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40 Knot Winds for Breakfast WHS E80

27 December 2021 · 18 min · 54K views · Moorea

What this video covers

A solo sailor navigating French Polynesia encounters 40-knot gusts while approaching an anchorage in Moorea.9:55 During the final 45 minutes of a 100-mile passage, a series of squalls forces the sailor to drop the headsail and maintain the mainsail as a safety measure while motoring through white-out rain conditions.1:46 Relying on Navionics for navigation, the sailor enters the pass and anchors in 36 feet of water.9:30 A sudden 100-degree wind shift requires the sailor to dive on the anchor to confirm it is set in the sand.10:05 To manage the intense gusts, the sailor increases scope to 5:1 and monitors position using a GPS track and an anchor alarm.14:17 After the front passes, the sailor joins parents on a borrowed boat for a short coastal transit to a protected bay.15:47 Maintaining a consistent anchor watch and verifying the set by diving are essential when anchoring in unpredictable, gusty conditions.

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