Sail Vessel Khalifavideo
#18 800km crossing from Salvador to Recife
September 7, 2025 · 40 min · 8K views · Coast of Brazil between Salvador and Recife
What this video covers
Califa departs Salvador, Bahia on a Friday and reaches Recife, Pernambuco after four days and roughly 800 km, motorsailing and sailing with a crew of Adriano, Denise, and Alexandre. Fuel planning is tight: Adriano calculated only 15 hours of motoring available, requiring at least 70% of the passage under sail, so the engines run only at night to charge batteries.▶ 18:41 Under sail alone the boat reaches 6–8 knots; wind ranges from 9–10 knots in comfortable afternoon conditions to 27–30 knots during squall lines (pirajás) on the second night, with seas building to 3–4 meters.▶ 9:30 The crew takes two reefs during the worst squalls, steers 10–20 degrees off course to dodge breaking crests, and relies entirely on the autopilot through a new-moon night with zero visibility.▶ 11:30 A mahi-mahi (dourado) estimated at 16 kg is landed mid-passage.▶ 8:42 Arrival at Recife requires waiting for high tide before entering the Cui-de-Cabanga marina, because Califa draws 2.20 m and the basin drops to 1.5 m at low water; the boat anchors first at Marina Recife Hotel.▶ 30:34 Fuel budgeting on a long coastal passage leaves no margin if wind fails to materialize as forecast.
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