The thing you think won't happen offshore
April 26, 2026 · 22 min · 13K views · Costa Rica Pacific Coast
Sailboat rounds Bat Island in choppy golden light
What this video covers
Aubrey and crew navigate the 31-ton, full-keel sailboat Houdini on a 154-mile, 26-hour passage from Nicaragua to Costa Rica.0:18 The route requires exiting a shallow estuary in Nicaragua with the assistance of a pilot boat to avoid grounding.1:35 Upon entering the Papagayo Bay, the vessel encounters 25–30 knot winds and choppy seas while rounding Bat Island.9:59 After anchoring in a secluded Costa Rican bay, the crew discovers the boat is taking on water due to a disabled bilge pump.11:07 A toddler on board had inadvertently flipped the bilge pump switch to the off position, leading to a flooded bilge and a burnt wiring harness that compromised the boat's electrical instruments.12:06 The crew later relocates to Bahia, Panama, to address the electrical failures and assess the need for major repairs.20:01 The incident highlights the necessity of installing a guarded or elevated bilge pump switch to prevent accidental deactivation by children or pets.
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