The Mariner · video

What this video covers

Chris completes a 30-day solo transatlantic passage from Cherbourg, arriving at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on 1 May with no working engine — the MaxProp shed its blades — and navigates the final miles through dense fog under a small J5 headsail.2:37 The approach requires passing Cross Island, where Atlantic swell breaks audibly on the rocks and where a Volvo 60 Chris once skippered for 40,000 miles was later wrecked.1:47 With the anchor rigged for emergency deployment over the safety wires onto a 20,000-lb-breaking-strain warp, Chris uses the autopilot to hold course, monitors progress by watching fishing-pot buoys drift past, and plans to anchor inside Lunenburg outer harbour before kedging or sailing directly onto the dock if wind holds.11:05 The passage covered roughly 3,400 miles direct but closer to 4,300 sailed, bringing the cumulative total for the boat to approximately 9,000 miles including the Fastnet race and earlier Channel work.8:18 The voyage qualifies Chris and the boat for the Global Solo Challenge Around the World Yacht Race starting December 2027.3:21 Planned upgrades include new standing rigging, an inner forestay, and a full headsail inventory from J1 through asymmetric kites.3:42 Fog entry under sail with no engine demands a pre-rigged anchor, a known anchorage, and a tidal/wind forecast that provides a fallback if momentum fails.

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