Alone on a NORDHAVN N51 - What’s that like?

[@easybigun7825]

You're doing a great job on your own, Mark. Still producing great videos as well. Thank you for taking us along.

[@AwanuiNZ]

I love it especially the feedback

[@reggierico]

What a great adventure. And you vessel is just beautiful and very capable!

[@nicolasweber2805]

very nice Mark.... Well done single handed... and now 7000 subscribers!! a very nice video, and you are doing it all on your own, even getting nice drone footage! you are a one man band! looking very much forward to the next episode... thank you

[@AwanuiNZ]

Under production as we speak. Thanks so much for your continued support.

[@stephengarroch4625]

Mark you are doing amazing on your own am sure your family will be very proud of you. Thank for the video

[@AwanuiNZ]

No problem I enjoy making each episode. Getting used to it on my own but have friends with me currently

[@jlittleboy]

You get some beautiful shots and appreciate how you explain everything.

[@AwanuiNZ]

No worries really enjoy it

[@OnTheFlipSide]

Stunning skyscapes. Well done, Mark, do you remember back in the build stage, when you arrived back in Turkey, you did a walk-around and you pointed out a manual steering rod and you said, I probably won't ever need you to use that... Given everything that has had issues, aren't you glad you have that? 🤪🤣I'm sure if you did the same walk-around now, you would have a different appreciation/view of many systems.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Absolutely true. Yip you have reminded me

[@tonyhebden4699]

Mate, Kia Kaha, you are travelling well. May I suggest you are still in pilot mode, once you take off you have to keep going until you land. Perhaps a small mindshift to skipper mode, weather and traffic permitting you can actually STOP mid route. Give yourself a break - go into neutral, just bob, you won’t run into anything then, and take 30 mins to make food/ go to the toilet/ put some washing on, have a shower … whatever it is but it will be good for your sanity to just stop moving, not think about the what ifs of moving and get some life chores done without as much stress. Great thing about boats … if you don’t do anything to them generally they just float … loving what you are doing mate. Cheers

[@AwanuiNZ]

Great advice. Being prepared at the helm is always good also.

[@davidlangford3841]

A beauty video Mark. Jen and I watched it while waiting at Gisborne Airport waiting for a flight home to Ross in Howick. She been looking after our Mum for 3 weeks. She’s a very special sister. While watching the video it seems you have learnt heaps while being alone. At odd moments when you needed a hand I felt like getting on a plane myself. Best wishes bro and stay safe.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Anytime sir! Yip she is an amazing person.

[@andyboyd720]

Hi Mark, great to see your bold adventure continuing in the vlog - all those years of problem solving coming to the fore. Kia kaha mate👍🇳🇿

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks Andy. Life is pretty busy running the boat. Don’t know where the days go

[@AllysonDolman]

Hi Mark! Greetings from OZ. Loving your videos! I can detect a bit of loneliness now that Fiona has gone. You seem a bit down in the dumps. Wish I could give you a hug! Never mind.....just soldier on! I hope your friends will be joining you soon so that you'll have a bit of company. Safe travels with calm seas.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks so much…always grateful of support and a HUG!!

[@amandabortello505]

Excellent episode Mark, love the under way video's, you're doing a great job going single handed, congrats. Fair winds.😊

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks so much

[@johnschieffelin3226]

You have been so blessed with peaceful weather! I have read so many horror stories about sudden fronts bringing high winds in the Mediterranean. I realize you are traveling after peak boating season, but I am astonished you are the only boat anchored off popular ports in Italy. And there seem to be zero yachts traveling between islands and ports like you. If you get a bit lonesome, dig into the wallet and stay at a marina. Sit at the bar of a local eatery and strike up conversations with your neighbors. Anyone will be fascinated to talk to you about your adventures! Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Absolutely, great advice.

[@blainethemono2]

Living the dream. Great video, keep them coming! Checking in from Ottawa, Canada. Have a safe journey.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Aah very excited about getting to your part of the world

[@robbiefowler7097]

Your doing great as a solo sailer Mark - stunning footage as always - safe passage sir.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks so much

[@braydendonnelly8388]

What a journey you are spoilt with the weather ,bangers and mash had them for tea tonight as well with a nice onion gravy and bread to mop up the left over gravy, Lot of people following you and support is there

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks so much and Jimmy!

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yummy!

[@jmidd3437]

Thanks Mark. Love your videos. From Virginia, USA.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Howdie Virginia…great to hear from you

[@donphobos]

Looks like Mercedes-Benz air vents on the "dashboard". Nice bridge. Like the watch bed behind the captain. Also the doors. Amazing vessel!

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yes all good eh. Shame the vents only work with aircon on

[@robertsmith-fj2rx]

Hi Mark, you are doing a great job. Going solo is not easy. Just a thought on launching and retrieving your dingy. Run a tag line from the upper deck to the dingy that’s long enough to reach the water when you launch. Leave one end of the line on the upper deck permanently and have a clip on the dingy end. When you raise the dingy clip the tag line on the bow of the dingy when you attach the crane and away you go. When you launch just unclip the tag line and leave it over the main deck rail ready to go when you return. I hope that makes sense. It will make it a lot easier to handle in any sort of swell to.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yip essentially I am doing that now having a longer painter which I transfer from bottom to top and vice versus. Work hard at avoiding launching retrieving in swell.

[@rogerreed905]

Going well Mark . . That water is like glass . Unreal . Take care till next time . 👍👋🇳🇿🍻twa

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks Roger it’s been amazing. Bit of a change in sea state now…up to 5m!

[@suenorthcarolina6695]

Good reason to have a compass when the GPS fails! Stay safe and happy travels.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Indeed

[@JayDoc895]

Great job Mark! Looking forward to seeing more of your adventure!

[@AwanuiNZ]

Next episode due

[@PGodin54]

Lots of issues to manage, fixing that misbehaving Garmin is one pain in the rear. Doing so many things to run that boat safely is another. Plus, consider all these videos that you're editing , cutting, pasting, music selection and the list goes on. What video editor are you using? You're doing a great job at that also. Thanks for sharing with us all. Wishing you like always a safe and easy sailing. 🙂👍🇨🇦

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks so much yip lots on. I use iMovie.

[@deanebrownfield6866]

The set of autumn calm seas and no wind is just Goldilocks! Time to enjoy and look forward to France.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Very much so

[@The71Percent]

Great episode Mark, thanks for sharing Man!

[@AwanuiNZ]

Cheers! I’m happy you enjoyed it.

[@sidspeed222]

paint a couple of the anchor cable links 3 or 4m from the anchor so you can then see when its close and you can slow down.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yes going to do that

[@Luke22022]

A very high quality video and great episode, thank you.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thank you very much

[@dreamlife9589]

Super video, i did the same trip, in the opposite direction, from north Italy yo Corsica, next to Naples and to the strait of Sicilly. Beautifull! And also alone, but on a 40 foot boat. To be homest, the amount of faillures on the Nordhaven shocks me a little bit. Just goes to show that keeping it simple is sometimes the best. Good luck to you!

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yip agree

[@dreamlife9589]

Side note; seems like your biggest problem is the complexity of the garmin systems… i dont know if this is a thing with Garmin, i myself have a Raymarine autopilot, and its dead simple and always working. So, nothing bad about Nordhaven, problem more with Garmin i think.

[@AwanuiNZ]

@@dreamlife9589Totally agree…although I think we now know what the problem is!!

[@pullypoolman]

Excellent Mark Fair Seas Fair Winds 😄

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks so much

[@jamiemcmu]

Yet another inspiration video cheers Mark.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks so much

[@Criss4]

Never ever go with Garmin when it comes to serious ocean crossing/cruising or commercial. There is a reason you never see Garmin (only Furuno) on commercial vessels. Great vid!! Cherrs from Stockholm

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yip but bit late to change now

[@bhudd154]

Worry for you out there by your lonesome, but relieved you are doing well. So many tasks to take care of but betting you can just about do them in your sleep by now. Again, beautiful scenery, wonderful weather and as usual your videos are spectacular! Be safe and may you continue to have fair weather…tell next time…..from Georgia, USA👋

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks so much for your support.

[@Odrok1]

Another great vid Mark. Solitude can be refreshing if you enjoy your own company. Loneliness however is another thing but I don't think you suffer from that. 👍👍. If you need any shoreside assistance when you get to the UK I'd be happy to help. Happy cruising.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks so much. Stay in touch

[@bobuncle8704]

Adjusting to life on your own isn’t always fun. Made that 10 years ago. Nice to see you’re getting some fairly good weather. Makes the single handing a little easier till you’re fully used to it.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Absolutely. The weather is changing as we speak.

[@EdwardTilley]

Traveling for days alone is boring. I can still recall a trip through the Val de Loire in France in a rental car, as my most boring travels after 30-years. At least you know that the boat can support this single-handed sailing? motoring? mode when needed. My advice is to take social breaks - get on a Eurail for a few days and take a beer in Bavaria. When we are twenty, that mode of travel is super social, and it's a bit tougher as an older person but being around people will make you feel better. That boat is small enough to take you up the Rhine and Danube, although the Black Sea access through Ukraine might be a question mark. On a train you don't have to worry about the security of your million-dollar boat every night either. I once took a great solo trip with a Eurail Pass for 2 weeks and was able to squeeze in visits to 12 countries and 32 cities (typically half-day visits where I hit the top 5 tourist spots according to Frommers or Let's Go). Do or plan that - and its best to do it in April (spring) or after the summer rush in Europe.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Wow ok so I am loving being alone with the odd stop to meet people. Happy to be alone. Funny thing is being alone does not mean being lonely.

[@ElizabethBizzini]

Hello Mark, The trip to France was eventful, from watching it….. you are doing very well by the way….. the Garmin tech gadgets do not perform as they should from I gather, can you change them ? eventually ? I am looking forward to next instalment of your journey x PS I was cruising for 10 years with

[@AwanuiNZ]

How cool for you it is a great adventure yeah? Yippee Garmin is challenging at times.

[@EdwardTilley]

The drone makes for incredible video ... This N51 is certainly serving you well here. I am curious to know how it performs in higher seas. I wouldn't have chosen that boat in a million years, but it seems to fill all the needs of your extended passages.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Just had 5m seas. She did great

[@EdwardTilley]

@@AwanuiNZ Would love to see to videos of that. Sadly, those are also the drone photos that everyone wants to see, but no drone can usually navigate due to wind, rain, etc. Your GPS equipment could be glitching, but GPS can be shut down near current military bases - to avoid its use in missile or drone tracking - FYI. Unfortunately, publishing the location of GPS free bases defeats the purpose of security here, but military bases do usually appear on flight charts - as no-fly zones.

[@beca8898]

Drop 2 ropes off the top deck and tie fore and aft of the dinghy then use the ropes to prevent the dinghy from spinning as you raise it. Also put a cover over the propeller end of the motor before bring up to preventing any digs to your gel coat.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yip good advice

[@peterm55555]

Hi Mark … I’m enjoying your travels … may have missed the reply to a previous comment regarding running on one motor … what were your thoughts ?

[@AwanuiNZ]

Love the idea but couple of issues. 1. PTO for hydraulics only on starboard engine 2. Don’t have shaft brakes and they are best as not good for engines freewheeling. It would likely have the maintenance costs and I know some boaties do it. May look into it further

[@RobertSzabo-pr8in]

doing great--keep it going

[@AwanuiNZ]

Absolutely will…enjoying the journey whatever it brings

[@murrayduguid218]

Great video again Mark, are you flying home for Christmas? If so where about are you leaving the boat? All the best 🥃🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@AwanuiNZ]

Nope I’m here till August next year.

[@nigelcooper6254]

Nice one Mark.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks so much

[@olekristoffersen9298]

A fluxgate compass can be nice to have, it will connect to the autopilot and keep your course until gps signals comes back.

[@AwanuiNZ]

We have that but without the GPS input the AP kicks out even in Heading Hold

[@olekristoffersen9298]

@@AwanuiNZ must be a setting issue then.

[@AwanuiNZ]

@@olekristoffersen9298Will be revealed soon…just checking my facts

[@barrycranson7666]

thanks Mark great vid enjoy following

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks Barry I love the comments and enjoy sharing my experiences

[@schalkburger2562]

Howzit Mark did you find out more about the remote cutout system.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Not yet

[@D30N64]

Mark is your Mercury of the tender running now ok? I kept n eye on that crane remote of yours. Do you tie it to your arm? I mean it would be a mess if you drop it over board.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Engine going great. I have a lanyard on the remote around my wrist.

[@darploin5071]

A second thing with that risk band kill switch is also it's a safety and security switch too cause if you have it around you Is wrist like a watch That means when you leave the boat even if somebody was to break the Ignition and try to hot wire it the boat won't start until that risk band gets close enough to the Ignition so it's a security system in a way too

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yip

[@RichieKeane]

Hi Mark nice film, Be safe bro..

[@AwanuiNZ]

Oh yeah

[@RichieKeane]

​@@AwanuiNZ whats your route, will save pointless comments or advice.. :) saw you were already in minorca in comments!

[@AwanuiNZ]

@@RichieKeaneDown the Spanish Coast, Gibraltar, Portugal, French Atlantic Coast UK by April

[@colinanderson3834]

Great to see you back. how is Minorca?

[@AwanuiNZ]

Very very nice thank you

[@JJP72095]

What adjustment did you make to the auto pilot so it doesn’t make that hard 90 degree turn to the route. I have the same Garmin and can’t find a fix so it doesn’t do that other than not engaging the auto pilot until I am right on the track.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yes it’s a pain in the arse. Try running the seawizard setup again in lovely calm waters. Still think it will do a hard turn if a long way from the track which is crazy. I guess the easiest thing to do is setup a new route and engage when asked.

[@JJP72095]

@@AwanuiNZ thanks. I agree ,you would think the genius that came up with the program should go out on a boat and see how it really works. Thanks for all your work on the videos

[@AwanuiNZ]

@@JJP72095Agree totally

[@darploin5071]

That's excellent mark that you got your life jacket on now do you have your Ignition kill switch on your wristso if you fall off the boat the boat will shut off so it doesn't run away from you other than that you have an excellent day

[@AwanuiNZ]

Working on it

[@darploin5071]

It's time to have one of your kids come out and help you out on the yacht

[@AwanuiNZ]

That would be great

[@peterjansen7854]

About time

[@AwanuiNZ]

@@peterjansen7854Renee has been back others working on have kids

[@FancyMcDancy]

A stopover on Elba and no mention of Napoleon?

[@AwanuiNZ]

Aah good point that was remiss

[@scottbeharriell4358]

hmmm, sounds like a bad connection from your autopilot to the GPS antenna. An extra long cable or too many connections along the cable will result in too much signal loss. Also if the wrong type of cable was used there will be too much signal loss. Since it works sometimes then drops out completely I would check all the connections along the cable. If you have another device that uses GPS with it's own antenna and it stays working, then that points to your antenna or cable as well.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Good thinking. Will check

[@LeonardoLabastia-mq4qj]

Good evening Mark for Ireland, you do seem a bit melancholic like yer one in the song. If I was nearer to you I would hug and kiss you (only on the cheeks mind and I mean the upper cheeks) I couldn't do what you're doing alone especially at sea (I'm a motorhomer) I wish you well and raise a pint of Chateau Neuf De Pap to you on this night 🍷🍷🍷

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thank you so much for your comments and thoughts. I am fine, no need to worry about me.

[@ericduany2809]

I wonder if the loss of satellites is Russia messing with GPS? I’ve seen reports that it’s impacting GPS signals in the Baltic. Regarding autopilot, is there not an option to set it to a bearing based on the compass?

[@darploin5071]

That's why you should use faruno systems they're much more robust

[@AwanuiNZ]

Interesting….I always liked Garmin….not so sure now as their support is useless.

[@paulcunningham2859]

Nice

[@AwanuiNZ]

Cheers! Glad you liked it.

[@gerhardvanwaltsleben8944]

Lekker man lekker 🇿🇦

[@AwanuiNZ]

Thanks so much

[@kiwikoppite7829]

Dont forget M8 that your translate app works on signs. Point your camera at the sign and translate. That way you KNOW what it means. Des

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yip, ta

[@GeorgeLittle-ft2yx]

Aliens have shot all the satellites out of orbit😂😂😂 Try turning it all off then back on again.

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yip that fixes it

[@darploin5071]

Now because of the part of the world you're in There's a chance the Russians could be spoofing the GPS

[@AwanuiNZ]

As above

[@darploin5071]

Election day is came and gone and we got stuck with a big dumb orange orangutan

[@AwanuiNZ]

Everyone to their own I guess

[@darploin5071]

@@AwanuiNZ Not when it involves fascism and terrorism

[@darploin5071]

A second thing with that risk band kill switch is also it's a safety and security switch too cause if you have it around you Is wrist like a watch That means when you leave the boat even if somebody was to break the Ignition and try to hot wire it the boat won't start until that risk band gets close enough to the Ignition so it's a security system in a way too

[@AwanuiNZ]

Yip

[@darploin5071]

Now because of the part of the world you're in There's a chance the Russians could be spoofing the GPS

[@AwanuiNZ]

Possibly not sure