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Stuck! The struggle to bring REYKJA back into the water
29 August 2025 · 12 min · 8K views · Tasmania
What this video covers
The steel-hulled sailboat REYKJA ran aground in Pilots Bay, Tasmania, after a storm front brought 35-knot winds and engine failure during a nighttime harbor entry.0:05 The grounding bent the skeg, jammed the rudder, and dented the hull.0:55 A tow to Launceston preceded a four-month repair process at the Tamar Yacht Club, involving hull section replacement, rudder shaft bracket repairs, and welding.3:42 Insurance through Pantanius covered the estimated 50,000 Australian dollar repair cost, minus the excess.1:38 During the haul-out, local tradesmen assisted with electrical systems, sail plans, and painting, including the fabrication of a new storm jib.8:51 Upon relaunching at Seaport Marina, the crew addressed air in the diesel fuel system and a delayed clutch engagement in the reverse gear.10:07 Due to the repair timeline, the planned return to Europe was postponed to avoid the Indian Ocean cyclone season.11:47 The owner now intends to remain in Australia for another year before potentially sailing to New Zealand.12:28
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