REPAIR pit-stop MID-OCEAN | Sailing Florence Ep.161

Stopping to repair Florence in the middle of the ocean, the tiny remote island of Bermuda offers a temporary refuge to offshore ocean sailors. Once we have repaired Florence and readied her to sail on to the Azores we found time to explore this tiny island hundreds of miles from anywhere.
Extra content and real time updates on Patreon: / sailingyachtflorence
We have been sailing around the world for 7 years after setting off from England in 2016 on board our 37ft sail boat Florence. Join us as we share the highs, lows, and challenges of travelling around the world by boat, Sailing offshore across the Oceans and exploring remote locations with our own little tiny house. Boat life out at sea on the ocean and off the grid.
You can also follow us via our blog at www.sailwiththeflo.wordpress.com
Equipment:
Affiliate link: Get a free invisible selfie stick for the Insta 360 X3 here, the camera that we use to capture the drone-like shots when sailing offshore without a drone: www.insta360.com/sal/x3?insrc...
00:00 - Intro
01:30 - Sailing into Bermuda
06:43 - Exploring Bermuda in the Rain
11.09 - Repairs to Florence
16:58 - Exploring Dockyard and the lighthouse
17:48 - NOT what we expected to find
22:32 - Final Thoughts
#sailing #ocean #sailingaroundtheworld #circumnavigation #sailingyachtflorence #boatlife #boatlifestyle #yachtlifestyle #syflorence #sailingdoublehanded #offshoresailing
Music in order as played:
The New World - www.hooksounds.com - Licenced
Dramatic Suspense - www.hooksounds.com - Licenced
Running Clouds - www.hooksounds.com - Licenced
Twilight Stroll - www.hooksounds.com - Licenced
The Path of Hope - www.hooksounds.com - Licenced
Dreamland - www.hooksounds.com - Licenced

[@-hopskinny5865]

Your photography has to be amongst the best, if not the best, of any sailing channel on YT. Thank you.

[@zackworrell535]

agreed

[@william6526]

When you two finally get back to the U.K is going to be a bag of mixed feelings. Joy you made it back home safe ,but so very sad that I won't be able to watch you sail the world for a few years until you rebuild Florence. Your videos are without a doubt the best on utube. They are always full of great information and the history where you are . The video themselves are so amazing with the quality and the fantastic pictures you are able to get that show just how beautiful the places you go are. Thankyou for the memories.

[@SailingYachtFlorence]

years to rebuild? we plan a 6 month refit and then off to the Arctic! Lots more to come :-)

[@whackerjacker]

​@@SailingYachtFlorence will ye be documenting the refit?

[@danielorr2972]

Your sailing adventure is first class. Yours is in the class of Sailing Sweet Ruca, another genuine sailing adventure of real sailors, not just another party boat of operators bar hopping the islands around the world. Thanks for contributing to genuine sailing. Thanks for shari9ng your dream with strangers.

[@NotBob223]

Sailed into (and out of) Bermuda many times and came to absolutely love the place. Each time I get there, I love it more. There are MANY private and deserted beaches even just a short walk/dingy ride from the anchorage in St. George's. It looks like Amy found some! One of my favorite things to do in Bermuda is just to ride the bus and talk to the locals who are SO welcoming. Dockyards is quite nice when there aren't any cruise ships around but like you said, it's a zoo when they are in. Like most islands, they've figured out how to extract the most money from the passengers but Bermudans love sailors and are always keen to talk to them and show them their special locations.

[@daleashworth9046]

I have family in Bermuda and it was wonderful to take a visit back, vis video, to where my Mom and Dad met during WWII.

[@John-qb8vd]

Bermuda, my favorite island to visit. So glad you had a safe and successful sail from the Bahamas.

[@kbbarton1]

My mum happened to walk by while I was watching the part of this video where Amy climbed up on the Customs pier without any shoes on. She told me "tell Amy to put shoes on!" 😁

[@TonySaxby]

😂

[@alexandradane3672]

I agree with your mother ! They’re not called “dock shoes” for nothing !

[@rubbenkarumendu5940]

Watching from Namibia,Walvis Bay 🎉🎉

[@MrCrabbing]

Oh I,m a bit gutted now my twenty minutes or so of escapism and relaxation will shortly come to a end

[@markcrowell2727]

We've been to Bermuda several times. Yes - agreed - there isn't a whole lot to do, but it is beautiful and very relaxing. We agree with you 100%, of all the countries we've visited, the people in Bermuda are the nicest.

[@jonyboy1968]

So look forward to each instalment - simply the best sailing channel around. Thank you.

[@Sailing_Antrice]

My Grandfather was the harbourmaster in Bermuda during WWII. I think he would have been appalled to see it now.

[@nmd14723]

Once again the music used is this video is top notch

[@waterboys3001]

My wife and I lived in Hamilton, Bermuda in our twenties. We loved it. We would sail, snorkel, and play golf. We had plenty of friends our age. We would enjoy Champagne brunches at the Hamilton Princess. There were nice pubs and good restaurants. It was a ten-minute commute to work on our scooters. It was a relatively short flight to New York. I returned to the UK to work in the City and spend hours on the tube each week. I hated it. There isn't much to see in Bermuda, it is a small island, but it was a great place to live and work.

[@stephenadams674]

Too bad the weather was poor . I've sailed to Bermuda from the u.s. Bare boat chartered in the Bahamas and the b.v.i's and I have to say Bermuda is one of my very favorite places. Some if not the best snorkeling I've ever done. Too bad you missed the amazing 30 million year old caves and the beautiful pink sand beaches. I do hate to see what they have done with the dockyard. Be safe thanks for the videos.

[@ranger2316]

Thank you so much for this beautiful video. What an island paradise. You two are the bravest souls I know. Well done!

[@clarencebirdashaw8117]

You're sailing photograph Was absolutely beautiful. Hate to see your adventures almost over.😢

[@SailingYachtFlorence]

it's will just be the end of this circumnavigation chapter, not our sailing adventures or these videos :-)

[@deborahdoyle6743]

You certainly have one of the best channels out there.

[@Sciolist]

Red outline of thumbnail might give impression to few people that they have already watched this video.

[@SailingYachtFlorence]

good point, thanks, we have cropped the image to remove the box 👍

[@mstp69ify]

White roofs keep the buildings cooler

[@chrissterba501]

Can't believe you crapped all over their must check in, pre-pay, beach, LOL!!! And also for the subtle comment on being kicked out of the USA. First and foremost, you two are wonderful and I love this channel! Wouldn't kick you out of anywhere! Also I loved going to the UK. Such a wordly place! I've gotten to travel to just a few other places, but not nearly as welcoming. But staying on the positive, UK has lots of culture, acceptance, and friendliness. I've only gotten to go on business travels, but when I was free on the last day, I would walk all around and enjoy. I remember this young couple trying to take a selfie and stopped to offer help to take their picture. Afterwards, they asked if I am from the Americas and that they loved my accent. I had to smile. You were obviously the first and have to admit should own all bragging rights to the official English language! Please excuse our continued mispronunciation of aluminum and several other things:-) Wish you both the best!

[@julianbatcheler9970]

LOL

[@nickjames1892]

That little Oyster handles the seas so beautifully...what a fantastic little ship...and repairs seem few and far between considering the mileage covered.

[@Chebab-Chebab]

It's not the plane; it's the pilot.

[@Andy-cr4ik]

I was stood directly above you when you were filming the Bermuda Day parade, having a beer in one of the bars on the terrace. You missed so much of Bermuda, there's lots of isolated quiet beaches with amazing snorkeling/freediving.

[@nigelmorgan3449]

Bermuda very nice good to see you doing repairs have a safe trip home ……tight lines ……fish

[@michakj4994]

Each time when a new episode is released my mind is thinking about final destination. I am not happy about it. Thank you both for making new films every 14 days. Yes, this is the best and unique sailing channal on YT.

[@malgraham351]

10 out of 10 as usual Amy and Matt

[@jocko_]

Beautiful Bermuda 🇧🇲 Another great video.. thank you 🙏

[@DDixon3121]

As usual, your videos are fantastic! Their informational, interesting, and well narrated. Thank you!

[@MrMichaelcurran]

ENJOY BURMUDA! Lots to do and good people!😊

[@athelstanodan5670]

Modernism and frivolity are impacting the significance of many historic venues. You two preserve the classic qualities in every place you visit - press on.

[@davidbamford4721]

Those ‘racing fractions’ should read racing tactics!

[@007rgb]

You could re-bush the aluminium gooseneck fitting to have a very workmanlike repair or spare part.

[@davidbamford4721]

Those racing fractions are similar to those adopted on Sydney Harbour, New South Wales.

[@PaulBKal]

Nice. Holman & Pye certainly designed sweet sailing boats. We also have one, an Australian built Bowman 47, the sloop version of the Bowman Corsair 46. But those lee shrouds at 5:10 are looking a bit saggy there Matt!

[@shisaisama]

This episode was particularly thrilling, what with the sporty sailing to weather and the good photography of that pretty island of Bermuda. You two will have sailed about 50,000 once you get back to England. What an achievement it will have been! What are your plans for next year? I remember flying to Bermuda on B.O.A.C. out of the newly-named J.F.K. Int'l in April of 1965. It's been 58 years already! Now in my seventieth year of life, I am working on my fourth keelboat here in tropical Hawai'i. She's an old-fashioned, blue-water pocket cruiser which I am rescuing from recent neglect. That sloop you see in the thumbnail photo is Solveig. She was twice-winner of the Hobart-to-Sydney race -- line honors in 1953 and on handicap in 1954. I owned her for her last ten years in Hawai'i until an Aussie CEO bought her from me in 2016 and had her shipped back to Sydney. He, like I, put a lot of time and money into restoring her, undoing some of my modifications. Solveig was the oldest boat to enter the Hobart just a couple of years ago.

[@jwbuys1]

I've loved following you for so many years it will be a bit sad when your journey ends because it's been fun living vicarously through you! You have been a blessing to a landlocked sailor (wannabe). Travel safe on the last couple of legs to home!

[@reloadncharge9907]

Fun episode….what a disappointment the Dockyard……have visited several times on deliveries, but never got to HM Dockyard. Glad now or I would have been very disappointed. Oh well….on to the Azores! Fair winds, thanks, Andrew

[@lotusdolphin]

Great video guys thank you. I’m glad you got Florence all ready to go home. May you have Fairwinds at your back and no catastrophes on the way home. From California. 💜🤗⛵️🫶😎🇺🇸🐬

[@johndaly9298]

Hi Guys, I have been following your travels for while now. Just looking for some advice. I plan to sail a new Seawind 1260 Cat from Pattaya back to the Sunshine Coast in Australia. I see you used a chap to provide weather updates and advice on timing , routing, and other weather-related issues. Can let us know what you did and share any learnings or hints to set this up for our trip. We plan to take a leisurely cruise through SE Asia back to the east coast. The weather obviously be a key consideration of the planning for when and where we sail. Hope to see you on the water one day! I sailed a lot around the Solent and Mediterranean.. great fun! JD

[@julianbatcheler9970]

Still the best and most inspirational sailing channel. Looking forward to your views on the Azores.

[@melindawood323]

Bermuda is my absolute favorite destination to visit. I have visited when Bermuda Day was celebrated. It was a wonderful celebration. 😁❤️

[@amandajohnstone5286]

Thank you Matt and Amy, just breath taking, love Florence ⛵⛵

[@richardkeen1996]

I really enjoy following you on your global journey and I'm looking forward to watching your last leg back to the UK. Just one thing, and I hope you won't mind me saying - when you go up the mast next time do - please - clip on a safety line in addition to the halliard. I had a halliard fail once and it was only because my crew was standing on the spreaders that she didn't have an unexpected and rapid return to the deck!! Good luck on your crossing and hopefully fair winds.

[@SailingYachtFlorence]

Thanks, don't worry, look closely, always on 2 lines up the mast. (actually 2 harnesses as well, 1x climbing harness and 1x bosuns chair)

[@richardkeen1996]

@@SailingYachtFlorence That's great! My apologies for not being more observant! It's just that, after my own horrific experience and realisation of what could have happened, I'm a bit paranoid!! All the very best to you both.

[@robertnixon3816]

Bermuda makes that rough passage to get there somewhat worth it! Bermuda sure has changed in all the years since I sailed there (many years ago)! No one captures the movement and beauty of the sea as you do! Thank you!

[@SV-Nikita]

wish you a good trip back to the UK, hope you have nice weather :)

[@AHmad-pm4pb]

Amy & Matt, you guys are awesome 👏. Love your video always. Nothing dampen your spirit.

[@workingdogcentre]

Happy sailing Matt and Amy. Travel safe.

[@mboyer68]

I grew up sailing sunfish and Hobie cat's, then was a full on windsurfing addict, then back to a fast beach catamaran, and finally to a Pearson 27 about two weeks ago. My first sailboat with a steering wheel. You two make everything look so easy...managing the sails, going forward during rough seas, etc. IT'S HARD!!! AND DANGEROUS!!! So stay safe and keep up the great videos:)

[@timlarcombe9096]

Great vlog and very interesting. You are great at this photography malarkey. Thanks for sharing.

[@wills681]

@SailingYachtFlorence Splendid stuff! I'm hoping that although your UK destination might be Pompey, your first UK landfall might be Isles of Scilly. Just saying. :)

[@sailingreco4909]

It was VERY nice to briefly meet you in Faial, Azores. I am back (my adopted) home in Mindelo, Cape Verde . Fair winds back to Portsmouth! And, who knows, we will meet again.

[@chinoodin4735]

Lovely…thanks for sharing a bit of Bermuda. Not having ever been there or seen Bermuda otherwise, I was surprised to see so many rooftops covering the island wherever you went. So it be. Almost a bit of British aye? Almost home you be! Cheers 🥂 to bringing so much to the love of sail. It’s been a treat, a delight, a great adventure just tagging on to everything you share. Thanks for all you’ve given your viewers!

[@mikeharrison5089]

Another award winning video.

[@alexandersunter4899]

I really love the background music. Keep em coming.

[@stevelambert7496]

Yea a new episode

[@robscholtens5345]

Lived in Bermuda for three glorious years back in the 1990s. Your video brought back a lot of good memories though it's a shame but not surprising to see what has become of Dockyard. I used to watch the cruise ships pass through the St. George Cut. It was tight. You could almost reach out and touch the ships!

[@aaronhorton322]

I know, you know what you are doing. Next time when you remove the adhesive. You can use denatured alcohol or mineral spirit. So you don't have to scrape the fiberglass. Long time viewer, first time commenting. Matt and Any you all are great. I love your channel!

[@Thomas-eu6fj]

Amy and Matt, missed your theme music. It's probably one of the best !

[@tomcraddock244]

Another great video!! Fair winds ⛵️

[@sailingmarilynkaye]

Such a beautiful island, thankyou again for sharing, looking forward to watching you in the Azores

[@normandlandry1398]

Another beautiful video, well narrated and edited as always. Fair winds.

[@iainhunneybell]

Interesting to see the extent of the chafe on your jib sheets. I remember a chafe seminar before an ARC and the advice being never to use put the jib sheets directly in the pole end, but through a snap block on a short soft shackle that was attached to the pole end. This was all to minimise loss of the sheet through the constant ‘sawing’ with every wave. Downwind ocean sailing is very different to what most people experience as sheets and trim may stay unaltered for days at a time, meaning one part of a sheet is constantly flexed over a block

[@calmauric8218]

Your home and safe safe holiday. Your parents are absolutely awesome 👍

[@wow.sailor.]

Wow wow Sailor 👍

[@fredread9216]

As usual. Very nice video. Love the drone especially. Yes, my favorite time on arriving in port is a real good sleep! Fair winds to the Azores

[@kathleenmead9259]

Love and peace to you both

[@robertscranton8293]

Crazy footage..as usual...wow.!!

[@tiochio8476]

Safe travels!

[@mattw785]

Great vid!

[@dennismacdonald2003]

Ty

[@davidferguson9213]

Thank you!!

[@kkostroleka]

Dzięki :)

[@chrismalkin4070]

Another scintillating and beautifully filmed episode. Your videos are just so interesting and informative. I’ve followed you from Day 1 and have loved every minute of your wonderful and brave adventure. Go well.

[@nffremote]

Beautiful, many thanks

[@leonasimmons162]

Safe travels.

[@karlmabe1649]

Excellent clear vhf rescepion

[@trevhedges209]

Thanks guys,

[@williambrennan8197]

Is Portsmouth your final destination ? My good friend is from Portsmouth and he was wondering. I have been following you for years ... This is a wonderful programe.

[@peterasacker5948]

Love to see preventive maintenance...smart cruisers....great video be safe kids

[@vaughansamuelson6552]

So many exotic locations. Thank you, and I look forward to your next.

[@artsmith103]

Great video, thanks.

[@offduty70]

As always, another great and enjoyable video. Stay safe.

[@wynandduplessis9166]

What a beautiful island. I would love to visit.

[@beasawade6032]

Enjoyed this episode again like all the previous ones , safe sail ❤

[@ScotChef]

The naval dockyards was just an empty area when i was there in 96 the cruise ships did not dock there at all i was a chef at the white horse george square st georges is the prettiest place on the island imo no mention of the billions of tiny singing (beeping) frogs all night no? 😂

[@tjairicciardi9747]

Awesome video, fair winds and good sailing

[@braddobson2060]

Very good video ,have fair winds

[@williamsecor7745]

Some people watch the Superbowl, some watch the world cup. I watch Florence, Oh and AMY put shoes on.

[@bobmcglone6676]

Nice job guys. Your video was very well done, and very interesting! Thanks. Looking forward to your next leg off the journey.

[@nooneanybodyknows7912]

I wish you would've visited the famous Horseshoe Bay, with the pink sand beach. I would've loved to hear and see your take on it being worth the trip or not. Thanks for sharing the beautiful scenery.

[@robnaylor3717]

I did not understand size off Florence till i Mat standing by mast doing repairs

[@norman4991]

Another awesome episode, by now I guess you are safely "home" in the UK. I'm looking forward to the final stages of the journey. What a wonderful experience you have shared with us.

[@SailingYachtFlorence]

Not home yet, we'll share our homecoming plans next week.

[@MikeHarrison3266]

Given the predominance of white roofs, it is a very fair assumption that they are indeed painted white. 😉😊

[@ronaldleach9899]

❤ ⛵

[@jamesgraham6122]

I would imagine that the white roofs have the advantage of reflecting heat. Interesting that in spite of Bermuda being a British colony, the bouyage system is set up the wrong way around..the American system, and before anyone complains that it can be either way, the entire world's bouyage system is set with port and stb correct for incoming vessels.. only the Americans have it reversed. In the case of Bermuda, it may be due to the visiting cruise ships being predominantly from the US.

[@Stephan_01]

♥️♥️🥰🥰

[@chrissterba501]

Always love the vids, thanks for sharing. Would you find it beneficial to have a sailrite or other portable sewing machine along for such tasks, or no not worth it? Just curious and always trying to think (dream) of someday when I can start living the dream:-) Wish you both the best!

[@SailingYachtFlorence]

We would love the sewing machine on board, but it takes up space, requires power to run (difficult for us without a generator) and is actually very heavy. If we had a slightly bigger boat we would have one, but we decided against it on Florence. There have only been a few times we really needed one.

[@chrissterba501]

@@SailingYachtFlorence Thank you so very much for the insight! You are the pros, and I am so grateful to learn along the way.

[@TonySaxby]

Are you home now? Would love to meet up a learn some secrets of your adventures before I set off on my own round the world trip.

[@carolinejohnsonartist5650]

so when we were sailing I used to avoid coffee for three days before a passage so reduce the severity of the inevitable sea sickness. I just heard you saying you hadn't had coffee all passage...is that cos of sea sickness problems after coffee?

[@rileybri]

The first law of boat projects is that all sabaot projects tend to stay in progress until another project is generated from the first project causing a cascade of new projects.

[@rileybri]

Second load is the view from the boat/yard will improve exponentially with the inverse difficulty and or quantity of the work to be completed.

[@jimczerwinski4951]

What possibly can fill your lives with adventure after you return to England ?