Velero Reginavideo
Azores to the Peninsula. What went wrong?
August 7, 2026 · 20 min · 1K views · Sagres
What this video covers
Javi and his crew completed a six-day passage from São Miguel in the Azores to Sagres, Portugal, describing the transit as exceptionally uncomfortable due to conflicting wind and sea states.0:48 While the wind blew from the northwest, a large swell generated by weather systems near Galicia hit the boat from the beam, creating a violent, "shaker-like" motion that made sleeping and cooking nearly impossible.2:35 This experience contrasted sharply with their previous 19-day crossing from Guadeloupe to the Azores, which they found smoother and more manageable despite the longer duration.2:26 Upon arrival, the crew anchored in Sagres before moving to Lagos, which they departed quickly due to poor holding and excessive tourism.7:23
Technical failures during the two-part Atlantic crossing included a cracked watermaker housing in Martinique, a broken remote control for the autopilot, and a snapped engine belt.11:12 Two days before reaching the Iberian Peninsula, the drive gear on the 30-year-old autopilot actuator failed, forcing the crew to rely on their wind vane steering system for the remainder of the trip.15:46 The vessel's rebuilt engine performed reliably, logging 80 consecutive hours during the first leg.17:42
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