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Race to the Arctic: Tough for the fleet's smallest boat
June 25, 2026 · 3 min · 709 views · Sandefjord
What this video covers
An Aphrodite 101, a narrow, long-keeled 1970s design and the lowest-rated boat in the Race to the Arctic fleet, has just arrived from Sandefjord with water over the deck and a wet, rough passage behind her.0:06 Because she carries the lowest rating, the crew sails longer corrected distances than competitors and may receive no rest stops between legs.0:25 The skipper explains the boat was prepared with lithium house batteries, a new large genoa on furling tracks, a tiller-mounted autopilot, updated VHF, and safety gear.2:05 The Aphrodite 101 performs best on a flat reach with a spinnaker — while planning hulls pound through waves, the narrow hull can hold a more direct course in flat water and gains an advantage in those conditions.1:23 The skipper chose the race primarily to move the boat north along the Norwegian coast, a passage he had long wanted to make but could not spare three months to complete independently.1:47 The crew's stated goal is to enjoy the race and push hard when conditions favor downwind sailing.2:50
Boats in this video
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