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Sailing solo across the Pacific Ocean. French Polynesia

10 September 2023 · 11 min · 35K views · Pacific Ocean

What this video covers

Dunkeln sails from Panama to the Marquesas, completing the Pacific crossing in 35 days.Watch After exploring Hivaor and surrounding islands, he falls ill with a bacterial infection and pneumonia, forcing him to leave his boat, Raikia, anchored at Fakarawa.5:45 He flies to Tahiti for emergency medical treatment, receiving antibiotics and intravenous fluids before returning to the vessel.5:50 Navigating the Tuamotu Archipelago requires careful attention to passes with strong currents and unmarked coral reefs, known as bommies, within the lagoons.6:43 He relies on Google Earth, visual navigation, and polarized sunglasses to avoid underwater hazards.7:12 While ocean passages demand focus on the boat and heavy sea states, island hopping shifts his attention to local wildlife, coral ecosystems, and coastal landscapes.10:32 The transition from the volcanic Marquesas to the low-lying atolls of the Tuamotus highlights the distinct challenges of navigating shallow, reef-strewn waters compared to open-ocean sailing.5:51

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