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Sailing into a Gale: Solomons to Australia WHSE140

15 April 2024 · 29 min · 466K views · Solomon Islands

What this video covers

A solo sailor on a 27-foot boat navigates a passage from the Solomon Islands to Townsville, Australia, in late September.Watch Facing a lack of favorable weather windows, the sailor chooses to transit the Louisiade Archipelago to break the journey into two segments rather than attempting a direct crossing in 35-knot winds and 4-meter seas.1:11 During the passage, the boat encounters a near-collision with a cargo ship in a shipping lane after the AIS alarm fails to trigger.20:08 The vessel is forced to maneuver through the shipping channel while close-hauled in high winds.20:21 The sailor manages the boat’s motion using a wind vane and maintains a sail configuration of a full mainsail and storm jib to hold a tack angle.24:34 A jury-rigged repair using vice grips secures a leaking hatch dog throughout the heavy weather.9:57 The passage concludes with an arrival in Australia after navigating an 8-mile-long, 5-mile-wide pass in high winds.11:20

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