Sailing Catalpavideo
Captain and his girl crew cross the gulf of tehuantepec Episode 452
June 29, 2025 · 24 min · 98K views
What this video covers
The crew of the Catalpa prepares for a passage across the Gulf of Tehuantepec, a region notorious for sudden gale-force winds funneling through mountain passes. Before departing, the crew relocates the boat to a more protected anchorage after a storm causes their anchor chain to strain against the bow roller. The owner identifies a failure in the stay furler, which prevents the sail from being properly secured, and notes the need to replace a damaged chain hook. One crew member departs the vessel to travel overland to Escondido, leaving the remaining crew to complete the 210-mile transit. During the passage, the crew uses a cedar plug lure to catch yellowfin tuna and mahi-mahi. They navigate around localized storm cells, maintaining speeds of 7 to 8 knots while monitoring weather forecasts via satellite. The vessel arrives at the entrance to Chiapas, Mexico, encountering 2.5-meter swells with a 16-second period.
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