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Autopilot failure leaving Ragusa, heading to Monastir! (stressful)
22 June 2026 · 13 min · 568 views · Ragusa, Sicily
What this video covers
Departing Ragusa, Sicily, bound for Monastir, Tunisia — a passage of roughly 34 hours — the skipper's autopilot failed about two hours out of port when a fuse blew.2:24 The fuses were a non-standard type, impossible to find in local chandleries; a fellow sailor donated one spare.5:06 That fuse held briefly, then a loose connection killed the pilot again.5:44 Rather than hand-steer the entire crossing or turn back, the skipper rewired the fuse holder to accept standard automotive blade fuses, then switched to a backup autopilot.5:17 The primary unit is set aside for repair on arrival in Tunisia.6:26 Ragusa marina cost €45 for the night, which the skipper calls excessive for a small boat with no services beyond a berth; other Italian ports ran as high as €80–90.0:49 Under sail with the backup pilot engaged, the skipper spots what appears to be a fishing net ahead at dusk and deviates course to avoid it.8:59 Later, a dark cloud mass forces a decision on routing; the skipper threads a visible gap — a clear corridor between two dark cells — rather than altering course significantly, keeping engine revs at 1,500 rpm due to a minor pressure leak.9:51
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