Velero Reginavideo
We sailed towards the island of Dominica
27 February 2026 · 19 min · 2K views · near Saint-Pierre, Martinique
Sailboat heeling sharply under stormy sky near island shore
What this video covers
Javi sails Regina from Le Marin, Martinique, north along Martinique's leeward coast to anchor at Saint-Pierre, then continues 50 miles to Portsmouth, Dominica.▶ 0:17 The first leg runs downwind in 25–26-knot gusts under three reefs in the mainsail; rounding north, the wind shifts to a beam reach and Javi shakes out to two reefs plus the Genoa, holding 7–8 knots.▶ 0:50 He explains the leeward-side effect: the island blocks fetch, leaving flat water until the boat exits into open Atlantic, where 1.5-meter swells appear but the 5–9-second Atlantic swell period keeps boat speed up compared to the short, punishing Mediterranean chop.▶ 10:18 At Saint-Pierre, Javi describes the 1902 Mont Pelée eruption — the deadliest volcanic event of the 20th century — which destroyed the then-capital in under two minutes, killed over 30,000 people, and sank more than 300 ships now lying on the bay floor, visible on a map in the local museum.▶ 5:44 The Saint-Pierre-to-Portsmouth leg covers 30 miles of windward channel and 20 miles under Dominica's lee; heavy sargassum appears on the windward stretch.▶ 6:52 Customs clearance is completed on arrival at Portsmouth.▶ 18:22 Dominica's leeward coast carries enough wind to sail under canvas the entire distance.▶ 16:46
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