Sam Holmes Sailing · video

What this video covers

Departing Sandakan, Borneo, a sailboat navigates the Sulu and Celebes Seas toward the Indonesian border, prioritizing coastal routes to avoid piracy-prone waters. The crew manages frequent upwind tacking, adjusting strategy to leverage favorable currents and minimize wave chop. Maintenance projects performed during the passage include replacing a worn furling line, which requires disassembling the drum, and re-tensioning the outhaul. To improve mainsail handling, the crew rotates the winch tailer to prevent the halyard from slipping off the cleat. Navigation relies on physical memory cards for chart plotters, as the owner expresses distrust in subscription-based digital downloads that expire or are restricted by hardware manufacturers like B&G and Garmin. After completing an 85-nautical-mile leg, the boat anchors near a reef island outside a Marine Park to snorkel before proceeding toward Semporna for customs clearance. The crew chooses to anchor near resorts rather than the town to reduce traffic and improve overnight comfort.

More from Sam Holmes Sailing

Kota Kinabalu Bound: Sailing, Survivor Island, Squalls, and Bugs, 3d printingJul 2026Sailing to Brunei, an unusual countryJul 2026Sailing Through an OIL RIG MAZE to Miri, BorneoJul 2026Becalmed & our engines keep breaking on 7 day passage to BorneoJun 2026

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