LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT - VOTE Yes if you think the Transom doors are safe and NO if you think they are NOT!!! WATCH - https://youtu.be/_wK55agpLYk Are transom doors on Portofino catamarans a brilliant innovation… or a serious offshore risk? 🌊⚠️ In this episode, we take a deep dive into one of the most debated design features of the Portofino 52 catamaran — the aft transom doors that give incredible sea access, but also sit directly in the firing line of following seas and breaking waves. We ask the hard questions every offshore sailor should ask: • Can transom doors leak in heavy seas? • Could they fail catastrophically in extreme conditions? • Are storm boards really necessary — or outdated? • How strong is 15mm acrylic (Perspex) when it’s wave-slammed? • What happens to acrylic after years of sun exposure? To get real answers, we go straight to the source — Rafael, the designer — and break down the engineering, materials, certifications, drainage systems, gaskets, aluminum frames, and wave-impact design behind these doors. This isn’t theory. This is real-world boatbuilding, explained in detail. You’ll also learn: ✔️ Why these doors are RINA-certified watertight ✔️ How pressure from waves actually seals the door tighter ✔️ Why the dive room acts as a coffer dam for safety and buoyancy ✔️ The hidden long-term danger of UV-damaged Perspex ✔️ Why older boats fail — and modern ones don’t We finish by putting the decision back to you. 👉 Would you trust these transom doors offshore? 👉 Storm boards: Yes or No? Drop your vote in the comments and join the debate. If you love sailing, catamarans, yacht design, boat safety, offshore cruising, and behind-the-scenes boatbuilding, make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell — because the Portofino 52 launch is coming, and you won’t want to miss what happens next. JOIN PATREON if you want early release episodes, live updates, go sailing on out Portofino 52 and a chance to meet us at events throughout the year? Click here: www.patreon.com/BarefootDoctorsSailing Future proof your children with TUFMINDS Audio stories.... Help sleep, improve self image and confidence from little to teens - so get the pack for the age group and give your children, grandchildren the gift of a happier and healthier future!!! Every penny goes to Exqisit Life Foundation to support TUFMINDS Mental Resilience and Suicide Prevention Program worldwide! DONATIONS to the charity to support Suicide Prevention with the free TUFMINDS program can be made at: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DR5NY95QLCTP6 For more info: www.TUFMINDS.com and "The Art of BECOMING BETTER" YouTube channel www.barefootdoctorssailing.com.au

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Leveling up our skills 🚤 Completed our RYA Powerboat Level 2 training — gaining hands-on experience, mastering high-speed control, and learning precise manoeuvring. A valuable addition to our CVs and an unforgettable experience!

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Excitement mixed with fear, imposter syndrome showing up louder than expected, and that strange feeling of asking yourself if you really belong in a place you chose for yourself. Having my brother and his fiancée onboard made all the difference - space to adapt, learn, and ease into this new reality. It was a week of small adventures, quiet moments, and figuring things out one day at a time. Nothing dramatic. Just real life settling in. If you’re curious about what those first days actually felt like, the full episode is live.

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Would this kind of isolation scare you or would you love it?

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Thanks to the Hansen Trust, we are able to offer life-enhancing trips to students in Northland schools.

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