660 Miles of Offshore SAILING Fun! Brazil to Uruguay [Ep. 91]

We have a very tight weather window to make the cold, wet, & windy sail from Brazil to Uruguay in winter, with no bailout points or safe harbors. Can we outrun a southern storm? Or will sailing into big currents and steep waves cause us to turn us back?
#sailing #sailingaroundtheworld #bucketlist
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Music in the video:
Caterpillar - Johannes Bornlof
Dancing on a Memory - Hallman
Best Kept Secret (Instrumental Version) - Roots and Recognition
One Ride - Roy Williams
Running Circles (Instrumental Version) - Cody Francis
About Us
It was never part of the plan to make videos on KZbin or become influencers, but we are so excited that we decided to create content. We love to share our knowledge and experiences with you! We have all types of videos from fixing repairs, to sail trim, to relaxing videos to asmr long form sailing content. Come sail away with us every Sunday Morning.
Kate and Curtis both learn how to sail when they were young. Kate was a junior sailor in Opti's and 420's while Curtis went cruising in the Great Lakes with his family. We met while sailing in a Melges 24 regatta and have been sailing together ever since. The first time we went cruising together as a couple was on a friends borrowed J Boats J 105 in the North Channel of Lake Huron and Canada (part of the Great Loop). Those few weeks, and watching other channels like Gone With the Wynns, Sailing Uma, Project Atticus, Delos, Nahoa, and Sailing La Vagabonde, convinced us that the sailing life was for us.
We bought our boat, a J Boats J/46, in 2019 after spending years searching for the perfect bluewater sailboat to sail around the world. We were interested in a catamaran and monohulls, but loved the performance cruising design of the J(it is faster than most cruising catamarans). We spent six months refitting her in Rhode Island, before selling our house and cars, quitting our jobs, and leaving land life for good to become digital nomads, with the goal of sailing around the world via Cape Horn.
We have since navigated over 12,000 miles together, through storms, big waves, pandemics, and lockdowns. We sailed to Maine, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Grenada, Sint Maarten, the Azores, Canary Islands, and Brazil, on our way south to Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile to sail around Cape Horn and into the Patagonia fjords.
We never intended to become influencers or start a new KZbin sailing channel, but now it is what we do. We love sharing our experience and adventures with you. We have learned to fly the drone and edit videos, trying to produce relaxing and listenable videos for you to sail away and watch at home while having coffee on Sunday mornings. We hope we can inspire you to achieve your life goals and cross off those bucket list items also!

[@williamsimmons152]

I have to say, if I were to ever need someone to teach me "sailing", it would be HANDS DOWN, Curtis. He knows more about, the mechanics, the operation, the oceans, the weather, the seasons, where to go, when to go and navigation than anyone I can think of, ever. I probably forgot something in there, but if I did, Curtis has it figured out already.

[@als2217]

Coffee with Curtis. Brilliant! Ha ha ha ha!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks, but you can just call me Kate! 🤣😉 Alright, sorry for the dad joke 🤦‍♀️

[@fransdriesen1311]

What I admire on this channel is the professionalism you both display whilst sailing. I just enjoy the scenes where you can see how nice the sails are set and trimmed.. The comments by Curtis about his navigation and sail management are another example of his knowledge and professionalism.. .. He for sure loves the mystic of being on the oceans.. Keep up the good work...

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Wow! Thanks for the wonderful feedback and kind words Frans! We hope you are having a great week. Feel free to share the video in other places online and spread the word ;-)

[@robertscranton8293]

Me Too..great sailing

[@nancyroberts5505]

We totally agree with you and have been searching for a way to say it. You said it for us. We view several other sailing channels and some are quite good sailors but we deem them no where near the caliber of Curtis and Kate.

[@larrimos]

Well said Frans.

[@rd9028]

Thanks for the night time experience too, your veiw of the stars must be incredible!!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Indeed they are! 🤩

[@Tomm9y]

Lovely to see the Ruca and gang whooshing along again.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Indeed! 🌊⛵️🌬

[@grahamatsea3575]

Best sailing channel ❤. Sweet Ruca really does get a move on, great footage of a powerful yacht under sail. Thanks for allowing us to sail along and learn from you two.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

That is why we are making the videos! Thanks for the kind words 🥰

[@kylejazwiecki714]

Awesome video this week! Can't wait for rounding the horn!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Kyle! Us also :-)

[@johnshaw8327]

I can wait. These days might seem tropical in a few weeks further south.

[@KevCampbell]

That’s some lovely sailing for sure, and pretty sweet speeds when surfing!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Kevin, this part of the trip had some pretty awesome sailing! Cheers! :-)

[@dansiwek3593]

Watched a bunch of your videos and can say I'm a fan, you two are fun and doing it to it! Keep em coming! :)

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Will do! Thanks for the great comment dan!

[@tiochio8476]

Definitely you are heading to more challenging waters. Keep up and please be safe!! Thanks for sharing your experiences, love the way you let us participate.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks so much for commenting Tio! Next week will bring another challenge which was hinted at in this video ;-)

[@stubby2822]

Coffee with the Sweet Ruca crew is always great. Cold showers, sleeping dog and great explanations of how to sail a boat makes a great video. I learn something new with each video. Yall keep having fun and stay safe. Bill

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi Bill! Happy Sunday! We are happy to hear you enjoyed the video and coffee! :-)

[@JasonKechely]

I totally forgot that there was just a fist sized hole in the boat! You know a repair is solid when you forget about it when out at Sea, it must be a great feeling! It's awesome watching you two seemingly becoming 'chiller/more chill', more ebullient, and easing into your authenticity as the miles, countries, and people rack up. Thanks for all the hard work that goes into documenting and sharing :)

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Wow thanks for the kind words and comment Jason! We try to improve editing and sailing! Lucky we get to share our experiences

[@tomm9427]

Kate has such a beautiful smile. Love this channel. Real sailing by real people. Keep safe guys and thank you for the outstanding content, How are the cheese and Potato chip sandwiches coming on?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Tom! This comment made our day! We feel fortunate to share our ecperiences when we can! If Curtis can hold back from eating all the chips, we will let you know 🤣

[@deanerasmus2868]

Eggs & Bacon = American breakfast. Bacon & Eggs = English breakfast.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

My understanding of English breakfast includes beans and a thing called blood sausage? But hey, as long as its in the morning, its breakfast 🍳🥓

[@iGod4053]

I really enjoy viewing your weather routing charts and your explanations to support your course choice. Plus enjoy your description of AWA, wind strength, and sail plan. It's 100% enjoyment.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Many thanks for the kind words. We do what we can, without making it too boring hopefully!

[@larrimos]

Great content, detailed explanations, and excellent filming/editing. Love Kates new hair style.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Many thanks for all the kind words! 🥰💁‍♀️

[@aswan2140]

Awesome, I was really hoping to see the kite and see the 2-3 knot increase. Maybe next time. Great video!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Haha maybe!

[@mooorecowbell4222]

I am really digging the color of the hull.... 😎😎

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks! Us too 🤩

[@johnflorian6745]

From the very start of this most excellent episode everything gave me that MI vibe and then the mention by Curtis of the Great Lakes simply brought it full circle. I've sadly never sailed but I'm no stranger to optimizing a process with or against nature's semi-predictable chaos and that feeling came through vividly because I could "feel" what I was seeing. Brilliant work!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks John! Ope! Im glad we are coming through as our authentic selves 😀 Glad you enjoyed and thanks for coming along for the ride!

[@larryhill7563]

Thanks

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi Larry, you are welcome :-)

[@kurtc6372]

Beautiful absolutely beautiful.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Kurt 🌊

[@RandyWHorton]

Great content I really look forward to each episode. Thanks 🙏 ❤

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Randy! Thats good to hear! 😊

[@HopeOfJoe]

Loved the play-by-play of the midnight jibe. You guys are really good at your craft‼️‼️ Another Sunday afternoon sailing w/SweetRuca and, of course, coffee. ✨ 🌊 💨 ⛵️ 🏝 👙 🌞 ✨

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Richard! Cant forget the coffee! ☕️😉

[@allynonderdonk7577]

Some really good sailing there folks!!! No super drama! Those are good times...the ones without "Super Drama". I can't stand MEGA boat problems.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Trust us, we can't stand mega boat problems either...

[@fred2108]

Love watching you guys and always look forward to the next video 🤗👍

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Fred! That means a lot 😊

[@braddobson2060]

Morning coffee with Curtis or a shower with Kate tuff choice lol, have a safe passage and be safe

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Haha!

[@FernandoOliveira-oy4gy]

Glad to see that y’all are back on track to south after an unplanned yet nice stay in Brazil. Time to make new friends, enjoy the good food, and learn Portuguese. Thanks for sharing the awesome sunsets. Stay safe and wish y’all a great time in Uruguay.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Fernando! Perhaps everythi g happens for a reason. Brazil was awesome and we are grateful for our time there!

[@daveBit15]

You never disappoint.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Wow! Thanks David!

[@altenneson7132]

Do you have a video that shows your planning for your Cape passage. I have not seen many videos that show such a passage that I would consider a landmark voyage. I have been following the GGR going West and looking forward to yours. What is the window for you?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi Al. That is a good idea to make a video of the overall plan specifically! We normally approach routing in real time, making adjustments as needed, but there are some generalities that will happen no matter what, which would surely be fun and informative to discuss.

[@HopeOfJoe]

Niiiiiice new intro, Kate. We are subscribed and along for the ride. 🙂✌🏻️

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Many many thanks! 🙏

[@joseerazevedo]

Nice to see you're fine and back to the ocean after a (I believe) nice stay in Brazil - even if unplanned. I also believe it's better to sail offshore than close to the coast, specially beacuse of waves and currents. And winds shift more close to land too. Sweet Ruca and your were made for each other. Love to see the way you sail! Fair winds, see you next sunday!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks José! Fair winds and see you next Sunday!

[@Opium1960]

I didn't have core, I had some beer watching your videos 😎

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Perfect! 🤠😎

[@cristianelvis]

Why you guys doesn't landing to explore that place in Brazil?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi Cristian! Our visas had expired, so no more time in Brazil was allowed for us.

[@rogeriopenna9014]

What place? Imbituba? Not very different from their last port at Santa Catarina state, the attractions are inland there, like the thermal waters of Gravatal, and the canyons of Fortaleza and Itaimbezinho...

[@cristianelvis]

@@SailingSweetRuca Ow guys so sorry for that, my dream is a free world without visas or bureaucracy.

[@paolavasquezd.191]

¡Genial como siempre! 👏👏👏

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Muchas Gracias amiga mia! 😘

[@robmclaughlin420]

Really enjoying your videos lately.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Many thanks 😊 Trying to improve little by little

[@rainfinger]

Great content, having used the Walder Boom Brake for years, assuming it works well for you too. My wife's book is about sailing in the "old days", called: "Seychelle and the Cannabis Yachties", possibly purchasing on Amazon for Kindle, hardback and paperback versions.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Oh very cool! We will have to look that up!

[@kaykay730]

enjoyed the perspective of driving your boat

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Wonderful! We will do more like this!

[@MichealForsyth-n6v]

Hey I'm 91 episodes in, nice boat, I have not sailed in 40 years it WA a 27 foot boat my buddy built. Curtis how do you your cap on when Kate seems like she will fly off. It is so unreal you tangled with a whale, I did see the damage with the pictures, I guess we didn't see the same. Glade you were able to make repairs. Fair winds and following seas. You two are fun.

[@sailingwithadockrat]

Beautiful sailing shots!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks! An awesome day out on the water.

[@flyinggybe2113]

Nice episode! Curious why you are not using a boom strap on the mainsail clew to better distribute leach loads and instead relying solely on the outhaul when the full main is set. Wouldn't that also allow more independent adjustment of leach and foot tensions? Not sure where you are in real-time, but hope you have a chance to enjoy the eclectic bunch of cruisers usually found at the Puerto Williams Yacht Club.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

You are right on and 100% correct! The sail didn't come with one and it wasn't on our high priority list before we left.

[@pjc222955]

They don't call them "dish lickers" in Australia for no reason, another great video

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Haha thank you!

[@necrokittie2291]

i use a dog-o-matic dish washer too.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Haha! Good one! A lot more creative than vacuum

[@thebluedan]

I wish I knew you were here …I live near Imbituba

[@SailingSweetRuca]

That is so cool, it looked spectacular from the ocean and we wished we could have explored. If you want to see where we are in real time, you can check our website for the tracker www.sweetruca.com

[@husky-xu2ow]

Might be a silly question but where does the dog wee and poo on the boat?

[@husky-xu2ow]

@@Mumbo_Jumbo_Kiwi.1 😂😂😂😂

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Not silly! She goes on the poop deck! 🤣

[@grahamselby3246]

Great video

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thank you :-)

[@grahamselby3246]

@@SailingSweetRuca As a retired sailmaker, J24 and PHRF racer, I appreciate the way you sail Sweet Roca to her full potential and the way you explain exactly why and how you do it.

[@markandnikkifindlay8177]

Just watching and saw through when you pulled the reef out it looked like you don't have a separate clew strop around the boom and you are reliant on the outline to hold the clew in position. Your mainsail should have a clew strop around the boom as well as the outhaul. Although the outhaul will take the load the sail, outhaul and clew strop are designed to work together.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

You are 100% correct! Good eye!

[@DeanColegate]

Hey guys, only recently found your channel and I'm enjoying it :) Very pleased to see people going off the beaten track and being extra adventurous! Also, as a fellow boater, I really like the explanations as you go along. I have a sailing question for you, I'm thinking of installing a boom brake on my yacht as an alternative to a preventer, but you were using both. Why both, have you had a bed experience with your boom brake? Thanks Dean

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi Dean! Welcome aboard! :-) We are glad you are enjoying. As far as the boom brake is concerned, it came with the boat, so we figured we would give it a try. We should probably write a blog about it, as there is lots to say, but here is the skinny version: Pros: does an excellent job at slowing the boom in gybes, is easier to engage and adjust than a preventer, helpful when dropping the main in a seaway; Cons: it is not a true preventer, it is cumbersome for quick manuevers, it is heavy, it is expensive, mid-boom placement can risk breaking the boom. Overall it does work well for its indented purpose, which is SLOWing the boom. A true preventer is designed to STOP the boom; Pros: cheap (unless you need to add deck hardware), works well; Cons: more work in gybes, either on or off, no in between. We would be fine without the brake, but it does come in handy occasionally.

[@DeanColegate]

@@SailingSweetRuca Thank you that's a really helpful description. The other factors for me are that you can change the tension in the brake presumably as the wind speed changes but in practice how likely is it you'll actually do that? Also you have to attach the lines to the base of the shrouds or the toe rail but surely you're adding another significant trip hazard to your deck? I like the idea of a boom brake but as long as you make sure you rig it, a preventer simple solution.

[@fawqman2764]

fawKing Sweet Ruca!!! 😂

[@SailingSweetRuca]

🤣🤙🤙🤙

[@taffythegreat1986]

Can’t beat healthy eating 😂😂

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Not all sailors are vegan 🤷‍♀️🤣

[@MrRourk]

Just found your channel

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Welcome aboard Fredrick!

[@Emilestafanous]

Should you consider adding passengers, put me in your waiting list. I need metors.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Maybe some day. If we ever do, our Patrons will be the first to know :-)

[@thomasthornton5737]

😀👍👍👍❤

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Cheers & thanks Thomas!!! :-)

[@Kick_Rocks]

Can you sail from the United States to Uruguay?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Yeah, sure you can.

[@MiketakesaHike]

Did someone cut her hair?.....Great vid guys, Take some time in Uruguay, it is a fascinating country, and Buenos Aires is just across the bay...I was there 35 years ago...I bet a lot has changed, and some things will never change

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks for the tip and comment! 35 years! Very cool 👍