Deploying the STORM JIB in the South Pacific [Ep. 153]

We were SUPPOSED to be in the tradewinds, but Mother Nature had another plan. Huge seas and big wind encourage us to see the tiny orange storm jib for the first time. When we bought it, we hoped we wouldn't have to use it...
#sailing #adventure #explore
Danger lurks at every wave. Experience the raw thrill of sailing in extreme weather as we tackle towering swells and fierce winds. Kate get's tossed around the galley and Curits enjoys sailing the boat like a laser. Can Curtis and Kate decide on the best sail plan to get them through the waves which come from every direction? What sail plan would you choose?
Website & Blog: www.sweetruca.com
Patreon: www.patreon.com/ruca
Instagram: rucasailing

[@vodaploda]

I may be making a fool of myself but - you guys are so brave!

[@rickkwitkoski1976]

You two are some of the true sailors on KZbin. Thank you.

[@SteveN3695J]

2 1/2...:)

[@richardstever3242]

I like the way you look after Roxy so well on such a rough sea. Trust is key between the three of you and it works really well. Great teamwork and great show. Peace and respect from Ontario, Canada

[@timothybloomer8287]

Feeling a bit sorry for Roxy on this one! I'm sure she enjoyed finally geting ashore.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Roxy was fine! Four legs are better than two! It's Kate with the bruises and sea sick issues 😅😆 Thanks for your concern for Roxy girl ❤️

[@HopeOfJoe]

Sometimes, the camera zooms into the seas just fine. As a 'relatively' seasoned sailor, when you are in a trough, and all I can see is high sky until the wave is well pass you and can see horizon, you have BIG seas. 😊✨🌊

[@SailingSweetRuca]

That’s when you know it’s really big :-)

[@JMnyJohns]

Those gimballed shots really show you guys getting Maytagged! I hope Kate stabilized - that can be so miserable if your body doesn't adjust. Best true sailing content on YT. Thank you guys!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

The waves were surely a good challenge on this leg.

[@rimasmeleshyus9486]

Awesome storm jib ,great video crossing the Pacific.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thank you very much!

[@TMJ-YT]

Brave little dog!

[@rickkwitkoski1976]

Did a quick search on YT. I see only one other sailing channel that was at Gambier. 7 years ago Neil & Jessie on s/v The Red Thread. They sailed from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and had to bypass Pitcairn because of gale force winds. Well done Curtis, Kate and Roxy! Thank you for bringing us to unique places.

[@Trk09dr]

It is hard for me to find the words to say how much I appreciate your videos. Thank you is not much said but from the heart. Thank you.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Wow, thank you! 🙏

[@petegraham1458]

I can tell by the movement of the hull and rig opposed to the horizon that the sea state is lumpy , but at least it’s warm. Any time you have to breakout the storm sails or the drogue it’s going to be a long day so it’s good to practice, Roxy really does well , anything cooked in a seaway and warm put in a bowl is delightful ,appetizing and appreciated! I got a laugh out of you opening the cupboard and something scooting out the look on your face was precious!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Haha! Right on. We are enjoying the warmth! Maybe one day we will get out the drouge, but we honestly hope we never have to!

[@samssungs4495]

Without question, some of the greatest sailing videos that I have ever watched! This is true ocean sailing at its best! Best regards, The Quartermaster

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Wow, thank you!

[@flyinggybe2113]

Looks like maybe Kate needs a galley belt for when the seas are up?

[@robertduncan4612]

I am interested in all things "electrical". Can you provide more shots concerning your batteries' state of charge, appliance draw, recharging rate, etc. Additionally, do you carry a silver/silver-chloride probe to test for DC leakage that attacks your zinks? I suspect parking in a marina on shore power increases the likelihood of stray current and increases the possibility of electrocution. Finally, can you talk about your perception of time passage. Do you go through stages transitioning from being a land-lubber to being way beyond land? Is your perception of time correlated to 'getting back your sea legs' and overcoming motion sickness? I do so enjoy following your exploits.

[@LondonCarnaval]

The BEST sailing channel out there 💪👌👍💯🥰❤

[@SailingSweetRuca]

👍❤️😀

[@stubby2822]

I agree 100%

[@FernandoOliveira-oy4gy]

What a great achievement. Congratulations! Job superbly done. Y’all are the best crew ever. Nice drone images from Gambier Islands. A true 5 star archipelago. Enjoy this beautiful place.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Glad you are enjoying this wonderful place along with us!!

[@ChileExpatFamily]

Kate is pretty good with that stove! Just curious how often you see other vessels? We did not see many during my time because we were under water. Rough seas for sure but yall are making good time. I navigated through celestial navigation quite a bit. Have you tried any? Beautiful trip. Thanks for the video. Jim in Chile.

[@mooorecowbell4222]

Deploy that International Orange "handkerchief " on the Laser ⛵

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Right on!

[@charles11ification]

I'm reminded the Pacific Ocean is often everything but.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

So true!

[@nortenosailor631]

Awesome passage. Congrats to some very good and technical sailors

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks!

[@yachticus]

not trying to rain on your parade - because you seem to be having a blast. Here is something that came to mind. If you consistently sail with Main in heavier air - your center of effort moves back in the yacht - and by default you end up putting more pressure on your rudder - in contrast to having a headsail - even a modest amount - would keep the CLR and C of E more properly centred over each other. Just a thought to do with your Autopilot failure in the last video? Happy to stand corrected

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Not raining at all. You are right, that’s why we put the sj up, just a little extra balance. The AP failure was purely due to a nasty wave, more on that later when we show the cylinder and pump disassembly. We were also suprised at how well the boat sailed with only the main, unsurprisingly it is a trait that J advertises.

[@braddobson2060]

Congratulations on a successful crossing . I love gimbal dog

[@KevCampbell]

Those were some proper big seas! Interesting to see the Storm Jib in action, and as Curtis says it’s good practice.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

The little orange handkerchief did its job :-)

[@user-ef9fd7fv5f]

CONGRATS! YAY! Pop the bubbly! -Darcee

[@stevewakefield5001]

Yeah, made it across to French Polynesia! Thanks for sharing the adventure.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks Steve!

[@captainjimolchs]

Was there any doubt?

[@richardcamp8301]

Just watched a bit of episode 1 alongside this. Light years different in narration and edit. Once again you gave a great depiction of challenging ocean sailing. AT some point I will go back and watch some more early episodes. :)

[@scottpeterson1080]

Can you, if needed, navigate if all power is lost? Love your channel, the truest of sailors.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Sure, we are prepared to, but it would not be fun.

[@swazla4999]

When Curtis was showing the AIS/Mapping/Radar overlay at night it brought it home. And what an achievement showing it to us almost in real time at night. I was clapping. Thanks for being the great sailors that you are.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks for the wonderful comment!

[@eliciahalterman1961]

So awesome! Glad you made it safely 🙏

[@Sonny_Eclipse]

Curtis, I see you’re sporting the salty dog look again, it looks good. LOL, Roxy has some good sea legs. Really exciting episode, probably more excitement than you routinely need. I bet it feels good to be able to sleep all night.

[@jonathanscott550]

absolutely fantastic videoing on this sail. The footage of how the conditions were in the Ocean were fabulous. I think it was the position of camera. Other channel have a hard time or just say the filming doesn't really show the state of the water conditions. Well your video did that and more. Congrats on making it to French Polynesia. Looking forward to next video.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnnya9001]

I used to say that I liked sailing because you can do it in your pajamas. But I see that you can also do it in your under ware. What a concept. I like it. Great sailing channel. Cheers from cold foggy SF bay.

[@captainjimolchs]

Sometimes, you get to do it naked!

[@tommoffatt560]

Exciting to see your arrival in the Gambier Islands. Don't think I have ever seen images of these islands before, but then, haven't looked. Your channel always provides a different and enlightening perspective on sailing, boat life and the wonderful blue globe we all live on.

[@aytacercen944]

Like you said, "It IS Fun". It is always fun sailing with you guys. More fun here. I am enjoying this and I didn't even get wet.

[@nancygladieux7598]

Wow! What a roller coaster ride. Roxy, looks like a trooper in this video.great teamwork

[@paulschacht6762]

great sailing wish i could be there thanks for showing this to us bless you

[@sergioguzman8846]

va a ser un viaje rápido al paraíso.....good luck

[@captainjimolchs]

On the bright side, . . . .---

[@robertmassmann228]

Great to see you made it safely across. It will be nice to walk on solid land for a change.

[@HopeOfJoe]

Have not heard of Gambier Island before and no other reasonably recent sailing channel has been there. Looks like a fun place to make landfall. Now eagerly waiting for next week. 🎉🎉🎉 See you next time. ✨ 🌊 💨 ⛵️ 🏝️ 👙 🌞 ✨

[@garrickmartin7707]

What a gorgeous place. First I've ever heard of Gambier. that was very entertaining, thanks..

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@user-nm4lx7br6x]

Good job!!! Thanks for taking us along.

[@johnmooney9444]

It looks like 'Mr.' Autopilot is getting a good workout. Some tlc at the next port of call might not hurt.

[@PlanesTrainsAutopilot]

Pretty cool place ride on two wheels, looks like a blast!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

It was!

[@michaelvanwinkle7919]

Congratulations on the passage completion!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks!!!

[@pepo353]

Congratulations, you are a great team!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks!

[@AlbertDBurch]

That rain and other conditions would make for ruff sailing. Be safe and God bless,

[@johnmalenchek6597]

Congratulations on your great teamwork and attention to detail, leading to your successful arrival in Gambier. Great footage of the passage. Been with you since before Cape Horn.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Glad to have you along for the ride!

[@tom7o18]

That was exciting, time for some rest, great job, and safely done.

[@lkmb1717]

Congrats great achievement

[@Even_Keeled]

I've watched for a while now and this footage alone is making me speed up my refit. I know the sea state was serious, but you're making way on a route not well documented. I know, I've looked. Not many go from Patagonia to Pacific. This is exciting. On the bucket list for voyages now!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We are really glad to hear you are moving along on the refit!!!

[@michaelvanwinkle7919]

Roxy, The Gimble Dog!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

❤️

[@JCGible]

Thanks!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thank you so much! This helps a lot!

[@stubby2822]

Amazing. You all are the best. Entertaining videos and great personalities. Taking care of Roxy and good lessons in sailing. Coffee with Sweet Ruca is always great. Keep having fun and stay safe. Bill

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We had some great coffee today and thought of you!

[@stubby2822]

@@SailingSweetRuca Thanks

[@ericrowet2465]

Great !! Hello from Belgium 😜

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Hello to Belgium! 🇧🇪 👍

[@des3558]

I've been watching since you were coming down the coast of Brazil. and a little before that. Thank you so much. Frankly I've been nervous about the Pacific passage. So far so good. and I'm delayed on these videos. Stay safe and have fun.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Cool, a bit nervous offshore is normal :-)

[@markroth9827]

Congrats on your successful voyage.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thank you!

[@SteveN3695J]

Vivid reminders of the intentional and not so intentional jibe...! Well done Sailor...:)

[@JCGible]

You guys are amazing. I expect you had a nice rest when you reached Gambia. 🫶👍🙂

[@rainfinger]

Well done!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks!!

[@Cromwellsseveredhead]

Another great Roxy goes sailing video in the can. Kudos to her crew as well.😊

[@kylegladieux9377]

Holy cow you guys saw some serious conditions.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Just another day at the office 😅

[@dirkvandertoornvandertoorn4895]

Well done you two great video and l love your dog stay safe

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thank you! You too!

[@ckpuckpu9752]

Mille bravos

[@AngusJohnson-ei1kk]

Thank you.

[@dinkohost9643]

Bravo ❤

[@mutlutuncer8458]

Hello☕

[@TheSWRProject]

Looked mildly choppy guys! ;) Well Done... 👍 Keep Safe 🙏

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks 👍

[@SteveN3695J]

Enjoy the shots of the Galley in RocknRole form. You get to a point where you simply stand there for a moment and &%^$, Happy Sailing..!

[@njbaskipper]

Hi Guys.. How are You I think Curtis is ready for a Vendee Globe,. Of course. Think about it

[@captainjimolchs]

So is Kate, but who's got the time? Or the boat?

[@cherylweso]

LAND! SLEEP!

[@GerardFoucher75018]

GimbalDog !!! Hahaha, can't stop laughing ! 😅😅😅

[@user-gv8ue8qz9g]

please dont ever think its plain sailing.old man weather says forget it.

[@99Moonbeam]

Exciting Land Ho!

[@Jumbo-D]

Hydro generator would ride nice off your transom - If you're making way, it's at work.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Good call!

[@kylejazwiecki714]

Great sailing!

[@PatricCTT]

💪

[@marinesurveygroupltd7322]

You should try dropping the mainsheet travller all the way down. It will unload the helm, Autopilot, reduced amps consumed and be less squirrley in 1/4 seas. Or if you always leave it in the hard upwind position, take the trav out, put a pad eye there and make the cockpit more user friendly. Trav down, outboard sheet the jib = new boat..give it a go!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Good idea. If you drop the trav too much though at these angles the sheet chafes the lifeline. The Genoa or jib luffs in the lee of the main. Best to limit chafe and sail wear as those are the main enemies on long legs like this. The boat sails well balanced with the main only. Best to keep it simple sometimes.

[@marinesurveygroupltd7322]

@SailingSweetRuca I think the good in dropped trav, would out weigh some chafe ( which I haven't experienced) Might be a game changer for you.

[@curtisjazwiecki]

@@marinesurveygroupltd7322 it’s good thinking, but preventing chafe is very important. Outside of the sheets on lifelines, sail chafe on swept spreaders is also an issue. In these conditions you can easily wear through a mainsheet or mainsail in a day, a very expensive mistake. Besides, once the end of the boom is past the edge of the hull, the traveler position really doesn’t matter, as the leech tension is controlled by the boom vang.

[@marinesurveygroupltd7322]

@curtisjazwiecki Must be a grunty vang! Are your spreaders inline? Eveyboat is different forsure but ive never chaffed through the mainsheet on a life line. You could loose the trav all together, pad eye, make it easier and safer to get to the wheel and more usable. Just a thought to help get more miles and easier. Take care

[@ViajerosPorMaryTierra]

Great episode 🎉

[@tahirsargin8236]

👏👏👏

[@SaltySailor5050]

Quick question. Are the polars adjusted when the wind angle changes? Great show as always!

[@99Moonbeam]

Talking about cooking, do you keep any K-rations on board for backup or boat abandoning?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We do!!

[@larkangel6593]

How many days/weeks are you behind real time? Since april, There's been a constant run of surf in Hawaii, SoCal and MX from these S Pacific generated storms. Wondering which one this video is showing.

[@mrno.7366]

How come you missone of the forth Pitcairn islands? Any particular reason? But it is on your way?

[@watdahek2]

Those waves were making me sick. Curtis, I got lost with that "nerd" talk.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Haha! We knew we would loose a few with the techie stuff, but Curtis can surely fit right in with the sailing nerds when he wants to :-)

[@AndrewDyle]

Where is the starlink hardware?

[@pmorph]

interesting that you're using only the main.. why not only the genoa? What's the advantage of the main? Phil

[@pmorph]

another question-- with the boom brake on the boom, did you even bother with a preventor or just rely on the boom brake? I notice the gybes were pretty easy-ish

[@jorgeperez7048]

👍👌👌

[@rlpatton1970]

Ok so fastest 24 hours ? Also total mileage and total time ?.. congrats on passage !!!

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Ooh this would make a great video or blog 🤔

[@rlpatton1970]

@@SailingSweetRuca yeah you guys have to be up there speed wise with the Volvo ocean guys 🤔😂

[@mikeokla01]

you don't use spot lights coming into port at night?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Depends. Spot lights aren’t much help in this situation.

[@shaneruby3764]

Great episode. I was curious, are you taking advantage of all the rain for fresh water usage. Or do you have a water maker? Just curious from T town.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Both! We have a water maker, and we also collect rainwater when we can.

[@shaneruby3764]

@@SailingSweetRuca sweet. I was just curious. When are you two coming back to toledo for a visit? I need a good couple of expert sailing instructors... lol

[@azir9241]

I love your videos! You're such a lovely couple! But all time when I think about the dog, I end up that this is not the right thing for her. 😞

[@99Moonbeam]

Will ou have access to real showers?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

We have a nice real shower on board :-)

[@user-ec7kg2ko4h]

I'm just wondering why you skipped Easter Island?

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Forecast. We likely wouldn’t have been able to leave the boat or land ashore.

[@user-ec7kg2ko4h]

Special permits needed

[@K_R_W]

Great sail, but it looks like a real challenge to keep calories going and staying there. Trying to be polite.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

No worries! Definitely not the milk run! But we had a blast 🙂

[@kurtc6372]

A lot of faith in that automatic pilot……😳

[@captainjimolchs]

Confidence.

[@robgorman8961]

Sorry but having that dog on board is cruel and irresponsible.

[@BenSymington]

[@robertmray]

Good job!!! Thanks for taking us along.

[@SailingSweetRuca]

Thanks for coming along!