Sailing Catalpavideo

Life onboard our sailing boat in Costa Rica episode 477

31 January 2026 · 18 min · 70K views · Garabito, Costa Rica

Sailing into sunset. Iconic shot of boat, golden hour.

What this video covers

The crew of the 53-foot sailing yacht Catalpa navigates the tight fuel dock at Marina Los Años in Playa Herradera, Costa Rica, to restock supplies.1:07 The marina requires precise boat handling, as the narrow space leaves little room for manoeuvring larger vessels. To mitigate the heavy rolling experienced while anchored in the bay, the crew deploys a stern anchor.11:11 The vessel explores the nearby Tortuga Islands in the Gulf of Nicoya, where the crew observes local wildlife, including raccoons and capuchin monkeys, at the Kuru Wildlife Refuge.5:58 The family spends Christmas Eve aboard the boat, preparing meals and managing the logistics of producing professional-grade artwork in a confined space, which requires sourcing high-quality Baltic birch or Kumo timber.12:27 The crew notes that while the marina is challenging for those without experience, utilising prop walk and maintaining momentum are essential for controlling the boat in confined quarters.2:32

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