The Sailing Brothersvideo
"Torn Sails, Near Collision, Engine Failure / The Perfect Passage"
9 November 2025 · 28 min · 26K views · Queensland coast
What this video covers
A 210-mile passage from Double Island Point to Ballina, Australia, requires precise timing to cross the Ballina bar on an incoming tide.2:02 The crew of a Prout Ltd. Snowgoose 37 Elite navigates heavy coastal traffic and fluctuating wind conditions, including a near-collision with a 300-meter ship that forced a course alteration.12:55 During the transit, the mainsail suffers a significant tear, requiring an at-sea repair with patches.15:50 The engine fails to pump cooling water due to a faulty impeller, which the crew replaces while drifting in squally conditions near the bar entrance.22:36 To manage arrival times, the crew balances sail configurations—ranging from full canvas in light air to bare poles in 30-knot gusts—to avoid arriving at the bar during an outgoing tide, which creates dangerous, breaking waves. The passage concludes with a successful motor-sail entry into Ballina after the engine repair restores cooling flow.24:56 Proper timing of bar crossings and maintaining flexible sail plans are essential for managing coastal passages with variable wind and current.
Boats in this video
More from The Sailing Brothers
From The Sailing Brothers — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.