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Headwind nonstop: Why this crossing is so feared. From New Zealand to Australia
2 May 2026 · 10 min · 30K views · Tasmanische See
Sailboat heeling hard under red spinnaker, racing through blue waves.
What this video covers
A ketch crew prepares for a 1,200-mile passage from New Zealand to Australia but delays departure by ten days to avoid an ex-cyclone in the Tasman Sea.▶ 0:14 During the wait, the sailors explore the Marlborough Sounds and French Pass.▶ 1:17 Upon departing, the vessel faces persistent headwinds and steep, confused seas, forcing a change in the planned destination from Sydney to Brisbane, and finally to Coffs Harbour.▶ 3:31 The crew encounters technical issues with an Iridium satellite phone, which fails to download weather data from PredictWind, requiring a friend in New Zealand to relay forecasts via SMS.▶ 4:51 Throughout the 17-day transit, the boat experiences constant motion, squalls, and a thunderstorm front, causing significant fatigue and seasickness.▶ 7:05 Maintenance tasks include repairing a loose connection on the wind generator during a calm.▶ 6:28 The passage concludes in Coffs Harbour, where the crew clears customs after successfully navigating the Tasman Sea without encountering a major storm.▶ 9:35
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