Sailing Avantivideo
Wild Tuamoto's French Polynesia EP67
June 1, 2023 · 17 min · 11K views · Fakarava
What this video covers
The 500-nautical-mile passage from the Marquesas Islands to the Tuamotu Archipelago took the 40-foot yacht Avanti 80 hours, averaging 7.5 knots.0:54 The crew, Gerard and Jacqueline, navigated the atoll passes of Fakarava by timing their entry for slack tide to avoid currents that can reach 10 knots.1:28 To prevent the anchor chain from snagging on coral bommies in the shallow 8-to-10-meter depths, the crew utilized a technique of attaching fenders to the chain at 10-meter intervals.13:13 This method keeps the chain suspended above the coral heads, though the crew noted that fenders must be placed at least 10 meters away from the anchor to prevent the gear from lifting out of the sand.13:58 The southern pass of Fakarava is renowned for its high shark density, including the "Wall of Sharks" dive site.11:37 The crew successfully used a stand-up paddleboard to observe marine life in the clear water and performed drift snorkeling by tethering their dinghy to themselves while riding the incoming current.14:33
More from Sailing Avanti
From Sailing Avanti — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.