Sailing La Vagabonde · video

What this video covers

The crew of the 45-foot catamaran La Vagabonde prepares for a solo Atlantic crossing from Tenerife by performing a series of maintenance tasks and system upgrades. Mechanics identify and remove a piece of plastic debris causing friction in the steering system, while the crew reinforces a loose rudder post with fiberglass and additional supports.15:42 They service the winches, inspect the rig, and shorten the mainsail halyard.3:40 To ensure redundancy for single-handed sailing, they install a Pelagic backup autopilot actuator on the tiller and troubleshoot a B&G wind instrument alarm that triggers prematurely due to dampening settings.9:28 Additionally, the crew seals a leaking emergency hatch with adhesive to prevent bilge water accumulation.11:09 Between boat projects, the crew visits Santa Cruz for a medical appointment and goes paragliding near El Teide.13:12 They conclude the preparation period by planning a 40-mile shakedown passage to La Gomera despite a forecast of 17-knot gusts and seven-meter swells.22:57

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