Cyclone Narelle, live update from our sailboat. (Ep 315)
22 March 2026 · 15 min · 3K views · Australia
Sailboat glides through muddy mangrove channel, calm before storm
What this video covers
Vernon and Marie-Morgane shelter their sailboat in a mangrove creek near the Gove Peninsula in Australia’s Northern Territory to ride out Tropical Cyclone Narelle.▶ 0:10 The crew secures the vessel by running four lines to sturdy trees on the starboard side and setting an anchor off the bow to prevent jerking as the tide shifts.▶ 4:16 While wind speeds reach 40 knots at the masthead, the dense mangrove canopy provides significant wind protection, keeping the deck environment relatively calm compared to the open coast.▶ 10:55 The crew monitors the storm’s progress via an iPad, noting the cyclone’s path and expected landfall near Cape Shield.▶ 1:03 Despite the stress of the approaching system, the family maintains their routine on board, citing the familiarity of the boat as a safer and less traumatic environment for their child than an unfamiliar land-based shelter.▶ 13:23 The crew reports that the boat remains stable as the storm passes through the night.▶ 7:31 Mangroves offer superior protection for sailboats during high-wind events by breaking up gusts and preventing the formation of damaging sea states.▶ 8:20
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