Sailing 3,000 Miles Across the Pacific on a 33ft Sailboat
24 January 2026 · 1h 4m · 98K views · Hilo, United States
Sailboat crew navigating open sea at sunset
What this video covers
A 33-ft Westerly Yachts Ltd. Discus 33 completed a 3,000-nautical-mile offshore passage from Mexico to Hilo, Hawaii, over 22 days.0:27 The crew navigated the Gulf of California before heading south to pick up trade winds, maintaining a 24-hour average speed of approximately five knots.3:24 During the crossing, the boat experienced varied conditions, including light air, beam reaching, and a final stretch of squally weather caused by a cold front.42:00 The crew managed sail configurations by reefing the mainsail and deploying a whisker pole for the genoa to optimize performance.30:11 Equipment maintenance included patching wear on gear and managing Starlink, which failed mid-passage, leaving the crew to rely on inReach for limited communication.36:48 The crew maintained a consistent watch schedule and used seasickness patches to manage the boat's motion.2:16 The passage concluded with the vessel approaching Hilo, having successfully navigated the open Pacific using wind power alone.56:41
Boats in this video
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