Wicked Saltyvideo
Sailing back to Safe Harbor with SAILS ONLY
July 27, 2023 · 10 min · 5K views
Crew steers sailboat through choppy water under blue canopy
What this video covers
A coolant pump failure mid-sail forces Wes to motor back to Safe Harbor under sail alone.0:35 The diagnosis: a leaking freshwater/coolant pump with visible drip, low belt tension, and belt dust throughout the engine bay — the engine had begun squealing before shutdown.0:35 With wind building in the afternoon, Wes raises sail and uses the unplanned return passage as a hands-on teaching session for two crew members on only their second time aboard a sailboat.2:02 He coaches them through tacking, trimming the mainsheet and jib, winch wrapping errors, and clearing tangles in real time, deliberately leaving mistakes in to illustrate troubleshooting.3:01 Approaching the mooring ball through the channel proves the hardest part — the pickup attempt takes multiple passes and, by Wes's own account, "ages."9:08 GoPro audio cut out during the mooring sequence.6:39 The dinghy ride back to the dock with three people aboard was slow enough that Wes, after dropping the crew, beat them home by car.9:53 Sailing back without an engine is manageable; picking up a mooring ball shorthanded with inexperienced crew takes far longer than expected.
More from Wicked Salty
From Wicked Salty — 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.