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Racing a GALE Across the North Sea | Sailing Florence Ep. 227
19 March 2026 · 25 min · 39K views · North Sea
Sailing Florence heeling hard in bright afternoon gale
What this video covers
A 37-ft Oyster Marine 37 HERITAGE sails from Ålesund, Norway, to the Shetland Islands to beat a North Sea gale before the crew’s Schengen visas expire.▶ 0:00 Facing a forecast of 42-knot gusts, the crew prioritizes speed over comfort, motor-sailing into headwinds to maintain a 6-knot average.▶ 5:37 They monitor offshore oil platforms and coastal weather stations via the Norwegian Barents Watch website to time their departure.▶ 3:24 To maximize speed, the crew carries more sail area than usual, balancing the boat to minimize drag while pushing the vessel to 7 knots.▶ 14:00 Upon reaching Shetland, they anchor in Dales Voe to shelter from the gale, noting the location’s protection from wind and swell compared to a dock.▶ 18:27 After the system passes, they relocate to the small boat harbour in Lerwick to restock provisions and secure local data connectivity.▶ 20:57 The passage demonstrates that pushing a vessel with increased sail area and engine assistance can successfully shorten transit times during narrow weather windows.
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