time to go.. back to 'civilization'? [ep 198]
March 26, 2026 · 18 min · 303K views · Tuamotus
Woman at bow of sailboat, turquoise sea behind
What this video covers
Departing buddy boats Isla, Pinnacle, and Nanooka after a season together in French Polynesia, Lauren sails solo from the Tuamotus to Rangiroa — roughly 56 miles — on a squally, windless-then-gusty weather window chosen specifically to gain easting before sustained easterly trades lock in.0:58 She motor-sails with half the main out to manage squalls, hits 20–25 knots on the nose, fails a tack at too-low speed, drops the sails, and motors the final stretch, arriving in 20–25 feet of water at a tight anchorage with limited swing room.7:22 At Rangiroa she navigates two anchorages and two passes, timing grocery runs around a cargo ship's presence (which depletes the best store), a scooter ride of roughly 12 miles to the far side of the island, and a broken ATM link at the airport for a multi-island Air Tahiti reservation. She also deals with nerve pain, nausea, and three days of seasickness-like symptoms.15:04 Her brother arrives in 48 hours; her parents in a week and a half.13:05 The family will cruise the Tuamotus and Society Islands together, requiring coordinated inter-island flights booked by email rather than online.13:49
Boats in this video
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