- [Dana] A big thank you to Squarespace
for sponsoring this week's video.
Their platform makes building websites simple and easy,
but more on that later.
- All right, so this summer, we've kind of been teaching
ourselves to sail from scratch, and I feel like
we're getting the hang of it, but because we basically,
started with zero sailing experience,
we've been neglecting a very important skill
we need going forward to really start cruising full time.
(water splashing)
(gentle music)
(lever cranking)
- Will you crank all the way to close on the left?
- Our goal for today is to sleep on anchor
for the very first time.
We rented a mooring for the whole summer,
so we've just been sleeping there, but sleeping on anchor
is kind of like an essential part of living on a boat
full-time because moorings are kind of expensive,
and I don't know, they also like don't seem fully reliable,
like the mooring we were on this summer broke
and just drifted away.
And while we were at Cuttyhunk,
a different mooring there broke and two boats
almost collided 'cause they were just drifting.
So I feel like anchoring, even though,
you can like drag anchoring and mess it up,
it's kind of like all on you, you know,
you're the one in charge, you know what your gear is,
and if you're dragging, it's probably because
the conditions have changed,
or you didn't let out enough scope.
So today, we're gonna try sleeping on anchor,
for the very first time, we'll probably end up doing
a night watch 'cause we'll chicken out.
But before we can practice anchoring,
we gotta sail all the way to Cuttyhunk,
which should take us like four to six hours, I think,
it's an upwind sale and Penelope does not like
going up wind, and we're a little rusty on that too,
so yeah, we just gotta cross Buzzard's Bay and then
we will try and find a nice spot to anchor for tonight.
(helm turning)
- Great job.
That was wonderful, Lou.
- I think this might be caught.
- Oh, yeah, looks like it.
- Sorry. - Yeah.
- Did get it up? - Yep.
(lever cranking)
- Wow, this actually is perfect for navigation.
(cranking)
- How's the new handle working out?
- I love it.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
- Huh!
- Good job.
♪ When we wake ♪
♪ Hear the birds and see the sun ♪
♪ Side by side our fears are gone ♪
♪ All the good times just begun ♪
♪ Oh, we know what we have ♪
♪ Lets hold on tight ♪
♪ We found what we're looking for in life ♪
♪ Call us crazy but things are finally right ♪
♪ With you and I the future is bright ♪
- So we're about halfway across Buzzards Bay now,
and it's been such a beautiful day of sailing,
I feel like we got a hang of upwind sailing much better
than we did last time, don't you think?
- [Lou] Yeah.
- And our tacking went smooth,
which always makes me feel happy,
I feel like when you get a good tack,
and everything goes well, it's like,
I don't know, it's very satisfying.
And so it's been atrocious weather of late,
like 20 to 30 knots and thunderstorms,
and waves and crazy small boat warnings
and things like that on small crafts.
- [Lou] Small craft advisory.
- Small craft advisory, and so today it's a glorious Sunday
on the water and it feels really good,
and I'm happy Penelope still in the water.
(laughs)
(wind whooshing)
(waves splashing)
- Land, ho, captain, land ho.
All right, so we are approaching the Island of Cuttyhunk
for the second time.
The first time we went there was kind of nerve wracking.
- [Lou] You're okay, Dana?
- Like not really (laughs).
There's like, you can see the sand.
How is it 12 feet of water?
Oh, my God.
- [Lou] So close to everything.
But this is our second time,
so we kind of know the deal now.
And we're hoping that we can find
a nice little spot to anchor,
the bottom, supposedly, has a lot of eel grass,
so our friend Matt told us that you kind of just like
look for a light spot and that could be like a sand patch.
And then you wanna just drop your anchor right into that
little light zone and try and get it to stick right away,
so you don't go through the whole area
with all the eel grass,
but the sail has gone a lot faster than we thought,
It's only like noon now, so it's definitely gonna be
under a four-hour sail, which is cool.
And that's also really nice because it means
we can test our anchor all afternoon.
And I feel like if we get a lot of hours on anchor
and we have no movement and the conditions are good,
then we might just set a couple of anchor alarms,
and go to sleep, which would be really nice.
(guitar playing)
- Taking on the channel, round two.
(clap)
Okay, babes, the plan is go through the channel,
then we're gonna go to the back corner,
but not too far in where it's shallow,
where it's still like nine feet deep.
And we're just far enough away from the moorings,
that we don't swing, and hopefully it's not crowded,
so we don't really have to worry that much, but last time
it was like a little bit snug in there, remember?
- [Lou] Yeah.
- There was a lot going on,
so just stay calm and everything is fine (laughs).
(soft piano music)
- [Lou] You're conquering this channel, Dana.
- Much calmer this time, isn't that funny?
- [Lou] Yeah.
- Even the sail was like so much calmer.
- [Lou] Yeah.
- And we've made it in no time.
And the mooring field doesn't look so crowded,
so hopefully, we can find a good spot to anchor
and then make some lunch.
It's gorgeous out.
We probably should have brought the dinghy.
(laughs)
Whatever.
- It's all good?
- Yeah, good job.
So let's give them, if we could anchor like straight ahead.
- Yeah, but you wanna actually like drop it,
like not so far behind, cause we're going to fall off.
- Yeah, that's true.
- Pretty far, like when we did it with Cody, he was like,
I can't go like pretty close to them.
- Um-hum. - Now drop it, and then go.
- Cool.
I was gonna do what he taught me.
- Yeah.
(anchor grinding)
(water gushing)
(anchor dragging)
(engine running)
- So we set out 70 feet of chain, and the depth here
is 12 feet at the moment, and on the chart it says 11,
so I think we're a little bit above low tide,
and so hopefully that's enough chain,
we've put on some anchor alarms
and now we're just gonna sit tight.
There are a few boats a little bit close to us,
they're not that close,
but we're just gonna keep an eye on it,
and then decide later if we're gonna do a rotating
anchor watch or if we're gonna both sleep at the same time,
I think I might stay up, Lou.
- [Lou] Yeah.
- Yeah, I think it's like, it's fine,
and it's really calm in here,
which is really nice, a change of pace,
it's like bathtub, like flat right now, and I think
the wind is supposed to die tonight even more so,
so I feel like that should be even safer,
but at the same time to wake up to hitting another boat
it's just not something I want to deal with right now,
so I think we should just play it safe.
- [Lou] Okay.
- What do you think? - [Lou] Yeah.
- Lunchtime? - [Lou] Yeah.
(laughs)
(cutlery clanking)
(pots scratching)
(water splashing)
(lighter flickering)
- Yum.
(laughs)
- Should probably try these artichokes too, right?
- You probably should.
- One more olive.
- Taste test? - Um-hum.
What do you think?
Maybe put it in a sauce? - Um-hum.
- [Dana] Wonder what we have here, soy sauce.
(plastic bag crinkling)
- Cold.
- Are you? - Yeah.
(laughs)
- It's winter.
- Right? - Yeah.
- Beautiful, tough.
- Um-hum.
(lively music)
- [Lou] I'll take the first watch, I guess, huh?
- I guess so, I think it's almost five o'clock,
luckily, I can sleep at any time.
(laughs)
I'm gonna go sleep now, and then you
just wake me up when you're too tired.
- [Lou] Um-hum.
- And then you tell me like how it's going, like, whatever.
- [Lou] Yeah, I'll take... - The first watch.
You know where's like a headlamp or something?
- [Lou] I'll figure it out. - You're gonna figure it out.
We have like a really bright flashlight,
but I don't wanna bother anyone,
but it's also like we haven't budged at all,
I don't think there's gonna be any problems.
- [Lou] Nah, but.
- But I'm sleepy, so why not go to sleep?
(laughs)
Right?
- Yeah.
- It's cold.
You may wanna bring your other blanket up there.
- [Lou] Yeah.
- Right? - [Lou] Um-hum.
- So you don't bother my beauty rest.
- [Lou] Sleep well.
- Thanks, babe.
Goodnight.
- [Lou] Sleep well.
- You put the thingy in here?
I'm still gonna read for a little bit.
- [Lou] Only a little bit.
- Only a little bit.
Oh, it's nice to lay down.
(yawns)
(doors screeching)
(water splashing)
(wind swooshing)
(switch clicks)
- So it's 6:00 pm, and for some reason,
I'm already getting sleepy.
I feel like it's kind of like New Years where
when you have to stay up, you just get really tired,
really, really early, but we'll get through this.
All right, it is 7:00 pm, anchor hasn't budged at all.
So it's 8:00 pm, we were supposed to switch shifts
at like 2:00 am, but of course, you tell Dana to fall asleep
and she decides...
- I couldn't sleep, guys.
I usually can sleep at any moment, but when I had to sleep,
it made it very difficult.
So I'm going to try to be awake now and you can sleep,
and we haven't moved at all.
- No.
- No, right?
- Not at all, and I think the wind is gonna die soon, so.
- I missed you.
(laughs)
And I missed the sunset and it looked really pretty
through my window when I took my eye mask up,
but I feel wide awake.
(chuckles)
Even tough, I'm sure I'll knock on your door in two hours
and say can I sleep, now?
- Please, don't do that.
(laughs)
- It's nine o'clock and it's very peaceful outside
and the stars are really bright.
I'm just gonna keep holding watch, but we aren't moving,
so it's very relaxing and I'm just reading a book,
see you in a bit.
It's 10 o'clock, still calm, still beautiful,
though getting a little bit sleepy.
It's midnight, definitely, getting sleepier,
but I just finished my book,
it's really good, "Homegoing", you should read it,
it's a beautiful novel.
Yeah, definitely.
Still not moving, I'm debating if in a few hours,
I just wanna go to sleep.
Okay, it is 1:00 am, and I am really tired.
- 2:00 am.
- Good morning, it is 6:00 am, I came on watch at 5,
the sun is not up yet, but it will be shortly,
and yeah, it's been a beautiful night,
I'm surprised how much four hours can make you feel
refreshed from sleeping.
(uplifting music)
- Good morning, can't believe we did it.
- Good job.
- Our first night at anchor.
- Yeah. - Wow.
- How are you feeling?
- Wiped.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- Come look at the sun rise, it's so pretty,
I think it'll make you happy.
(uplifting music)
That feels good.
We can check that off the list now.
(lighter flickers)
Ah, thank you.
Oh, it hits the spot.
Such a beautiful morning, Lou.
I really like it out here.
It's like so peaceful, you know?
- [Lou] Um-hum.
- It's a quieter time of the year.
It's cold, tough.
- [Lou] Yeah.
Oh, yes.
- It's really hot, be careful.
(engine running)
(lever cranking)
(water running)
♪ Hmm, hmm ♪
♪ I've been running blindly ♪
♪ For so long now ♪
♪ Can't count the years ♪
♪ Or the miles anyhow ♪
♪ Darkness stayed behind me ♪
♪ Where it all begun ♪
♪ Let that warm light find me ♪
♪ It shall ♪
- So we successfully slept at anchor,
that was actually super fun and really peaceful,
I feel like it would be a little overwhelming
to do it again and also do the night watch,
so I'm glad that we're gonna go and have a sleep
on our mooring, but I'm really happy we did it.
And I feel like it was a huge thing to check off
our to-do list for like first time trying things,
and I'm happy that it worked and that we didn't drag it all.
And now we're just on a really slow sail back home because
it's barely blowing at all, but it's kind of nice.
Thank you so much to Squarespace for sponsoring this video,
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Really that website supports us so much,
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we really appreciate it.
And yeah, thanks for watching,
we're so grateful to have you guys here for the adventure,
I hope you enjoy the first night at anchor with us,
and we will see you next week.