LE VOYAGE DE NAMASTEvideo
Seven days at sea between Guadeloupe and Jamaica. S1/EP12
19 May 2024 · 12 min · 6K views · Les Saintes
What this video covers
A 7-day passage from Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, to Kingston, Jamaica, covers approximately 827 nautical miles. The crew of the sailboat Namasté initially routes west to maintain a beam reach before turning toward Jamaica, anticipating light winds and significant adverse currents. During the transit, the crew manages light-air conditions by alternating between the genoa, spinnaker, and engine, while maintaining a watch schedule of 20:00–02:00 and 02:00–08:00. Technical issues include a noisy shaft alternator that forces the crew to rely on daily 30-minute engine runs to charge batteries. A critical incident occurs when a tangled symmetric spinnaker deploys under the hull, fouling the propeller with a sheet and stalling the engine; the owner must enter the water to clear the line and retrieve the sail. For safety, the crew activates a Garmin inReach satellite communicator for messaging and SOS capability. Before clearing customs in Kingston, the vessel stops at the Morant Cays to anchor. The passage confirms that failing to inspect new or unused sails for knots before deployment can lead to dangerous entanglement and engine failure.
Boats in this video
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