the reward for living at sea [ep 207]
June 27, 2026 · 18 min · 86K views · Fakarava
Woman snorkeling with manta ray in clear blue water
What this video covers
A Beneteau Oceanis 510 departs in 15-knot winds with gusts to 25, sailing downwind to reach an island where the pass is the roughest six miles of the trip.▶ 0:11 The davit is partially secured, so the engine hoists separately while the dinghy stays raised to avoid deck stowage.▶ 0:31 Buddy boat Casablanca leaves three miles ahead; friends Cole, Steph, and Josh aboard Agape follow a day behind.▶ 0:51 At the anchorage, the water is shallow with coral bommies, so Lauren snorkels immediately after dropping anchor to check swing radius and bommie clearance.▶ 2:43 She explains pearl floats: lengths of chain-lifting float that keep the chain suspended above coral, preventing both coral damage and chain snapping — she cites a nearby boat whose chain wrapped a coral head during a wind shift and parted.▶ 2:59 Wing foiling practice continues on a foil board after earlier paddle-board training, though a minor knee twist limits sessions.▶ 7:29 A drone flight on incoming tide reveals roughly ten manta rays feeding in unusually clear water; she drifts with them from the dinghy before a sundowner with the group.▶ 15:33 Floating anchor chain over coral bommies is a low-effort precaution against chain failure during unexpected wind shifts.
Boats in this video
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