Velero Reginavideo

Sailing to La Graciosa for the second time

October 6, 2023 · 24 min · 2K views · La Graciosa, Canary Islands

What this video covers

A solo sailor navigates from Arrecife to La Graciosa, Lanzarote, performing a series of upwind tacks in 12 to 18 knots of northerly wind.3:00 The passage covers the northern coast of Lanzarote, requiring constant adjustments to clear the headland and enter the channel between Lanzarote and La Graciosa.16:53 The sailor maintains a single reef in the mainsail while utilizing both headsails, finding that the staysail simplifies the tacking process when sailing solo.13:39 To maintain a consistent upwind course, the autopilot is set to wind-vane mode.8:02 Despite a clean hull—recently scrubbed by a diver—the vessel faces significant resistance from head seas, resulting in a 10-hour transit.3:45 Upon clearing the northern headland, the wind shifts to a following breeze, allowing for a calm approach to the anchorage.20:21 The sailor deploys 45 meters of chain in 10 to 12 meters of depth at the La Graciosa anchorage.22:52 The passage confirms that weather routing predictions for upwind legs are highly accurate, though extra tacks may be required to account for wind shifts near coastal headlands.10:22

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