SDA 247 Rough Departure

Leaving the Dominican Republic was supposed to be a simple check-out, but a lost weather window, dead communications, and an engine leak overnight turned a routine passage into a battle to keep the water on the outside. Bureaucratic hurdles delay our clearance out of the Dominican Republic, forcing us to watch our ideal weather window slip away. On the morning we finally cast off, our Starlink completely fails, leaving us without offshore connectivity. The lost time forces us to motor through calm seas instead of sailing, and an overnight water leak on the starboard engine leads to flooding in the hull. Follow Sailing Dark Angel as an offshore passage from the Dominican Republic goes sideways with bureaucracy delays, lost weather windows, Starlink failure, and an engine leak causing hull flooding. -------------------- 🌊 Sailing Dark Angel follows our real-life journey sailing the Caribbean aboard our Island Spirit catamaran, sharing the challenges, adventures, and everyday moments of liveaboard sailing life. -------------------- 🎥 Become part of the Crew on Patreon Without a Crew, a Ship Has No Direction. Join the crew on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdarkangel -------------------- ⛵ Follow the journey beyond YouTube https://sailingdarkangel.com Lisa's personal blog is being added now. 🍻 Like what you see? You can even buy us a beer. Business inquiries: partners@sailingdarkangel.com -------------------- 📰 Featured in sailing media Latitudes & Attitudes Magazine 🍹 Rum tasting article https://digitalmagazine.latsatts.com/sailingdarkangel-5456 🌊 Bahamas snorkeling article https://summer2023.latsatts.com/theresthisplace#a_aid=640782a615fd9&a_bid=0e47bed1 Pussfoot Magazine https://www.pussfoot.com/blogs/water/sailing-dark-angel-sailing-and-slow-cooked-ribs -------------------- 🍹 The Dark Angel Cocktail We created our own signature drink, the “Dark Angel,” which placed 3rd in a Latitudes & Attitudes Magazine contest. If you’d like to try one yourself or order one at your favorite watering hole, here’s the recipe: Kraken Spiced Rum Ginger Beer Muddled Mint Slice of Lime If you try it, let us know what you think! -------------------- ⚓ Marine Electronics Support We trust Sea-Tech Systems for expert marine electronics advice and support aboard Dark Angel. If you're planning upgrades or troubleshooting onboard systems, these are the guys we rely on. https://seatech.systems/ See how they helped us: https://seatech.systems/2022/02/16/sailing-dark-angel-tests-sea-techs-marine-electronics-advisor-service/ -------------------- 🎒 Gear we trust We take our Ugowear waterproof bags EVERYWHERE. Amazing company, amazing gear. Affiliate link: https://ugowear.com?aff=34 -------------------- 🛠 Help keep Dark Angel sailing Amazon Wishlist https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/KYJVC8ZWGHY2 -------------------- 👕 Dark Angel & Be Nauti Swag https://spoiledbratdesigns.com/product-category/sailing-dark-angel-clothing-and-accessories/ -------------------- 📱 Follow the journey Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sailingdarkangel X https://x.com/SailinDarkAngel TikTok https://tiktok.com/@sailing_darkangel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sailingdarkangel -------------------- 🎶 Opening and closing song “Who We Are” by Miah From the band NINETEEN EIGHTY SEVEN Miah generously allowed us to use this song on the channel from the very beginning, and we've loved it ever since. Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/6WaNVPlzMwFn7WCVT3gVcJ https://nineteeneightyseven.com -------------------- Lisa & Dave Sailing Dark Angel © Sailing Dark Angel 2026