Friend Ships
June 27, 2025 · 22 min · 66K views
What this video covers
Barry Perrins departs Reunion Island for Richards Bay, South Africa, navigating the Mozambique Channel while managing heavy commercial shipping traffic and adverse weather. During the transit, the boat encounters a collision risk with two large vessels at 1:30 a.m., requiring a course alteration to maintain a two-and-a-half-nautical-mile separation. The vessel experiences rough seas that break the stove mountings, necessitating a permanent repair with screws to secure the unit. To avoid headwinds and a developing front, the boat temporarily heads south away from the intended route while awaiting updated weather forecasts via an Iridium Go satellite device. The crew also addresses safety concerns by fabricating a cockpit-based relief device to prevent the dangerous practice of relieving oneself over the side while underway. The passage remains characterized by high stress, sleep deprivation, and frequent cockpit swamping from heavy seas. Securing heavy equipment and maintaining a reliable weather-monitoring routine are essential for managing the volatile conditions of the Mozambique Channel.
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