Sailing to Australia. Our passage from Indoneasia. (Ep 311)
January 30, 2026 · 23 min · 3K views · Kapuas, Indonesia
What this video covers
Vernon, Marie-Morgane, and their young son Eli depart Indonesia after seven years and sail roughly 300 miles across the Arafura Sea to Darwin, Australia, departing around 10:30 p.m. to exit the anchorage while trade winds were calm.▶ 6:26 The boat covered 205 miles in the first 26 hours, sailing at 8–8.5 knots with two reefs in the main for much of the passage.▶ 17:38 Vernon started with a second reef and two-thirds jib, then shook out reefs when wind dropped overnight, angling 10–30 degrees upwind to bank distance before the midday trade-wind peak.▶ 7:49 He took 30–35 minute sleep intervals through the night watch.▶ 7:50 Minutes after departure, a canoe with no lights appeared 10 meters off the bow — avoided only because Vernon had just altered course for navigation reasons, not collision avoidance.▶ 11:54 He contrasts Indonesia's night-sailing hazards (no AIS, inaccurate charts, unlighted vessels, long fishing nets) with Australia's regulated environment.▶ 12:23 Wind died around 2 a.m. on day two; the crew motored the final stretch, anchoring briefly off Bathurst Island to wait out a 3-knot foul current before the 65-mile run into Darwin.▶ 18:23 Pre-arrival preparation included consuming or discarding all fresh food, frozen items, herbs, spices, and teas prohibited under Australian biosecurity rules — a foie gras tin discovered at customs was eaten on the spot rather than surrendered.▶ 20:54
More from Sailing Learning By Doing
From Sailing Learning By Doing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.