S2E107 High Winds and Big Ocean Waves on a 21Foot Junk Rig Sailboat

[@RoversAdventure]

After arriving in the next port I was able to source a replacement shackle with a pin that could be wired (moused)

[@ArturZagaj-Izraelita]

Możesz mówić po polsku?

[@hollyword41]

Hearing you loud and clear Captain! Happy sailing!

[@tomwaite4594]

Great video this week! This episode shows what a tough little bluewater boat Wave Rover is only equalled by Alan's tough level headed seaman like demeanor. A boat and a man for all oceans.

[@RoversAdventure]

So very kind of you to say Tom

[@DrSurf-fx4gf]

Oh man you still get to have all the fun. Just Saying

[@prof.heinous191]

It's great to see WRII and her skipper shaking down!

[@RoversAdventure]

Exactly, we are still shaking down and learning

[@kevinseversonandhisvizslas8287]

This is where Allen is in his element, calm, collected, and solution oriented.

[@leonardlestrade-b5n]

🖐Hi MR Rover , it is very nice to see that you are back on the ocean👏👍..We back here in St Kitts , wish you all the very best🙏 , STAY SAFE , BRO !✌👍🙏

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks. I love how cheerful your comments are.

[@bernardszirth9665]

WR is incredibly stable and the wind vane is a great virtual crew that you don’t need to feed :) What an amazing adventure

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks so much, my friend. Just got into Baltimore yesterday. Will use it as a home base for the next 3 weeks

[@timcastle165]

Another Awesome Video, I can see by the look on your face that you were in your realm and enjoying it. Always a joy to watch your video’s!! Fair Winds my Friend!! ⛵️

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks for the great visit the other day.

[@timcastle165]

@@RoversAdventure Mary and I totally enjoyed having the chance to visit with you and meet Dennis (the man behind the plans), we were thrilled!! Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to spend time with us and giving us a tour of Wave Rover2! We hope to be able to visit again! Safe travels my Friend!!

[@brady289]

That is a beautiful boat you built

[@sailingnstuff]

In the workshop you were always so careful about using safety equipment- eye & hearing protection & respirator when needed. But I don't see you using much or any safety gear when you are on deck, except in this video when you had to go forward you had a harness & tether.

[@ImnotChuck.]

Is it too early to compare the seaworthiness of this boat to the contessa?

[@sailoutofagarage6212]

I'm also curios to hear the answer to this question?

[@markbennett9787]

@@sailoutofagarage6212 So am I.

[@RoversAdventure]

The Architect and I are going to do an in depth review soon

[@davewestner]

Glad you're enjoying yourself so much!

[@RoversAdventure]

I am!

[@peterb9038]

nice catch on the broach :)

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks!

[@ray8328]

Great job Alan. As you have mentioned before, the camera doesn’t give the viewer a true picture of the sea state.

[@RoversAdventure]

I'll try to figure out how to capture a truer video for the next time I'm in those conditions.

[@markbennett9787]

I appreciate that to some extent this is a shakedown trip and that naturally things like the loss of the shackle pin will happen but how safe did you feel as a single hander going forward to the mast with very little to hang onto and lack of protection?

[@RoversAdventure]

I never felt like I was in danger and I was tied off

[@markbennett9787]

@@RoversAdventure I know that as an extremely experienced solo ocean sailor you are very safety conscious. It’s just that I feel, like a few other people have commented, that the design of the forward deck has introduced a risk factor that could be mitigated. Granny bars would be a start and I have seen that you are considering a bow hatch in the plans you will be producing for others. I’m trying hard not to be critical but I do have experience of occasional single handed sailing a 30ft Bermudian rigged Albin Ballad in and around the South coast of the UK and Northern France so I do know how difficult working on the foredeck can be in a conventional boat. Bon voyage !

[@roxyknight4909]

So cool .... living the dream

[@RoversAdventure]

I really am very fortunate to be able to do this

[@50Street21]

Luckily, and equally thankfully, you were able to make those adjustments to your sail. Always pleased to see that you are utilizing your harness. Stay safe, Alan.

[@RoversAdventure]

I'm really enjoying this passage

[@Marc_de_Car]

Thanks

[@RoversAdventure]

No problem

[@mikedee5253]

Hi Allen, Mike from Stonington saying hello ! Enjoyed your visit very much, hope to see you in the not too distant future.

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks Mike. That was a great stop over in Stonington.

[@globe155]

Great story unfolding. Absolute legend 💪

[@RoversAdventure]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ahadani]

She seems to be handling beautifully!

[@RoversAdventure]

She really is and I have gotten better sailing her as I get to know her better

[@ahadani]

@@RoversAdventure and i like the junk sail it makes life much simpler

[@ahadani]

I am trying to figure out how you heaveto with a single sail maybe you can expand on that sometime thanks!

[@RoversAdventure]

@@ahadani I'll be showing it in the next video

[@peterforrest6682]

Love your videos Alan. You're doing a great job...thanks for sharing the experience...

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks Peter

[@nealeburgess6756]

Nice video Alan. I like that you don't see the need to put annoying music throughout. It is so much nicer just to hear the wind and the waves, along with you chatting to us. I wish more KZbinrs would ditch the music!

[@RoversAdventure]

I agree. I've moved away from canned music.

[@williewonka6694]

Thanks for posting your adventures. I try to learn from the experiences of others. This constant training helps minimize problems at sea. Preplan and practice as many scenarios as possible.

[@RoversAdventure]

Absolutely

[@xschipper]

I disconnected for a while after the e-bike content but an enjoying your channel again. Love your attitude towards facing challenges and certainly your down to earth statement after that piece of reflection. Wave rover is looking great!

[@RoversAdventure]

Welcome back my friend

[@brady289]

Looks like you’re having a wonderful time. I live in Indiana never been on the ocean you made me realize I’m missing something thank you.

[@RoversAdventure]

Trying to live my best life

[@famvids9627]

Awesome Allen!!! I always look forward to getting your updates 😊

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks

[@rogersavoie4570]

Great job Alan, this is so interesting to follow, maybe because we all wish we'd have the guts to do this.

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks Roger

[@hrmacdonald4471]

You and WaveRover make a great team...great video & stay safe!

[@RoversAdventure]

Thank you!

[@dominicmacklon7225]

You said it Alan. You get that feeling you are really living! Keep up the great work.

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks. I really am enjoying this voyage more than the others.

[@normanboyes4983]

Hi Alan it all looks to be working very well, a very well thought and executed build. Love the Mk 3. On the block failure - in the absence of split pins - did you use Loctite?

[@RoversAdventure]

@@normanboyes4983 exactly what I am planning to do Dominic

[@darrenbulger3097]

Looks like a blast my friend! You definitely are living life when you’re out there. Love to be onboard there with ya. Cheers buddy!

[@RoversAdventure]

Looking forward to catching up with you in a few weeks. Put a couple of homemade stouts in the fridge in case we get thirsty.

[@darrenbulger3097]

Will do my friend! Looking forward to it

[@Servant_of_Christ]

Nice boat, to small to be a comfortable permanent home, I bought a Albin Vega 27' to live on the seas!

[@RoversAdventure]

I've been living on it for several months at this point and I am more comfortable than I was on the Contessa 26

[@lukethompson8942]

Love the boat, but If I had that boat, I would put my phone down to two seconds and it would slide clean off the side.

[@RoversAdventure]

lol, it happened last week with my hand held VHF. BTW, I was able to recover the floating VHF under sail like a man overboard

[@lindamanderson62]

Oh wow those waves are getting pretty big - you are so well prepared for days like this - always look forward to your informative and oh so interesting videos!! Good job on the fix!! 🔧🪛

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks as always for the kind words Linda.

[@eamoncarroll6051]

Do you feel the pulpit rail is strong enough for the sheet to hold in a jybe .it looks vunerable compared to the deck with a good strong back .well done .you are flying

[@tiborkiss9186]

Hi. I have been watching your build. amazing. Since you are sailing this boat, you seem to heave to every time the wind is over 25.ish knots. Of course, you are there, you decide, it is fine. I am just wondering. Is this boat with this junk rig setup capable to sail in a constant wind of 25-30 knots? Mind you, I only sailed on boats 38 feets upward.

[@RoversAdventure]

She would sail fine in those conditions and you will see that in a future video but these gusty conditions were increasing the wind intensity by 50 percent. Folks should know that this was a real ocean shakedown. We are making a few modifications that will address these issues before the next big ocean passage.

[@n176ldesperanza7]

Your conservative approach sets a good example. Fair winds and seas to you.

[@RoversAdventure]

Thank you and this is still my shake down period.

[@jepomer]

Most of my sailing has been on my Capri 22 around the Boston Harbor Islands. I've participated in the offshore racing to gain experience and still have help not that far away. The first "heavy weather" seas we experienced was a relatively gentle day of 10 knot winds. But there were large "rollers" coming in from somewhere else. The rollers were about 12 ft high and spaced reasonably apart. My wife and I had no real trouble going east into the swells. I was enjoying the gentle rollercoaster ride. But we had to turn broadside to the waves rounding the outer more islands. My wife's stomach complained first. I held out longer hoping to complete that leg then get the swells behind us. Crew comfort became tantamount since I knew my wife was NOT comfortable. We started the motor to better control the boat and get through Hypocrite Channel. Once through the channel, it was a pleasant sail again with both stomachs settled. Over the years, I was more comfortable being in 20+ knot winds. A few races had high 20 knot winds with 30+ knot gusts. The Capri 22 handled those winds admirably with only a single reef point available. A second or third reefing point would be nice to have on those windier days. But we recently purchased a Catalina 310 to extend our sailing wind comfort - and also to have a real cabin. Ellen really likes that part.

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks for sharing

[@GrenvilleMelonseedSkiff496]

Challenge met … and still having fun! Thanks for an excellent video. PS: If you’re using a GoPro, I can recommend the GoPro accessory called Jaws Clamp Mount. I use it for my Melonseed sailing videos and yes … it Holds Fast! ⛵️🇨🇦😀

[@RoversAdventure]

I'll check it out!

[@jonymanay]

I enjoyed your contessa vids a while back. Hope you make it to some new islands and walk around. All the best watching from NZ.

[@RoversAdventure]

More to come!

[@Abc-kf4qx]

Amazing Alan! Could you explain how you hove to with your set up? Cheers!

[@RoversAdventure]

I can do one better. Next video I will show you how I was hove to for 18 hours.

[@ArturZagaj-Izraelita]

7:44 fajna ta krata z metslu- nie wypadniesz. Sam to wymyśliłeś?

[@RoversAdventure]

Zaprojektowałem ambonę rufową i mój przyjaciel Brian ją dla mnie zespawał.

[@matthewlang8320]

Capturing sea state from the cockpit has always been difficult. Alan, I challenge you to invent a camera device/vessel that you could tow behind. A 360 lens and way to release tension for a clean balanced shot and then reel back is what is stuck in my head. I trust you would come up with a great solution. I'm forging my own adventure, but I also count on you to keep me amused alone the way.

[@RoversAdventure]

Can we say entertained instead of amused.

[@matthewlang8320]

@@RoversAdventure haha of course we can. I’d also throw in intrigued, inspired and amassed. I’m a mechanical engineer and woodworker and what you do and the way you do it hits home.

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Alan, can you replace the shackle pins in the blocks with longer pins that have a hole in the end that allows you to mouse the pin? Have a good weekend sir.

[@RoversAdventure]

It was pretty easy to find a new shackle in Stonington that I could wire shut

[@MyOldSled]

How different does the junk rig handle compared to the typical main/jib?

[@RoversAdventure]

For a single handed sailor on a small boat it is a dream to handle

[@MyOldSled]

@@RoversAdventure Sorry Alan, I meant does it turn as easy, sail as fast etc?

[@RoversAdventure]

@MyOldSled once we are sailing, she behaves much like other boats. This is my first time sailing on such a light boat, and I'm happy to have such a small light rig to propeller her. I've gained a lot of experience over the last few months and now feel totally ready to cross the Atlantic

[@DrBrian0450]

looks like fun! Sometimes you can drill a hole for a safety wire on those small blocks in the thumb tang....

[@RoversAdventure]

It was so tiny. The replacement has been wired

[@DmytroPanchenko-vn3yo]

Hello, Alan!!! What You can tell as about stability of the boat with two keels and junk rig?

[@RoversAdventure]

This boat is amazingly stable for her size and more stable than my old Contessa. Part of the reason is due to her flat bottom and light construction

[@kenrolt8072]

Use stainless safety wire on the shackle, as in aircraft-fastener belt & suspenders approach.

[@RoversAdventure]

That's what I do. This was a small block that didn't have a hole in the pin

[@kootenaymountainboats]

Great video, thank you! I'm curious how you heave to with just one sail; I always thought it required some sort of opposing force from a backed jib or a mizzen to stall a boat effectively. I see in the comments that someone else asked about heaving to and you mentioned you'd address in a subsequent video, so +1 from me on that subject.

[@oldshad65]

wondering how you compare/contrast WR 650 to Contessa in today's conditions. WR looks pretty rolly and I would guess the Contessa had more ballast low and would be less rolly??

[@RoversAdventure]

Check out season one. The Contessa rolled excessively. But bear in mind she is a small boat. The 650 is more stable (not surprisingly) due to her flat bottom.

[@redfox4098]

5 c drizzle Charlottetown on November 9th this morning. Yesterday at the entrance to Covehead Bay, I was wondering how you were since 5-6 ft waves and high winds drove me off the beach back to the car parked by the lighthouse. Makes one feel alive . I was laughing since there is no way for you to step off WR into a warm car. Lol Ray

[@RoversAdventure]

You made me smile my friend

[@SaulTPokit]

Looks like fun 😊 I have the standard question - what are you doing for a head/ toilet on Wave Rover?

[@RoversAdventure]

I have a bucket that is kept up forward

[@SaulTPokit]

@SailingWaveRover Rustic :) Been watching your channel since your last journey during Covid. Wishing you well from Scotland.

[@sailingbrewer]

Drill a hole through the head of the screw and but some SS wire through it fold it on the tightening side of the head and twist it to the shackle and then twist a pig tail and fold it flush so it doesn't chew things up. Google safety wire shackle

[@RoversAdventure]

lol, All my shackles that can be wired are. You would have seen me do that in an earlier video

[@delukxy]

A few minutes before you showed your block problem I was wondering what other sails you had that could be rigged if the junk sail failed. You fixed this problem but if you lost the ability to hoist it you'd be in trouble. Hopefully you have a least one spare halyard to hoist a trysail or something. Pleased you are safely back in port.

[@RoversAdventure]

The sail is really bullet proof. The shackle has been replaced, and wired shut.

[@gregoryh4601]

May I ask a question in could he add a little more sail to get a Little more Speed? Also Alan heading down Wind to America?

[@rwwhitwell5594]

Have you ever added up your overall expenses and a detailed breakdown of the build hours?

[@RoversAdventure]

If you are dedicated it will take you about 6-7 months to build and I will get a cost soon

[@VinnyBully]

Do you have plans to cross the Atlantic or Pacific with this boat ?

[@RoversAdventure]

The Atlantic crossing is absolutely in the cards for the near future

[@ende421]

How is WR650s movement in the waves compared to the C26? How stable does she hold course downwind in swell?

[@RoversAdventure]

She is simalar in many respects despite her much smaller size. She does track well/better

[@einarquay]

We are enjoying your videos Alan. Looks like you are having fun. By the way, I don’t think I’ve seen a foul weather gear like what you are wearing., especially the tan colour. Who makes the outfit?

[@RoversAdventure]

It's Mark's Work Warehouse construction gear. I'm waiting for a marine brand to sponsor me lol

[@einarquay]

@@RoversAdventure you are kidding me. That’s just brilliant! You’ll damage HH sales for sure.

[@einarquay]

@@RoversAdventure well, I don’t know why anyone would spend 2 grand more for almost the same thing. Add a balaclava and a sou’wester and you’re good to go.

[@tom_anderson]

The Alan that sails the boat looks about 20 years younger than the Alan that builds the boat.

[@RoversAdventure]

I certainly do feel younger sailing Wave Rover, meeting like minded folks along the way, and living the cruisers life. Thanks for the comment.

[@JDnDargo]

You really got me hooked on junk rigs. I'm new to sailing and all of it and am trying to understand as much as i can before I'll go to sailing school, in a few months. However, can you please demonstrate how to heave to with a junk rig? Thanks so much for your effort and stay safe!

[@RoversAdventure]

I will show it in the next video for you.

[@CC-kt2hm]

I assume you have a forward hatch where you can pop up and work on the sail?

[@RoversAdventure]

No but it may make it on to the plan set.

[@kencannuck]

​@@RoversAdventureThat's an interesting development Allan. Seems to be safety benefits to this forward hatch, but Is there some downside to the installation that we are unaware of, and this keeps you from advocating for it?

[@RoversAdventure]

Potential leaking and that part of the cabin top has been engineered to take the mast loads @@kencannuck

[@dannotte7289]

Junk the junk rig and get a real setup 😂

[@ArturZagaj-Izraelita]

Jak?