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Bad weather… and finally a fish! | 5th day of crossing to Niue – Vlog 96
October 17, 2025 · 25 min · 8K views · South Pacific Ocean (between French Polynesia and Niue)
What this video covers
A couple sailing toward Niue from French Polynesia encounters a series of squalls and challenging sea states during a five-day passage. After failing to reach Suvarov due to unfavorable weather, the crew alters their course to find consistent wind, relying on engine power for 10 hours before finding steady conditions.▶ 0:11 They maintain a speed of 6 to 7 knots in 15 to 20 knots of wind, utilizing a jib for close-hauled sailing and a genoa for reaching.▶ 9:38 The crew manages the boat's motion in 2.5 to 4-meter cross-seas using a windvane self-steering system, which they prefer over the autopilot in sufficient wind.▶ 18:24 Connectivity remains a challenge; they use a Starlink system with a "Voyage Unlimited" plan, though performance suffers in heavy cloud cover and rough seas.▶ 11:40 To manage motion sickness, the crew utilizes scopolamine patches.▶ 15:14 They supplement their provisions by catching and canning bonito.▶ 6:59 The passage highlights the necessity of balancing boat speed with equipment preservation and the difficulty of maintaining reliable satellite internet in the South Pacific.
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