I Crashed My Boat - Come sailing with me after the collision

[@iangarforth]

Love your videos. So great that you show the good bits and bad bits, and I just hope you're not hard on yourself, because you're inspiring many of us. Lots of times, you set up your "mistakes" in your narration, and when I see it, I always think, "God, good on you - I've done way worse than that!" I haven't done much racing to be fair - I'm more a "pottering about in boats" person, but fair play for giving it a crack. A few times in some videos, you've alluded to single-handing. If you want to, go for it. Almost all of my sailing has been single-handed, in a variety of old and cheap knackered old tubs on the Severn Estuary (home of the massive tides - 14m is a big one round these parts!), and it's been fine, day and night. I say fine, I mean I've amassed plenty of adventures and tales for the bar along the way, but I always think that's part of the point of it. Equally, lots of other people think I'm nuts for single-handing, so I guess it takes all sorts to make a world, as my Grandma used to say.

[@donnasailing]

@iangarforth you're definitely not nuts for single handing. I think it's good to have that independence as it's hard to enough having no control over the weather, let alone finding crew to be available when there is no weather. Thank you so much for your message. Yes I am hard on my self and my confidence knocks very easy, but I always manage to pull myself round and get back out as I just love sailing.

[@AaronBelsham]

There’s no such thing as a “right of way boat”, the #1 rule is avoid collisions at all costs. The #2 rule is port tack gives way to starboard tack, if rule #2 fails, see rule #1. As in - rather than plowing into you, the other boat should have avoided and then protested:

[@donnasailing]

Thanks, Aaron.

[@Mister_G]

Glad to see you're getting your confidence back after the collision - I bet it wouldn't have happened if you / they weren't "racing", so don't beat yourself up about it. Nobody was hurt and nothing sank. Self tailing winches and roller furling make single-handing or short handed sailing much easier. Thanks very much for the update!

[@donnasailing]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Hopefully it's the first and last time it happened 😅

[@MakingWaves-IsleOfMan]

Accidents happen, thankfully nobody hurt, and nobody sank. You know what happened and how to avoid it happening again, so crack on enjoying time on the water. I don't blame you for walking the boat into your berth, blimey that's tight! Enjoyable video! Looking forward to seeing more 😊

[@davidtimperley4241]

When you start racings it's always tense, but it's often worth watching the rest of the fleet to figure out how the more experienced are planing to cross the start line. And yes starboard is generally a safer bet than port if conditions allow. But I do enjoy watching your sailing adventures and you honesty. All the best from the Isle of Wight.

[@donnasailing]

Thank you, I'm racing in a couple of weeks with one of the club members who has been doing it for years and hes going to give me some pointers so not giving up just yet.

[@markgibbs6512]

Really great to see you getting back at it after the crash. Im learning to sail, have a boat on ullswater, i have certainly made lots of mistakes but on the lake its less critial. One day ill get out in the north sea! Keep it up.

[@donnasailing]

Very jealous of your mooring in the lakes though. How beautiful that must be. Yes there are some beautiful spots here to anchor and moor. I totally recommend it (apart from the weather haha 🥶).

[@markgibbs6512]

@@donnasailing yeah it's pretty special. RNYC looks like a nice spot though and easy access to the sea. So close to Newcastle too so that makes it a bit easier than amble. Hope you have a good season. 👍

[@deerfootnz]

We have all done it....just kidding, I have never done it...