59° North Sailing · video

What this video covers

A 65-foot sailboat successfully located a drifting, uncrewed vessel off the coast of Barbados using marine radar after the smaller boat dragged its anchor and drifted out to sea.5:23 The owner of the Danish-flagged X-46 had left the boat anchored in a steep, rocky shelf area while the family was ashore. When the crew of the 65-foot boat realized the vessel was missing, they initiated a search in low-visibility, hazy conditions. Because the drifting boat had no AIS signal and no lights, visual spotting proved impossible. The searchers activated their radar and identified a target approximately six miles away, moving at 1.5 knots. By utilizing ARPA (Automated Radar Plotting Aid) to lock onto the target, they confirmed its course and speed, allowing them to intercept the drifting boat before nightfall. The incident highlights the necessity of maintaining an active AIS transponder and anchor watch, even when a vessel is left in a seemingly secure anchorage.

Boats in this video

More from 59° North Sailing

Tanton 44 // Boat ShoppingSept 2026Full Stack 59° NorthSept 2026Passage Planning // Bergen - TorshavnSept 2026Allied Princess 36 // Boat ShoppingSept 2026

From 59° North Sailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.