Sailing Solévideo
THE WORST THING ON A SAILBOAT IS A...
22 March 2026 · 12 min · 3K views
Sailboat glides at sunset, golden horizon behind
What this video covers
Andy and his wife Misty sail an Eastwind 24 purchased for $3,500, attempting a 16-to-20-hour overnight passage across the San Pedro Channel to Santa Cruz Island with a friend named Brian. Departing at 6:19 p.m., they motor-sail out with 11 knots of apparent wind before conditions deteriorate sharply.5:09 Wind builds to 23–27 knots with heavy vertical acceleration — the bow pitching violently — and boat speed drops below two knots, making the passage untenable.8:23 Andy reefs the main in the dark, then he and Brian decide to turn back.7:49 On the return, Andy navigates around cargo ships and nearly closes on a dimly lit buoy before reaching calmer water.10:10 Pre-departure preparations covered include installing a microwave powered by an Anker Solix portable power station, provisioning with an electric kettle and Jetboil as propane alternatives, and stowing the dinghy on the cabin top to keep the foredeck clear.4:02 Andy reflects that the core mistake was sailing to a schedule — the Thursday departure was time-constrained, and when conditions forced a turnaround, the entire weekend plan collapsed.11:19 Rigid schedules, he concludes, are the worst thing a sailor can carry.11:15
More from Sailing Solé
From Sailing Solé — 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.