Breaking Waves · video

What this video covers

Ben and Alie depart Fiji for a 660-mile passage to Vanuatu, aiming to reach Australia before the South Pacific cyclone season begins.10:32 The crew spends six weeks in Muscat Cove, Fiji, focusing on surfing and diving before preparing the boat for the four-day transit.1:49 Maintenance tasks include installing a new wind instrument at the masthead, replacing a battery pack, and tightening the shaft seal.7:43 They coordinate the departure with a buddy boat, *Kessel*, and submit customs arrival notifications four days early due to the lack of active Starlink service underway.11:41

The passage begins with 20-knot winds and steep beam seas, causing the boat to heel heavily.13:33 During a period of electrical instability, the autopilot disengages, forcing the crew to hand-steer while reefing the main and jib from the cockpit.14:40 They maintain speeds of 7.5 to 8 knots with a double-reefed main and a partially furled jib.15:03 The crew notes the importance of using effective medication for seasickness rather than natural remedies during rough conditions.16:49

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

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