Sailing Polaris · video

What this video covers

The crew of the 38-ft sailboat Polaris navigates the Outer Hebrides, managing coastal passages and anchorages while contending with shifting winds and tidal currents. During a transit through the Sound of Harris, the crew executes a pilotage plan using transit marks and cardinal buoys to avoid rocks in a channel with 2-knot currents.0:58 The vessel experiences engine performance issues, specifically smoke from the exhaust, which the owner addresses by running the diesel engine at high revolutions to clear soot.13:29 The crew also replaces a failed autopilot course computer with a new Garmin unit, which performs reliably during subsequent legs.24:38 Anchorages at Skirislam and an island near Enze provide shelter, though the latter offers limited protection from heavy winds due to its low-lying topography.2:02 The crew maintains a buddy-boat relationship with the vessel Babig, coordinating routes and arrival times to avoid forecasted gales.27:27

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