Sailing Catalpavideo

How to CATCH and clean Crayfish Episode 54 (Sailing Catalpa)

November 4, 2017 · 21 min · 11K views · Thursday Island

What this video covers

The crew of the 38-ft vessel Catalpa departs Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, beginning a 350-nautical-mile passage to Gove, Northern Territory.16:09 The transit is expected to take three days with forecasted 15-knot winds.16:18 Before departing, the crew spends three weeks anchored at Thursday Island and Prince of Wales Island, where they practice spearfishing for crayfish and coral trout.14:45 To clean crayfish, the crew inserts a crayfish antenna into the rectum to clear the digestive tract before grilling.2:47 Navigation through the Torres Strait requires careful attention to tidal currents, which can reach speeds of nine knots; the crew advises working with the tide rather than against it.19:38 The crew also highlights Maikai, a cafe on Thursday Island accessible by boat, as a recommended stop for cruisers.18:11 The vessel carries a DJI drone, which the crew uses to film Green Hill and the surrounding islands.0:24

Watch on YouTube

More from Sailing Catalpa

they weren't expecting thisSep 2026one of the most remote islands on the planetSep 202629 days sailing Panama to French Polynesia the whole passageAug 2026what did we learn from a month at seaAug 2026

From Sailing Catalpa — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.

Report an issue