Sailing out under the Golden Gate Bridge in my oversized Ross Lillistone First Mate w/ Balanced Lug.

Sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge was a dream. We picked a spring day with about 10-15 knots of breeze to try it. Tacking out to Point Bonita, we were able to see up and down the coast. We got close to the infamous Potato Patch Shoal, but turned back before sailing through it.
The First Mod project began with the goal of building the biggest, safest boat that could still be towed to the water by bike. This led to an oversized and modified Ross Lillistone First Mate, 17' long, roughly 350#, with a balanced lug rig.
With the bike towing on pause due to numerous wheel failures, the focus has been on sailing beautiful places with the help of my new electric car. Launching in Horseshoe Bay put us right on the East side of the bridge, the closest possible starting point.
Check out build photos on the Wooden Boat forum: forum.woodenboa...
Support the project! Donate at Patreon: / fossilfool
See other projects and recent sailing videos on my channel page.
Check out Rock The Bike for our pedal powered creations: rockthebike.com

[@PeterPrestonUK]

More than seeing somebody rip it up, I like to see somebody make an error but realise it and take corrective action: it shows a much better grasp of the situation than somebody who has just got lucky. Having said that, I'd rather be always lucky than good. haha

[@fossilfool]

Thanks, I'll keep it up!

[@TranslucentStudios]

Funny song! Good one.

[@EdwardSeatonSailings]

Nice

[@fossilfool]

Thx:)

[@Ravenswingsailing]

Confirming on the heave-to, need to sheet out to a “low power” mode but not so much that it’s flogging around. I didn’t see you lash the tiller to counteract the sail. It’s controlling that opposing force (wind on loose sail and water past rudder) that makes a stay-all-day heave. Roses / flowers on the water outside the bridge, inside Pt Bonita lighthouse are usually from scattering of people’s ashes. I’ve skippered that trip for a couple of my folks’ friends. Such a beautiful final resting spot!

[@fossilfool]

Such an interesting explanation on the roses, thx for sharing! I was told not to lash the tiller, just push it or let it go to the leeward side. I'll keep practicing and aiming for an all-day heave.

[@Ravenswingsailing]

@@fossilfool I’d rig a very easy to quickly release bungee for this. In a small, light boat, the bouncing sea can knock the rudder out of heave-to too easily. Just a bit of bungee pressure should do the trick. And yeah, my uncle is out there under those outer bay roses somewhere ;)

[@ВладимирВасильев-с3ы]

It was great! I felt as a crew member. The song was to remember. Thank you!

[@conman4119]

Inspirational as always. Great commentary and insights. I still haven't managed my first solo dinghy sail yet :( greetings from Ireland

[@fossilfool]

Thanks for the feedback and good luck!

[@yeoldegunporn]

I remember my dad an I sailing to catalina in some pretty small boats from LA in the 90's. I know we did it in a Catalina 22. Vid reminds me of sailing the old 420s and stuff. Seems like a successful build. Can't wait to get back out there, thanks for the inspiration.

[@Pawdee]

Great sailing, thanks for bringing us along!

[@PeterPrestonUK]

"musing whether I would get under the bridge". Presumably you meant get around to doing it rather than fit underneath? I was on a sightseeing helicopter ride and we flew underneath it! I've now driven over it, flown over it, flown under it, and I want to sail under it to complete my wish list. Living in Scotland makes it a little harder to get that done. One day!

[@theIntuitionist]

Love these videos. I have a 16' sailboat i sail out of alameda. Have learned a lot from your narration. Please keep them coming!

[@aftertheshow8584]

Love all your work, thanks so much.

[@davidyeager8869]

Going well guys, all that practice paying off. The lug rig is a great choice, very easy to handle and not nearly as savage to gybe as a modern rig. I put one on my boat the last time I rerigged it ( I like to experiment ) and it’s the best of the four rigs I’ve had. To heave to, just let the sheet right out, and keep the tiller hard to leeward, you’ll just drift slowly downwind sideways. Love the “sailing rap”!

[@fossilfool]

Thanks a lot! I'll keep trying on heaving to. I've had some times where it's really worked and sometimes where it's not reliable.

[@tomkabat8845]

Great video! I think the solutions to the jibe and the heave to are both in sheet management. For mellowing out the jibes, can you pull in the sheet as you steer downwind and the pressure comes off the sheet? then with short sheet the jibe occurs and you let it back out. For the heave to, I think you were right that it needs a looser sheet to avoid powering up. Keep up the great sharing!

[@constantinoslaliotitis7073]

Hey! Love the vids. Have always wanted to sail with you. Last minute invite. Sailing from Rio Vista to Benicia tomorrow. Got a vintage Potter. Should be...interesting. Best...oh yes it's ok to flex.

[@fossilfool]

Thanks a lot Constantinos. Got plans in Oakland tomorrow. My email is my youtube name @gmail if you want to try for another time .

[@squallyheiferadventures]

Was wondering when you would make the bridge. Love the shots.

[@fossilfool]

Thanks!

[@templebrown5933]

Not sure if this video or another -- you named your camera setup, 360 degrees and you choose the angle and such in editing. Can you tell me that again here in text? Pretty cool!

[@fossilfool]

This vid. It's the Insta 360 One X2. Now they have the X3 with better usability. I haven't upgraded but would recommend you go straight to the X3.

[@fossilfool]

I also like to have a GoPro in the pocket of my PFD for commentary or to show a distant subject (better resolution).

[@paulbriggs3072]

Was the camera just swinging on a line from the mast?

[@fossilfool]

360 cameras magically make the stick they’re mounted to disappear. The camera is mounted on a stick that places it 2’ up and 1’ out from the deck.

[@dominictarrsailing]

can you reef without dropping the whole sail?

[@fossilfool]

Can't. Gotta drop the rig. I have thought of making it a furler boom like this amazing video here from another inventor. You should check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imXIkIehbKyVmZo

[@anthonycapestany4899]

Good song ! Send us an link

[@fossilfool]

Thx a lot. Not planning to post it outside of this, so this video is the link. You can share at a specific time of the video if you click the share button when the song is beginning.

[@fossilfool]

If you like the original music, check out "Trash Pickin'" also: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYicmI2ue6dspMk

[@michaelbeebe1616]

Is your centerboard metal? Acting as ballast?

[@fossilfool]

Actually it’s the opposite. I made it out of carbon fiber over foam. It only weighs 8 pounds.

[@johnnovembre7758]

Is that Nick Bertulis from Colorado College?

[@fossilfool]

Yeah, just asked :)

[@johnnovembre7758]

@@fossilfool love this small world.

[@michaelharper4989]

They call that area "The Washing Machine"

[@fossilfool]

Any tips for sailing to Bolinas? Would we go through the Potato Patch? Hit it at a certain tide? Thx.

[@dii9025]

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