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ELIXIR SAILS AGAIN! Hectic NZ Shakedown

April 30, 2026 · 12 min · 18K views · Mount Maunganui

Sailboat Elixir glides across Bay of Islands at golden hour

What this video covers

Max and Rachel prepare their Swan 37, Elixir, for a 1,000-mile passage from New Zealand to Fiji.10:36 Before departing, they perform maintenance including replacing a wind vane and cleaning the hull.1:32 The vessel grounds briefly at low tide in Tauranga, forcing the crew to relocate their second boat, Echo, to a mooring.4:09 During the coastal shakedown sail from Tauranga to the Bay of Islands, the crew encounters consistent 30-knot winds with 35-knot gusts, requiring them to reef down to three reefs while sailing up the Coromandel Peninsula.6:11 They maintain a three-on, three-off watch schedule to cover the distance before the wind dies.8:00 Upon arrival in Opua, the crew conducts a rig check and identifies minor chafing.9:58 With visa and import deadlines approaching, they finalize preparations for the offshore transit to Fiji, including welcoming a new crew member.10:45 The electrical system and water maker remain fully operational throughout the transit.9:35

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