Acorn To Arabellavideo

Single-Handing the 38' Wooden Sailboat He Built Himself

8 August 2025 · 23 min · 36K views · Shelburne, Nova Scotia

What this video covers

Steve, the owner of the 38-foot wooden sailboat Arabella, completes his first solo passage from Lunenburg to Cub Basin, Nova Scotia.13:54 After departing Lunenburg, he sails in winds ranging from 6 to 20 knots, utilising a Code Zero in lighter conditions before switching to full sail as winds increase.15:37 To prepare for the approach to Cub Basin, he drops the staysail and furls the jib while two miles offshore, then motors the final distance to anchor in 25 feet of water.17:09 The passage serves as a trial for single-handed operation, with Steve managing sail changes and navigation independently. Upon arrival, he scouts a local climbing site known as the Medicine Wall, accessible by tender from the anchorage.20:25 The transit highlights the practicalities of managing a wooden vessel solo, including the importance of early sail reduction and engine checks before entering confined waters.

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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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