The Sailing Brothers · video

What this video covers

A 300-nautical-mile passage from New Plymouth to Spirits Bay, New Zealand, requires navigating the exposed west coast of the North Island, a stretch characterized by a lack of safe harbors and significant Tasman Sea swells.6:31 The crew of the vessel *Atlas* prepares for the transit by provisioning and performing maintenance in New Plymouth before departing into a forecast of gale-force gusts and 4-meter seas.8:00 During the passage, the crew encounters 25-knot winds and consistent, heavy rolling caused by large swells hitting the beam.12:35 They employ a two-hour night watch rotation and experiment with sail configurations, including a wing-on-wing setup, to manage the motion and maintain speed.15:18 Despite the uncomfortable, rocky conditions and the absence of shelter along the route, the vessel maintains a steady pace toward the northern tip of the island.16:45 The crew relies on downwind sailing tactics to mitigate the impact of the low-pressure system driving the weather.8:29

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