Blue Horizon · video

What this video covers

A crew of six sailing a large catamaran across the Atlantic Ocean from Cape Verde to Martinique experiences a catastrophic failure of their 320-square-meter parasail during a squall.24:28 While sailing in 30-knot winds, a sudden gust reaching 43 knots causes the masthead shackle to break, dropping the sail into the water where it acts as a massive sea anchor.23:51 The crew uses the boat's winches to retrieve the water-filled sail, preventing damage to the vessel or injury to the crew.24:35 Earlier in the 2,000-nautical-mile passage, the crew struggles with an undiagnosed leak in a cabin window that allows saltwater to soak electronics during heavy seas.21:21 The transit, which takes approximately 21 days, highlights the differences between managing a large catamaran versus a smaller monohull, particularly regarding reefing schedules and the high loads placed on rigging.28:32 The crew concludes that the shackle failure may have been a mechanical weak point designed to protect the mast from excessive stress during sudden wind shifts.30:00

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