Sailing Florencevideo

Sailing through LIGHTNING STORMS Mid-Ocean | Crossing the Indian Ocean Ep.107

August 20, 2021 · 23 min · 101K views · Indian Ocean

What this video covers

During a 3,000-mile Indian Ocean crossing, the crew of the 37-foot sailboat Florence encounters severe, persistent lightning storms and squalls while navigating the doldrums. The intense electrical activity forces the crew to store spare electronics in the oven to create a makeshift Faraday cage.9:07 Water intrusion through a cracked bezel causes the electric autopilot control panel to fail, requiring the crew to disassemble, dry, and reseal the unit with super glue and tape.11:15 Simultaneously, the masthead wind instruments stop functioning for 24 hours before spontaneously recovering.14:38 The crew manages constant sail changes, including frequent reefing and spinnaker handling, while dealing with extreme fatigue and inconsistent winds.7:19 They also perform a mid-passage repair on a chafed steering line for their wind vane.13:08 The crew eventually exits the doldrums and reaches the trade winds after sailing 200 miles further south than originally planned to avoid wind holes.22:28

Watch on YouTube

Boats in this video

Oyster Marine 37 HERITAGETheir boat

More from Sailing Florence

Russian GPS Interference? | Sailing Florence in the Baltic Ep.238Aug 2026Sailor's Unmissable Island Destination | Sailing Florence in the Baltic Ep.237Aug 2026Our FIRST SAIL in the BALTIC SEA | Sailing Florence in the Baltic Ep.235Jul 2026Kiel Canal – SHORTCUT to the Baltic | Sailing Florence Ep.235Jul 2026

From Sailing Florence — 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.

Report an issue