Sailing Mirage · video

What this video covers

A solo sailor departs Lanyard Cay in the Abacos, Bahamas, after waiting six days for weather, with food supplies exhausted. Winds had been 30–35 knots for nearly three days. The planned 60-mile passage heads to Green Turtle Cay. The original route through Whale Cut — described as the most dangerous cut in all the Bahamas, where breaking waves can block all entry and exit — is reconsidered due to rough conditions. An alternate wider passage 5 miles further is considered, with hopes of arriving with a favorable tide to reduce wave size. The sea is restless with long-period ocean swell waves arriving from afar, the boat diving into large waves near shore. After turning at Little Bahama Bank, the wind angle shifts from 100 to 120 degrees and conditions calm dramatically — no splashes, no rocking, all sails set. Approaching Whale Cut, the sailor calls local fishing boats on VHF radio for a conditions report. A passing fishing boat at 30 knots confirms there are no breaking waves in the cut. Downwind sailing at 120 degrees proves far more comfortable than the earlier upwind angle. Confirming actual conditions via VHF before entering a dangerous cut is the practical takeaway.

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