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This Is Why We Crossed The Pacific

June 16, 2026 · 18 min · 7K views · Rauria Atoll

What this video covers

A family with no prior sailing experience when they departed in June 2024 completes a Pacific crossing and arrives at Rairua Atoll in the Tuamotus after a nearly 500-nautical-mile, three-day passage from the Marquesas.0:40 The passage runs sporty enough that both children suffer seasickness, and light wind overnight forces motoring at three knots to avoid arriving at the pass before daylight.2:05 Timing the pass entry with the tide is essential; visual navigation through the cut is required, and several boats coordinate their entry together on VHF channel 17, queuing outside until conditions allow.5:20 Once inside the lagoon, the crew encounters black-tipped reef sharks in the shallows and extensive snorkeling and diving.7:56 The broader journey includes transiting the Panama Canal and sailing thousands of miles since leaving in 2024.17:16 The title's claim — that the Tuamotus were the motivating destination behind the entire Pacific crossing — is borne out: the atoll had been a planning goal since before the voyage began.0:38 Pass timing, daylight entry, and coordinating with other boats are the practical lessons from the arrival.4:57

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