Madison Boatworksvideo
20 | Crossing the Western Pacific on a Wooden Boat
August 9, 2024 · 19 min · 477K views · Pacific Ocean
What this video covers
Jonathan and Whitney sail their wooden boat, Julia, on a 700-nautical-mile passage from Fiji to Noumea, New Caledonia.0:34 During the second night, a slow-moving trough brings intense lightning and a sudden squall estimated at 50 knots.3:42 The vessel is knocked down and pinned on its side while carrying a full jib and a reefed mainsail.5:00 The crew harnesses up to the deck, eases the main to stabilize the boat, and struggles to furl the jib in the dark, resulting in a tangled mess of jibsheets and minor damage to the sail's UV cover.5:08 The crew adopts a watch schedule of three-hour shifts during the day and six-hour shifts at night to manage fatigue.2:21 Upon nearing the coast on the seventh day, they encounter an unpredicted, strong adverse current that creates steep, breaking waves.15:03 They successfully reach Noumea, planning to stay for several weeks before continuing toward Australia.18:52 Maintaining a manageable sail plan during squalls prevents dangerous knockdowns.
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