An adventure on the high seas: Close contact with the forces of nature and unexpected encounters
Sailing the high seas is an incredible journey that can offer unforgettable experiences and challenges. In this interview with Bruno Skov, we get a glimpse of one such journey
Bruno Skov, who hails from Odense, was trained as a shipbuilder at Odense Steel Shipyard and has worked as a sales manager at the shipyard in Rudkøbing. In 1982, Bruno traveled with his family to Australia, again working as a shipbroker and later starting his own business as a dealer of Hemples Skibsmaling. In Australia, Bruno built his boat "Bodyguard", a blue water sail built to cross oceans. Bruno's journey began in Western Australia, May 1990. Bruno and his partner started their journey around Australia, towards Papua New Guinea through the many islands of the Pacific Ocean to Japan. Here they visited the idyllic island of Chichi-jima, the vibrant city of Tokyo and the northern island of Hokkaido. On their journey, they experienced changing landscapes and cultural differences that enriched their adventure. One night, on their way up to the Bering Sea, they experienced an unexpected challenge when their boat ran aground. It was a sleeping whale that was invisible to them. They collided with it full force. The violent collision resulted in a crew member being thrown overboard. Fortunately, the crew member was wearing a lifeline and was quickly pulled back on board. Bruno is thankful that the hull is made of steel as it proved to be perfect for their adventure, had the boat been made of fiberglass, they would have crashed.
After 3-4 days at sea in the Bering Sea, the adventures were confronted with an alarming storm warning. Two cyclones with winds of 115 knots were heading their way. They made the decision to take shelter behind the Kuril Islands, which are disputed territories between Russia and Japan. Although it was a controversial choice, they prioritized their safety and set sail for protection behind the islands. According to Bruno, the harsh weather with fog and decent swells were just some of the challenges they faced during the storm. While Bruno was seeking shelter behind the islands, Russian warships suddenly appeared out of the fog. Due to the language barrier and lack of communication skills, there was some uncertainty in the air. However, conflict was avoided and Russian crew members; 2 privates and 1 officer, boarded their ship to check passports, provisions and charts. Here, Bruno had opened the engine room and laid out tools, all to support the story that they were in distress. Fortunately, they were accepted as distressed and allowed to continue their journey unhindered. The adventurers finally found safe harbor after their intense experiences at Attu Island, the westernmost point of the United States near Russia. On this remote island with 40 residents, they were allowed to enjoy a hot bath and wash their clothes. These seemingly simple pleasures suddenly became appreciated luxuries after being deprived of them for a long time.
Bruno's advice for new sailors:
Before embarking on any adventure, seek advice from experienced sailors. I would recommend everyone to talk to someone who has years of experience and can guide you in choosing the right boat. In particular, rudder construction is crucial, as the rudder is the most important element of a boat. It needs to be extremely robust, as you can encounter 6-7 meter waves for weeks on end. You need to get a mechanic to go through the engine. I use a Perkins engine because I can get spare parts for it all over the world. I would advise them to get a diesel mechanic to inspect the engine and explain how it works, what pumps there are and why they are important. It's important to have this knowledge so that if the engine suddenly stops - which has happened to me - you can identify and fix the problem. I had experienced a fault with the electronics, which doesn't really belong on a boat. It's a fragile thing that can't withstand water, so I learned from that.
Bruno's second boat "bodyguard" from 2016 with a steel hull is for sale at Yachtbroker, so if you want a boat that can handle the hardships, this is the boat for you.
