Acorn To Arabella · video

What this video covers

Steve and Robin prepare for a southward passage from Oriental, North Carolina, aboard their wooden boat, *Arabella*. While waiting for a weather window, they complete American Sailing Association (ASA) 101 certification training on a Catalina 25, focusing on man-overboard drills and close-quarters maneuvering under power. To prepare for the upcoming transit, they hire a diver to scrub the hull, as growth from the Dismal Swamp has increased drag. They coordinate with the crew of the schooner *Hindu*, providing a spare anchor and rode to assist the vessel in navigating local shallow-draft constraints during an approaching blow. For passage planning, they utilize PredictWind for offshore weather and wind direction, cross-referencing data with NOAA forecasts and ActiveCaptain for harbor information. The crew establishes a strategy for managing the anchor and snubber, using a Mantis Dyneema line to relieve load from the windlass and prevent chain chafe on the bobstay. They plan to monitor conditions closely, with Charleston and southern Georgia serving as potential waypoints depending on weather and crew comfort.

Boats in this video

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