Sailing Some Tuesdayvideo
Navigating The Maupiha'a Pass - the Trickiest and Narrowest Pass in French Polynesia
August 10, 2026 · 3 min · Maupiha'a
What this video covers
Entering the Maupiha'a pass in French Polynesia requires navigating a narrow 20-meter-wide channel flanked by shallow coral walls.0:40 Steve Dunlap recommends approaching from the north to improve visibility into the pass.0:19 During the transit, Some Tuesday encountered a four-to-five-knot current against the vessel.0:23 While the center of the channel exceeds 100 feet in depth, the shoulders shoal rapidly.0:35 Two black-and-white poles mark the passage, but a red marker indicated on charts is missing.0:49 The crew hugged the right side of the channel to avoid shallow shelves and used a bow lookout to spot and steer around coral bommies.0:59 Despite the shallow areas, the vessel maintained a minimum depth of 12 to 14 feet with a 1.5-meter draft.1:41 After clearing the pass, the crew navigated toward the North Anchorage using satellite charts to identify deep water.2:13 A Lagoon 60 with a 10-meter beam successfully transited the same 20-meter channel.2:52
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