Wow! Forget "built Ford tough", think "Built Fleming Tough!" Some time back I had to do a paper on a suggestion for a yacht to use on the Great Loop. Anything was allowed, but had to be handled routinely by two people and if necessary, three or so. I knew the professor had a passion for both modern and classic yachts, so my first thought was a Hinckley Talaria 57; it had the downeast classic lines and polished wood interior that called back to an earlier day. I needed some additional information so I called Hinckley (IIRC, it was the Annapolis office) and when I explained the reason for my call the man I spoke with didn't hesitate when he said, "I love our boats, but for your scenario there's only one I'd consider...the Fleming 65." That is an endorsement!
Tony, Thank you for sharing this. This must have been a difficult video for you to produce - but you certainly aren't alone in this misfortune. Are you going to describe the damage in a future video that explains how VENTURE was built, or not built, to withstand a rock collision? Was there any water incursion? How was this held in check in a FLEMING yacht? If this is even a valid question, how much more damage could VENTURE have endured and still kept her and crew relatively secure due to her design? How, if anything, has this accident changed your thinking about yacht design. Are you going to modify VENTURE as a result of this grounding? Ah, the list goes on...... I don't think anyone thinks any less of FLEMING yachts as a result of this grounding. I may be way out of line here, but your yachts are so exquisitely built, I think some of us would like to learn a bit more about your yacht from a very different point of view. Thoughts?
Your experience is thought provoking. Contingency planning for locations like these. While not small, you had more options in the 65 than if you were in a larger vessel. Makes me wonder if you “revisited” design decisions, made years prior and pondered those some. I enjoy your videos immensely.
I am a commercial fisherman based out of Sitka (you can actually catch a glimpse of my boat in your harbor footage), and spend much time in these waters in pursuit of king and coho salmon. It was quite something to see such great imagery and listen to "Attenborough-esque" commentary about little nooks and crannies along the coast I am very familiar with (I have also seen several bears and deer feeding in close proximity in Black Bay). I truly enjoyed this video, and plan to watch the entire series now - and share it with my family who cannot be here to see this all. Thank you so much for your efforts. Chris Hanson FV Diamond Lil
Fortunate that Venture was designed and built well enough to survive that rock and that there was a lift that could accommodate you. The area is stunningly beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
@34:00.The Richter Scale has nothing to do with wave height or sea state or anything nautical. That scale is to do with Earth Quake strength... NOTHING to do with anything else. So to say your boat was designed to Richter 8 is just Bullshit with no relevance to your vessel or any vessel on Earth or to any sea state. You are just talking shit.
I do have a question. Why would a 55 foot displacement launch need as much as 900hp which was the hp of the two original engines? You can only do displacement speed with a displacement boat so bigger engines are just a waste of money and fuel. My 60 foot 48 ton vessel with a single 172 hp Gardner 6L3B was able to cruise at 11 knots @ 1050 revs. Not two engines revving at 2200 each and making a lot of noise and burning lots of fuel but one engine burning only a fraction of these high speed turboed engines and very quiet while it did it . Correctly ratioed and propped surely the Fleming vessel would not have needed 900 hp. Interesting to note that the hp of the new MAN diesels was not disclosed. Seems nuts to me.
Fleming motoryachts are semi-displacement boats - not displacement. That means that they will go faster if you add horsepower.. If you are content always to cruise at displacement speed then you do not need the extra horsepower. The extra speed can be useful and that is what the majority of boat buyers want. The Gardner is a great engine and I installed one in the Grand Banks I built for myself before I started Fleming Yachts. That boat is now 40 years old and the engine a lot older than that as it came out of a Foden truck. I encountered that boat last year in Alaska and both the boat and the engine are doing great.
Thankfully Tony, Venture wasn't too badly damaged. Just goes to show how precarious navigating in those waters can be. I really appreciate your video's, thank you for posting. Simon
It happens. I think I've struck every dock on the West Coast! The trailing lip of the tunnel really took a swat... possibly the most troubling part of the damage?
venture has been in some precarious situation all over the world and that is the first damage below water line. all the submerged rocks and trees we have seen in your videos. a true testament to the skill of all aboard
I would say the anchor getting ruined when you were visiting the channel islands off the California coast a few years back would count as an incident, the first one. I have to admit though, your "drama" is not manufactured to increase views like many boating channels do, it's a real incident that can happen through lack of knowledge or just plain bad luck. The offshore winds at night that caused the anchor to drag and get ruined was a lack of knowledge about those winds.
The costs for correcting the keel profile at the yard on Vancouver Island are still coming in but the final total will be an amount I don't even want to think about or admit to. It will be more than you could reckon on paying for a reasonably decent automobile. It is what it is and, at least, we can be thankful that the result was not worse and we were able to to get it fixed in a relatively remote location by competent and diligent people.
It is plainly evident that you are from the generation of yacht builders that never viewed a pound of fiberglass below the waterline they did not like! A six knot grounding at thruster tube and not a crack. It is Alaska after all and just a minor video log entry that allowed you to show Cordova life in your inimitable manner. Wishing many more miles under the keel, all with a tad more water under it.
That is a shocking surprise to such a beautiful boat. Every time I watch your videos, I long for a boat like yours. Great videos. Cheers from New Zealand.
1 bump in over 100,000 miles, your doing a dam fine job, forward looking sonar pricey but worth it ya, love your videos the best there is, seen them all
Tony, I saw you in Taku Harbor several years ago tied up at the cannery dock. I wish I would have said hello as I have been a huge fan of you and your yachts for many years. I'm glad everything worked out in Cordova. Smooth sailing.
I hit an uncharted rock in Foggy Bay last summer and hauled out in Ketchikan. Your video brought back so many memories. We subsequently installed a forward-looking sonar....does Venture have one?
Tough way to get to spend time in Cordova. Interesting little town even for Alaska. I guess every little town in Ak. is interesting, in their own unique way. As a retired diesel mechanic spent time in places from Dutch Harbor to Ketchikan and every where in between.
When I wish for you to have great adventures, this isn’t what I have in mind! I’m so glad the damage wasn’t worse, and that you were able to get repairs fairly close and quickly. Fair winds!
I admire the Fleming 65. I have watched many of your videos including the one in which you mentioned that you designed the GB 49. I’ll guess 35 years ago a former employer and yachtsman had a great run of luck and bought his gently used GB 49 as his reward. Twin Lehman, galley down, exactly what he was looking for. I loved that boat. Her ride and her impressive lines endeared me to her. Keep off the rocks and sail on.
OMG ! Thankfully there wasn’t a leak and you’re all ok. A bit of a heart thumper - but all is well thank goodness. Love your films Tony we’re always looking out for them. We wish you & Louisa good health and many more years of filming. Cindy & Col NSW Australia
Glad to see Venture ship-shape again and her captain no worse for wear. You can be a Captain ... but not an Adventurer ... until you've driven her aground! Welcome to the Club.
I can't tell you how much I enjoy these videos. The best single word I can think of is grace. The narration, the graphics, the videography, the editing and the beauty of the subject. In a very selfish way, I hope you continue documenting your wonderful engaging experiences forever. God speed.
Knowing how much care you take with navigation Tony, this must have been a very shocking incident, so glad it all turned out well in the end. Thanks for your wonderful insights into the beauty, trials and tribulations of cruising in these amazing places you are so fortunate to visit.Cheers and safe passage in the future, warmest wishes, Peter.
