Blue Horizon · video

What this video covers

A 42-ft steel ketch navigates the Gambia River in West Africa, aiming to reach freshwater reaches to spot hippos.▶ 0:38 The crew faces a critical navigational obstacle at the Senegambia Bridge, built in 2019, which has a clearance height reported between 16 and 19.6 meters.▶ 0:18 With a mast height of 19 meters above the waterline, the crew times their passage to coincide with low tide during a spring tide to maximize clearance.▶ 7:13 They successfully transit the bridge with minimal clearance, noting that the antenna makes contact with the structure.▶ 22:46 Because the spring tide provides the lowest possible water level, the crew determines they must wait for the next spring tide cycle to ensure enough clearance for the return trip.▶ 25:18 Throughout the river transit, the crew manages tidal currents, navigates in darkness, and explores side creeks by dinghy.▶ 5:55 They encounter local wildlife, including crocodiles, while traveling through remote areas with no other cruising vessels.▶ 8:47

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