Chez Team · video

What this video covers

While approaching the entrance to Charleston, South Carolina, a cruising sailboat collided with a large, red channel marker buoy.6:33 The crew was distracted by a phone call with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent regarding missing clearance paperwork from a previous port.2:38 The collision occurred while the vessel was under autopilot at approximately 6 to 7 knots.8:48 Post-incident inspection revealed only minor cosmetic damage to the hull coating, confirming the structural integrity of the boat.8:34 The crew later determined the buoy was positioned roughly 300 feet from its charted location.6:59

Following the collision, the crew met with the CBP agent in Charleston to resolve the documentation dispute.9:03 Despite providing evidence that the administrative errors stemmed from unresponsive government offices and incorrect official information, the agent issued a formal warning, noting that a future infraction could result in a $5,000 fine.10:45 The crew subsequently navigated the Charleston area, noting strong currents and eddies in narrow passages that required full engine power to maintain control.15:44 They observed that navigating against a strong current provided better vessel control than running with the tide.15:44

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