• The week in pictures
• Recommended reading from the editorial team

Dear readers,

It happens just like that, without external influence, without changes to the system, without notice. The autopilot no longer responds and stops working. Fortunately not underway, but in the harbour during the early season system check. Now, the sailor is able to sail without an autopilot, but when a piece of equipment paid for with taxed private assets stops working, it is more than annoying. And it is certainly detrimental to sailing comfort if you are travelling alone or in pairs. There's nothing nicer than pressing the button and the boat whizzes along while you walk around the boat or trim the sails.

Well then: No response, the rich smacking sound when switching on the on-board instruments is missing. Troubleshooting, of course, what else? A fuse somewhere in the system? A look at the operating instructions? It's not in the on-board folder and wasn't handed over with the boat. An email to the shipyard, which actually replies that it could only be the fuse for the AP motor. After a bit of searching, I find it aft on the pilot below deck, it's intact, of course it is, it would be too easy.

OK, then check the operating instructions online. But which product is it? The specification of the boat only mentions an autopilot, no brand, no type. So just have a look at the pilot and the corresponding computer? Ha, not a chance. The engine is easily accessible under a flap in the cockpit, but I have to look for the computer first. It's bolted on aft near the cockpit and I find it behind a hatch in the aft compartment. I can't really look at it, it's installed under the cockpit floor, the head doesn't fit between the component and the hull. So a mobile phone photo. It says Simrad AC 12. The instructions can be found on the manufacturer's commendable website, great. It does mention a second fuse in the AP computer.

It can be opened, albeit with difficulty, the fuse can be felt and pulled, lo and behold, the culprit is found, after several hours of searching, researching and fiddling. According to the measuring device, the part is blown and needs to be replaced. Overhead, in a box out of sight, I try to push the two tongues of the fuse into their sockets - with the arm I need to support myself. Need I mention that it was not without swearing, several attempts, lost fuses, sweat and contortions?

What I'm trying to say is that modern mass production has its pitfalls. I'm not talking about quality, durability or safety. I'm talking about ease of maintenance. This suffers greatly from the construction method. Removing the hull more or less completely and carrying out all the installations before the deck is fitted has its advantages. For the shipyard. It saves a lot of hours because the cables, components and hoses can be installed very easily by the workers with space, freedom of movement and an open view. The fact that screws, connections, hatches, devices and even fuses are sometimes difficult or impossible to reach after the furniture and, above all, the deck have been installed is due to this shortcut, which is understandable from the shipyard's point of view.

What I have learnt from this: identify all components, carry all instructions with you, whether physically or as a PDF, know where all parts are really located and what fuses there are, carry replacements for these. And not to get too annoyed if something doesn't work.

After all, a boat is a complex being.

Fridtjof Gunkel

Deputy Editor-in-Chief YACHT

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Recommended reading from the editorial team:

The Ocean Race

Always up to date- Daily updates

They're on the road again - and how! Several teams were able to beat the 24-hour record of the "Comanche" last week. From Newport, The Ocean Race returns to Europe with a 3,500 nautical mile transatlantic leg, finishing in Aarhus. As always, you can find daily news, background information and updates on the race here on yacht.de!

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