Wind Hippie Sailingvideo
Wind Vane Broke and I Went in After It WHSE166
21 July 2025 · 26 min · 61K views
What this video covers
Holly and Dan depart Darwin, Australia, aboard their 27-foot Grinde, *Gekko*, bound for Kupang, Indonesia. The 600-nautical-mile passage begins with a customs clearance at the Darwin dock, where officials require an immediate departure upon inspection. During the transit, heavy seaweed accumulation repeatedly forces the wind vane's trim tab upward, causing the mounting bolt to shear under load. In six-to-seven-foot following seas, Holly harnesses in and leans over the stern to replace the sheared bolt while Dan steers to keep the boat aligned with the waves. To prevent future failures, the crew reinforces the repair with additional lashings and plans to lock the trim tab in place during long ocean passages to prevent it from popping up. The vessel maintains speed using only a partially reefed headsail in 25-to-30-knot winds.
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