Back to Sein

I return to the Île de Sein, surrounded by dangerous tidal races: an island of myths and an indomitable spirit.
MY BOAT
Do you want a boat like mine?
She is 15ft long, an adapted Ilur designed by François Vivier, and built of clinker plywood by les Charpentiers Reunis of Cancale in 1994. The design is based closely on the traditional inshore fishing boats of Brittany, including her single boom-less lugsail rig and lack of a mainsheet horse, (controversial among my viewers). Although rare in Britain, Ilurs are quite common in France.
www.vivierboats...
Similar dinghies can often be found for sale in the French magazine le Chasse-Marée
www.chasse-mar...
Or try Le Bon Coin, (where you can buy anything in France).
MORE INFORMATION ON DINGHY CRUISING
Read my book, the Dinghy Cruising Companion:
www.amazon.co....
And join the Dinghy Cruising Association:
dinghycruising....

[@RoryL83]

Love your work Roger, it's salt of the Earth stuff in a frantic 21st century world. Thanks!

[@daleskidmore1685]

23 minutes and 54 seconds of tranquility. Beautiful island and a great story along with perfect sailing. Wonderful Roger, wonderful.

[@AxelWeissenberger]

Hello Mr Barnes. I'm a sailor and boatbuilder from lake Constance. A far calmer and more limited spot for sailing as the Bretagne or GB. Your kind of sailing and filming is a Inspiration for me in sailing and boatbuilding. This kind of sailing was established here in Germany, I would say until the 70's in dinghys like the PIRAT, KORSAR, ZUGVOGEL or many other small boats. Up then a kind of race starts and with growing incomes the boats get bigger and bigger, but the easeness and closeness to nature gets lost. You show me and obviously a lot of other sailors what we miss. Thanks therefore.

[@ljd8520]

Hi Axel, I have a young son in Konstanz with my first wife. I live in Salisbury. Looking forward to visiting him, if its possible in 2021. And I would very much like to make a dinghy sailing trip around the lake one day. Best Lee

[@SuperBullyone]

In America, people screw up when out sailing and the think a bigger boat will avoid the problems. The boats get so big that they never leave the dock, and there they are perfectly safe.

[@EddieCampbell-im6gg]

6

[@mikeu5380]

Hi from northern Japan. Rigorously acquiring important technical, nautical terms in English, such as "the lumpy bits." On my way to become a true English sailor. Thank you, Roger-san!

[@stevec-b6214]

Beautifully done, thanks again.

[@davidgarston3353]

So pleased your making content again Roger, your videos are gentle and comforting in these times of such turmoil Thank you.

[@2waterlook]

Awesome trip, good to have you back. Your book has pride of place on my table. Your informative encouragement hss been a real motivator for me. Your understated trips make our CanAm dinghy cruising adventures pale in comparison. Thanks and more please.

[@MarcvanExel]

Marvelous, what a lovely little village Sein. Love your adventures and totally love your boat. Happy Holidays!

[@michaelchartres]

You, Sir, are a true sailor. Great video as usual. Regards Michael

[@tommypetraglia4688]

An essential document for today and for all those to come.

[@christophermartin3024]

I've been watching you for years now, and I've long fantasized about dinghy or pocket cruising. I've learned quite a bit from reading and from older wiser friends, but also from watching your problems and how you solve them. I've been practicing, and I'm finally ready to graduate from lake daysailing to cruising. Thanks for sharing these happy journeys, and thanks for being a kindred romantic.

[@colinunderdown1758]

A braver man than me, making that crossing in what can be treacherous waters. It was nice to meet with you a few weeks ago. Fair winds for the future..

[@davidladd6266]

Hi Roger, I always look forward to your videos and enjoy them very much. You inspired me to build an Ilur. Tomorrow I will be epoxying on my last plank. Still lots to do though and with the cooling temperatures of the US Pacific Northwest I’ll have to finish it next spring/summer.

[@romantiachristiana5147]

My only comparable experience was sailing to the Glénans from Luctudy in calm weather and a neap tide. The peace one finds is amazing, and so much noisier is "normal" life when arriving back on the continent. Thank you for sharing your "périple" that had to be so well calculated so as not to get into trouble with the Raz. I would have loved to be with you but it was impossible this year.

[@chrismurray7094]

A real tonic. Thankyou for introducing us to the Ile de Seine.

[@muddy0048]

Hooray! I check for your videos every few days and when the new one appears, it's a celebration. This was particularly good. Lots of sailing footage (never enough), brilliant story telling, tide/weather details, your talking, and the beautiful recognition of the march of time. Thank you Roger, I feel as if you're an old friend, and if only we could meet again soon.

[@graeme-sailingskeptic]

Lovely sail to an intriguing island - thank you so much.

[@_Michiel_]

Always a pleasure to find another one of your adventures. Add to that your tranquil voice and the rush of the day fades away. Cheers!

[@nickalexander3324]

Quite an adventure and much history too. Thank you!

[@rfvbnrm]

After 28 years in the Royal Navy dashing here and there I so much enjoy your very relaxing videos

[@murrayz]

Roger, your Vlogs and narratives are heart felt, respect from me Roger, stay well.

[@RogerRoving]

Thank you

[@andydavidson]

Wonderful, fantastic but above all so relaxing to watch, Thank you Roger.

[@J.A.Smith2397]

I love camping n always wanted to sail n this looks awesome! The ability to travel by means of wind!

[@67Staffordknot]

Thanks again Roger. As educational, phylosophical and visually stimulating as usual. Please keep them coming!

[@hitchadmirer]

Therapeutic and informative with lovely photography to boot. A new fan.

[@pshearduk]

Perfect just what I needed, a new video from Roger. Always a treat 🤗 ty Roger!

[@Fredstli]

Thanks for the tour, looking forward to the next! sail safe😉

[@michaelmcclafferty3346]

Great video Roger, thank you. I learn something new each time I watch them and try to use it when I sail my Shetland Yoal.

[@brianosborne3377]

I enjoyed that little cruise .....thanks

[@trakkabob256]

A true tonic. Lovely cruise to a special island. Tx

[@lamiaitaly2549]

Thank you. I really really enjoy your videos. Perhaps one day you will do one around Italy?

[@quarlow1215]

Such a cool vagabond style. Love it.

[@PIEROPIEROU]

Superbe balade dans un beau canot a voile..=) instructif et reposant. Merci et bon vent !!=)

[@michaeldismukes4439]

Fantastic. So different from my sails here in southern California.

[@andrewwillatt9526]

excellent a great adventure with plenty of information

[@KenDay]

Thank you Roger. Another enjoyable and informative video. I'd love to see some more videos explaining the basics of sailing ie tacking and the correct use of sail/rudder.

[@robhughes7351]

Roger, thank you very much for this lovely and inspiring video and for the history you shared. Greetings from Australia by the way. I am almost finished a small boat building project commenced just before the COVID lockdown. I am looking foreward to getting it on the water.

[@willdennis2722]

Really enjoyed your video very much. Reminds me of my days when I had a small sail boat really miss those days! Keep up your videos as i said they bring back many great memories! GOD Bless....

[@davidharris1562]

Would love live on the Isle, cracking video

[@mac69041]

Thank you Roger, that was very enjoyable and interesting.

[@snakeeyes4424]

Great sailing Roger beautiful area. I admired you no engine sailing. Keep those amazing videos coming

[@ramblerandy2397]

Superb. This channel is a hidden gem. I was as ignorant of Sein as General De Gaulle. 😀

[@leechamberlain1273]

Sunday night watching Roger, a few Newcastle Browns, can't ask for more than that .

[@tonywoollcombe1799]

Another excellent video. Thoroughly enjoyed the history lesson too on the Free French. Lest we forget 🍷☕️

[@paulkorte7843]

Just wonderfull erucational and nautical bliss. Respect!

[@storrmedia]

Brilliant thanks

[@darrenbulger3097]

Hello Roger, Thank you for another fantastic video and history lesson as well. I recently procured a 12' cedar plank oak frame sailing dinghy. My plan is to 'camp sail ' and explore the coastline, inlets, bays and rivers of Prince Edward Is. Canada where I live.The Dinghy is old so its missing all the rigging so ill have to make a mast spars etc. In a future video would you be able to speak in a little more detail about your mast and rigging? ie is it a hollow mast or solid, type of wood length etc. Or perhaps you already have a vid that explains that. Cheers and happy sails in 2021.

[@Beorninki]

Amazing. I love your stories. You need to come Finland. We have huge archipelago here in Finland, thousands of islands, no tide and thousands of nature harbours too. Just suitable for small boats.

[@RogerRoving]

Beorninki I’d love to!

[@terryolson4270]

Welcome back!

[@leondwagner1]

My wife and I love your adventures, we ar landlocked in Nebraska USA near the sandhills area. Not much sailing here.

[@dragonfly8080808]

Thanks for sharing

[@DavidOfWhitehills]

UHMWPE on your sliding parts might make shallow slips less unfriendly. It's an enduring and slithery stuff they use to line quarry hoppers in cold climes and to surface icerinks in hot climes. Not too pricey either.

[@JerryHumphreys]

What a tonic! Thanks for your videos. I’d love to see more like this. How do you deal with launching/retrieving and parking when solo on a slipway without a pontoon or side to tie off to? I’ve read your book, it would be really useful to see how you overcome these practical issues in video form.

[@CoolBreeze640]

Wonderful video!

[@AndyJarman]

So, just how did you get Avil dro into the water at that slipway? Did you have to drag her on her brass keel strip the last bit or can you roll her on your fenders?

[@RogerRoving]

I waited for the tide to float her off. Should have mentioned it was a flood tide...

[@jctothel]

Another fucking brilliant video! Thanks Roger!

[@robmarykunzig5533]

Roger I love the way you express yourself. I'll try to quote corectly. Wayfairer boats.... "annoyingly fast". Here in this video as your friend passes by to starboard, "(deep breath pause) with his many sails" I chuckle to no end. Oh the price one pays for the simpler rig, roomier, stabler but slightly slower (depending on the conditions,) Dingy. You keep on Roger! thank you as always... R

[@harryadams5651]

Just started watching.I am an avid sailor having been inoculated by Peter Duck and Swallows & Amazon's as a boy. Your conception of coastal cruising really pleases me. What was the original purpose of the design of your boat? Was she originally a fishing boat for hauling nets and traps inshore? What is her length depth? How will you handle winds in 20 2 knot range. How will you handle getting knocked down and swamped?

[@RogerRoving]

Hello. Lots of questions. She’s a modern design. I’ve capsized her twice accidentally in the open sea - videos are available. Other questions are answered in the video description.

[@neilmccartney6573]

Great to see you back Roger ,,, Liz and I are off to Duarnenez today for a coffee ,,, be great to meet up if you get this message .. thanks for the vid lovely as usual ... Neil .

[@RogerRoving]

I’m just off to buy a sandwich. Will probably eat it outside the bar An Infern about 13.45.

[@neilmccartney6573]

Roger Barnes ... grrr ,, we won’t be down there until 5 ish. ,,, hey ho ! Enjoy your sandwich ,,, N .

[@RogerRoving]

Ifern - spell check does not like it though.

[@beaconbus]

Does anyone know the maker of that excellent hat? What material might that be?

[@md37346]

Great stuff,,,

[@julast6658]

lovely

[@lindawilliams1109]

Very much enjoy your videos. Can you please tell me how long is your boat?

[@nilsherloff-petersen249]

Wonderful story about the bravery of the islanders in joining the Free French en masse at the start of WW2!

[@stevenweiss9124]

Just started watching some of your videos with enjoyment. I'm certain you must have answered this question before, but is there a reason you couldn't or prefer not to rig up a main sheet traveler to avoid having to reposition the block at each tack? Thanks -

[@AndyJarman]

The late Roger Deakin's excellent book about wild swimming starts off with a swim between the Scilly Isles. It would be interesting to see you sail about the Scilly Isles to compare them with the Isle d'Seine (I suppose the ferry is pretty dear, I remember watching a Wayfarer on a video out there though). Have you ever ventured across to the Islands north of Seine? Ushant and so on?

[@RogerRoving]

I’ve been to Molène. Ushant is more difficult.

[@gilleslemanach6054]

Thanks Roger. I live 3 kids years here

[@gilleslemanach6054]

At 70's.....

[@larswetterstrom7209]

I have heard that the "Raz" in Raz de Sein emanates from the vikings and the word "Ras" which means "upset" or "agitated". It can be used as a verb as well meaning to show extreme anger and wrath.

[@RogerRoving]

raz nom masculin (mot normand, de l'ancien scandinave rās, courant d'eau) Looks like you may be right.

[@BigFiveJack]

You never disappoint us Sir. No cars on the island, but are there motor scooters, motorcycles, electric vehicles? Or, is it that there are bicycles, and animal drawn carriages only? Thank you.

[@annteve]

Brilliant. Subscribed.

[@stevegillman1999]

Who on earth are the five people who have given this the thumbs down? It reminds me of the holidaymaker who hit the local news in Ilfracombe some years ago; he complained that the fish quay smelled of fish

[@nicholasfernandes2217]

Roger, one quick question: can you please demonstrate how to sail downwind with a boomless rig? Which rig type works best? With boom or without?

[@RogerRoving]

I wish I could give a definitive reply. I doubt if it makes any difference. More sail area definitely would though!

[@tommypetraglia4688]

Ah... the eternal emergency of the frantic motorway

[@tim-youtubewatcher2726]

An Island with no motor cars, sounds good to me.

[@firstman9273]

Jolly good

[@Ultramesh]

Déjà abonné, merci pour la vidéo. La traversée avait l'air agréable. Comment avez-vous sorti le bateau :)

[@philj3727]

Great video Roger. I guessed at the launch technique with a rope between car and trailer to get the trailer back out. Was it similar for retrieving your boat? And also does the salt water play havoc with the wheels?

[@RogerRoving]

Yes it does!

[@alexbowie6316]

Best hobby going.

[@caahacky]

Enjoyed the trip Roger, thanks. How long did it take to make the passage back?

[@antoinem01]

Please do!

[@MM-ci2cv]

your 'video' voice would be good for kids bedtime story audio books......

[@josejaouen1893]

See you later at DZ

[@neild735]

Another thoroughly enjoyable little adventure. Thank you, Roger

[@robertdarwin9897]

Wonderful to see you again Roger. Your videos always make my day. They are the calm in the middle of the storm.

[@ahabva]

Ahhh, just what I needed.

[@paulpaulsen7309]

"I hope you've enjoyed that ...", ... yes Roger, I did ...

[@backtothebarky]

The shot at 8 1/2 min reveals the toy tender (as recommended in the pages of your book I believe?) and answered my question how did you run ashore... Nice to see in action!

[@GamerKidEdits]

Thank you for bringing us along, Fair Winds.

[@johnburgess5534]

Roger, I’ve just waded through the pages and pages of comments and they all say the same things. May I add to their huge total and say THANKS for all your efforts in bringing us tour travels. Capt John.

[@RobbsHomemadeLife]

I enjoyed your story about the island very much.

[@rafael.zander]

Love your mellow narrative Roger. Keep it up!

[@robimrude]

so glad you’re back haha there is no lockdow for a free mind like you...

[@ildut4921]

Qui voit Sein voit sa fin 🤭 La seule île bretonne qu'il me reste a visiter, merci beaucoup pour cette vidéo Roger. 👍🙏😎

[@Korsaro1]

Thank you Roger. Meraviglioso

[@Tintenfinger]

I tremendously enjoy your films, Roger! I have been cruising along the coasts of Holland, Belgium, England, Scotland, Germany and Denmark for the past 42 years in a 27-footer which, luckily, I can still manage single-handed (all my former sailing friends are now looking after grandchildren). Seeing you in the dinghy I wonder if I should sell my 27-footer and follow your example.

[@paullaviolette2610]

Other things have dragged me away from dunking my little boat into the water but with your videos I’m feeling the need for it.

[@magdakaniewski]

Great video and a great adventure. I have a question regarding your friends yellow boat. What design is it? Also where is your next trip to? Fair winds from Canada

[@RogerRoving]

It’s a Bolger Chebacco.

[@timmiddaugh3701]

Very nice thank you for taking gus along for the ride

[@andrewanastasovski1609]

That was wonderful. I've never seen anything like Ile de Sein. Thank you.

[@GrenvilleMelonseedSkiff496]

A very fine short film about small boat sailing and cruising. Thanks Roger!