Ep 123 950nm of Open Ocean Sailing - Bermuda to Annapolis

After our sporty passage from St Thomas to Bermuda, it’s now time for the second half (unless we want to be stuck there).
People might think we spend a lot of time up on the mast, but after the beating Talisman took on the way out, it seemed foolish not to take an extended look at how things were holding together. In the end, all the cotter pins, fasteners, and clevis pins were inspected, plus the various lines and wire rope. A section of our jib halyard was cut out as it was getting chafed.
We saw wonderful and largely uneventful sailing the whole way, which isn’t the “boat sinking” drama most of you are looking for, but for us it was exactly what we were hoping for.
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[@jimmerriman6920]

Nice, what a great sail! And of course with Wendy and Kevin, it's rarely any issues or drama, just good sailing!

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks Jim. It was a good passage.

[@jonyboy1968]

Kevin & Wendy you never fail to entertain. Another great episode, informative and quality production. Thank you.

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks Jon. Our pleasure!

[@10lauset]

Cheers

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks Laurie!

[@pauldhond4974]

Dear Kevin and Wendy, Another beautiful part of your journey. Great that you keep sharing this. Beautiful film work. Have a good journey ahead. Many many thanks. Paul

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks for the kind words Paul. It was a great passage indeed, and the video captured it pretty well.

[@lewisr.gridley9618]

Zip ties are a good temporary way to replace safety wire until you have the proper stuff.

[@SailingTalisman]

Yep.

[@roscoejones4515]

Oh and I'd never noticed that the mainsail clew matches your cockpit cover. A nice touch and looks great, especially when it's furled.👍

[@SailingTalisman]

It does. We ordered Sunbrella (Toast) as our sacrificial fabric on both the genoa and the main. It was an option that was almost lost in the order too, and barely made it to the production staff on time.

[@joefrawley5295]

Thanks for some open water sailing...very interesting. Well done.

[@SailingTalisman]

You bet Joe! It was a ton of fun.

[@wynnroberts5388]

Nice sailing! Good to see you again. Fair winds

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks Wynn!

[@peebeedee6757]

Didn't see what you had for dinner!

[@daviddecker264]

Plus I leave from Bermuda to Annapolis on 1 August. Hope our passage is as good as yours, but unfortunately Wendy won't be along for the cooking👌👍🏖️

[@SailingTalisman]

We've done the up and over through Bermuda twice, and have never had the dream beam reach the whole way that we were hoping for. But it sure teaches you to factor in currents and watch the weather along the way.

[@roscoejones4515]

Looks like a great sail, I can tell you love sharing the boat with your pals. Hope they made it home in time for the Dead And Company tour!😉

[@SailingTalisman]

I think Alan had tickets for the night he returned.

[@fredliperson9171]

That was nice! Thank you......

[@SailingTalisman]

You bet.

[@brendangearon2678]

Well done guys really enjoyable.

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks Brendan. We appreciate it.

[@carbidegrd1]

Sweet! I love Annapolis.

[@SailingTalisman]

Cool Place

[@daviddecker264]

Your video are a great resource as we go back and remind ourselves of the things you have done. We are looking to buy an Amel and yes, the ketch us not so much in demand but we like the smaller main sail area. We view the mizzen as an extra sail. Again, yes more cost of replacement rigging as a cost of capital. Question, if you have time to reply. Rest value for bank loans? Does it exist or only with speciality boat finance firms. In reality we should not buy a boat that we can't pay cash for but inflationary times should carry as much cash as possible and stay invested. ..... It's not an issue if the quality or value but the smart and safe way to stretch the dollar. This Amel has circumvigated in 4 years and all new condition still today. We were crew sailing it around Iceland last summer. The owner is giving us first option to buy before listing (240,000€). Sorry for the longest story but this boat would normally be beyond our reach.

[@SailingTalisman]

Hi David. Sorry we're in a bit of hiatus during the hurricane season in the Caribbean. Usually, we'd be posting episodes, but we're busy sourcing maintenance stuff. As to your questions, ketches are great, and you'll love the Amel. It's a different kind of rig, and my contention has always been that it scared off buyers who were used to sloop rigs. But you'll see them everywhere, and especially as the boats go into superyacht sizes, the ketch becomes the only way to keep rig loads somewhat reasonable. Ketches also allow a skipper to more easily "balance" the sail plan so as to keep the course better. As for financing of a boat, I'll admit that we did pay cash for Talisman, and so have little experience there. But as someone with an economic background (I spent a couple of decades as a commercial banker), I'll tell you that hard assets, like homes and better quality boats, can act as a hedge against inflation. Boats generally depreciate, and therefore are not great assets per se, but if financed will always carry the same payment in dollars (make sure the loan isn't an ARM). Thus in five years you'll still be paying in 2022 dollars. But know that the bank will insist on top end insurance, and will have a say there.

[@thomasthomas001]

Wow, Uncle Sam rolled out Red Carpet: Destroyer, Battle Ship, 2 Fighters!!, what an entrance ;)

[@SailingTalisman]

Indeed. It was impressive.

[@davidgilbert]

Great - I see the revs picked up as you approached your Beer destination? 8-)

[@SailingTalisman]

Ha! After a long passage, a good beer or two (several?) is what puts the cap on the trip.

[@ScottMeister]

I live here in Newport News, VA & I can assure you that if there's no Navy air or sea traffic, something's very wrong! Choppers, Hornets, Carriers...you name it, it's always on the move. And as far as the AIS goes, you're pretty much on the money there, as they don't broadcast where they are. It's a security thing.

[@SailingTalisman]

Yeah, as I understand it enemy ships can target based on the AIS signal, which broadcasts long and lat in real time. I was surprised that one ships was actually transmitting an AIS signal. Never saw that before.

[@SIC-SEMPER-TYRANNIS]

Eastern Shore of Virginia here. There are Always subs and naval vessels patrolling the shipping channels of the Bay. There are underwater weapons facilities that are marked on the charts you had best stay clear of, as they are heavily patrolled.

[@SailingFridaafWisby]

Looked like a great sail

[@SailingTalisman]

It was really good.

[@roncanizares9966]

Another wonder video. Two thoughts Kevin as to when you were up the mast; 1) in the absence of real wire, plastic wire ties are an alternative for a shackle and 2) take a look at a knot called a halyard knot for affixing the shackle to the halyard. Cheers

[@SailingTalisman]

Hi Ron. Indeed, those are options. When using zip ties, I only use the nylon white/translucent versions as the black ones are affected by UV radiation too much. Within 6 months they'll become brittle and break easily. And as time goes on I'll be moving more and more to the Wichard shackles with the indents on the pin. These will not back out on their own. And seizing wire is such a hassle. As for the halyard knot, we used it a lot on our old Catalina (small) boat, but the knot has a tendency to slip apart with new, slippery line (until it fully sets). It also really locks up on the shackle body, making it impossible to remove the shackle without cutting the know. I know the bowline isn't pretty, but it's a known quantity and the plan is to add a core-to-core eye splice to the opposite end of the halyard, then swap sides. As an aside, the chafe occurred during the time when the halyard deflector was failing (Ep 117).

[@skidrowe68]

@@SailingTalisman Great content, luv it. The cable tie info is actually the reverse, black for outside, clear for in. Black used exclusively outdoors by us linemen.

[@roncanizares9966]

I use black for outside which is counter intuitive. But wire is better. I use safety wire pliers (look on Amazon) which was used on nuts in aircraft and racing cars before the nylon ends on nuts were invented/sold. It makes using wire fairly easy. As to the halyard knot, I like it for the reason you mention. I buy my halyards about 3 feet longer than needed and annually cut the knot and retie. In that way no part of the halyard is a a potential chafe spot for more than a year.

[@SailingTalisman]

@@roncanizares9966 It sounds like you have well thought-out reasons for what you do, which I always think is good. The solution we're using for concern about the halyard connection is a conversion to Dyneema cored halyards (not all lines are candidates-Dyneema has almost no stretch). The strength and resistance to parting is off the chart. Even the part that I cut off was is no danger of failure, as the core was still intact.

[@SailingTalisman]

@@skidrowe68 Interesting. Good to know. In thinking back on it I suspect that there are wide variations in quality. At present all the ties in my kit are sourced here in the USA from electrical distributers (GB and similar branded).

[@fromyonderpeaks]

Nice music.

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks George!

[@bryanhebden8398]

Wondering about any Covid (Delta variant) restrictions as I note all of you heading out for dinner with no masks visible, no testing, etc. Stay safe!

[@SailingTalisman]

Well to be honest, we follow all regulations, whatever they may be, to the letter. However, that said, we also shop for locations that respect the rights of the local citizens to earn a living, which isn't happening in a lot of places. Now to understand how it works in many islands, arriving yacht crews must depart their originating port with a

[@bryanhebden8398]

@@SailingTalisman Hmm, have to respectfully disagree with you Kevin on the mask issue. For example, why are doctors and nurses required to wear masks during surgical procedures and why do all of the staff in hospitals wear masks now, during Covid? Answer: because they reduce the probability of infection from other people.

[@SailingTalisman]

@@bryanhebden8398 No worries. We're a sailing channel, not a medical one. And I'm fully in favor of letting people protect themselves in whatever way they feel is appropriate. I just dislike the idea of telling people that they have to do x or y or else they'll be personally responsible for killing everyone. Practice personal responsibility. And know that once you've handed the power to government to dictate your behavior, it will never be willingly returned.

[@bryanhebden8398]

@@SailingTalisman Now your last statement I totally agree with you!

[@kurtb369]

cudo's to you Kevin, climbing like a pro monkey so high in the mast !

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks Kurt!

[@austinnice7292]

I really like the music, who or what is it?

[@SailingTalisman]

Hi Austin. All our music comes from the KZbin free library. Unfortunately, that episode is so far back that I don't have any idea what I used. But thanks for being with us.

[@justlooking2222]

What's not to like in this video ! They just don't have the build quality in anything anymore.

[@SailingTalisman]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@robertlaird6746]

Third time is a charm and better than 1st or 2nd because it shows experience :) Are you considering selling Talisman and getting a catamaran?

[@SailingTalisman]

No offense to the cat owners, but never!

[@dirkvandertoornvandertoorn4895]

This is a car ferry and not a container vessel

[@SailingTalisman]

Yeah, I think I misspoke. But they do get container ships too (as do all the islands). Anyway, thanks for being with us.

[@byronnelson8463]

Where did you clear in and how was the process?

[@SailingTalisman]

We cleared into the US via the ROAM app, so never had to even meet fact-to-face with anyone. This is an option for American citizens that sign up for and meet certain criteria (having cleared in and out internationally before, or multiple times, I'd imagine). Anyway, super easy.

[@johnburke7253]

Kevin, at what age do you retire your bosun chair, one FOG to another.

[@SailingTalisman]

Hi John. I assume you're asking when I give it up due to age, and I'd say the effort isn't that great, especially with Wendy just having to push a button on the electric winch. So I've got a fair time left. I'm to a point where I don't trust many others to do inspections and repairs. Too many failures and poor workmanship in the past.

[@johnburke7253]

@@SailingTalisman we are of the same generation, I see you crawling up the mast it gives me hope, about ready to pull the trigger on my own sailing adventure. Shopping and educating myself is an adventure. It has been 20 years since I last owned a sailboat and so much has changed.

[@SailingTalisman]

@@johnburke7253 I suspect the relevant strength necessary for the cruising life comes largely from living aboard and doing the daily chores that go along with it. People rarely think on it, but life on a boat is a constant core exercise, just from keeping your balance and climbing up and down the companionway 30 times a day. It's hard the first week, but you grow into it. BTW, keep us apprised regarding your boat search. We'd love to hear how it goes.

[@johnburke7253]

@@SailingTalisman I have considered a number of yachts. I heard you mention Island Packet, I have given them some thought. I like the style, quality and thought that goes into the goes into the Scandinavian brands Malo, Sweden Najad, Hallberg Rassy, and of course Swan. As I don't have a sailing partner I am thinking 39' to 44', sloop rigged, although there is a Contest 42/44 in NYC I find very interesting. Those are the parameters I am working now. Used boats are at a premium now for whatever reason. 🙄

[@SailingTalisman]

@@johnburke7253 Hi John. Again, so happy to have you. The boats you mention are all great. The Island Packets are probably the last full keel boats being made. As such, they trade speed and pointing (and any type of handling in reverse) for interior volume. It would take a bit of getting used to in comparison to the others. Also, it's a huge deal to actually go and visit a potential boat. You need to see how it feels once you're aboard. Contact me via email (see the "about" tab on our channel for my email) and I'll send you my boat data spreadsheet that will give you numbers on all or most of the boats.

[@billiardsandsnookervideosn8319]

Not exactly the first Alan. Ep 123 950nm of Open Ocean Sailing - Bermuda to Annapolis No views Aug 27, 2021

[@alanjohnson6733]

First!

[@davefoster7770]

Well done, you. Goal achieved. Now you need never leave such an unconstructive comment without watching the video again. ;)

[@alanjohnson6733]

Dave Foster ha Agree not constructive comment… BUT got to live this leg with W,K and T. That’s me on Talisman… Fair winds friend… :)

[@roscoejones4515]

This is, by far, the best 'first' I've ever seen! Hope you made it to your Dead And Company show!