Garrett’s Adventurevideo
5 days Sailing Offshore to Australia
17 February 2026 · 19 min · 76K views · en route from Noumea, New Caledonia to Brisbane, Australia
Sailboat on dark sea under stormy sky, distant lightning
What this video covers
A 5-day offshore passage from Noumea, New Caledonia to Brisbane, Australia covers roughly 1,100 miles late in the cyclone season, with Garrett and his father departing together to make the transit as fast as possible. They fuel up with 25–30 gallons of diesel at Noumea before departure, anticipating two days of motoring when wind dies.1:29 The spinnaker deploys on day two after two attempts; the staysail halyard fails mid-passage, forcing Garrett onto the couch.4:08 Seas reach six to seven feet on day three with near-zero wind, requiring more motoring.6:35 A threatening lightning storm 97 miles out prompts the crew to stow electronics — navigation gear, iPad, drone, emergency beacon — in the oven as a lightning-strike precaution; the storm breaks up on satellite imagery before striking.11:42 Brisbane entry through the river pass is straightforward with correct tide and no swell; biosecurity at Rivergate Marina is easier and more expensive than expected.14:32 Hours after anchoring in the Brisbane River, a 57-knot storm with 12-centimeter hail hits; the boat drags onto mud but sustains no structural damage.17:04 A second storm the following night produces only lightning.18:31 Experienced crew on watch rotations makes overnight passages far more manageable than solo sailing.
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