Blue Horizon · video

What this video covers

Thilo installs an Ocean Spring watermaker aboard the *Blue Horizon* while docked in Milazzo, Italy, to increase self-sufficiency for long-distance passages. The installation involves mounting the pump, filters, and membrane in the aft locker, with the control panel positioned for easy access from the mid-cabin. The system produces approximately 40 to 60 liters of fresh water per hour at 55 to 60 bar of pressure. Following the installation, Thilo departs Milazzo with his parents to transit the Strait of Messina. Navigating the strait requires careful timing to manage currents that reach up to five knots. Thilo encounters choppy, confused seas and significant current, forcing the autopilot to work hard to maintain a heading. After successfully clearing the strait, the crew anchors in Taormina, Sicily, though they later relocate to a more sheltered bay nearby due to uncomfortable swell and shifting winds. The transit serves as a solo shakedown for Thilo before the crew prepares for an upcoming passage to Greece.

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