WEsail · video

What this video covers

A couple sailing through the Tongan island groups navigates a 72-nautical-mile passage from Vavaʻu towards the capital, Nukuʻalofa, whilst contending with heavy swells and high whale density.2:29 To avoid collisions with humpback whales, the crew maintains a strict daylight-only sailing schedule, citing the risk of striking whales that sleep vertically with their tails exposed.18:42 During the transit, the boat encounters rough conditions with winds and swells that force the crew to sail with three reefs in the mainsail.8:51 The passage requires constant bow-watch duty to spot whales, which frequently breach near the vessel.10:55 Using Navionics to track their progress, the sailors maintain an average speed of 7.3 knots over a nine-hour, 48-minute duration.21:05 Upon reaching the lee of an island, the sea state flattens, providing relief from the earlier heavy conditions.17:57 The crew concludes that daylight hops are essential for safety in these waters during whale season.18:54

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