AZAB (Azores and Back) Race - Highs and Lows - Contessa 32
January 15, 2024 · 20 min · 6K views · Ponta Delgada Marina
What this video covers
A Contessa 32 completed the 2023 AZAB (Azores and Back) race despite significant crew injuries and gear failures. Upon arriving in Ponta Delgada, the owner dislocated his shoulder while stepping onto the pontoon.3:16 After medical clearance, he and co-skipper Mel Sharp, a professional rigger, continued the return leg.5:45 During the transit, the wind vane steering system’s rod snapped 400 miles from the Azores, but the crew successfully replaced it with a pre-stowed spare.9:58 Later, a spinnaker wrap forced the crew to cut lines, resulting in a damaged sail that required recovery in heavy Atlantic swells.12:52 The owner subsequently snapped his distal bicep tendon while attempting to retrieve a trailing wind vane blade.17:01 Despite these setbacks, the vessel reached the Isles of Scilly and finished the return leg in nine days, three hours, and 16 minutes.19:12 The experience highlights the importance of carrying specific spares for self-steering gear and the necessity of ergonomic modifications for injured crew.
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