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White-Water Engineless Sailing Into an Atoll—Most Dangerous Sailing I've Done | Ep. 14
October 15, 2025 · 13 min · 53K views · Rangiroa
What this video covers
A sailor approaches the Rangiroa atoll in the Tuamotus, French Polynesia, without an engine.3:02 Arriving an hour past the optimal tide window, the crew heaves to for 20 hours to wait for the next slack tide.1:14 The vessel, which lacks auxiliary power, relies on favorable wind to enter the 200-meter-wide pass. To mitigate risk, the crew coordinates with a contact on shore who provides real-time conditions of the pass.7:34 The entrance features two-meter swells and requires precise navigation to avoid coral heads and current.9:42 After successfully clearing the pass, the crew navigates to the anchorage within the atoll.11:48 The passage highlights the necessity of timing tidal currents and verifying local conditions when entering atolls under sail alone.
Boats in this video
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