Rough SAIL across Lake Erie with no autopilot [E277]
January 18, 2024 · 21 min · 10K views · Lake Erie
What this video covers
A family of four completes a 285-nautical-mile passage across Lake Erie in a new boat without a functional autopilot.20:22 Departing from Sarnia, the crew navigates the St. Clair River and Lake Erie over 46 hours, managing two young children while dealing with gusty conditions ranging from 5 to 28 knots.18:58 The crew chooses to sail only with the headsail due to stiff, unmaintained mainsheet and halyard tracks, as well as a lack of configured reef lines, which prevents them from safely managing the mainsail in heavy wind.7:37 During the transit, the crew experiences significant battery depletion after charging multiple devices, causing the BMS to shut down the inverter.11:58 To mitigate wave action and wind exposure, the captain hugs the northern shoreline, though shifting winds and unexpected chop near Long Point create challenging conditions for the final approach.10:50 The crew successfully anchors after nearly 48 hours of continuous operation, highlighting the physical demands of shorthanded cruising with children.20:02
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