Be The Captain · video

What this video covers

James Evenson recounts a near-catastrophic structural failure of his catamaran during a Pacific crossing, attributing the event to a combination of poor route planning and a critical design flaw in the vessel's bridge deck. After delaying his departure from Ecuador to install a Spectra watermaker, Evenson bypassed standard cyclone season safety protocols by attempting a late-season transit toward Hawaii via the Line Islands.2:10 The vessel encountered 65-knot winds and gale-force conditions while crossing the ITCZ, leading to the failure of an undersized sea anchor and subsequent structural collapse.6:02 Investigation revealed the boat builder had modified the original design by cutting the rear main beam to enlarge engine room doors, creating a structural weakness that failed under heavy sea loads.14:09 Evenson emphasises the necessity of carrying a properly sized Jordan Series Drogue and a sea anchor, and recommends inspecting catamaran bridge deck corners for stress fractures.15:27 He also suggests carrying specialised safety gear for emergency underwater repairs, including a low-profile helmet, a wrist-mounted light, and a Spare Air system.9:24

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