Madison Boatworksvideo
22 | A Boisterous Passage Across the Western Pacific, New Caledonia to Australia
November 23, 2024 · 25 min · 299K views · Coral Sea
What this video covers
A 800-nautical-mile passage from New Caledonia to Brisbane, Australia, subjected a cruising sailboat to six days of 20-to-30-knot winds and a confused 3-meter beam swell.14:06 The crew faced constant sail adjustments and frequent squalls, which necessitated shifting from six-hour night watches to three-hour rotations during the final 24 hours.22:48 A failed propane solenoid on the foredeck prevented cooking for three days until calmer conditions allowed for a temporary bypass.10:12 Upon reaching the coast, the vessel navigated a narrow ship channel behind Moreton Island, motoring against 4-to-6-foot wind waves in the East Australian Current.22:43 Customs officials in Brisbane inspected the wooden hull for termites but cleared the vessel for a $400 AUD fee without requiring the crew to unload the boat.23:28 The passage concluded with the crew cleaning salt-crusted gear and completing formal entry procedures.24:24 Constant sail changes and heavy weather make short, high-traffic passages more physically and mentally taxing than longer, stable ocean crossings.
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