La Balade de Jade · video

What this video covers

After two years of cruising, the crew of a sailboat departs Fatu Hiva in the Marquesas Islands for a 500-nautical-mile passage to Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Archipelago.5:52 The transit begins with several days of light winds and calm seas, followed by a shift to consistent 20- to 25-knot winds, with gusts reaching 30 knots.9:32 These conditions cause the autopilot to fail, forcing the crew to hand-steer.11:09 To manage their arrival time at the Rangiroa pass, the crew monitors tidal charts to ensure they enter during slack water or a rising tide, avoiding the dangerous outgoing current.12:44 As they approach the atoll, they reduce sail by dropping the mainsail and proceeding under staysail alone to control their speed.16:33 To mitigate the risk of engine failure in the narrow pass, the crew prepares an emergency outboard motor mount on the stern, capable of supporting a 15-horsepower engine.17:19 They successfully navigate the pass, confirming the importance of timing arrivals with tidal flow and maintaining redundant propulsion systems for atoll entrances.18:31

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