Sam Holmes Sailing · video

What this video covers

A solo sailor navigates the Gambia River in West Africa, traveling 130 miles upstream from Banjul to observe hippos and visit local sites.Watch The transit involves heavy reliance on the engine, as the river’s narrow sections and prevailing winds often force motoring against the current.2:30 Navionics tide charts prove inaccurate for the upper reaches of the river, leading to multiple groundings in shallow mud.22:31 To manage insect swarms in the cabin, the sailor utilizes an electric bug zapper, which proves effective at night.19:43 The trip includes stops at a groundnut farm, the Wassu stone circles, and the ruins of James Fort on Kunta Kinteh Island.6:42 Drone photography allows for safe observation of hippos in the Gambia National Park without disturbing the animals.13:24 The journey concludes with a return to Banjul to resupply for an Atlantic crossing, with the sailor weighing a route to the Cape Verde Islands against a direct passage to Barbados.46:24

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