SailingAlonevideo
From tropical Queensland to Tasmania's Roaring Forties. 1700 miles, sailing south alone.
3 January 2025 · 11 min · 27K views · Pazifischer Ozean
What this video covers
Dunkeln sails the 1700-mile route from Queensland to Tasmania aboard the steel ketch reykja, navigating from tropical waters into the Roaring Forties.0:29 Mechanical failures complicate the passage, including a broken steering belt that restricts helm control to the interior station and a snapped jib halyard during a gale.0:11 While attempting to reach Bundaberg, reykja runs aground on a sandbank; Dunkeln successfully refloats the vessel by deploying an anchor to prevent further drifting as the tide rises.3:23 The route includes the shallow Great Sandy Strait, where Dunkeln times the passage to clear sandbars at high tide.5:15 In the Tasman Sea, the crew encounters 40-knot gusts that overwhelm both the windvane and autopilot, forcing hours of hand-steering.7:06 Upon entering the Bass Strait, Dunkeln heaves to under a reefed mainsail to weather a storm, finding the boat remains stable and upright.10:09 The voyage concludes at the Tamar River in Tasmania.10:39 Heaving to during heavy weather allows for rest and prevents equipment damage when autopilot systems fail in high seas.9:40
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