Sam Holmes Sailingvideo
Fast downwind run to Ko Rok and more fun diving
January 28, 2026 · 16 min · 49K views · Ko Rok
Sam Holmes sails catamaran fast downwind under blue-striped parasailor.
What this video covers
Sam Holmes and Arlene sail 33 nautical miles downwind from Koh Ratchanoi to the Five Islands group in the Andaman Sea, then continue to Ko Rok Nui, in 10–22 knots with squalls.▶ 0:00 The passage features repeated attempts with a parasailor: the sail collapses in lighter air and requires a mainsail reef to stay open, gets dropped ahead of a squall, then goes back up when wind lightens.▶ 1:17 On the final leg to Ko Rok Nui, a squall pushes boat speed to 12 knots briefly, sustained nines and tens under double-reefed main and jib, and the gypsy sheet comes off the windlass mid-passage.▶ 9:13 Both islands offer mooring balls. Snorkeling at the Five Islands produces two shark sightings and dense coral including Christmas tree worms.▶ 7:39 A 30-knot overnight storm pins the boat at Ko Rok Nui alongside the local Andaman fishing fleet; mooring fees run $30 through Friday.▶ 10:08 Storm downtime goes toward DIY foam insulation panels for cabin windows, cut using a popsicle-stick template and hot glue, which fit without tabs.▶ 12:51 The island also has a hiking trail and monitor lizards.▶ 15:12 The parasailor needs a minimum wind threshold to stay inflated and collapses when apparent wind drops below roughly 9 knots.▶ 3:57
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