Leading the Escapade · video

What this video covers

A 45-foot sailboat experiences recurring autopilot failures during an overnight passage from Barbados to St. Lucia, forcing the crew to hand-steer due to a "no rudder reference" error.2:09 Upon arrival at Marigot Bay, a sudden weather event causes a storm surge, forcing the crew to weigh anchor at 3:30 a.m. to avoid being driven onto the reef by breaking waves.8:40 The vessel sustains further electrical issues, including blown fuses, which disable instruments during the subsequent transit to Martinique.10:46 Despite these technical failures, the crew completes the passage to Martinique under manual steering in 15-to-20-knot winds, reaching speeds of 8 knots.11:16 The crew notes that the autopilot glitches worsen in larger seas and that the vessel experienced a broach during the final approach to a crowded anchorage in Martinique when the mainsheet could not be released quickly enough.15:33

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