Andrei Iatsuk / a personal sailing journal
New waters, your own boat
and history between passages.
When I viewed her, it seemed there was hardly anything to do. Much of what I had planned to fit to Rassvet one day was already there: a windvane self-steering system, recent rigging, a comfortable galley, a fridge and a large table where I could actually work. All that remained was to collect the boat and set off.
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Grisha and I had only just relaxed after berthing in Kiel when he said he could smell hot diesel quite strongly. We lifted the cabin sole boards and started looking for the leak. We found oily trails running down from the sealing washers on the fuel connections at the injectors. We agreed to take a closer look a couple of days later.
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On 6 September 2026, I waited until two in the afternoon, when the forecast said the gusts should ease to 25 knots, and left Klintholm. On starting, the engine produced a huge white cloud. Under full genoa, I was making about 4.5 knots. But the wind began to shift awkwardly, and for roughly half the passage, about four hours, I motor-sailed at 1,400 rpm.
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Introducing the Great Dane 28 and driving from Vallensbæk to Kiel. First departure, stop at Klintholm, stranded and new habits on another boat.
Aurora · Great Dane 28
Workshop
Full workshop
Latest repair story
Rassvet · Ohlson 29
Over the winter the yard in my marina was to service the engine, replace the shaft seal and the shrouds, and fit a bow platform and a chain hawse. The spring plan was simple: launch in the morning, step the mast by lunchtime and leave for Kiel straight away.
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