Incredible & Dangerous Encounter While Sailing Offshore - [Ep. 92]

We have a CLOSE ENCOUNTER with large ILLEGAL fishing boats (poachers) while SAILING in a STORM and HEAVY SEAS 150 miles off the coast of Uruguay in the SOUTH ATLANTIC Ocean.
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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!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hey sailing friends! Thanks for watching. We know some of you watch to learn, and at 9:38, Curtis made a mistake when talking about the mainsail shackles. He was repairing the Tack at the gooseneck (front of the sail), not the Clew which is at the end of the boom (back of the sail). Why this happened? We don't have a clue why ;-), but likely because of too much fried balogna, excessive instant coffee consumption, and lack of sleep. We usually edit incorrect things out, but sometimes because of the time we have to edit these videos we do miss some things. We are glad that you guys/gals are so knowledgable and watch so closely, impressive!!!

[@ratusbagus]

FGS, don't beat yourselves up! We all occasionally get nautical vernacular wrong at times. Also, to be fair to yourselves, it's also referred to as the cringle clew. The thing you taught your learner viewers is to be ready for as much as possible, to carry shedloads of spares and boat fings break.

[@billhanna8838]

Blame it on that Bologna - Does strange things to you on night watch lol

[@dp5475]

Was just scratching my head about to ask. No judging at all though, i just put up an asym this weekend after a fun night of resetting the anchor 3 times, so less than full faculties..., and i tied my sheets to the "tack" because hey that's what sheets do is tack. Took me until everything was up and i couldn't fill it before it hit me, haha.

[@gordonbrown2836]

Thank you for clarifying I was confused.

[@stuartsmith5146]

😂. I was totally rationalizing my dyslexia as taking over all areas of my life. I was blaming it on my age too 😵‍💫

[@kenwebster5053]

Changing course whenever you do suggests potential piracy, especially when it herds you towards a 2nd boat dead ahead, like they are working together, trying to trap you. If they are illegal fishing, perhaps they are prepared to take advantage of any windfall and a port approach concentrates potential prey for them. Very concerning. You did very well to get clear.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

It feels like intimidation, deliberately setting a collision course.

[@HopeOfJoe]

OMG 😱 WOW ‼️ Not discounting the [illegal] fishing boat's erratic behavior, Sweet Ruca can really fly ‼️‼️ Fabulous boat handling crew. ✨ 🌊 💨 ⛵️ 🏝 👙 🌞 ✨

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks for the kind words as always!

[@fransdriesen1311]

I used to have a lot of respect for the fishing industry but lately the illegal and unfortunately overfishing of ocean waters makes it very dangerous and tense for sailing vessels crossing their paths. Kate and Curtis illustrated this very well in this video and it's a shame that the rules of the road (seas) are almost completely ignored by the fishing boats..In some areas they trawl nets which are unbelievable long and they seem to hate the AIS as the competition amongst fishing boats is very intense, hence they don't like to show where they are fishing....Yes more so with the illegal fishing practices.. Well, it is what it is and the Kate-Curtis team handled it very well.. Thanks for sharing ..

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Fran! We still have lots of respect for legit fisherman, some hard-core seamen/women out there putting food on people's plates and making an honest living. Lots are very professional. Unfortunately the big illegal operations are stealing the rug from under the little guys!

[@rainfinger]

Great job, using your boat handling skills to avoid two fishing boats. We have an electronic-radar reflector, returning a ping when we are painted with radar: Echoman Active-X-Band. When we call ships they always respond, "Yes I see you on radar." In your case, if they do not respond on VHF, confidently knowing you are visible on their radar. Loved the cameo with Roxy, informing other cruisers how you handle Roxy's needs.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks for sharing Rauf. It can sometimes be a free for all out there. Roxy is smart but does require some assistance 🙂

[@tiochio8476]

Wow, definitely challenging waters! Brave couple!!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks! We enjoy a good challenge, but that was a bit much!

[@DD-xx8wh]

yay Ruca sailing skills! - threats, weather and night, wow!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

😄👍 we would prefer uneventful sailing, but I guess it makes for good TV

[@engineeringconsulting5534]

Kurtis and Kate, Thank y'all for sharing. Cheers! Fair Winds and Blue Skies. Faithfully, James

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks so much James! Cheers to you!

[@lavagnolli]

It's so sad to see these ocean pouches in real life.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hopefully it brings some extra awareness and the Navy and Coast Guard continue to pursue them. A big congrats to the Uruguay Armada (Navy) for catching one of them.

[@michaelvanwinkle7919]

Stay safe You Two! Looking forward to seeing you in Uruguay

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks! One step closer!

[@ratusbagus]

It's almost as if they were deliberately menacing......well done for evading them.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

It surely seemed like it. Thanks Ratus!

[@michaelswift9340]

Thanks

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks so much Michael! We really appreciate your generosity!!!! :-D

[@FernandoOliveira-oy4gy]

Kudos to Roxy! Good girl! Nice job in the kitchen, chef Curtis! And also a nice job replacing the broken shackle. Kate, Curtis, and Roxy, please stay safe and away from those fishing boats. 🙏🏼 Take good care of yourselves, and thanks for sharing y’all’s experience in the south Atlantic waters.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks for the nice comment Fernando! We will try our best to be as safe as possible. Roxy says hello!

[@clarencebirdashaw8117]

Good job folks. Keep your heads up Mentality and you two will do well. Greetings from Florida.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Many thanks Florida friends!

[@stubby2822]

That was a very interesting video. Started out nice and calm with lots of smiles and laughter and ended very tense in rough conditions with some knuckleheads acting like fools. You all showed what great sailors you are. Keep having fun and stay safe. Bill

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks for the kind words Bill. We would much prefer smiles and laughter the whole time. The seas, and its other occupants, cant be taken lightly. Cheers

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Not knuckleheads. Probably deliberate criminals illegally fishing and trying to defend "their" territory through intimidation.

[@petercaras3696]

Fishing boat encounters..... not sure if they still do it but back in the 90's, we did a delivery from Puckett, Thailand to California and had some weird encounters with fishing boats playing "chicken" with us. They would come right at you, lights or no lights at night of course, and at the last second, veer away. You never knew which way they would bear off so you just had to stand on! The object of this maneuver was to cast their "bad fishing luck" off on you! We started bringing an extra pair of shorts to the wheelhouse for night watches!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi Peter, we hadn't thought of this, but now that you said we we realize we have heard of this before! Always thought it was an old wives tail. Some type of thing about crossing the bow? We will watch out for that move now. Makes us feel better we aren't the only ones :-) Thanks for sharing this!!!

[@charles11ification]

That was terrifying. Good on you for keeping your heads and displaying sheer professionalism.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Charles!

[@jwxlr]

Amazing! What an boat and some proper action thank you! My dream boat is a J/45 just waiting for the lottery win... It is nice to see a modern sailboat with headsail furler above deck so you can see something as with the J/45. From now on i will subscribe!!

[@reverands571]

Thank you, so much. I learned it's important to injure a shackle like that is prevented from turning 90°, changing the forces to be on the threads, which is not how it's engineered to work. I don't suppose a quick-link, could be used on the clew, could it???

[@SailingSweetRuca]

You are welcome! We have shifted to soft shackles in a lot of places, and continue to move in that direction where we can.

[@reverands571]

@@SailingSweetRuca The Reverend, is deliberately misspelled, since it's kinda' fake. I joined the Universal Life Church, as a Reverend, when I was caring for my Dad. If his cancer had forced him into ICU, I wanted to make sure they couldn't forbid me from being there, as many hospitals do (spouses only, and she's been gone for years (cancer, again)) As a cancer survivor myself, I understood how important it would be, for my Dad to have me there, as I was, 24/7. Fortunately, he died peacefully, in his own bed, with all the family, by his side. The correct spelling, I reserve for my brother, a Methodist Minister. In many countries, it might be useful, to have ministerial credentials. Few in South America, will attack clergy.

[@SailingwithScott]

Love you guys... but shackle doesn't hold the clue to the gooseneck. C'mon Man! Tack baby Tack! Thanks for the ride! You guys are awesome. See ya next time.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

The thing! Just fix the thing already! :-) Definitely misspoke. Oopsie :-) Hopefuly it doesn't screw anyone up. You are 100% correct. TACK!

[@SailingwithScott]

@@SailingSweetRuca ❤🐬☠😎⚓⛵⛵⛵

[@johnshaw8327]

@@SailingSweetRuca See you are like Joe Biden, no problem, could be president one day.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hahaha! We try to stay away from politics, but this one gave us a good chuckle. 🤣

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Scott!!!!

[@alexpineiro7960]

Within sight on a dark night and no response, then thrown in their bearing is on a collision course with you....enough for me to go lights off and assume pirates. change my bearing and take the inconvenience for what it is. Pirates carry firepower to reach you at a distance to stop you.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Cheers Alex! We agree. Getting the heck out of dodge is usually the best way to go!

[@remodeledcatidea5324]

If their fishing net gets your keel , you go under.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

That would not be a good scenario!

[@jimbishop5240]

Roxy is the world's best boat dog!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

She is a trooper for sure :-)

[@salnichols94805]

Tack to gooseneck, clew to outhaul…

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Good catch Nick!!! You are 100% correct. It is the tack. Curtis misspoke, and even said it twice! He must not have had his morning coffee yet! :-)

[@salnichols94805]

@@SailingSweetRuca we put up our J4 like that one afternoon. That’s how I knew. lol.

[@yankeexpress]

He has no clue about the Clew. The broken shackle was on the mains’l TACK, not the clew.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

LOL. Well played! You are correct. It was the tack. A side effect of fried bologna and lack of sleep, one becomes clewless ;-) We had also broke the clew shackle earlier and we overlooked this when editing. Glad to see you guys are watching closely :-)

[@joec8750]

I'm so envious!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Whenever you feel this way, watch the boatyard episodes, rub some fiberglass shards on your arms, drip some epoxy on your pants, then take a cold shower and flush a few hard earned dollar bills down the toilet. It will make you feel better :-) Really though, we are very grateful to be where we are, but it is not always as easy as KZbin makes it look. Thanks for watching and dropping us a comment. Cheers!

[@joec8750]

@@SailingSweetRuca when I was a kid I sailed the lettie g howard from Maine to Venezuela and back. We had a decent sized team and it was tough, I can't imagine doing it like you guys do! But it's inspiring! Thanks for the reply

[@fawqman2764]

So cool. I’m working on getting out there soon.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Excellent to hear! Good luck!

[@seashepherds4959]

Sea Shepherd Global has been hunting down Illegal fishing for years and using DIRECT ACTION with local governments to end IUU. Only when you take DIRECT ACTION will it stop. Very pleased Sweet Ruca got through in good order using proper mariner skills.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We have seen the Sea Shepherd vessels in a few ports we have been in (Brazil and Maine), they are always impressive and professional. We don't always agree with everything they do (we aren't ready to go Vegan yet and we support legal and sustainable fishing), but we are glad they are out there. We did mention our encounter to the authorities and thanked them for apprehending one of the vessels. As we have learned more about this topic, the scope of the illegal operations is incredible along with the political and economic influences.

[@kylejazwiecki714]

Odd to see you guys motor so much, but I totally get it had to be done. Those fishing boats look like a huge issue. You don't know what they are leaving around or dragging. Glad you made it through without incident!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We aren't afraid to use the diesel delivery skipper style when it's prudent.

[@jonstivers]

The southern seas will keep you on your toes.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Indeed they will! 🤙

[@steveking6204]

Curtis: I'm wonderful Kate: You try Excellent!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

🤣

[@wow.sailor.]

WOW Sailor,👍

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Haha nice! See what you did there 😁

[@Vis4vinny]

What a thrill. A thrill no one wants but Wow.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

😂😅 🎢 Definitely a ride!

[@reverands571]

Wouldn't the Drake Strait, be safer, than challenging the Horn??

[@svcyclops]

It was the tack not the clew on the shackle replacement?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

You are correct. It was the tack! Oops! :-) Curtis probably mis-spoke as we broke both tack and clew shackles in the same way on this trip. Too much flopping in waves!

[@svcyclops]

We sailed this coast going north. Tigre is a worthwhile day trip. Also BA should be very cheap.

[@flynn6737]

I get seasick in the bath but your channel is very interesting. Roxy is so cute!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks for the kind words! Roxy is definitely cute! Luckily she does not get seasick.

[@sandyestabrook3898]

A little more intense than usual

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Would prefer it a little less so..

[@kurtc6372]

Safe sailing ❤️

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Many thanks 👍👍

[@kurtc6372]

I know I might have mentioned this before but my name is Kurt. Don’t find too many of Kurt’s / Curtis around.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Haha yes! Most excellent 🫡

[@gwenmarshall587]

It wasn't clear to me where you were replacing the shackle. You called it the clew but that is at the back of the sail / boom, but you seemed to be near the mast which is the tack of the sail. This is why I was confused by your repair.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Yes, Curtis was a little tired and clewless at that moment ;-) When in question, just call it the "thing." In all seriousness it was the tack.

[@ratusbagus]

Thought the clew was at the aft end and cringle at the bulls horn. But the fix is the same..... Fishing boats.....there are many clewless skippers around the world.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hahaha! Clewless.....hahahahaha. Yesssssss! Love it. Winning comment of the week! :-)

[@rogeriopenna9014]

Ps: the state is Rio Grande do Sul. The city is called only Rio Grande. Because it's on the mouth of that huge 250km long lagoon, which i guess the first explorers like Amerigo Vespucci and Magellan thought was a big river

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Very interesting!

[@sailingcitrinesunset4065]

If those boats are engaged in fishing with nets out! you must bear away!! pass behind them and allow for long nets.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

You are correct in that fishing vessels are stand-on vs sailing vessels. This doesn't always mean bearing away (to the wind) or passing behind is best though. It is situational. We do always attempt to give extra room and proceed with caution and good seamanship.

[@jorgeconcheyro]

I think you'll find even more fishing boats, mostly from China, illegally fishing, from Chubut all the way down to Cape horn.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

That is what we hear. Hopefully we don't, though!

[@trevhedges209]

🤔 interesting, Cheers guy’s!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Interesting and uncomfortable! Thanks Trev

[@trevhedges209]

@@SailingSweetRuca Trying to remember what made me write “interesting” from memory it was the fishing vessels changing AIS data, (It appears somebody isn’t playing by the rules) the turning to set collision alert, i would say was a warning to get away, so nobody could identify them.. basically they didn’t want Witnesses!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We bet you are right on the money Trev!

[@acodike]

Where are you guys now? Piriápolis? Montevideo?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Our live Predictwind tracker is on our website: www.sweetruca.com

[@patricewilson4549]

Glad you guys made it through. Definitely a nail biter*

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks you!

[@sailingbeyond9657]

Maybe subsurface coldwater current or halocline ?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Quite a possibility.

[@alexpineiro7960]

Good that you were keeping an eye out. Never put 100% on a chart, paper or digital. Depth at 125' ..lol..submarine or ufo is under you.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We always imagine a submarine or UFO like in the movie "Abyss" also, haha! It is spooky when the depth alarm goes off in deep water. Most likely we think what was going on with the depth was a thermocline or a large school of fish.

[@billhanna8838]

Had the scare of my life off East cape N island NZ when a bloody great fishing boat came within 50 meters on me Of course its 30 Kts , Big rollers & Solo - Thought i was a mate of his ??? No radio just come over to check up I found out later .

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Whoa crazy story! Glad everything worked out ok. The seas can be a free for all 😑

[@topc9858]

I use a cable tie on those shackles. It is easy to check that it is ok. Never had an issue. But it might be because our season is only about 6 - 8 months and the winter time the boat is up without the mast. 8 months will definetly be ok with the cable tie ;) and no need to use clue, it makes it just messy. The shacle type I use is ofcourse different with the hole in the pin.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Cable ties or zip ties are a great way to go!

[@topc9858]

@SailingSweetRuca it was actually zip ties that I meant. Sorry for the bad English.

[@sydshuler1941]

Y’all need siphon hose with a valve you can buy them for like $10 for emptying the jerrycans into the main tank.❤ I hate adding fuel to the main tank at sea it is a game changer.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Great idea Syd!

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

A lapel microphone would make the audio clearer, particularly with the motor on. Wouldn't the corner of sail by the gooseneck be the tack and not the clew? The clew is at the outhaul. Whoops, I see you corrected it in the pinned comment. (We had a clew shackle break on a J/105.) Th illegal fishing boats were trying to intimidate you into keeping away.

[@michaelvanwinkle7919]

When do you expect to arrive in Patagonia, or west coast of South America?

[@mf-ks6ly]

I wish you specify size ot your vessel and electronics, thank you

[@rogeriopenna9014]

The coast of Rio Grande do Sul state is everything foreigners don't expect of Brazilian beaches. Cold dark waters. No palms, no forests, no mountains, no bays, no peninsulas.... just a 700km straight line of gray sand.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Not too many places to take refuge! Would have been nice to explore nonetheless

[@rogeriopenna9014]

@@SailingSweetRuca Torres, the only beach that is different than the rest of the state coast... and coincidentally, exactly on the border with Santa Catarina State. It's beautiful kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYK3mpeKbpqAq5Y the rest it's a straight line of sand beach, like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/a36XaY2Aas1rjLs straight as far as the eye can see looking south and north, even when flying at some 500-1000 meters altitude kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIKulp-JdrJkatU

[@alexkitner5356]

Why fight with gas cans and spouts that spill on solid ground instead of one of the 10 dollar hand pumps or siphon devices? Have had to bring a can or two some times when we were pushing our range to get to fish offshore and a little harbor freight pump does wonders without spilling a drop.

[@georgebarber1343]

Don’t you wire your shackles??

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We do, usually with zip ties for ones we use often and are accessible. This one has a flush head without a hole for wire.

[@jamespraley8175]

Was that shackle off the clew or the tack?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We must not have a clew as surely that was the tack ;-)

[@armslength2618]

I'm guessing the boats might have been protecting their nets or floats somehow, illegal or not. A factory boat maybe dragging in or deploying a big net? But who knows, maybe a drug handoff or some clandestine naval monitoring. I'd be worried about snagging nets or ropes in addition to avoiding a collision. Annoying when you're deploying or reefing sails no doubt.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We didn't want to get close enough to find out :-) Snagging a net in those conditions would be a big problem.

[@lonniepee9804]

Hi. I'm a newbie here... first time. Funny you should mention ice boating. Just before that, I was wondering- I've never thought to ask anyone else- Is it at all practical to use the staysail for steerage as with ice boats? I've never sailed on ice and only minimally on water. Another krestion: Is that an Icom ham radio? I'm N1MO. I really appreciate the qualidad of your video and that you both are conversant in sailing... some other couples, not so much.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi @lonniepee9804, welcome aboard! We do use both sails to balance and steer the boat, especially the mainsail while going upwind, think of it as the "air rudder." We like your call sign. It is an Icom SSB, we have a ship license WDK9858. We don't use it very often though, it mostly is turned off to conserve battery, we have used it just enough to test and practice a little, and we wouldn't mind improving.

[@lonniepee9804]

@@SailingSweetRuca Maritime Emergency Net is at 14.300. I used to check-in there, but haven't been active lately. Phonetics for my call are "No One More Obnoxious" or Number One Morse Operator." 😀It's good for Morse code. I got it when I lived in Maine. Looking me up, you'll see that I'm far from there now.

[@petercaras3696]

Wouldn't that be the tack at the gooseneck?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

You are 100% correct. Curtis misspoke, it was the Tack, not the clew.

[@ArtVanAuggie]

Safety wire your shackles, don't use the Allen wrench ones, tie-wraps work OK instead of wire. Learn some rudimentary Mandarin Chinese for hailing Chinese fishing boats. Chinese tend to try to intimidate with their vessels assuming you will run instead of hold your ground. Finally, there is seldom a sailing condition that is "bad for the boat", she can stand far more abuse than you ever can.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Art, that is some sound advice. Regarding the boat, that is somewhat true, but from racing we have seen first hand that there is a limit where things start to break, and we know we can outlast the boat.

[@allmomomosthomebus3895]

This coffee snob disagrees with Curtis coffee LoL I'll design a pour over on a swivel when we hit the high seas! -Larry

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Haha be sure to share the design with us when you do!

[@allmomomosthomebus3895]

@@SailingSweetRuca I'll start thinking it over! There's probably a decent niche market for monohull cruisers who like great coffee.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

If you came up with something that could gimbal over the sink that would be really cool!

[@allmomomosthomebus3895]

@@SailingSweetRuca what are the outside measurements of your galley sink bowl and available height above it? And the dimensions of your countertop?

[@allmomomosthomebus3895]

Maybe email me a picture of that with the dimensions at cooleryak at good ole google mail.

[@georgeliakaris53]

Someone explain how can a fishing boat collide with sail boat in a vast ocean?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

It amazes us just how small of a world it is. A big ocean, yet vessels are always coming together and needing to avoid each other.

[@gordonbrown2836]

It seemed like you're calling the tack the clue.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

You are correct.

[@allynonderdonk7577]

Roxy seems to do pretty well at bathroom time. The Bed Pirate likes to "think outside the litter box" on occasion. It's also tough having space for a small litter box on our boat. We have it under the companionway steps. The Cheyenese are just going nuts with the fishing in places they shouldn't and completely draining all the fish out of an area. When a big processing ship fleet and their smaller attendants show up expect an ecological catastrophy. I think their country is starving in a way. Now they like the rich foods and there just isn't enough food so these fleets have to go around pilfering in the night...and the day. Soon I truly believe that naval vessels will accompany them and threaten anyone that dates to try and stop the fishing fleets. Especially as global situations tighten food supply's.

[@kylejazwiecki714]

"Think outside the litter box" 🤣

[@reverands571]

You are very likely right, about the situation, when food becomes tight. I intend to supplement by growing a bit, in my forepeak, a là "Sailing the Farm"

[@SailingSweetRuca]

That will get pretty tense if Navy's start battling over fishing. A scary thought. You had us cracking up about "thinking outside the box!"

[@rogeriopenna9014]

Welcome to Rio Grande do Sul. And good bye, since next chapter i guess you will be in Uruguay already. Months ago, when you arrived in Brazil and i had not realized you didn't post the videos at real time, i told you to enjoy the bikini and weather of northeast Brazil because it would be cold when you got to the south. Good that you did, because it really got cold in South Brazil by the looks of the video

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Unfortunately the pandemic has thrown off a lot of timing, along with our collision and repairs so we did the best we could with the time we had. We are no strangers to cold weather sailing, but Kate prefers the sun...

[@rogeriopenna9014]

@@SailingSweetRuca oh, I certainly knew you were no strangers to cold (US is colder than Europe, latitude by latitude), plus if you WERE you would not be going to Magellans Strait. It just happens that many foreigners don´t even realize it can get cold enough for snow in southern Brazil.

[@MrBobVick]

Here in the US one would think that was a "hold my beer" let's give them a scare incident. The China fleet of fishing vessels is huge, as are other countries. On Loctite years ago was sold loctite primer for stainless to stainless connections as Loctite uses iron as its catalyst. That might have been back when Loctite was only red. Use to have a down haul threaded through the staysail so I could bring it down tight to the deck in big seas from the cockpit.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

All good thoughts! Thanks for sharing Bob! Hopefully no more illegal fishermen..

[@sailingcitrinesunset4065]

WOW the first American I ever saw drink instant coffee lol I swear to god if an American ever climbed Mt Everest! in the backpack would be a 400AH lithium battery & a coffee machine lmao

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hahahaha! Yessss!!!! OMG, you don't know how badly we wish we would have brought our Nespresso machine!

[@sailingcitrinesunset4065]

@@SailingSweetRuca I drink instant coffee 99% of the time and I always laugh when I see Americans with an expresso machine on their boat like its an EPIRB lol

[@sullybiker6520]

Your teamwork blasts through with every voyage. Hope it gets easier, glad you got away from the dickhead fishing gang.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks so much. Stuff like this is par for the course. There are lots of good fisherman out there too.

[@LifeProducersofNewJerseyLLC]

Another thing you can do is to use the fog horn. As a sailing vessel you have a different and more pronounced set of sound combinations that in my opinion would scare illegals away. Blasting that horn over and over lets everyone know who you are. Most VHF radios have a fog horn combination that can be utilized to repeat the signals over and over. You will need to add on a hailer speaker but its worth it, and you can also use the radio as a hailer.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi David, that is a good idea. We do keep one ready at hand. It is unlikely though that a vessel upwind, on the open ocean, operating its engines in wind/waves/rain would hear it.

[@LifeProducersofNewJerseyLLC]

@@SailingSweetRuca You are right to some extent but if you got close then the fishing vessels would know it. Particularly if you got big hailer speakers. Also, you can change your lighting pattern. At the top of the mast you can put the sailing configuration, which is red over green. This makes it look like you are a commercial vessel, usually a fishing vessel. Fishing vessels are red over white. But most people without real maritime education would not know the difference between a sailing vessel and fishing vessel light patterns. A rogue fishing vessel would want to stay clear of a legal fishing vessel for fear of being reported.

[@rogeriopenna9014]

Amendocrem.... i can't even find that anymore, I guess the only peanut butter in Brazil, despite we consuming lots of peanuts in different ways, peanut butter was not very popular Ps: amendoim = peanut Creme = cream

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Yup! We figured that out 👍😂 thanks

[@michaelvanwinkle7919]

I got one audio feed over another in viewing this episode. Am I the only one?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

I'm sorry that happened, but we haven't heard other problems yet!

[@COLLAR01]

You guys seem to have this attraction to large dangerous things floating in the open ocean lol, glad you made it to Piriapolis .

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Yeah, why is that?

[@212segundo]

Guys, you make great videos, I really enjoy them and like your style.. but.. fishing vessels have priority, there's no way around that! Carelessness? Nope! take care!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks. You are correct in that fishing vessels are the stand-on on vessel, however ONLY when in the act of legally fishing. The stand-on vessel should hold its course and speed, especially after the give way vessel makes a significant & pronounced course alteration to avoid. Most fisherman we have come across are very professional and have above board seamanship. We enjoy meeting them in port and on the seas. These did not. They were purposefully maneuvering to cause a collision, with clear negative intentions, were not maintaining a radio watch, had improper or no navigation lights, and had multiple different AIS names, which were only shown intermittently. This is standard ops for illegal fisherman, which are a danger to navigation, a bane on the environment, and steal from the pockets of LEGAL local fisherman. Here are the regs for reference www.ecolregs.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=57&Itemid=390&lang=en

[@deerfootnz]

Do you still have those expedition membrane sails? How are they lasting? How old are they? How many miles? Any mould/mildew issues.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi Nigel. Yes we do, and still in excellent condition after 5000+ miles. We purchased them about a year ago through Andy @ Evolution Sails in Chicago (www.180sails.com). There are some behind the scenes real time sail information on patreon as well ;-) In this episode we flew the older backup dacron jib as we knew we could potentially see storm conditions. No sense in risking our best sails. We will do a complete long term review on them soon, and more discussion of the entire sailplan.

[@deerfootnz]

@@SailingSweetRuca Thank you. You guys are one of the few saling channels that can...actually sail.... I am interested in the longevity of the sails, especially with regard to mildew and mould. I just added up and I am approaching 6000 miles of sailing mostly ocean passagemaking since the beginning of August. I will need a new main soon...

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Mildew and mold can be an issue. They do have to be handled with slightly more care than dacron, but the performance gains are significant. They do have anti-mildew treatments that can be added, and if it is going to rain for days on end (like Brazil rainy season in Ilhabela) they should be shaken out and dried from time to time. As we are sure you already know if you are in this market and asking these questions, lots of factors come into play, and you have to decide on trade offs of sailing goals/boat size/cost/performance/durability, etc. So many factors. Your sails designer matters a lot though, and the time your sailmaker spends with you also matters. This is where Andy won out, we know from the race course Evo has fast shapes, and Andy followed through on all the details and questions (we had a lot of them). He was also able to work on the price a bit which made the jump from Hydranet palatable. There are lots of other good materials to choose from depending on your specific parameters. The answer you are looking for though is in Patreon ;-). We can give you lots more details there. It just doesn't fit the story's timeline to put it on KZbin yet.

[@deerfootnz]

@@SailingSweetRuca thank you. Unfortunately for you my cash will go into my sailing not yours ...😁

[@deerfootnz]

I hate to go on...BUT...I am about to spend upwards of $50k on a main....so....what about the tolerance to less than OCD reefing at 04:00 in 30 knots & horizontal rain - I can't see me or my lovely wife NOT scrunching the leach of the main up in a hurry. Laminate definitely doesn't like that treatment. Have you looked at the North 3di offering which is moulded Dacron?

[@SeaYaSailing]

Sriracha sauce would spice up that burrito....

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Probably better than the ketchup! 🤣

[@nwariverrat710]

Shackles have to be tightened all the way in or they are weak

[@Rem1061]

So did you get on the Marine distress channel and alert authorities to the illegal fishing vessels? Letting them keep doing what they were doing just empowers them.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

"If you're gonna play the game, boy you gotta learn to play it right"

[@richbrooks9250]

Just FYI, it's fairly common even in US Waters for fishermen to turn off and on their AIS. This is because they don't want other competitors to know where their key fishing spots are. And if they were illegals and perceived you were government officials they would have turned off all their AIS'es completely. Perhaps many of us would like to learn more about your sailing vessel and the makes and models of special equipment you have on board. Thanks and best wishes!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

This is the rule on AIS on/off. "If the master believes that the continual operation of AIS might compromise the safety or security of his/her ship or where security incidents are imminent, the AIS may be switched off." IMO A.1106(29) In layman's terms, if your vessel is equipped with AIS, and you decide to turn it off, you need a good reason. Concealing your favorite fishing spot or making your boss/wife think you are at the office, does not hold up to that standard. There is also a known issue with "spoofing," whereas one ship will broadcast the AIS MMSI or name of another, or even a false location/speed/direction.

[@RandyWHorton]

I definitely give big thumbs up for that night sailing in strange rough waters while dodging criminal fishermen 👍

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Many thanks Randy! Would prefer not to be dodging anything 😅

[@dboboc]

You don’t know for sure they were illegal.

[@rigger4695]

I doubt they were illegally fishing.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We doubt you are right ;-)

[@thomasthornton5737]

😄👍👍👍❤

[@SailingSweetRuca]

😁👍👍👍💗

[@01dumbfrog]

Darling it’s properly called an engine Yanmar builds combustion engines not electric motors. You can’t hook electric up to the alternator and make it spin although the starter is a motor it could be made by Yanmar but is probably made for them by someone else. There could be biologicals on the depth sounder causing the anomaly, but it’s on a boat and could be anything. A book I recommend is “Living on twelve volts with ample power “ by David Smead, I suggest buying it off eBay used second edition. It was written for mariners, if you learn everything in the book you can open up a electronics business in any marina.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Ahh the old engine vs motor debate. ;-)

[@tomhermens7698]

Put some cardboard down the cockpit so she can do her bits there. Safer for all and a bucket of water will deal with it.

[@eugenebennett5800]

at night in that condition and fog you are to plow a load air horn every so often

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Not too many boats out there actually doing that.

[@eugenebennett5800]

@@SailingSweetRuca IT IS LETTING OTHERS KNOW YOU ARE THERE.. EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT USEING RADAR.. LAWS OF THE SEA....

[@tinkertailor7385]

They are fishing. You keep clear of them. That's the rules. Their deck lights do make it hard to see what fishing they are engaged in. If there is a top green they'll be trawling. If they are trawling then they are constrained by the obstructions and obstacles on the bottom and they'll change course for "No Reason"... that you can see. But that's their safe trawl run through the hookups. When they turn around while towing nets, the turn can nearly be a half mile wide. They probably don't speak English either.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We tried to keep clear as the give way vessel, making a large and early course change. The stand-on vessels (fishing boats) were clearly dialing us down, a very unprofessional, dangerous, and highly suspicious move on open water. To make the moves they were making, they were clearly not trawling as they would have run over their own nets.

[@darleneshirley156]

Really refreshing to watch you guys wish i had my shit together like you kids

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi Darlene! Don't worry, it only looks together on film, we are just like everyone else :-)

[@darleneshirley156]

@Sailing Sweet Ruca well said enjoy your videos

[@01dumbfrog]

Did you try putting a few tracer rounds in his general direction to let him know that you are not playing f--ing games. I like my life and will protect myself while in international waters.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

A fun thought, but it would have been extremely difficult to safely handle a firearm in those conditions. Since we aren't trained snipers, probably better to leave the guns to the Navy and Coast Guard.

[@01dumbfrog]

@@SailingSweetRuca well we all have different backgrounds and training that brings us to where we are.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Well said!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

You will like this one I think ;-) kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2TPnIBqqZ10l6M

[@Tomm9y]

Seeing your jerrycans of fuel, I'm wondering if you know the the fully laden displacement of Sweet Ruca, and where the mass is located from the standard centre of mass. I think the J46 has a capsize screening formula of 1.9, quite close to 2.0. A technical question you probably already know the answer to!. Given gobal population recently passed 8 billion according to the UN, the incentives for illegal fishing are greater than ever. A sustainable population is apparently £2bn. Engaging footage as always!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi B M! Its hard to know the exact loaded displacement without full on measurement. We think the CS is close to 1.82, fully loaded give, give or take. We really don't think that ratio alone is a good measure of an offshore boat though. The amount of fuel we carry depends on the mission. We keep the cans as low as possible. If we know we will be fighting weather systems, we aren't afraid to burn some petrol.

[@paulsteel2067]

Warm and dry at home in Amsterdam, but your illegal fishermen are still making me angry; a little. Where is a friendly missile cruiser when you need a little help with law breakers?😆

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hi Paul :-) Haha! Warm and dry is a good place to be! Amsterdam sounds like a cool place to visit someday. A missile cruiser surely would have showed them! We did find a case where an Argentina Navy Boat did shoot and sink one a few years ago, after the illegals tried to ram the Navy ship. Yikes!

[@lukehayvaz9194]

Ditch the music. Let’s hear the wind and sails.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks for the feedback! Will try to include more when we can 😀

[@allan8004]

Great video guys, very interesting about the illegals out there, stay safe on your journey south, All the best, Al

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Al! An interesting night all around with very little sleep.

[@johnshaw8327]

You guys are great sailors and make first rate videos but you sure can't cook. But who cares??? Very funny.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

LOL!!! Hahaha :-D

[@googlelimp9834]

so why dont you report them then??? of no reply and operating like that shouldn't you be reporting them to stop others also??

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We did notify the authorities. If you notice, they did apprehend a vessel in the area we were sailing shortly afterward.