"You Have to be Crazy" - The International 14 Sailing Experience (ft. Chris Bateman)

I made a new friend with a very cool boat. Chris Bateman invited me to come sail his International 14 Skiff in Cork Harbor. I'd never sailed on a skiff (let alone a twin-wire skiff) and never helmed from a trapeze. With something of a baptism of fire I got to do both - and tried very hard to capsize the boat. Could Chris save it?

[@ianedmonds9191]

Totally reminds me of 3-sail reaches on the Laser 4000 on the Tay in great winds. There is nothing better than being slightly overpowered downwind in a skiff with a gennaker and space to bear off and just enjoy it. We had many days where we laboured upwind struggling against the wind in our L4K and then after 3 hours upwind came back in 20 minutes. Worth it. Every Single Time. Luv and Peace. Used to be able to see the centreboard in big waves. And the L4k centreboard used to hum and the harmonics changed according to how fast you were going. We used to get 3 tones up an know we were flying.

[@marks3440]

Only videos on utube where the crappy sound quality adds to the experience! Love this!

[@TomKirkman1]

Running a spinnaker downwind makes any boat. I cannot imagine owning a boat that doesn't have one.

[@taylorrmark]

Makes me want to get one of these after my 29er!

[@Wire2WireSailing]

It'd be a good choice!

[@taylorrmark]

Yeah, look like great boats from what I’ve seen!

[@donotwantahandle1111]

These seem more stable than a 12ft skiff yet still fast reaching with a spinnaker up!

[@robbateman1138]

Amazing video

[@walowesk7122]

Again making me look slow. You're making this personal right!? Keep it up lad!

[@Wire2WireSailing]

Hey, fast is fun!

[@Haroosh20]

I remember that boat when Gavin Homer owned it at Dalgety Bay SC

[@hedgehog5001]

Fix your slot gasket, it's robbing you of speed.

[@linuscoupek]

I think in general skiff boat are just biuld to be the fastes sailboats before foiling category, just massive sails and and more possdible trapeezes, that's what makes them crazy, I went with a 49er cuple of times and it feels like they are biuld just to go really fast without any type of safety mesurements, but that's what makes them funny 😂😂

[@peterdoherty876]

Bare feet in Ireland in Winter is brave!

[@Wire2WireSailing]

This was filmed back in October, it wasn't quite as cold. I wouldn't be barefoot now!

[@peterdoherty876]

Must get the Irish skiffs together when the weather gets warmer@@Wire2WireSailing

[@Wire2WireSailing]

Sounds like fun!

[@montenegro831]

Was it that he was pointing too low causing him to be underpowered which dumped him in the water? Maybe too much combined heel from the hiking for being low?

[@Wire2WireSailing]

Short answer: yes, pretty much. I felt a little weather helm, so tried to bear away and went wayyy too far. It probably wasn't even the right response on watching it back, I think trim adjustments would have been better. Once I got swept off the rack it was game over, Chris just managed to leap into the boat and keep it upright.

[@cmartin9641]

Buying 3 of these next?

[@Wire2WireSailing]

Hmm, that's a good idea!