Sam Holmes Sailing · video

What this video covers

Sam Holmes and his crew member John perform the first sea trials of a 43-foot catamaran in Langkawi, Malaysia, focusing on mainsail operation and rigging maintenance. The mainsail cars initially failed to slide properly due to old, deteriorated ball bearings, which the crew cleaned with warm soapy water and lubricated with dry PTFE spray to restore function. They also address excessive slack in the Dyneema standing rigging by shortening the lashings and applying a frapping knot, a technique referenced from the Rigging Doctor. Despite these adjustments, the Dyneema continues to stretch under load, prompting the decision to replace the current setup with parallel-strand Dyneema from Caligo. Additional technical tasks include installing a makeshift anchor washdown pump using spare parts and troubleshooting electrical issues, including a malfunctioning depth sounder and a persistent alarm. The crew notes that the boat’s current rigging and sail handling systems require ongoing refinement before their planned departure for Thailand.

More from Sam Holmes Sailing

Orca sighting! we repair one daggerboard only to break another oneSep 2026Sailing to Maratua, a rarely visited Indonesian island Sep 2026We hit a log sailing by strange Indonesian sea platformsAug 2026Replacing a window while sailing through pirate waters and wildlife of BorneoAug 2026

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