Vagabond Voyages · video

What this video covers

The crew of the sailboat Vagabond anchors at Mopélia, a remote atoll in French Polynesia, while waiting for a favourable weather window to continue their passage.0:14 The vessel shifts between a south-east and a north-east anchorage to maintain protection from shifting winds and gusts reaching 30 to 35 knots.2:20 While anchored, the crew manages boat maintenance, including deck repairs and painting, and utilises solar panels to maintain battery levels.2:47 The atoll, home to only five permanent residents, lacks regular supply ships or air service, making the community reliant on visiting sailors for transport and provisions.2:09 The crew documents local subsistence practices, including the preparation of traditional raw fish with coconut milk and the cultivation of small gardens using composted waste.6:26 During a stay, the crew member sustains a deep finger laceration from a damaged can opener, which is treated with Steri-Strips and secured with painter's tape to allow for continued activity.13:30 The visit highlights the contrast between the isolated, traditional lifestyle of the local families and the presence of larger, generator-dependent cruising catamarans in the lagoon.17:03

More from Vagabond Voyages

We had to leave… we didn't know what to expect | Vanuatu Vlog #138Sept 2026We didn't expect this in Ambrym! | Sailing Vanuatu. Vlog 137Sept 2026Vanuatu: Teak bungs... then the worst seasickness of my life. Vlog 136Aug 2026Sailing Vanuatu: bad weather, life on board and bread recipe. Vlog 135Aug 2026

From Vagabond Voyages — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.