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The circumnavigation begins: The four of us sail 1000km across the Atlantic. 5 days at sea.
21 December 2025 · 32 min · 131K views · Atlantic Ocean
What this video covers
Thilo and Leonie, sailing with two crew members, depart Europe on a 600-nautical-mile passage to the Canary Islands.▶ 0:12 The crew maintains a consistent butterfly rig with the jib and genoa poled out, averaging 6 knots in 8 to 12 knots of wind.▶ 7:38 During the transit, the crew navigates heavy commercial traffic in the Strait of Gibraltar, requiring active course adjustments to maintain safe distances from container ships.▶ 2:01 One encounter involves a tense VHF radio exchange with a cruise ship, where the vessel's bridge officer expresses panic over the proximity of the sailboat before a second officer takes over to coordinate a safe passing.▶ 19:32 Wildlife sightings include dolphins and a fin whale, which the crew initially mistakes for an orca.▶ 3:44 The crew manages night watches by rotating shifts among four people, which significantly improves energy levels compared to sailing as a couple.▶ 9:04 They reach the halfway point in approximately 300 nautical miles, benefiting from steady winds and minimal sail adjustments.▶ 16:07
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