Sailing Zephyr IVvideo
Autopilot FAILS After Leaving Marina | Live Repair
3 July 2025 · 9 min · 895 views · Chichester Harbour
What this video covers
Dave and Bill encounter an autopilot failure on Zephyr IV shortly after departing Brighton Marina.▶ 0:23 The system locks up, forcing manual steering during the transit toward Chichester Harbour.▶ 0:16 Dave identifies the fault within the autopilot computer, which is located in the lazarette.▶ 0:16 He discovers that a nearby mains connector leaks water onto the circuit board, causing the malfunction.▶ 0:31 After cleaning the board and applying WD-40, he reassembles the unit.▶ 0:51 The autopilot resumes operation, allowing the crew to navigate into Chichester Harbour, where they anchor in 20 feet of water near Itchenor.▶ 6:07 During the subsequent passage toward Portsmouth, the autopilot experiences recurring issues.▶ 7:18 The crew decides to return to their home berth at Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport to perform a more thorough repair.▶ 8:27 Navigating the Chichester Harbour entrance requires careful attention to the channel markers and tidal flow, as the area near the entrance is shallow and prone to rough conditions.
Boats in this video
More from Sailing Zephyr IV
From Sailing Zephyr IV — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.