SYLFIA: The Untold Story of a One-of-a-Kind Expedition Vessel ⛵️
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- Ahoy Fam!!!! This one is a very very raw and real story close to our heart, the story we never told about this beautiful vessel we call home. We hope that it helps explain a lot, no video could ever do justice to the amount of work that went into this boat or to really shed light on the man who meticulously built her, but we tried our best.
Meet Sylfia, a 23-meter steel expedition ketch with a story as unique as her design. Built with passion and precision by Bernard Kuczera, Sylvan, Sofia, and Nadine have heart-to-heart discussions about their upbringing and love of the ocean.
In this video, we explore Sylfia's origins, the inspiration behind her construction, and the bond that makes her a truly one-of-a-kind vessel. Follow the Kuczera family as they embark on an unforgettable journey, sailing Sylfia from Fremantle to Exmouth along Western Australia's stunning coastline.
From Bernard’s meticulous craftsmanship to the family’s shared spirit of exploration, this is more than a story about a boat-it’s a celebration of ingenuity, adventure, and the ties that bind.
📍 Route: Fremantle → Exmouth, WA
⛵ About Sylfia: Expedition-ready, steel-built, and full of heart.
Dive in to learn more about the vessel, her builders, and her latest adventure across Australia’s breathtaking waters.
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🌐 Website: ExpeditionDrenched.org
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I had the privilege of visiting Bernard and his family when Sylfia was build. As a steel boat builder and designer myself, I saw what a great accomplishment the building of Sylfia was. Very good memories.
Woah, very cool to hear that! She's a beautiful vessel
Thank you for sharing this story. So rich, deep, and heartwarming. ❤
Glad you enjoyed it.
I couldn't believe I was hearing Nerea. What a back story to tell of how Sylfia came to be built, and of Bernard and his family. Tears too, on finding out about Bernards disappearance.Thankyou for a beautiful video.
How fabulous! It's great hearing the background about Sylfia!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for sharing the OG family of Sylfia and more of her back story than told in previous episodes. ⛵️
Storytelling at its finest. To old photos, memories, and new adventures ❤
Glad you enjoyed the story of Sylfia!
Thanks for sharing this amazing story.
Great story telling Nerea .. wow! Didn't realize this was the backstory .. thank you all for the sails!
We are so happy to share this journey with you!
I've always loved the TOWER on Sylfia. I'm a radio engineer and always got stuck with the tower work (grew up in the Giant Redwood Forests) and that tower would be a piece of cake. The mast of course. Tower S I should say, there are two. Thanks to the original family of this great boat builder for sharing this. I only know of one other boat builder of a boat similar to Sylfia. He's from the eastern block but lives in the USA.
Wow great job beautiful story
Wonderful Story!!!❤
😍💫🤙beautiful story and family
Exceptional work Nerea !
Amazing video. Thank you for sharing ❤
Thats realy a great story of life
That was beautiful ❤
Oh my gosh what a beautiful heart felt story you created for us.I shed Tears at the end, just perfect story telling right here. Thank you dearly for sharing!❤
Love the stories! That’s what brings me back!
Beautiful story.
One of my favorite videos. I love seeing all the old photos of the boats being built and hearing Bernard's family talk about him. What a beautiful tribute to their Dad. ❤
Beautiful tribute
What a great family!
captivating and heart warming to see them back again😊
I met Bernard & Nadine in West harbour marina living on of all boats a Hans Christian. Sofia and my daughter are the same age so used to play together. Bernard wanted to involve me in a scheme to sell nautical charts to yachties, but I was trying to get residency so didn't join him. He made $60k out of selling charts in a few months which gave him the cash to start building boats. I later married a Polish lady so Bernard & my wife loved to talk Polish together when we bumped into him in Sylfia while cruising. There are a few stories untold here about a boat built in Durban in a ridiculously short time and somehow a Mack truck in Australia . Bernard was a truly different character, one of many I have known lost at sea over the years. It was a shock hearing about Bernards loss and deep down I still believe he is going to emerge somewhere and this will have been another crazy scheme.
Wow! we love hearing these stories!
Nice , always cool to know the backstory. i was the 4th owner of a 47 ketch and happened by chance to meet the builder not far from me and he gave me a few things original to the boat that he kept and i added back ....
It's amazing how these boats connect people.
Interesting back story to your ship.
Yes
What a wonderful tribute to Bernard! Just beautiful!! 🤗💞
Words can say so much and at the same time not! The expressions on the faces often say more! Joy, happiness, sadness and love but also especially the passion for nature on, in and next to the great sea! Beautiful tribute!
That is a seriously powerful story. I did almost cause a few tears to just hear her talk about her dada and how he died. I do believe her dad was one of those people who just knew his place in the world and what he was born to do. The family build is a crazy story and to listen to Nerea and her brother and mom talk about that life they had and how it was better than being 'normal'
thank you for sharing this story
i also had the honor of sailing with your father for a few weeks back in 2000, the most remarkable soul sailor i have ever met, i am sad to hear he was lost at sea, sorry for your loss
An amazing video. Very well told. Your dad is a man after my own heart. May your memories live on♥️
SV Kiwi Lady Opua Bay of islands New Zealand 👍🏿
Wow loved hearing the history and stories of Syfia the whanau ❤
A very moving video of that family, thank you for making it.
Great video. And great story. Cheers 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻
That was a beautiful story, a brave family sharing their hearts. Much love guys🙏
ALOHA had no need cry today but mahalos
It was lovely seeing Nadine, Sophia and Sylvan sharing Bernard and his achievements and adventures, but there is so much more that could be told. I used to visit them often and had many a chat with Bernard over a mug of coffee while he was building Nanu (82ft) , then Amadea (85ft) for Juan, then Sylfia(72ft?) and completing Sophan a 60+ft motor boat that he picked up on Trademe. The last 2 were launched on consecutive days and I got to share a drink of the last of the vodka made by his father. Nadine said once that when they built Nanou (55ft) in SA in 10 months, she basicaly just poured food into him and he kept going. Such a great guy and I like to drop by his memorial on Turtle Is. Good work Nerea.
A beautifully groovy and moving episode. Thanks for sharing your hearts with us.
Thank you for sharing this with us! can't tell you how much I love this story.
What an amazing story. Appreciate the perspective of the family’s experience growing up and love for the sea! As a father, I’ve tried to share my love for the ocean with my daughters.
Thank you Sylfia, that is a really touching story.
Great video 🎉 love the narration
My late Dad sounds so much like Bernard. My Dad would make ANYTHING, he restored vintage cars (1920's and earlier)making the parts he needed if he couldn't get them. He restored antique clocks, furniture, and art. He was a professional press photographer starting in the 50s, but he also collected glass negatives and would make prints off them at home, we would have photographic chemicals in the bath, until he built himself a dark room in the garden. He had many deals in the antiques market that I was privy to, sometimes not my mum, though! I met diamond dealers, art dealers (and frauders). He took photos of Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. He was a legend, on the quiet!
thanks for having the family along to tell their stories
Well done Nerea, well done......
The great story of Sylfia!
Wow man.
Awwww❤
Thank you for sharing his story ! Amazing video
❤A passed expedition drenched in Love ❤
Thank Yous ☝️❤️✌️🌍🙏
wow
this movie i like ❤
My gut feeling from this is Bernard knew something was going on, and decided to go out on his own terms at his own time.
Today I stumbled across your page quite by accident. But 'accident' it will be no more - I've subscribed!
beautiful
Beautiful work Nerea ❤
Cool story.
❤
it's funny that I have the same mentality as your father, if something he was thinking of it was gone to happen no matter what en it's not gone to change en you can't talk it out of his head I know he is stubborn, but that's way you have a boat now he was a good man
I just subscribed
Any untold stories coming out from TH-camrs this Christmas if you haven’t noticed. 😊
What is crazy is that I thought for 5 years that your boat is called Sophia because that’s what the auto subtitles write when you say Sylfia.😅
So who owns this one of a kind expedition “drenched “ vessel belong to?😊
Interesting story.
Why is the background track in the the foreground?
I mean, cut the volume and there should not a song or signing when someone is talking.
It is sort of like two people are talking at once.
Maybe let them speak their story?
yes around 9:30 and other parts (I did skip ahead)... the signing is competing with the talking.
Maybe its just me?
Yes it's you...pipe down..show respect
💙🤍💙🤍
beautiful