Sailing Catalpavideo
Sailing to the most remote waves in the tuamotus
October 18, 2026 · 19 min · 15K views · Tuamotus
What this video covers
The crew of Catalpa spent one week anchored in a remote atoll within the Tuamotu Archipelago, navigating 40-knot winds and 3.5-meter swells to access surf breaks.7:57 Because the anchorage lacked proximity to the waves, the crew completed daily five-nautical-mile round trips in their dinghy, often in 25-knot winds and rough conditions.8:18 High wind speeds prevented the use of a drone for surf scouting, forcing the crew to rely on physical inspections.9:02 During these missions, a crew member sustained a reef cut on a toe, which was treated with Bactroban antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.6:41 After depleting their fuel reserves on these dinghy trips, the crew departed for Rangiroa to restock fuel and food supplies.9:55 They timed their departure to ensure a daylight arrival at the Rangiroa pass, planning to continue to Tikehau for further surfing.15:47
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