Sailing Triteia · video

What this video covers

James, sailing his 1965 Alberg 30 sloop Triteia through Belitung Island, Indonesia, wakes to find his lithium house bank dead despite showing 90% charge at bedtime with only a fan and anchor light running overnight — the second lithium battery to fail on the passage.15:18

The failure forces a change from a planned 200-mile overnight push to day hops only, stretching the route to Malaysia.16:14 With his credit card blocked at Indonesian ATMs and no cash to buy a replacement, James borrows 3 million IDR from cruising friends Rick and Chantal aboard Shameless, then hires a driver named Ringo to reach town and purchase a 12-volt, 120 amp-hour flooded lead-acid battery for roughly $120 USD.21:47 He wires it under the chart table, bypassing the failed lithium bank, to power critical nav systems and the anchor light.23:32 Compounding the situation: a non-functional alternator (starter battery charges but not the house bank), a repaired diesel leak of uncertain durability, an exhaust hose leak, a broken fridge, a hard-starting engine, and a visa overstay after Indonesian authorities refused an extension.24:21 Navionics had also wiped Indonesia charts from his account, though copies remained on his iPad.16:34 Earlier that morning, James explored bat-filled granite caves at Belitung on foot, arriving before tourist boats to find the site empty.13:23

Replacing a failed lithium bank mid-passage with a flooded lead-acid battery wired directly to solar is a workable short-term fix when no other option exists.

Boats in this video

More from Sailing Triteia

Dangerous Sailing in Coral Passes & Storms in the Maldives on a 30ft SailboatAug 2026Pushing Through The Maldives - Cruising in Paradise At the Wrong Time of YearAug 2026Visiting a Tea Plantation and a Buddhist Temple with Paul from Galle in Sri LankaJul 2026Sri Lanka Adventures! Seeing Crocodiles, Sloth Bear, Elephants, Leopards and More on SafariJul 2026

From Sailing Triteia — 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.