Sailing Nova Vitavideo
SAILING THE ATLANTIC - PT3 - GEAR FAILURE and NO POWER
April 13, 2025 · 24 min · 2K views · Atlantic Ocean
What this video covers
A 14-day Atlantic passage aboard a Bavaria sailboat turns into a critical emergency when the autopilot fails, the house battery bank overheats, and the wind vane struggles with sargassum weed. After the autopilot’s electronic control unit burns out, the crew discovers the house batteries are dead and emitting acid fumes.15:07 To prevent a fire, the crew disconnects the house bank and reconfigures essential systems—including navigation and lighting—to run solely off the 75-amp-hour engine start battery.14:42 They disable all non-essential electronics and operate as a "dark boat" at night to conserve power.15:37 The wind vane, initially thought broken, is restored after the crew clears sargassum weed that had knocked the submerged rudder to a 45-degree angle.11:57 The vessel continues toward Martinique under wind vane steering, facing 30-knot squalls and 5-meter seas.21:16 The crew maintains a minimal power budget and prepares a grab bag while hand-steering or monitoring the wind vane in shifts.16:28
Boats in this video
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