Sam Holmes Sailingvideo

Dover to Brighton

October 10, 2022 · 10 min · 53K views · Brighton Marina

What this video covers

Sam Holmes prepares his boat, Pickle Herring, for a passage from Dover to Brighton by improvising navigation lights with colored headlamps and clearing a blockage in the pressurized water faucet.0:05 He departs at low tide, motor-sailing 18 miles before anchoring in 35 feet of water off a power station to wait for favorable currents and wind.3:08 The following morning, he resumes the passage, encountering steeper waves as the wind opposes the tidal current.5:41 Upon reaching the entrance to Brighton Marina, the engine fails due to a fuel system issue.7:15 Holmes attempts to bleed the fuel line using a 10mm socket, but the lack of proper tools results in a diesel spray in the engine compartment.8:06 He manages to restart the engine long enough to dock at the marina for a 25-pound fee.8:40 The passage concludes with a brief visit to the Brighton boardwalk before the boat is prepared for further travel toward the Isle of Wight and eventual winter storage in Amsterdam.8:56

Watch on YouTube

More from Sam Holmes Sailing

Hundreds of miles of rough sailing only to be turned away from our dream destinationOct 2026Making big miles offshore sailing through IndonesiaSep 2026Orca sighting! we repair one daggerboard only to break another oneSep 2026Sailing to Maratua, a rarely visited Indonesian island Sep 2026

From Sam Holmes Sailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed 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.

Report an issue