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Solo round-the-world sailing trip #13 - Heading to Kupang (Indonesia) from Australia
24 January 2026 · 27 min · 8K views · Arafura Sea
Sailboat approaches Kupang under cloudy sky, quarantine flag distant
What this video covers
An 11-day solo passage from Thursday Island, Australia, to Kupang, Indonesia, covering roughly 1,129 nautical miles aboard the Sofía VI.▶ 1:00 The route change from Bali to Kupang was made to reduce mileage in a forecast low-wind window, and the forecast proved accurate: the passage ran almost entirely under motor with 3–5 knots of wind, flat seas, and cabin temperatures reaching 35°C.▶ 0:10 Fuel consumption ran 160–200 litres, leaving 420–450 litres in reserve.▶ 9:35 The final approach through the channel between Roti Island and Kupang required night watches with a handheld spotlight to avoid unmarked fishing buoys, plastic drums, and debris the radar did not detect.▶ 16:38 Arrival at 11:30 a.m. on day 11 was followed immediately by customs, immigration, and biosecurity clearance.▶ 19:23 In port, a dragging neighbouring sailboat collided with Sofía VI, causing the boat to drag 200 metres; the anchor fouled the other vessel's chain during recovery, requiring a manual disentanglement.▶ 22:53 Damage was limited to a bent fitting, handled through insurance.▶ 23:42 A crew member departed after five months aboard, leaving the skipper to prepare a solo Indian Ocean passage toward South Africa, pending a weather window, while noting a tight seasonal margin for the Indian Ocean crossing.▶ 24:23
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