Here you can follow Odin's journey from Porsgrunn in Norway to Kemoto in Gambia.
Mast breaks
On 05.11.25, Odin's mast breaks in a violent storm. After 16 days of almost exclusively harsh weather.
After 3 days at sea in a strong southerly wind, the wind suddenly stops in the morning. All sails are hoisted to catch what little wind remains. It has been blowing hard every day since Odin arrived in the Atlantic. A few days earlier, Hurricane Melissa also swept past. The sea was therefore very rough, there were large waves from 4 distinct directions.
At sunrise, a very distinct line of dark clouds was observed above the horizon. Another squall, thought the Captain, furling the mainsail and trimming the cutter sail.
The wind turned NW and increased very quickly, as soon as a reef was set we could move on to the next one. Not long after we were down to a 6m² trysail and an 8m² cuttersail.
The wind was slowly turning to the W. As the sea was very rough already. It didn't take long before the sea became violent. The big old swells from the W occasionally came on the same wavelength as the new waves from the wind. This occasionally created some enormous freakwaves that were almost like a vertical wall.
After several hours of sailing, Odin is suddenly thrown forward, I fly weightlessly inside the cabin. As Odin flies forward through the air, another wave comes, this one from the side and slams Odin right on the side. The flight ends with a violent bang as Odin hits the sea surface again in about 100-120° of heel.
Everything that wasn't completely locked down or tied down inside is thrown around. The Lap soup I had just managed to take two pieces of is hanging from the ceiling. I immediately jump to the hatch to see what's going on outside. The mast is broken! 1.5m above the bottom it is bent at 120° and is banging dangerously against the boat and equipment.
Jury rigg
The long part that was broken was attempted to be saved. I looped a Ø16mm rope around the mast and cut the wire. It was then to be used as a drift anchor until the weather calmed down. The rope was only 35m long, as there were several things hanging around and threatening both Odin and equipment. It was considered the smartest thing to secure the mast as quickly as possible in order to be able to direct attention to these things as quickly as possible.
The plan was to remove everything that could damage the boat and important equipment ahead and release the mast onto a much longer rope with heavy padding at the wear point where the deck ends.
After only 10 minutes of work on deck I go to check for wear on the rope to the mast. It is already badly worn. I immediately go to the cockpit to extend the rope. But before I get back it has worn through.
A "proper" drift anchor is set out, under which Odin spends the night.
The next day the wind has calmed down, an approx. 3m high mast is made from the remaining parts. After 317nm and 3.5 days, Odin has sailed safely into port without major damage to the boat or captain. And without the need for assistance.
What now?
The project in Gambia continues as before. All equipment sent with Odin has survived the incident unscathed.
We are currently working hard to find a replacement mast. Repairs to the boat are already well underway. Hopefully we will be able to set sail before December.
