Hard to admit: This Sailing Challenge has taken me more than 10 years to overcome!

[@jimdiamond8246]

You have overcome ten years of challenges sailing and exploring countries and oceans more than most human beings on this planet .time well spent i think .

[@jamiemcdonald7283]

This would have to be the easiest watching sailing channel youtube, your voice is so calming , loving your adventure

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

Your smile is more radiant and frequent then ever, love looks good on you Nike, have it good you two.

[@Coffee23]

Confidence is gained through doing, so having an experienced pair of hands on board to guide you when necessary is a must! Good job, Grasshopper & Master Po!❤👍

[@dinkcirillo1025]

I have followed your channel, watching your and Karl’s beginnings to present. You’re an inspiration to all you’ve touched. Respect is to every bit of your history on KZbin. I remember you taking Karl out. Thank God for all the friends you’ve have found over the years. Hoping one day you’ll write a book about your adventures at sea..with the highest regards. ⚓️

[@AngusJohnson-ei1kk]

Good to hear you have crew that works for you .

[@markayers5397]

Love that you are sailing so happy. Everyone deserves happiness! Wishing you the best from Oklahoma USA

[@Cacheola]

Oh man, I loved Yulapa. Was looking forward to re-living it vicariously thru you...

[@man-with-handle]

So nice to see the happiness coming from you Nike - long may it continue.

[@alanfairclough3427]

Good to hear you used your whisker pole. I used mine extensively and with my cutter I sailed wing on wing on wing: jib and main out one way and stays'l out on the pole out the other way.

[@yachticus]

It brings a smile to my (our) faces to see you patently in a happy place, the sun is brighter, the problems are just smaller bumps in the road - even "Boga" will be happier. May the journey continue

[@russellneville7145]

Nice work. The pole works well in a down wind blow. Keep up the good work 💪. SV Kiwi Lady Opua Bay of islands New Zealand 👍🏿

[@stefanpaul9443]

„Feels pretty damn good!“ passt so gut! Habt viel Spaß bei allen Aktivitäten - beste Grüße aus dem herbstlichen Bayern.

[@rickchollett]

It's great to see you out there enjoying life! Fair winds!

[@TomislavStagličić]

Hello Nike, after long long time😊❤🌏🐬

[@ezequieldiaz1950]

MUY BUENA NAVEGACION CAPITANA !!!! TE MANDO UN GRAN SALUDO DESDE ARGENTINA A VOS Y AL NUEVO TRIPULANTE !!!!!!

[@erictakakjian6021]

So glad to see you all enjoying some great sailing, and using your whisker pole!!

[@HolyGrailSailing]

Tenaketta is one of my favorite anchorages. Multiple times I’ve swum with dolphins there. I also love the crocodile infested jungle cruise.

[@bobailik1570]

Using a pole is very useful for both racing or cruising. Making chicken wings or handling a spinnaker, symmetric and asymmetric. Jaw on each side of the pole should face up, for easy disjoint the sheet, or from the mast. As long as it has support from the topper and kicker, pole should be hanging at about your high. Once you are confident in its usage, you will realise that you need another one, mainly for using two headsails at the same time, downwind. Fair-winds!

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

@@bobailik1570 thanks for this great advise!

[@stefanarndt1164]

Danke!

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

@@stefanarndt1164 vielen herzlichen Dank für deine Unterstützung meiner Videos 🫶🏽.

[@janecme]

Ha! We have a pole too! Five years... nopes, but we will

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

@@janecme 😂 ah I am SO glad I am not alone here 😂🙈 it’s quite the gem actually…but I still would not want to have it up at night or in funky conditions, I think 😬

[@ianb4801]

0:39 I haven't poled my headsail out YET so don't worry about it. My concerns have been twofold - I have a heavy spinnaker pole on my HR-38 and I fear it might take my head off if I slipped up AND I have a fear of rolling into a crash gybe. I must try it in the Pacific but I think I'd pole using a third sheet so I can "escape" the pole easily, single-handing as I do. Other aim is to use my asymmetric spinnaker with that brute of a pole poling the tack out as I expect lower wind strengths than in the Atlantic so as to deepen it's downwind range. Added precaution for that pole - I think I'll have it always lowered because it's less dangerous than bringing it down from the mast. But you're sailing legs that scare me immensely, with land and shopping/fishing to avoid so maybe you're braver than you think. In that respect, you're sorta a land person and a sea person at the same time. Maybe you should just head west for Hawaii and see if you prefer being a 100% sea person though.

[@jimh.8138]

Sunday and coffee, sailing with Nike and Flo…what could be better?

[@SaltyPauly]

I am with you on the whisker pole except my issue is that I have not properly set it up while using it. And so what 😂 You are looking much more confident at the moment with an experienced crew on hand and hopefully with some other aspects/benefits as well. Look forward to more of you integrating him into the videos. Fair winds and following seas sailors!

[@runristaren2]

Soon that time of year to check the rigging and lines.

[@bertilnordberg3441]

This was nice! Best to you from Göteborg/Sweden

[@drjasper100]

A Confession Nika, seeing you went first. I've been sailing for about ten years and I've never used my whisker pole either... lol.. maybe this summer.

[@tomas5376]

Sooooooo happy that your relationship with Flo is so enjoyable! I love that coast you were sailing on!⛵️⛵️⛵️⛵️⛵️

[@rod8823]

Yes - I also need to use the whisker more often !

[@rogerkircher]

For me the more I procrastinate the more depressed I become. Get'er done.🤩

[@gertboerman3666]

I never used a whiskerpole on the headsail to go wing-on-wing as my finkeel boats started rolling dead downwind at less speed than when gibing downwind. Meaning, allthough I did more miles, I was quicker from A to B gibing with sails on the same side. It depends on the boat. Just try and figure out how Karl performs dead downwind or gibing. The big plus while gibing........less rolling.......thus more relaxed.

[@faelsinnes]

Yes, I cannot remember an episode with your whisker pole.. Congratulations. Re buga and the crocs ....... I will say nothing , but I'm thinking it.. 😅😅

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

😆 I will let Boga know your having caring thoughts about her ;)

[@bobmiller5352]

Que bueno verte tan contenta, chica !!!! Cheers !!!

[@TomGillis-wx1wr]

Very nice show, thank you

[@Bluenoser613]

Using a whisker pole while wing-on-wing can be make a lot safer with a boom brake to prevent the boom from crashing over on an unintended gybe.

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

@@Bluenoser613 I usually use a preventer for that 👍

[@patford9943]

Nike, you’ve rehabilitated Karl, done 11 years of sailing, speak at least 3 languages and are helping make the world a better place! You get a pass on not wanting to use whisker pole.

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

Lucky me!!! 😎

[@Panoramix0874]

May be you should do a bit of racing on a good boat as a simple crew in Germany, at the beginning you will find the downwind mark and the gybes terrifying but soon it will be natural and you will learn a lot and spend more time under sail while cruising.

[@otter736]

Thanks much for the great video !! I’m

[@RustyKnorr]

I have a lot of fear around sailing, not being a swimmer. I’m absolutely terrified of the water, but I love to sail. I have a lot of anxiety about buying my next boat, but I’m just pushing through my fears in anticipation of all the joy I will experience, and the fears I will overcome.

[@scottg6799]

I bought a Hunter 33 last year with a whisker pole. It has been attached to the toerail the past year while I have solo sailed the Bahamas, DR and Jamacia. Presently in San Andres Columbia heading to Bocas Del Toro Panama tomottow. Guess I will rig it up when I'm there and play with it. Thanks for the motivational push!!!!!!!!!!

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

That sounds like a great plan!!! Let me know how it went and safe journey

[@SV_Aroo]

My heart skipped a couple of beats when you said Boga chased something into the lake...a croc. My Scottie is the same way, and thinks everyone just wants to play. AIYEE!

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

Soooo scary. The crock seriously ran away…but Boga chased after it and started to look for it 🙈🙈 I think I did not breathe for like 2 minutes and Floh had to hold me back not to chase after. He told me afterwards that most of the incidents with crocks and humans are when women chose after their dogs 🙈 I am definitely not surprised to hear that

[@SV_Aroo]

@@WhiteSpotPirates We weren't there of course, but I'm not going to abandon my pup if there is anything I can do, regardless of personal risk. Hugs to Boga.

[@tawharanui5011]

Oh Lüneburg 😊😊😊😊

[@GoPoundSalt]

Snowing yet?

[@Twelvestonestacking]

How's bout ALL the time ...pushed well outside of my comfort zone!

[@DougMacGregor-d4e]

Right... :) (5:02)

[@pediajo1]

In between jobs, filled with doubt and indecision, and felling disappointed and a failure, my wife, then girlfriend, suggested instead of seeking another job, start my own consulting service. Her support, confidence in me and gentle persuasion opened doors I couldn't imagine, and the results was life changing. In 38 years of marriage, I still appreciate the confidence and support she gives me.

[@DeeBarrymore]

I know exactly what you mean about it making perfect sense to do something, even when everything is in your favour to do it, but you still don't. I've suffered from it this year where I've been too 'scared' to leave the dock just in case I balls up. I've never had this anxiety before and actually the last time I went out on my yacht, I did a perfect berthing into the pontoon. But being a solo female sailor and not getting any help or talk of encouragement from the 'guys' at the marina hasn't helped my self confidence one bit! In fact, if anything, the marina owners usually have something bad to say about my yacht if I speak to them. Last thing was "You've got the worst mainsail reefing there is." (My boom is roller reefing). I think if my yacht was tied up on a mooring buoy and not stuck in a marina where 'eyes are watching' me I probably won't suffer from anxiety where "if I made a mistake" people won't be around to laugh at me? Congratulations on getting that whisker pole in use!

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I know exactly what you mean with the "marina talk". It can be tough. Also, there are many people with very strong opinions out there. That made me tumble a lot in the beginning, especially cause I had some not so grand experiences that made me question my own judgement. Leaving from a mooring ball or lifting anchor can be a lot easier than leaving a dock. Sometimes inside a marina, the world out there seems kinda scary and it seems safer to stay and the move to be made to get out there seems quite a bit. At anchor, I feel that I am already there, right in it. And it helps to grow the confidence of being okay "in it". There are still eyes watching, haha, anchor / marina TV is one of peoples` favorite channels ;). But at least it`s not always the same crowd. People that laugh at other people for trying...yeah, maybe not the kinda people to hang with. I hope you find some encouraging souls that will support you through your voyage. Only if we try can we learn and grow. I wish you all the best and lots of courage to keep pushing yourself.

[@DeeBarrymore]

@@WhiteSpotPirates Gosh, thank you so much for taking the time to send me a reply. And such a lengthy one at that! How I wish there was someone like you around my marina who share similar thoughts and experiences. Like you said, it's so hard to find that drive to actually leave the marina and if I do, have to plan on leaving and returning on high water due to the lower water berthing spot its in. When I think about that obstacle and then needing to book arrangements with 2 bridges to get out to sea, and all for what? Two or three hours maybe? Is it worth it all? But yes, I do need a boat buddy badly I think to give me that push of confidence to go out and do it! Have followed your journey from the beginning and you give me that inspiration to want to do it as well! I only wish I was located in Panama rather than on the east coast of England which is a very boring cruising area! Anyway, enough feeling sorry for myself please keep on with your sailing videos and at least I can say I have a virtual boat buddy to have adventures with..... X

[@fredfleming8905]

Curious whatever happened to your friend Joanna who use to sail with you?

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

@@fredfleming8905 u are probably referring to my friend Maria on SV Joana ☺️. You could see her in two of the earlier videos this season kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3LMioGdoJiFrNkfeature=shared This one for example. She is working on the research vessel Thomas G. Thomson and refitting her sailboat Joana in her time off.

[@fredfleming8905]

@@WhiteSpotPirates Very good at 78 my memory sometimes doesn’t connect well 😆. You and Maria are amazing sailors as well as crafted at many repairing skills. I guess you have to be to maintain a home constantly exposed to the elements. I started watching your channel just before Covid and try to check in when I get a bell notice that you have posted a new video. Be safe thanks for answering my question. Fred in Texas

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

@@fredfleming8905 hi Fred! Thanks for ur kind words. I usually post a new video each Friday (try to). KZbin often does not show the bell unfortunately, just to give u a heads up. 👍 greeting to Texas, Nike

[@skaraborgcraft]

For the benefit of the algos.

[@jerualem1234]

Way to own it, Nike. Now have a capful and quit judging yourself. 🤓

[@henriaboukrat579]

Some sailors advise not to let the pole overnight...and some others, too long out of their confort zone, do not follow this advice...During a pitch dark night with one pole out and without main sail, the single hand sailor asleep and my reliable steering wind vane doing the job...i waked up by the noise of the wind picking up...i just had the time to try to reduce the front sail with the pole out!!! when my dear friend jibed...and i heard (too dark to see anything) the pole snapping while crossing the deck...afterward i guessed a cumulonimbus came to wish me a good night...Wild jibing the front sail with the pole out...checked (done)! 😂 ...the wind shift was so suddent that the wind vane did not have time to save me from this situation...i did not have any update of the weather forecast available in the middle of this ocean...at sea sometimes it is good to learn NOT to be too brave.

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

uf, thanks for sharing this. That`s a nighmare of a situation and part of why I have always been a bit worried about the pole - especially when sailing solo. At night - gees, even scarier. I am glad you made it out okay!!! It`s a very good reminder of what CAN potentially happen...

[@robertcarkeek8391]

Now that he's wit you; howbout you introduce us a bit moe to you good man?

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

@@robertcarkeek8391 ☺️ there was a little introduction of Floh in one of the previous videos kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaixmmhtdr6dobMfeature=shared And we have done a bunch of stuff together on Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/111849158? I am also putting that content up for channel members here on KZbin soon ☺️. And he will have some more screen time here soon 😋

[@robertcarkeek8391]

@@WhiteSpotPirates Bless you!

[@murphyproject28]

there is no sea, ocean, storm or even a hurricane that can scares a solo sailor more then folling in love...

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

😁😁😁

[@BobNarz]

Judging yourself by what you have not done is being very hard on yourself. You are probably in the upper 5% of well-accomplished, adventurous people. You have at least 92.7K people who think you are amazing!

[@Coyotehello]

"It is hard to admit to myself, yet alone to anyone else". Don't worry I will not tell anyone. Are you using a preventer on the boom downwind? I find it gives tremendous piece of mind.

[@WhiteSpotPirates]

thanks 🤫 I am using a preventer on my main sail boom, yes. 👍