Me too :-) Mostly from KZfaq's audio library. I am a musician and maybe that helps. I do find some videos on KZfaq have the most inappropriate music. Yours are quite good, though I thought one on the last video was a bit loud, difficult to hear you talking over it, but they are very similar to mine. I think we have similar tastes :-)

Hi Ken, good to have you along. Oh dear that song. I knocked it up in about 20 minutes, all those years ago and it developed a life of its own.

Thanks for the compliment Jarle. It was a memorable trip. I'm already looking forward to more great sails next year. Best wishes to you too .. Dave

My pleasure Richard, it's nice to know there are people out there who enjoy them, the videos.

Ha! I know just what you mean, am on my second pint of my go-to IPA!

Hi Sal, I felt like a ten year old at Christmas when the Dolphins turned up. It had a really surprising effect on me. You're never going to let me forget that little episode off Calshot spit are you. Having said that I'll never forget it either. Take Care - Dave

@@davesailing It is one of unforgettable episodes in my life story! xx

Thank you for watching Chris, always a pleasure to hear from you 😀

Hi Chris, Glad you enjoyed it. The trip across Lyme Bay was tiring but the Dolphins made it for me :-)

Glad you enjoyed it Edward. I wasn't sure if the Dolphin sequence was a bit long, but I couldn't bear to cut any of them out of it :-)

@@davesailing I know what you mean, and video editing can be a ruthless business. What you might think is entertaining may not be so to the viewing public who are known to have a short attention span. But in this case I certainly enjoyed watching those lovely creatures as you crossed Lyme Bay. Great!

Hi Anna, first, thanks for subscribing and I'm so glad that you enjoyed the videos. You're in the perfect place to learn how to pick up a buoy, there's lots in Plymouth :-) so you will be able to practice before you start on your epic trip. The difficult ones are the ones with just a ring and I got myself into all sorts of scrapes picking up those. Easy enough to get hold of the thing with the boat hook but getting a rope through the ring from the deck - oh dear I did struggle. I'll be going down to the boat soon and though I can't sail anywhere I can still motor around Portsmouth harbour and find a few buoys to pick up. I'll get Bill to come with me and be camera man and maybe do a video, just about mooring and picking up buoys. You can email me - the address is on the "About" tab of my channel. I'd like to know about your boat and when you're thinking coming to the Solent. Dave

Thanks Stuart, glad you enjoyed it. Yes the rolly bits can be hard work can't they. At one stage I was sitting on the helmsman's seat with each hand grasping the backstays. All's well that ends well Eh. I'd happily do it again 🙂

I thought I was very lucky and thought it was probably because nobody else seemed to be sailing across that day. But when I got back to Gosport and got chatting to another yachty, he said, "Oh yes I see them every time I cross the Bay.". Nevertheless I still think it was a privilege to have them along for so long.

Glad you found the video useful..it was a real fun trip. The antenna is for the Navtex receiver. A bit redundant now-a-days. My vhf antenna is at the top of the mast. And works well:-) I hope your trip goes well, have fun. Best wishes ... Dave

Hi Graham, I'm 78 this year. I do find I'm not as strong as I was but I'm reasonably fit and agile, though my knees do ache after a few days of sailing. I don't push myself too hard, avoid overnight passages and my trips consist of harbour hops, especially when I'm single handed. That way I reduce the risks - well I think I do. I did a lot of sailing when I was in my 20's and 30's so I didn't buy Zephyr IV without some experience. So if you are still fit and well 61 doesn't sound old at all, but if you're very overweight and with a dodgy heart, take up golf rather than sailing. Where are you Graham ?

@@davesailing Thankyou for replying, it really is appreciated. Without going into detail my health is not that fantastic, however you do inspire me especially at your age and sailing single handed. Ill be in touch from time to time to ask some advice. Heres wishing you Safe, peaceful sailing. All the best.

Always be pleased to hear from you Graham.. BTW I'm a cancer survivor so every day counts.

@@davesailing I am in my mid 60s on my second replacement knew a replacement of a replacement from getting brocken when I was adventure training try it I am sure you will be fine

Yes very sad, especially as they aren't fish, they are mammals. Such a joy to have them round the boat for so long, quite lifted my spirits.

I could have clipped on but to be honest I was pretty tired by then and didn't feel that confident. If it had been an emergency then the adrenalin would have kicked in and I would have gone. All about risk reward ratio I suppose. I sort of regret it now but I guess there will be other times.

@@davesailing There'll be no shortage of other times, for sure. They seek us out, I think.