Sailing Sweet Rucavideo

Goodbye 2023! We Re-join Civilisation After a Rough Sail [Ep. 139]

31 December 2023 · 22 min · 23K views · Patagonia, Chile

What this video covers

The crew of the 40-foot sailboat Sweet Ruca navigates the Patagonian fjords, completing a 1,200-mile journey from Ushuaia to Puerto Aguirre, Chile.22:06 The passage requires precise timing to hit slack water at high tide, avoiding currents that can reach eight knots in narrow channels.2:05 While sailing upwind in 15–20 knots of wind, the crew actively trims the traveller, mainsheet, vang, and backstay to maintain efficiency through chop and swell.7:41 During the transit, a lazy jack line breaks, necessitating a repair at the masthead before the vessel reaches the harbour.10:27 Upon arrival in Puerto Aguirre, the crew secures the boat at Marina Austral, marking their first dockside stop in three months.21:46 The journey through the fjords involves navigating uncharted waters, managing colossal wind shifts, and avoiding low-lying islets in fog.2:10 The crew notes that the local tepu tree provides wood that burns even when wet, a critical resource for heating a boat in the damp Patagonian climate.20:26 Active sail trimming and constant attention to current windows are essential for safe passage through the fjords.

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