Sampson Boat Covideo

Sailing Jamaica to Cuba

10 June 2026 · 18 min · 249K views · Jamaica

Crew secures sail on heeling boat in stormy seas

What this video covers

Leo Goolden prepares for a passage from Port Antonio, Jamaica, to Santiago de Cuba by addressing two equipment failures.0:49 After his VHF antenna breaks, he constructs a temporary replacement using a silicon bronze welding rod and an electrical connector; the jury-rigged antenna successfully receives AIS targets from 20 miles away.0:58 To improve the performance of his trysail, he replaces makeshift broomstick beads with 100 custom-turned mahogany parrel beads sourced from local artisans in Kingston.3:30 Upon departing Jamaica, the crew encounters squally, unsettled weather with fluctuating wind speeds, necessitating a switch from the trysail to the mainsail as conditions stabilize.10:05 The vessel completes the overnight passage to Cuba in calm seas, maintaining a speed of 3.5 to 5 knots.13:08 Goolden notes that while the trysail and jury-rigged antenna performed adequately, he continues to seek reliable shipping options for replacement parts to the Bahamas.17:08

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