Acorn To Arabellavideo

Preparing Arabella for the Biggest Adventure Yet

May 22, 2026 · 33 min · 35K views · New England

What this video covers

Steve and Robin are preparing Arabella, an Akin Ingrid, for a summer on the south coast of Newfoundland that combines sailing with a first-ascent rock climbing expedition on a 600-foot granite dome called the Nuttock.0:02 Before returning north, Steve visits the Massachusetts woodlot where he felled the oaks and white pine for Arabella's construction ten years earlier, noting that the oak stumps remain hard at the outer wood while the pith has rotted — a direct illustration of why boatbuilders avoid the pith.1:09 Back at a storage unit, Steve and Robin sort climbing gear: two dynamic lead lines, a 600-foot and a 200-foot static line for fixing the cliff face, a portal ledge, a rotary hammer with spare drill bits, and 316 stainless steel expansion bolts for establishing moderate sport routes at the request of a local guidebook author.12:09 Getting replacement gear to the remote south coast is described as slow and expensive, so the pair load redundant supplies.10:24 Back aboard Arabella, Steve sews cockpit line bags from black fabric with mesh panels and webbing reinforcement to reduce cockpit clutter, and plans Isinglass windows for the dodger sides.17:33 Helmets, belay devices, and lighter harnesses were left on the boat to avoid hauling them back and forth.16:26

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More from Acorn To Arabella

Upgrading 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 2026Exploring Newfoundland's Unclimbed Coastal Cliffs by SailboatJul 2026Fjord Hopping | Arabella Sails East Toward The NuddickJul 2026

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