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We Set Sail in Perfect Conditions... Until I Made a Big Mistake | Sailing to Cat Island

April 27, 2025 · 16 min · 141K views · Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas

What this video covers

Before departing Cape Eleuthera for Cat Island, the crew of Doodles performs maintenance on their 105-pound Mantis Marine anchor, adjusting the tang after an incorrect assembly.0:28 To prepare for the open-ocean crossing, they hoist their dinghy onto the deck.1:23 While raising the mainsail in 10–12 knots of wind, a failure to ease the boom vang before the mainsheet places excessive tension on the rig, breaking the shackle on the main halyard block.3:54 After repairing the shackle, the crew sails with the mizzen and Genoa before deploying a spinnaker to sail deeper downwind.12:12 To minimize drag while motoring, they manually stop the propeller shaft to ensure the blades feather.8:03 Upon approaching Cat Island, the crew drops the spinnaker as wind speeds drop to 7–8 knots, opting to motor the final 10 miles to reach the anchorage before sunset.14:07 The passage encounters 6-foot swells originating from a previous northerly wind pattern.13:16

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Boats in this video

Island SPIRIT 525Their boat

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