Sven Yrvindvideo
18 July 2025 Teaching a Teen part II
July 17, 2025 · 35 min · 1K views
What this video covers
Sven Yrvind and his crewmate Thomas sailed a 1973 Vega from Sweden to Florida in 2007, navigating the North Sea, the Forth and Clyde Canal, and the Atlantic Ocean. During the North Sea transit, the boat’s accommodation detached from the hull, requiring emergency repairs with epoxy and glass fiber in Edinburgh.4:20 The crew struggled with engine failures throughout the voyage, eventually securing a professional repair in Bangor, Northern Ireland.10:15 After obtaining U.S. visas through the American embassy in Belfast, they sailed south around Ireland, reaching speeds of 11 knots with a following gale and favorable tide.15:26 While crossing the Bay of Biscay, a cockpit hatch gasket failed, allowing seawater to flood the engine room and submerge the batteries.20:40 Yrvind restored electrical power by using hose clamps to bypass corroded cable connections.22:17 The voyage included a near-drowning incident when the boat drifted away from Thomas during a mid-ocean swim.23:30 The experience highlights the necessity of waterproof cockpit seals and the importance of maintaining redundant, manual repair methods for electrical systems in offshore conditions.
More from Sven Yrvind
From Sven Yrvind — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed 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.