Jesse Takes On His Toughest Leg Yet: Land’s End to Wales | Sailing Vlog Ep. 3

This is the leg that tested Jesse the most. Ben had gone home, so for the first time it was just Jesse and Buster working the boat out for themselves. They slipped out of Salcombe at first light, found their rhythm with the sails, and tracked along that rugged Cornish coast. After a few days holed up in Falmouth waiting out the wind, they pushed on to Penzance and picked up Sam and Will for the big one: the long sail around Land’s End and up to Wales. Then Land’s End tested them. Coming up on the Longships lighthouse the waves were pounding, the wind was building, and the tide had turned against them. Jesse and the crew looked at each other, made the call, and went back to Penzance. As he put it, the sea respects no one. They went again. Second attempt, with what they’d learned: motor hard round the headland, then let the sails carry them downwind. This time they got round, and committed to one long hop straight for the Welsh coast. A hundred miles, dead downwind, with the main and genoa goose-winged out on either side. Fog, an oil tanker somewhere off to port, and then the moment of the trip. Dolphins lighting up the black water with phosphorescence through the night, and a minke whale in the afternoon. Two days after leaving Penzance, Jesse spotted land. Home waters. His first proper long passage as captain of La Vie En Rose, behind him. Scotland is next. I’m proud of how Jesse handled this one. He knew when to turn back, and he knew when to go again. Never Give Up. What’s in the video: •⁠ ⁠Setting off from Salcombe without Ben, just Jesse and Buster •⁠ ⁠Days waiting out the wind in Falmouth •⁠ ⁠Picking up Sam and Will in Penzance for the Land’s End run •⁠ ⁠Turned back by heavy seas at Land’s End •⁠ ⁠The second attempt, and finally getting round •⁠ ⁠A 100-mile downwind crossing to Wales, with dolphins and a minke whale •⁠ ⁠Reaching home waters as captain of La Vie En Rose COME SAY HI: Instagram: @jesse_grylls