Sailing Sweet Rucavideo
Alone in Nuclear Waters: Sailing to Rongerik Atoll [Ep. 183]
May 4, 2025 · 20 min · 31K views · Likiap Atoll
What this video covers
Kate and Curtis sail their 38-ft vessel, Sweet Ruca, on a 150-nautical-mile overnight passage from Likiap Atoll to the uninhabited Rongerik Atoll in the Marshall Islands.1:15 The crew uses PredictWind to monitor wave heights and wind conditions, aiming to avoid the three-meter-plus seas common in the region.10:22 During the transit, they encounter a sticking starboard winch, which Curtis cleans and lubricates while in the lee of the atoll; a full rebuild is deferred because it requires unbolting the unit from the deck.7:58 The crew navigates through remote waters while maintaining a constant watch for floating debris and abandoned fishing vessels, which they identify as potential drug-running boats from Ecuador.13:56 They maintain a beam reach with 10 to 13 knots of wind, achieving boat speeds of six to eight knots.13:24 The passage concludes with the crew arriving at Rongerik, an area historically affected by nuclear fallout, to explore the remote, uninhabited environment.0:18
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