VOILIER ODINvideo
CAPE VERDE
March 22, 2026 · 31 min · 4K views · off the coast of Cape Verde
Sailboat plows through choppy Atlantic waves near Cape Verde
What this video covers
An 8-day Atlantic passage from an unspecified departure point to Palmeira, Cape Verde, aboard the sailboat Odin covers sustained 20–30-knot winds and 3–5-meter swells for most of the crossing.0:52 On day seven, a steering cable pulley bolt sheared, slackening all steering cables and leaving the boat without a helm in 25 knots of wind and 2.5-meter seas; repairs took until 3 a.m. The mainsail also tore in 25 knots, after which the crew sailed under genoa alone.6:16 Solar panels underperformed in overcast conditions, requiring the engine to charge batteries twice.5:08 A weather routing service provided by a contact named Eric proved accurate throughout.14:10 At Palmeira, the anchor initially dragged on what the skipper suspected was rock or reef beneath a thin sand layer before setting firmly in 15 knots.12:27 The crew later moved to a mooring buoy in 3.5 meters, secured with two heavy lines.19:19 Customs clearance required passports and a yellow quarantine flag; the flag was hoisted to port.9:19 Ashore, a taxi to the town of Espargos cost 60 euro cents; the local fish market offered fresh tuna and dorado.23:51 A steering pulley failure in heavy seas at night is a single small bolt failure away from complete loss of helm control.
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