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Releasing The Dragon To Race The Setting Sun!!!!

11 August 2024 · 21 min · 13K views · Viti Levu

What this video covers

A 40-foot sailboat transiting the coast of Viti Levu, Fiji, races to reach a secure anchorage before sunset to avoid an incoming 20-knot southerly wind forecast for the following morning.6:35 Facing light winds and a 12-mile distance to the target, the crew deploys a new asymmetric spinnaker, nicknamed "the dragon," to maintain speed.9:20 The sail provides enough power to maintain 6 knots, allowing the vessel to navigate a reef cut into the anchorage before dark.12:55 The entrance requires precise navigation through a narrow channel with charted rocks that cover and uncover at high tide.13:49 After anchoring, the crew visits Lycoura Island Resort, where they pay a $10-per-person landing fee to access the shore.18:48 During the retrieval of the spinnaker, the crew accidentally drops the sail into the sea after releasing the halyard too quickly.17:56 The spinnaker requires drying the following morning.17:40 Using a spinnaker in light conditions can provide the necessary speed to reach safe harbor before weather shifts or daylight fades.

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Boats in this video

Rival 34Their boatProut Ltd. Snowgoose 37 EliteTheir boat

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