Chez Teamvideo
The ship's autopilot breaks down, complicating our journey to Florida | Ep 69 - Chez Team
July 13, 2025 · 32 min · 44K views
What this video covers
The crew of a cruising sailboat navigates from Nassau toward the Berry Islands in the Bahamas, contending with a malfunctioning autopilot that requires frequent manual course corrections. To manage the steering failure, the sailors utilize a makeshift bungee cord system—locally termed a "yocord"—to maintain heading while transiting through shallow, shifting sandbanks. Throughout the passage, the crew relies on Navionics charts to identify safe dinghy landings and navigate waters where the depth sounder frequently indicates less than one foot of clearance beneath the keel. The vessel’s depth sounder appears calibrated with a significant safety buffer, a common feature on former charter boats, which complicates precise navigation in areas prone to shifting shoals. During the transit, the crew explores Harbour Island and the surrounding cays, observing local wildlife including nurse sharks, spotted eagle rays, and a tiger shark. The journey concludes with an assessment of anchoring logistics over a Blue Hole, where the crew determines that while the depth is manageable, the steep walls and potential for anchor fouling make it a challenging spot for an overnight stay.
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