Sam Holmes Sailing · video

What this video covers

A solo sailor navigates to Nazaré, Portugal, using a symmetrical spinnaker to maintain speed in light winds and 10-to-12-foot swells.7:11 To manage the spinnaker, the sailor adjusts the pole angle relative to the wind—keeping it forward for beam reaches and toward the shrouds for downwind runs—and uses a downhaul to stabilize the pole.6:42 During the passage, the sailor encounters thunderstorms that kill the wind, causing the spinnaker to collapse and tangle, requiring manual untangling on deck.12:36 Upon arrival, the marina fee for one night is 23 euros.15:45 The sailor then meets Andre and Gemma to explore the town and practice ridge soaring with paragliders at a local coastal site.16:37 The sailor compares their own aging glider to a high-performance Ozone Swift wing, noting that the latter offers better lift and handling.20:05 The trip concludes with multiple paragliding flights to regain proficiency before traveling to the Alps.19:59

More from Sam Holmes Sailing

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