#04 Radar in the ice - Mainsail rip - Vertical time
8 March 2026 · 27 min · 3K views · Antártida
What this video covers
A 40-centimeter tear in the mainsail's head — the section that never gets protection and works constantly — forces the crew to drop the sail, prepare it, and repair it with four layers of patching material (two thin glued layers per side plus heavier cloth) while using a heat gun to cure the adhesive in near-freezing temperatures.3:21 Until the repair is complete, the boat runs on the yankee alone, still making 9–10 knots.7:15 The crew is navigating through ice-laden waters approaching the Weddell Sea, which they describe as a factory for icebergs and growlers, routing along a diagonal track chosen from an iceberg-density chart to pass through the lowest-concentration quadrants.14:07 Two radars run simultaneously: one set to 1–1.5 miles to detect small ice close aboard, the other to 6–12 miles for advance warning.5:59 A recent knockdown flooded the saloon through closed portlights under wave pressure, soaking the electrical panel and forcing a full AC shutdown; the crew dried and restored it the following day.20:47 Energy comes from a hydrogenerator, solar panels, and a wind generator, producing nearly 30 amps combined without running the diesel.10:43 The boat is roughly equidistant between South Africa and Argentina, heading east toward the Greenwich meridian before turning south toward 66°S.17:09
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