expect it to be at least 250K given the quality and effort you put into it. It really deserves much more. You do such a great job of documenting and sharing your travels and sailing experience. I'm really enjoying it. Thanks!

[@mrno.7366]

Quality not quantity❤

[@robertgarbe6348]

Takes a lot of time to build a channel, and both good content and engaging personalities. AND more and more sailing channels to watch, it is taking longer and getting harder.

[@kodywilson5242]

Agree 100 percent. They do an amazing job.

[@stevenss8070]

Channels with such a number of subscribers put the ass of the woman/women on every thumbnail. It’s hard to accept, but this is how the world is turning. Just to say: I don’t expect/ don’t want it here. It would not match the quality and kindness of 2/ now 3.

[@paule5195]

And they don't even stop to promote NordVPN or Manscape.

[@ElephantEarsPress]

Great videos showing us so much of a voyage on a beautiful wooden boat. No forced drama, just skill without histrionics. Tks.

[@Early8Q]

I rejoice in seeing your posts. I join for the sail and the love of Julia as you present it, and you do not disappoint! I am compelled to offer a few compliments from my own perspective in the event anyone might benefit from what you are clearly are masters. Your horizon is always level. The colors you capture are sublime. And seeing your father in a pfd is such a great reminder of the practicality of wisdom with age. Thank you for deftly capturing and sharing your experiences, they are truly otherworldly in our time. Fair winds and following seas!

[@robertgold2643]

I watch way too much sailing on KZbin and your episodes are by far my favorite. Thanks for sharing your adventures with the world 🙏

[@DieselHopeless]

Truly the finest sailing channel on KZbin. Thank you so very much for documenting true sailing for us all. You all are an inspiration to us/me.

[@cjyoung7372]

I have the upmost respect for young people like yourselves who take the time to lovingly restore a beautiful peace of history and use it for what it was made for truly amazing what an adventure. I hope that you are sailing south to our fair isles of new zealand we have some stunning places that make some great filming. Again simply stunning content 🤌

[@rbcapn]

In '79 I was crew aboard a 26 ton wooden ketch. Planked double, mahogany and teak, frames of Ipol and timbers of Yacal. Typical construction for the builders of Kowloon, Hong Kong. This vessel was built by American Marine, Robert Newton and Sons. The first leg of our trip was the Perlas Islands, Bay of Panama to the Marquesas Islands, FP. Our trip was 28 days. At that time it was very fast. It was also pre GPS and Sat Nav! Our best days run was 238 mi. It was a perfect Trade Wind Sail with a steady 25 kt. breeze and the biggest swells I've ever seen! I'd sailed plenty over two decades in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico and when ever encountering waves nearly the size of these they were breaking!

[@ricorichmond8214]

AGAIN! Remarkable video of an epic sail and sailing a classic wooden boat. Thank you for sharing this adventure with us.

[@haydenrhoads6617]

Every time your dad joins you there is fish on the menu! Enjoying your journey and great videos.

[@johndixon2508]

Wonderful video. No nonsense just sailing. You bring everybody alone with you to experience the feeling of being at sea for an extended period, thank you.

[@mickramsay5002]

Í just don’t know why, but sailing along with you on the boring Pacific is not boring at all. No, it’s magic. How many pictures you are able to catch up is smply gorgeous. Something I love very much is the handling of the sails of your beautiful ketch. The cream topping on all of it is the wonderful music you laid in the background. Thank you oh so much

[@Hat6000]

So beautifully photographed and narrated, almost like being there Only thing missing is the smell of the ocean breeze. Julia is such a lovely well maintained boat it's a pleasure to watch. Thanks for another trip with you guys.

[@stevesteel6066]

What a journey, without the Japanese knives or making coffee. Kudos to you all. What an adventure!

[@cjyoung7372]

I second that

[@geoffreyhanan1837]

Too true, if I see one more coffee being made, poured and stirred...😢 Love your videos, I had an Atkin Eric, love your Atkin and the love you both have poured into her... all the best, always

[@margaretmargaret6582]

As a professional offshore yacht master I appreciate your videos - focusing on the sailing' ,on your vessel making way the weather nature & quiet (mostly if course :). ) everyday activities on passage the real deal.

[@RocksOff72]

A 24 minute video that features nothing but water shouldn't be this engaging. You do an amazing job with your videography and editing. Keep up the good work!

[@martinjalbert7630]

Your carefully planned and courageous adventure is a breeze to follow, but I think your secret ingredient is the fact you remain factual without showing off, grateful to the designers of your faithful ship.

[@erictakakjian6021]

Looks like that was an amazing sail! I always hate for passages like that to end.

[@eusouojotabr]

Beautiful sailing, incredible images!

[@jeremynkelley]

MY FAVORITE SAILING CHANNEL!!!!!! Not stupidly over hyped, plenty of quiet times which allows me to really soak in the feeling. Feels like I’m there. SO perfect ❤️❤️❤️

[@stratchoker8765]

Thank you! Always waiting for you to show up and share your adventures, and then…surprise! A passage to Fiji! So enjoyed the trip.

[@jsud45]

Got a good laugh out of the transition straight from hooked mahi mahi to ceviche

[@danahawthorne1633]

It is the lure of the ocean that drives me to full fill my dream. Thank you for sharing your ocean passage.

[@Rudolf.Aigner]

Happy to watch again a wonderful and impressive episode. The color of the water is sometimes outstanding beautiful. Thanks for sharing with us and a save journey to you. ❤

[@user-retsailor]

I truly appreciate your journeys. I spent time in the Pacific Northwest, up around Port Townsend WA and I marveled at the wooden boats and their lines. This must be a treat for you guys to be able to take your wooden sailing vessel on this journey around the globe. Good for you.

[@markwhittingham5270]

Ooh thank you so much for this film. It had me in tears with the sheer beauty of the ocean, islands and a lovely boat surging along, eating up the miles to the next anchorage. Ooh how I wish I was with you ❤

[@michaels8199]

It's a really calming experience watching the ocean roll by. I really enjoyed the visuals in this "episode". I think you do a fabulous job recording. Thanks so much.

[@aldunlop4622]

I just started following your journey across the Pacific, I'm really enjoying it. As an Aussie it just shows how isolated we are. I've flown from San Francisco->Hawaii->Auckland->Sydney, it's great to see what I flew over!

[@joostsmit906]

Always a treat when you have a new video out, thanks for sharing !

[@peterstanistreet603]

Absolutely excellent! Thank you for sharing your wonderful story... Inspiring, to say the least.

[@williamlinden68]

Just amazing video, can't get enough of watching this beautiful boat sail through the rolling ocean....you make it look so easy, ocean crossing...but really quite a challenge, incredible job sailors...

[@AndrewMoizer]

Thanks so much for making a (really another) SAILING video. One of my life's dreams was to go off sailing and it's looking less likely now. So I really appreciate being able to share in your adventure, and it's inspiring. I'd also be interested in what camera(s) you used to capture this experience. I know how hard it is to capture seas and you have been able to do it.

[@richardaber4299]

You present the best example of film and adventure. Beautifully photographed and scored. Thanks so much for your efforts to bring this to the world.

[@kriskoens1302]

I love your videos! My husband and I play them over and over...love the narration and the music...along with the beautiful scenery and the Julia! Hope you make more!❤

[@JagLite]

The sounds and smells of a wooden boat are magical. Thanks for sharing the beautiful crossing video.

[@PeterRawlingson]

This episode gives a good idea of the huge size of the Pacific Ocean and the tiny size of island specks. Hats off to your adventureousness and even more to that of the original Austronesian discoverers who sailed in the opposite direction, up wind, not in a season, but over many generations about 3000 years earlie.

[@hansslob6749]

What a fantastic passage! I can imagine that this continues rocking on beam reach makes one exhausted i.c.w. running shifts but I think the adventure makes it all worth it. I can’t wait to see the videos of Fiji. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@A808K]

I so admire your courage and sense of adventure in these posts. They're greatly appreciated!

[@robertnixon3816]

Simply stunning! Even in really large swells Julia has a gentile motion. The beauty of that Ingrid being expressed! Enjoy Fiji!

[@markfuchs1225]

Admire your adventures and the willingness to share with us. Amazing footage.

[@christianvolquardts8613]

a wooden boat - I'm happy to fellow you!

[@njbaskipper]

Wonderful what they have done and what they are doing, that passage from Las Tuamotu to Fidyi was truly quite reckless, although the weather was good, fatigue is present daily...great congratulations...God bless you. greetings... 🌬️🌊🌊👏👏

[@fosterprice5690]

Superb film making guys. I just came across your channel. My late friend Jack Crooks built an "Ingrid" in the late 1950s and circumnavigated her from Stewart Island (southern New Zealand) returning in about 1962 I think. He won NZs ultimate sailing award "the Blue Water Medal" for the second circumnavigation by a NZ yacht. Jack was a wonderful mentor to me. His "Tuarangi" is still in NZ waters. If you get down to Southern NZ you can be assured of a warm welcome. Fair winds PS - exemplary seamanship

[@BrotherHoodofTheDogxix]

Great vid, again. No drama is what I love best, and the sounds of the ocean!

[@danderson2930]

Enjoyed your shots of the lines and gear. And nicely paced video

[@rudyo8409]

Man, I remember that dark blue water from when I was in the navy. wow' great video.

[@kkots]

Wonderful documentation of your journey Westward. Flawless video capturing the changing ocean conditions. Brilliant guys!!

[@MrLawman82]

Nice to see a crew working so well together.

[@jamessandman3708]

Such works of art, just masterpieces of sailing. Thank You for sharing! Merry Christmas!

[@mashburn7123]

What an outstanding video! Can’t imagine how much work it took to get such great quality. Thank you for keeping us part of your wonderful life. Pop did a great job and I know how much you guys appreciated his help!

[@mitchellhenderson1456]

We love the way you tell your story. Absolutely beautiful cinematography. Wish we had more. Subscription will go up with more frequent videos. Living the dream. God has truly blessed you both. Hello pops.

[@rustyhydrogen4283]

Charmed life! Love your videos…. Living vicariously though you guys….

[@Viendopiedra5029]

So well put together, thank you. It really all about the boat.

[@LucklessGun]

something very exceptional and aesthetic about that boat. very nice video.

[@underthetornado]

This is first time this even showed up on my utube channel?❤ I often wonder about small tsunami type waves from the huge quakes that occur around Vanuatu? Hats off to you sailors out there. You live a brave life!!!😂❤

[@samholroyd9548]

You guys do such great work with your channel. Wonderful story telling. Thanks!

[@sailinggizmo]

Beautiful video! According to YT Studio metrics, this particular video sends more traffic our way than any other, that's how we found it. Don't you love the passage even more when you're not on it? The stars and sunsets are so much prettier 'out there.' Fair winds

[@johnmorgenthaler3611]

Awesome sailing!

[@donland-zu9ul]

Another beautiful voyage and video. I so appreciate you documenting it so well.

[@robbecker1855]

Brings me back to this passage we did just over 2 years ago. Love the videos- they really bring us back to some amazing times!

[@alexpeattie2042]

An amazing adventure! A joy to watch and listen. I love how green Julia's bronze has turned. Looking forward to the next video!

[@stevenplancich6449]

Yippee…Glad to see another Successful Passage👍 Continues to Stay Safe and Enjoy 😎

[@bfogel10]

Another fabulous video 😊

[@markwhittingham5270]

Hallelujah, another video from Madison Boatworks. How I savour and treasure these editions, like rare wine.❤

[@bernysubbs8445]

The best video of actual sailing ever. The ambience and what's it's really like being out there on the open sea is captured--one can actually discern the difference of sailing on a wooden boat -- so natural--- and without too much of superfluous dialogue, just sharing your journey with us , it is a meditation on the ocean. This channel deserves a million subscribers. Fair winds and safe voyaging.

[@joesprague1464]

Fantastic sailing.Beautiful boat and excellent filming of one exciting crossing.

[@stevelawrie9115]

Very pretty boat, great adventure.

[@electrosonicnebula]

Can't imagine a more beautiful sailboat or better production. Probably the best armchair sailing you can do. Amazing series.

[@jhoughlaw]

Loved it. Looking forward to the next adventure.

[@christianvolquardts8613]

a real Classic - to see that gives me pleasure!

[@ackgeezer9754]

Somewhere, across the bar, Billy Atkin has a contented smile on his face.

[@up_an_down]

Thanks for another great video!

[@johnwalker6711]

Another great sailing episode guys fair winds

[@davidellis2021]

Going to watch this again it was soooooo gooooood. Thanks!

[@wakeuppeoplewakethefup.4540]

Amazing teamwork and skills. Such a beautiful life you have.

[@kennethpucser774]

Just great people....wishing you well...

[@evinwhiteson4902]

Youre videos have that old feel of cruising world magazine 40 years ago. Love it.

[@StudioBhobho]

Looks like dad is part of the old guard of sailing, caution and respect to the sea

[@jameslangham7493]

Great sail guys 😊

[@johnharris2337]

Lovely to see you again on your epic travels, great video.

[@Prevailingbucket]

Beautiful, nicely done. Thank you

[@Andre-yu3qs]

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing. Cheers.

[@C_C_SEA]

💯Top shelf

[@Nathaliwinther]

Your videos are so aesthetically pleasing! If you wouldn’t mind it, it would be amazing to get a boat tour - so curious to see the inside of the boat. Can’t wait for your next video 😊

[@jwrappuhn71]

Great vid guys.

[@patrickjames1080]

Brilllllliant - Just Sailing ⛵️ - thanks for sharing ⛵️ 👍

[@garyconway1073]

nice to hear from sailors on a WOODEN BOAT. I was fortunate to sail on 2 wooden boats in the very early 70's , there is no comparison to fiberglass. One was full keel 20 foot sloop built in 1916 gaff rig, Jamica and back from Miami. 2nd was a 34ft full keel 4ft draft with a centre board to 9.5 ft, 54 ft mast. Flet like a rocket in the water. Those were the days

[@jbh1983]

I've been keeping an eye out all winter to see if you guys were coming to New Zealand but didn't spot you at the Opua Marina. Great video, thanks for sharing this with us all

[@lecaton5973]

Amazing and beautiful! Thanks for a video of real sailing.

[@OttoPutkonen-lm4tb]

Unic yacht, nice seing one stering a mano. Beautiful hazard jibe preventer.❤

[@caractacus22]

Superb. Takes me back

[@dennismacdonald2003]

Love your adventures keep it up

[@Konal1954]

Masterpiece!!

[@murdoc6842]

What a sail great to watch, thanks

[@fransdriesen1311]

A real passage, the way it is.. Thanks for sharing..

[@BIGBALDYBOLLOX]

a beautiful looking boat

[@newenglandstacker]

Fantastic!

[@lien6404]

Totally agree with you! It’s my fav!

[@AlaskaRog]

Thank you for sharing your travels! Very cool.

[@daleyurk4369]

Beautiful filming! Thank you. Enjoy Fiji.

[@kbenham7683]

Beautiful, classic sailing in every sense, Pardey and Hiscock style.