Em & Nick · video

What this video covers

A couple on a 30-year-old sailboat completes a 24-hour, 150-nautical-mile passage from Venice, Florida, to Dry Tortugas National Park with a hired captain.0:23 Before departure, the crew performs engine checks, including inspecting transmission bolts and fluid levels, and troubleshoots an overzealous bilge pump that runs continuously.2:12 During the transit, they practice sail handling, including deploying the main, jib, and staysail, while learning to shape the sails using the outhaul and sheets.6:33 The crew maintains two-hour night watch rotations.12:48 During a 2 a.m. shift, the operator accidentally deactivates the autopilot by brushing against the control panel, causing the vessel to veer off course into a 360-degree turn before the captain intervenes.13:43 The crew also monitors radar to track fishing vessels that do not appear on AIS.15:22 The passage concludes with an arrival at the Dry Tortugas at sunrise.15:57 The experience highlights the necessity of keeping the autopilot panel clear and the importance of radar for identifying non-AIS-equipped vessels during night passages.

More from Em & Nick

Building the Bilge system of our DREAMS (...again lol)Sept 2026We tore out the heart of our boat (electrical refit pt. 1)Aug 2026How much does it ACTUALLY cost to own a sailboat? (our finances for the first 9 months)Aug 2026We ruined HOURS of work in seconds....Jul 2026

From Em & Nick — 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.