Nordhavn 43 Maiden Voyage / 500nm of Heavy Seas, New Ownership & Real Life at Sea / EP1

Join us on the maiden voyage of Suilven, our Nordhavn 43, as we take her on her first passage with me as the new owner—from Plymouth to Whitehaven, covering nearly 500 nautical miles. This offshore passage tested both boat and crew early, with heavy seas around the Lizard and Land’s End. With more severe weather approaching, we made the seamanlike decision to take shelter at Neyland Point Marina, Milford Haven, before continuing north once conditions improved. Crew members Nathan and Paul, both experienced in demanding Irish Sea passages, played a key role in safely managing this challenging voyage. This trip is a real-world look at Nordhavn passagemaking, heavy-weather decision-making, and what long-range trawlers are truly built for. This is not a lifestyle channel. This is real life at sea—raw, practical, and honest. If you’re interested in Nordhavn yachts, trawler yachts, long-range cruising, offshore passagemaking, and heavy weather seamanship, this channel is for you. A huge thank you to Nordhavn Europe for their outstanding support throughout this journey, and especially to Phil for his knowledge, patience, and hands-on assistance. His experience and dedication made a real difference as we took ownership and set off on Suilven’s maiden voyage. Nordhavn 43 Maiden Voyage: • 00:00:00 - Journey Begins: Train ride from NW England to Plymouth. • 00:00:55 - Arrival & Provisions: Picking up supplies and meeting Phil from Nordhavn HQ. • 00:01:47 - System Checks: Programming the helm and checking the 2008 Navnet systems. • 00:03:29 - Departure Delay: Waiting for spring tides to drop before exiting the marina. • 00:07:08 - Leaving Plymouth: Setting off and making the run for Milford Haven. • 00:11:37 - Heavy Seas at The Lizard: Navigating "evil" conditions and Atlantic swells. • 00:13:22 - Damage Assessment: Reporting an exploded shower door hinge after 40° rolls. • 00:16:31 - Marina Detour: Redirecting to Neyland Point Marina after a birth issue at Milford Haven. • 00:18:13 - Neyland Point Tour: Exploring the facilities, showers, and cafe. • 00:22:47 - Anchor Chain Maintenance: Untangling and flaking out the anchor chain. • 00:24:22 - Refueling: Dealing with expensive fuel prices before heading to Dale Anchorage. • 00:26:50 - Dale Anchorage: Dropping anchor and waiting for the right timing to head north. • 00:30:48 - The Irish Sea Leg: A 236-mile journey toward the Cumbrian coast. • 00:32:45 - "Fluffy" Conditions: Encountering force 5-7 winds and confused seas. • 00:37:02 - Autopilot Test: Testing how the boat handles beam seas during way-point turns. • 00:38:53 - Safe Arrival: Reaching White Haven Marina in the dark and rain. • 00:40:06 - Home at Last: Washing the boat and reuniting with family. Nordhavn Europe 🌐 https://www.nordhavneurope.com 📧 [email protected] A special thank you to Neyland Point Marina and all of the staff for such a genuinely warm welcome. An outstanding marina in a spectacular location—without doubt one of the best marinas I’ve visited. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to take shelter and regroup. Neyland Point Marina – Milford Haven 🌐 https://www.neylandpointmarina.co.uk 📧 [email protected] E Mail: Taylorsonthetide‪@gmail.com‬