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What NOT To Do Sailing: 6 Scary Lessons Aboard Our Sailboat !
November 4, 2025 · 24 min · 14K views
What this video covers
A sailor recounts six near-miss incidents experienced while cruising on a 1980s ketch, emphasizing the importance of situational awareness and equipment maintenance. During a night passage, an unlit, drifting marker buoy struck the hull; the incident highlights that AIS does not detect unlit hazards and underscores the necessity of radar for night navigation.▶ 1:55 Engine failure caused by diesel bug—a bacterial growth occurring at the water-diesel interface in partially filled tanks—nearly drove the vessel into coastal cliffs during heavy seas.▶ 4:45 The crew also encountered a sudden squall while sailing in a river, demonstrating that near-shore waters can be more hazardous than open sea due to limited maneuvering room and the need to reef early.▶ 9:23 A separate incident involved a dangerous swim against a 2-knot tidal current in Sezimbra, where the sailor learned to prioritize swimming toward land or other vessels rather than fighting a current to reach a drifting boat.▶ 13:18 Finally, the crew experienced an anchor entanglement caused by a dragging powerboat, reinforcing the need for constant anchor watch, digital anchor alarms, and a readily deployable spare anchor.▶ 18:17
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