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Boat Launch FAILS & HUGE Waves | Our Worst Day On the Water

Chris Gets Out Boating

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Join us on a dramatic UK boating adventure in The Solent that starts with a complete boat launch disaster! Our weekend trip from Northney Marina, Hayling Island, takes a terrifying turn when we get our boat stuck on the trailer on a steep, windy slipway. 😱

After the stressful launch, we head out into Chichester Harbour to explore the historic and abandoned Horse Sands Fort. But the adventure doesn't stop there! We face the roughest sea conditions we've ever experienced, battling huge, choppy waves while crossing the Chichester Bar. See how our boat handles the challenging water and witness our first time anchoring at the beautiful East Head.

This boat camping vlog is packed with highs and lows, from the chaos on the slipway to the stunning views of the Solent forts and the peaceful (and rainy!) moments at anchor. If you enjoy boat life, adventures, and seeing how things can go wrong (and how to recover!), this is the video for you.

Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more boating adventures!

00:00 - Calm Before The Storm
01:17 - Preparing For Launch
03:13 - Boat Launch DISASTER: Stuck on the Trailer!
04:34 - Strong Winds Cause More Chaos
05:19 - What Went Wrong? (Steep Slipway Problems)
08:39 - A Well-Deserved Pub Dinner
11:55 - A Peaceful Evening at Northney Marina
13:55 - The Plan: Boating to East Head & The Solent Forts
17:04 - Morning Boat Camping Routine
24:56 - Crossing the Chichester Bar: The Sea Gets ROUGH
31:10 - Exploring the Abandoned Horse Sands Fort
33:37 - The TERRIFYING Trip Back in HUGE Waves
38:46 - Handling The Roughest Conditions We've Ever Faced
39:42 - First Time Anchoring This Boat at East Head
43:29 - Mayday Call & A Sudden Downpour!
48:53 - Boating Lessons & Final Thoughts

20 Comments

@Costas_I 1 year ago

Hi Chris and Sonia. I actually first watched this vid a few days ago and started watching a few of your previous vids. As an entry level boater myself your channel is a breath of fresh air for us who are just starting and I'm grateful to you guys for taking the time to make these vids. I'll no doubt be binge watching all your vids at some point. It's still relatively early days with your channel but I feel confident it will grow. More power to you both and continue with the awesome content.

@jonathanseamons6623 9 months ago

You 2 are great. This is the reality of " New boaters" and you show it like it is. Thank you and keep it up .

@andystevens3865 1 year ago

Just found this video. You seem a lovely couple. Thank you for taking us out with you. I can wait to get my sea legs.

@bindatek8801 1 year ago

I did not see you washing the sailing jackets in fresh water, always a good practice, as is hosing the boat down, the salt "water" is no problem but the dried salt is. Remember if you get sick on the boat, sit facing aft, the sickness subsides very quickly. Your fenders need to come off as soon as you leave the harbour, those ropes are a trip hazard, if you have to go forward. The boat is very seaworthy, probably more so than yourselves, and you keep the hatch shut, that is good. Also run you bilge or cockpit pump if you take a real big greeny. Good luck with your boating, a nice video too. Get a light weight dinghy or even car inner tubes with an electric pump as a life boat. John

@Steve-Cross 1 year ago (edited)

The most common collective noun for a group of seals is a herd or pod. Other collective terms used to describe a group of seals are rookery, bob, harem, and colony. And now you know. Enjoyed the trip out with you both. 😎👍

@colinpowell5471 11 months ago

Great video
We had a boat like yours , but because you are open to the elements we decided to get a boat with a cabin

@stephenadams9767 1 year ago

when its choppy seas go full speed so you get a smoother ride, you will skip over the waves, also when you going to portsmouth from northney better to go via langstone harbour, you can go flat out then just slow down when you go pass harbour board office and ferry pontoons,

@WaggiesCruising 1 year ago

I’ve just found your channel and I’m starting to catch up with your videos. Love the content as it’s on par with mine. Keep it up !

@datatype 9 months ago

No mention of the submarine barrier... a line of concrete blocks running from Horse Sands Fort to the shore. At low tide these are just below the surface. There are two crossing gaps marked by Port and Starbourd marks one about halfway and the other close to shore. If you went around the fort you went over or between the concrete blocks. Please, anyone watching this video don't do this you could wreck your engine or worse, sink the boat.

@mervynbevis3529 1 year ago

Hi there
I thought I recognised where you were heading as you were driving.
I used to keep my powerboat there along with my mates powerboat
I consider this marina one of the best around as you can launch and recover at low tide.
We don't have boats anymore but I really do miss it.
Happy cruising Merv

@SouthCoastDronesUK 1 year ago

Great video new subscriber here 🙂

@wanderdowndave3778 1 year ago

👌👍

@philfromsalisbury4538 1 year ago

My first ever boat I bought about 40 years ago was a Plancraft Sabre with an old 70 HP Evinrude antique on the back, costing £900

First launch we ever did was at Old Porstmouth to then go wave jumping around the Forts , it was a good deep V Hull

I have owned some sheds in my time , used to regularly take a really old Microplus 16 River boat with crappy Mariner 40 ( yamaha ) out night fishing to the Nab Tower and the needles , that Hull slammed and flexed so much its a wonder we didn't crack the Hull

Then had a 4mtr £500 searider rib with 80's outboard , took that out to the Nab n Needles also

Had loads of boats since, used to buy n sell them and service them

Expensive hobby , the most expensive pint you can buy

@richardhands-heart3476 1 year ago

No your first mistake was putting the fenders on the wrong side 😊

@theseabasshunteruk 9 months ago

The other fort is spit bank fort

@michaelnewby7597 1 year ago

Oh dear you call those huge waves and rough 🙂🙂 Suggest you look at weather forecasts before you go anywhere as you have a lot to learn mate

@RichardAllen-o6v 1 year ago (edited)

Hi Chris, i sail the solent regularly and thought how lovely and calm it looked! As you are new to boating, have you thought about getting some training such as RYA level 2 powerboat. This would teach you how to control your boat effectively. If you are going furtger afield the Solent gets really busy and congested and some theory training would help particularly basic navigation and collission regs. Enjoy boating, it is an amazing passt8me!

@PeterMartin-l4l 1 year ago (edited)

That's what you cal a harty breakfast.

@protect_the_wild 1 year ago (edited)

Hiya Chris Can I ask how you found towing at the beginning? Having never towed anything I will probably need to tow my new boat back from Essex to Hampshire next week! Really enjoying the content.