30 mistakes I made and things that broke on my solo circumnavigation on Sea Change, Part 2 of 3
20 December 2025 · 27 min · 10K views · Kalafesia, Ha'apai
Sea Change sails across deep blue ocean under bright sky
What this video covers
A 1989 Pacific Seacraft 34 named Sea Change completes a solo circumnavigation, and this segment covers mistakes 13 through 18.0:01 At Makimo Atoll in the Tuamotus, a difficult pass entry at 3,000 rpm led to anchoring in 80 feet with all 200 feet of chain out; the chain fouled on coral and required a Norwegian crew from the boat Adelante to help break it free by repeatedly motoring hard forward and back.1:11 Two years later at the remote Tongan anchorage of Kalafesia, the strain from that breakout had cracked the anchor shackle — a stainless one that was also undersized — which failed overnight in strong wind surrounded by reef.4:57 The fix: replace with the largest rated galvanized shackle whose pin fits the chain's final link, and remove the swivel.5:11 Standing rigging original to the 34-year-old boat showed broken strands at the tops of the lower swages on seven accessible wires, discovered at Beveridge Reef between the Cook Islands and Niue; backup halyards and lifelines substituted while the boat sailed 600 miles to Fiji, where bottom swages were replaced with long stud Staylocks at $1,000 total.6:27 Ten months in Fiji's water caused the stuffing box nut, outboard bracket screws, and throttle and transmission controls to seize with corrosion; the throttle lever broke during forced disassembly and was replaced with vice grips for the remainder of the circumnavigation.13:06 A Whale manual bilge pump failed at a plastic fitting during hard use; two hose clamps repaired it.17:08 A corroded, oversized engine negative wire caused chronic starting problems and was replaced with a shorter, thicker wire.19:15 A 33-year-old 100% jib tore across a full panel in a squall on passage to New Zealand.21:40 The transmission lost forward gear at Marsden Cove Marina — traced to a leaking rear oil seal draining clear transmission fluid into the bilge — and was replaced for $600; worn engine mounts discovered during removal cost an additional $200 to replace.23:39 Reverse gear later burned out at Torres Strait after hard use setting the anchor in current, and by Port Elizabeth forward gear was slipping at anything above idle. Stainless shackles and original standing rigging both degrade silently and should be replaced on a schedule, not after a failure.
Boats in this video
More from Hugh Robertson Sailing
From Hugh Robertson Sailing — 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.