#08 Departure - Tripu - Weather - Strategy - The Vertical Hour
1 April 2026 · 25 min · 2K views · Saldanha
Crew watches whale spout from sailing boat cockpit
What this video covers
Departing South Africa toward Cape Horn, the crew of Vuelta Vertical begins a roughly 10,000-mile passage with the immediate goal of rounding Cabo de Buena Esperanza (Cape of Good Hope) some 60 miles ahead, then pushing south to catch the westerly low-pressure systems near 40–50°S.4:19
The passage strategy centers on a difficult 300-mile southward diagonal to reach the roaring-forties storm track, using 400 liters of diesel stored in two new stern tanks to motor through the near-windless exit zone.6:10 Pedro explains that strong currents and pop-up 40–50-knot squalls make this coastal departure one of the hardest sections of the route; the crew navigates between scattered micro-storms on an otherwise flat, calm day.5:56 Pedro had been sidelined for three days with severe gastroenteritis and a 40°C fever, returning to duty just before departure.2:38 Pre-departure work included fixing a small hull water ingress, adding a sacrificial anode, greasing the propeller anode, replacing a fallen engine intake grill, and adjusting the rigging.7:58 The crew introduces itself: Adrià (20, sailing instructor from Valencia), Pablo "Puchi" (from Córdoba, Argentina), and Jamel (37, high-mountain guide from Mexico City).8:50 Two whales — the first sighted in over 10,700 miles — surface alongside the boat shortly after departure.16:56 The crew announces fixed "Vertical Hour" live sessions every Wednesday and Sunday.18:07
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