Dodging reefs, ships, crocodiles! Sailing to the top of Australia!
June 18, 2024 · 28 min · 857 views · Cape York
What this video covers
Viento Del Mar sails from Lizard Island to the northern tip of Australia, navigating the Great Barrier Reef via Lad’s Passage and the Albany Passage.0:09 The crew uses Navionics charts to identify reef markers and shipping channels while dodging isolated danger buoys and rocky outcrops during overnight watches.5:06 At Ninian Bay and Cape Grenville, the crew encounters shallow, murky water and crocodiles, preventing swimming.2:03 During the transit through the 3-mile-long Albany Passage, the vessel experiences a 3.5-knot current, requiring precise tidal timing to avoid fighting the flow.18:02 The crew coordinates with a German yacht, Ban Mai, throughout the passage.13:17 Upon reaching Cape York, the crew anchors near the northernmost point of the continent before proceeding to Thursday Island.19:34 The passage demonstrates that navigating the Great Barrier Reef requires constant vigilance for reef markers and careful tidal planning to utilize favorable currents in narrow channels.
More from Sailing Viento Del Mar
From Sailing Viento Del Mar — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.