WEsail · video

What this video covers

A cruising couple completes a passage from Maupiti to a remote island in French Polynesia, assisted by a local crew member who provides navigation guidance through a narrow pass.0:05 The vessel prepares for a 1,000-mile transit toward Tonga, with planned stops at Beveridge Reef and Niue.21:50 To navigate the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ), the crew delays their departure by four to five days to avoid a low-pressure trough, coordinating their weather strategy with a professional router and a buddy boat, Tortuga.23:53 The crew utilises OpenCPN software to overlay satellite imagery, wind, and swell data for passage planning.25:43 While awaiting a favourable weather window, the sailors explore the remote island, which hosts only nine residents and receives annual supply shipments.10:16 The passage planning emphasises the transition from tropical conditions to colder, heavier weather as they head south.21:56

More from WEsail

We Had to Abort the Passage | Sailing Fiji's Reef-Strewn WatersSept 2026France to Fiji in 24 Hours | Back to Boat LifeAug 2026We Flew Halfway Around the World to Surprise My Family | Fiji to FranceAug 202613 Knots, Big Seas & Dolphins at Sunset | Sailing Back to Fiji's MainlandAug 2026

From WEsail — 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.