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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.0:22 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.1:00 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.14:37 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.18:22 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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