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Sailing to our NEW HOME on the River | Sailing Florence Ep.229
April 16, 2026 · 27 min · 51K views · Thames Estuary
Sunrise over misty river, red buoy reflecting in calm water
What this video covers
Matt and Amy sail their Oyster Marine 37 Heritage, Florence, from Ipswich to the Hamble on the final passage of the season, racing ahead of Storm Amy, the first named storm of the autumn.▶ 4:51 The Thames Estuary crossing runs in 6.5–7 knots of true wind over flat water, requiring constant tacking to thread through wind farms, sandbanks, and heavy shipping traffic.▶ 3:52 Approaching Ramsgate, they skip the marina stop and press on overnight to beat the incoming storm, short-tacking through the Goodwin Sands channel against the tide at times making only two knots over the ground.▶ 9:07 An autopilot tack button handles the maneuver single-handed at night, freeing the solo watch-keeper to manage the sails.▶ 9:33 The staysail is lashed back to the mast throughout the light-wind beating to allow unimpeded Genoa tacks, then rehoisted once the wind builds past Beachy Head and a reef goes into the mainsail at 17 knots.▶ 11:51 Florence winters at Deakin's Marina and Boatyard on the River Hamble.▶ 17:41 Matt and Amy explore above the three low bridges — maximum 4-metre clearance at high water, less than Florence's 5-metre mast — by borrowing a rowing gig from the Hamble Rowing Club and timing the trip on the tide.▶ 18:09
Boats in this video
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