Wind Hippie Sailingvideo
Cruising Auckland to Bay of Islands Solo WHSE122
August 7, 2023 · 25 min · 80K views · New Zealand
What this video covers
Holly, a solo sailor aboard the vessel *Gekko*, transits the New Zealand coast from Fairway Bay Marina to Opua in the Bay of Islands to prepare for an offshore passage to Vanuatu.1:52 Facing cold temperatures and a looming storm system with 50-knot winds, she executes a series of short coastal hops to reach Opua before the weather window closes.0:45 She navigates light-wind conditions that necessitate frequent motor-sailing, managing engine oil levels and a broken tiller pilot while relying on a wind vane for self-steering when conditions allow.4:53 During the transit, she anchors in various bays, including Smugglers Cove and Tutukaka, often arriving after dark and navigating rocky, poorly charted areas.10:41 She utilizes Navionics for anchorage selection and noise-canceling headphones to mitigate engine noise.3:04 Upon reaching Opua, she coordinates the delivery of a new Rolly Tasker sail, which arrived from Thailand in four days, to replace her existing gear before her departure for Vanuatu.20:05
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