Untide · video

What this video covers

The 37-foot Sparkman Stevens Swan *Elixir* cruises the Tuamotus archipelago in French Polynesia, navigating remote atolls like Tahanea and Fakarava.0:13 Accessing these lagoons requires timing entries and exits with slack water to avoid dangerous currents in narrow reef passes.6:17 While anchored in Fakarava, the crew performs routine maintenance, including cleaning corroded electrical contacts on the windlass switch and re-greasing winches to resolve sticking.9:49 Freediving in the passes offers access to abundant marine life, including blacktip reef sharks and grouper, though spearfishing requires caution to avoid ciguatera poisoning.7:08 Anchoring inside atolls presents specific challenges; fetch across the lagoon can create a steep, uncomfortable chop when winds shift, occasionally forcing a relocation to find shelter.14:09 During one departure from Fakarava, the crew encounters heavy surf that causes the bow to pitch significantly while retrieving the anchor.13:42 Proper timing of tidal windows and monitoring wind shifts are essential for safe navigation and comfortable anchoring within atoll lagoons.

Boats in this video

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