Sam Holmes Sailing · video

What this video covers

A solo sailor navigates a catamaran from Luperón, Dominican Republic, to the Florida Keys, covering approximately 500 nautical miles over seven days. The route bypasses the Exumas due to concerns over shallow water and unreliable charts, opting instead for a direct passage toward the Florida coast. The sailor utilizes Starlink for weather routing via the LuckGrip app, maintaining a downwind course with a jib and whisker pole. During the transit, the crew manages autopilot and wind vane steering, noting that the wind vane performs better in steady trade winds but struggles in rolly, inconsistent sea states. The passage includes a brief stop at an unnamed island for wing foiling and a final, high-speed run through the Gulf Stream, where the vessel reaches speeds of 11 knots while surfing steep, seven-foot waves. Technical challenges include a tangled spinnaker, a split-ring snag, and persistent sleep deprivation. The voyage concludes with a meeting in Key West with the builders of the vessel *Arabella*.

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