Sailing Viento Del Marvideo

Sail to awesome Fakarava! Sharks everywhere!

July 15, 2023 · 25 min · 4K views · Fakarava Atoll

What this video covers

Viento Del Mar completed a four-day passage from Nuku Hiva to Fakarava Atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago, navigating through 25-to-30-knot squalls before arriving in calm, glass-like lagoon conditions.Watch The crew entered the northern pass and motored south through the lagoon, maintaining a lookout for fish aggregating devices (FADs) and shallow coral heads.3:54 To protect the reef at the southern anchorage, the crew attached fenders to their anchor chain to keep it suspended off the bottom.15:42 The southern pass, known as "Shark Wall," features a steep drop-off where large numbers of sharks congregate, particularly during the grouper spawning season in early July.22:23 Navigation within the atoll requires constant vigilance due to narrow channels, unmarked coral heads, and strong tidal currents that can reach 4 knots in the passes.6:33 The crew departed the atoll through the southern pass, timing their exit to avoid the shore breaks on either side of the channel.25:28

Watch on YouTube

More from Sailing Viento Del Mar

Wildlife at the waterholeAug 2026Whale and calf off Mozambique!Aug 2026Fun, sun, anchoring off Durban in “winter” May 2026Sailing Richards Bay to Durban Apr 2026

From Sailing Viento Del Mar — 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