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Flying Downwind | Bahamas, solo sailing from Acklins Island to Clarence Town, Long Island (60nm).
February 11, 2026 · 21 min · 4K views · Acklins Island
Sailboat heeling hard downwind through open Bahamian sea
What this video covers
Vlad departs Acklins Island solo on his Amel 50, bound 60 nautical miles northwest to Long Island, Bahamas, timing the passage to stay ahead of an incoming strong south wind forecast to arrive the next day.▶ 0:21 The boat runs downwind, with the apparent wind angle shifting from 143° toward a beam reach as the route bends, pushing boat speed to 9–10 knots.▶ 5:17 Wind builds to a sustained 25–30 knots; Vlad rolls in the genoa slightly to reduce heel and stabilize the ride.▶ 17:43 The original destination, Little Harbour, proves unapproachable in the conditions — breaking waves block the entrance — so he diverts to Clarence Town, where a protected anchorage offers shelter from the shifting wind sequence.▶ 19:14 En route he passes the cruise ship Carnival Pride and notes a potential AIS crossing situation.▶ 13:18 The transcript also covers: a display flickering fix (reducing screen brightness triggers an energy-saving mode; setting brightness to maximum stops it); a three-day stop at Acklins where water and battery reserves ran down before solar and the engine alternator recovered them; and extended reflections on meeting minimalist sailors who sail without engines, refrigerators, or chart plotters, relying on paper charts and handheld GPS units. When Little Harbour is inaccessible in strong conditions, having an alternate protected anchorage already plotted is the practical fallback.
Boats in this video
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