NORTH Atlantic Autopilot FAILURE - Sailing to ICELAND [EP 201]

If you missed Part 1 of the journey, you can check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXPco5avfr2EjKc
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[@lib747]

You two effortlessly navigate through every hurdle that comes your way, all while sporting infectious smiles. It's as if you were born to master the art of overcoming challenges-the epitome of the Millennial Falcon spirit!"

[@floathi]

The real deal. No drama . Just good seamanship. Thank you both.

[@chrislgriffiths]

Really well done, guys, great fix on the ram mount and Khiara's irrepressible cheerfulness is an inspiration.

[@joelpeterman7046]

Indeed Well Done! Terrific episode with great shots and music, videography top notch. Adam is such a "nautical nerd" and I mean that as a true compliment. :)

[@jonunya3128]

the 2 of you snugged up together in the cockpit looking at your route (5:25 or so) was adorable. wish you the very best, thanks for living my dream!

[@danaroberts5094]

a good engineer does what a good engineer does - Wow! Good job Adam!

[@966Mako]

Haven’t been watching for a while, but I’m back for the Iceland adventure. And that it has been so far. 😊

[@nick.caffrey]

Super episode. So glad you opted for Iceland. This is the way you become sailors. Safety is the first consideration, but sometimes you just have to make the call.

[@averagejoe1943]

Are you two weather forecasters? 🤣🤣🤣 I applaud both of your optimism, and the way you have chosen to do the hard right, versus the the easy thing of running to harbor when it gets tough! Keep it going, and stay warm!

[@clintgordon6898]

Nice work on the auto-pilot repair, complete with parts scavenging. I'm proud to nominate you as an honorary redneck.

[@ianscott3180]

Welcome to sailing in the North Atlantic, look on the bright side? We get a few good days in the summer and when you feel the warmth again going south it will be soooooo good. Great video guys.👍

[@MartialLoreNZ]

Just want you guys to know that there are only 2 channels on KZbin that I can't wait to find new uploads. Sailing MF and Samson Boat Co. The absolute highlights of my viewing week.

[@andytaylor97]

This is the epitome of adventure. Fantastic effort on both your parts. I guess it also helps that Adam has the aerospace engineering background to not be daunted by such a task an Kiara has the English Keep Calm and Carry On aspect - a perfect combination…. I look forward to the arrival in Iceland episode that is coming next (I presume!)

[@jiefflerenard1228]

what a pair of beautiful intelligent and positive fellows , as an old man it gives me hope in the future

[@ballomni]

Sheet to Tiller! In An Emergency with a down Auto Pilot. And using the emergency tiller.. Wind Vain steering can be setup with the emergency Tiller, and a couple of bungee cables too the Lee ward side, as the elastic, and a sheet from the main boom through a block on the windward rail, then too a half hitch on the tiller. Lots of trial an error to get it right. Not a bad idea too setup a system when you do not need it couple of cam cleats and depending on your emergency tiller how many blocks to need too make it work, but have used it has a wind vain system for years on my Cape Dory 25 in the 70’s. You can technically make it work on a wheel helm but takes more work..

[@scubaseas1]

You really should consider beefing up the mount (glass and plywood works fine) and get a tiller arm. Bolting to the quadrant is a big no-no. If you break the quadrant you won't have any steering but for the emergency tiller which takes quite a bit of force to operate.

[@johnmatthew6007]

Adam's Autopilot fixing hack... Happy to see good Safety Shoes 😂

[@Abc-kf4qx]

Great video as always! Have you considered mounting a couple cameras for some fixed views of you and the boat while underway? Keep up the awesome work!

[@darrylmunro96]

You’re an impressive pair, well done with your voyage thus far. Can’t believe how good your cinematography is on these legs with so much happening. ❤❤❤

[@TTM-GEB]

Awsome... Awsome... Awsome Video! You did such an awsome job capturing the essences of it all. 😮

[@Sailor-Dave]

Hey, Raymarine! Not cool! Adam, you are a Southern-engineering genius. Well done, sir!

[@charlesmigneault7918]

That weather, cold and rain and eventually snow, is what northern latitudes are all about. Get used to it cause you'll get a lot of that rainy temperature coming your way.😅

[@TheOlandex]

I absolutely love you guys. I'm living vicariously, having sold my boat about a year ago. Can't wait to get my next boat, but I doubt a trans-Atlantic journey is in the cards for me. Coastal cruising seems to be as far as I can get. Who knows - maybe circumstances will change. But until then I'll keep watching you two doing what you do. Love it.

[@Susan-fg9jb]

Love this video! More doing, more water, less talking is the formula to stick with. So interesting to see how you repaired the auto pilot and trouble shooter the noise on the hydro vane. Had me stuck to the screen the whole way through.

[@matthewbaynham6286]

Yeah that weather looked so bitterly cold with Khiara still in bear feet (when she went up from to do a deck walk). I'm sure soon you get further away from the Caribbean the weather will get so cold you'll start to need to wear socks, and then when it's bitterly cold near Iceland you'll have to start wearing shoes with your socks.

[@MrFroglips69]

Groovy problem solving all the way around. Stay safe and stay groovy.

[@janecme]

Glad to see the jackstays and lanyards. Best practice :)

[@SteifWood]

Welcome to the waters and winds and temps of us northerners, NBJS included ... have a hot summer.

[@jayherdt1]

Love Khiara's and Adam's performance in adversity. Thanks for sharing the adversity and adventure ❤

[@PaulBKal]

Great fix on the AP mount. Can I ask why you were not using your hydrovane anyway? We have one as well and often don’t use it for no good reason. Well the main reason probably is we cant be bothered pulling in the extra reef needed to balance the boat, especially reaching, to make it easier for it to work. Interested in your reason. Also re winch repairs at sea, pinning a towel to the lifelines helps enormously to reduce prospects of critical bits going overboard. I learned this when I had to service main cockpit winch on long passage. Last, cold usually starts with feet. After 40,000 sea miles I finally bit the bullet and bought Dubarry leather seaboots for both of us. Best $900 AUD ever spent. Bar none. Bar none. You know it makes sense!

[@AlisonAZ]

Wow . . . I am wishing you good winds and some sunshine.

[@mememe5231]

Great video and fix on auto pilot! Word of advice. Keep a big piece of thick canvas or a cheap leather apron handy. To protect surrounding surfaces. Those sparks from the grinder melt straight into gel coat. Ask me how I know 😢. Thank you for your efforts

[@LPay-jy8mx]

It's wonderful to see you both so confident, at ease, rolling with the flow, and upbeat! Seems you are made for long passages! Thank you for sharing this journey -- it's exciting and inspiring to hear from you, and it encourages those of us who dream of going further from shore and sailing nonstop.

[@gras4744]

Great episode. You guys always seem to smile even when things go bad. I've watched you from the beginning and you should have 2 billion subscribers as you are much more entertaining then most other youtubers. keep smiling and sail on.

[@chrismalkin4070]

Great episode. Good to see some engineering innovation. Very handy in precarious circumstances. Well done.

[@MCallsen]

Wow, that was way more adventurous than expected and way more "wet". Amazing work with the chainplate, Ben and glad the back is in order again!

[@johnmooney9444]

You are doing 60 deg of latitude, non-stop? Ballzy, best of luck, and cheers.

[@SailingTaranto]

Wow! That was fabulous. Very well done, especially the fabricated autopilot fix! Legends the both of you. Having just crossed the Atlantic myself this season, your video contained the same joys and stresses. Trying to get evidence of whale encounters, weather better tomorrow, oh the wetness, the decisions decisions decisions. Epic. Thanks for sharing and taking me back 😊

[@johnbergstrom2931]

Wow, I'm envious... You don't know how lucky you are, having this adventure. Some days, I'd pay anything to get out of my working rut, to get away from the same old places, same boring routine. This experience will change you, profoundly. Respect!

[@kristaready8812]

That was almost painful to watch. Love your attitude though 🤗💞

[@yotsman42]

Well done you two BTW another ozzy pair on KZbin Free Range Sailing had another neat way of using the hydrovane by using a tillerpilot attached to the hydrovane"s tiller (san the red air paddle) to steer the boat in light/no wind conditions. ❤ your vlog...

[@johnlees1176]

Why haven't I found you before. Great video Guys plotting your way through the raw truths of sailing - 1. expect the unexpected, 2. what can go wrong eventually will & 3. on a philosophical note, "plans are what makes God laugh!" Overcoming these hurdles makes for good viewing, so well done & thanks & here's to the next vid. JohnL

[@TheJamesthe13]

At least you have a Bimini guys! luxury! :-p Come racing in the Solent, fantastic fun but really rather wet an cold!

[@corodavm]

I feel your guys pain. My office chair lumber support is acting up :( I am having such a hard day. I will trade your hard day for my any hard day anytime!

[@davidbamford4721]

Not a bit like an afternoon’s ‘jolly’ down to Geelong!

[@StephenRead-gc2xu]

Are you guys planning to hike out to the lava flow . That is one thing I would love to see .

[@RonV726]

Great video! I love the ups and downs and your use of music! Some of my favorites parts were cuddling in the cockpit and the music while fixing the autopilot. And when Adam got his "business trousers on"! Smashing! Good on ya! ( If that is correct 'whatever speak' we are speaking! 🙂) Thank you and good luck!

[@Racerman27410]

Well done! I appreciate this crew's moxie!

[@thomasfondren6484]

Everyday is a new adventure and I am here for it!! Awesome job to both...

[@greenbimoon]

2 of us hand steered out of NZ towards Pitcairn Is. we were 64 days at sea. My mates idea for a wind vane was pure fantasy, and his old yacht liked sailing backwards more than forwards. The Southern Ocean in winter is rather interesting, what with iceberg watch, whales, albatross and storms. Well done on your adventure and awesome underway repair.

[@svshootingstar]

That's what cruising is - "Fixing your boat in new and exotic places."

[@Neilhuny]

I think this was a first class episode! Cruddy north Atlantic weather - things going wrong ✔, whales ✔, rain ✔, terrible decisions to be made ✔, repairs when underway ✔- just like us couch sailors imagine it should be like! Next episode we want scurvy - and mutiny from the illiterate, knuckle-dragging 1st mate!

[@pgithens1]

@Adam . . that was a damned good job of fixing that autopilot at sea. I follow another channel of another young couple off on nautical adventures and let's just say they are loaded with far more optimism than they are preparedness. Well done!

[@davidh3194]

Great episode! Good team work Mille crew. 😊

[@simonabunker]

Epic voyage! As one person with a dodgy back to another - that would definitely suck. Especially when the only thing that can really help is rest! Hope you had a calmer run the rest of the way.

[@traian2041]

For when you make it to Iceland, just saw in the news that the volcano has erupted again and the lava flows are spectacular.

[@davel9130]

Trying to imagine Rico or Nick doing a helm tour of Millie... "Here is the multi-function display, the shift and throttle controls, and the tethered bottle opener."

[@AngusJohnson-ei1kk]

Again an amazing passage and hats off in figuring out the auto pilot . What the positive part here so many others who are watching your channel will head out to sea a little more prepared with tools and materials. No I'm not waiting for more mishaps to cya/cma.if you don't know what it means let me know Angus SV Violet Walters

[@michaelmartin5593]

Best sailing youtube episode ever. The two of you cuddled up in the cockpit in full foulies was the most romantic thing I've seen. Take that you "tiny bikini youtube channels." ;-)

[@Tim8mit]

I see on "all things Iceland" they have a vulcano erupting starting the 10th of July, that well be cool to see

[@zlm001]

You guys should be proud of yourselves. You really took the next step. You've gotten so much experience but have barely pushed yourselves, which for me is the part that makes sailing fun. Then, when you did decide to just go for it, you ran into a major failure. But you realized you still had many layers of safety and that guy could even fix it. I was so surprised you kept pressing. First thing I thought when when I saw that break was that I bet it could be repaired or rugged to work with something you have onboard. There's always a way. So shocked and glad that you changed your mind and didn't immediately head to port. You guys are really growing. Lesson is, everything should be overbuilt if you can manage the cost and weight. It will definitely be much easier, at least faster, to fix it in Iceland. As long as the volcanoes and eruptions don't interfere. At least you'll get to see some amazing lava flows!

[@herberthahn6964]

Great visuals and sound !! Repart was amazing at sea. I expect nothing less Thanks.

[@doughowden1098]

Looks as if your repair is stronger than the original bracket, maybe need to beef it up when you get a new one fabricated.

[@RobertFleurpierre]

You're so cool. It's inspiring to see how you manage the different situations that occurs to you. Wish you all the best for the rest of the journey to Iceland.

[@larrymacaluso9051]

Great work you two, what a team you are working together to get things done. Safe travels, thanks for sharing.

[@peterdavies2058]

I think the business pants with no shoes is great

[@johnmclachlan1023]

And the kneebone's connected to the thigh bone lol. Nice episode. If you have another backing plate would it help if you doubled the two? Cheers

[@danknox9986]

Happy that you continued on and it looks like that was a good decision. I think I will go check my autopilot. 😊

[@joshtvg]

Han and Chewy fix the falcon once again. Thank god for Obi-Vane-Kenobi! 😂😂

[@bobmeador4465]

Well done. The episode "feels" real, kind of like you actually had a few days of less than perfect weather. (smile)

[@JoanOfArgghh]

Press on regardless! Nice!

[@ronaldcolby4100]

Stay safe and you both are really a joy. Thanks for sharing. Such an epic sail.

[@jasonwin5499]

good on you guys youve come a long way since i first watched you both

[@aquasapien9275]

Adam a gentleman would share sunrise and sunset watch. 😊 Keaira Is a wonder, love her up any chance you get. Fair winds dear friends.

[@anthonypollard4538]

Wow. Fantastic voyage guys. Thank you so much.

[@thomasthornton5737]

😃👍👍👍❤ Well done by two very smart cookies indeed!

[@darren-thecottageatelier8962]

just seen, via a Delos update, that a volcano has erupted in Iceland, are you also getting affected by it (assuming you have already reached Iceland) another great video, nothing phases you guys these days...

[@danieloliver20]

Great repair underway on "Auto"! 💪😎

[@jocomlakar3526]

Good work on fixing under way. I would strongly suggest against using the grinder or any hot tools. Maybe check out how quickly fire consumes a boat.

[@benjif2424]

So no stove, heater, engine etc? I'm quite sure someone in the middle of a crossing is well aware of the dangers of fire. Also, most fatal fires start in unattended locations, not through careful and knowledgeable usage of tools.

[@jocomlakar3526]

@@benjif2424 none of those are open flame/spark. I made a suggestion based on my knowledge.

[@benjif2424]

@@jocomlakar3526 all of those can and often are open flame/spark, except for the engine (which is probably the biggest fire threat from the listed examples for several reasons). And batteries + wires are even more dangerous (statistically). Agree to disagree or show me some numbers that are more than your subjective "experience"

[@jocomlakar3526]

@@benjif2424 what you are claiming is that because there are other fire risks on board, it is ok to induce more risk. I have no reason to prove anything to you. You may see my opinion for whatever you like.

[@benjif2424]

@@jocomlakar3526 you already stated factually wrong things, so it'll be hard to prove anything (without at least addressing the wrong statement first). What I'm saying is there are many risks and risk management is of very high importance. But absolute statements like "no open fire" aren't of much use.

[@richb313]

Good job on that auto pilot looking forward to more progress.

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

Broken Autopilot mounts on boats that are doing multiple long passages seem hardly to be a rare occurence, seems like the installation approach is often " that looks beefy enough" without considering what the forces actually in bad weather are, what safety margin is necessary - particularly with welded constructions and what the fatigue life needs to be for boats that are doing long passages on auto pilot. I would bet that the majority of autopilot installs are not doing anywhere near the work that full time cruisers need them to cope with and so the iffy installs are often not giving trouble.

[@jonathanscott550]

A little bit of a mechanical issue all temporarily taken care of. 7 days was it of it going to get better but did not weather related. Great your back is feeling better. I can imagine the discomfort you must have been feeling it also burns your energy fast as well. anyways a great sail in the end. Looking forward to next video you two are awesome

[@peterasacker5948]

Talk about the walls crashing in all at once....Great team work guys...good job jury rigging the autopilot....so when land is reached and you get rested it might be time to checkout all the winches, steering, sails...rig..etc..hahahaah safe journey kids

[@gerrystevens4954]

Fantastic!

[@bfs007a]

It seems (by the sound I often hear) like a lot of sailors run their autopilots in high response modes, (like "performance"). To me, it seems like that mode, while doing thing a little better in some situations, really puts a strain on the autopilot. According to me basically just trying to measure the amount of work they do. They seems to do it several times more work in those situations. And uses a lot more energy.

[@johnneal9400]

so good thank you

[@MikeLoveBuns]

Watching all sailing ⛵️ video on crossing oceans! Mike from Missouri

[@MartialLoreNZ]

And I see that Iceland has decided to produce another photogenic, volcanic eruption since you arrived, so, yeah... looking forward to seeing your impressions!

[@danhager2004]

Great video, great calm thinking, happy for you both

[@rboston33]

Wishing you the besst on your voyage

[@billstuart8481]

my heroes live to fight another day!

[@billyhaney5002]

Thanks for sharing, stay safe.

[@PeterKNoone]

Awesome video. Nice autopilot repair.

[@kodiak7]

At the start of the video I thought “wow Khiara’s complexion finally looks suited to the environment.” 😉

[@joshua3113]

Who mounted a ram to that tiny piece of metal? Seems a little flawed to have so much pressure on such thin material. Nice fast fix though.

[@Carsten-Berlin-Wi]

MacGuiver would be proud of you Adam and " ... always look at the bright side of life..." If I got it right the Ocean racers crossed the atlantic at the same time?

[@fromParis2011]

Such a GOOD video !! Thanks !!

[@SVBlownAway]

Well done , we enjoy watching your channel.

[@davidlawrence8800]

I've got that same autopilot. It's been very reliable and, looking at the image, it isn't really the autopilot itself that failed. It was the bracket it was mounted on. It flexed, work-hardened and broke. But that's not a failure of the autopilot mechanism. Probably worth mentioning. My bracket is work hardening, too, so I guess I have that to look forward to ;-)

[@fransdriesen1311]

Also important are the adjustments like rudder gain, auto trim and counter rudder..If the autopilot runs on compass course, weather helm changes will induce quite some forces during the auto pilot course adjustment and these brackets will undergo lots of fatigue stresses.. The Hydrovane should work flawlessly if install and adjustments are done properly but do require ongoing check of the screws and fasteners..

[@hagdav]

Awesome video! As always can't wait to see more!

[@jaymacpherson8167]

[ In first version of following I forgot to say how talented Adam is! ] With the shot at 23:45, looking back along Millie, the memory of ocean sailing brought the sensation of salt water in my nose. I noticed the winch handle is on a tether. That is great technique. I learned that lesson the first time I had a boat with tools in it, and during a race turned turtle. Lost the tools and some other items. On the chance you have not heard of it, Arnica Montana is great for a variety of body pains, and recovery from said. B&T is the brand I find best, if you don’t mind a witch hazel gel. If you weld the autopilot ram mount back into shape, consider adding a steel brace(s) at right angles to the failure plane (more than an “L,” i.e. plates in x, y, and z directions). Surprisingly it failed given you don’t sail in tough weather much.

[@chriscyvas]

“He’s in his business trousers” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂