Sailing Nova Vitavideo
MIXED UP WEATHER - ATLANTIC crossing - WEST to EAST - part 3
11 November 2025 · 20 min · 959 views · Atlantic Ocean
What this video covers
During a West-to-East Atlantic crossing from St. Martin to the Azores, the crew of the Bavaria Yachts 36 Nova Vita struggles to navigate around a persistent, shifting weather system. Over a 14-day period, the vessel encounters frequent squalls with winds reaching 30 knots, followed by extended periods of calm that necessitate engine use. The crew relies on PredictWind for routing but finds that the system’s forecast shifts frequently, forcing them to tack repeatedly and engage in a "cat-and-mouse" game to find favourable wind.▶ 14:45 Early in the passage, the wind vane snapped, and the crew’s ageing foul-weather gear failed during heavy rain, leading them to purchase new oilskins in St. Martin.▶ 7:37 Maintenance issues include a tear in the mainsail caused by a reefing line, which the crew temporarily repaired with stitching.▶ 13:13 Despite the challenging conditions and variable wind, the crew maintains a balanced sail plan using a reefed main and headsail for downwind stability.▶ 3:10
Boats in this video
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