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A Lucky Escape | Ocean Catamaran Sailing – Sailing Florence Ep.202
March 28, 2025 · 24 min · 75K views
What this video covers
The crew of a 14-ton catamaran faces a transatlantic crossing without an autopilot after the system fails beyond repair mid-ocean.0:29 To maintain a course, the crew shifts to two-hour hand-steering watches, which increases fatigue and disrupts sleep patterns.7:31 While hand-steering, the crew spots and rescues a sea turtle entangled in a net, a task requiring them to furl the genoa and maneuver the boat alongside the animal.1:54 The vessel, which features a protected helm station, allows the crew to manage squalls and rain without leaving the cockpit, though the boat’s heavy displacement requires constant steering adjustments to counteract momentum.15:36 During the final approach to the Caribbean, the crew encounters frequent squalls with gusts reaching 45 knots, necessitating reefing of the genoa.22:45 Despite the lack of an autopilot, the crew maintains an average speed of four to eight knots, relying on the boat's protected helm to stay dry during heavy weather.21:23 Hand-steering provides a deeper connection to the vessel compared to their previous experience on their 37-ft monohull, Florence.12:11
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