La Balade de Jade · video

What this video covers

Jade and her crew spend a month at the marina in Papeete, Tahiti, to perform maintenance on their boat, Jade, including a complete overhaul of the autopilot system.3:53 Previously, the two hydraulic autopilots were interlinked, causing recurring electrical and data conflicts since Panama.4:59 The crew separates the systems into two independent units: one integrated with wind and depth instruments, and a second, standalone backup unit that operates solely on its own compass.4:26 After testing the configuration during a 20-mile passage to Moorea and then to Huahine, the crew confirms the independent pilots function correctly.5:58

While anchored at Huahine, the anchor chain becomes trapped under a rock in 25-knot winds, with the boat positioned near a reef.14:17 After failing to retrieve the anchor for three hours, the crew deploys a secondary anchor to hold the boat’s position.15:43 The captain uses a narguilé diving system to reach the seabed, where he manually excavates the rock to free a single jammed chain link.17:35 The crew decides to extend their stay in French Polynesia by one year, delaying their planned departure for Patagonia until late 2024.19:10

More from La Balade de Jade

Jade#53 - From the Strait of Magellan to the Beagle Channel: 50 knots of wind for the New Year!Mar 2026Jade#52 - GULF OF SORROWS, PUERTO EDEN: Patagonian anchorages are anything but restfulJan 2026Jade#51 - Towards the SAN RAFAEL GLACIER: we're navigating among our first icebergsDec 2025Jade#50 - CHILOÉ and the GULF OF ANCUD: the adventure resumes, the crew is trainingNov 2025

From La Balade de Jade — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

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