Episode #89: Close Call with a Container Ship!
18 January 2017 · 18 min · 23K views · Little Creek, Hampton Roads
What this video covers
A 38-ft sailboat departing Little Creek, Virginia, encounters a large wake from a passing container ship while transiting the Hampton Roads shipping channel.6:15 The vessel sustains a heavy impact from a wave estimated at 8 to 15 feet, which causes the anchor to shake loose and requires the crew to secure it while maintaining a heading into the wind.7:32 The crew successfully navigates the busy military and commercial port, reaching mile marker zero of the Intracoastal Waterway.10:43 Technical issues identified during the passage include a malfunctioning VHF radio microphone and an oil leak from the engine's cooler pipes.15:30 The crew plans to manage the oil leak with repair tape until permanent replacements can be installed.15:30 Lessons learned include the necessity of pre-departure checklists for engine fluids and seacocks, the importance of VHF antenna height for range, and the value of using fender boards when docking along canal walls.17:20
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