Sailing Supernovavideo
More big problems on our first sail [Ep. 104]
25 July 2025 · 58 min · 73K views
What this video covers
The crew of a Sunreef 62 catamaran, Supernova, experiences recurring autopilot failures and hydraulic steering issues during a passage from Faro, Portugal, toward Palma, Mallorca. The autopilot frequently disengages with an "off course" alarm, which the crew attributes to either rudder misalignment or a hydraulic fluid leak. During the transit through the Strait of Gibraltar, the crew adds approximately 300 milliliters of hydraulic fluid to the system and periodically realigns the rudders to maintain steering control. The vessel encounters significant current in the Strait, which increases speed to 9–10 knots while sailing downwind. The crew also manages a starboard engine failure and monitors for orcas, which are known to frequent the area. Despite these mechanical setbacks, the vessel maintains progress by alternating between autopilot and manual steering. The crew suspects that sail balance and rudder synchronization are critical to the autopilot's stability, though the underlying cause of the recurring misalignment remains unresolved.
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