PIRATE'S of MADAGASCAR! | Sailing Madagascar... Ep 391
February 19, 2025 · 20 min · 36K views · West coast of Madagascar
What this video covers
Traditional gaff-rigged schooners, locally referred to as pirate ships, operate as tourism and research vessels along the west coast of Madagascar.5:59 These wooden vessels are built in villages like Benusormer using a mix of traditional methods and modern power tools, often incorporating granite rock as ballast in place of a keel to allow for river navigation and beaching.6:34 Researchers currently use these schooners to document the transition of Madagascar’s commercial sailing fleet toward motorized transport.8:01 While sailing the coast, the crew of Nandji - Frothlyfe encountered these schooners near Nosy Be and Bailey Bay.1:54 The crew also navigated the waters near Cape St. Andre, timing their passage to daylight hours to avoid frequent thunderstorms and lightning.13:07 They maintained a vigilant watch for unlit local fishing craft and commercial trawlers operating without AIS.19:36 The crew’s transit south toward the Barren Islands was complicated by southerly headwinds and the need to manage visa expiration and the approaching cyclone season.14:09
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