The Sailing Brothersvideo
We Sailed To The Island Of THE WALKERS Ep 174
July 14, 2024 · 24 min · 13K views · Savu Savu
What this video covers
The crew of the 34-ft sailboat Atlas navigates a 50-mile passage from Savu Savu to Makogai Island in Fiji, contending with 14-to-20-knot easterly winds and steep seas.2:19 Approaching the reef-fringed island, they identify the entrance by locating breaking waves and monitoring depth, which drops to 11 meters within the channel.9:50 They anchor in 25 meters of water over a sandy bottom.12:17 Upon arrival, the crew follows local custom by presenting kava to the village chief before exploring the island.15:37 Makogai Island served as a leper colony from 1911 to the mid-20th century, housing up to 700 patients at its peak.15:54 The crew hikes a three-mile overgrown trail to visit the island’s school and historical sites, including former medical facilities and staff quarters once occupied by personnel known as "the walkers."20:36 The passage highlights the necessity of using high-resolution electronic charts and visual navigation when entering reef-protected anchorages in Fiji, where chart accuracy can be unreliable.7:53
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