2] STORM At Anchor With ZERO EXPERIENCE | Sailing Kittiwake

[@SailingKittiwake]

Hey! This is an old video. Our videos have improved massively since this one. For better quality episodes, skip to season 2 or 3. Season 2 - Sailing Kittiwake around the Mediterranean: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYDcYXRpq7mnfck Season 3 - Upgrading to a 37ft American design sailboat: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKTcZodrbLqlr68

[@davidwolstenholme1136]

i like the interior of the kittywake and how its set out

[@nathanielharter1643]

I like videos when people first start sailing. But yes the videos have improved drastically. This is not a bad video however. And I enjoyed it. Lots of good info. I hope to get a sail boat to fix up in 10 to 15 years or so when our kids are out of the house. I am starting to learn now.

[@SeamanGR]

I like and enjoy all your videos. Stay safe!

[@markthomasson5077]

Well I watched them then, and I am enjoying rewatching now, five years later. Actually very interesting to hear your reactions at this stage. Sometimes slick production covers a shallow story

[@brettscott7887]

Finally a couple that don't feel they got to put the missus into a g string and parade her around the deck to get some more hits. Awesome content. Keep it up.

[@Glyn69]

Well said Brett

[@arniepeterschmidt8587]

I just watched Episode 2 and was transfixed by the recounting of the storm and it’s consequences. The freshness of the incident and the impacts to the two of you were obvious and I could not go on without responding. I am a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard, the service responsible for maritime safety in U.S. waters. During my time in service I was a direct participant in approximately 1000 search and rescue operations. Most of the time I was on shore answering calls for assistance and coordinating search and rescue operations between multiple Coast Guard stations, boats and aircraft but I also went out on the boats as deck crew. The scenario that you experienced and recounted in the Scilly Isles was typical of the urgent rescue work that I participated in. The two of you conducted yourselves brilliantly coping with this difficult, dynamic and dangerous situation especially considering your somewhat limited experience. You kept your wits about you, kept up with the changing conditions, knew your boat and the limitations of the actions that you could take, took effective action to prevent a collision and provided real assistance to those in distress. Nobody could have expected or asked for anything more from you. There is a point in the video where you seem to blame yourselves for the injury to the lifeboat crewman. You should not, the two of you are in no way to blame for for that accident. The crewman was injured because he (or she) or a crew-mate made a mistake that put that crewman in a position that they should never have been in. Your decision to call for assistance did not cause the injury. You had no control over the actions of the Coast Guard. They are the trained professionals, they decided, based on their orders, experience and capabilities, to come to the scene and to move the lifeboat into a dangerous situation. You merely communicated the situation to them as you should have. Never hesitate to call when you or others are in need of assistance. Through your cautious, thoughtful and educated approach to seamanship the two of you are well on your way to becoming expert sailors and are a credit to your maritime community. Bravo!

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Arnie Peterschmidt Arnie, what a thoughtful comment. Thank you ever so much. We know deep down we did what was best, but it still hurts to think that poor man was seriously injured and his life completely changed. We hope this video makes people think and be extra careful in bad weather conditions. Fair winds, Elena & Ryan

[@jakestanier3951]

All of this makes the efforts of the volunteers of the British RNLI lifeboat crews worth of the most respect possible amazing group of men and women! 💯👌

[@SailingKittiwake]

They certainly are. We're lucky to have them.

[@Artiz...]

Excellent comment Arnie!

[@br5498]

Your actions of calling for help didn't cause a man to get hurt, the actions of a irresponsible crew of the other sailboat caused the man to get hurt. Your actions were correct.

[@Skiamakhos]

Exactly this. You acted responsibly, and avoided an emergency where lives could have been lost. You could not have predicted the lifeboat crew member getting his foot caught. That, harsh as it may sound, is his own look out. He has my sympathy - far as I'm concerned the RNLI are genuine heroes all.

[@hyime69]

Here Here Tony and Kittiwake and if you ask anyone who is a RNLI or in other Rescue organisations they do it all knowing the risks they are sometimes going to place themselves in as for the French Crews it seems they were totally irresponsible and had No care for others or boats

[@chrischart]

Talk about a baptism of fire! Well handled.

[@stuartcrabbe7377]

I wonder how many British sailors in history have said ... "We better keep an eye on those French boats" 😀

[@westcountry_sailing]

Stuart Crabbe we were there in late august and I watched another French boat get dragged overnight onto rocks off Bryher. It definitely didn't get above F5....

[@pvdneste]

even the Dutch say that :-)

[@br5498]

alex bowling ,you'd think the frog's would be better on the water

[@kongkjetil]

"mon Dieu!"

[@PuntBamaPunt1972]

@@br5498 Historically they make pretty boats and poor sailors, which is why we do not speak Frog today.

[@kenpasseri]

The French boats were probably bareboat charterers and as such had very little experience. They committed the Cardinal Sin of seamanship, Colreg #5: Keep a watch, and paid the (next to) ultimate price. Sorry to hear of the loss of limb of the Coast Guard crew. You guys, on the other hand, got it right, even with what sounds like limited cruising experience, you had the instincts to prepare and above all, stand watch throughout the gale. Nice work. aside: Might you need a more powerful motor/engine? Love your channel ( compared to the myriad of available ones) and will live vicariously through you guys. Safe travels.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+ken Passeri what a lovely comment Ken! Thanks so much. Although we had limited cruising experience, we built up quite a bit of knowledge by reading all we could before setting off, including anchoring techniques, which helped a lot. There are instances where we struggle to power Kittiwake in strong winds, so we can't always rely on the engine as a safety backup, but we compensate for this with our heavy duty anchoring gear and we try to be extra careful about lee shores.

[@edwardtumbaking2189]

Just the songs. .enjoy yr episodes. .stay safe

[@Artiz...]

Wow... first proper cruise and all hell breaks loose... talk about steep learning curve! Well done, you cracked it!

[@Alastair510]

My goodness, what an episode. You did everything right; if you had been the only boat in that cove, nothing dramatic would have happened. What a terrific pair you are.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks ever so much 🙏

[@allsearpw3829]

Hi what a baptism of fire ,no wind and water, well done .No wonder you have gone so far over the time you have been at sea may you both enjoy your time together,fine sailing ttfn

[@Oceans_Sail]

Great video. You are experiencing life not watching it on TV. Well done. And in the process you are learning - that’s called life experience. It’s utterly compelling to watch. I’m hooked!

[@nanohedron]

Thanks for keeping it real. This is a story that people who are interested in sailing need to hear. I'm sure it wasn't easy to decide to do this and it's not the kind of feel-good sailing material that makes for baller YouTubing, but you've done well by us for sharing your experience. Thanks!

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks Dave! It’s still one of the most dramatic things that happened to us while sailing, three years on.

[@M-DBarton]

What a way to start out! The lost boat was completely preventable. You had the right strategy. You'll do well. Enjoy!

[@SailingKittiwake]

Mark Hazelden thanks for your lovely words Mark. Thankfully there hasn't been any drama like that since. Touch wood!

[@M-DBarton]

By the way, your calling for help didn't cause the man's injury. The crew of that boat caused the chain of events by both not anchoring properly and leaving their boat before a forecasted storm. You probably saved their lives by calling for help which got them off the boat.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Mark Hazelden thanks Mark. Like you say, there were a whole host of things which led to the accident and on reflection us notifying Falmouth Coastguard was not the root cause. We're just upset for the guy.

[@mickmccrohon]

A terrible way to learn a valuable lesson. It sounds like you did everything right and the guilt isn't yours. I hope the others understand the grief they caused. Thanks for sharing, I will never forget your example.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+mick mccrohon thanks so much for the kind words Mick! It's a lesson we'll never forget.

[@samsails9820]

Nice video, a testing situation. Isle of scilly as nice as it is, don't have many bad weather options. Crowded anchorages tend to be hazardous even in good weather. All the best :)

[@Blazerade13]

Hello from Sydney Australia where we also own a catamaran. My wife and I are from the UK and started sailing in a 30' catamaran in when we lived in Bournemouth. We sailed away on a 48' trimaran with 3 kids. You two seem to be very sensible, thoughtful and willing to research and learn about sailing. These are excellent attributes. I have a good feeling that you will make a huge success of this venture and have a lot of fun, especially in the warmer weather! I look forward to following you. Cheers!

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Blazerade13 cheers Blaze! Would love to hear more about your boats. Thanks for your kind words, we're always trying to learn more and we think that's really important on the sea!

[@tednottodd]

Thank you for your honest representation of what happened that night. I know there has been a lot of time and distance between you and the feelings that somehow you were partially responsible for the injury to the coastguard. I hope that that distance has lead you to feel as though you did the right thing calling for assistance. You should never second guess calling in help in an emergency situation. My wife and I recently bought a boat after a 30 year absence from sailing and we are looking forward to local trips. fair winds and following seas.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Cheers T! Yes, we know it was the right decision. Although we still feel a little bad about the lifeboat man, we understand it was an accident and we couldn't help it. We hope your new boat is all you wish for and you have an amazing time on your local trips!

[@geremychubbuck3730]

Wonderful video, guys! I found your yesterday and can say that your style of sailing videos is very refreshing. I have followed others for some time now and have become disheartened when they turned more commercial. You guys are down to earth and "normal"...don't change. Keep up the great work!

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Geremy Chubbuck thanks ever so muh Geremy! 😊 We hope you enjoy our future videos 😊 Thanks for your support.

[@peterbrown2336]

Ryan and Elena a cracking little video and very sobering. I think a number of us have been in same situation with boats around us dragging at one time or another and it is worrying. I had a safe position in a bay in the Ionian but the wind picked up and a large motor sailor ketch started to drag towards me. Initially my wife and I thought the yacht was unmanned and we'd have to move but a yacht nearby used its air horn repeatedly and eventually a naked bloke came onto the deck of the yacht that was dragging. He quickly realised he was in danger and took action which was somewhat comic as he ran between the wheelhouse to manoeuvre and then ran forward to bring up his anchor still stark naked. Danger averted he moved off into clear water and re-anchored. Bottom line, and I all the comments I've read pretty much agree, is I think you did everything right to make sure your boat was safe and then to try to get assistance for the yacht that went aground. Why its crew left their yacht is beyond weird. Anyway I have had friends who were in RNLI and none would want you not to hesitate to make that shout in such a situation. It was absolutely tragic there was an accident onboard the lifeboat but you cannot blame yourself for it happening. I do hope all your viewer support the RNLI as it is a very worthwhile charity and we are lucky to have it plus the volunteers who crew the boats. Heroes all. Just a thought that you might want to invest in a second anchor, like a fortress, which stows easily in case you have to abandon you main anchor or want to lay two anchors in the first place for bad weather. Playing catch up on your videos but wishing you the very best in the meantime.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Peter Brown thanks so much Peter! We think the lesson we took away is to call the RNLI when necessary, but to always think twice before making decisions - we can put not only ourselves, but other brave volunteers, in danger. These heroes risk their lives to correct our mistakes. We have a second anchor - a Danforth type - but we wouldn't have trusted it in 60mph winds. It is handy to have on board to anchor for a few hours or as a kedge anchor, which we can deploy from the dinghy. We have published a short video about our anchoring gear (in the extra section) if you're interested. Thanks again!

[@peterbrown2336]

Ryan and Elena thank you for replying so quickly. I'll check out your anchoring piece and pleased you are so well prepared. Safe travels.

[@PuntBamaPunt1972]

Easily the best sailing video I have seen to date. Your detailed account of the incident along with "lessons learned" is a credit to both of you. Very well done.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks so much Ward, such a nice thing to hear! We think the filming and editing improve after Portugal ;-)

[@PuntBamaPunt1972]

@@SailingKittiwake No worries on the quality, I don't have an issue with it. Once upon a decade when I was about your ages I was present for a fatal boating accident where there was a "party" going on. Since then I haven't touched alcohol when on the water and am rather vocal about it when present with other boaters when they are drinking, which makes me not a very popular fellow at times. Needless to say I had another takeaway from the incident that you didn't mention, but you guys can hardly preach 'temperance" on a sailing channel and hope to have any subscribers. ;-) I am looking forward to catching up on your videos.

[@dawnconnelly7350]

Oh my goodness. It's experiences like these that make us better sailors. You guys did great. Look forward to seeing more of your voyage. Now it really begins!

[@SailingKittiwake]

Dawn Connelly thanks for the kind words Dawn. We can only try to be as careful as we can and learn as we go. Fair winds!

[@Grandliseur]

Amazing teaching experience. Forunately, you got through the storm OK.

[@SailBeforeSunset]

I wish there were more responsible sailors out there like you two.

[@mikebhicks7933]

Love the videos. Love the little catamaran. Thank you.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Cheers Mike!

[@mikebhicks7933]

@@SailingKittiwake Keep the videos coming please. Stay Safe ! Happy Sailing.

[@evanofelipe]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I've sailed several times to the Scillies from Falmouth and Plymouth over the years and have known many experienced 'yachties' who openly admit they would not go there, simply because the area affords limited protection and can be very exposed to quickly changing weather conditions, particularly during late Summer. As a low passes its not unusual for wind direction to turn 180 degrees, turning a protected 'off shore' anchorage into a 'lee shore', as you soon discovered. The problem then is that your once anchor has been successfully set to cope with initially encountered winds it is rotated on the sea bed when the wind direction changes and can be dislodged and break free under strain. The considered safe option when bad weather is ever likely or forecast for the Scillies, is to leave the Islands altogether and run for a sheltered anchorage off mainland Cornwall. Failing that find somewhere between the islands (dependent upon weather) say to New Grimsby Sound between Tesco and Bryher (but its not good in SSE/NNW) So when the wind direction changes you can gain some shelter. The Scilly Isles offer beautiful cruising grounds, but that beauty comes at a price and is much loved by French skippers. You did well to keep your boat safe. Were you eventually able to recover your anchor? - Evano

[@SailingKittiwake]

evanofelipe Hi Evano, thanks for the message. I think in hindsight your ideas would have been better, anchoring between the islands like you say may be safer, or better still run for cover on the mainland. One trimaran sailor we spoke to afterwards had done just that. It is a stunning place when the sun's out though! We did retrieve our anchor a couple of days later without any trouble, thanks.

[@stephenmundane]

Honest storytelling and a fine choice of music -- great stuff. I've definitely learned a few lessons from your experience -- thanks. And thanks for bringing us along on your adventure. I hope to get to the Isles of Scilly one day too.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Stephen Mundane cheers! You're very kind. We hope you get to see the best of these beautiful islands. Fair winds!

[@scottstevens5628]

Nice narrative of proper anchor handling! As well as keeping watch during the blow. A little knowledge goes a long way!!! Thank yoi

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Scott Stevens thanks a lot Scott. As new sailors, we try to be extra careful and it's paid off so far.

[@snakeplisken4278]

You absolutely did the right thing calling the coast guard. Just a freak accident. They also could have saved a life...you never know. Be safe, be alert and have fun. Waiting for you in Florida...

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Snake Plisken thanks a lot. We did come to the conclusion that what we did was the only thing to do, but we're still sad for the poor man who lost his foot.

[@allancuthbertson5764]

Thank you very much for your story. Grabbing the camera just does not come to mind during a situation and we have experienced a few! You have reminded us of our cruising start back in summer 2014. After both of us retiring we passaged out of Milford Haven with my youngest son and his wife who accompanied us to Vigo, (nw Spain).Our first stop out of Milford was a buoy at St Mary's and we had a pleasant few days, happening upon the long boat race festivities! Our next destination was to be France as we were heading for the Med but when a storm was forecast we sailed to Falmouth and spent a lovely week there, exploring the Chain Locker (& the local area!). We have now clocked 4002 nauticals and are presently in Sicily (via Morocco, 56 marinas & 40 anchorages!). We use Weather4D Pro, an inexpensive AP which is an amazing tool for our purpose. There have been occasions when it's missed local winds around mountainous areas but the majority of the time it's spot on. We began our sailing back in the late 70's with a Hurley 21' constructed with marine ply (= lots of work restoring her!!) and over the years we have learnt to dive for the nearest marina in a blow. Sailing to Falmouth was a significant deviation from our plan but saved a battering off the Atlantic coast of France and gave us a super unplanned holiday in the beautiful Fal area. Kindest regards, A&A.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Allan Cuthbertson thanks a lot for your comment Allan. Sounds like you've been on the same voyage we're undertaking :) Well done for clocking all those miles! Going to Falmouth was a good call. We've learned to look for protection further since. We tend to avoid marinas (never been to one yet). It's worked ok so far. Where are you heaed next?

[@iantyler3398]

What a start to your adventures and what great video production! Don't blame yourself for anything - the lifeboat crewman certainly wouldn't. And well done helping your French neighbours. Especially difficult when their idiocy put you in such danger. Maybe you need to improve your weather forecasting? When you said we moved to the anchorage well sheltered from the SW, I thought Oh dear that looks open to the NW and, when lows pass by, the wind often veers to North of West. Hey ho! To paraphrase - what doesn't hurt you makes you stronger!

[@rikclaymore8004]

it may be old - but i really enjoyed finding this ...sat at work bored and dreaming - wow i could actually do this!

[@adampark4612]

Just two episodes in....and again, professional production, truly imaginative accompanying sounds. adventure and compelling personality - look forward to more! Safe sailing.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Adam Park wow thanks a lot Adam! 😊

[@SailingBritaly]

Hi Ryan and Elena, we really enjoyed your video. Sharing details of experiences like this can help us all learn from the mistakes of others. You guys did the very best that you could under the circumstances and please bear in mind in any situation like this it is inevitable that some 'what ifs' will cross your mind (they would cross the mind of any intelligent and conscientious person finding themselves in that situation). Don't listen to these thoughts: what happened happened and you guys couldn't have done anything better than you did. In a serendipitous kind of way it is good that this happened right at the start of your adventure - you have learned some very valuable lessons and these will stand you in very good stead for the future. Onward and upward... Fair winds! Chris & Rossella 🙂

[@SailingKittiwake]

Sailing Britaly we're lost for words Chris & Rossella... such a lovely lovely comment ❤ thanks ever so much. We really appreciate it. Yes, we will treasure those lessons. And you're right - it's kind of good that it happened so early on. We wish the very best to you guys on your upcoming adventure and hope you'll never find yourselves in a similar situation x

[@shaggyduder]

The other parties boat crews failure to know what they were doing is in no way your responsibility or your fault, you did the right thing calling for help, the fact that someone was injured also is not your fault, it was the individual who was injured, lack of training or improper action that caused it, you did the right thing. Either way, they should of never put you at risk.

[@dongibbs4450]

Hi Elena you did very well in those conditions it was right to advise Falmouth of the french boat but as there was nobody on the French boat there was no threat to life so its not a May Day I would have radioed St Mays harbour master who was nearer who would have done whatever was necessary any way very well done. We were there the following week and was very sorry to here about the life boat Man and we saw the french boat up on the shore with a large gash in her side. everyone was talking about the poor Life boat Man who lost his foot, so sad

[@SailingKittiwake]

Hi Don, thanks for the comment. Just to clarify, a Mayday isn't only for threat to life, it is also for a threat to a vessel or aircraft, so it was the right radio call, and it wouldn't be appropriate for the harbour master to be tasked to deal with it - the coastguard are there to coordinate exactly this type of scenario. They knew the facts as we could see them (they asked lots of questions to clarify the situation) and tasked the lifeboat. Yes, really sad to hear about the lifeboatman.

[@pvdneste]

Good job! well done. It always amazes me how careless some people anchor. You did right calling the coastguard.

[@arumrunner]

I love your musical choices and your editing is spot on! When cruising there is often the situation where as another vessel anchors within "your comfort zone". Then there is the fact that you do not want to seem like an uptight safety nanny and ask them to move. However, your gut feeling is often right, and you are protecting your vessel and home. Thus having a polite, if firm, conversation with the other vessel is not only appropriate, it is proper. If that fails, you have the ultimate option to move to a safer location. Carry on, I'm enjoying the adventure!

[@SailingKittiwake]

arumrunner thanks a lot for the compliments! We've become a bit more firm about other people anchoring near us since. It was difficult in this situation because of the language barrier and lack of space in the anchorage (the only spot protected from the forecasted winds in the archipelago).

[@nessuno1948]

Nice! Good lesson and understanding. From a retired master mariner.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+nemo thanks so much Nemo!

[@freeduc]

Good lessons well learned. Life at sea is serious business and those who take the sea lightly usually regret it. Safe voyages!

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Bob S. Very true. Thanks Bob!

[@markthomasson5077]

Watching your series again, now a few years later. So lesson given…you can’t have a big enough anchor! And always back it in. You acted very well. My only thought was perhaps the coastguard should have been contacted as soon as you saw the French boat dragging.

[@AndyUK-Corrival]

Wow,quite an adventure,and very sobering. Really no idea why the two other boats went ashore without leaving a watch with the gales forecast but you did all you could and more so hats off to you. Andy

[@SailingKittiwake]

+FrenchAM100 thanks Andy! You're very kind.

[@cousinjack2841]

You are making an old Cornishman guys did all the right things, marooned in Africa, very homesick. Aren't the Scillies just beautiful? I have worked on both trawlers and mackerel boats in Cornwall and in my opinion you guys did everything right. Well done.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks so much, Jack. You do a tough job. We loved the Scillies - so beautiful.

[@Drzee1968]

To add to other comments, Wow! A really challenging start, well done for coming out of it OK

[@SailingKittiwake]

Drzee1968 thanks! We've decided it was beginner's luck. We've definitely learned a lot from the experience.

[@daveprince841]

Wow amazing I love the Helford and what an experience you had, it's experiences like that, that you learn from and never forget. Great to see a new Brit sailing channel I'm hooked. I hope its all going well for you al, the best Dave

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks so much Dave!

[@frankd2301]

I’m glad you stayed and enjoyed the islands instead of going home. I have sailed all over the world and never experienced what you did on your first trip

[@SailingKittiwake]

That’s very encouraging Frank! Hopefully we got storms out of the way and now we can just relax 😁

[@josuehernandezmago]

Wow, there are some great channels just starting. Very well done video and very exiting times, I have binge watch them all. My 2 cents on the matter. If your narrative was accurate, as member of Coastguard myself, let me tell you on first hand that you should not take any blame of what happened to the coastguard member. We train hard to manage this kinds of situation, the safety of our members is paramount, first the safety of our crew, then the safety of the people involved, then our property and at very last other peoples property. Seems like the rescue plan needs to be investigated, so we can learn from it. Please remember even we the most bulletproof plan, things can turn to worse very quickly, that's a risk we take when we decide to do this type of volunteering work. We do it because just like you, we love the ocean. Very good lesson to learn. Better now than later on.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+tt spid thanks so much! It was a very valuable lesson to learn for sure. Thanks for your kind words.

[@allancuthbertson5764]

Hi both, "where are we heading next you asked?" Due to the eye watering cost of marinas in the med we select an area of interest and negotiate a stay for a year, being the best value and not having to rush anywhere in particular being retired. During our year at a marina we are joined by family and friends and for our purpose it is fantastic. I share looking after my mother with my brother so, I split my time between sailing and life at home. I have three "children" and they use Artemis as a (no cost) hotel when we are absent. We are having a wonderful retirement, we see our five grandchildren when home and sailing. During our recent leg from Rome to Sicily we had three grandchildren and their parents for 650 nauticals! When at home we fly our Microlights! I think we are one of the few families that have managed to fly and sail for recreation!!! In reply to your question, we have planned a sailing trip to Malta but nothing else. We will do most of our travelling by public transport, hiring a car for a few weeks before returning to the UK on each occasion & also use the car to return us to the airport on our departure day to save taxi costs. Marinas are even more expensive for cats and I can well imagine that you find it outside your budget. It's usually possible to have a free night in a Marina if you arrive late & tie up to the fuel pontoon. Can be a bit nosey if there are fishing boats using the same facility. If the night watchman directs you to another area, it's still a free night at the Marina and as a bonus, use the Marina cafe for WiFi, provisions etc. Some marinas and harbours will offer you a buoy at a much reduced cost if you explain to the owner your limited sailing budget. During your passage to the med you will be faced with trying weather and night passages that can be exhausting. We make a "bed" on one side of the cockpit, and swop the watch every two hours or so & are always clipped in. Needless to say, we have severely tested our credit cards to stay safe! The nice thing with marinas is peace of mind whilst away from your boat exploring the local area. Kindest regards, A&A.

[@FitOutPost]

What a dramatic experience you've been through, but as you rightfully said you've also learned a few lessons. Well done, sailors!

[@SailingKittiwake]

Definitely, lessons like these are hard to forget.

[@jennarobinson6513]

Brilliant. Ryan I can imagine you were totally unimpressed by the whole debacle! Happy sailing.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Jenna Robinson hey Jen! Accidents can happen to anyone I guess. We were mostly just worried about the boat and the people involved. - Ryan

[@RoyClare]

Hi guys, I’m a life-long sailor and follow a number of the sailing channels on KZbin. Only just found yours. Like your style very much, so I’ve subscribed. Quite an adventure in the Scillies, but - as others have noted - while the accident to the lifeboatman is a real tragedy it is not your doing. I’ll follow your voyage with genuine interest. By the way, did you recover your anchor ok? Fair winds, Roy

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Roy Clare thanks a lot Roy! Very much appreciated. We hope you'll enjoy following along 😊 Yes, we did get the anchor back OK; we left two huge fenders attached to the rode and went back once the storm was over. It was a huge relief to have it back on board! Fair winds to you, Elena & Ryan

[@SailingLunaSea]

Guys! I love this video. Beautiful scenery, information about the place you're visiting, sailing, details about what it is really like out here - good job, and we'll certainly be watching. Excellent work on Kittiwake as well. Cheers! 🍻

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Sailing LunaSea wow so many compliments! Thanks a lot guys! How's life on the hard? Getting lots of boat work done?

[@SailingLunaSea]

Been doing jobs for everyone else - finally able to get to our own boat projects this week! Heading out next week in the #creepyvan for a cross country road trip. Life on the hard is, well, hard. ;)

[@nheeren1]

Pure insanity. So much craziness. Great video. Thanks for making and sharing.

[@SailingKaruna]

Hi, I really enjoyed your video. Thank you for going into such detail about a disastrous situation. I'm glad you came out of it unscathed. I can only imagine how frightening and exhausting it must have been.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Lisa Bayne thanks a lot Lisa. It was a challenging situation and we feel lucky for having come out of it unscathed. We've learned so much.

[@sthomasdesigns]

Thank you for a such a great video

[@pwijland]

Thanks for sharing. Great video. And these islands are still on my hot list

[@DonWestrick]

Harrowing indeed. It appears you both took appropriate actions. Experience is sometimes a harsh instructor. Godspeed!

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks a lot Don. Thankfully nothing that scary has happened since!

[@trevorbyron8181]

A pity there's no footage of the stormy incident

[@antonnath3359]

Great video - I was on the edge of my seat with the shipwreck story. Glad you are both OK.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Anton Nath thanks Anton. We were really lucky to get out of there completely OK. It was a sad incident. We've learned a lot in those 3 weeks.

[@encouragesolutions2595]

Enjoying your videos. There are so many pretentious rich kids who have no idea of reality so this is very refreshing. Did you have previous sailing experience or RYA qualifications before you got Kittiwake? or did you buy it and start to learn? How long before someone can make the kind of journey you guys are doing from knowing nothing about sailing till setting off to the Med? Would you consider crossing Atlantic in Kittiwake? Sorry, too many questions.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks a lot George! Ryan had done the RYA day skipper theory and crewed for 2 weeks on a boat in his early 20s, that's it. I never sailed before. We did a lot of reading and learning before we set off (VHF certificate, ICC, etc), but the practical stuff we learned once we moved on board. It worked for us because Ryan is extremely practical - he can read up on how to put up a spinnaker and just have a go at it the next day, getting it right the first or second time. It's just how his engineer brain works haha. In terms of how long it takes, it really depends on you, your way of learning, your confidence, etc. so we cannot reply to that question, sorry. Many HTs have crossed the Atlantic, so she is capable of doing it for sure :) Whether we'll do it or not, depends on our plans :)

[@johncarroll2964]

Did you say the life boat man lost his foot or injured it? Your refit of the boat was really well thought out for storage and looks really smart inside. I'd imagine the value of the boat has increased markedly.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+John Carroll thanks so much! Yes, unfortunately we heard he lost his foot on the scene, in the sea 😔

[@SailingMoneypenny]

Hi Drama! Hope you enjoyed Scilly. What a lovely spot.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Sailing Moneypenny yes, on a warm sunny day they are stunning islands!

[@leefromsvpatchamie8607]

I just subscribed to your channel, can't believe what happened on this video. Watched a few channels now and everyone is going for the same type of anchor that you have, as they are very good in a storm. I've got to binge watch all your other video's now to catch up. Cheers from Lee in South Wales, UK.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks so much for your comment Lee. We couldn’t believe it either! We hope you enjoy our other videos 😊

[@MurphysLemonadeStand]

I saw the pin below. Apologizing for video quality. I find it sad for you to ask your audience to skip. These are your humble beginnings. The purest of times. I am enjoying them very much. Also so much of Kittiewake is just like our vessel Kakamora.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks so much. We just know that some people expect a certain style of videography from a sailing vlog and these videos are not filmed in that way 😊 we don’t want to put them off.

[@TERRIBLYBRITISH]

Well done guys

[@SailingKittiwake]

+TERRIBLYBRITISH cheers!

[@syncro16se]

One wonders what kind of anchor or achors the french had. (at least two anchors, one good for rocks and one for sand is necessary at least for me to feel adequately prepared and having a greater chance that one grabs and lessen the risk of dragging considerably) Also, even in quite moderate winds, it is very useful with two anchors laid out in a v-form formation when anchoring over night behind an island for instance, as it prevemts the boat from zig zaging from side to side against the wind during the night. I'm amazed at how some sailors have just one (often too small or inadequate) anchor on a 30-40 ft boat). Hopefully they learned a lesson.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Yes, we totally agree. We think most people buy a small anchor thinking they’ll stay in marinas all the time. We went well oversize, as we know we sleep on the hook every night.

[@AdventuresOnBoatscom]

Wow! What a way to start your sailing adventure. I am sure you have learned a lot of lessons that will be invaluable in your future. Keep up the good work. -johnny

[@SailingKittiwake]

+AdventuresOnBoats.com thanks a lot Johnny! We've learned so much just in those 24hours! And much more since then :)

[@Kyleinasailing]

Did the lifeboat crewman really loose his foot? What a terrible situation. When the wind starts blowing sailing is a completely different ball game. Thanks for sharing this information and good sailing.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Stephen Lediard yes, according to what we heard from the locals it sadly happened on the scene. Thanks Stephen.

[@photon1972]

Such great information. Your detailed explanation is so helpful. Thank you!

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Robert Isaak thanks a lot Robert!

[@lotophagi711]

Excellent. Remember you are in cat so that you can tuck right in the shallows and anchor fore and aft. Even take the ground especially where there is a large tidal range :-)

[@SailingKittiwake]

Lotophagi yes, that's one of the great advantages of our boat 😊

[@markthomasson5077]

…but not in a strong onshore wind!

[@lungarotta]

Very good video, interesting (even if dramatic) story. Well done and TFS.

[@SailingKittiwake]

lungarotta thanks a lot!

[@defylifeadventure]

The boat looks great. I still need to do all that work on my Snowgoose, but figured I'd enjoy her over the summer first.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks a lot! We did the same when we bough Kittiwake - enjoyed what was left of the summer (a couple of weeks!) and then started the boat works in the winter. Our surveyor said she was fine for that season :)

[@obiwanfisher537]

Oh, did he actually LOSE the foot? When you first said he had to be evacuated I thought he was JUST injured. That is terrible.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Yes ☹️

[@obiwanfisher537]

@@SailingKittiwake Oh man... That is really bad. I feel sorry for that guy. But on the other hand; Always make sure you dont put your feet where they dont belong.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Yep, poor guy. It certainly made an impression on us, and made us reflect that when you get yourself into trouble you can cause problems for other people too.

[@obiwanfisher537]

@@SailingKittiwake That was also my first thought, too. But I didnt want to say it because sometimes things are out of your control and the forces of nature just happen.

[@MikeSantis]

It's been said a lot about irresponsible French sailors. I've heard this from many other sailors. That incident confirms it once again.

[@landsea3682]

Complimentson a very good video and very good seamanship!

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks a lot :) we were pretty fresh to it then but looking back we think we made the right decisions.

[@BreezyRider66]

Hi, very impressed with the work you did on the boat, sensible choices and by the looks of it done to a good standard. I haven't seen a "flying" roller furler like that before, was that your idea? Do all the Heavenly Twins have the stoop through to aft cabin? I came across your videos while researching composting loos - my new to me boat (Colvic Watson 34) has an electric loo with a massive holding tank, I've had it all apart, descaled & cleaned it all once and I'm seriously thinking of getting rid of the whole thing for a Simploo. Been FT liveaboard in UK eight years now. So a baptism of fire in the anchorage - you acquitted yourselves very well and you can't blame yourselves for the injury to the lifeboat crew, if anyone's to blame it's the irresponsible crew of the boat that dragged on to the rocks. Unfortunately anchorages seem always half full of idiots and party boats (of all nationalities), and where do they want to park? Right next to you! Very best of luck with your continuing adventures, there's definitely more to life than work and other shackles and I look forward to watching more of your videos...

[@SailingKittiwake]

Cheers David! Lovely comment, thanks. The roller furler wasn't our idea - we simply replicated the rigging configuration of the boat when we re-did it. Most HTs don't have the stoop through, nope. It was a rare find ;)

[@iank2196]

All that drama and about 3 seconds of video of it arrgghh! 😁 Glad to see you got through it though

[@SailingKittiwake]

awaiting sailing hehe we were sliiightly busy trying to keep safe and helping the other boat out 😬

[@iank2196]

we'll have to get you a head cam for any future drama, hopefully being few in number😁

[@dclaurie2001]

Well done.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+SV Windfall cheers!

[@scotthudson1665]

What I took from this experience is; you can't stop others from acting inappropriately. In this case with those other two boats anchoring too close and not enough chain, maybe it would be better to move away from them to another anchoring spot. At least their bad decisions won't become yours. This is after the fact on my part, but by your testimony, it sounds like you both made the best of what you had to deal with at the time. I am glad they didn't push you onto the rocks.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Cheers Scott. If there had been more space in the anchorage or another protected anchorage, we would have moved. But we had no choice, unfortunately.

[@123boat]

Wise heads on young shoulders 😀 Loving your videos

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thank you! 🤗

[@dasabyss2012]

Wow that must have been a bloody frightening experience that could could have put lesser people off the whole thing. Not much more you could have done really without endangering yourselves .You should be proud of your actions and yeh like you said you can only learn from other people misfortunes. Happy Sailing John

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks so much John 🙏

[@oldtimerman59]

loved it , great vid . best wishes Phil

[@SailingKittiwake]

Sailing VIO thanks a lot Phil! All the best, Elena and Ryan

[@Eric-ye5yz]

Very useful information Thank you.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Eric Gillingham you're very welcome.

[@iank2196]

As someone who is looking at either a sub 35ft Catalac, Prout or Heavenly twins in the near future how have you found the Hobby horsing or Pitching to be with your boat? I hear they are prone to it because of the hull rockers.

[@SailingKittiwake]

awaiting sailing Hi, one thing you'll need to think about with the HT (and possibly with any of those boats) is weight distribution. This seems to make a massive difference on our boat. If I (Ryan - 80kgs) go and sit right at the front or back of the boat when there's a lumpy sea, the boat will start hobbyhorsing. But it you're aware of the weight and plan around it then it rarely occurs. We store 100kgs of water on the front deck but make sure its at the back of the front deck. We've also got about 150-200kgs of anchoring gear in the front locker. But with the weight just a little further back we don't get much hobbyhorsing. One thing I have noticed is that if we are anchored in say 7m of water and are cleated to the chain, then the weight of the chain that far forward can exacerbate any rolliness in the anchorage. Not sure if that's obvious or not, but it wasn't to us and it makes a world of difference to our boat if we cleat it off with the depth of water in rope out. Hope that makes sense. Best of luck!

[@iank2196]

Yeah I have been reading about weight distribution on the HT and it helping with the pitching. The rockers built into the hulls act as a fulcrum point I expect. Makes you wonder if you could use a flopper stopper when at anchor off the bow\stern as opposed to amidships on a monohull 😀 Glad to have your channel though, there are so few liveaboards on small older cats about on here. I found one guy on a Catalac 9m but thats about it.

[@arqcm]

love you guys!!!

[@john3Lee]

Wow !! That was a lot of drama so early on into your adventure.... :)

[@SailingKittiwake]

john wheatley yep :/ and we didn't even talk about our tiller pilot package getting stolen and going around town with the police, conducting an investigation...! (No footage) It was an intense three weeks! The full account is on our blog 😇

[@john3Lee]

Oh no..... Thats dreadful, but unfortunately thefts seem to happen to most of the sailing community that I follow on here, including my brother, whom had his tender stolen in Gosport harbour.... :( Very best wishes to you both, and stay safe... Cheers :)

[@TonyAnschutz]

I'm no expert but it sounds like you both all you could and made good choices. The crew of the life boat are well trained and responsible for there own actions so don't second guess yourself there. THere were a lot of mistakes you could have made that you didn't so be proud of yourselves and remember these lessons for your future happy cruising life!

[@SailingKittiwake]

+ScubaTony Anschutz thanks a lot for the kind words Tony! Fair winds to you.

[@zenzen9131]

I love the music :)

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thank you! We take a long time to find the right tracks, so the ones we pick, we really think are great 😊 If you want to listen to them or download them, the credits are in the video descriptions.

[@Traderhood]

I thought Sicily was in Italy :-)

[@SailingKittiwake]

It is :) this is the Isles of Scilly.

[@Bill23799]

Thank you for the very interesting video. I clicked Like and i subscribed. The only other sailing YT channel I watch on a regular basis is Gone With The Wynns. Wow what a difference. While I like the couple on the Wynns channel I think I will enjoy yours just as much if not more. Their cat is like a well kept used Lexus while yours seems to be like a 30 year old Ford Transit van that never left the hometown very much. Please don't be offended as I drive a 1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager Mini Van. Yes it is a clunker but it is paid for and it gets me to my Dr. Appointments at the VA and to the food store. I need little more at this time in my life. It was sad to learn the Coast Guardsman lost his foot during the attempted boat rescue. You should not blame yourself. You called in a vessel in distress, it was your duty I think in that situation. It seems to me you acted responsibly in being sure to dig in your heavy anchor and not leave your vessel in high winds. I look forward to seeing more of your adventures.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Bill23799 thanks a lot Bill! Actually our boat was made in 1977, so she's 40 😃 Hehe! A sturdy old lady! We love her though. We also love vans with character, like yours.

[@tomparker9001]

In your first episode you mentioned that you both work on your laptop a few hours a week to provide income. My question is, doing what ? Please forgive my ignorance on the matter as I have been a machinist most of my life and I only know how to make a living with my hands. I would like to do the same thing as the two of you only on the west coast of America. Cheers.

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Tom Parker no worries at all Tom! We do online marketing for a hanful of clients and get paid by hour. Elena has worked in the field for the past few years so she got work from word-of-mouth before we set off. We now work about 3 days a week, while we cruise. Ryan is also hoping to find some more practical work during the winter, doing boat maintenance work for other cruisers.

[@4ndrewthe]

Alcohol and incharge of a vessel. Skipper should have been dealt with by officials and punished them financially as a deterrant to others.

[@nomadequipment2177]

WOW! I'm DEFINITELY getting an oversized Mantus anchor after this😐

[@SailingKittiwake]

Ours is a Manson not a Mantus :)

[@nomadequipment2177]

@@SailingKittiwake yeah I just like how Mantus can be disassembled. I have a tiny boat and the anchors are so huge 🤣 love your boat and channel btw. Wish I could have a cat but I'm too damn tall, lol

[@SuperADI2]

Hy, I like and watch all your video s, all this because I love so much this way of life not to mention that Heavy Twin's is really my favorite little catamaran, from my point of view is the best in his class. And one question for Elena: you are from Romania? Your name sound so Romanian name :) Cheer's Ryan and Elena and good wind's from aft :)

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Super ADI thanks a lot for the love and support! We do love our little boat too 😊 I'm actually from Italy, so easily mistaken - similar language and names 😉 We hope you keep on enjoying our videos 😊

[@davidsharpe7644]

Great video I look forward to more of the same.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Thanks David! We are currently posting episodes twice a month plus some extras here and there 😊

[@sammiller2637]

I learned I don’t like catamarans, the water slapping the bottom between the hulls would drive me crazy. It sounds like you lived in a washing machine.

[@SailingKittiwake]

Haha something similar to a washing machine, the noise is definitely a downside but I think it's only small catamarans that are close enough to the water for the slapping.

[@mrzif0013]

i'll crew for you guys anytime!

[@kinglouis6974]

Hi are you sailer ? I’m thinking of learning Anyway advice?

[@normanboyes4983]

Well as self confessed ‘new sailors’ you acquitted yourself admirably and intelligently - well done. Good decision to dump the anchor too.👍 As for the other stuff - sh1t happens.😳

[@SailingKittiwake]

+Norman Boyes thanks a lot Norman!

[@nomadequipment2177]

The lifeboat guy tho😯😥

[@SailingKittiwake]

We know 😔

[@nomadequipment2177]

@@SailingKittiwake well, you did the right thing, though 🤗

[@westonbadke5434]

Those boats sound like they were stolen.

[@legend343]

I don't see how your actions caused the harm but I understand what you're saying.. you done what you could. You anchored well and it held.. possibly a pan pan instead of a mayday as it wasn't you that was in trouble but that's maybe what you meant regarding "relay a mayday" And you certainly cannot blame yourselves for the poor guy losing his foot. Warren s/y Legend

[@SailingKittiwake]

+legend343 hi Warren, thanks for your message and kind words. In terms of mayday relay vs pan pan, a mayday is to be used when there is an imminent danger to a vessel or person. A pan pan would be if there is no immediate danger to a vessel or person. In the situation we were involved in, a mayday was therefore appropriate and as we were doing it for another vessel, we used a mayday relay. Fair winds to SY Legend!

[@legend343]

Sailing Kittiwake.... ok then fair enough... but well done for doing what you done👍😀⛵️⚓️ Warren