Patrick Lainevideo
Ep 51 'Bucket List' Solo Sail to Fastnet Rock
21 September 2020 · 16 min · 101K views · Celtic Sea
What this video covers
A solo sailor completes a 1,035-nautical-mile round-trip passage from La Rochelle, France, to Fastnet Rock, Ireland, in eight days and four hours.14:56 To avoid quarantine restrictions, the sailor makes no stops during the journey.4:35 Throughout the trip, the sailor relies on Iridium GO grib forecasts to manage sail plans, opting to keep full sails up at night in winds up to 16 knots.3:21 During the return leg, the boat encounters 35-knot winds and four-meter seas, forcing the sailor to heave to twice to sleep and manage the vessel.9:09 To drop the mainsail safely in 26-to-30-knot winds, the sailor heaves to, which allows the sail to drop without snagging on the rigging.10:00 When navigating heavy shipping traffic in dense fog, the sailor again heaves to to wait for visibility to improve.11:22 The sailor also discovers that jibing is an effective way to exit a hove-to position when a staysail prevents the genoa from crossing the deck.13:27
Boats in this video
More from Patrick Laine
From Patrick Laine — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.