Wind Hippie Sailing · video

What this video covers

A 550-mile passage from Roti to Lombok, Indonesia, requires careful timing to navigate the Lombok Strait’s strong currents, which can reach 8 knots.9:57 The crew of the Gekko, a small sailboat, plans their arrival for 7:00 p.m. to coincide with slack tide.10:02 To maintain the necessary 5-knot average speed, they utilize favorable currents and 15–20 knot winds.1:46 The vessel experiences significant rolling due to a 9-foot, 16-second period swell hitting the beam while wind-driven waves push from behind.18:09 To improve steering stability in following seas, the crew replaces the wind vane paddle with a smaller version.5:19 Navigation hazards include unlit bamboo fish aggregation devices (FADs) and numerous local fishing boats that do not transmit AIS.8:29 The crew manages a leaking dripless stuffing box by manually adding oil and pumping the bilge.11:06 They maintain a flexible watch schedule, favoring longer rest periods when conditions allow.17:38

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