Breaking Wavesvideo

Sail to Surf Perfection - Boat Access Only Waves

13 October 2024 · 24 min · 103K views · Tuamotu Archipelago

What this video covers

Ben and Alie, sailing an 80s-era sailboat in the Tuamotu Archipelago, navigate the challenges of anchoring and mooring near a reef pass to access remote surf breaks.Watch The crew encounters strong currents reaching 5 knots in the channel, which complicates docking and forces them to time movements with tidal cycles.10:51 After initially fouling their dinghy anchor on coral, they secure a mooring ball to avoid further reef damage.3:30 However, a 10-to-12-foot swell causes their boat to bash against a buddy boat, Kessel, leading to chafed lines and the loss of a fender.15:37 To manage power needs for camera gear and a Nomad electric hookah dive system, they utilize a Bluetti solar generator with a 200-watt portable panel.19:40 The crew also uses the hookah system to clean the boat's hull.21:47 The experience highlights the difficulty of finding sand-bottom anchoring in atolls and the risks of mooring in high-current channels during peak swell conditions.5:51

Watch on YouTube

More from Breaking Waves

THE FINAL Passage! | Sailing New Caledonia to New ZealandJul 2025Boatlife - From Sea To Fire| INSANE ACTIVE VOLCANO Trek and Our Final Sail from VanuatuApr 2025OFFGRID In the Jungle: A Primitive Community ExperienceMar 2025THE TRUTH UNCOVERED | What Sailing Is ACTUALLY Like In The Remote Corners Of the Pacific OceanMar 2025

From Breaking Waves — 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.

Report an issue