Sailing Gentlyvideo
A sailing video
27 December 2024 · 32 min · 5K views · Martinique Channel
What this video covers
A solo sailor navigating the Caribbean from Martinique to Guadeloupe experiences recurring windlass failure and autopilot malfunction aboard a 32-foot Beneteau. During a passage between Martinique and Dominica, the crew encounters 25–35 knot winds and heavy seas, opting to sail under a reefed headsail to maintain control.13:05 Upon arriving at Prince Rupert Bay, Dominica, the electric windlass fails again, forcing the sailor to deploy the Delta anchor manually by releasing the pawl lever and paying out 25 meters of chain.18:38 The anchor holds through the night, and the windlass motor restarts the following morning after the crew taps the casing to clear a suspected internal jam.22:22 While approaching Guadeloupe, the Raymarine autopilot fails completely, requiring six hours of manual steering through buoyed channels and coral shallows to reach Marina Bas-du-Fort.25:49 The sailor plans to hire an electrician to inspect the windlass and autopilot wiring, citing physical difficulty in accessing the cramped motor compartments.24:58
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