Ep 77 Offshore Passage from Florida to the BVI Leopard 50 

Hi Rich, That is a great story and I am so glad you shared it!!! I am glad that how we "are" comes out on videos. Randy

Hi Leland, Thanks so much for your comment. Thanks for your Coastie service!!!! Randy

Hi Whotkots, LOL, you caught that......Randy

Hi Sea Travel, Thanks so much! Randy

Hi Jack, Sorry I didnt read this until now!! Thanks so much for your warm wishes and our Christmas was as you wished!!! Randy

HI Bart, Mike was class of 86! He even played for the red wave for 2 years! Thanks for watching. Randy

HI Stephen, I hear you passed your sailing classes and did you first charter!!!! You have a future in this sport for sure. Come to Annapolis or Miami for the sail show. You will love it! Randy

Hi Ree Lentless, That is awesome. Wish we were there!!! Randy

Hi Rich, Thanks so much for your comment. You can imagine how embarrassing is was for me to leave in his comments but he insisted it was necessary and now I am glad we did. Can't wait for you to see episode 2 of this trip. You will love it. Have a great Christmas buddy! Randy

Hi SSTTR, Thanks so much! Randy

Hi Doug, I have had a lot of boats so had a good understanding of what we were trying to accomplish. Great sail ability with home live ability and so far so good. Thanks Randy

Hi Chuck, What a nice comment! Thanks so much. It was a lot of fun for sure. Met incredible people all over the place. Great hobby to be blogging about. Randy

Hi Offgrid.se, Thanks yes we are thrilled to have the boat back in the Caribbean! Randy

Hi DC, or buy one for 3500 back in 2000 like we did and we loved it! Randy

Hi Casey, Yes it’s great however we haven’t seen her in 6 weeks! BVI shut down. Randy

Hi Edward, Thanks so much. I was embarrassed to leave his comments in the video as you can imagine but he really wanted it left in. He was great crew!!! Randy

Hi Rustie, I mentioned this to the rigger and he disagreed and just used a 4 times stronger piece. Fingers crossed! Randy

Hi Richard! Glad you got to SW but have to make HI next time! Glad you saw the 50. We are loving it. Sails great as well! I can't afford you as crew so we will set up a telemed system with your cell number ha! Randy

@@SailingSVHappyTogether I sense a retirement business opportunity. :-)

HI Jeff, So glad you are liking the channel, we do try to make it fun and so glad its working for you!!! Randy

Jeff Slaven i am surprised Randy has not wired it up to charge the batteries

LOL😁 Randy

Hi S Newland, hahahah, yes!!! Randy

Hi Alsino, Thanks so much! Randy

HI Eyeeightone, Thanks and yes it was awesome to finally get out there! Randy

Hi Chris, Thanks and glad you are enjoying the show!!! Randy

Hi Rob, hahaha, yes sir and what a trip it was. Will show some video on next episode. Randy

Hi Vertical Wisdom, Yeah that's how it goes......your right just got to roll with it. Randy

Hi Sandra, Yes definitely not roughing it on this boat 😁 Randy

Hi Tom, Thanks! Randy

Hi Elaine, Thanks so much!!!! Merry Christmas to you and Vladamir! Randy

Hi Mack, Thanks so much! Randy

Hi Casey, I knew you would get the gas fight scene, wonder how many people went "huh" LOL, Randy

Hi Jacques, So glad it worked this time. Probably music related. Thanks for your comment and Merry Christmas to you. Can't wait to visit France! Randy

Hi Shelley, Thanks so much!!!! I am sure it was our calm weather that made it fun😁 Randy

Hi Muskietime! Thanks and glad you like the show! Randy

Hi Moz, Thanks so much and happy holidays to you!!! Randy

Hi Steven, Thanks so much and we are glad you see that and it comes out on video. This can be a great experience for couples! Randy

Hi Spajda02, Thanks so much! Randy

Hi Ken, It was embarrassing to leave those comments in but he insisted and no I am glad. Thanks Man, Randy

HI Paul, Thanks so much!! really appreciate this comment and right now we are not taking anything for granted and good fortune gives us pause. Thanks! Randy

Hi Murray, LOL, I was thinking about you and when that moon shone so bright the first night I knew I could work that song in. Great song by the way. I remember it well and it fit perfect. Yes back home with the kids and grandkids this week as you knew we would be. Thanks again. Randy

HI Itsp3ersonal, Thanks so much. You Canadians are so nice! Randy

Hi Bobsdogtag, Hahaha, yes she is an amazing cook/chef and we still have a few meals in that cooler for Januarys trip! Randy

Hi James, I know and absolutely no promotion or reposting. All organic people who find us.....Randy

Hi Darren, Thanks so much! Randy

Hi John, Thanks! Randy

Hi Geoff, Thanks and Merry Christmas to you!!! Randy

Hi HubiD, Thanks so much! Randy

Hi Doug, Thanks so much! Randy

Hi Larry and Joy!, Thanks so much and Happy Holidays to you both! Randy

Hi Phil RIta, Hahahahha, it was the wham cover the broken pad eye was no biggie. Hahahahaah, Randy

HI Richard, thanks! Yes it was great and Mike was great crew! Randy

HI DD, Thanks so much and Merry Christmas Randy

Hi Mr C, Merry Christmas to you buddy! Randy

Hi Marxtr6, Thanks and Merry Christmas to you! Randy

Hi Danny, Will include some footage on the next video for sure. KTM 450's riding in the desert in Baja, I go twice a year. Randy

Hi Mike, Hahahah, you know it. And I will tell Lennie to learn the difference LOL, Randy

Hi Swordawet, Hahahah, Thanks man. Randy

Hi Jerry, Thanks so much! Randy

Hi Mark, Thanks and miss me some CA, Randy

Yes that is! Mike played football in college. Randy

I have watched him play I’m sure. Always went to games before leaving California.

Hi Leonard! Randy

@@SailingSVHappyTogether It looks like you are having a great time with the new boat. Have a great Holiday!

HI Shane, Merry Christmas to you and enjoy your summer! Randy

@@SailingSVHappyTogether Ty muchly

Hi RCRogers6, We agree and we actually had this option during construction and deleted it because the double mainsheet system works so good on a cat for sail trim. The architect is the one who talked us out of the traveler. I did upgrade the pad eyes to double sized harkens with 4 bolts and backing plates so I think we are good. Crash jibe could still be a problem. Randy

@@SailingSVHappyTogether Randy, it's hard to argue with an architect who may have used a force diagram to compute loads. I believe the "German" system can be used with a traveller. A traveller works better when motorsailing where the only wind is that created by the forward motion of the boat under power. As you know, you then pull the main hard over to one side at the end of the traveller. I can't remember why, but when I was concerned with loads on pad eyes, etc. I turned to Wichard hardware.

Hi RCRrogers6, Thanks and yes agree. The new Harken is pretty strong so we are thinking we have it covered. Randy

Hi Darin, THanks so much and glad you like this video. We are back in Florida and then heading to Utah for a week of skiing with the kids for the holidays. HT is in the Virgin Islands. We will be back on her for 2 weeks in January. Merry Christmas!! Randy

Hi Lee, Thanks! Randy

Hi HL Fitzpatrick, I agree the food is GREAT and Lennies mom is an incredible Chef so we ate like kinds! Randy

Hi Wallace, Yes we bought them twice as large/strong for replacements. Randy

Sailing SV Happy Together I know you guys are off grid now from YT big can you pls give us all an update and let us know that you are all ok?

@@McQuokka HI Wallace!!! We just got our boat out of the BVI lockdown. We are at anchor in St John,. We will post an update in a week or so and thanks for checking on us!!!! Randy

Sailing SV Happy Together ...thank goodness. Great to hear from you. Wish you'd do once a month or even every quarter as you guys made really great videos. Not many good quality sailing channels around. You and the O'Kellys were the only ones that were decent. Respect your privacy though. Fair winds skipper. Great to hear you are going to do an update.

Hi Lorna and Robert!, I don't know the brand but it was from Amazon and we ordered the most expensive one assuming it would be higher quality. Cheap ones are $50 and we paid $100 so we aren't sure how this will hold up but it does work pretty good and gets your heart going. Thanks for watching and glad you liked the video! Randy

Hi Michael, Thanks for watching and glad you are enjoying it. Yes we are really happy with the brand so you can't go wrong there in our opinion. 1. We really love the 48 and thinks its a great cruising platform. Hard to answer "is the 50 worth it". It terms of size and features etc. yes 100% the boat is a good value. I would buy the 50 if budget isn't an issue but if you want to save a bundle and have a great cruising boat the 48 knocks it out of the park. 2. We have spent 20 days on the boat and it never seemed tight and it doesn't "get smaller" as time goes on. Something about the enormity of your surroundings makes the boat seem comfortable and of course I am talking about Catamarans specifically. We have asked this question of full time cruisers and no one says the boat gets small but many people just want laundry and AC every now and then and go home. 3. Love the idea of part time retirement in the med. We will bring our boat there and spend much time in the summer there so that sounds great and plenty of Vlogs showing the region. 4. Cruising and the whole fixing the boat when it breaks (which is always) does not appeal to some people. Many people see the romance of this and buy a boat and go nuts when it breaks or the weather is bad or they hit bottom and all that. This is a lifestyle that is not for everyone but I love when people try it. Most adapt well. The people that bought our 48 have never owned a boat or sailed for that matter. They decided on a whim to take 2 years and sail the Caribbean and I have followed their private blog and its fascinating. They had so many things go wrong (at night during squalls etc) that I thought they were going to quit after 60 days. They didnt and ended up becoming very accomplished cruisers, divers, sailors, and now they are entering their second year and I couldn't be more proud of them. I hope I have answered your questions but keep them coming. I would rather answer comments than sell flooring😁 Randy

Hi Adippen, Thanks man. The band is Third Stage who did the cover. Randy

HI Matthew, Yes its called Med-Are and its an international rescue company for boats and private planes. You buy the kit from them and they do the training and handle the incoming calls. Randy

Hi Davhead284, No not at all. Our 48 was great. We just like the adventure of buying and outfitting the "perfect" catamaran and we think we have done it with the 50. We really like the utility room and the larger spaces. When people ask me what they should buy I always say a Leopard 48. There are some construction and design elements that are newer/better just due to the fact that the 48 was designed 8 years prior to the 50 but that is always the case with boats. Thanks for watching. Randy

Hi Michael, Thanks!!!! Randy

Hi Maldwin Drummong, We bought it on Amazon and it was pretty cheap. We will see how it does but we have several hours on it so far. Randy

Hi Cal, I have 6 300 AMP batteries and its 1800 amps. The two inverters only draw down as power is needed. The solar puts out 140 amps in sunlight but averages about 90 amps in an 8 hour day. Randy

Hi Todd, Yes it took 35 years of hard work. Lennie is actually my lottery win😁 Randy

Hi Chris, Yes we keep plenty and I had a solution but not a proper repair solution and we were only 6 miles out so turning back made sense to upgrade both sides to larger equipment. Randy

Hi Ariel! Yes Amazon and we will see how it lasts. The Baja trip is dirt bikes. KTM 450's riding in the desert. Randy

@@SailingSVHappyTogether love ktms. My Stanford nephrologist rides a ktm naked. He tells me lose weight walk daily and I will talk to Wilma my wife on the next bike. By the way Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

@@SailingSVHappyTogether by the way riding a gs1250 is not as easy as the riding class

Hi Ariel N, LOL, okay that is funny! Randy

Hi Firm1z, It was an undersized fitting and no way for it to handle what we have thrown at it. We upsized it double and the factory will do the same. Randy

Hi Charlie, probably but it was undersized. Randy

HI Paul, Check out episode 17 Moms maintenance and Mayhem and you will see Lennies mom! Randy

Hi Jose, need what?

HI Daverjax, Wait.......she has eyes in the back of her head!!!!! 😁 Randy

Yikes my videos are all about the music. Sorry!

Hi Bonedock, You are right and we always bring our canvas bags from home but we forgot them. Randy