DrakeParagon · video

What this video covers

Paragon, a Westsail 42, departs Brest, France on June 15th at 1800 for a 130-nautical-mile passage to Falmouth, England, with a narrow weather window forcing the departure.0:15 The first nine nautical miles require motoring directly into 20–30-knot headwinds through a tight channel, timed to hit slack current; Drake plans to hoist a double-reefed mainsail to assist the engine.1:53 After clearing that channel, the route turns north between the French mainland and offshore islands, where a two-to-three-knot favorable current runs for roughly 20 nautical miles on a broad reach in 20-knot winds.2:16 The passage then goes offshore at sunset, leaving France behind for a beam-reach run to Falmouth in 15–20 knots.3:04 Departure from the marina is complicated by a catamaran and a rafted race boat astern and a large monohull ahead; Drake rigs a bow spring line, motors forward to kick the stern out, and relies on the stern wind to swing Paragon clear.4:11 Friends from Tripatya — Hazel and Tony — assist on the bowsprit to protect the bobstay from the dock.11:34 The Windy app and a current-overlay chart plotter guide the tidal timing throughout.6:08 Hitting slack current precisely in a narrow, high-current channel is the critical factor when motoring to windward in a confined departure.

Boats in this video

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