Hugh Robertson Sailing · video

What this video covers

A 30-nautical-mile passage from Ifate to Emae Island in Vanuatu requires navigating the Purumia Passage and managing trade winds that frequently gust above 20 knots.1:35 Sailing in company with other vessels, the route involves significant reefing, including the use of a triple-reefed mainsail and staysail to maintain control during squalls.4:27 Anchoring at Emae requires precision, as the sandy patches are interspersed with coral heads in depths of approximately 30 feet.7:41 The subsequent 30-mile leg to Laman Bay on the northwest coast of Epi Island involves similar conditions, with wind shifts to the northeast and frequent squalls necessitating active sail management.12:14 Laman Bay provides a well-protected anchorage for a fleet of over a dozen boats, sheltered from the prevailing southeast trade winds.13:05 Local hazards include the unmarked Cook’s Reef, which remains obscured when approaching from the south.6:33 The area is historically significant as the site where sailor Webb Chiles survived a boat-disabling storm in 1980.8:05

Boats in this video

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