WEsail · video

What this video covers

Warren and Erica depart Minerva Reef aboard their 44-foot catamaran for a 424-nautical-mile passage to Fiji with a damaged forestay — the forward stay on the bow — already compromised from a previous incident. To protect the mast, they rig two extra halyards forward, tensioned as tight as possible, and plan a conservative 5-knot average under heavily reefed sails, using only the headsail for most of the passage.2:16 The forecast calls for winds in the high teens to low twenties from behind the beam, which keeps pressure directed aft rather than loading the damaged forestay.2:39 They depart Minerva Reef at night, navigating three passes in 20 knots of wind in the dark.4:29 Wind direction takes longer than forecast to clock south, forcing a due-north heading when northwest was needed, but models agree it will eventually shift to southeast for a straight downwind run.6:08 Averaging 120 miles per day, they raise land 126 miles out and reach their Fijian port of entry the following morning.7:50 Customs officials clear them at the dock, where 20–30 locals greet the boat in song.12:20 Sailing conservatively downwind is the correct strategy when a forestay is damaged, as it shifts mast loads forward rather than aft.

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