Safety is our highest priority on Maja. A solid boat, good systems and clear procedures matter more than fancy equipment. We have already experienced real emergencies — including loss of steering and an orca attack — so this page is based on practical experience rather than theory.
Our Safety Philosophy
We focus on three layers:
- Prevent problems (good maintenance, solid systems, careful sailing)
- Handle problems when they happen (redundancy and practised procedures)
- Survive if things go seriously wrong (emergency equipment and training)
The Nauticat 38 is a strong and heavy boat with a protected skeg-hung rudder. That gives a good starting point, but equipment and preparation still decide the outcome.
Real Incidents We Have Experienced
1. Loss of hydraulic steering
On the way from Sweden toward the UK we suffered a hydraulic oil leak that left us without normal steering. The boat had to be assisted, and we later improved the system with a bypass valve so the emergency tiller works properly.
2. Orca attack west of Gibraltar (2025)
During the professional delivery from the UK to Spain, Maja was attacked by an Iberian orca. The main steering was damaged and the crew had to use emergency steering for many hours before reaching port.
These two events taught us more about real safety than any theory.
Seaworthiness in Heavy Weather
The Nauticat 38 is a displacement motorsailer with a semi-long keel and skeg. It is not a racing boat, but it is designed to keep going in rough conditions when many lighter boats would struggle.
Emergency Equipment & Procedures
Key items we consider essential:
- Emergency tiller (with the improved bypass system)
- Hydrovane (independent steering)
- Multiple bilge pumps (manual + electric)
- EPIRB
- Life raft
- Emergency ladder (tested)
- Good communication (VHF, and later Starlink)
- Clear procedures that the whole crew knows
We tested the emergency ladder before we needed it
What We Have Improved After Real Problems
After the steering failure and the orca incident we made several concrete changes:
- Added a hydraulic bypass valve so the emergency tiller works properly
- Reinforced and improved steering components
- Installed the Hydrovane as a completely independent steering system
- Increased focus on redundancy and simple, reliable solutions
Summary
Safety on Maja is not about having the most expensive gear. It is about:
- A strong and well-maintained boat
- Redundant steering systems
- Practised emergency procedures
- Honest documentation of what actually goes wrong
We will continue to improve the boat and share both the problems and the solutions openly.