10 | Crossing the Pacific Ocean on a Wooden Boat
We set sail on an ocean passage from Mazatlan, Mexico to Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands. Sailing across an ocean has been a long-held dream for us, but we were not planning on extending this cruise so far from home. But, we realized that if we were serious about bluewater cruising, the time was right. We decided to take the leap and sail 2800 nautical miles across the open ocean, reaching the fabled south sea islands. Cruising the South Pacific is on the bucket list for any sailor, and completing this passage has been one of the most rewarding experiences we have ever done.
We left Mazatlan on March 23rd, and arrived at Nuku Hiva on April 16th, totalling 24 days and 9 hours at sea. We covered around 2900 nautical miles, used less than half our water and a fourth of our fuel. We motored 35 hours and each of us stood 73 four hour watches.
Julia is an Ingrid Ketch, designed by William Atkin and built in 1960. She is a traditional wooden boat, built of doug fir planking on oak frames. The length on deck is 37.5 ft and the waterline is 30 ft. She handled the open ocean brilliantly, it was obvious that this was exactly the type of sailing she was built for.
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My wife and I sailed from manzanillo to hiva oa in 1989 when we were in our early ‘30’s and spent 6 yrs on our adventure. Ive watched lots of ocean sailing videos, but yours really show what it’s actually like. Great video and editing! I still remember to this day seeing the green hills of hiva oa after 26 days and 3,300 nm. The extreme green almost burned our retinas and the smell of land was intoxicating. I remember arriving in atuona, hiva oa and picking up letters from friends and family from the port captain. We spent a few days reading and replying to letters, telling people to write us in care of the port captain in Papeete where we hoped to be 3 months hence. We also got off the boat and talking to someone else besides your spouse after almost a month was a good thing. We’re still married 45 yrs later and have slowly diminishing memories of our travels.
I did the exact voyage back in 1999 on my 28 foot cutter. We were so nervous for weeks leading up to the departure, but after leaving the marina in Mazatlan, our heart beats calmed down and our confidence increased daily. What an experience that year as we ended that year in New Zealand. We also were young, little money, but the best decision we ever made to just head out and cruise the world.
Ita
what do you do at night on ocean, did you see any other ships, did you feel safe from pirates, did you sail back?
Sounds Amazing 🤙😊
Exactly what we've been told by our older boat mates. Don't wait just get out in the water and do it. Anti fouling and a paint, sort the second engine and then off we go, but we just have a certain amt of savings so may have to work at Whitsundays or somewhere on our journey with the whole family 😊😊
Am sure many sailors have dreamed of thie and envy and congratulate you on your voyage across the Pacific . I didn't notice the time of year they set sail
I absolutely loved this journey. As a sailor, I especially appreciate the discussion of your reefing strategy, the benefits of a ketch rig, the winds, etc. The narration, pace, cinematography, that incredible boat, and both of you really add to the experience. Bravo.
Loved
Your chosen music (between 10:14 - 12:14) featuring the cello is possibly the most perfect and appropriate music choice I've heard in a sailing video - and I've seen and listened to many. It sets a great mood for what you are portraying there. A pure delight!
Possibly
You deserve a million subscribers or at least ten times of the la vagabonde channel. No click bait by titles or cheap bikini pictures selling your girlfriends modesty for clicks. What a great journey and so well documented. Keep it up. All the best for you two and your channel. I love your channel.
Well said Dave and I agree whole heartedly ..
his girlfriend is wearing a bikini in the thumbnail.
Sounds like someone wishes they were on a boat with a hot chick in a bikini. This channel is awesome for what it is. La vagabond is awesome for what it is. Why talk shit. Just sit back and consume what you like with out shitting on others hard work.
@@davidtobin9224 I admit that I really would love to be on a boat with a hot chick in a bikini or better without the bikini, like every healthy man would like to be. Just wanted to mention that a lot of other sailing channels use soft porn to attract clicks. Not so this channel as far as I can tell. My comment was more like to motivate them to keep their channel the way they are doing and not to shit on other channels. But I can see your point.
Yeah, I don’t like supporting la vagabond and other channels like YBS youngbloods for those reasons. The clickbait bumnails and endless cheap objectification and pimping out of women on those channels is just sad. It’s not that they are not nice to look at, and I’m no prude, but I’m not comfortable being part of the transactional decision those channels make to flirt with very soft porn in order to reap the huge benefits they get in large subscriptions numbers. I stick to content creators who haven’t lowered themselves into that situation. This channel which popped up in my feed just earned another sub.
Congrats on your passage. I did a similar passage back in 2004, but started in Puerto Vallarta, and I singlehanded the trip. It took me 30 days in a Westsail 32. It was a journey that was both magical, and occasionally terrifying. I remember smelling land a couple of days before I reached Nuku Hiva. Fair winds to you.
Congrats
Yes...smelling the land first is amazing, our crossing from the Galapagos was 23 days
I admire your sense of adventure. Also think you are crazy to take that small boat out on that huge wide open ocean. Glad you made it.
This made my evening. Best couple sailing without a lot of stupid talk. This video is a keeper. You two are awesome.
I really appreciate that you left in the "was it worth it part" which wasn't answered in the positive or negative, and then put it in perspective. Really gives some insight into the experience.
My wife and I are motor vessel boaters in Alaska and I have cruised an old 34' Califorinian from Everett, WA but what you guys are doing is so beyond anything that I can imagine. Makes me want to buy a sail boat. What an adventure. Thanks for a great channel. I love your modesty, editing, music, sailing shots and scenery.
Wife
My longest passages during a 40,000 mile eastabout, singlehanded circumnavigation in a Chatham 33 steel, pilothouse cutter were from Saldana, S. Africa to Tonga via the S. Ocean and Tasman Sea, and later, a passage from San Diego, CA to the Falklands via Cap Horn. Without any long range communication equipment, I was totally isolated and dependent on my own capabilities and the safety of my boat to survive. Being able to fix any broken gear is an essential skill. It was a very memorable experience.
That is seriously impressive!
Wow !!I bet that was an experience .Have you documentated the voyage in or on any medium ,eg book film ,talk etc .?
Raju chhaba house 🏡 village -deh Rajasthan mapaa in searchaa naksa
The editing and storytelling is like a therapy for me . ❤❤❤
Having sailed the oceans 45 years ago, your presentation filled me with great nostalgia....and longing, though I had difficulty relating to the intense and dramatic music that accompanied your video. My experience, of expansiveness, aloneness but for the regular visitation of birds, silence beyond the sounds of the sea and the wind, and the puffing of the dolphins and pilot whales, was an orchestra unto itself with God the conductor.
45 years ago , what, so , how old are you now, 189 😂😂😂
Having read Patrick O'Brien's novels over and over again, I am simply amazed that two relative amateurs could accomplish this voyage. BRAVISSIMO!
One of the nicest ocean crossing videos I have watched. For fourteen years I owned a hand built 37-foot schooner and cruised the west coast of Canada. Never made an ocean crossing, even though years earlier I was one of a large group of owners of Schooner Sofia, a 125-foot sailing vessel that circumnavigated in the seventies. Thank you for sharing your voyage. My book SALT ON THE WIND tells the life story of Allen and Sharie Farrell who made the crossing to Hawaii and Fiji from Vancouver BC in 1951 on one of the largest of more than 45 wooden boats built on beaches in British Columbia. Wonderful that the dream is still alive.
Beautiful. Living on 28 ft sloop for about a year, SF Bay and I fell in love with silence. Sometimes in a light rain when traffic comes to a stop silence can be heard. When ashore, or taking a break, this man can make a living with his voice and story telling abilities.
I have done a lot of Pacific sailing. But no more for I am now 81. I almost burst into tears at the image of your vessel at anchor at the end of the trip.
I’ve lived on a boat for 21 years and have done most every kind of repair there is on one but as much as I love being on the water I don’t have the guts to sail across the ocean. I admire you two having the courage to go. Great video. Gods speed !
I love how this video has a old world charm and feel about it. It reminds me of some of the older documentaries from the past I like, sounds, sights, and narration.❤
I love
I would say 3 people would be minimum. I always like the 4-8 morning and evening. See every sunrise and sunset. I just found you and this is DEFINITELY my favorite cruising channel. The sailing, visuals, destination. I was in Tahiti 1972, 73. Marquesas. Mazatlan. Hawaii, Samoa, Acapulco. 150' square rigger, 36' tri.
Wow. What a story. After watching so many million dollar cats, with product placement, this is something special. You have realized quite an accomplishment, not only in the crossing, but putting together a nice, authentic video.
Loved the narration, choice of music, passage and boat. Really enjoyable.Something iconic
I crewed on the yawl White Mist back in the early 70's as we sailed through the wine-dark waters of the Ionian Isles of western Greece, homewaters of the most fabled sailor of antiquity, Odysseus. She was a 47-footer, so my hat's off to you all for braving the mightly Pac in Julia! That's some damn fine sailing bravado at its finest! Following seas to ya always!
Epic filming and dead on editing of your journey. You took us with you via little snippets of running a boat with short handed crew and life aboard on longer passages. Showing your love of sailing, respect for the vessel and the oceans that you journey across. Beautifully captured. One of the top sailing channels out there!
Epic
Beautiful peaceful articulate narratively presented,. A pleasure to watch. " See you when I am looking at you " Love laughter and light. Fare winds ur already there
This brings back many memories of saling wooden yachts in the 1970s and happier, simpler and poorer (and richer) times.
Been sailing all my life and now I'm a retired yacht captain having sailed in my latter years, 40 to 63m yachts and this reinforces just how joyous being under sail is. Your boat is lovely, majestic. My fear would have been chafe. Principally of the reefing outhaul because it's happened to me in my twenties when I used to sail across the Atlantic in small boats pre boom or mast furling and it used to fray every 24 hrs in weather resulting in a torn mainsail as it then ripped through all the other eyes along the boom. Lovely yacht guys
Congratulations on achieving so many milestones in crossing an ocean. You two are amazing. Real sailing is hard to find, these days especially accomplishing the crossing so well on a 30 footer. I agree with Dave's comments re La Vagabonde. Keep up the good work. You are an inspiration to future sailors around the world. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! That video brought back so many memories that are etched in my mind forever! I did the same thing back in 1971 only from Panama. You are so right about the ketch rig at sea and its ease of use. Tons of power but easily handled! Excellent video in every way! Just makes me hungery for the next one!
I absolutely enjoy your style of filming and story telling. Please enjoy your journey!
This is my first time watching an episode with Julia's and your adventures. I find the three of you to be wonderful and it seems like you are made for each other. I really enjoyed being with you on this journey, short and wonderful for us who only dreamed in front of the laptop, but long and not without effort for you who face the difficulties of this brave act. If you allow me from today I would like to go on more trips with you, so starting from this day I will be your loyal subscriber. Fair winds and following seas Captains!
If I could have a video update from you all everyday I would watch it over anything else. You two amaze me!
It’s so brave to accomplish sure a distance, not knowing what’s ahead of you. Fantastic footage, real colors, real comments. Thanks!
Wonderful chancing on your site! Have been on the water sailing for 60 of my 75 years. Never sailed an ocean but thought of it many, many times. Your travelogue here was a pleasure to watch and ignited once again, my own dream of a deep water sail with a boat made just for that.
I really like your video style. My wife and I sailed PV to Nuka Hiva at 64. We did 6 on and 6 off, we were much more rested. We were disappointed, in a way when the wonderful sight of the Island came into view. We weren't ready for it to be over. We made our last ocean crossing at 75. Safe sailing!
Wow Thanks You so much for bringing us all along ! You are on point in your sharing your story, that first voyage across the Pacific is an Epiphany. Was so happy to see a Sextant again, reminds me of the Days of HO-249 sight reduction tables and a clock and stopwatch. For me that was another time and another life. Your views of The Sea made my heart Soar. Thank You. Please no e-begging, we grow so weary of seeing that over and over. Take care of each other, that's all that really matters .....Sailon
Absolutely amazing, and intoxicating!!! #Salute 2 both of you... Plus you sailed Julia back! I listened to every word, you and Whitney handled it like a #Boss❣
This is amazing! Watching this I was reminded of one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies - Master and Commander: “That’s seamanship. My God! That’s seamanship!”. Congratulations on an amazing achievement!
I very much enjoyed the humor at the captain's table where he asked his surgeon which of the weevils he should choose? Surgeon says the more vigorous one, but captain says Oh no, we must always choose the lesser of two evils.
Your video was so refreshing and so appreciated so I wanted to thank you both for sharing your journey with all of us. You are a great couple and I wholeheartedly wish you two only the best for your future. Great sailing !
Great episode, and an amazing crossing! I like your style, no bs, just beautiful filming, and great story telling. Thank you, and congratulations! Aloha from Hawaii.
Great watch. So happy that I choose to watch. The humility that you both expressed was refreshing.
Gorgeous boat, your Julia. Watching the water pass by the hull is mesmerising, like staring into the flames of a fire. Very well produced. Thank you for taking us along on your journey.
Really wonderful job putting this together. Your a class act, congratulations to you both.
You guys are true sailors. A pleasure to watch you.👍
My love of sailing was inspired by Eric Hiscock and I always dreamed of that ocean voyage. I owned boats for many years and enjoyed a lot of sailing, particularly in New Zealand, but never did do that ocean passage. Your boat reminded me very much of Wandered II. Thank you for stirring an old mans soul.
Can't wait for your next video. Forget Netflix, you are the real deal! God speed, guys!
“Outta the Park” Episode👍 Congrats on Yer Passage…And what Good Teamwork …Continue to Stay Safe and Enjoy 😎
Absolutely awesome guys. Making these videos is a talent and you both have it! What a great life you have set out on. Thank you for sharing ⛵️
You did what so many could not dream of. You rose to a much higher plain than many of us , limited by fear and low expectancies of life. I commend you both for your courage and your not settling for an average life!!
The best one yet! Your gentle words about Julia are so wonderful and touching. You obviously know and honor the words of the late Bernard Moitessier: "Those who do not know that a sailboat is a living being will never understand anything about the boat or the sea". Thanks for sharing, this has to be the best "personal cruising experience" channel I have come across so far. Cheers!
Amazingly well done guys. Thanks for taking us all along.
This has to be the fulfillment of every wooden boat builder’s dreams.Not only did you “make it” but you did it in grand style.
Beautiful boat! Pure class, no hyperbole.
Wonderful video and voyage! I sailed to Nuku Hiva about 16 years ago and love seeing familiar sights you point out. We also took the opportunity to explore Daniel's Bay and even met Daniel when we hiked to the waterfall. Thank you!
Nice to see a well built and maintained woodie instead of all the plastic cats!
Beautifully documented. Love the down to earth approach. You had that boat in tip top trim. A credit to you both
It's nice to run across your channel... I had an Atkin Eric, my first live aboard, she was an amazing sailor, very deceptive to those who we passed along the way :-) ... it's wonderful to see the love and knowledgeable care that you give your beautiful Ingrid. You surely have taken her to a level that she truly deserves... well done on the videos, looking forward and all the best... safe travels...
Freedom to circumnavigate comes with hardship on the high seas. To accomplish it must be so rewarding. Thank you for taking us along.
That's an older looking sail boat! 1960's era? Great job❤
You sail on a ship that was born to not only run but sail the seven seas!! Bon voyage!🇨🇦😄
Thanks for taking us with you, real folk living a dream
Amazing going on the SE trade winds..when they want to, they'll take you to where you need to be, what an amazing experience to be churning up those miles so quickly! So happy for you guys! The best part of sailing is being taken away....
out in the open ocean when it is dead calm, is one of the most relaxing experiences ever. you really get to enjoy the journey and connect with those who sailed before you and give you time to reflect. enjoy every second of the calm weather
Well done! Just stumbled on this by chance, having long since given up watching the mostly goofy sailing vids on KZhead. You hit the right notes and accurately conveyed the feeling of a long, shorthanded passage in the tropics and fetching up a fabled tropical island. How nice to see Taiohae again! It looks like not much has changed there in 40+ years, which can't be said for the islands in French Polynesia that attract tourists, especially in the Societies. It is especially pleasing to see your beautiful wooden Ingrid well handled and truly in her element. This felt so familiar and right. We did Manzanillo to Hiva Oa in 1981 in a 25' sloop (3100 miles in thirty days) and then through several island groups out as far as New Zealand. This put me right back there, young and at sea in a small boat with my wife.
Beautiful filming, great crew, well organized boat, very sympathetic reporting, congratulation and thanks for letting us being part of your adventure
I must admit your sailing video is the first i've watched until the end, a fantastic production. A sailors video for sailors, Thank you. We sailed into Nuka Hiva in 1987 and was the only yacht there. We were a 100ft. aluminium sloop with a crew of nine. I love your yacht Julia, a proper yacht and very handy. She looks very sea kindly. What a trip to have such a fine vessel and each other.
I love my boat. Although it's a 24 ft, cuddy cabin cruiser. My dad helped me restore this vessel in 1992. I was 16 years old. He taught me to drive his 30ft fishing and pleasure boat at 10 yrs old. Navigating, lights, boueys, signs, depth. She's been with me all these years. Now she has much more technology, electronics, charging capabilities, everything I need in my cabin, to cook, new toilet, shower, and outdoor shower. I take friends out for 5 day trips 3 times a year, to Camp/fish, and just enjoy exploring new Waters. I'm very big on safety, and have more than needed. Communication, plenty of Charging sources onboard. If you have faith, respect the ocean, and even have to divert your course, from weather, or anything else that could put you in danger. You and that vessel, can accomplish anything. 🙏 🌊⛵🛥️ God bless guys, she's beautiful and she's your own.
Always impressed with those who can navigate the seas! Cheers folks!
Loved this! So skillfully done, yet peaceful, interesting and humble! Conveys the feeling of bluewater sailing so well!! 💙 I don't watch many channels (because most of them glorify the petty aspects of the sailing lifestyle) but i will actually look forward to the release of your next videos!!! Fair winds!!
21:25 Even dreaming could not be better! This is such a beautiful video so well done , lean but with everything there, pure enjoyment, this is art at its best. Do not change a thing. Thank you for sharing.
What a wonderful video, and sailing to an island paradise on a wooden boat is any true sailors dream. Thank you for sharing yours.
Still one of my favorite clips you guys are what sailing is all about, many happy Nm to you both.✌❤
OK, so now I’m jealous. The California coast and Baja were sort of cool. But this. This is sailing. I never expected this back when you were day sailing the San Juan’s. Impressive.
We didn't expect it then either!
@@MadisonBoatworks It must have been reassuring to know, half way across, that the keel bolts were one of the things you could depend on.
Your narrating is absolutely freaking amazing, it made my eyes stay pierced to the screen the whole video, editing is out of this world, I’m so happy for u two just cruising through life and enjoying every moment ❤
Can’t lie I cried at the end when u said it will stand as one of the most greatest moments in your lives the waterworks stared 😢
I love old wooden boats...so much character and yours is wonderful, strong. What a grt video..just lovely.
2800 miles in 25 days, impressive to say the least. Damn that many people on that Island in the middle of nowhere.
This was absolutely captivating! What an amazing experience. Who would’ve thought following my wedding photographer would lead me to watching this journey! Hahaha thanks for sharing!
Fantastic video! Thank you for so much sailing footage. Very well done, can't wait for more..
Your journey brought tears to my eyes. My wife and I made the same trip back in 2002 on our Liberty 458, except we made landfall in Hiva Oa. What an amazing experience. I am jealous. Wishing we were back out there again. Enjoy!!!!
I’m so proud for the brave and strong love of guys! I support every movement! Unbelievable!
Absolutely spectacular production! Excellent video, commentary and length of the journey recorded. You have set the gold standard! Best wishes in all you choose to do!
Spectacular
Well done! The editing,sailing and endurance of it all…..You two are top rate content creators. Safe travels.
That took lot of courage and skill. Pretty cool.
What a great story! I loved being along on your adventure. Well done!
By the minute and thirty mark I knew I was going to be hooked. As the video closes I’m absolutely in love with what you guys are doing. Can’t wait to see what’s in store.
So cool to see porpoise along side. They are at least as curious about you as you are happy to have the company 😊 What a pretty boat. 🥰👍
What a nice, refreshing video. Excellent humble sailors on good, sensible seaworthy sea boat. It has been a long time since I have seen anything like that on youtube, or on the water, for that matter.
Refreshing
Great description of the boat never getting tired as the crew...
What a wonderful film you two have put together!
Wow, just happened to search for sail videos and your video appeared! You two are awesome, love the filming and the music just makes it awesome! Really inspired by your work and blessings to you in the future!
honesty, a little humility it seems serves this channel very well. I can easily imagine a very good book.Thank you.
At last, proper sailing……well done both of you and keep the quality footage coming…. Love your honesty ‘pretending to be brave’ ❤️❤️❤️
Great videos. I stopped watching sailing videos a long time ago, because most were an endless line of bikini (or not) wearing girls and lots of “buy us a beer” asks. Yours is like a legit documentary. Well done. Subscribed.
I'm staying up very late re-watching all your videos. Thrilled to see 1M views on this one, it's certainly worth it on just so many levels. Thanks so much (again) for sharing your experience with us. It's been an almost lifelong dream for me to do this, and now at 64 I'm not sure the logistics are possible for me any more, and it's so heartwarming to see you fulfilling your dream (after a lot of hard work and planning). I was re-watching to make sure I had the timeline right. For me it would really help knowing the general timeframe, I'm presuming this crossing was in 2022.
So articulate in your narrative - I cannot recall a "you know " kind of .... or prefacing sentences with ... like.... Thank you and our vessel is stunning!!
Thank you for taking us with you!🙏🏻
That was the best produced sailing video I have seen! Well done! Thank you!
This has to be the most inspiring sailing video I’ve ever seen! Congrats on the huge accomplishment!
We are pioneers and explorers ❤ thank you for showing the world how humans must be! ✝️🛐
Loved the presentation of your crossing. The wooden boat, your narration etc. Await your next installment.
You guys are amazing. Binged watched every episode and couldn't stop watching. Please don't stop what you are doing. Way better than most sailing channels and the music is relaxing! Great job and we are looking forward to the adventures that unfold out before you. ;)