Conquering The Australian Top End Alone: Epic Solo Sailing Adventure! | Learning By Doing Ep247
November 17, 2023 · 21 min · 5K views · Australia
What this video covers
A solo sailor on the catamaran Learning By Doing completes a 410-mile passage from Marchambar Island to Darwin, Australia.0:39 The transit involves light-wind trade wind sailing, requiring frequent adjustments to the rotating mast, prodder position, and sail configuration to maintain speed.9:06 To optimize performance in 6–10 knots of wind, the crew experiments with wind vane mode versus heading mode on the autopilot, noting that the boat’s light displacement causes it to accelerate rapidly on small waves, which triggers the autopilot to bear away and stall the sails.11:42 The final approach involves motor-sailing through the Vernon Islands to capitalize on a favorable 3-knot tidal current before it turns against the vessel.17:40 The sailor manages sleep deprivation during the multi-day trip by taking short, frequent naps while offshore.18:24 The passage concludes with a final leg in flat water at 50 degrees to the wind.19:12
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