Skipjack Sailing 48 Solo Cancun to Florida 7+ days and 572 miles 

Hi Russ….have been following sailing channels for the last several years and stumbled across your channel the other day because of your tag line….when i saw the 6 factor formula on the white board i almost fell out of my chair…..i am a retired nuke machinist mate LDO retiring after 24 years as a LCDR…..class 66-2 with S1C NPTU Windsor Locks as my prototype……i am 75 now and wish i had taken your direction in life 20 years ago……fair winds and following seas as i am living vicariously through you…..Wayne Frenck

Great vid, don't stop. Thank you.

Really loved the video. It was "real". The reality of what happens out in open water isn't shown enough.

Skipper. I really enjoyed your video, and you are a fine sailor as well. You earned your bones on that gulf crossing and could easily do a world tour if you desired. Sail when and where you want. You have nothing to prove. “Call me Ishmael. Some years ago - never mind how long precisely - having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. - Herman Melville This is why we sail-no other reason.

Outstanding

Great video! You were honest and genuine without any sugarcoating. I hope the wedding was a success!

Nice video, managing the swell is super important. But some seas are super hard like the Mediterranean for instance.

Excellent video - way better than the typical sailing video

Hi Russ, I haven’t given you a holler in a while, but I still follow your adventures. Crossing the the Gulf of Mexico (twice, and solo!), is quite a brave and adventurous feat, even though you sometimes make it sound like nothing more than a mundane chore. I think the obstacles you overcame will give you an ever increasing sense of satisfaction as you look back on your journey. Well done. Congratulations on your accomplishments!

Glad you made it safe, brother! Love watching these things

Russ, as always, great video - well worth watching. So glad to hear no one died and nothing sunk. Seriously, stay safe.

Hey Russ; great to see you at sea again. On sleeping in the cockpit; as a younger man I worked aboard an old inshore trawler operating mostly in the English channel and the Celtic sea. Some of the finest naps I ever had would be when we had put the nets out, got all the jobs done and we would be dragging away for a few hours. In good weather I would sit on deck, leaning against the wheelhouse with the hot sun on my face. Every now and then a wave would slap the bow at just the right angle and I would get a fine mist of salt spray on my face. Heaven. I follow a lot of sailing channels and no one does more prep for going to sea than you. Shit happens and stuff only breaks when you are using it; just one of those things. I think you did well with only half a jib at hand. Looking forward to the next one mate; all the best and thanks.

I've just discovered your site, and had to subscribe. When you started showing diagrams and describing your intentions, I was hooked.

Hey Russ, just found you today, by youtube recommending this older video of yours. Like your editing style with all the navigation details, and reflection about pros and cons of routes and the same about sailing in general. seems you love it and you hate it to be offshore. ;-) I am a sailing novice, now 55, started a bit over two years ago, now with my second boat, which I am planning ti take on longer stretches, if weather permits. I am located in Portugal near Lisbon, plan is, one day going to Madeira and the Azores, maybe Morocco or Canary Islands. I take baby steps, cruisning the coastal waters for two years now, my first overnight offshore is yet to come but I did full day daylight trips with land out of sight, kind of exciting the first time 🙂, and I sail even when others go back in, more confident now in winds of 25 knots and beyond. Fellow sailors like you with so much more miles under the keel, are a great source of learning and inspiration. You got yourself a new follower today. If you like, check my channel, (ru-vid.com/show-UCsQCyb6cMLLwIxEQgcBtYGw) just a few vids there, but not as well edited as yours. Fair winds and thanks for sharing your experiences! Frank

good job sir. cant wait to see for next adventure. thanks

My dad was a nuke head on the Bancroft, and I sail a Tanton 43. Take care of yourself out there. Enjoyed the view

Glad you made a safe passage

Nice job Russ, you’re inspiring! Keep up the good work 😃….Jolly Mon

Always a pleasure

Fantastic…..really enjoyed this. Thanks

Oh I can appreciate that. I used to work on Tugs/barges up in the Great Lakes where I live. It was interesting to learn about the tides - something I’ve never had access to

Hi Russ, well done on the passage back to the US, even with the ups and downs, yes a life at sea is better than working/doing something you don’t enjoy. I’m going to continue sailing until I find it too hard, then I’ll do the land based travelling as that I can do until I’m quite decrepit and unable to drive, etc. Fair winds and thanks as always for taking us along for the journey, Elaine 😊⚓️⛵️

Skipjack you are the real sailer, shows how much works is the crossing to Florida. You are for me the real channel, plotting a course, and the struggle. Is you ever get to near Puerto Vallarta you get in touch with me, I will get to stay at a hotel for a week. I live in Guanajuato .

I loved your video and god bless!

Boat looks great. Sails not so much. But glad you are enjoying life. Thanks for the update.

Where are you now? I live a little north of Tampa and would like a selling lesson

Your channel talks about navigating and sailing, great channel

Great video Russ. I felt like I was sailing with you! Thank you for sharing.

informative and interesting video. I'll be sailing from Guatemala into Port Charlotte next year, so much appreciated.

The Yucatan pass can be a b! Welcome back!

Hello, just came across your video on youtube and enjoyed it. What size boat and what make is it? Thanks.

Good to see a very informative vlog. You sail near my family. I'll be down that way mid summer for the year. Fair winds and following seas my friend

That is why’ve subscribed to your channel

Great video! Impress you did it without an autopilot help! I am planing to do Clearwater to Cartagena next year and wondering the best time after the hurricane season is over. Thanks

This was a fabulous adventure, Russ, well done. !!! Worthy of the beginning or end of a written work, or film.. The night sailing I’ve done was in my 20s, ( 1981)with my Brother + Cousin Fred…several times, aboard a 28 ft Morgan sloop… I recall sliding between dark wave swells at night, cause that was how sailors crossed to the Bahamas, to spot the buoy markers , which had different flashing light patterns, to determine which buoy it was.. NO GPS in those days… So your description of the ‘ wave , swell state, and period between them, importance to the configuration of your ship , was spot on interesting, as I recall my crew discussing it…. I was impressed with your photography overall, and of the hull - propeller underwater; after the weather cleared, 😳🫣( and the broken halyard issue was reckoned with) , hmmm.. well ..I’m guessing you put the camera on a” stick” and held it underwater? You would Know exactly the configuration of your ships hull, in case you needed to photo it , to see if something was fouled below… so you could address the problem.. (This would be where Robert would call on my shutterbug talent). I know a lot of time goes into editing these types of videos, so as to be fluid, and precise. The idea of doing this trip solo handed is an admirable feat…. Please purchase yourself the biggest fins you can find when you are in port. ( I realize you are securely rope tethered to your ship, when you do any hull work). But still I can’t imagine going overboard to clean or check anything without them. I guess I’ve been ‘ saved’ often in a current , by my fins , while scuba diving, + returning to the ship, when visibility, etc. changes. Hats off to a ruggedly good captain, who successfully crossed oceans and kept his cool, brains, +wits about him.

Never ask someone who has just finished a marathon whether they’ll run another…the answer will be impolite! But a week later, when the pain has gone the answer will be something like “Well I know where I could improve so I’m thinking about it”. Questioning what you’re doing when all hell is going on at sea is about the same. When your energy has returned and the beer is cold you’ll have the right answer.

Good video don't be so hard on yourself you were doing everything correctly except sail condition which is difficult at times. Could be worse hopefully better next time never give up your dream

Hey I'm Anthony are you still sailing I own a home in Honduras I'm American Indian love to talk about sailing to Honduras could use some help when a good time to cross though Mexico and Cuba channel ???

Out boating for me, the roughing of it, is part of the game. Alone, in the middle of nowhere is as close to being in a space capsule as it will ever be for us mere mortals. Yeah, there can and are problems but in the end they are overcome. You had sail and rigging problems, repaired or new -- used sails and a new halyard and poof those problems gone. All in all the boat did well and so did the skipper. I give the boat a score of 8 -- the skipper gets a 10. If you still have the Red Boat, I hope you consider bringing her down. Far nicer for cruising and living aboard, more roomy.

Also, are you from the New England area? Reason I ask is cause the name of your boat, Tautog.

Wow, what a passage that was! I am amazed how you manage to keep calm when so much goes against you. If ever there was an example of what thorough passage planning can achieve this is it. Much more difficult when solo sailing. Once you get your girlfriend on board ì am sure sailing will be less stressful. With the awful events taking place in Ukraine, your videos are a welcome escape. Take care. Hope your son's wedding goes OK.

I hope my son takes some tips from you. He just bought a csy 37’ and is in Anna Maria Island. I know he hasn’t figured out how everything works yet.

You do a great job conveying the (sometimes harsh) realities of sailing. I told you in the comments of the last video that I had just completed some ASA classes in Florida a couple of weeks ago and then you go and anchor right by where I was at. We went out Boca Grande Pass once and anchored in Pelican Bay which I think might be right across the pass from you if my memory is correct. Charlotte Harbor is a beautiful place to be this time of year. I would like to send you an email if possible.

Hi buddy, that was a great adventure. That ´s about sailing, a lot of difficults, bad weather and eventually in rare moments you have a perfect sailing conditions and forget about everithing else. So the weather and sea state was not that great, the forecast checked before leaving was precise?

Ahhh... a realignment of priorities. BTDT myself, for mostly the same reasons, but not to degree, as you. From planned cruising the Coast seasonally to day sailing the N. Bay. As ability decreases and desired comforts increases, a review of plans is required. ;) I sure don't like the conditions you experienced any more than you did; hence the "new" plan to paddle about the Bay. Safe, close to port/s and plenty of shoreline to explore. :) FW&FS

I meant to say how much I enjoy your detailed analysis on plotting; options; sea state etc. Very interesting. Have you seen the NBJS Sailing channel? (NBJS stands for No Bullshit Just Sailing) Erik Aanderaa is a bit of a legend in my book. His idea of a nice easy sail is to solo from Norway to the Shetlands in mid winter. Well worth a look. Cheers Russ.

I would like yo suggest you don’t replace your genoa halyard with the rope wire combo, no one uses that anymore. Talk to a rigger and get correct dyneema halyard replacement, you will not regret it, in fact if you have other wire halyards dump them also.

Any know what the date of this crossing was?

You once quoted that you were just as good as a other RU-vid sailor…I don’t think you should have said that….As much as you analyze the weather,that was the best weather window ….Seemed like the wind and swell was horrible…wow seemed like a bad passage

Why don’t you use your phone or a pad and use that for navigation….It makes life easier

You are drinking a Victoria