Hugh Robertson Sailing · video

What this video covers

A Pacific SEACRAFT 34 named Sea Change completes a trade-wind circumnavigation but faces eight forced upwind beats across three seasons, documented here in chronological order. The first, in the Marquesas in May 2022, ends when a westward current and 125 miles of upwind distance to Fatu Hiva make the attempt impractical; the skipper bears off for a 500-mile beam reach to the Tuamotus instead.4:07 The second succeeds: a 50-mile beat from Fakarava to Tahanea Atoll, requiring roughly 120-degree tacks and an overnight passage to scrape past Tahanea's northern point by half a mile at dawn.7:12 The third covers 40 miles to Wai Lagilagi Island in Fiji's Lau group, completed only with engine assistance to achieve 90-degree tacks.8:20 The fourth is a 16-hour motor-sail to Minerva Reef from Fiji, where a 180-degree tack without the engine proved useless.11:16 The fifth, the 1,000-mile Fiji-to-New Zealand passage in November 2023, includes six days beating into southeast trades on port tack and ends when a squall tears the jib in half.15:03 The sixth is a wet beat across Bream Bay into Whangarei, scraped past Busby Head by 100 metres on a lucky wind shift.19:57 The seventh rounds the southern tip of Tana Island, Vanuatu, only because a 5-degree favourable shift arrives at the critical moment.22:04 The eighth covers the Windward Islands chain from Grenada to Martinique, with the St. Vincent crossing badly misjudged by not leading foresails inside the shrouds against a strong westward current.24:25 Throughout, Sea Change's heavy bow weight, bagged-out 30-year-old sails, and high windage consistently degraded upwind performance.

Boats in this video

More from Hugh Robertson Sailing

26 differences from most other cruisers, part 2 of 2Apr 202626 differences from most other cruisers, part 1of 2.Apr 202630 stories of sailors less fortunate than me during my ocean-sailing years on Sea ChangeJan 202630 mistakes I made and things that broke on my solo circumnavigation on Sea Change, Part 3 of 3Dec 2025

From Hugh Robertson Sailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.