Breaking Waves · video

What this video covers

After sustaining hull damage from a reef grounding, the crew of the 40-foot sailboat Kiana prepares for a 270-mile motor-passage from Fakarava, Tuamotu Archipelago, to Tahiti for repairs.8:30 The boat suffers from a malfunctioning windlass, a makeshift snubber, and compromised solar panels.9:04 To mitigate risks during the transit, the crew increases their diesel reserves to 44 hours of motoring capacity, performs a hull inspection for crack propagation, and updates their ditch kit with an Iridium GO! satellite communicator and a portable battery.12:43 They depart Fakarava in 20-knot winds, accompanied by the buddy boat Promise Kept, and navigate through 8-to-10-foot short-period swells.16:46 The crew plans to utilize the leeward protection of the atoll to minimize hull stress before heading into the open Pacific.18:00 Despite initial anxiety regarding the boat's structural integrity and the psychological impact of the grounding, the vessel remains stable during the first day of the passage.19:57

More from Breaking Waves

THE FINAL Passage! | Sailing New Caledonia to New ZealandJul 2025Boatlife - From Sea To Fire| INSANE ACTIVE VOLCANO Trek and Our Final Sail from VanuatuApr 2025OFFGRID In the Jungle: A Primitive Community ExperienceMar 2025THE TRUTH UNCOVERED | What Sailing Is ACTUALLY Like In The Remote Corners Of the Pacific OceanMar 2025

From Breaking Waves — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.