The Sailing Brothers · video

What this video covers

A 37-mile passage from Evans Bay, Wellington, to the Marlborough Sounds requires careful timing to navigate the Cook Strait tidal currents, which can reach 6.7 knots.2:32 The crew of the Maiden Butterfly monitors a flood tide that turns northwest at 1:00 p.m., providing a favorable push across the strait.2:01 During the transit, the boat experiences a foul tide that slows progress to 1.4 knots before the current shifts, allowing speeds to increase to over 7 knots.9:15 The crew identifies three primary hazards in the area: heavy ferry traffic, numerous crayfish pots, and significant tidal swings.17:06 Due to mechanical delays with the diesel tank and alternator, combined with the late-season arrival of autumn storms, the crew abandons plans to circumnavigate New Zealand and instead elects to sail only the North Island.13:19 They successfully anchor in a sheltered bay within the Marlborough Sounds, noting depths of 2.5 meters near the shore.21:51

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