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Sailing’s Greatest Misfit
20 September 2026 · 14 min · 47K views
What this video covers
Jarl Andhoy, a Norwegian adventurer, sailed a 27-foot Albin Vega 27 from Norway to Antarctica in 1996, crossing the Drake Passage in Force 12 conditions with two other crew before the boat had any reputation behind it.1:14 That voyage launched a career of extreme sailing that eventually ended in disaster. In 2011, Andhoy organized an expedition to sail a 25-ton steel yacht — also named Berserk — to Antarctica, unload two quad bikes, and drive roughly 1,500 kilometers across the ice toward the South Pole, timed to the 100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen's polar journey.3:50 Five men left New Zealand in January; Andhoy and 18-year-old Samuel Massey went inland while Robert Skanis, Tom Gisla Bellica, and Lenny Banks kept the yacht at anchor near Cape Roids on Ross Island.5:03 On February 21st, the New Zealand Navy patrol vessel Wellington warned the crew of 60-knot southerly winds expected the following day.5:22 Berserk left the anchorage anyway.6:07 On February 22nd at 5:53 p.m. New Zealand time, the emergency beacon activated 18 nautical miles north of Scott Base in winds above 100 knots and seas of 6 to 10 meters.6:24 An empty, damaged life raft was later found 45 miles north of the beacon position, with no sign anyone had boarded it.8:12 The three men were never found.8:49 Why Berserk left a safe anchorage before a forecast hurricane remains unanswered.
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