Sailing Around Dakar To Gorée Island: Wet Bikes, Fouled Hull & The Rain Of Pain

We finally got the sails up with Diego and Pape, but our Sunday excursion to Gorée Island wasn't just about the journey—it was about the irony of the destination. Known historically as "Slave Island," Gorée is now a bustling local fun spot, a stark contrast to its dark past where people were once shipped across the ocean. In this episode, we join Hann and the crew for some chaotic "wet bike" action on a packed beach that felt like Waterworld. While the kids had a blast, the reality of sailing in Dakar during the hivernage (rainy season) quickly caught up with us. From discovering unexpected hull growth despite three fresh coats of antifouling (blame the polluted, hot waters!) to navigating the extreme weather shifts that define this season. We also hand the helm over to Faby—a natural driver—and reflect on the unpredictable nature of this bay. Between night storms, the risk of drifting moorings, and the story of a captain beaching boats in Dakar and Cabo Verde, this is the unfiltered, sometimes scary, but always thrilling reality of the sailing life. Join us for a day of high energy, historical reflection, and a sudden shower from the heavens that reminds us why we have to be ready for the worst-case scenario at any moment 00:00 Intro 00:33 Welcome aboard 01:15 Waterworld 02:09 Manning the helm 02:42 Swimming surprise 04:07 Hann helms 04:25 Beached boat,why? 05:56 Storm colors 06:19 Weather anticipation 07:19 Be ready 08:07 Rain of pain 08:34 Lightning strikes 09:02 Next week Some say it’s The Best Sailing Channel on YouTube! Agree or disagree, make your voice heard. Subscribe, like, dislike, or comment. DISCLAIMER: This series is simply intended to offer and give an alternative to conventional TV... for FREE! And if anyone has the good will to reward this series purely on merit because it's somehow funny, mildly interesting, slightly stupid, or bizarrely entertaining, you can do so by giving it a tip on Patreon or Ko-fi: https://www.patreon.com/SailorAlex? ko-fi.com/sailoralex Stay up to date with the following Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/windedvoyage/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/windedvoyage/ Winded Voyage Website: http://www.windedvoyage.com/ Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cuckooracha/ X: https://mobile.twitter.com/SwissSailorAlex/ #windedvoyage #sailinglifestyle #africatravel #solosailor #SailingLife #GoréeIsland #Dakar #Hivernage #SailingAfrica #BoatMaintenance #AdventureTravel #OceanLife #StormSeason #Sailors