Sailing SV Cordeliavideo
SAILING to WINDWARD, Conquering the THORNY PATH to St Martin
July 4, 2025 · 15 min · 1K views
What this video covers
The crew of the SV Cordelia, a Venus 46, completes a 66-hour passage from the British Virgin Islands to St Martin. The transit, intended to take 30 hours, involves motor-sailing to windward against heavy seas and current. To maintain stability and reduce heeling, the crew reefs the mainsail and adjusts the heading, resulting in speeds between 2.5 and 5.5 knots. During the passage, the crew manages loose gear in the cabin and navigates around a shallow bank to avoid a designated danger zone. Upon arrival in St Martin, the crew collects a replacement gearbox for their windlass, sourced from Cactus Marine in Plymouth. The unit is a 12-volt, 2000-watt model intended to replace a corroded component. The crew plans to modify the windlass installation to prevent future gear failure.
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