SAILING 2500 MILES CYCLONE SEASON (2-3) - why did I not abort for this? SwT 174

Sailing through the Torres Strait with no delays right on time for the outgoing current at the most challenging part. I'm sharing very simplified how I understood the new cyclone predicted in my path was not to be trusted. Join me on this amazing adventure as I leave Vanuatu and set sail for Indonesia on a 2500 nautical mile nonstop journey. Some say it is crazy some say it's impossible. I say it is doable with modern yacht and technology, knowledge, and a good strategy. In this series of 3 episodes, I am sharing my strategies and how I am executing this challenging sail. Several challenges in sailing such long distances during the South Pacific cyclone season, from Vanuatu to Indonesia. The obvious one is of course cyclones, but light winds and changing winds are just as big a challenge.

Thank you so much for tagging along, and for the patron's support in making this video possible.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING AND SUBSCRIBING!

You can also follow sailing with Thomas on other platforms for almost daily updated pics and videos, and even find yourself a new T-Shirt:

ABOUT THIS CHANNEL:
Sailing around the world in a Bavaria 55 Cruiser, making videos whenever we have time for it.

Even though this is season 6 on YouTube I did not make that many videos in the beginning. Before full-time sailing, I sailed several seasons in the Mediterranean prior to, and obviously also in Scandinavia. I have been traveling the world before and have also been an active regatta sailor. I had my first sailboat at age 7 and have been sailing ever since. Also, more than 10 years of experience in Search and Rescue at sea in Norway.

PLEASE BE KIND IN THE COMMENTS!
I'm just a normal person sharing my travel adventure through my eyes and experience from my perspective! Remember how I do things that might work for me but not for you. It might even not be the correct way to do things, and I don't have the blueprint either. I'm not perfect and nobody is. The day I believe I know it all and don't think I can learn new things I should go ashore.

[popeyeseamaster]

So refreshing to have a sailing chanel with sailing.

[adrianheywood]

just the BEST sailing channel. It frustrates me that you only have 21k subs. your sailing expertise/knowledge is outstanding. and you do a great job in taking us on the journey with you. THANK YOU. :)

[nick.caffrey]

I hope Bavaria are putting some money your way, Thomas. You certainly show off the 55'. You are one of the few 'real' sailors on YouTube. Emerald Steel are another really 'no s**t' channel.

[JC-]

You can see the love Thomas has for just sailing and being out there with nature.

[nooneanybodyknows]

Sailing in your hammock wearing your Santa hat on Christmas with no annoying Christmas music, only the sounds of the ocean and sailing is the best Christmas present. Add the amazing sunset @19:15 🤯.
Thanks for sharing.

[jammy]

Thomas, I can’t believe you have only 20+subscribers!!!
This is the best site on YouTube.
You’re a very experienced sailor and as don’t even have a boat, I can see how sailors without your knowledge can get into trouble!!
Your site is brilliant Thomas.! Keep up the good work!🥰🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[JürgenBrandl-kw]

Very nice video of your sailing, and I am seeing you very lucky! I like this most beautiful sunset over the ocean 😊🌏!m

[kj]

Dang…Thomas should have more than 100K subscribers. This one-man show is the best true sailing channel that’s not in the North Atlantic(Erik).

[angelikaopland]

Minute 7:00, you still have wind ripples on the water & decide "No wind". Letting the sails chafe is obviously not good, but my experience has been that if you have a way to get your vessel to heel to leeward (shifting ballast or crew), the sails will continue to hang that way, will fill with surprisingly little air movement & will allow you to keep sailing if you don't mind slow progress. I have sailed a 21-foot sharpie cat-schooner this way when the moving air no longer touched the surface of the lake & the only visible ripples were my own tiny bow waves. I've also "sailed" a 40-ton staysail schooner in a flat calm by placing it beam-on to the swells & letting the rolling motion & the close-sheeted sails (minus the overlapping jibs) "swim" the vessel forward as they pressed from side to side.

When I was left on deck & the rest of the crew went below to wait for wind, that schooner was pointed straight into the gentle swells. As I sat there in the cockpit, it began gathering a little sternway & my first thought was to prevent it from pointing toward the not-so-distant California coast (or lose distance to leeward by continuing to surf South), so I put the helm over to right rudder & let it surf over to what would have been a starboard tack if there was wind. That's when the rolling began driving it forward, & there were some "cat's-paws" farther offshore, so I let it head that way. We probably hadn't gone more than 100 yards or so when the breeze came back in to meet us & the crew re-emerged to reset the jibs, but it was an interesting experiment.

[darrellpugh]

another great video! Fair Winds 😎

[somadevo]

What an epic crossing and tribute to your sailing capabilities. Much Love to you skipper. Highest Blessings

[angelikaopland]

Your method of zig-zagging downwind is the same as I've been using since we bought our Hunter 22 6 years ago, just to make those runs back down the lake a bit more fun. The old cat-schooner was plenty fun & fast, running straight downwind, wing-&-wing. This works SO much better when both sails have booms.

[admir_]

Impressive! You are one of the few true sailing chanels here on YT, and thanks for sharing your wonderful adventures with us!

[aquasapien]

Just felt like i was sailing with you... What a pleasure. Thank you Thomas.

[jbontherlt]

Wow what an amazing sail you are having. You have so much knowledge about the weather and take a very considered and cautious approach. Thank you for sharing this with us.👍

[hedleyjackson]

Beautifully captured sailing as ever. Some sunrise sets glad you had the weather with you, great planning.

[geirt.christiansen]

Jævlig bra seilt Thomas :) Gøy å følge deg. Geir S/Y Ocean Viking

[TheHiground]

Blessed be / from one happy warrior to another.

[mememe]

Great forecasting and beautiful sailing! Great channel..thank you

[FreeRadicalslifestyle]

Thanks, Thomas, You have a very good perspective on understanding weather routing and making decisions for the type of passage you are doing I know you say say it is not a "how to" video but its great to see you make the decisions you do and the data you use to formulate your decisions.