WEsail · video

What this video covers

Navigating a catamaran through the coral-strewn lagoons of French Polynesia requires precise timing and visual navigation to avoid the 1,500 coral heads, or "bommies," present in a single atoll.7:19 Erica and Warren utilize OpenCPN software with high-resolution satellite imagery to identify sand patches and plot safe routes between these hazards.6:59 They emphasize that transits must occur during midday when the sun is at its highest point to maximize visibility and eliminate water glare, which otherwise obscures the submerged coral.8:30 The crew notes that anchoring in these lagoons involves finding sufficiently large sand patches while accounting for potential wind shifts that could swing the vessel into nearby coral.10:12 Beyond navigation, the crew engages in local activities such as harvesting cowrie shells on the reef at low tide and gathering coconuts for consumption, noting that in French Polynesia, coconuts are often private property used for copra production and require local permission before harvesting.3:44

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