Sailing Sweet Rucavideo
A 280 Mile Sailing Passage More Dangerous Than Cape Horn? [Ep. 137]
December 17, 2023 · 25 min · 29K views · Golfo de Penas
What this video covers
The crew of Sweet Ruca navigates the Golfo de Penas, a 280-mile stretch of open Pacific Ocean known for dangerous, confused seas and unpredictable squalls. During the 24-hour passage, the boat encounters 20 to 25 knots of wind and four-meter swells, creating a broad reach with true wind angles between 155 and 165 degrees.6:35 To manage the heavy loads and prevent accidental jibes, the crew uses a preventer and a boom brake while running wing-on-wing.14:12 A jammer failure occurs under load, forcing the crew to adjust sail handling.10:52 Navigational safety relies on PredictWind forecasts and Starlink for real-time data, while the crew maintains a close watch for commercial traffic, at one point calculating a 400-foot closest point of approach with a ship.18:26 After clearing the gulf, the vessel enters the Canal Abandonado and secures the boat with a four-point tie to the shore.24:22 Maintaining a safe distance from the rocky lee shore is critical to avoiding the fate of historical wrecks in these waters.
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