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Sailing Solo to White Cove - It's been a year! (Oct 2025)
November 20, 2025 · 20 min · 961 views · San Diego, California
Sailboat nears Catalina Island at sunrise, golden light glows
What this video covers
A Valiant Yachts 40-2 sailboat transits from San Diego to White Cove at Catalina Island, navigating mechanical failures and light wind conditions. During the passage, the vessel’s autopilot mechanical RAM drive fails to disengage due to salt-water fouling from heavy seas, forcing manual steering into the dock.2:50 The owner replaces the raw water pump after 1,400 hours of service to address salt residue and weep-hole leakage.0:49 While motoring to Catalina, the crew monitors shipping traffic, including the *Catalina Provider* and an *Arleigh Burke*-class destroyer, while maintaining a 5:1 anchor scope in 41 feet of water at the Hen Rock/White Cove anchorage.5:42 During the return trip, the autopilot unexpectedly switches to standby without an alarm, causing a 40-degree course deviation.18:37 The owner utilizes a Victron battery monitor to track house bank charging and recommends installing dedicated shunts for both house and starting banks to improve system visibility.18:13
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