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How to catch a black eye. Sailing alone across the Pacific Ocean. Bora Bora. Suwarrow Atoll. Samoa
4 October 2023 · 9 min · 6K views · Pazifischer Ozean
What this video covers
Dunkeln sails solo through French Polynesia, aiming to reach Australia before the mid-November cyclone season begins.0:14 Facing a windless zone on the original route to Raiatea, he alters course toward Samoa to avoid becoming becalmed.2:17 Two days into the transit, 35-knot gusts and 4.5-meter swells force him to seek shelter at Suwarrow Atoll.3:59 Arriving after dark, he anchors in a lagoon where swell crosses the anchorage, causing the boat to pitch violently.4:35 While attempting to launch his dinghy, he commits three errors: securing the painter to the bow, using a flimsy knot, and accidentally hitting the throttle while the boat moves in the swell.4:57 The resulting motion throws him into the water, causing a head injury and knocking his GoPro overboard.5:42 He recovers the camera from the lagoon floor and spends the following day exploring the island, once home to hermit Tom Neal.6:37 The 500-mile passage to Samoa takes 20 days instead of the projected 10.9:07 Accepting delays and uncomfortable conditions at anchor remains a necessary part of long-distance solo sailing.
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