Untide · video

What this video covers

The 40-foot sailboat Elixir navigates the pass into Maupihaa, a remote atoll in the Society Islands, against a six-knot outgoing current.2:44 The crew motors at full throttle to maintain headway against the tide before entering the sheltered lagoon.3:01 After anchoring, the sailors visit the island’s sole resident family, who subsist on coconut crabs, coconuts, and bird eggs while awaiting supply ships that arrive roughly every two years.5:34 The crew exchanges supplies for local food and explores the island’s infrastructure, including basic dwellings and outdoor facilities.5:30 Before departing for a 560-mile passage to the Cook Islands, the crew discovers the boat's windlass has failed.12:21 They retrieve the anchor manually by motoring forward to slacken the chain while a crew member hauls it by hand.13:11 The vessel exits the pass, timing the departure to utilize the current and a favorable weather window to cross the "dangerous middle" before the onset of cyclone season.13:27

Boats in this video

More from Untide

The Perfect Affordable Cruising Boat? (Dufour 31)Aug 2026Sailing with Orcas and Humpbacks in the Pacific Northwest!Aug 2026How We Get Paid to Sail in Paradise (Full-Time Boat Life)Jul 2026Getting SMASHED in the Pacific! Our Rough Sail to FijiJul 2026

From Untide — 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.