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Pacific crossing on a Mason 63 (pt 1)

Be The Captain

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Refit, sea trial, cast off—and a 3,300-nautical-mile Pacific crossing begins.

In this episode, we set sail aboard Te Vega, a 1984 Mason 63 ketch, beginning a long offshore passage from Hawaii to California. You’ll see the refit work, sea trials, and the moment we finally cast off and commit to the open ocean.

This is the start of a multi-part series documenting what offshore sailing is really like—long days, real preparation, real decisions, and life aboard a serious bluewater monohull far from land. If you’re curious about offshore passagemaking, classic heavy-displacement boats, or what it actually takes to go the distance, this series is for you.

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🌊 WATCH THE FULL PACIFIC CROSSING SERIES
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▶️ Part 1: Pacific crossing on a Mason 63 (pt 1)
▶️ Part 2: Catch and cook: Mahi Mahi out to sea! (Pa...
▶️ Part 3: Final leg of a 3300 miles Pacific Crossing...
▶️ Part 4: Sailing in heavy weather & big waves 600 m...

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True stories from the sea — the rescues, the wrecks, and the choices that decide who comes home. You don't have to be a sailor to feel them. But if you are, they might change the way you feel about the water.

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📷 Archival photographs courtesy of press/public archives. If you hold the rights to any image used here and would like credit or removal, please contact captain@bethecaptain.com

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#Mason63 #PacificCrossing #OffshoreSailing #BoatRefit #SailingZingaro #BeTheCaptain

20 Comments

@BeTheCaptain Creator 3 years ago (edited) Pinned

⚓ Be The Captain (Free Worldwide Shipping This Week Only! + 10% off Defender & 20% off PredictWind):
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👇 There is nothing quite like the feel of a classic heavy-displacement boat offshore. Have you ever sailed on a Mason or similar heavy monohull? Let me know below!

@SailingCorina 6 years ago

I use to watch your videos and feel the sea calling me with a gut wrenching desire to be sailing. Now I am so thankful I got to spend 3 years at sea on my own boat and realize it's so much more of a difficult life than I could have imagined. I am now done with my journey at sea and ready to begin my journey by land. I'll enjoy watching your sea adventures James while remembering it's more difficult than it appears! Stay the awesome dude that you are!

@fredjones7705 5 years ago

Middle of the Pacific. "Hey guys I got a great idea. Let's take the stays off"...sheer genius.

@glennjames7107 5 months ago

As a side note on the engine. The Detroit 2 stroke diesel was designed and used as a marine diesel originally. It was originally Grey Marine before GM bought the design and started producing them under the name of Detroit Diesel.

@dacoach011 11 months ago

A little trick I learned from the RV building industry. At 16:38 you do the lick your finger to smooth the silicone sealant. If you've got a bottle of Windex on hand, spray it on your finger instead. You can wipe the whole line in under a second and have nothing stuck to your hand. Makes perfect seams.

@johndo3930 5 years ago

This must have been one off the nicest sailing vids I ever watched. No pretence just real sailing ...with real problems and real fun ..dubble thumps up..

@WayneDome-dm8iu 6 years ago

You can't just break into a fabulous dramatic adventure without telling us where ins Kimmi. It's like Laural and Hardy, Amos and Andy, Batman and Robin.

@thomasriddle9570 5 years ago

Man, this was awesome. As a total landlubber whose been looking to start sailing (looking for a dinghy or class), I’m blown away by how many skills it seems to take to go cruising. Diesel mechanic, electrician, etc

@ericswild 9 days ago

This is the best “go sailing” video I have seen yet!!

@Seriphai 1 year ago

I was a tugboater for 5 years and then made a career change. Watching your videos simultaneously makes me miss the water more AND less. The mariner life gets in your bones and its hard to shake.

My QoL is better now, but i think its time to build a sailboat and start taking the wife on water adventures.

@captainsalty9022 3 weeks ago

Mason Yachts were made in Taiwan for P.A.E. Who were based in Dana Point at that time and who later developed the Nordhaven line of trawlers with impecable timing as the boating market shifted from sailing to motor vessels.

@onekewlbraddah8460 6 years ago

For someone with no sailing experience I found this to be very educational Thanks!

@valds4549 5 years ago (edited)

I love it. Clean, good comments, good sense of humor, not cocky.

@grassibruno 6 years ago

James! Your vídeos are awesome! I know sometimes it’s a pain the film everything, all the time editing etc! But you really make a great job out of it! Not only for the editing but most important in terms of content!!! You make everyone happy here when a new video is uploaded!! Congrats amigo!!! Cheers from Brazil!!

@jorgemontefusco650 2 months ago

When you have an old boat and you keep working on problems, it sometimes is very close to polishing a turd.

@mrdavidurquhart 5 years ago

This video makes a welcome change from the usual sailing video that I get in my suggested list on YouTube

@craigme2583 6 years ago (edited)

Loved the technical instruction. It looks like the bigger your boat the smoother your ride. And fast

@larryhill7563 6 years ago

I am a carpenter and do a bunch of calking and i use windex and that works better than licking your finger if you are doing a lot of calking.

@garrettroberts7937 1 year ago

I loved every bit of this episode. Finally, some sailing. I watch all sorts of sailing channels and rarely ever do i actually get to see sailing. 🙏🏻

@edou8sum253 6 years ago

Now I know who to contact when I need lessons in regards to sailing on the big blue ocean. I really enjoy how you interact and guide the audience with what is happening. Thanks.