Sailing Nova Vitavideo
SAILING the ATLANTIC OCEAN - PT2 - steering problems!
April 6, 2025 · 29 min · 1K views · Atlantic Ocean
What this video covers
During a transatlantic passage from Mindelo to the Caribbean, the crew of the 38-ft Nova Vita encountered repeated steering failures caused by large accumulations of sargassum weed wrapping around the rudder.13:08 The weed buildup prevented the wind vane from functioning and overwhelmed the wheel pilot, forcing the crew to hand-steer for extended periods.11:58 To clear the rudder, the crew dropped the sails, engaged the engine, and cycled between forward and reverse gears to dislodge the debris.16:09 This maneuver successfully cleared the rudder four times over three days.23:32 The crew also experienced light-wind conditions requiring motor-sailing, followed by squally weather with 15–30 knot winds and 2–4 meter swells that necessitated the use of foul-weather gear.22:51 The onboard GoPro 8 failed due to water ingress during an underwater inspection, forcing the crew to rely on mobile phones for documentation.15:15
Boats in this video
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