Acorn To Arabellavideo

The Boat Sails Itself, Without Autopilot - Episode 278 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat

25 August 2023 · 28 min · 108K views · Newburyport, Massachusetts

What this video covers

Steve and the crew of the wooden schooner *Arabella* sail from Newburyport, Massachusetts, toward Maine, using the passage to practice boat handling and navigation. Before departure, Steve performs a rig inspection, seizing wire to prevent hardware from unscrewing and using brass scrap to protect lines from shroud chafe.0:17 During the transit, the crew practices maneuvering under power and sail, including departing a mooring in Cape Porpoise under the guidance of a consultant. The crew utilizes a Mantis shackle and coated Dyneema line to secure the anchor chain to the bowsprit, replacing temporary zip-tie depth markers with permanent webbing. While sailing down the coast of Maine in 10- to 12-knot winds, the crew discovers that *Arabella* maintains a steady course to windward without an autopilot or anyone at the tiller when the mainsail, staysail, and mizzen are properly balanced.

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More from Acorn To Arabella

We Stripped Our Wooden Sailboat Back to Bare Wood... AgainOct 2026Saying Goodbye to Newfoundland—and the Man Who Inspired ArabellaSept 2026Upgrading the Rudder and Another Trek To The CliffAug 2026We're Climbing a Wall No One Has Ever Climbed Before | Rock Climbing on Newfoundland's South CoastJul 2026

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