If there's one job I hate, it's climbing the mast. Unfortunately I don't have anyone to delegate this job to, so every now and then it just has to be done! Here's how I do it, unaided and with cheap equipment, but employing a very safe method 0:00 Intro 01:36 The kit and equipment 02:16 Getting into the Climbing Harness 03:36 Organising the safety line 04:00 Fitting the ascenders to the line 06:06 Going up! 06:57 Checking the rigging on the way up 08:40 Arrival at the top 09:33 Getting the tools and changing the antenna 11:51 Removing the faulty masthead lamp 12:46 Sending the tools back down 13:43 Getting down from here.. 16:21 Checking the new antenna works with radio and AIS More maintenance videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCvVhEwq-eYjpzrvGqRcRzWeawSvuNob Jester '25 playlist is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCvVhEwq-ebINsWIXC8RV92KwNZ4EBP0 Different ways to support this channel: 1. Like the video! (free) and comment if you feel inspired (free) 2. Subscribe (free) and click the bell (free) so you know when there's a new video 3. Become a member (cheap as chips)(actually cheaper than chips)(that's fries if you're viewing from the US) and get personal access, plus early views of new uploads, and my eternal gratitude for your support 🙂 : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join 4. Give me a 1 off donation via the 'Thanks' link under the video Thank you! Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26 A big thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the music!

Exciting moments right at the end of the trip home from the Jester Challenge 2025. First we run aground unexpectedly in sight of the Cardiff Barrage, then a fellow sailor loses control in the Barrage lock and collides with Green Tambourine! All is well in the end and we finally arrive back at our mooring.. 0:00 The wind dies away as we take on the Bristol Channel 01:36 We have to use the engine! 02:33 Tide turns in our favour as we near Cardiff 03:33 Approaching Lavernock Point 04:13 We are aground! 05:38 Into the Barrage waiting are 06:34 Entering the Barrage Lock 09:17 Leaving the lock and into Cardiff Bay 10:24 Picking up our mooring 11:31 Discussing the grounding and in lock collision.. Jester '25 playlist is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCvVhEwq-ebINsWIXC8RV92KwNZ4EBP0 Different ways to support this channel: 1. Like the video! (free) and comment if you feel inspired (free) 2. Subscribe (free) and click the bell (free) so you know when there's a new video 3. Become a member (cheap as chips)(actually cheaper than chips)(that's fries if you're viewing from the US) and get personal access, plus early views of new uploads, and my eternal gratitude for your support 🙂 : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join 4. Give me a 1 off donation via the 'Thanks' link under the video Thank you! Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26 A big thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the music! Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

Sailing home after the Jester Challenge '25, day 2 brings some exciting moments 00:00 Intro 00:30 Report on strong winds in the night 01:37 Looking for the sun with the sextant 02:47 I almost see the sun 03:19 Trying again 04:37 More frustration! 04:50 AIS alarm - collision imminent! 05:24 Spotting the ship 07:20 Ship takes avoiding action 08:37 Discussion of the benefits of AIS 08:45 We spot the sun! 10:00 sextant FAIL! 10:58 Dinner Time 11:30 Review of the day's sailing 12:34 checking out the charts and the progress so far See the cooking video with full recipe here: https://youtu.be/yj4bgbJf3WQ Jester '25 playlist is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCvVhEwq-ebINsWIXC8RV92KwNZ4EBP0 Different ways to support this channel: 1. Like the video! (free) and comment if you feel inspired (free) 2. Subscribe (free) and click the bell (free) so you know when there's a new video 3. Become a member (cheap as chips)(actually cheaper than chips)(that's fries if you're viewing from the US) and get personal access, plus early views of new uploads, and my eternal gratitude for your support 🙂 : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join 4. Give me a 1 off donation via the 'Thanks' link under the video Thank you! Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26 A big thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the music! Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

The Jester Challenge to Baltimore is over, and now it's time to sail home. Here is the first part of the journey, where we get the rare treat of favourable wind; but this too brings its own challenges as the wind picks up to 25 knots and beyond 00:00 Intro & leaving Baltimore harbour 01:30 Into the open sea and raising some sail 02:20 Setting the Wind Vane steering 04:30 Dead downwind with sails goose-winged 05:40 Seasick! 06:20 speeding along at hull speed 07:09 Wind is backing, time to gibe the genoa and relocate the pole 12:14 Wind coming up, time to reduce sail 15:19 Review of the day on the chart plotter Different ways to support this channel: 1. Like the video! (free) and comment if you feel inspired (free) 2. Subscribe (free) and click the bell (free) so you know when there's a new video 3. Become a member (cheap as chips)(actually cheaper than chips)(that's fries if you're viewing from the US) and get personal access, plus early views of new uploads, and my eternal gratitude for your support 🙂 : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join 4. Give me a 1 off donation via the 'Thanks' link under the video Jester '25 playlist is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCvVhEwq-ebINsWIXC8RV92KwNZ4EBP0 Thank you! Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26 A big thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the music! Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

Cooking on a boat... not always easy, so I share some of my best recipes, ideas and methods for producing really good food at sea This is a guaranteed winner with everybody, believe me, you cant go wrong with this, afloat or ashore. Make your name as a chef and cook this! Lots more cooking videos and tips here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCvVhEwq-eah63JOpDimuvptAd8C2O5j Ingredients: ~1 tablespoon of (olive) oil 1 onion 6 cloves of garlic 2 heaped teaspoons ground almonds 2 heaped teaspoons garam masala 1 heaped teaspoon ground coriander 1 heaped teaspoon turmeric ½ teaspoon of hot chilli powder (more or less to taste) 2-3cm cube of ginger or 1 tsp ginger powder 1 tin Chick peas 1 tin Chopped tomatoes 1 stock cube (if available) 0:00 Introduction 0:43 Add oil to the pan 0:59 Peel and chop an onion 4:04 Prepare the garlic 6:00 Mix the spices, grate the ginger 12:37 add the spice mix to the pan 13:44 add chick peas, chopped tomatoes and stock cube 16:58 Time to test and enjoy! 19:00 A useful afterthought.. I do hope you enjoy watching this video and making the meal, I really think you will love it! Let me know what you think in the comments and do 'LIKE' if you do... Different ways to support this channel: 1. Like the video! (free) and comment if you feel inspired (free) 2. Subscribe (free) and click the bell (free) so you know when there's a new video 3. Become a member (cheap as chips)(actually cheaper than chips) and get personal access, plus early views of new uploads, and my eternal gratitude for your support 🙂 , here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join 4. Give me a 1 off donation via the thanks button under the video Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

The Prussic knot is a very useful knot for climbing something like a mast. It locks when you put pressure on the loop, but runs free when the pressure is removed. 2 of these can help you easily ascend a rope without any further hardware.. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

The Jester Challenge 2025 solo single handed sailing event part 4.. It's Thursday, and at last the wind has arrived and its coming (for now) from a useful direction! 00:00 On the way to Fastnet! 00:53 First view of the famous Rock 02:19 Taking down the spinnaker pole 04:20 Removing the main preventer and hardening up the course to circle the rock 05:36 Adjusting course and letting out some Genoa 07:00 Now seeing the Rock from the northern side 07:38 Setting course for Cape Clear 10:20 Beating upwind towards Baltimore 11:08 Approaching the entrance to Baltimore Harbour 13:20 Crossing the finishing line! 14:55 Heading into harbour 16:24 Review of the Challenge 16:59 Moored up in the harbour Other videos in the Jester 25 series: Part 1: https://youtu.be/Yxqw-UhJ2A8 Part 2: https://youtu.be/zdvi_n88cV4 Part 3: https://youtu.be/IADVqrsw940 Different ways to support this channel: 1. Like the video! (free) and comment if you feel inspired (free) 2. Subscribe (free) and click the bell (free) so you know when there's a new video 3. Become a member (cheap as chips)(actually cheaper than chips) and get personal access, plus early views of new uploads, and my eternal gratitude for your support 🙂 : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join 4. Give me a 1 off donation via the thanks link under the video Jester '25 playlist is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCvVhEwq-ebINsWIXC8RV92KwNZ4EBP0 Thank you! Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26 A big thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the music!

The Jester Challenge 2025 solo single handed sailing event part 3.. We are into Wednesday, the third day of the challenge. My wondering at not seeing any vessels on the AIS or hearing any VHF radio from the coastguards leads me to look up and notice the antenna is gone! Removing the mainsail reefs single handed in calm weather, cooking as usual and being patient with the extended calms... 00:00 Wednesday morning, the wind has dropped 01:15 Shaking out 2 reefs single handed in the calm 07:36 VHF Radio antenna is missing! 08:39 Emergency antenna found 11:00 AIS working again 11:46 Glassy Calm but a little wind arrives... 13:34 The wind is gone again, what can be done? 15:15 Wind tantalises 17:25 New optimism on Thursday morning as the wind fills in - heading for Fastnet! Other videos in the Jester 25 series: Part 1: https://youtu.be/Yxqw-UhJ2A8 Part 2: https://youtu.be/zdvi_n88cV4 Different ways to support this channel: 1. Like the video! (free) 2. Subscribe (free) and click the bell (free) so you know when there's a new video 3. Become a member (cheap as chips)(actually cheaper than chips) and get personal access, plus early views of new uploads, and my eternal gratitude for your support 🙂 : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Jester '25 playlist is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCvVhEwq-ebINsWIXC8RV92KwNZ4EBP0 Thank you! Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26 A big thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the music!

The Jester Challenge 2025 solo single handed sailing event continues.. Part 1, if you haven't seen it, is here: https://youtu.be/Yxqw-UhJ2A8 This part covers the Monday and Tuesday of the challenge; as we arrive towards the coast of Ireland, the wind dictates that we take a long tack around the traffic separation scheme... finally the wind eases and all is peace... but not going anywhere! 00:00 Monday morning report, a misty start to the day 02:12 Afternoon, beating into the wind 03:19 Review of the course so far and the effect of tides on the chart plotter, 07:12 Bumpy with wind over tide 09:16 Course planning for the TSS 11:01 Tuesday morning, the water leak scare! 13:34 The wind strength is reducing at last 15:36 Irish coast in sight! 16:40 Tacking the boat single handed using the wind vane steering 18:45 Becalmed at night Different ways to support this channel: 1. Like the video! (free) 2. Subscribe (free) and click the bell (free) so you know when there's a new video 3. Become a member (cheap as chips)(actually cheaper than chips) and get personal access, plus early views of new uploads, and my eternal gratitude for your support 🙂 : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Jester '25 playlist is here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCvVhEwq-ebINsWIXC8RV92KwNZ4EBP0 Thank you! Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

At last I arrive at the start of the Jester Challenge 2025 from the Pwllheli start point. In this first part we cover the start, trying to keep up with the other boats, and working through the first night. 00:00 Leaving the fuel dock 03:24 The pre start 04:28 Crossing the start line 07:14 Everybody else sails faster... why? 10:26 Chart analysis of the situation 11:23 Problem with the log 14:36 Moonrise at night 15:28 Watching the other Jesters on AIS 16:40 Trimming the sails at night This is just the first part of several covering this year's Jester Challenge, look out for the rest of the series coming up soon an this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZCvVhEwq-ebINsWIXC8RV92KwNZ4EBP0 Bread making video is here: https://youtu.be/2dak6P3dTo4 I hope you enjoy this video enough to like it and subscribe to my channel so you keep up to date with the Ancient Mariner! If you really like it, please become a channel member and support my sailing project: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the intro/outro music Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

The Jester Challenge for solo sailors in small boats 2025 My second attempt to get to the start after being foiled by bad weather. Now there is only time and suitable conditions to get to the alternate start point at Pwllheli, North Wales. This video goes into more detail of navigation and dealing with the unexpected things that will always crop up on a passage, I hope you enjoy it! Do let me knwo in the comments what you think.. 00:00 Intro 02:41 Leaving Cardiff Barrage 05:14 Troubleshooting a furling gear jamming problem 09:25 Poling out the Genoa 12:26 Signs of bad weather to come 14:42 Engine off and sailing at last! 15:38 Reefing at night as the weather deteriorates 19:50 Riding the tide through Ramsey Sound 22:30 Grey Welsh weather 24:35 The wind arrives again 25:46 Another way to pole out the Genoa 27:09 Report on the arrival Do like and subscribe! Its free to do and it makes a huge difference to me, thanks 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the intro/outro music Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

In this episode I leave Cardiff Bay. Time is running short and I have to take this chance to get to Plymouth for the start of the event. Never sail to a timetable is the 101 of sailing. That's exactly what I'm doing here; does it work out? Well, the thumbnail gives the clue! 00:00 Intro and Weather 02:36 Through the Cardiff Barrage 03:57 Raising the sails 04:39 Sailing in the mist 07:05 The mist lifts and the wind picks up 08:11 The wind gets strong 09:55 The decision to return 10:43 The return and night sail into Cardiff 15:52 Analysis of the track sailed To see what happens next why not subscribe and allow notifications so you don't miss out? If you join this channel it gives me a massive help in producing these videos and bringing them to you https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

Leaving a trot mooring without using the engine, then sailing back and returning to it, again without engine assistance Sometimes, the conditions are just right for not using the engine at all when leaving or returning to a mooring, in this video we do just that, so uch quiter and more natural without the engine banging away! I hope you like this video, please share it with anyone you think might be amused.. Do also like it, if you do, and subscribe to my channel. These things really help small creators like me and cost you nothing! Join this channel to support my work here, its a bargain: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Big thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the intro and outro music 🙂 Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

I pick up a mooring in Cardiff Bay single handed and once again include a classic error in the planning stage which leads to an embarrassing moment - happily saved by other sailors nearby Lots more how to recover from a mistake videos coming up, especially for solo sailors! I hope you like this video, please share with anyone you think might be amused.. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Big thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the intro and outro music 🙂 Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

How to leave the dock as a single handed sailor, complete with a classic mistake and what to do next. And a bonus bit as I try out a brand new Genoa for the first time Lots more how to recover from a mistake videos coming up, especially for solo sailors! Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Or like and share, as they all ask you to, it's free and really helps! Big thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the intro and outro music 🙂 Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

Finally the winter projects in the boat yard are complete, and today is the day to get Green Tambourine put back in the water. The process was not as simple as it might have been! Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

Getting a 1970 Contessa 26 sailing boat ready for launch after the winter layover. Lots of things to look at today: *Checking the hull and discussing osmosis *My thoughts on winterising your engine *Seacock checking and servicing Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Many thanks to @miceinamatchbox for the continued use of their music Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

The winter jobs are drawing to their close and its time to get the copper coat antifoul sorted out for the coming season.. Some patches had come loose and basically fallen off, but there were a number of pinholes too which were a bit more worrying as stuff was weeping out form them... so there must have bee water getting in too which no doubt accounts for the slight blistering seen on the underside... might have to consider epoxying the whole hull... not this year though, it's nearly time to go sailing! Thos old tufnol winches are still working well, but could do with some new (better?) ratchet pawls, so if you know of any do let me know! Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

Fixing leaking windows on a Contessa 26. Endless wet boat interior forced me to tackle the problem. In this second and final part we clean off the windows before sending them off to the excellent Eagle Boat Windows (https://www.eagleboatwindows.co.uk) for refurbishment and then tackle the job of getting it all back together. The sealing tape used is a double sided butyl tape: https://www.arbo.co.uk/products/preformed-mastic-strips/arboseal-gz-tape Part 1, removal, is covered here: https://youtu.be/L-0A9d9Omg0?si=55DyZ9MexNBjhcdn If you enjoy this video, please consider supporting these videos by joining my channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join And Check out lots more mainly solo sailing adventures in the Contessa 26 here: https://www.youtube.com/@contessa26-jim/videos Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26

Leaky windows on a Contessa 26. A short series on my task of sorting out leaking boat windows, which have been making life uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous at sea. In this first part I am removing the windows from the boat before sending them away to be refurbished. This can be a job which varies from pretty easy to virtually impossible. When I started I had no idea how hard it was going to be, check out the video here to see how it went! Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCzx7NtTAcr9s2C3CJiv7w/join Sailing a 1970 Contessa 26