Sailing Neverland, a Westsail 32, along the shipwreck coast of Lake Superior in 20-30 kt wind. 

Sailing a bit overpowered here hoping to finish the passage without having to put another reef in. Then the wind piped up a notch to 35+kts requiring the 2nd reef and was still a tad overpowered. It took all my weight to haul the staysail down by the luff at the harbor entrance! ...and the engine at full throttle barely pushed the boat upwind into the harbor.

Yeah, me too, but I wasn't too worried. There was only one scoop of water in the dinghy by the end of that all day passage, which is typical for that kind of passage. She has followed Neverland around like Tinkerbell in all kinds of conditions over the past 20 years and has always been well behaved (unlike that other Tinkerbell). It's a 45 year old Dyer Dhow that brilliantly fulfills the 3 classic design requirements for a tender-rows, tows and stows well, especially the towing. Designed by Phillip Rhodes and Charles Wittholz for the then revolutionary, strong and lightweight fiberglass construction. It also sails well (they're famous frostbiters) , is very stable with a 650lb capacity and can carry an outboard motor.

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Yes! And we have sailed past each other more than once near Shaganash Is. See you next year.

Thanks for the comment. The mission on this day was to make it to the next harbor before dark ; ) The wind vane is a Cape Horn installed about 15 years ago.

I used the Insta 360 one X on a 5' telescoping stick for this video

Thanks! @@ridesthewind7551

Yup, it was on the verge, but still charging along nicely and making good way to weather. The W32, as with many traditional designs, sails better to windward with the rail down. And it is especially true with the W32, as its bluff bow has a finer presentation to waves when heeled well over. I had to put in a 2nd reef when it started gusting to 40kts later. So, was still on the verge, yet still sailing along nicely. When single handing , conserving the crew's energy factors into how and when sail changes occur, and then sometimes you find you just have a lazy crew.

True, at the edge of being overpowered, but sailing just fine. Sometimes it’s the nature of single-handed sailing to conserve your energy. If you look closely, there’s a reef already tucked in. A 2nd was added after filming when the wind piped up a bit more. To clarify, older full keel designs sail much differently than modern fin-keel/spade rudder/flat-bottomed types that have to sail upright to stay in control. Many older full Keel designs with overhangs sail faster with the rail down. Additionally the bluff bowed W32 will sail better to windward with the rail down as it presents a finer entry for parting the waves with it’s hollow at the waterline. I suspect it’s one of the secrets to Billy Atkin’s “Atkinized” hull shapes. NGH did it too.

@ridesthewind7551 I don't think you were sailing 'just fine' the vessel was over pressed and it was all a bit inefficient really. Glad you put in another reef. When you sail single handed it is best to sail with a few percent in hand

Tom Petty's "sappy?" song of farewell to a lover, or maybe a song to himself, " you belong on a boat out at sea" and "sail away to kill off the hours" and find happiness and freedom is nicely juxtaposed with this sailing video far from a relaxed and dreamy ride one imagines when picturing "sailing away from it all". It all comes with you. While this was filmed during a long and exhilarating day of sailing, it was also a grueling solo effort in building winds. Fortunately no trouble, but maybe some worries. Anything can happen, at anytime and you have to be prepared to deal with it. I had to tuck in another reef later as the winds built to over 35kts. A memorable passage! Besides, I really love the Jenny's harmonies and how they soar above the wind ;) And the banjo doesn't suck in a blow either.

@@ridesthewind7551 Well, there you have it I guess. A love song. Anyway, I didn't mean to strike a nerve. I enjoyed your video. But in my opinion, the actual sounds aboard the vessel are much more enjoyable to hear than any music. Nice thing is, I can always watch on MUTE. And more often than not, I do. Guess its a sign of my old age creeping in....

I watched on mute also. Music was unnecessary.

+ 1 on the music for me. And in conditions like that, mostly you just hear the wind (after all the loose clunking stuff inside is found!). Just enough of the wind and wave sounds for me in this video.