Hugh Robertson Sailing · video

What this video covers

A solo sailor transits 1,400 miles from Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, to the Iles du Salut, French Guiana, navigating the Guiana Current and the doldrums.0:10 Departing April 3, the vessel maintains a west-northwest heading, utilizing a sail configuration of twin staysails and a jib to maintain speeds of 5 to 8 knots.1:28 The route stays offshore to avoid Amazon River debris while exploiting the favorable current.10:24 The passage involves significant encounters with dense patches of sargassum, which frequently foul the wind vane rudder and necessitate reliance on the autopilot.16:14 The sailor experiences a 12-hour period of intense squalls, requiring hand-steering and triple-reefing the main.14:48 Despite the challenging conditions, the vessel successfully transitions from the southeast trades through the doldrums into the northeast trades. The trip concludes on April 13 with an arrival at the Iles du Salut, where the sailor anchors between Saint Joseph and Ile Royale.21:06

Boats in this video

More from Hugh Robertson Sailing

26 differences from most other cruisers, part 2 of 2Apr 202626 differences from most other cruisers, part 1of 2.Apr 202630 stories of sailors less fortunate than me during my ocean-sailing years on Sea ChangeJan 202630 mistakes I made and things that broke on my solo circumnavigation on Sea Change, Part 3 of 3Dec 2025

From Hugh Robertson Sailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.