Wrong Line! Final Prep Begins: Fixing our Main Sail Before we Explore the World by Sailboat Ep 116

Hi and welcome aboard @SailingAstridTheWombat We are Gav and Shezz and two and a half years ago we bought our Beneteau Oceanis 430 sailboat with absolutely no sailing experience and jumped straight into the deep end of liveaboard sailing. Our very first passage was just over 700 nautical miles, launching us headfirst into the world of bluewater cruising, learning to sail, and real life at sea. Since that moment, we’ve been fully immersed in boat life, documenting the journey of turning a production cruising sailboat into a capable, self-sufficient home as we prepare for full-time liveaboard life. From major sailboat upgrades and off-grid power systems to everyday maintenance and skills building, we’re learning what it truly takes to own, sail, and live on a boat while working toward our goal of sailing around the world. If you’re into sailing adventures, beginner sailing, sailboat ownership, cruising lifestyle, and traveling the world by sailboat, our journey is all about real-time learning, ocean freedom, and building the confidence to chase long-term world cruising under sail. Join us for another episode of liveaboard sailing life as we tackle essential boat maintenance and celebrate a special milestone on the water! In this episode, we fix an issue with our mainsail setup by replacing the mainsail line (halyard) after discovering it was the incorrect diameter—something that can seriously impact performance, safety, and ease of handling onboard. With just six weeks to go before we cast off and begin sailing around the world, every job counts as we get the boat ready for full-time cruising. We also take part in a traditional boat renaming ceremony with friends, combining practical sailing life with meaningful maritime tradition. If you're into sailing around the world, liveaboard lifestyle, or learning the realities of sailboat maintenance, this video is packed with hands-on insights. Using the wrong line diameter can cause friction, slipping, and unnecessary wear, so we walk you through why we made the change, what we replaced it with, and how this simple fix improves our sailing setup. This is the kind of real-world problem-solving every sailboat owner, beginner sailor, and cruising sailor will face—especially when preparing for offshore sailing or bluewater cruising. With departure day fast approaching, we’re deep into the final stages of preparation—dialling in systems, upgrading gear, and making sure everything is ready for life off-grid at sea. If you’ve ever dreamed of leaving the dock behind and embracing slow travel by sailboat, this is what it really looks like in the lead-up to a big adventure. But it’s not all maintenance! We also join our friends for a traditional boat renaming ceremony, a time-honoured ritual believed to bring good luck and safe passage. From removing the old name to celebrating the new one, this is a great look into the culture and superstition that’s still very much alive in the sailing community. Our channel is all about liveaboard sailing adventures, off-grid sailing life, and the journey toward sailing full-time around the world. We share everything from boat projects and upgrades to unforgettable moments at anchor. This episode is perfect for: Beginner sailors learning boat systems and upgrades Sailboat owners troubleshooting rigging issues Anyone interested in sailing vlogs, boat life, and travel by sea Those dreaming of a liveaboard sailing lifestyle Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe as we count down the final weeks before we set sail! You can also become part of our crew over at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/sailingastridthewombat/posts Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:26 Boat Party Aftermath 02:37 In the Tender 03:12 Beautiful Sailboat 04:30 Replacing the Line 04:54 Sewing Awl 05:37 Measuring the Line 06:35 Rope Cutting 10:14 Sailboat Water Tanks 10:36 Naming a Sailboat 13:13 Sailing Questions With Gav Please leave a comment, like and subscribe to follow our journey. Join us now as we settle into liveaboard life and get our boat ready to take off and sail around the world. As new sailors we want to share all of our learnings and keep it real in our videos. We want to show step by step what it takes to choose a boat, buy the boat and learn how to sail. Our sailing learning curve is steep so come along with us as we learn and grow as liveaboard sailors. We promise you will have a laugh! Welcome aboard Astrid The Wombat Gav and Shezz You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook: Sailing Astrid the Wombat #sailing #liveaboard #sailingaustralia #sailingadventures #sailboat