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We Had to Abort the Passage | Sailing Fiji's Reef-Strewn Waters

September 4, 2026 · 24 min · 14K views · Fiji

What this video covers

A cruising couple sailing a production catamaran along the north coast of Viti Levu, Fiji, aborts a planned passage to Taveuni due to unfavorable wind conditions and challenging, poorly charted reef navigation.3:12 After motor-sailing through light winds and wind shadows, the crew encounters gusty 25-to-27-knot conditions while approaching an anchorage in the dark.12:16 They utilize satellite imagery and multiple navigation devices to identify a safe route through the reef-strewn waters.5:01 Upon reaching a protected bay, the sailors decide to wait for a more favorable weather window rather than forcing a 40-mile passage against southeast winds.20:24 The crew integrates an Orca navigation system into their NMEA 2000 network to overlay weather data, tides, and currents directly onto their chart plotter.17:55 They emphasize the importance of patience and flexibility in passage planning, noting that adhering to a rigid schedule increases risk.21:40 Choosing to wait for better conditions prevents unnecessary wear on the vessel and crew.23:04

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