Sailing Squib · video

What this video covers

A cruising couple navigates the Danube River in Bulgaria, transiting between river kilometre 782 and 750.▶ 0:57 The crew anchors in shallow side channels, often finding depths of 1.1 to 1.5 metres near sandbanks.▶ 0:53 Navigation requires constant vigilance due to shifting channels, submerged obstacles, and low-sun conditions that obscure navigation buoys. During the transit, the electric outboard motor suffers a mechanical failure, losing its propeller after striking submerged debris.▶ 0:08 The crew performs routine maintenance while underway, including securing loose interior panels and installing edge trim on storage compartments.▶ 8:56 Near the town of Nikopol, the vessel encounters commercial traffic, including a paddle steamer and a Ukrainian push-tow, necessitating careful manoeuvring in narrow sections of the fairway.▶ 13:37 The crew utilises the Schengen agreement to bypass formal customs procedures by flying the Bulgarian courtesy flag.▶ 1:25 They prioritise anchorages in side arms that offer protection from wind and current, despite the challenge of identifying navigable depths in silted areas.

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