Vagabond Voyagesvideo
Here we go again! After a 6-month hiatus, Vagabond is back at sea! Ep. 77
May 23, 2025 · 29 min · 12K views · Tahiti
What this video covers
After a six-month hiatus, the crew of Vagabond departs the marina in Tahiti for a 36-nautical-mile passage to Vaiare, Moorea.1:49 The transit begins in light winds, requiring motor-sailing for the first half of the trip.13:57 As the boat rounds the northern tip of Tahiti, wind speeds increase unexpectedly from 8 knots to 18 knots, forcing the crew to sail close-hauled into 1.5-meter swells.19:26 Upon arrival at the Vaiare anchorage, the captain discovers a structural failure in the stainless steel fitting connecting the rudder to the hull at the waterline.22:51 The rigid tube, which acts as a stay for the rudder assembly, snapped at the weld point during the final upwind leg.26:05 Despite the mechanical failure, the vessel successfully anchors in 3 meters of water.24:25 The crew plans to fabricate a repair while at anchor. The passage confirms that even short coastal hops in the Society Islands can transition rapidly from calm conditions to challenging upwind sailing.
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