Jeanne’s solo sail from Aitutaki to Tonga ended with several days of rough seas and strong winds
2 October 2023 · 35 min · 9K views · Neiafu
What this video covers
A solo sailor navigating from Aitutaki to Tonga encounters autopilot failure, forcing a manual steering transition and a change in passage plans. During the transit, the autopilot experiences repeated motor stall messages, eventually requiring the sailor to manually engage a secondary ram in the aft cabin while the boat is in heavy seas. The sailor decides to bypass a planned stop at Beveridge Reef due to the timing of the arrival in darkness and an incoming weather system. The route continues past the island of Niue, with the boat maintaining 6 to 7 knots in 20 to 30 knots of wind. To manage the rough conditions, the sailor employs a third reef in the mainsail and poles out the genoa for downwind stability. The vessel experiences significant motion, causing unsecured items and a coffee pot to shift across the cabin. The sailor prepares pre-cooked meals to minimize galley work during the final approach to Neiafu, Vava'u.
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