Since you asked... MY experience with top down furling an A2 spinnaker: 1. PITA as a solo sailor 2. locking the furling line will NOT keep the sail from unfurling in big wind- the continuous line does not have enough friction to keep the drum from spinning 3. when unfurling use the furling line to unfurl- OTW if you only pull on the sheet the furling drum will wrap the loose furling line around itself 4. In low to moderate wind (6-10 kts) OK to hoist with genoa furled 5. when furling - have the TWA at about 160 with the main fully out. The kite will be collapsed mostly. Run the acitve sheet once around the winch and take it with you to in front of the mast. Keep some tension on the active sheet with your hand or foot while you furl it in. Watch the foot of the sail to notice when the tack has grabbed the sail and started furling it backwards. If you see this stop and unfurl some then try again. The mid girth will only furl in unison with the top when there is enough tension at the right angle. As soon as the sheet starts to turn around the torsion line stop furling- don't put multiple wraps of sheet around the torsion line- that will only make it harder to unfurl next time. As soon as it's furled release the halyard and drop the furled kite on to the deck ( before you bring in the tack) . OTW it will start to unfurl pretty quickly. 6. Gybing- not more difficult than conventionally hoisted kite. I prefer inside gybes- I turn down to 160 TWA and let the main out. - completely release the active sheet and pull quickly on the new sheet to bring the clew around the forestay . Once on the new side I head up to 140 TWA and adjust as needed. No worry of lines under the boat- the sprit prevents that. Outside gybing is also possible provided you have a short batten attached to the luff to catch the sheet. Timing is critical though- the gybe has to be initially fast after releasing the active sheet so the sail flies out in front then slow through the turn to have time to bring in the new sheet before the sail fills. Given all this as I stated previously I have gone back to no furlers on my A2 or A5 but bottom up continuous line furlers on my staysail and Code 0. The fixes for problems with conventionally hoisted A2 are easier than the fixes for partially or improperly furled kites with top down furler. I think some sailmakers are now offering specially cut gennakers which address some of the issues with top down furlers. another tip- tie a snatch block to the end of the continuous furling line with a bungee and fix so that there is always tension on the furling line

That was incredible Patrick! Thank you for keeping the viking spirit alive and well around the North Atlantic. I will copy you on that spinnaker technique. Ive done all the wrongs possible with that thing😅

A brave man goes to sea around Ireland in April in a 30ft boat. 👍

A man in his element, casually chuckling as he talks of increments of fear. Inspirational sailing, well done Patrick.

Pas de bikini ou de clickbait… Simplement magnifique et inspirant. Merci 👍🏻✌🏻🇨🇦

I obsoletely love your videos, especially your honesty and humor, I wish you'd put out more, but this is better than nothing. Safe sails sir.

Bikinis or not, yours is one of the best damn sailing channels around! Thank you, sir - an excellent episode!

Patrick, with your daughters is impossible to negotiate. They stole your heart ❤ Wiating to see your 2024 adventures I watched this episode twice. I love your boat and I learn a lot with your ‘lessons’. Please, keep educating us. WE WANT MORE !!! Merci beaucoup.

Congratulations, sir. What a great and sincere sailor you are. Don't worry for the lack of bikinis. We very much prefer to see you dressed with your weather clothes.

I felt an increment of fear just watching!

My Grandmother was the last person to leave the Blasket islands. Every book or video you see of the Blasket islands has the remains of her childhood home in it.

Yours are my favorite sailing videos. They really give me a sense of what it might be like to sail in open water. Thank you and stay safe.

Patrick you are spoiling us. Two videos in as many weeks. ❤

Hi, another very informative video , thank you Patrick , fair winds my friend .👍👍

This guy keeps getting younger.

Patrick, Always good to see a sailor going on, and always good and informative to hear your very abbreived and edited thoughts. Well done on the trip and harbours. Raining heavy here tonight but its a lovely sound.

I wonder if you know how important your videos are to many of us who are not on board with you? ALWAYS a fresh breeze when a new one is posted. Thank-you for taking the trouble to make them. BTW: I continue to enjoy your sly rock lyrics references. : )

You are a brave and adventurous man, Patrick. It is a pleasure to follow you!

Boat & Master performed at 100% ... well done Patrick...stay safe!

You sir, are an inspiration.

I like hearing a sailor speaking in favour of "little" boats! In today's world the advantage is also that smaller boats are more sustainable as well. Thanks a lot for your videos!

A skipper just like his boat : simple, efficient, elegant, inspiring. Period.

Another great video. Thank You!

Arguably THE BEST Sailing vlogger and genuine no faff/ proficient sailor anywhere on you tube

Thank you, amazing always!

“Increments of fear”! I love it

"Suffering cures all ailments, through tears or sweat, or going out to sea." Sir Patrick Laine

767th subscriber LIKE; 3,664th desktop phantom shipmate view - envious that you got to spend time in Ireland.

I love your sailing videos. I watch other sailors but there is something about the way you explain things; I just like it and almost feel like I am there even though I would be too much of a chicken to venture out onto the high seas as you casually do. Doug from almost landlocked Manitoba, Canada.

He waxes poetic . . . Love it

Thank you very much Mr. Laine for your instructive video. Cheers,

Btw, I enjoy your channel. Thanks for putting out the content.

Patrick Ep 60 and Ep 61 are your best to date in my humble opinion. La Rochelle to Ireland in one hit is a hell of an undertaking with all the traffic and lack of rest. I would have to break that one up into manageable passages. I don't think I've ever been far so soon after buying a new boat. Again ... not an easy thing to do. Talking about ideal lengths for the open ocean, Joshua Slocum decided that 38 feet was about right for the ocean. Close friends of mine who have circumnavigated the thick end of twice, did so first in a 30 foot boat. With that experience they decided on a 41 foot Koopmans 41. You would be hard pressed to find something better for making very long voyages. But she's just a tad bit hard work for us solo sailors. We need to remind folk that when the weather gets really severe the sea will toss anything about. Provided you're a cork you stand a chance. And again a reminder ... folk just can't think they can buy a boat and set off. It takes a lot of miles to become part of a good crew and a lot of miles and work to understand what is required to sail alone. It is no more skilled than being part of a crew but it is a completely different discipline. And it works for very few. So folks, don't be lured just because Patrick makes it look easy. Fair winds and stay safe. James

Patrick, just love the videos. Admittedly I’ve never sailed a day in my life and stumbled on this channel by accident, and I don’t actually know you. But as I approach 40 and think about where I want to be in 30 years or so (apologies if I’ve added a few years to your actual age) you’re an inspiration. You seem like a guy who has lived a fulfilling and interesting life and continues to keep the adventure alive (and yourself young in the process). Please keep it up, and “fair winds” as you nautical types seem to say to one another!

My wife and 11 year old son read "Alessia in Atlantis" together as a daily ritual before going to sleep -- they loved it! Full of imagination, twists and turns! They'll be happy to hear the sequel has arrived :-)

I love it when you quote poetry and song lyrics. Makes me feel terribly intellectual.

Sponsor of this episode: Love it 🙂🙂. Thx for your content.

Great episode. Enjoyed the explanation of your sails. Really like how bright and open the cabin is.

New inspiration because of you. Not sure what you're motivations are but seeing an..."Older gentleman", for lack of a better word, do what you just did, makes me reconsider a LOT of things.

Fabulous - thank you for taking us along Patrick!

Welcome to Ireland 🇮🇪, good episode. Thanks 📸 for sharing. ⛵️ Greetings from beautiful tropical paradise island Kauai 🏝 Hawaii

Nice to see you back Skipper. Safe journey. Great yacht btw

Refreshingly click-bait and titillation free, but great content - thank you Patrick!

Nice Crossing! On a 38-42ft sailboat, you can load more Chateauneuf du Pape ballast..😊

Glad you know what you’re doing - this sail, that sail, inside, outside ??? OMG - my brain hurts - always love your posts - would sure like to know what you do when you’re not sailing - be safe out there and look forward to your future posts 👍👏🌹

Glad to see your back ,Captain

Nicely done! Tip on the assymetric on the profurl spinex furler (I have the same for my A2) - add a longer extension line in between the sheets and the clew so that you can attach the sheets just before hoisting and not have them attached when in the sailbag . This way you can avoid the sheets from fouling (which always tends to happen if the stay attached when in storage). The longer extension line (ca 1.5m) will be enough to keep the sail neat when in the bag. This way you can leave the spinnaker sheets on deck prepared (attached to the pultpit) to be used when on passage if you want to avoid having to do that part of setting the sail when under way. Keep it up!

It is always nice to see your clips, because i like your gentle style, your humour and your choices for safe handling. Stay safe and always fair winds.

Elegantly making a hardcore adventure look like philosophical transportation. Excellent seamanship.

This is the second time i have watched this. Still in owe of your calm and collected manner in big seas and big breeze. We had an unforecast 41knts in the cyclades, it got to use 6 nm from our bad weather option. It took us 2 hours to sail into the wind. The sea state was 2-3m short and steep at 3 seconds period. Motoring was useless as the prop was getting so much air time. After this sail we felt a different connection with our boat for getting us through Safe and sound. I can only imagine getting acquainted with jenna in such conditions has set the scenes for a wonderful relationship. ⛵💨💨💨💨💨💨⛵💨👌

"But it's mostly about waves crashing over the bow..." 😂😂😂

A great passage, I love the way that you film and narrate, very down to earth and no made up drama for the clicks!

Love your passages. Great energy.

I saw that fin and thought “You’re going to need a bigger boat.”

Thanks for sharing Patrick!

Great vid. Love the real stuff! Regarding top down furler: the two sheets can get a different number of turns if not properly stored in the sail bag. What happens is that the head or tack inadvertently is allowed to go through a sheet thus adding or removing a wrap. Solution is simple: use a soft shackle to attach the sheets just prior to hoisting. I use 2 soft shackles, one on each sheet, but a single for both does work. Store the sheets in the sailbag if you want, but not attached. And restringing a single sheet while underway is a PITA. I suspect you will find two are easier to manage. When I race shorthanded, I always put the jib out. This prevents the spinnaker from wrapping around and getting tangled in the headstay. A top down furler only works on spinnakers without big shoulders. An A2 has a midgirth that is sometimes greater than the sail's foot length and therefore won't furl cleanly. An A3 can work as does the code 0, both of which should have midgirths at about 75% of the foot. I do both inside and outside gybes. For outside, just release the sheet and let it fly like a flag, turn the boat and when on the new heading, haul in on the other side. Inside gybes are easier if the jib is partially deployed (to prevent the aformentioned headstay wrap). Overall, a top down furler is a game changer when shorthanded sailing - once everthing is figured out on how to work with it, I suspect you will never want to go back to a sock. Keep those videos coming. You are an inspiration!

15:12 is the location and conditions required to see the legendary islamd of Hy-Brazil! Love the videos, beautiful sailing

Clever and hugely experienced skipper.

Very fine woolly sail…Patrick…good health to you. Thank you for your video.

Not the same confort as Isabelle but you look happy with a small plywood ship!! Courage

Patrick you are amazing Sir! As us Welsh would say ‘Un o’r Werin’ which is special, you are ‘One of the people’ you have the true love of what you do and do it so well. Always a pleasure to watch your incredible journeys. Diolch Cariad. Safe travels always, you are a true gentleman of the seas 🌊 😊

Fantastic, Patrick!

Patrick, I love to see your ocean crossings, I miss seeing the places you visit once you dock the ship even if it's just a quick glance where you dine or where you go once you get to port.... hahaha a little gossip The truth is that you inspire a lot ...

Hi Patrick your almost home after an epic journey.Tony in Galway still being inspired with your incredible tenacity Safe sailing my friend

Children are often more sensible than grownups when it comes to "recommended ages" (something publishers invented). I would venture to suggest that Nathalie's storytelling would be enjoyed outside that range, right up to grownup children.

Hola.... we don't need bikinis.... we enjoy your information and context as well as admiring your sailing skills and sense of adventure!

"increments of fear" I can relate. No use for the docking stick here :) Safe sailing...

You are amazing big man.Thank you very much.

Patrick, I generally sit down with glass of wine to relax and enjoy your videos. This time I'm exhausted just watching the amount of effort involved in furling and unfurling all that knitting. :) Great show.

Great to see your adventures

I had to laugh when you talked about the best length for ocean sailing and immediately followed with your current purchase of a 29 foot boat. That's a jet jockey for you! You and Eric are kindred spirits!

A brisk and lively sail! Glad to see that you found your weather window Patrick, that you've arrived safely, and that you're continuing to share online. Looks like your autopilot managed just fine as you were roaring along. Will be very interested to see what refinements/choice you make as you gain efficiency managing the RM. Fair winds, stay safe. Regards, Dave Syer.

Wonderful passage to witness. A chuckle meets the fear/ wave height index. 🇮🇪

Yes, agree with everything Gistavo said. I usually just used the main fully let out to ease the spinnaker in or out. Also full tension on the torsion line is paramount when furling or unfurling, just dont forget to loosen it afterwards so you get a natural shape for your spinakker. Enjoy, you will soon get the hang of it! I may have just bought a Slotta 30 myself. It is a Polish made boat with a swing keel. Wish me luck bringing it Hungary from Oslo, Norway...

Great video. Thank you!

Ssssooooooo glad your back. Still praying for you.

This is right up there with Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Hi Patrick - great viewing as always and we particularly enjoyed the assymetric sequence as we have been donated an old sail which we hope to use as a cruising chute. Your reasoning for the "sweet spot" size of a boat is very similar to our reasoning when we went looking for Salty Lass except we decided 36ft was best for us (even though she is really 37ft 4in :wink:)

your experiences keeping my spirits up, thank you

Love it Patrick. Well done 👍

Patrick watching your videos is always light, inspiring, rich and sooo cool. Merci, vraiment merci for sharing these with us. God bless

great sailing. Nice to see you back.

Really enjoy your travels and tales.. Thanks for sharing...

Great to see your steady hand back on the tiller Patrick

BZ , Skipper, Wow! No dilly-dallying, here she is, new vessel on a shakedowns cruise to ICELAND!! Thank you again for sharing this new adventure! Fair Winds

Great to seen another video Patrick. I really very much enjoy them and congratulations on the new boat! She looks beautiful and sporty. I wish to see many more videos. Fair winds and following seas.

Thanks for bringing us along. I love your videos. Thumbs up.

Your calm attitude makes that kind of weather almost gentle. Thanks for these!

Looks chilly🥶. Second sheet on the Code zero is nothing but a nuisance when you’re single handed. Definitely fit a cam cleat on the furling line. Don’t be tempted to leave the Code zero up when furled for long, take it down every time or the halyard will suffer. We’ll done

brilliant Patrick 😊

Wonderful Thank You

So happy to have your videos back! Your daughter's new book is on the way to my granddaughter, it will be there money. Polly enjoyed the first one, I am sure she will like this! Sail to Florida some day you can visit Patrick Airforce Base ... actually Space Force I think now.. your space coast fans can at least wave and buy you some Mad Dog 20 20!!! Lol!!

I am not into sailing but watch all of your videos, I find them bizarrely relaxing and very informative, thanks to your videos I know so many terms for a sport that I have never taken part in and probably could hold my own in a discussion on the technicalities of the sport.

A passage well sailed Captain. Thanks for sharing the truth of singlehanded ocean sailing. No bikini required with quality adventure like yours.

Wow what an episode. Three great quotes in one episode, Oh Captain Oh Captain, a Whitman take off my favorite. ALSO the “How to Sail Oceans” refference was a killer. I had no idea you watched my pal Boothby. He and I have crossed paths many times with joyious times had by all. One day sir I’d be honored to meet you and whatever your current boat is. Join us this summer in the Narragasett Bay. this was one of my top episodes ever, well done.

Hi Patrick, I’m sure that you already figured out the furler stuff but I’ll share my experiences just in case… I had a top down furler on my last boat. I ended up putting about a 1.5m piece of Dyneema between the sail and the sheets, it made it much easier to avoid the layering and same number of turns issue as I only furled up to the end of the Dyneema and not the sheets. I 100% agree that furling then gibing especially single handed is the safest easiest way to manage. We have a sock on the new boat, not sure yet wether we will stick with the sock or get another top down. Not sure if that’s helpful or not. So excited to be watching your adventures again! Flat sails and following seas Sir.

Yes, you should have negotiated the commission…Just ordered the second book. My granddaughter liked the first one very much. Thank you so much for these very inspirational videos. Cheers Patrick.

I have found the following fix for tangled up sheets: When rolling or unrolling the gennaker, I hold both sheets on the leeward side as if they were one. After I unroll the sail, I bring the lazy one around to do the gybes as needed with two seperate sheets on either side and before I roll the sail back in, I bring them together again and roll by holding them together, so that they wrap around the sail nicely as a twin line.

Sailing vicariously through your journey... Patrick, you are the epitome of the adventurous man. I want to be like you when I grow up, and I'm 64. :)

A great job captain 👏