Sailing Jibseavideo
When back ups become the plan - offshore sailing to Scotland - Ep 264
February 1, 2026 · 16 min · 20K views · Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
Sailboat heeling hard, spray flying, heading toward Scotland
What this video covers
A 240-nautical-mile passage from Torshavn, Faroe Islands, to Stornoway, Scotland, begins with a NMEA 2000 bus bar failure that threatens the boat's navigation and autopilot systems.2:18 After replacing the bus bar, the crew of a custom aluminum sailboat manages to restore power to the instruments, though they lose AIS functionality due to a lack of available ports on the new unit.6:31 To mitigate the risk of a total autopilot failure during the two-night transit, the crew installs the Hydrovane rudder before departing the tight, rock-lined fuel dock.9:30 The passage involves close-hauled sailing in 8 to 10 knots of wind, followed by a period of motoring as winds die down.11:35 Upon arrival in the Outer Hebrides, the crew anchors in a bay east of Stornoway to wait for daylight before navigating the harbor's shallows and buoys to clear customs.14:35 Replacing a faulty NMEA 2000 bus bar can resolve intermittent instrument power loss, but carrying spare components is essential for maintaining full system redundancy offshore.
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