tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-150580742024-03-14T06:55:49.803+00:00Yacht ArabellaA 6.7m Pandora International based in the Solent.Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-18255326109230917872012-03-25T23:55:00.004+01:002012-03-26T00:56:22.540+01:00First sail of the season<span style="font-size: large;">Having baked in the sunshine in SW6, watching Chelsea's tepid derby against Spurs yesterday, I figured a more rewarding way of exploiting this unusual warm spell would be to take the kids for their first sail on board <i>Arabella</i>. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vFPnzPE-syKgcLSYqQffv1RdSHIFyfq2SRkZ9mQNMH_w4beftnXwf7eawtaugGUGpreCdpSJko3wqwcV9jvHyhFqiKy-YqzZ0HwRq-jyKfMrnS2sx_82Zm-cX251hzs8-xSn/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vFPnzPE-syKgcLSYqQffv1RdSHIFyfq2SRkZ9mQNMH_w4beftnXwf7eawtaugGUGpreCdpSJko3wqwcV9jvHyhFqiKy-YqzZ0HwRq-jyKfMrnS2sx_82Zm-cX251hzs8-xSn/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to helm - as long as Cuddlie Bear can join in</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(As always, click on the thumbs for larger images)</i></div><br />
On the off-chance that this year, like the last two, would see a beautiful spring followed by a so-so summer, I'd had <i>Arabella</i> lowered in early. It turned out to be a good move - we had a wonderful three hours out, taking advantage of the three hour HW stand on springs in Southampton Water.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsyya4YK7RDTL5Gb8nyGgZrg1YIBIJ-ewnwXO28Nvqw0tKvZa-1_x5oQC34Syvz4b95RDkF8H-7zWd7MiN5Tqa3UYIfJj_YT-ni5eWJyE3BqrDOB15gSH4YN4wBFUvPXpydNl/s1600/GraphImage.aspx.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsyya4YK7RDTL5Gb8nyGgZrg1YIBIJ-ewnwXO28Nvqw0tKvZa-1_x5oQC34Syvz4b95RDkF8H-7zWd7MiN5Tqa3UYIfJj_YT-ni5eWJyE3BqrDOB15gSH4YN4wBFUvPXpydNl/s400/GraphImage.aspx.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you just love springs :o)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I was a bit nervous at first, taking two small (and occasionally random) kids out - they'd previously only camped on <i>Arabella</i>, tied safely up in the marina. But I soon relaxed into it, although I sent them below for the gybes on the return trip downwind. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wajR6zkhWaDNq4S9fJ8vn_Zscq1c7d51JThr-gfOFSnD88AA-Qiw4GgU0qM7NjyIRD8n9l_BBg8jFFsqLLasn5l33JxHvkVXejcCKbTwFDU8CTojpDLXaKnTaIq7rog8CodR/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wajR6zkhWaDNq4S9fJ8vn_Zscq1c7d51JThr-gfOFSnD88AA-Qiw4GgU0qM7NjyIRD8n9l_BBg8jFFsqLLasn5l33JxHvkVXejcCKbTwFDU8CTojpDLXaKnTaIq7rog8CodR/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happier posing than helming</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
My seven-year-old daughter was very keen on helming - although as the chart below shows, we were a little bit wobbly as she is, after all, a novice. She even helmed through the tacks! My six-year-old son, in contrast, preferred playing with the electronics!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZhEwwdgj2QEFegxS6oNmLWqy88Q7FsyYGChqd0ygScxX3QO5z5iwIsYsJgiaNqbOAZO3-FVx1AiFjRusZc4zvbqoLBF9HAIsJezzZ9EcXMpP71Kmrt9xV6sCXXivN_Gm_qoi/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZhEwwdgj2QEFegxS6oNmLWqy88Q7FsyYGChqd0ygScxX3QO5z5iwIsYsJgiaNqbOAZO3-FVx1AiFjRusZc4zvbqoLBF9HAIsJezzZ9EcXMpP71Kmrt9xV6sCXXivN_Gm_qoi/s400/photo+4.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
There was very little breeze, and we spent some time becalmed, searching for wind, any wind at all. Eventually a sea breeze filled in and <i>Arabella</i> ghosted along quite happily on a series of beam reaches - ideal for the letting the kids gain confidence. They're already asking when they can do it again!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvKxI1DmLNSZAOtkbxzm7HZYlqtaKtNE4OI3BsZD0e6zBtH0A7hlyGstsfV6nfKT-aONwgMuyYm8iZopne-FsZBIrLYPaaDduoAturP87U-ZKRr2fUEk5BvRnYqvRTIPkqmDa/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvKxI1DmLNSZAOtkbxzm7HZYlqtaKtNE4OI3BsZD0e6zBtH0A7hlyGstsfV6nfKT-aONwgMuyYm8iZopne-FsZBIrLYPaaDduoAturP87U-ZKRr2fUEk5BvRnYqvRTIPkqmDa/s400/image.jpeg" width="330" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smile says it all...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><b>Conditions:</b> F1, increasing to F3, ESE</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sea state:</span> None!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><b>Distance covered (GPS over ground):</b> 9.2 NM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><b>Total distance covered to date (2012):</b> 9.2 NM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-weight: bold;">Engine hours: 1.0 </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;">(total for 2011: 1.0 hours)</span></span>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-76083486017538822932012-03-09T23:50:00.000+00:002012-03-26T00:14:19.701+01:00Delivery TripI got my first sail in early this year - helping a friend deliver his new (to him) Beneteau 21 from Birdham Pool, Chichester to her new home in Lymington.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8oCcqtjUhrcYB5dvprbmwaCEyXgvLCogmp04-VQ5pHa1HokvgdDltHDniah2Z_FuB7dIeGFaoDAXI0hyphenhyphen8bNqk9ic_hd-F9xZlLrhaUEA-ubT4PNv1wY_X1DBIrXv_24x6Occ/s1600/Matilda+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8oCcqtjUhrcYB5dvprbmwaCEyXgvLCogmp04-VQ5pHa1HokvgdDltHDniah2Z_FuB7dIeGFaoDAXI0hyphenhyphen8bNqk9ic_hd-F9xZlLrhaUEA-ubT4PNv1wY_X1DBIrXv_24x6Occ/s400/Matilda+024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day before - Birdham Pool</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The day before had been unseasonably warm and sunny, but on the day of the trip the weather reverted to type and we spent 30 of the 35 miles beating to windward in wind-over-tide conditions.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKnxIufTgEciactrhQ4TBSLYFTNjiXiAe1R7q5FzWY1QXHZw811tLmyzWiKAbhqAzhWv5O9iNoBHuDSl3f_ZDPcatPnhxj_i9IbpSuFledTppQ6ejrujskKpt61QlJpP6qgM-/s1600/IMG_0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKnxIufTgEciactrhQ4TBSLYFTNjiXiAe1R7q5FzWY1QXHZw811tLmyzWiKAbhqAzhWv5O9iNoBHuDSl3f_ZDPcatPnhxj_i9IbpSuFledTppQ6ejrujskKpt61QlJpP6qgM-/s400/IMG_0108.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It was a wet and cold crew (age of youngest: 50) that staggered arthritically off the yacht at her destination and thawed out in front of a welcome log fire at the Mayflower in Lymington. Nice little boat, though, and very fast :-)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><b>Conditions:</b> Overcast, occasional rain, WSW F4-5</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sea state:</span> Moderate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><b>Distance covered (GPS over ground):</b> 35.5 NM</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"></span></span>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-45405248531958476532011-08-11T22:42:00.000+01:002012-03-31T22:44:22.901+01:00Cowes Week: second this year<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">With many of last year's crew returning, and ever-patient Brian Thompson agreeing once again to suffer fools gladly, hopes were high that we might repeat our 2010 win in the Farr 65 class.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRr4vuCAOq49U3LQhWqphHXEydtk0ZzxhWEia35wWxPumEp9xhhj915seLr4QGyxn_Nz4HZgsFKjg57o_66dwz6qP5awKUVy5dX9KnH1ztcymB1vr3zWNYV6chCbkSVW-5knUb/s1600/cw11d6-140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRr4vuCAOq49U3LQhWqphHXEydtk0ZzxhWEia35wWxPumEp9xhhj915seLr4QGyxn_Nz4HZgsFKjg57o_66dwz6qP5awKUVy5dX9KnH1ztcymB1vr3zWNYV6chCbkSVW-5knUb/s400/cw11d6-140.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was not to be. In blustery, rainy conditions, we took an early second place and then just watched as the leading yacht pulled inexorably away.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinIk5EeTbVt018jVmA9pK-zUiPXnP5VELyPP65ilpzWgNNAVCwmhmSB0DJmKEbQ1cVNvRLTv8neLFzcN03VD4lTz0zoUCM9YgYn6hIDRoZWRpWWaS6DNSe2VYqZSkfP0ILEgv/s1600/cw11d6-319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinIk5EeTbVt018jVmA9pK-zUiPXnP5VELyPP65ilpzWgNNAVCwmhmSB0DJmKEbQ1cVNvRLTv8neLFzcN03VD4lTz0zoUCM9YgYn6hIDRoZWRpWWaS6DNSe2VYqZSkfP0ILEgv/s400/cw11d6-319.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That b***** boat in first place just wouldn't slow down for us.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Following a slight <cough> miscommunication between Mr Thompson and our tactician (me), we then allowed ourselves to slip back into the clutches of the following boat, but we clung on to cross the line still in second.</cough><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XJq2WAueYwYnRBT5RoZPZo4xngoLpXmMILREAoK9Rz1Sq1osQOGI3LTlCm3hyphenhyphenrpX8wdMUdrFa-_2O8LM4RxPGKAsJ8wWCtlkCy9sXCJ9qfEo6fIGarQkkAYoQyW5dL8fCU51/s1600/cw11d6-274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XJq2WAueYwYnRBT5RoZPZo4xngoLpXmMILREAoK9Rz1Sq1osQOGI3LTlCm3hyphenhyphenrpX8wdMUdrFa-_2O8LM4RxPGKAsJ8wWCtlkCy9sXCJ9qfEo6fIGarQkkAYoQyW5dL8fCU51/s640/cw11d6-274.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thompson and Knight....spot the fraud</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For me, the result notwithstanding, the experience was interesting as it was my first time acting as nav/tac at Cowes Week. Very different to the RTI, with everything happening much more quickly...and you really need to know your <i>Winning Tides</i>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqiSvRpvTODPNbYGOrs6P6HuuRKxSh4P57c1gZuHR_2yQnJIZXJM9U8j866dgm4lYUwGQVs_doQmq-lZgUavRdWVpnJjfCUcUZKuZXHQ_ajd9XTawsBqyTgcuxvZ52onfjzsS/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqiSvRpvTODPNbYGOrs6P6HuuRKxSh4P57c1gZuHR_2yQnJIZXJM9U8j866dgm4lYUwGQVs_doQmq-lZgUavRdWVpnJjfCUcUZKuZXHQ_ajd9XTawsBqyTgcuxvZ52onfjzsS/s400/Image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iPad screen cap showing the marks and our track today</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-17124083299844268732011-08-05T08:40:00.000+01:002011-08-05T08:40:52.115+01:00Blimey!Just checking the forecasts for next Wednesday and Thursday, when I'm at Cowes Week. Metcheck forecasts wind speeds of over 400 knots...better put a reef in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyy6M6SjhCdnOqzAUeCeqW5sPeom0hWOxN8NjAgWrogLeCE93etKOxjoMyc7cc14c0T7sqSQR011L1QuV2F-xPrah7pAdfu8TIWWVLnnY4OX81Mkb3nLZ9QDx6rTyXwIp-wXB/s1600/metcheckweds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyy6M6SjhCdnOqzAUeCeqW5sPeom0hWOxN8NjAgWrogLeCE93etKOxjoMyc7cc14c0T7sqSQR011L1QuV2F-xPrah7pAdfu8TIWWVLnnY4OX81Mkb3nLZ9QDx6rTyXwIp-wXB/s400/metcheckweds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJYVVIP3LDADeEVOmo-Q-_N8ZXvaZ4ZRMxObibt_MPuB-QF4SyhtME2Frh8_WHJPz-7TaU4_ke9__7mwiq2uPw4rfU0UVHErpcIOIoeku9mclVPDoP7Sv-wGB7JTB7hPN1xtp/s1600/metcheck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJYVVIP3LDADeEVOmo-Q-_N8ZXvaZ4ZRMxObibt_MPuB-QF4SyhtME2Frh8_WHJPz-7TaU4_ke9__7mwiq2uPw4rfU0UVHErpcIOIoeku9mclVPDoP7Sv-wGB7JTB7hPN1xtp/s400/metcheck.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
On the plus side, I can pack the sun tan lotion for Wednesday.Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-35174103102381666812011-07-29T22:20:00.047+01:002011-07-30T21:14:16.384+01:00No wind!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Southampton Water became a huge, smooth lake...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1yhL9AdJR2Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not surprising, really:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X5h9PJk21TchCBjo99HFgFq2Yn9eGyIxgzdItdYEnVLxWuMhESWbXvcYR8kw3Byo9URDwItOW1srK7ltCnXmkopgp_SgjSHjuiDpTgbeu2sT3xWU__NfLplfS2TkJmciwplr/s1600/PPVA89-18z-last.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_X5h9PJk21TchCBjo99HFgFq2Yn9eGyIxgzdItdYEnVLxWuMhESWbXvcYR8kw3Byo9URDwItOW1srK7ltCnXmkopgp_SgjSHjuiDpTgbeu2sT3xWU__NfLplfS2TkJmciwplr/s400/PPVA89-18z-last.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These guys didn't care though...they were having great fun hurling their hovercraft around and along the low water mark on the Itchen (<i>click on images to view large</i>).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2H8KalfzfhIPmtxutJeECPrv8giuzYPPFA4XSIGYE9awPRvGSysxLLDZrUIpDVr_jwWnWZ9IaNa1rP5_2SD1WS4bFiDDJXoMUhsqC9kityBbnFLADMXJdR20fCYHNUf5MV6W/s1600/DSC00141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2H8KalfzfhIPmtxutJeECPrv8giuzYPPFA4XSIGYE9awPRvGSysxLLDZrUIpDVr_jwWnWZ9IaNa1rP5_2SD1WS4bFiDDJXoMUhsqC9kityBbnFLADMXJdR20fCYHNUf5MV6W/s400/DSC00141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The <a href="http://www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk/Shieldhall/Welcome.html">SS <i>Shieldhall</i></a> - the largest steamship still working in Europe - is kept going by a dedicated preservation society, but it's a constant struggle to maintain her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuvz-eksnEdkTjLfwwW8KXxCKI3hq5FNZrJot7YFdnSPQIDfIqtCZIi_spb3r7F_oegaMw9wDsFwCe9h64jnMGXxmz3NwSMF_dwmZPivXpWWcSgyI5IeOBR4EdF1P9fYWawhn/s1600/DSC00143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuvz-eksnEdkTjLfwwW8KXxCKI3hq5FNZrJot7YFdnSPQIDfIqtCZIi_spb3r7F_oegaMw9wDsFwCe9h64jnMGXxmz3NwSMF_dwmZPivXpWWcSgyI5IeOBR4EdF1P9fYWawhn/s400/DSC00143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><b>Conditions:</b> Dead calm, overcast<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sea state:</span> None!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><b>Distance covered (GPS over ground):</b> 12.3 NM before we gave up!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><b>Total distance covered to date (2011):</b> 12.3 NM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-weight: bold;">Engine hours: 4.1 </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;">(total for 2011: 4.1 hours)</span></span>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-30827075175413129732011-07-28T21:00:00.015+01:002011-08-06T02:43:54.772+01:00iPad Marine Navigation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25SIbwwv3ZnIS9MH9Q3svn94fLRA_r4S14dLdnNk75m5yA4NxsBVvjaeLu8QKdf0DylUElxGl_R2GvHZm6b8gA1c05Pg1zqjrwMsqC3LD2AsAfO7vtZR4Hk5-WGlUbofSDpQC/s1600/IMG_0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><span style="font-size: large;">The loss of my trusty, semi-retired MacBook Pro, as a result of its impromptu shower on the Round The Island Race, had forced me to consider alternative methods of chartplotting. </span><br />
<br />
I had a good look around at the alternatives, which needed to satisfy three requirements:<br />
<ul><li> portability, for use on different boats;</li>
<li>the ability to be mounted, as the old MBP had been, inside the sheltered companionway of <i>Arabella</i>, where it could be seen from the helm; and</li>
<li>(in contrast to the MBP) the ability to be carried round on deck, specifically when racing. Previously, I had used my iPod Touch out on deck, connected via wifi to the MBP below decks, using iTeleport and Jaadu VNC. It had been fiddly controlling the MBP from the iPod's small touch screen, and the battery drain on the iPod as a result of using the wifi had rendered it untenable for longer races such as the RTI. In any case, the kids had stolen the iPod, and even if I retrieved it, I had nothing on which to run PassagePlus unless I was willing to risk my current MacBook Pro suffering a similar fate to the old one, which had been kept as a spare.</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkUWzdR4yys2er_OT86hSYPBFcWkPQ97ideMNmgHXbON3Q1bupWXPK5yJKC37pVWZz15yGvnxWEs5ui9XwKnB7i26gv463S-EhURmzYn4qrtJl2ElznzqbEJWA9ESopt_XCj8/s1600/ipad-all-angles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkUWzdR4yys2er_OT86hSYPBFcWkPQ97ideMNmgHXbON3Q1bupWXPK5yJKC37pVWZz15yGvnxWEs5ui9XwKnB7i26gv463S-EhURmzYn4qrtJl2ElznzqbEJWA9ESopt_XCj8/s400/ipad-all-angles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
My research kept leading me back to the iPad 2. Despite being a Mac enthusiast, I have to admit that when the iPad was first launched, I couldn't see the point of it. It had seemed to me like an over-sized iPhone, except of course that it lacked the phone. I don't even like iPhones - I'm a BlackBerry man myself.<br />
<br />
But I couldn't deny that the sheer number of navigation apps readily available for the iPad 2, coupled with its combination of portability, generous touchscreen and a 10-hour battery life, made it a pretty compelling proposition, all at a favourable price compared with a cheap MacBook or a used Toughbook tablet.<br />
<br />
I took a deep breath, forked out the necessary funds and, a fortnight later, opened a package from Apple containing a 32GB iPad with WiFi and 3G. A bit of judicious shopping around in the murkier corners of the internet meanwhile had resulted in a bargain-priced, pre-loaded Pay As You Go SIM card for much less than the network wanted to charge me for it - I was determined not to get a contract - and I was off and running.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Choosing the right model of iPad</b></span><br />
<br />
If you plan on using navigation apps, it's important to get the right model of iPad 2 - the one that contains a GPS receiver! There seems to be a lot of confusion over whether the WiFi-only model has GPS capability, but according to Apple, it doesn't. Apple's support pages contain the following summary:<br />
<br />
<i>"Depending on your iPad model and available services, Location Services uses a combination of Wi-Fi, cellular, and GPS to determine your location:</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<ul><li><i><b>iPad Wi-Fi </b>only uses Wi-Fi for Location Services (when a Wi-Fi network is available).</i></li>
<li><i><b>iPad <span style="white-space: nowrap;">Wi-Fi + 3G</span> </b>can use Wi-Fi, cellular, and GPS. If you're not within line of sight to GPS satellites, iPad <span style="white-space: nowrap;">Wi-Fi + 3G</span> can determine your location using Wi-Fi. If your iPad is not in range of a Wi-Fi hotspot, it can determine its location using cellular towers."</i></li>
</ul>So that'll be the WiFi + 3G model you want, then, unless you want to fork out for a separate GPS receiver.<br />
<br />
<b>Is it <i>really</i> GPS-enabled?</b><br />
<br />
Further confusion stems from the fact that the iPad uses 'assisted GPS' (A-GPS). At the time of writing, the internet discussion boards continue to buzz with debate over whether there's a real GPS in there, or a pretend one in which the iPad uses triangulation from cellphone towers to simulate the effect of a GPS.<br />
<br />
DYOR - but I don't think there is any doubt that the iPad 2 Wifi + 3G contains a true GPS receiver, and that the 'assisted' nomenclature connotes simply that the unit uses triangulation from the 3G tower network to get a head start in finding its location while it slowly acquires sufficient satellite signals. It's not clear whether it's WAAS-enabled, however. People have been experimenting with the 3G and WiFi switched off, and report that the unit does indeed get a GPS fix; although some do say you might want to go off and make yourself at least a cup of tea and perhaps a bite to eat while it does so. Times of as long as 12 - 30 minutes have been reported to get a fix, and only then in unobstructed positions with good line of sight to the sky. That last factor isn't usually a problem on a boat, of course, but the time taken to get a fix could still be an issue if you ever need to know quickly where you are.<br />
<br />
Since I struggle to get out of the Solent just once a year - and <i>Arabella</i> hasn't left the Solent for the last two sailing seasons - I don't personally consider this to be much of a problem. I'm always within range of a 3G signal. You may feel differently if your sailing takes you further offshore or into areas of weak or no cellphone coverage. Fortunately, if you don't mind spending even more money, there are at least two workarounds:<br />
<ul><li>The first is to acquire a separate GPS unit that either plugs into the iPad or, better, connects via bluetooth: the <a href="http://aviationmentor.blogspot.com/2011/02/gns-5870-bluetooth-gps-for-ipad.html">GNS 5870 GPS Bluetooth Receiver</a> is the sole current example of the latter available in the UK, and is getting good reviews; in the US, a further option is the <a href="ttp://xgps150.dualav.com/">Dual XGPS 150</a>. Alternatively, if you think you can live with the plug-in variety, and it won't mess up the way in which you plan to mount your iPad onboard, then check out <a href="http://bad-elf.com/products/gps/">Bad Elf</a>. </li>
</ul><ul><li>The alternative, which I'm playing with and will report on in a later post, is to transmit NMEA data from your boat's onboard GPS (assuming it has one) to the iPad via WiFi. There are a few products on the market that do this - essentially by combining a multiplexer with their own personal WiFi hotspot - but the one I am going to try is the<a href="http://www.digitalyacht.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=11657"> iAIS produced by Digital Yacht</a>. This is a dual function AIS receiver and WiFI-enabled NMEA multiplexer. It's an expensive option compared to picking up a separate GPS receiver, but then, you are getting access to all the ship's onboard data - not merely the GPS location - and an AIS feed to boot. As I say, more on that in another post.</li>
</ul>(It's worth noting in passing that these workarounds have certain other advantages. If you have a Wifi only iPad, they provide you with GPS data, admittedly at higher cost than simply paying the extra for the 3G enabled iPad to begin with. Even if you do have the WiFi + 3G model, you should be aware that 3G roaming costs are prohibitively high; these solutions permit you to switch off the 3G when you go foreign, yet still get a GPS signal perhaps more quickly than with the onboard GPS alone.)<br />
<ul></ul><br />
<i><b>Saving the iPad from drowning</b></i><br />
<br />
As my late, lamented MacBook Pro bears witness, Apple products are neither waterproofed nor ruggedized. Drop it or soak it, and it'll likely be history. I've got plenty of those clear plastic waterproof pouches, but I wanted to go one step further to protect my investment. Otterbox and Griffin both produce ruggedized cases for the iPad 2. After some research, I opted for the <a href="http://store.griffintechnology.com/ipad/survivor">Griffin Survivor</a> pictured below, which seems more protective and more water-resistant than the <a href="http://www.otterbox.com/iPad-2-Defender-Series-Case/APL2-IPAD2-D9-E4OTR_A,default,pd.html">Otterbox Defender</a> case, despite being a little bit cheaper. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cEKbyFeA-nXUlyHdUDKlLMVxfLlKDK4LgKgGzQmO0_7bP0zlZqKofoTpistv9n2muLLODRYQz6wT8OwZNjYPy0f8jC2hnDaq166-VPEmqGxxg2eO_omVZK8nBhwjw9B5oFbM/s1600/survivor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cEKbyFeA-nXUlyHdUDKlLMVxfLlKDK4LgKgGzQmO0_7bP0zlZqKofoTpistv9n2muLLODRYQz6wT8OwZNjYPy0f8jC2hnDaq166-VPEmqGxxg2eO_omVZK8nBhwjw9B5oFbM/s400/survivor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Bear in mind that 'water-resistant' means just that - the Griffin case is designed to meet or exceed US military specifications that require it to withstand windblown rain/spray at 200mm per hour, for one hour. It won't resist immersion, which means that a basic clear plastic pouch will still come in handy.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Mounting the iPad onboard</b></i><br />
<br />
There are plenty of aftermarket suppliers of iPad mounts for vehicles, aircraft or boats, so you bound to find something to suit your needs and budget. In my own case, in the interest of cost and convenience, I wanted to exploit an existing <a href="http://www.ram-mount.co.uk/">RAM Mount</a> that had been installed, originally, to hold the MBP. I simply needed to modify that to hold the iPad as shown in the image below. (I selected the <a href="http://www.ram-mount.co.uk/tabtite%C3%82%E2%84%A2-holder-for-apple-ipad-ipad-2-hp-lenovo-motorola-p-1608-c-360_673.html">RAM Tab-Tite </a>because it was specifically designed to hold an iPad <i>inside</i> its protective case. At £35 it wasn't cheap for just one small component of the mount system, but as I already had all the other components I needed from the original laptop mount installation, that was the total cost).<br />
<i><b><br />
[Image pending]</b></i><br />
<br />
The important thing is not so much the type of mount you use, but where you choose to locate the iPad. I'm a fan of sucker mounts, but tempting as it may be to keep it simple and just use a sucker mount in the cockpit, the fact is that the iPad's reflective screen and relatively poor brightness make it hard to read in bright daylight. Sheltering the unit in the shade of the companionway hatch, and ramping up the brightness setting (the factory default is 50%) rendered it workable for me - but then, Arabella has a small cockpit and the iPad can be easily seen from the helm when mounted in that position. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>iPad Chartplotting Apps </b></span><br />
<br />
The following isn't a comprehensive review of every iPad chartplotting App, but it's a pretty good selection of what appealed to me when I browsed through the App Store in iTunes:<br />
<ul><li><b>iChart (Solent)</b></li>
<li><b>Marine Imray Charts: English Channel</b></li>
<li><b>Navionics HD UK & Holland</b></li>
<li><b>Memory Map (Free version)</b></li>
<li><b>iNavX</b></li>
</ul>The first three of these Apps include the marine charts for their stated areas, and therefore represent the choice for those who want everything they need in the way of charts and software in a single-click download from the Apps store. In contrast, Memory Map (free) and iNavX (paid) require you to obtain charts for your area independently and at additional cost, but provide you with direct links to chart resellers so that you can buy and download from within the App.<br />
<br />
Bear in mind, I'm not a professional reviewer, just a punter who paid for the Apps like anyone else would, and these are my reactions as a pretty average, relatively computer-unsavvy, user. The screenshots below were all captured from my iPad while playing with the Apps.<br />
<br />
Some brief introductory points:<br />
<ul><li>All of the chartplotter Apps reviewed below store the charts on your iPad. The charts can be accessed without an internet connection, once you've purchased and downloaded them. But it would be advisable to do your chart downloading at home on your wifi, before you set off for the boat. </li>
<li>Consider investing in a capacitive stylus with which to tap on the screen instead of your finger. Not only does it save the screen from smears and smudges, it's also a lot more accurate for selecting and moving items on screen - which you'll be doing a lot of if you use these Apps.</li>
<li>Clicking on an image below brings up a larger version. The landscape images blow up to pretty much iPad screen size, and therefore provide a good sense of the clarity of the the charts, symbols and menu in real life.</li>
</ul><br />
<b><i><u>iChart Solent</u></i></b><br />
<br />
This is, essentially, a pack of 36 Admiralty-based Raster charts which you can purchase by area (in this case, the Isle of Wight, the Solent and Southampton Water, including the "Approaches" charts and the harbour and river chartlets), packaged inside a navigation App. You could think of it as an electronic version of the small craft folio you're most likely to want if you're based in this area, coupled with the basic means of viewing them and your position on them.<br />
<br />
I desperately wanted to love this App. I much prefer Raster charts over Vector charts; especially if they're the Admiralty charts that I learned to navigate with, and use to this day. And I kind of <i>do</i> like this App, in the sense that it lets me see <i>Arabella's</i> position and track plotted on an Admiralty chart. <br />
<br />
There's no denying that the App looks beautiful, with a very simple, classy interface. Scrolling and zooming, using your fingers on the touchscreen, are easy and smooth. There's only a top toolbar, and essentially clicking on the <b><i>i</i></b> button gets you into all the functions. The little symbol buttons, top right, permit you toggle on or off the overlays showing (or hiding) the boat's position, waypoints, routes and track. In the centre of the toolbar are displayed your position, course and speed (in mph, though).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qDjdc6t8sTtKaZ3miy4PqIy80si5KxQsnecib4g1WsKOG7aBUdQUXJjSpTJg5Geohjq2QEZU-xsQ6AeWTNeIAehhYdEXcK2TJwUyFNP7TbUrYFvRr7dthqIWiP7JAuHaWU60/s1600/iChart1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qDjdc6t8sTtKaZ3miy4PqIy80si5KxQsnecib4g1WsKOG7aBUdQUXJjSpTJg5Geohjq2QEZU-xsQ6AeWTNeIAehhYdEXcK2TJwUyFNP7TbUrYFvRr7dthqIWiP7JAuHaWU60/s640/iChart1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<br />
But...there are quite a few buts. To begin with, can you see Arabella nestling in the marina, above? Not easy to find, is she? She's the small, grey boat outline sitting dead centre in the screenshot. Why, oh why, did the developers do that (they're not alone, by the way, as we shall see)? Do they really think that I want to play <i>Where's Wally?</i> on a small, not especially bright screen while trying to sail at the same time? There seems to be no option to change the icon, so you're stuck with it.<br />
<br />
Considering the limitations of the iPad's screen in bright daylight, this a real defect: you cannot assume that you can just glance at the iPad and see instantly where you are. (Hint: if you're reading this post on an iPad, pinch and zoom in on the image above so that it fills your screen. Then take it outside and see what you think.).<br />
<br />
It stands to reason that a navigation app which retails for tens, rather than hundreds, of pounds - including charts - is going to be a compromise. It's not likely to offer you anything like the range of features that either a dedicated or laptop chartplotter will provide. I wasn't surprised that the iCharts App had no means of importing NMEA data, for example, but depends solely on the iPad's A-GPS. Nor would I necessarily have expected the ability to import and overlay GRIBs. But it honestly came as a shock to me to find that, while this App had a feature for setting up a route between two or more waypoints - there was no way to follow the route! For sure, it'll give you the bearing and range to a selected waypoint, but there's no course to steer, rolling road, cross-track error or similar function. All you can do is squint myopically at the screen to see if your faint little grey boat outline is more-or-less tracing a course along the route. Hopeless.<br />
<br />
No complaints about the ease of inputting waypoints and routes. It's instant and intuitive: two taps on the screen in the desired location plants a little waypoint flag, and two clicks on the menu gets you to the route setup screen from which you select the waypoints that will comprise the route. Both the waypoint symbols and the route line are bold and clear - easily visible on the screen even in bright daylight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-kgTR94kJj-9nuIK4lz2gCU-st2ytipw1cR04VZ1EWoao_wgIYHAUFo_CEG64s6afnpStJrTej1E2N74tFmBzSUXdFbgLZdLqJwbaCKTriETghvnqYnnxnCWHBMJ4hsKRjgA/s1600/IMG_0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-kgTR94kJj-9nuIK4lz2gCU-st2ytipw1cR04VZ1EWoao_wgIYHAUFo_CEG64s6afnpStJrTej1E2N74tFmBzSUXdFbgLZdLqJwbaCKTriETghvnqYnnxnCWHBMJ4hsKRjgA/s640/IMG_0030.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
I have to admit, in all fairness to iChart, that my expectations have been raised somewhat since I first started using <a href="http://yachtarabella.blogspot.com/2008/02/laptop-navigation-with-mac.html">PassagePlus on the MacBook Pro</a>. Then, all I wanted to do was see where I was, add the odd waypoint and be told distance and course to steer. I would do the rest. In truth, that probably still is mostly what I'd want and do. But since being exposed to racing in recent years, I now see the benefits of having not only a predetermined route round the marks, but also a method of seeing cross-track error (XTE) and other data relevant to my progress to the next waypoint. In these respects, iChart falls short. <br />
<br />
Lastly, being rasters, the charts do of course show the Admiralty tidal diamonds. If you like, you can even scroll across each chart to read off the tidal streams from the printed table, as shown below. But that's all: there's no interactivity built-in to the App. There's nothing to click on to show you the tide levels, and indeed there are no tide levels included, unless you want to read off the printed tidal curve and do things the traditional way. With one exception, this isn't all that big a deal, as I describe in more detail later in this post, but it's worth noting. The exception is if you want the App to take into account tidal vectors in computing a course to steer. In <a href="http://www.windvector.com/passageplus/home.html">PassagePlus,</a> you have the option of entering the tidal diamond data manually from the chart into the program - a laborious but once-only undertaking - so that it takes the tidal vector into account. None of the Apps featured here offer that facility.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp9X863tkyPmImMKDdL2TLh1lXU9nrBaKnKWYfYCz-kD_PglhC8e7OZObfVdzlzwfzmbTAxgFuyL1aoXMU7kgLNyloWm2IAPxI30TvU-1JEMLgCVcB7uzmMmyvp8w28RB66LV/s1600/iChart2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp9X863tkyPmImMKDdL2TLh1lXU9nrBaKnKWYfYCz-kD_PglhC8e7OZObfVdzlzwfzmbTAxgFuyL1aoXMU7kgLNyloWm2IAPxI30TvU-1JEMLgCVcB7uzmMmyvp8w28RB66LV/s640/iChart2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<i><b>Verdict:</b></i> On the plus side, the iChart App is simple, pretty and uses Admiralty Rasters. You would certainly use it for basic passage planning, assuming you had access to tide data from an almanac or elsewhere, and for basic navigation on board, of the seeing where you are and where you're going variety - but that's about it. There is no facility to import or export data (such as GRIBs, waypoints, routes and/or tracks). There is no GOTO feature and no supporting data (such as XTE) to assist you in following a route. The absence of more advanced features means that iChart is the weakest contender among this group of Apps. It's also not competitively priced, given the restricted chart area and the lack of features.<br />
<br />
<i><b><u>Marine Imray Charts: English Channel</u></b></i><br />
<br />
This contender carries the Imray name, which is a good start. Imray's charts don't appeal to me as much as Admiralty Charts, but I can live with them and I appreciate that many people prefer them. Like iCharts, above, this App is a portfolio of Raster charts contained in a navigation software wrapper. The selection of charts is generous, covering the entire Channel on both the French and UK sides, as well as the Channel Islands, with some harbour and river chartlets. This represents good value for money and will certainly appeal to the completists, although Imray's chart catalogue doesn't truly match the Admiralty folios if you want real detail on a specific area.<br />
<br />
There's quite a neat, Apple-style, rolodex chart selector and overall the look and feel of the App is attractive. Manipulating the App with your fingers on the touch screen is easy and smooth: scrolling and zooming are commensurate with iCharts, and the soft buttons seem slightly more sensitive, but not overly so.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S11WdocGDKaIcKNIuXtYgmwYVFoSIdrNJ1GNQQzlTCguCURf1D1u9jp4xOvjoInh-3HW4kB2evYfNlBoAIuEXZvLyKGdlGRfpLPTKqdMHKC_YNgITQeTWGqbP8nAC-Ofo9kh/s1600/imray2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S11WdocGDKaIcKNIuXtYgmwYVFoSIdrNJ1GNQQzlTCguCURf1D1u9jp4xOvjoInh-3HW4kB2evYfNlBoAIuEXZvLyKGdlGRfpLPTKqdMHKC_YNgITQeTWGqbP8nAC-Ofo9kh/s640/imray2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There's no question that the Imray App is a step-up from the iCharts App in terms of functionality. There are two toolbars - top and bottom - and generally a more professional and businesslike feel to the whole product. But, alas, this App also has its shortcomings.<br />
<br />
It seems only fair to start with a comparison against iChart's GPS location symbol. Is it any more visible in Imray? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQT-u6EVAtYefYPm74uKf0rJwLUzuDkMJC2YMWBUqL0RjCKVANTVobDRkbKA1Z5f7Yt1Nta7BxIJfkrXxnsLAcOEQGBoTk2s7pSU6FxOceFzOTtCLV9QHEmsuiBpsBGmR4hvsu/s1600/imray1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQT-u6EVAtYefYPm74uKf0rJwLUzuDkMJC2YMWBUqL0RjCKVANTVobDRkbKA1Z5f7Yt1Nta7BxIJfkrXxnsLAcOEQGBoTk2s7pSU6FxOceFzOTtCLV9QHEmsuiBpsBGmR4hvsu/s640/imray1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
Er, no. In fact it's slightly less visible - a simple light orange boat outline. Can you see it? You'll have to squint. I'm sure it complements Imray's pastel-hued palet very tastefully, but it's damn near invisible, and in bright daylight you can forget it. How ridiculous is that? And by the way, Imray, if this is an up-to-date chart why are you still showing the old pontoon layout at Shamrock Quay, when it was reconfigured at least 6 or 7 years ago? Every other chartmaker seems to have noticed by now. It's all very well advertising that "the application includes charts corrected up to February 2011 and corrections until February 2012, which will be issued as free updates," but what else haven't you been updating in your charts? <br />
<br />
Assuming you can live with these problems - and I'm not sure that I can - then what does the Imray App give you that iCharts doesn't? Well, for starters, to quote from their blurb:<br />
<br />
- Magnetic compass <br />
<div id="_mcePaste">- Distances, bearings from any point to any point</div><div id="_mcePaste">- Electronic bearing line</div><div id="_mcePaste">- Tides with full functionally from Tides Planner (which you need to buy separately if you want to see more than one day's tides)</div><div id="_mcePaste">- Aerial photographs (subject to coverage)</div><div id="_mcePaste"></div><div id="_mcePaste">These are pretty useful extras, with the arguable exceptions of the compass - more on that below - and the aerial photos, which feel like a cheap attempt to add some kind of multimedia functionality just for the sake of it. If, nevertheless, this is the kind of thing you're into, then you simply tap on the little camera icons that you can see on the chart in the background.</div><div id="_mcePaste"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAqBb6C6eIfWcMzvJCBt9FJ5Tag-3zaVD0B7ONr8EnmER-b7qZrZhKfbUDIkIck7XsX82cxgBXywlT2GKquOA-9KrSw8YOdz-ZOOKqhIvmau2r1sGcQTMDUxPbz2XtZwvQSLf/s1600/Imray+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAqBb6C6eIfWcMzvJCBt9FJ5Tag-3zaVD0B7ONr8EnmER-b7qZrZhKfbUDIkIck7XsX82cxgBXywlT2GKquOA-9KrSw8YOdz-ZOOKqhIvmau2r1sGcQTMDUxPbz2XtZwvQSLf/s640/Imray+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div id="_mcePaste"></div><div id="_mcePaste"></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Also visible on the background chart above are the little blue diamonds that signify the availability of tidal data. You do need to purchase and download the separate Tucabo <a href="http://www.tucabo.com/products/tides-planner/">Tides Planner App</a> from Imray, however, if you want to look at the tides on any day other than today - a bit of a limitation when it comes to passage planning. That said, forking out the extra is worthwhile, if you intend to go with this App, because Tides Planner is fully integrated with the App. Tapping on one of the blue diamonds brings up a pretty handy set of data. Part of it comprises the usual curve, with optional adjustments for your boat's draft and a sliding scale on the right that can be used to calculate the actual depth of water for a given chart datum. Using it isn't quite intuitive but with a little practice, I got the hang of it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8nWL5LFKfv_sRfMoI4AQIlnikFBNTh-03xTxvXztE_jCbMZ1VSrWJuHq7Ddlq3pchAgyY6w1QWF7_es76fO4Q7E_ZM-UCJegXRuETzb_c_TpH-cWKx105iU5tPx2_AaXyT0w/s1600/imray4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8nWL5LFKfv_sRfMoI4AQIlnikFBNTh-03xTxvXztE_jCbMZ1VSrWJuHq7Ddlq3pchAgyY6w1QWF7_es76fO4Q7E_ZM-UCJegXRuETzb_c_TpH-cWKx105iU5tPx2_AaXyT0w/s640/imray4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<span id="goog_1807882211"></span><span id="goog_1807882212"></span><br />
Flipping the screen over (using the soft button at the bottom right) access the tide tables which, if you've paid the extra for the Tides App, give you a look forward capability. Tapping on the arrows to the right of each date gives access to the same style of the curve as above for that date.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBDmGEDnf_OKo0PvJ_q8PQ4n-soyUN33-HhmXt7fiB_2JBSbntNiQWpGawmw67A7G1MMSyYpHprk8GJbaVZP9r93JlOc8oOTxeB-rAV440ewvA60IB62Gouw_mQCp6Rqhgx7S/s1600/imray5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBDmGEDnf_OKo0PvJ_q8PQ4n-soyUN33-HhmXt7fiB_2JBSbntNiQWpGawmw67A7G1MMSyYpHprk8GJbaVZP9r93JlOc8oOTxeB-rAV440ewvA60IB62Gouw_mQCp6Rqhgx7S/s640/imray5.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
The "magnetic" compass (which I doubt it is) seems gimmicky and, when tested from my roof terrace at home, it was wildly variable and inaccurate. Given that this location is pretty much free from any magnetic interference, it didn't give me much cause to believe I'll be dispensing with a real compass anytime soon. It does have a purpose, though, in relation to route-following. I'll return to that below.<br />
<br />
The other functions, such as the ability to measure distance and bearing between two points, were useful and simple enough to use, no thanks to the "user manual", which reads more like a features list than a set of instructions. However, it's all fairly intuitive and after fiddling with the App for a while, you'll figure it out. A particularly nice feature was the option to tinker with the distance and bearing display in the top left-hand side of the screen, which also displays course and speed from the iPad's A-GPS. However, there is no facility to import NMEA data, for example from the ship's GPS.<br />
<br />
Which brings us, at last, to the Imray App's capabilities with waypoints and routes. It isn't perfect, and nor is using it intuitive - and that useless manual doesn't help here - but it is more functional than iCharts. The easiest way to explain it is to use screenshots from my attempt to set up and use a route while passage-planning at home. Okay, I admit it - I also want to keep this record so I can remember how the hell to do it next time.<br />
<br />
In the shot below, I'm located in the main channel exiting Portsmouth Harbour (because I'm at home, I'm not using my GPS position but have created a pretend position, signified by the blue diamond symbol). I want to turn to starboard and run down the Swash channel over Spit Sand, following the transit shown on the printed chart. I've created three waypoints, starting with "Test 1" which is on the transit for the Swashway. Using GOTO to head for that waypoint will keep me safely on the transit, as long as I am on it to begin with, as I am here. Once I reach "Test 1", I can safely depart the transit, and I've set up a route to do so. "Test 1" sits on a white circle, denoting that it's the start of the route, and the third waypoint sits on a black circle, indicating that it's at the end. Intermediate waypoints sit on grey circles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaBaWwSpu5Rm7K0KQSNwyAXhnn5FhOhE8BJ3u5p1ENR0dHu9mBqVf6FX_9II11zWYHRfE7cnUenGhG736QIX9gTvs8H31zNFmZT400sAll9xuD7sEXpJDgIBsyGosiYuflPTT/s1600/Imray+Route+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaBaWwSpu5Rm7K0KQSNwyAXhnn5FhOhE8BJ3u5p1ENR0dHu9mBqVf6FX_9II11zWYHRfE7cnUenGhG736QIX9gTvs8H31zNFmZT400sAll9xuD7sEXpJDgIBsyGosiYuflPTT/s640/Imray+Route+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As you can see, the line showing the route is a bit thin and weedy, and won't be easy to see in bright daylight. The three waypoints comprising the route are clear enough, however. Now we need to follow the route, and the first step is to get to "Test 1" as that is where the route starts. Tapping twice on "Test 1" opens up a context-sensitive menu. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIDB_ZP4bQWvW962_NHlDrnNrTcJQSj-z9Fh6igWX5vx2K_jyjduA1RGhtHSRdgnZfrG_mLCnWiKXqeiTbM-yIb7zVY1VWglHmnpebKkQ7DJoHJ4cESsBfoKhlvBJ-xH8v7Om/s1600/Imray+Route+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIDB_ZP4bQWvW962_NHlDrnNrTcJQSj-z9Fh6igWX5vx2K_jyjduA1RGhtHSRdgnZfrG_mLCnWiKXqeiTbM-yIb7zVY1VWglHmnpebKkQ7DJoHJ4cESsBfoKhlvBJ-xH8v7Om/s640/Imray+Route+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The obvious choice is GO TO, and sure enough, a little red target appears on "Test 1". The left hand end of the upper toolbar now shows my current position (at the blue diamond) and the distance and bearing of "Test 1" as my GOTO target. If I was actually navigating in real life, the blank panel to the right of that would show my COG (T) and SOG.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhW_EhVQq2suJZGai1NplFoz0EYc9B6wA6zbodb0DW_lOeOuxRyZGnFRzEZ-2OSGGp_dNuxD6XGxZFhdVYkKs18lCqOAdmkAMLzYbL0Ls-Lylvzw4fQQxRdj0l1qJsLCXGcWq/s1600/Imray+Route+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhW_EhVQq2suJZGai1NplFoz0EYc9B6wA6zbodb0DW_lOeOuxRyZGnFRzEZ-2OSGGp_dNuxD6XGxZFhdVYkKs18lCqOAdmkAMLzYbL0Ls-Lylvzw4fQQxRdj0l1qJsLCXGcWq/s640/Imray+Route+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b> </b></i>Okay, so I turn onto 229 (T) - not magnetic, note - to head for "Test 1". It's from this point onwards that I'd appreciate some feedback on whether I'm on track. After all, I am following a transit down a swashway. I want to know I'm not being taken off to one side or another by the tide or leeway. It's at this point that Imray App's deficiencies start to become clear. The intention seems to be that I use the compass feature, so I'll call it up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7EXjsvtSwGvHwGoTU0h_RnC3NN3A1cufQG4bLA4HOJjVYLxcrmxuSonqmavFKMBrtm4Jb_v6wARMRpUjh4HPPNQi37rOmkJjngbmncVY69Mp34qXOFIOa5mXmevlYZv8l7Sk/s1600/Imray+Route+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7EXjsvtSwGvHwGoTU0h_RnC3NN3A1cufQG4bLA4HOJjVYLxcrmxuSonqmavFKMBrtm4Jb_v6wARMRpUjh4HPPNQi37rOmkJjngbmncVY69Mp34qXOFIOa5mXmevlYZv8l7Sk/s640/Imray+Route+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Now, because I'm sitting at my kitchen table doing this, and not really out there braving the wild waters of the Swash, I've rotated the iPad so that it's pointing North up. The orange diagonal line is showing me the course to steer. If I was moving in excess of 2.5 knots, according to the manual, the little red marker on the outer bezel would be showing my heading - I'd have to squint a bit, maybe go down below to see it, but to be fair to Imray, it is there. So in real life, that little red course marker would swing round to correspond more or less to the orange course to steer line. I say more or less, because while the compass is supposedly magnetic, the blurb doesn't say whether the CTS line or the course marker are true or magnetic. I'm guessing true, though. As long as I concentrate on keeping them aligned, I should be able to stay on the transit. Hmmm, well, yes probably. But while that might be acceptable in decent soundings, wandering off a swashway is not. I want to know <i>how far </i>off the transit I am - my XTE - and unfortunately, the App doesn't display that, nor other useful information such as time to next waypoint, turn after next waypoint and so on.<br />
<br />
Assuming that I manage to follow the transit successfully, I will in due course arrive at "Test 1", the first waypoint in my route. Tapping twice on the waypoint, I call up the menu shown above, but this time I select GO TO NEXT. Waypoint 2 now becomes the destination and is painted by the red target; its bearing and range appear in the upper left toolbar corner; and on the compass, the orange course to steer line obligingly swings round to show the new course to steer. And off we go again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTedyBBGSEplZdZcozaBBJOSl4DCIhTnFTng0oBqqxpdSaTQXQ4XrosDVNQaC1ONX2kAt-WCFWXNP_gmNsl_G8OHhEfcXgamDchps2gBHqdmD0PDSc7j9nKcF_EqYgCr01u7aQ/s1600/Imray+Route+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTedyBBGSEplZdZcozaBBJOSl4DCIhTnFTng0oBqqxpdSaTQXQ4XrosDVNQaC1ONX2kAt-WCFWXNP_gmNsl_G8OHhEfcXgamDchps2gBHqdmD0PDSc7j9nKcF_EqYgCr01u7aQ/s640/Imray+Route+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As far as I can make out, there's no facility for the destination to switch automatically to the third and final waypoint on the route, once we arrive at or within a preset proximity of waypoint 2. It's necessary to tap twice on waypoint 2 and pick GO TO NEXT from the pop-up menu again.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Verdict</b></i>: Would it be too harsh to say that this is probably a choice for Imray enthusiasts only? Even they should take note of the App's shortcomings: a less-than-adequate user manual; a foolishly designed GPS position indicator that's too faint to see in bright daylight; the necessity to buy the Tides App to access future tidal predictions; and a somewhat rudimentary route-following function. Although it's nicely interactive and better-featured than iChart, I don't find the Imray App to be a terribly compelling offering compared to the alternatives described below.<br />
<br />
There's no denying that this is a handsome App, with a classy, integral look and feel that goes well with the printed Imray charts on which it is based. But I can't help but harbour the suspicion that the developers placed a higher priority on that than on how useful the App would be in real life. From here on in, the Apps become more business like - less focused on appearance and style, more on functionality. <br />
<br />
<i><u><b>Navionics HD UK & Holland </b></u></i><br />
<br />
Ugh! Vector charts...deep breath.<br />
<br />
Let me say first off that, in terms of raw chart coverage, Navionics' proprietary App represents tremendous value. You get the entire British Isles and the French channel coast, as well as Belgium and The Netherlands, too. If this includes your sailing area, then you're never likely to need to look elsewhere for electronic charts. You need to download them (free of charge) after installing the App, but as long as you're on a WiFi connection, that's a simple, quick and straightforward process. The image below shows the chart coverage (Area 28).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ckBjIAbPVNOnimAWwr8gBRbRQvKCD2abphXiNUP5krF2cOzsT2uycmLmtHDCiFSv-QekQP4VkOOJEA9yIzShRDK92nCBiIuGMA7auMo89ht99oB2wIwMlFaahaGrK6eBajV6/s1600/EU_GOLDXG_28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ckBjIAbPVNOnimAWwr8gBRbRQvKCD2abphXiNUP5krF2cOzsT2uycmLmtHDCiFSv-QekQP4VkOOJEA9yIzShRDK92nCBiIuGMA7auMo89ht99oB2wIwMlFaahaGrK6eBajV6/s400/EU_GOLDXG_28.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
That's the good news, but how does the included navigation App shape up? Let's start off with what I'm beginning to think of as the "iChart comparison."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrkXlKI3QHLQfl2Om3Ntc00mM0Wjwp_7jf4zoo5Xyyi-kjpH1xqmO-iF-K6s1OB7sRAdPBT6vIqP1Vjff_3KaV-MiAO5xhgtnpFghwbQ1t1QhpgS7xjMN7ZBULPpb6ICWDTGY/s1600/Navionics1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrkXlKI3QHLQfl2Om3Ntc00mM0Wjwp_7jf4zoo5Xyyi-kjpH1xqmO-iF-K6s1OB7sRAdPBT6vIqP1Vjff_3KaV-MiAO5xhgtnpFghwbQ1t1QhpgS7xjMN7ZBULPpb6ICWDTGY/s640/Navionics1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
At last! A decent position indicator...a nice big red arrow, you can't miss it. Moving swiftly on, there's a cool overlay feature which will be familiar to anyone who's ever used Maps on the iPhone or iPad. Here it is with the Google Maps satellite overlay.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5SoI2o-tC2rmiWklWVCgMsrUMkumF6RgnchMjar6F2IAR31gkCEHzSHGZDftWulxbF5xqfgmjSyhpfXthL1hXE1_oPEJ8qiI7gpmtcUxrYLyGS21wMqbHE2f2TI1LxJWVhY3/s1600/Navionics2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5SoI2o-tC2rmiWklWVCgMsrUMkumF6RgnchMjar6F2IAR31gkCEHzSHGZDftWulxbF5xqfgmjSyhpfXthL1hXE1_oPEJ8qiI7gpmtcUxrYLyGS21wMqbHE2f2TI1LxJWVhY3/s640/Navionics2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
Do bear in mind though that to get the pretty overlays, you need a live internet connection. If you're running the iPad Wifi + 3G, and you're in reach of a signal, you'll be fine.<br />
<br />
The GUI is simple enough. Big zoom in and out buttons sit up at the top right hand corner, and along the bottom of the screen is a straightforward toolbar in which the buttons do what they say on the tin. <br />
<br />
As with all Vector charts, changing the zoom level reveals more or less detail. It's my biggest complaint about Vector charts generally, no offence intended to Navionics. On the upside, the fact that the chart is a Vector allows for a plethora of user preference settings, such as one that changes the contour colour scheme to allow for your choice of minimum safe depth. In addition, many of the features on the chart are interactive - the tidal diamonds and current diamonds, for example. Touching and holding the screen brings up a little magnifying glass feature. Drag the magnifying glass over the item you want, and a set of cross-hairs locks onto the object, like this.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiz_OmCg3HINeIYuNDJhIbC47CKDndfN6enwIcdIHhj3-RxKdvpDVFnuKpA7BOv9QfwbJ9jFciU4Bwt-pMzfAJi6Pe5UUYRwdCUrWWoulLT_H7WZ6qUriY-ePVk82JqxVdFntD/s1600/Navionics3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiz_OmCg3HINeIYuNDJhIbC47CKDndfN6enwIcdIHhj3-RxKdvpDVFnuKpA7BOv9QfwbJ9jFciU4Bwt-pMzfAJi6Pe5UUYRwdCUrWWoulLT_H7WZ6qUriY-ePVk82JqxVdFntD/s640/Navionics3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In this particular case, we've found a tidal diamond. Releasing once the cross-hairs have locked on brings up a basic but elegant tidal curve, the flip side of which contains detailed tide tables. However there's no facility to set chart datum and minimum required depth, as there is in the Imray App reviewed above.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFJgm_PBmhkMrYxcCWLMLMmbNcSMThj-esHLvIcaoB7rkt2wdiW3b82DRXwpI5nOmc7YeSr2wgUn7LhRqQj4BotYG5HvzzW_n5IszI2DHoKsAJ-wX4e3wu15NPtxkx7x_CZja/s1600/IMG_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFJgm_PBmhkMrYxcCWLMLMmbNcSMThj-esHLvIcaoB7rkt2wdiW3b82DRXwpI5nOmc7YeSr2wgUn7LhRqQj4BotYG5HvzzW_n5IszI2DHoKsAJ-wX4e3wu15NPtxkx7x_CZja/s640/IMG_0034.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
There are also current diamonds (the same as tidal diamonds, but with a "C" inside). Selecting those brings up useful tidal curent information either in the form of a curve or in tabular format.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFJgm_PBmhkMrYxcCWLMLMmbNcSMThj-esHLvIcaoB7rkt2wdiW3b82DRXwpI5nOmc7YeSr2wgUn7LhRqQj4BotYG5HvzzW_n5IszI2DHoKsAJ-wX4e3wu15NPtxkx7x_CZja/s1600/IMG_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfkV1-mr7y8wIwEo8EUu8WE9T3cuvAkRQqOjgLP3fq3fofmqDANU2duFXgcFuXb7ImzPxDvq_QblQa5b7LoJAItFhPmat0xvMPOJT4_nNfrhVxmOIQPVBy0hJEqRyelUADvoI/s1600/IMG_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfkV1-mr7y8wIwEo8EUu8WE9T3cuvAkRQqOjgLP3fq3fofmqDANU2duFXgcFuXb7ImzPxDvq_QblQa5b7LoJAItFhPmat0xvMPOJT4_nNfrhVxmOIQPVBy0hJEqRyelUADvoI/s640/IMG_0035.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
You waste a lot of idle time, just choosing random objects in this way and seeing what turns up - a photo, say, or details of a good Thai restaurant or a marina (because Navionics has embraced crowdsourcing and lets users upload info which can be overlaid on the charts). It's diverting, but not really core.<br />
<br />
More to the point, can you navigate a route with this App? Not as well as I had hoped, I'm afraid. On the plus side, creating a route is ridiculously simple. Click on the WP button on the toolbar, select "New Route" and just tap in waypoints where you want them on the touchscreen. It took me about 15 seconds to set up a routing through the Swash channel similar to the one I had done for the Imray App, above. Just tap, tap, tap, tap and four waypoints appeared, joined by a route.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUHCCX6L3A4LL9IEXvcZejOm2WIKReGOzaGsrNb8Nxyz2aLygl_hLHfNNT4nkE1i3SBiMLuQVsyAt12gAypW20FEcj58LRytxxifmq5oayL_Us2SLZKGru4yr8BxmnAoul6MW/s1600/IMG_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUHCCX6L3A4LL9IEXvcZejOm2WIKReGOzaGsrNb8Nxyz2aLygl_hLHfNNT4nkE1i3SBiMLuQVsyAt12gAypW20FEcj58LRytxxifmq5oayL_Us2SLZKGru4yr8BxmnAoul6MW/s640/IMG_0036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The problem is that having input the route, all you get is a bearing and range to whichever waypoint you select on it. In the screen below, because I'm still sitting in my kitchen, I've had to use the App's (very handy) distance measuring tools, shown by the purple pins, to simulate what would happen if your GPS location was at the first waypoint. You'd select the second waypoint and at the top of the screen you would see the CTS and range, and that would be it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXxg7LJ0CS0yWSXMrbOQwRqtme96m_ywOSIjBN_JjpEjv6KFJ6fwih7Zku0cySO35BbKNzTv1dV0JXgt14Yg-tt_C6dBmlh7qgWqvUv2rXJLzLgaS9E_URDmwVRx6xTAx4pj-/s1600/IMG_0037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXxg7LJ0CS0yWSXMrbOQwRqtme96m_ywOSIjBN_JjpEjv6KFJ6fwih7Zku0cySO35BbKNzTv1dV0JXgt14Yg-tt_C6dBmlh7qgWqvUv2rXJLzLgaS9E_URDmwVRx6xTAx4pj-/s640/IMG_0037.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
There's no GOTO or XTE function, not even a little compass toy like in the Imray App. All you can do is follow the CTS and keep a close eye on the - admittedly, very clear - screen to make sure your little boat symbol doesn't stray into danger. Nor are there any other advanced functions, such as time to destination or turn after next waypoint. It beats the Imray hands down for ease of use - at the next waypoint, just tap again and your course to the following mark is set - but given that the Navionics HD App is one of the more expensive in this group, you can't help feeling short changed. You've been given a chartplotter, but less than a full navigation App.<br />
<br />
Just to show you what it would look like if your GPS position <i>was</i> on the route, here's a route I've created from my kitchen in Shad Thames, out into the River Thames and then downstream towards Chambers Wharf. As you can see, my GPS location is the first point on the route, and by selecting the second waypoint (using the magnifying glass tool), the bearing - not the CTS, mind - and distance have appeared. When my red GPS location symbol reaches waypoint 2, I'll have to repeat the process to go to waypoint 3. It's really quick and easy, but I just question why it isn't automated with a GOTO feature and why I can't see CTS, XTE and other useful data. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRj9lfX23PaA_ryrYWthOgngPMDgRP1OfaydnAMs3PQ9Yg6eYTnJ2gT9QjuQSNj30OrLDZbQ44MpOz7_JaX02gOHz2t2LaGVKJhAnvqnYfyg0NqDKPVbsfZkvlYGZ-t1kAh6j/s1600/IMG_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRj9lfX23PaA_ryrYWthOgngPMDgRP1OfaydnAMs3PQ9Yg6eYTnJ2gT9QjuQSNj30OrLDZbQ44MpOz7_JaX02gOHz2t2LaGVKJhAnvqnYfyg0NqDKPVbsfZkvlYGZ-t1kAh6j/s640/IMG_0038.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>Verdict: </b> The Navionics HD App is a mixed bag. It's the first App reviewed here that has a really clear GPS position symbol, and indeed all of its overlays (waypoints, routes, etc) are clearly visible even in bright daylight. It's also very, very quick to tap in waypoints and set up a route, with distance and CTS to next waypoint - which can count for a lot when you've got your hands full with sailing the boat. I'm not a fan of Vector charts, but Navionics are among the best around. The tidal data is clearly presented, if not as flexible to work with as it is in the Imray App. But why, oh why, didn't they sort out the route-following functions? When you also take the high price into account, this deficiency is terribly glaring. Fear not though, if you're a Navionics fan...keep reading to the end, because Navionics makes a special appearance later on.<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><u><b>Memory-Map (Free)</b></u></i><br />
<br />
This App is the first of two covered here which do <i>not</i> include charts. The other is iNavX, reviewed below. However, this App is free, while iNavX is a paid App. The objective of<a href="http://www.memory-map.co.uk/maps_uk_atsea.htm"> Memory-Map </a>is to get you into an online chart store (<a href="http://www.digitalmapshop.com/joo/index.php/en/great-britain/23">Digital Map Shop</a>) and spending money. However, it's not a cynical exercise: the App has excellent functionality, provided you're prepared to invest modest time and effort in getting to know it. In addition, if you want to use your iPad for shore-bound navigation, Memory Map also works with OS 1:25,000 maps, among many others. <br />
<br />
The instructions (annoyingly, only available online, albeit via a link from within the App) are clear enough, if unattractively presented as a large slab of text. Buying the charts from within the App is also easy, and competitively priced - about £25 gets you the Admiralty Raster Charts - yes, all 800 of them - for the UK and Ireland. Be aware that when you first purchase the UK & Ireland pack and download it, all you seem to get is a single chart covering the whole of the UK and Ireland. You haven't been conned - you need to zoom in to the area you want the detailed charts for, and then click on the charts button and select 'More Charts" from Digital Map Shop to access the individual chart downloads. <br />
<br />
The store is actually selling you a subscription - so you can delete charts from the iPad, and download them again, or indeed download further UK or Ireland charts, without paying again. Meanwhile, the ones that you have downloaded are cached and are therefore available on the iPad's memory for all eternity, whether or not you have an internet connection and regardless whether you opt to pay for updates later, when they become available.<br />
<br />
Do note, however, that the UK and Ireland pack is the only pack of marine charts available in Digital Map Shop. If you want to undertake, say, a Channel crossing, you will only be able to access the Channel charts (for example, the Central Channel for a crossing from the Solent to Cherbourg). There appears to be no facility to obtain the detailed charts for the French coast or any other foreign destination.<br />
<br />
Let's start with the "iChart comparison." The GPS location symbol isn't especially elegant, but it is big, red and clear. That's good enough for me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvTq9upx4MmizTFTV7bIbDkT6OiYhBzQ1_rwOVLyj0O_3pL_3svMGep9Iml49R_bo-NROL26FY3BgeushJhHSzkmo674V7YJuWCvxxTaVXU-0Vn5XG8yOHdsc_WGo2B9L4Ooa/s1600/IMG_0044.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvTq9upx4MmizTFTV7bIbDkT6OiYhBzQ1_rwOVLyj0O_3pL_3svMGep9Iml49R_bo-NROL26FY3BgeushJhHSzkmo674V7YJuWCvxxTaVXU-0Vn5XG8yOHdsc_WGo2B9L4Ooa/s640/IMG_0044.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Recalling that the Memory-Map App is running Admiralty Rasters - my favourite - let's get one piece of bad news out of the way early on: the charts are not interactive. You cannot click on a tidal diamond and pull up a nice curve and tide table, as you can in the Vector charts in Navionics HD or the (overlaid) Imray Raster charts. There's nothing to click on. It's annoying, but will come as little surprise to anyone who had been using Admiralty Rasters on Mac-based equipment for any length of time. The only solution - which I've worked with for years, so it doesn't feel like a big deal to me personally - is to use a separate tides app or go online and use <a href="http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EASYTIDE/EasyTide/index.aspx">Admiralty Easytide</a> (my usual port of call). It's free of charge for predictions up to 6 days ahead, and beyond that, I use an almanac. If I've got a race coming up, like the RTI, I pull out the almanac and get the standard port tide times well in advance, so that I can mark-up the tidal atlas (scanned into PDF) and start thinking about strategy (uptide/downtide), which won't be finalized until we get the wind forecasts in the immediate run-up to the event. Then, within the 6 days before the event, I go onto Easytide and get the prediction curves for all locations where the boat might end up going on race day, and paste them all into a Word document before converting it to PDF. It's never really felt like an imposition, more like part of the satisfying task of working up the tac/nav and warming up my brain for the event.<br />
<br />
But if that sounds like too much work, the standalone <a href="http://www.tucabo.com/products/tides-planner/">Imray Tides Planner App </a>is pretty good, and the curves in my experience compare well with the Easytide curves, as well they should, being licensed from UKHO. They also provide extra functionality, compared to their Easytide cousins, as I describe above in the section on the Imray navigation App. Apps such as the Imray Tides Planner can work well, but beware of competitors (often hailing from the US) that produce suspiciously smooth, harmonic curves almost like sine waves. If you've ever sailed in the Solent or Poole Harbour, you'll know they must be nonsense.<br />
<br />
Anyway, in-chart tidal data either is or isn't a big deal for you. Assuming it isn't, the rest of the news about the Memory-Map App is all pretty good. Inputting waypoints and creating routes is quick and easy. To create a waypoint, you simply tap on the Flag+ button on the toolbar, and a new waypoint appears as if by magic. As the shot below demonstrates, the new waypoint has two buttons: a blue arrow button, which opens a pop-up menu; and a green drag button. Tap and hold on the green button, and drag the waypoint to where you want it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH2EJVHBZxOJLTgzyi1sF0IYmHzF15k4gEaWiV4057k0k0rKGYq7YZiAwr76zRpOhMp983csjrylTcehozsqG5G2NSxjk_HAryL69ntopTnyet5FTC_bRv5suYqK4Rme7YDcB/s1600/IMG_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH2EJVHBZxOJLTgzyi1sF0IYmHzF15k4gEaWiV4057k0k0rKGYq7YZiAwr76zRpOhMp983csjrylTcehozsqG5G2NSxjk_HAryL69ntopTnyet5FTC_bRv5suYqK4Rme7YDcB/s640/IMG_0039.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Let's say you want to create a route. To do this, having created the first waypoint as shown above, you tap on the blue drop down arrow and select CREATE ROUTE from the menu that appears. Here's our old friend the Swash Channel once again.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25SIbwwv3ZnIS9MH9Q3svn94fLRA_r4S14dLdnNk75m5yA4NxsBVvjaeLu8QKdf0DylUElxGl_R2GvHZm6b8gA1c05Pg1zqjrwMsqC3LD2AsAfO7vtZR4Hk5-WGlUbofSDpQC/s1600/IMG_0040.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25SIbwwv3ZnIS9MH9Q3svn94fLRA_r4S14dLdnNk75m5yA4NxsBVvjaeLu8QKdf0DylUElxGl_R2GvHZm6b8gA1c05Pg1zqjrwMsqC3LD2AsAfO7vtZR4Hk5-WGlUbofSDpQC/s640/IMG_0040.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
The first waypoint turns into a blue dot. You then just tap once to create each new waypoint, one after another, until your route is constructed. Each blue dot behaves just like a waypoint - if you tap on it, the same choice of a blue button and a green drag button appears - in the latter case, allowing you to drag the point around with your finger or stylus until it's in a position you're happy with. The route appears as a bold, dark blue line, and is clearly visible on the screen in broad daylight. There's an option to change both the colour and the line style if you wish.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIpeMv8h-yrUnapVxs46e2yBi6xzQZ46w3qi4x2UvmZ_UXAPtEzWcki3PKpnDIH78bFmmKg4I1zZyi58CyA2nAIex2UtZdfjIUGKZEfkcuVOIsSUZqXl4YuTxCVoNtTDuU8Qi/s1600/IMG_0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIpeMv8h-yrUnapVxs46e2yBi6xzQZ46w3qi4x2UvmZ_UXAPtEzWcki3PKpnDIH78bFmmKg4I1zZyi58CyA2nAIex2UtZdfjIUGKZEfkcuVOIsSUZqXl4YuTxCVoNtTDuU8Qi/s640/IMG_0041.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
To follow the route, the route, select the first waypoint and tap on the blue menu button, then select FOLLOW ROUTE on the pop-up menu that appears.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz088YSIPqMIu2BDpTafbGhKvvpr7edqAjLTAt91yhjeryRXRAsiTpgukj_iEm_WaE5zipzUuhjtjLnMCOSaTrQeuK5aD9SrciUrCw8VWyaJPzFX2HUahhVJINMk4ubxvq4094/s1600/IMG_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz088YSIPqMIu2BDpTafbGhKvvpr7edqAjLTAt91yhjeryRXRAsiTpgukj_iEm_WaE5zipzUuhjtjLnMCOSaTrQeuK5aD9SrciUrCw8VWyaJPzFX2HUahhVJINMk4ubxvq4094/s640/IMG_0042.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
And praise be, the App starts following the <i>entire</i> route, from start to finish, with no further user input is required. All you have to do is get to each waypoint, or within a preset proximity of it, and the route navigation automatically flips on to the next waypoint in sequence. I mean it's not hard, is it? Why can't Imray and Navionics do this, when a free App running twenty-five quid's worth of charts can do it that easily?<br />
<br />
That's not all. Once you've activated the FOLLOW ROUTE function - or the GOTO function if you just want to navigate from where you are to a single waypoint - the Memory-Map App serves up a positive cornucopia of navigation data. This is so impressive that I am going to leave my kitchen now and jump on to <i>Arabella</i> for a sail, just so that you can see this function in action in the real world. Here we are, sailing up to the first waypoint of a simple route that I've created to take us down Southampton Water to the BP Hamble Oil Terminal jetty. (I've deactivated the track function, by the way, to declutter the image).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwe64R6g8_NJ-fs9efyuWeqQfLArrQjd6Qy26jHthd-mUlc78YovTJQ-TBVSo53BkoFivtzhJjrSCka1oFR4RsBwZ3Sr_EEZEgKVNHM87i9dMeodIlxSsaJfzPkDtg-8okYUU/s1600/IMG_0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwe64R6g8_NJ-fs9efyuWeqQfLArrQjd6Qy26jHthd-mUlc78YovTJQ-TBVSo53BkoFivtzhJjrSCka1oFR4RsBwZ3Sr_EEZEgKVNHM87i9dMeodIlxSsaJfzPkDtg-8okYUU/s640/IMG_0052.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You may have to squint a bit, as the image is not full-size, but you can make out on the chart that, as we sail towards the first waypoint, it's just off the port bow. Sure enough, the big arrow on the screen is pointing that way, telling us which way to steer, and there's a countdown timer in the bottom left corner of the screen (R2P1 stands for Route 2, Point 1). It's not clear from this screenshot, but when we pass the first waypoint, the route will automatically flip on the second, and so on until the route has been completed. There's no necessity for the user to select the next waypoint and tap on GOTO.<br />
<br />
Click the arrow button in the toolbar, bottom right, and the screen flips to provide a vast amount of data, like this. So much so, in fact, that I'm trying to work out how to populate some of the fields. But clearly, even the basic default set is pretty good. More impressive still, each of these fields can be customized. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnIHC9WkqHX-oXGwcHWsoYdup65cA8LE26Ku4zxLumcu-CehWde65mdumMBYC13FqAL1EYMiQY4M_yarkMd9f12jNTeNr0mhiD7xu1ypMzICq8xKao4nljKm-8ceNVW1BOJUi/s1600/IMG_0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnIHC9WkqHX-oXGwcHWsoYdup65cA8LE26Ku4zxLumcu-CehWde65mdumMBYC13FqAL1EYMiQY4M_yarkMd9f12jNTeNr0mhiD7xu1ypMzICq8xKao4nljKm-8ceNVW1BOJUi/s640/IMG_0051.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Not only can you resize each field (both large and small options appear in the shot above), but you can also select from a wide range of data with which to populate the fields. Tapping and holding each field opens up a menu button which, when clicked, launches a lengthy list of data options, like this. Bear in mind that on this screen, you're only seeing a very small selection of the data available - the menu seems to scroll on and on forever. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivflzPr4jIFQD0-9zfJIBcFEJSh_ZBOPdgeiBXgmtqDZPbRdjMEKhOtKVrv3y9HXAbWDc_dl00wtOnr2pF-MslIgnEj8z-U5AaGySRfC71yMAkkXaAf8GfZ3KQ0qgQORl_2Km3/s1600/IMG_0054.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivflzPr4jIFQD0-9zfJIBcFEJSh_ZBOPdgeiBXgmtqDZPbRdjMEKhOtKVrv3y9HXAbWDc_dl00wtOnr2pF-MslIgnEj8z-U5AaGySRfC71yMAkkXaAf8GfZ3KQ0qgQORl_2Km3/s640/IMG_0054.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
It's difficult to imagine what further data the average user could possibly want, unless they were a dedicated racing tac/nav and required the functionality of software costing many, many times the price of this App<b> </b>and charts.<b></b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Finally, routes, waypoints and other data may be emailed from within the App for use in other programs. For example, here's a route created in Memory-Map...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhti0ZY38G01Ax2aWei4CJfXbu-lito-DENCgGMF7Z8TdnLEZOsVBnCYURJTKgu64BlKVden89OPey6AW2LxwpvyMu9gymzhQgcbOv7w5x1OQlbRoxM5w_qzQ-V-3Blcc698met/s1600/IMG_0067.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhti0ZY38G01Ax2aWei4CJfXbu-lito-DENCgGMF7Z8TdnLEZOsVBnCYURJTKgu64BlKVden89OPey6AW2LxwpvyMu9gymzhQgcbOv7w5x1OQlbRoxM5w_qzQ-V-3Blcc698met/s640/IMG_0067.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
..and here it is opened in Google Earth on my MacBook Pro, after having been emailed. As I explain later, you can use this handy feature to swap routes, waypoints and tracks between different nav Apps on the iPad. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pI0FECuGQLsppfUUFdFEs64nNQih8q3N4MIjnqClzRqaZMZxNG5JhKPFY1UMk9gEhXEhHgbDSlMgkAf-Rws_c823SVonmJ55ZGsQn42z2So3mfJkpLUAbdQDtdfCf9dIHyJP/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pI0FECuGQLsppfUUFdFEs64nNQih8q3N4MIjnqClzRqaZMZxNG5JhKPFY1UMk9gEhXEhHgbDSlMgkAf-Rws_c823SVonmJ55ZGsQn42z2So3mfJkpLUAbdQDtdfCf9dIHyJP/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>Verdict: </b>The Memory-Map App is a truly excellent, competent product, representing real value for money. It's straightforward to use, with just enough preference settings and options to describe it as customizable. Route-creation and route-following are ridiculously easy to set up, yet provide a tremendous range of route data. You can also import and export GPX files (via email). A really strong product at this price point, with just a few minor niggles. The instruction manual should be a help file within the App, not online, and the absence of in-App access to tidal data will annoy some users. Moreover, if you want to go foreign, the fact that only UK and Ireland charts are available will mean that you need to look elsewhere for detailed charts for your destination. On the other hand, the fact that this App may be used with OS and other types of map - available from the Digital Map Shop - does give it a degree of flexibility that is absent in the other Apps reviewed here. If this were a magazine review, the Memory-Map App would get the "Best Budget Buy" stamp of approval. If you're wondering why I say "Budget", there are two reasons. First, at a total cost of £25 (for the free App plus the charts), this is a very cheap option, but don't make the mistake of thinking it's a poor relation. Second, even this impressive App is surpassed by iNavX (below), if you don't mind spending a bit more money. <i><b>Important: do not buy the paid version of this App unless you're an existing user with compatible charts on your PC that you want to transfer onto your iPad. The transfer function is the <u>only</u> feature in the paid app that is not supported in the free version reviewed here.</b></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<i><u><b>iNavX</b></u></i><br />
<br />
Like Memory-Map, this product necessitates acquiring the App and the charts separately. Moreover the App is paid, not free like the Memory-Map App, so the cost increases somewhat. However,<a href="http://www.inavx.net/"> iNavX</a> has significantly more features - it depends if you think you will use them. To acquire the charts, it's necessary to create a subscription (costing $10 US) at<a href="http://www.x-traverse.com/"> X-Traverse</a>. Once that is set up, you can buy and download your charts. In the UK, these will be Navionics Gold charts - specifically product 28XG covering the UK, Ireland and Holland. This is the same (vast) area covered by the proprietary Navionics HD charting app described earlier.<br />
<br />
The subscription with X-Traverse is annual, and during that time you can download charts for each area comprised within 28XG as often as you like, so there's no need to keep your iPad's memory stuffed full of charts that you never use. Just download them as and when you need them - on a Wifi connection, this takes just a few seconds. The charts you do download are cached and therefore stored on your iPad for as long as you don't delete them, even if the subscription expires.<br />
<br />
The combined cost of the App, the Navionics charts and the X-Traverse subscription totals about £75 at current exchange rates - about three times the cost of Memory-Map, albeit including a greater chart area as well as the additional features discussed below. One additional feature you don't get is the ability to get tidal data from within the App, despite the fact that the Navionics tidal diamonds are present and correct. Tapping on them gives you nothing, which is kind of annoying. After all, they work in Navionics' proprietary App, as I described earlier. In fairness to iNavX, tidal data can be accessed from within the App if you also buy and download <a href="http://ayetides.com/">Ayetides XL</a>, which will integrate with iNavX. However, Ayetides does <u>not</u> include UK tidal data. If you poke around their website, you will find a lengthy justification for the decision to exclude it. Make of it what you will, the fact remains that if you're sailing in the UK, you won't get tidal data from within iNavX. You'll have to use an almanac or use a separate App such as the standalone <a href="http://www.tucabo.com/products/tides-planner/">Imray Tides Planner App.</a><br />
<br />
First up, the inevitable "iCharts comparison". Good news - this is easily the most visible GPS location symbol yet, and can be customised for size and colour if required. Ignore the purple symbol off-centre in this screenshot, by the way - it's an AIS target. More on that below and in a later post.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmNuUMyBGE-HJ2NxWoouF_WsyyTqxKx4vY72sWVm6-rY4IpTGO01yTLueR8Mps28b6DLqOU-xNqCt6To-b9nLwVDyzBZNpDpK6yGD0Y9W6ctpKZwGvAELKcXh9jZmt6yKqYpN/s1600/IMG_0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmNuUMyBGE-HJ2NxWoouF_WsyyTqxKx4vY72sWVm6-rY4IpTGO01yTLueR8Mps28b6DLqOU-xNqCt6To-b9nLwVDyzBZNpDpK6yGD0Y9W6ctpKZwGvAELKcXh9jZmt6yKqYpN/s640/IMG_0045.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
Creating waypoints is easy and intuitive. First, tap on the chart in the approximate location of the desired waypoint. A menu pops up (note that an arrow incorporated in the shape of the menu box points to the precise spot you have selected). Tap on the Waypoint button in the upper right corner of the menu box.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ62cQMqdMWMDG_JazldKVVquD4DbAC4iFywUUW3PxNpDpRdyFLSmkQQ1Pc7E6r0G_o85p9fC4Puy-LxVXWqpALldpDSGQ3oQXJuAnevAbyIx69iljMWvQ2eYboChz6WEM5o5l/s1600/2011-07+Arabella+-+38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ62cQMqdMWMDG_JazldKVVquD4DbAC4iFywUUW3PxNpDpRdyFLSmkQQ1Pc7E6r0G_o85p9fC4Puy-LxVXWqpALldpDSGQ3oQXJuAnevAbyIx69iljMWvQ2eYboChz6WEM5o5l/s640/2011-07+Arabella+-+38.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A new waypoint appears, as shown below, as a little green point labelled with a waypoint name. It's auto-numbered as WP0001, but you can edit the name.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-KfEXHQul2nhbobJMz_EDhg-o38te8HP2fE6tB48awVxyxmAAat7AyLToYLLknskaeJ1PINoKopV8N7nJeQQ2YTJT7Vp4tN8hVx7CU-xC8BHYfZSeVoW9xtsAT6L9MMFxErd/s1600/2011-07+Arabella+-+39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-KfEXHQul2nhbobJMz_EDhg-o38te8HP2fE6tB48awVxyxmAAat7AyLToYLLknskaeJ1PINoKopV8N7nJeQQ2YTJT7Vp4tN8hVx7CU-xC8BHYfZSeVoW9xtsAT6L9MMFxErd/s640/2011-07+Arabella+-+39.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Moving waypoints around, once created, is simple. Tap on the waypoint, and its label turns grey, as shown in the screenshot below. Then hold and drag it to the desired new location.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX68U_2cLGKKy5_V0yEW24vMdy9RsQq0gpgDtdHTWwLKSc15_279UwgGBBwN_1bjj9nAoHxwPf5cujhLjPeErbOsL6IfsNQobmcM_JuoGcE_fqlH6vhccW-sMcel8C1KSJ_Mgt/s1600/2011-07+Arabella+-+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX68U_2cLGKKy5_V0yEW24vMdy9RsQq0gpgDtdHTWwLKSc15_279UwgGBBwN_1bjj9nAoHxwPf5cujhLjPeErbOsL6IfsNQobmcM_JuoGcE_fqlH6vhccW-sMcel8C1KSJ_Mgt/s640/2011-07+Arabella+-+40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Creating a route involves selecting the waypoints that you want to link together. Tap on the Routes button on the bottom toolbar, and start picking your waypoints. Here, I'm in the process of choosing the two waypoints shown on the chart above.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFecC4qmVt9HBSYvv-MHUVRVDh9_-Fl6ks8I95EsVNa2bt71Hcq6iRrwkBtCLZ9BeZltS9OB3LmyrjI9Iaha5-gC_a-QHaT1yEznHaxb8RT2RiUNuPDmwvKx7B724Zb5qa4zn/s1600/IMG_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFecC4qmVt9HBSYvv-MHUVRVDh9_-Fl6ks8I95EsVNa2bt71Hcq6iRrwkBtCLZ9BeZltS9OB3LmyrjI9Iaha5-gC_a-QHaT1yEznHaxb8RT2RiUNuPDmwvKx7B724Zb5qa4zn/s640/IMG_0062.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
When you're all done, select the route and it will appear on the chart as a dotted line joining the relevant waypoints, as shown in the following shot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zvRjjlGElwpyW0EuDBbLHWqiONppEYWstGdj3Yl8qrWXAAYgP_k_MvjEuS-qXomQ3-Pbvg3sR1QKwWBVUcec2jO1o2IFnBjtpr37IF7esUG3QVrdKyaJR4t1R-DF8MqHrygQ/s1600/IMG_0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zvRjjlGElwpyW0EuDBbLHWqiONppEYWstGdj3Yl8qrWXAAYgP_k_MvjEuS-qXomQ3-Pbvg3sR1QKwWBVUcec2jO1o2IFnBjtpr37IF7esUG3QVrdKyaJR4t1R-DF8MqHrygQ/s640/IMG_0063.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Click GOTO in the routes menu, and off we go. The active leg - in this case from my kitchen table to the first waypoint on the route - appears as a solid line, while the remaining legs remain dotted lines.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90hdNxJuWT3Xo5ahCMmLu8GEb3yNpFW_LnDH_Dz5MJDFMzsxKQaMYP-ca-qV8jpThfwZjS8Sgf7U5l-GQxB79Bzi-ccGqEi3IQMIC1y_OWEz38ANsMwqiNNqgBptp4SId8-6v/s1600/IMG_0065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90hdNxJuWT3Xo5ahCMmLu8GEb3yNpFW_LnDH_Dz5MJDFMzsxKQaMYP-ca-qV8jpThfwZjS8Sgf7U5l-GQxB79Bzi-ccGqEi3IQMIC1y_OWEz38ANsMwqiNNqgBptp4SId8-6v/s640/IMG_0065.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
Note the red circle around the waypoint to which we're navigating. This is a proximity circle. Once we enter it, the App will flip over to the next waypoint, and the next leg of the route will become the active route. You can set the size of the proximity circle (or not have one at all, meaning you have to hit the active waypoint precisely before the next leg of the route becomes active). In the shot above, the circle is set to the smallest size (0.5 NM). It looks huge within the confines of the River Thames, but out in the Solent, say, it's fairly modest.<br />
<br />
There is an import/export function for routes, tracks and waypoints. This can be done either via X-Traverse or simply by emailing them. Here, for example, is the above route emailed from the in-App import/export menu and opened in Google Earth.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnMwsehX3BAzRB1BzZAh28eYBr_VVuoJvXkUefg5WasAoMLG3L0pFJc9t-e8Qe3zWRRk5no6Szo9NqtnkQ04fM-keWOUnEMv4KfqEFw_ee9byVUIn2_5xzvbO094qItc2iDRa/s1600/googleearth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnMwsehX3BAzRB1BzZAh28eYBr_VVuoJvXkUefg5WasAoMLG3L0pFJc9t-e8Qe3zWRRk5no6Szo9NqtnkQ04fM-keWOUnEMv4KfqEFw_ee9byVUIn2_5xzvbO094qItc2iDRa/s640/googleearth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
And here it is, having been uploaded to X-Traverse, viewed in Google Maps on the X-Traverse website.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9l7RlgKveaKz-Kqjr8NdlDV21a82ASgdi6Zy9Gm3ND6nL0NFMq-BuDjqerkD5moW9D5IPjZ5pEX51uJDsYzikD76n-HPW6uvaoVUZ3-A7tHJ5HzpB_PneHIRDYx3V_6dj7B3/s1600/googlemaps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9l7RlgKveaKz-Kqjr8NdlDV21a82ASgdi6Zy9Gm3ND6nL0NFMq-BuDjqerkD5moW9D5IPjZ5pEX51uJDsYzikD76n-HPW6uvaoVUZ3-A7tHJ5HzpB_PneHIRDYx3V_6dj7B3/s640/googlemaps.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And finally, here it is having been opened on the iPad in the Memory-Map App (just open the email, tap on the attachment file, and select 'Open in Memory-Map'). This is a nice illustration of how the two Apps can share GPX files, if you use them both - remembering that Memory-Map can also export these files by email.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3PkLs2P0Ygp_uMvjHi3fJoj-sfAPdr3nbh6Hy3LyV-7WifTokZDgJlZ_BnRJE1bwX3i5WEwxaBXg84gbC_uhuus4fSooVM5V4ksvbj9WE-zalxrjxSYwsibMOXvAGRm2A_7E/s1600/IMG_0066.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3PkLs2P0Ygp_uMvjHi3fJoj-sfAPdr3nbh6Hy3LyV-7WifTokZDgJlZ_BnRJE1bwX3i5WEwxaBXg84gbC_uhuus4fSooVM5V4ksvbj9WE-zalxrjxSYwsibMOXvAGRm2A_7E/s640/IMG_0066.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Taking this out into the real world, here we are actually navigating down Southampton Water, so you can see it in action. Our GPS location is centred on the screen and we are following the solid blue active GOTO line, which is taking us to Waypoint 0001 - the start of the route, which appears as a dotted line.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQNOgZhcP-mwHSMjAJFsAYx7N-R9B8SoyYEHJdLfoh_nf0-Uu7Y8HImWyQFnKcvjRi1xwQKsjFFCoKE6TtkNLyYIWgcl-suNS4KRqMeERMf6HD29AGgvxE53NgOZhFMqofbiU/s1600/IMG_0049.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQNOgZhcP-mwHSMjAJFsAYx7N-R9B8SoyYEHJdLfoh_nf0-Uu7Y8HImWyQFnKcvjRi1xwQKsjFFCoKE6TtkNLyYIWgcl-suNS4KRqMeERMf6HD29AGgvxE53NgOZhFMqofbiU/s640/IMG_0049.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Clicking on the Instruments button on the bottom toolbar calls up the data screen. Across the top is an electronic 'compass', on which the bearing to the waypoint appears as a red spot, centred, and our course appears as a black triangular pointer. Just in case there's any doubt which way to steer, a red arrow appears at the right-hand end of the scale, telling us to steer to port. The data fields are self-explanatory.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MJ65HLQ1Hc6wbTI8J1gIsoBS4aFkC0MGDZ_fG17g-C4KYnVNtbNf3MZhKN9-LnDSgfhXr0ZwbC-tXTbkvvUnz742LU8pnb0qjxdZcjtQ8C6T0dpmBVMWQZaBhd2aGRghXHe8/s1600/IMG_0050.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MJ65HLQ1Hc6wbTI8J1gIsoBS4aFkC0MGDZ_fG17g-C4KYnVNtbNf3MZhKN9-LnDSgfhXr0ZwbC-tXTbkvvUnz742LU8pnb0qjxdZcjtQ8C6T0dpmBVMWQZaBhd2aGRghXHe8/s640/IMG_0050.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
This instruments screen can be scrolled down to show considerably more data than is shown here. A <a href="http://www.inavx.com/help/instruments.htm">full list </a>is available on the iNavX website. Crucially, this includes not only the obvious navigation data but also any NMEA data that can be mulitplexed to the iPad wirelessly from the ship's onboard systems, as I describe in a separate post.<br />
<br />
The capacity to receive, process and display external NMEA data is one of the major functional advantages of iNavX over Memory-Map. The other is the ability of iNavX to download and display on the chart a variety of GRIB files. Weather can be obtained from X-Traverse at no extra cost once you have paid your $10 US susbscription, but they are quite large scale, and can be bettered if you need GRIBS for a particular location - the Solent, say, where wind conditions can be highly localised. Most often, these require some kind of subscription to be set up (for example, <a href="http://www.predictwind.com/">PredictWind</a>), although there are free sources which can be tracked down on the internet. Regardless, if you can get a GRIB file onto your iPad - most often by emailing it to yourself after downloading the file onto your home computer - iNavX will open and display it.<br />
<br />
The fact that GRIBs predominantly show wind direction and strength does not mean that wind is the only thing they can show. For example, <a href="http://www.tidetech.org/">Tidetech</a> provides very detailed tidal GRIBs for specific regions. They can be seen in Tidetech's own online viewer, and printed off to create a tidal atlas for a given region and date. Or they can be downloaded, in which case they can be opened in iNavX. Assuming you have emailed the GRIB to yourself, tapping on the attached file in the email will pull up a menu which includes the option to open it in iNavX. Once selected, this transfers the file to the App, where tapping the Forecast button on the bottom tool bar will open a screen from which the relevant GRIB can be opened. A typical Tidetech GRIB will appear like this.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_OnFYq3eG7gBdBUP4sP0SVigvB1Ni79_u-A6G-DuJFBXAop71sx6JfdvVuq5thjJpU-wiVa9uhwnUnw6HNqFupNBDh7lHYOP5qrMYfUPXZxjRdE48PDB_pkqs-gUecNCo-fh/s1600/IMG_0070.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGgcp-LL6v2cFDqoBOEB1KgeMFv8ibuAsPl-oNZSuvDgcgIQJbxNZDy2vq55qrAn_NwKe6ZLBum_6AHpvn6j9U27DLKn83QN3C-SgnFde7_qaiAnK0LCYIUvCDcPXJ02vyZq5/s1600/IMG_0069.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGgcp-LL6v2cFDqoBOEB1KgeMFv8ibuAsPl-oNZSuvDgcgIQJbxNZDy2vq55qrAn_NwKe6ZLBum_6AHpvn6j9U27DLKn83QN3C-SgnFde7_qaiAnK0LCYIUvCDcPXJ02vyZq5/s640/IMG_0069.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
If you think this all looks a little confusing, I'd agree. The trick is to zoom in, once you've looked at the general picture above and got an idea of where the main tidal flows are - everything then becomes clearer, like this.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_OnFYq3eG7gBdBUP4sP0SVigvB1Ni79_u-A6G-DuJFBXAop71sx6JfdvVuq5thjJpU-wiVa9uhwnUnw6HNqFupNBDh7lHYOP5qrMYfUPXZxjRdE48PDB_pkqs-gUecNCo-fh/s1600/IMG_0070.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_OnFYq3eG7gBdBUP4sP0SVigvB1Ni79_u-A6G-DuJFBXAop71sx6JfdvVuq5thjJpU-wiVa9uhwnUnw6HNqFupNBDh7lHYOP5qrMYfUPXZxjRdE48PDB_pkqs-gUecNCo-fh/s640/IMG_0070.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
Note the date and time display at the top of the screen. This is the date and time to which the prediction applies. Clicking on the FF and REW buttons on either side of it allow you scroll forward and back in time, to see how the tidal situation will change.<br />
<br />
And here, in contrast, is a typical free wind GRIB imported from X-Traverse from within the App. As you can see, it's inadequate for coastal cruising.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Klzo2vVAPVx0p0Bl1sy3XSyujNMAZWLbJFuvFL1Bk-vkK4KSHBQ1MUqg5whGqxVR38aefWEiujXHDYSWVgnlrsZ4lTV4lpsKYkSdrTB3HSZh2vd2YseqmM6aL9HoUso9RUS1/s1600/IMG_0073.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Klzo2vVAPVx0p0Bl1sy3XSyujNMAZWLbJFuvFL1Bk-vkK4KSHBQ1MUqg5whGqxVR38aefWEiujXHDYSWVgnlrsZ4lTV4lpsKYkSdrTB3HSZh2vd2YseqmM6aL9HoUso9RUS1/s640/IMG_0073.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<br />
On the other hand, here is the PredictWind 1km GRIB for the same date and time - viewed here in PredictWind's own website viewer, but also capable of being downloaded (provided you have a Windows PC) and then emailed to yourself to open in iNavX on the iPad. Quite a difference, isn't there?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS894wHtug_WSvzHWfLGQlWk4vaHR1MCbNuECclihNQ0-0A72oOvjNnLu5GQBH1hQyqXh9PjglmSIQBzF1ihMNZgEjHW6cpVw6cYd8-7NFrzfTpdPYidtXbxONyw-Mwf0kgbKQ/s1600/PredictWind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS894wHtug_WSvzHWfLGQlWk4vaHR1MCbNuECclihNQ0-0A72oOvjNnLu5GQBH1hQyqXh9PjglmSIQBzF1ihMNZgEjHW6cpVw6cYd8-7NFrzfTpdPYidtXbxONyw-Mwf0kgbKQ/s640/PredictWind.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
It's beyond the scope of this post to go into detail on whether GRIBs, especially high-res GRIBs such as those supplied by PredictWind, can be trusted. For a good discussion on the topic, I recommend <a href="http://weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather/Grib-Notes-Users">this page</a> on Frank Singleton's website, together with the links from it.<br />
<br />
To my mind, it's not clear beyond all doubt that being able to load GRIBs into iNavX is all that big a deal in terms of day-to-day practical use. For sure, when cruising or racing offshore, the ability to download GRIBs is seen nowadays as a material issue, because viewing GRIBs in a browser in such circumstances is neither cheap nor all that easy. But in the kind of coastal cruising that, I suspect, most users will be undertaking, it seems viable to make use of the 3G connection in areas where mobile network coverage is good. In addition, I quite frequently download the PredictWind screen for each hour that I'm going to be out for, and save them together as a PDF that can be printed and/or saved to disc for viewing offline. Tidetech takes that idea one stage further by actually allowing you batch together all of the screens for the hours you require, and saving them as a PDF for you - in essence allowing you to create a dedicated tidal atlas that you can print or save for later use offline. Nevertheless, for those who want or need it, the built-in GRIB overlay will be an attractive function in iNavX.<br />
<br />
<b>Verdict:</b> You'll pay three times the price of Memory-Map for a larger chart area, GRIBs and the capacity to link to NMEA and AIS data - but by virtue of these additional benefits, iNavX will probably win over more demanding users. It does mean committing to Vector charts, however. In every other respect, iNavX is as quick and easy to use as Memory-Map. It takes longer to get the hang of it, but once you have, it's very intuitive and flexible. The absence (in the UK) of in-App tides is a bugbear but without a doubt, this is a great offering and the premium product currently available.<br />
<b><i><u><br />
Conclusions:</u></i></b><br />
<br />
iChart is too expensive by comparison with Memory Map to justify choosing it. Not only does Memory-Map cost less, but it offers considerably more functionality. If Admiralty Rasters are the be-all and end-all for you, then Memory-Map is likely to be the one you choose.<br />
<br />
Imray and Navionics HD are elegant products - and, alone among the group tested here, they include built-in tidal data (albeit at the cost of a buying the Tides Planner, in the case of Imray). However, that doesn't mean that tidal vectors are taken into account when computing a course to steer. Neither App operates as a fully-featured navigation app: route following is non-existent, and in the case of Imray there is a slight feeling of the developer having gone for style over substance. Disregarding the failure to incorporate tidal vectors, they are more-than-adequate passage planning tools, but that may not be enough to justify choosing them over the cheaper Memory-Map option. Likely to be the niche choice for users that have a special affinity for Imray or, in the case of Navionics fans, people who can't or won't pay the higher price of buying iNavX as well as Navionics charts.<br />
<br />
Memory-Map and iNavX (in the UK) lack in-App tidal data - and both fail to take any tidal vector into account when computing courses - but otherwise they offer much more functionality than any of the other Apps reviewed here. A good standalone tides App is Imay's Tides Planner, although it doesn't integrate with either of these products. Memory-Map is especially good value for money, as long as you don't want the wider chart areas or additional features of the premium product, iNavX. By way of summary, both these Apps offer:<br />
<ul><li>Real time navigation on Raster (Memory-Map) or Vector (iNavX) charts</li>
<li>Simplicity of creation for waypoints and routes</li>
<li>Extemely clear and data-rich GOTO and FOLLOW ROUTE functions</li>
<li>Comprehensive virtual instrument panels, showing a huge range of nav data</li>
<li>Import and export capability for GPX files (and, in iNavX's case, other formats)</li>
</ul>For the extra money, iNavX also offers the following features that are not available in Memory-Map:<br />
<ul><li>Charts for areas outside the UK & Ireland </li>
<li>GRIB importing and viewing</li>
<li>AIS and NMEA data viewing via wire-free connection to suitable hardware</li>
</ul>For myself, I'm going to remove everything from my iPad except for Memory-Map and iNavX. Each of them is such such an excellent App that I can foresee using both at different times and in different circumstances. I'd love to see them add tidal vectors functionality, however.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiz_OmCg3HINeIYuNDJhIbC47CKDndfN6enwIcdIHhj3-RxKdvpDVFnuKpA7BOv9QfwbJ9jFciU4Bwt-pMzfAJi6Pe5UUYRwdCUrWWoulLT_H7WZ6qUriY-ePVk82JqxVdFntD/s1600/Navionics3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-80779895757730175792011-06-25T23:00:00.088+01:002011-08-30T01:44:53.013+01:00Round The Island Race 2011: third in class<span style="font-size: large;">With last year's second in class to equal and better, and tough conditions from the outset, we were all feeling the pressure as we set off for the start line. By the end of the race, we were nursing a holed boat with a damaged spinnaker and thinking we'd been very lucky to grab third...</span><br />
<br />
But ah, what might have been...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwxY2rjofZrkD_-auYP8Io-ipzXYc4yzsrkNamtgocvdK75WOcYBdzpfWvKpls-0pqx6tkPmUmskpwMvc5Q4onvqlRKaGtN_7PVGU2Dt0RYcmoxzcmiLIrudg0md8g0lADsO_/s1600/ri11-1511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwxY2rjofZrkD_-auYP8Io-ipzXYc4yzsrkNamtgocvdK75WOcYBdzpfWvKpls-0pqx6tkPmUmskpwMvc5Q4onvqlRKaGtN_7PVGU2Dt0RYcmoxzcmiLIrudg0md8g0lADsO_/s400/ri11-1511.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Brian helms </i>SSD Hurricane<i> down the startline (image: <a href="http://www.pwpictures.com/">Paul Wyeth</a>, used with permission)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<a href="http://www.brianthompsonsailing.com/">Brian Thompson</a> helmed us into a superb start, sailing right down the line and rounding up to cross literally as the gun fired, putting us into the leading pack from the very beginning. As we started to tack up into the very choppy, wind-over-tide conditions down the Western Solent, we held position among the front of the fleet without any great difficulty.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbh4A28puefnjXfj2hHBm4bIpGvuFv2x1TN1LKDpymXk1PU9ymPjGkByCFUTfZfe5BXamcdQPt7doJmHEmkypT-RoX48sYwpnG0sKOppfvHJZmlUcXDSDhvFUVomn8-7FYPHk/s1600/rtir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbh4A28puefnjXfj2hHBm4bIpGvuFv2x1TN1LKDpymXk1PU9ymPjGkByCFUTfZfe5BXamcdQPt7doJmHEmkypT-RoX48sYwpnG0sKOppfvHJZmlUcXDSDhvFUVomn8-7FYPHk/s400/rtir.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SSD Hurricane<i> (lower right) leads down the Western Solent (image: TH Martinez/Sea&Co/onEdition; free for editorial use)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>But just off Hampstead Ledge, we were rammed and holed by a port-tacker (yes, it <i>was</i> a Sunsail F40). In the subsequent protest hearing, the offending yacht was disqualified but there was no redress given. We shoved oilies and other convenient items into the hole and mounted the best fightback we could. At that point, we could still claw our way back.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklxwZ2QGy8eDcfyCGTdGzs3tQRrxtS_Bsd11N3EvNjFA9QLIUGfrmeuTnRec2CiGyyY9wwFKzzq6sJFurYv_ghbca1HufEnfZ2MpSvGpfNeg3B2WyzIYR1JxyIWfgPjLONUzu/s1600/110625-0805493PJM%25282%2529s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklxwZ2QGy8eDcfyCGTdGzs3tQRrxtS_Bsd11N3EvNjFA9QLIUGfrmeuTnRec2CiGyyY9wwFKzzq6sJFurYv_ghbca1HufEnfZ2MpSvGpfNeg3B2WyzIYR1JxyIWfgPjLONUzu/s400/110625-0805493PJM%25282%2529s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbY8YVozOqnpC36Cg8GrwrREPy0nHhaVrxhnnnVsDfaG65jUI-_XK5ZIaX6BEv2fkL6OKeIsHFC_TcDcPI5lTSii4D4NxFeZBI2Da7OaOSHdjR_-aAkiUnd3x276IBV8V0G4if/s1600/110625-0810374KJB%25282%2529s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbY8YVozOqnpC36Cg8GrwrREPy0nHhaVrxhnnnVsDfaG65jUI-_XK5ZIaX6BEv2fkL6OKeIsHFC_TcDcPI5lTSii4D4NxFeZBI2Da7OaOSHdjR_-aAkiUnd3x276IBV8V0G4if/s400/110625-0810374KJB%25282%2529s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Above two images:</b> The fightback begins...and we're not even at Hirst yet! </i><i>(images: <a href="http://www.beken.co.uk/">Beken of Cowes</a>, used under licence)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L5XFsWQUjUBY2Rb_xN6b87AT7GQuWev2kSjcSBfUcg3gLXBUG-Fqr1frO01IpFWErkSsKgi54YrZJJQ-X1d7AYPueAo_AEqBu17CaEoxsOiEZU-3JS8OXwAWNknd-yqKB5Sn/s1600/17143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L5XFsWQUjUBY2Rb_xN6b87AT7GQuWev2kSjcSBfUcg3gLXBUG-Fqr1frO01IpFWErkSsKgi54YrZJJQ-X1d7AYPueAo_AEqBu17CaEoxsOiEZU-3JS8OXwAWNknd-yqKB5Sn/s400/17143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcYgchypurZiSbgwFwc2EmbfGHTqs2WpEbD8jDlev3yTSM-LKvgM7DVVynk7scJsTjkGgFVGDk_-oiBepMTMH4suIei2jVyDIBbuJbKNAQSUGpeeoZXKuqhLvtLzh_6NjJl_l/s1600/17142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcYgchypurZiSbgwFwc2EmbfGHTqs2WpEbD8jDlev3yTSM-LKvgM7DVVynk7scJsTjkGgFVGDk_-oiBepMTMH4suIei2jVyDIBbuJbKNAQSUGpeeoZXKuqhLvtLzh_6NjJl_l/s400/17142.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Above two images:</b> Punching upwind in the Needles Channel (image:<a href="http://www.pixstel.com/search.php?kw=+ssd+hurricane&key.x=0&key.y=0"> Pixstel/Colin K Work</a>, used under licence)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Once round the Needles, we were one of the first boats to hoist our spinnaker and we were soon back with leaders. Our problems were not over, however. In truly challenging conditions after St. Cats, we totally messed up changing foresails, in the process ruining the smaller spinnaker and jamming the jib in its track. With no choice but to run before the wind under reduced sail, while we sorted out the problem, we wasted 40 minutes sailing further and further off the rhumb line to Bembridge Ledge, watching in frustration as the first, second, third, fourth, fifth <i>and</i> sixth-placed yachts sailed off into the distance. Finally, we got the larger spinnaker up; and all credit to a very wet, tired (and partially seasick) crew, we set about mounting our second fightback of the day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbpVY-biVceAgjs7GeKl30FOZAp6wTOW145F4KmYVd7vnhkicLbQO7eaeskkBTYOxVWr9DKO7AOCbEGySqiOJD-qM7mpfyqAlcEfbEJXR9F7aUvWdkZ1Ed8YfGW8ghXXZkbc1/s1600/110625-1228325KJB%25282%2529s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbpVY-biVceAgjs7GeKl30FOZAp6wTOW145F4KmYVd7vnhkicLbQO7eaeskkBTYOxVWr9DKO7AOCbEGySqiOJD-qM7mpfyqAlcEfbEJXR9F7aUvWdkZ1Ed8YfGW8ghXXZkbc1/s400/110625-1228325KJB%25282%2529s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SSD Hurricane<i> powers up the Eastern Solent on the final leg (image: <a href="http://www.beken.co.uk/">Beken of Cowes</a>, used under licence)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>We usually do well on the last leg, when other crews are tiring and losing concentration. This time was no exception and we exploited some pretty daring tidal strategy (ever tried sailing right up onto the beach at Ryde in a 45-footer?) to get ourselves back into the leading group, retaking some of the lost positions and finishing a safe third.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgrxeK6H0RqlV4tV5eFx80YG5OA6dtiIHiS3D3po0xP05zFKGAmcyI_0AhHMzQx1jomc9StdN6mvP3Idgw23A70YGec4rX3LG3rJDJ3QU2ph9X0BiTbPFIoBLIrZ5HVN1IlGs/s1600/IMG_1033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgrxeK6H0RqlV4tV5eFx80YG5OA6dtiIHiS3D3po0xP05zFKGAmcyI_0AhHMzQx1jomc9StdN6mvP3Idgw23A70YGec4rX3LG3rJDJ3QU2ph9X0BiTbPFIoBLIrZ5HVN1IlGs/s400/IMG_1033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We were amazed, frankly, to get a podium position after all that we'd been through, but that didn't take away a sense of frustration: the time difference between third and first was very small, and but for our own errors with the foresail, even the earlier collision wouldn't have prevented us from scoring a class win.<br />
<br />
Oh well. Better luck next year...Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-8230869570437390302011-06-24T21:10:00.008+01:002011-08-30T01:46:23.001+01:00Round The Island Race: practiceA good day out today, practicing for tomorrow's RTIR. I'm tac/nav aboard <i>SSD Hurricane</i>, the same Elan 450 as <a href="http://yachtarabella.blogspot.com/2010/06/round-island-race-2010.html">last year</a>, which is once again skippered by <a href="http://www.brianthompsonsailing.com/">Brian Thompson</a>, and chartered via <a href="http://www.ondeck.co.uk/">Ondeck</a>. Most of last year's crew are back, too.<br />
<br />
We managed second in Division 1C last year, so we have a tough target to beat. And the weather forecast is looking....interesting....<br />
<br />
(<i>Click on images to view large - all image<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">s</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> © <a href="http://www.pwpictures.com/">Paul Wyeth</a>, reproduced strictly by permission</span>)</span></i> <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z885NMgHEyPMT3FyvNAXd71jT6rl8CWTb7jj6zhVJJtwLxjGlOvAOZvMTQI5M31QbJcIahNnUmd_ySG1FvpkpT05JkUF4hOoJIzwf_Hesa0t5gx3E5SQ5loXfgM8xkG7FXh2/s1600/ss24%252C6%252C11-246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z885NMgHEyPMT3FyvNAXd71jT6rl8CWTb7jj6zhVJJtwLxjGlOvAOZvMTQI5M31QbJcIahNnUmd_ySG1FvpkpT05JkUF4hOoJIzwf_Hesa0t5gx3E5SQ5loXfgM8xkG7FXh2/s400/ss24%252C6%252C11-246.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItZddQv4VkJebaGBVmh-Eo8PS6rtC5yo_ZZ4gG5VbukcmxUlUnwPqF8nYTx4woK5jGn9t8HEgHgWyZUD95J6pnApjhintOVHwcwzkpTzCQm2hDH7QBaw-8HywUynjCDG5vYMi/s1600/ss24%252C6%252C11-316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItZddQv4VkJebaGBVmh-Eo8PS6rtC5yo_ZZ4gG5VbukcmxUlUnwPqF8nYTx4woK5jGn9t8HEgHgWyZUD95J6pnApjhintOVHwcwzkpTzCQm2hDH7QBaw-8HywUynjCDG5vYMi/s400/ss24%252C6%252C11-316.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfoowE6YUZxl3c03ikkdUbeDHczk3eRdDnuTwSWR9-gxaCUwv-nP3y3XuSL7FLMpOoXChrn62I6i8CDVmyANnbTSXxWFaCQu5RrdVaWv7PMzBw95_V7hIJ5z_nw_ivQVRp58s/s1600/ss24%252C6%252C11-358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfoowE6YUZxl3c03ikkdUbeDHczk3eRdDnuTwSWR9-gxaCUwv-nP3y3XuSL7FLMpOoXChrn62I6i8CDVmyANnbTSXxWFaCQu5RrdVaWv7PMzBw95_V7hIJ5z_nw_ivQVRp58s/s400/ss24%252C6%252C11-358.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41UGwgN3GC2yK6eDbK8dDhPf5MQQzub2k-CXFjFUAvFaVckCKTcB8jHxs6bBHdCg4uUl0VDU1Pm3pcGRmZoqZ73XyJziWo0176nLCKvMbVQbZA2xShAmXXGftgorxVQvTEXn6/s1600/ss24%252C6%252C11-423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41UGwgN3GC2yK6eDbK8dDhPf5MQQzub2k-CXFjFUAvFaVckCKTcB8jHxs6bBHdCg4uUl0VDU1Pm3pcGRmZoqZ73XyJziWo0176nLCKvMbVQbZA2xShAmXXGftgorxVQvTEXn6/s400/ss24%252C6%252C11-423.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtB_Zit8dzcqgtYwne7H71aJ2XZqwy-zZeUT_n473gBK-dncmrZFNVfvcugopiPiNAa0lAPtYC7TW2pbVMm7810yde4EIy8W8_dntkZImeo9if12peJp5tIRrLVa49A-7IjWs8/s1600/ss24%252C6%252C11-512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtB_Zit8dzcqgtYwne7H71aJ2XZqwy-zZeUT_n473gBK-dncmrZFNVfvcugopiPiNAa0lAPtYC7TW2pbVMm7810yde4EIy8W8_dntkZImeo9if12peJp5tIRrLVa49A-7IjWs8/s400/ss24%252C6%252C11-512.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H8YTWy9Oe6qUC39P8jYSEly0dwoySl1XRoT6uRB1k1rwvuFmcxY-x1NzMFRdI54ryR8c4HhZoohMg7juK3IQZ4F4I_ceMq4Nn-wXkY5N2ZhuJzhIwDd54YvC_yA8eOe2idy6/s1600/ss24%252C6%252C11-36.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H8YTWy9Oe6qUC39P8jYSEly0dwoySl1XRoT6uRB1k1rwvuFmcxY-x1NzMFRdI54ryR8c4HhZoohMg7juK3IQZ4F4I_ceMq4Nn-wXkY5N2ZhuJzhIwDd54YvC_yA8eOe2idy6/s400/ss24%252C6%252C11-36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtB_Zit8dzcqgtYwne7H71aJ2XZqwy-zZeUT_n473gBK-dncmrZFNVfvcugopiPiNAa0lAPtYC7TW2pbVMm7810yde4EIy8W8_dntkZImeo9if12peJp5tIRrLVa49A-7IjWs8/s1600/ss24%252C6%252C11-512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sK2uLXUk0arPMGe_k0G0Nl-z5wTsAsR2WW36cTdJKe4Ed1ZT53g7qUSUjgS3j7aQedClToi3kIbjWjh5MUB3MKaEqHaOpMbeKT1RQxKVmWHWjgp10_bQ-Oz5pxXl-KuNyd9F/s1600/ss24%252C6%252C11-96.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sK2uLXUk0arPMGe_k0G0Nl-z5wTsAsR2WW36cTdJKe4Ed1ZT53g7qUSUjgS3j7aQedClToi3kIbjWjh5MUB3MKaEqHaOpMbeKT1RQxKVmWHWjgp10_bQ-Oz5pxXl-KuNyd9F/s640/ss24%252C6%252C11-96.jpg" width="640" /></a>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-16028507362909815422010-08-05T22:59:00.005+01:002011-04-10T14:54:35.451+01:00Ist at Cowes Week<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Um yes, once again, it wasn't <i>Arabella</i> that pulled off this remarkable result, but an <a href="http://www.ondeck.co.uk/">Ondeck</a> Farr 65, <i>Spirit of Isis</i>, that I had chartered for corporate hospitality purposes. Still, I was chuffed to come first. That doesn't happen very often.</b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWZ9i2PhYS9pLiX9bLhQ2A05BWakHBdQy5VG_uV1nNKV040eHGWss-ByjNCY2UQwVNtw1eovxOps0SxGb4hcv9aoNXqgk9gd7PozyDsOitd_cANQBtfze6Gzr0_GWLl0Tz60e/s1600/1cw10d5-474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWZ9i2PhYS9pLiX9bLhQ2A05BWakHBdQy5VG_uV1nNKV040eHGWss-ByjNCY2UQwVNtw1eovxOps0SxGb4hcv9aoNXqgk9gd7PozyDsOitd_cANQBtfze6Gzr0_GWLl0Tz60e/s400/1cw10d5-474.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image copyright <a href="http://www.pwpictures.com/">Paul Wyeth</a>, used with permission</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Record-breaking <i>Vendee Globe</i> and Team Pindar skipper <a href="http://www.brianthompsonsailing.com/">Brian Thompson </a>had, somewhat foolishly, agreed to return to act as our fearless leader. <i>Especially</i> foolishly, when you think about it, because his crew for this event was a motley bunch of experienced sailors, people who think boats are for drinking on, and complete beginners. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwTD95RnuJNbBPpuCr8a_JEayPBCBj5lSnLVZsP2a1Qa1o2D7VApq2pPgtL6xqxUJInCw4N0XSag2rkRJ3_B8WcpI7ZD_cUxTPoK_eTih2nu_lCVKg7JUoBO-NoGtWXEFCIBu/s1600/cw10d5-104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwTD95RnuJNbBPpuCr8a_JEayPBCBj5lSnLVZsP2a1Qa1o2D7VApq2pPgtL6xqxUJInCw4N0XSag2rkRJ3_B8WcpI7ZD_cUxTPoK_eTih2nu_lCVKg7JUoBO-NoGtWXEFCIBu/s400/cw10d5-104.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image copyright <a href="http://www.pwpictures.com/">Paul Wyeth</a>, used with permission</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>At least on the Round The Island Race, Brian's crew had had sufficient experience to give him a fighting chance at a decent result. On this occasion, he would be competing with one hand tied behind his back.<br />
<br />
The other Ondeck skippers scented a chance for glory - they could claim Brian's scalp in this race, and tart up their own CVs. But they hadn't reckoned on the psychology of our crew. Even the oldest and paunchiest of them is successful for a reason. Once they became aware of the stakes, their innate competitiveness came to the fore.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkpq98Rqs1S6Vzq-s7wIsj64yzqn2sUCN5xHnYXLw4VhjsVdlQTsoAiSZddKrqkYPxXomuxevj07kCnWrDhlKgXXaqkhICyiohfbyNXOht-onBsbLBT6BPOjo7zeo6SfudNxO/s1600/cw10d5-186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkpq98Rqs1S6Vzq-s7wIsj64yzqn2sUCN5xHnYXLw4VhjsVdlQTsoAiSZddKrqkYPxXomuxevj07kCnWrDhlKgXXaqkhICyiohfbyNXOht-onBsbLBT6BPOjo7zeo6SfudNxO/s400/cw10d5-186.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image copyright <a href="http://www.pwpictures.com/">Paul Wyeth</a>, used with permission</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYq3Al4k6ayPB1Pf2I0hqG4O9BKv6c0_B4_P-5notJO_5Q1_NMsxS5Sf23wLGM3qArpfW5fLe_JqVRyFycSxAuk4BJScZCqpsqPkggcvl8H9tjTJRImn54PW8aLXfAQhllB7b/s1600/cw10d5-150_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYq3Al4k6ayPB1Pf2I0hqG4O9BKv6c0_B4_P-5notJO_5Q1_NMsxS5Sf23wLGM3qArpfW5fLe_JqVRyFycSxAuk4BJScZCqpsqPkggcvl8H9tjTJRImn54PW8aLXfAQhllB7b/s640/cw10d5-150_2.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image copyright <a href="http://www.pwpictures.com/">Paul Wyeth</a>, used with permission</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
If, sometimes, we didn't look entirely comfortable romping around the boat - and Brian's ultra-competitive helming didn't make any of the sail changes and spinnaker hoists as easy as they might have been - that in no way detracted from the 19 minute lead that <i>Spirit of Isis</i> had opened up over its nearest challenger by the time we crossed the finish line.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_NWRSSwNPFJteKEmmnTaIwPd4h7ufw-w4SDUp7M8gFsoj6mVD1QmmyUSsjmGQi5k4x-mPM1NZZhv8Ah3cOxT5wps_HSb8_RtnLDD0Dci4H5RRmCeIKXdEIPHzn4NInlTTKa2/s1600/1cw10d5-316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_NWRSSwNPFJteKEmmnTaIwPd4h7ufw-w4SDUp7M8gFsoj6mVD1QmmyUSsjmGQi5k4x-mPM1NZZhv8Ah3cOxT5wps_HSb8_RtnLDD0Dci4H5RRmCeIKXdEIPHzn4NInlTTKa2/s640/1cw10d5-316.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image copyright <a href="http://www.pwpictures.com/">Paul Wyeth</a>, used with permission</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Despite being bruised and very, very tired at the end of the day, every guest lavished superlatives on their experience. Words like 'inspirational' and 'motivational' were sprinkled liberally across every thank-you. Sometimes, it seems, it doesn't hurt to push people beyond their comfort zone.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7DYnUSq6bntXJtnWu9RdzhiZL6Bn-GbnvzrYEeMz1_FDK73-4Ag3lTmw3euNwJidRmVWbdndnX_VY7skU47wE8PD0KSwJitSh4t-xLJCrY7vdbi_jz0UeOYl4ssp9wr1EtDw/s1600/cw10d5-116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7DYnUSq6bntXJtnWu9RdzhiZL6Bn-GbnvzrYEeMz1_FDK73-4Ag3lTmw3euNwJidRmVWbdndnX_VY7skU47wE8PD0KSwJitSh4t-xLJCrY7vdbi_jz0UeOYl4ssp9wr1EtDw/s640/cw10d5-116.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image copyright <a href="http://www.pwpictures.com/">Paul Wyeth</a>, used with permission</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQF6vhVucth-Nf8byIJrXR3wyPsw0PsKPj-RUefkS6dObq4sqGs3vmi3XldK63-kfZL3fUkIStkTesuva-W-Eq3bg_yHgnxuNG0LHRhnQfBKth-D3RsR_oGPiB7v_WW1e_fEK/s1600/cw10d5-258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQF6vhVucth-Nf8byIJrXR3wyPsw0PsKPj-RUefkS6dObq4sqGs3vmi3XldK63-kfZL3fUkIStkTesuva-W-Eq3bg_yHgnxuNG0LHRhnQfBKth-D3RsR_oGPiB7v_WW1e_fEK/s640/cw10d5-258.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image copyright <a href="http://www.pwpictures.com/">Paul Wyeth</a>, used with permission</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>P.S. Yes, I </i>know<i>. There's been hardly anything about </i>Arabella<i> all year, and yes, I </i>do<i> appreciate that Pandora enthusiasts are probably getting bored of this non-Pandora stuff by now. Rest assured, </i>Arabella<i> is being lovingly cared for, and marginally improved in one or two minor respects. For a variety of business-related reasons that can't be commented upon now, but will emerge in dribs and drabs in later posts, in that irritating way of mine, there hasn't been much chance for me to sail other than for corporate purposes. Hopefully, but maybe not, there will be more </i>Arabella<i> posts this autumn, especially if that "Indian Summer" they're promising arrives...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-30380382360536175162010-06-29T23:00:00.151+01:002010-06-30T10:48:40.921+01:00Back in the water<div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>Arabella</i> was craned back in to the water on Friday, June 25th. Throughout a busy autumn and winter, I had been dependent on Will at </b><a href="http://www.blueyachtmanagement.com/index.html"><b>Blue Yacht Management</b></a><b> to clean and maintain <i>Arabella</i>, continue with the refitting work and generally keep an eye on her. Will is a rarety in the marine trades world - he provides a reliable and professional service - and he had gone out of his way to report on his <i>gardiennage</i> visits and on progress with his work over the past nine months. Even so, I was keen to get down to the coast and check <i>Arabella</i> out for myself.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjiXxs_dPK6AAllH1a9YcYlqXiOpEe19MKDZxYhgqZhUnZYFf9YwjF2ILsk3_94ud43TeOx9I-MoH__QMuBEYpWrxklC_ZaYWcAiC8htUbmumdYjZqcSu1q-0kvVdVArzboxL/s1600/IMG_3602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjiXxs_dPK6AAllH1a9YcYlqXiOpEe19MKDZxYhgqZhUnZYFf9YwjF2ILsk3_94ud43TeOx9I-MoH__QMuBEYpWrxklC_ZaYWcAiC8htUbmumdYjZqcSu1q-0kvVdVArzboxL/s400/IMG_3602.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I fidgeted through a business meeting, with a like-minded client who, fortunately for me, didn't care what he sailed as long as it wasn't a desk. The other side must have wondered why we were being so reasonable and agreeing to everything. Even then the meeting dragged on long after it was supposed to have ended and we debated, briefly, abandoning our plan before opting to go for it even if it meant only getting a couple of hours out on the water.</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VuSYa1x0UlE9yitdWdRJ6-vQcSo8aTQzNlTcW57gWaJXFXy8ne2YnCyOhDHEfFV7uKeAlM_K_7A-GrX8u6XGbfKYYBBhsNcnlQunLVpRhLFp6fW_6G-4zEWVAYWPFmWtRDtZ/s1600/PPVG89.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VuSYa1x0UlE9yitdWdRJ6-vQcSo8aTQzNlTcW57gWaJXFXy8ne2YnCyOhDHEfFV7uKeAlM_K_7A-GrX8u6XGbfKYYBBhsNcnlQunLVpRhLFp6fW_6G-4zEWVAYWPFmWtRDtZ/s400/PPVG89.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Above and below:</b> a benign forecast and (spring) tides timed just right for an afternoon's sailing - provided we got away from the marina by 1600...</span></i></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaJLIvDgGhcorDJJhUawUgolHpN_sJp8WAr9sq1c_MB3YM_z_-zRd9ZO83X1zsJZ8-yv1S4urxt8ddWMzvoXpWehc86QcBYVDqQJYZNpzpgk7BvTlPhIhyphenhyphen5rPi9zwuG487Jvk/s1600/tide.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaJLIvDgGhcorDJJhUawUgolHpN_sJp8WAr9sq1c_MB3YM_z_-zRd9ZO83X1zsJZ8-yv1S4urxt8ddWMzvoXpWehc86QcBYVDqQJYZNpzpgk7BvTlPhIhyphenhyphen5rPi9zwuG487Jvk/s400/tide.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was already 4.00pm by the time we had opened up the boat, the missing battery switch key had been located, the engine started and warmed up, and the sail cover stowed away. My marina is no place in which to attempt berthing manouevres once the ebb starts running, and it was about to start running very fast indeed. Without stopping to admire Will's handiwork, we set off just as fast as we could.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was worth the effort. Even the briefest of glances below decks revealed that Will had a <i>little</i> more work to do just yet before the latest refit jobs were completed, but everything above decks was working and that was all we needed to take <i>Arabella</i> out for a spin. Some fairly chunky gusts, well up into F5, came through as we motored rapidly down river on the building ebb and I hurriedly rigged the first reefing line, just in case we needed it - the sails had only gone back on that morning and no-one had had time to sort slab reefing lines as yet. We didn't need to reef, however. The breeze settled down to a F4 southwesterly, and I opted to leave a little of the genoa furled to balance <i>Arabella's</i> main, which is very small indeed. With the wind a little forward of the beam, and the spring ebb under us, we fairly hurtled down Southampton Water on a single fetch. The log read 6.5 knots steady through the water, which I reckoned was over-reading somewhat, since our SOG was barely a knot more than that, but whatever, <i>Arabella</i> was evidently in a racy kind of mood today. She's always at her best on a reach in a good breeze, and perhaps also she was trying to make a point - <i>you might have done the RTI in a 45-footer at 8 knots or more, but I'm no slouch either</i>, she seemed to be saying, <i>and I'm more fun!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She was right. She <i>was</i> fun. A lot more fun than most other 37 year-old females of my acquaintance. We rocketed past Netley, the Hamble entrance and Calshot in barely an hour, stealing back the leeway we lost from time to time with brief spells of splashy, close-hauled sailing as <i>Arabella</i> drove through the grey chop. Once we had cleared Calshot Reach and the breeze hit a steady F5 from the western Solent, we executed our one and only tack for the day, and settled down for a slightly less bouncy broad reach back home, into the final hour and a half of the ebb. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10p-ucVs2r7Nf2yIJdEPB06Q6MYz2Ow4WdXu5ltbJzJ1Oml8BtQxyEWIFzvEf5CB8bdRG_YvFjSdpFGb-lSNEp03NsZqZTzzqbYeN0JNgT_xpUsq2JUdNABFvqMTtXjnJlSb9/s1600/IMG_3597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10p-ucVs2r7Nf2yIJdEPB06Q6MYz2Ow4WdXu5ltbJzJ1Oml8BtQxyEWIFzvEf5CB8bdRG_YvFjSdpFGb-lSNEp03NsZqZTzzqbYeN0JNgT_xpUsq2JUdNABFvqMTtXjnJlSb9/s640/IMG_3597.jpg" width="640" /></a><i> Above: Settling down onto the broad reach back home. Not sure I believe that log, though...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our SOG dwindled, and we had more time to relax and survey our surroundings, including the extraordinarily unprepossessing <i>Jakarta Tower,</i> a 35,000t DWT, 213m LOA lump that had chosen to anchor, stern to a buoy, in the middle of Southampton Water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUruQH6bNcS_LP9noF4VybLoPzQmAXgFoMyDoIgbb7c7O-Y3bXsghU9Y4can4SXZUk2Tcj4Fg_GkVuAwSzoEtcoygKGetUbJi_bUt9nIR0mFPz9lAzVzDx0uhztlfC4b21bZY/s1600/IMG_3598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUruQH6bNcS_LP9noF4VybLoPzQmAXgFoMyDoIgbb7c7O-Y3bXsghU9Y4can4SXZUk2Tcj4Fg_GkVuAwSzoEtcoygKGetUbJi_bUt9nIR0mFPz9lAzVzDx0uhztlfC4b21bZY/s640/IMG_3598.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The breeze began to die off as evening approached, but the ebb was also slackening, and before too long we were motoring back up the Itchen as I furled away the genoa and dropped the main. At 7.30pm, almost perfect timing for low water, we drifted gently into <i>Arabella</i>'s berth at the marina, closed her up and ran for the train back to London.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzIQxIGpYKS68DtA7QNU4jDjrH69ONQHjobyIX5PHuLj7DBPl2Gb0b0IypDJv6e6fFJLz1XOgh4cK7boSnVmqa5awyEPzB6ZGWMkg9eAxDdfotcermtuoGjqEuftfeCI6eBy2/s1600/29062010grab1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzIQxIGpYKS68DtA7QNU4jDjrH69ONQHjobyIX5PHuLj7DBPl2Gb0b0IypDJv6e6fFJLz1XOgh4cK7boSnVmqa5awyEPzB6ZGWMkg9eAxDdfotcermtuoGjqEuftfeCI6eBy2/s640/29062010grab1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>Above and below:</b> Our GPS track today, care of <a href="http://www.windvector.com/passageplus/home.html">PassagePlus</a>.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_vBHyh0GMWhEnn_uxlmmeiqrBq2RITu99tIT3fePymQOgANUesuCP6NfCq7zmJL8pqMCnVOhEBFiHwkbMZiQthfeh85SZTliW5ESQaxEp7u46UECpbCITP4SmGqLHI48wgLl/s1600/29062010grab2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_vBHyh0GMWhEnn_uxlmmeiqrBq2RITu99tIT3fePymQOgANUesuCP6NfCq7zmJL8pqMCnVOhEBFiHwkbMZiQthfeh85SZTliW5ESQaxEp7u46UECpbCITP4SmGqLHI48wgLl/s640/29062010grab2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was just time to make a quick mental note of a couple of things to raise with Will about the refit - and because he takes pride in his work, I won't reveal here the things he is still working on, but I could see they were going to be great when they were finished.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Days like this make boat ownership worthwhile. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Below: </b> the Bramblemet report for 29th June.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR6idSBZbbtQK0xIEz37bQCX4MpJ-NKFfFBLIJSVR6eeUJuB4VtuE6ivaxSWlZzHccnjURIbZGp9f03G79gDA5cImevwoCQDWmNz91-vcxMekaRlpLQjow80AlG-sbk3mljOb/s1600/bramblemet_290610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR6idSBZbbtQK0xIEz37bQCX4MpJ-NKFfFBLIJSVR6eeUJuB4VtuE6ivaxSWlZzHccnjURIbZGp9f03G79gDA5cImevwoCQDWmNz91-vcxMekaRlpLQjow80AlG-sbk3mljOb/s640/bramblemet_290610.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Conditions:</b> SW, F4, occasionally F5, mixed cloud and sunshine. Sea state: slight</span></div><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Distance covered (GPS over ground)</b>: 15.8 NM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Total distance covered to date (2010):</b> 15.8 NM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Engine hours:</b> 1.1 (total for 2010: 1.1 hours)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-13321613636321448452010-06-28T00:54:00.009+01:002010-06-28T14:13:58.090+01:00Going Pro (HD)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Last year, I played around with a <a href="http://yachtarabella.blogspot.com/2009/06/going-pro-as-it-were.html">GoPro Hero Wide</a> wearable camera, and got some not-bad-quality footage. It was the first consumer-level actioncam that I felt produced satisfactory video, but it still had its limitations. This year, GoPro have launched the <a href="http://www.goprocamera.com/index.php?area=2&productid=33">Hero in an HD version</a>. Having checked out some of the pretty impressive HD Hero footage on YouTube, I have decided to splash out and order one.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemNwy2aHIkb9CaRTk1qQX8Wp0bBF_DA1si6qo-WEeScgdelLOWv0nSiB9WRE4NzQ1JLffFaYb9Uk7AMoV1JeZElAepIIhdgHDhO2-B5ZX_nr5MNSsT4zORuvnCyOKKTH_8xmW/s1600/goprohd.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="398" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487607407840295234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemNwy2aHIkb9CaRTk1qQX8Wp0bBF_DA1si6qo-WEeScgdelLOWv0nSiB9WRE4NzQ1JLffFaYb9Uk7AMoV1JeZElAepIIhdgHDhO2-B5ZX_nr5MNSsT4zORuvnCyOKKTH_8xmW/s640/goprohd.jpg" style="display: block; height: 398px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 371px;" width="371" /></a>The HD Hero 'Naked' version comes with the new-size waterproof housing (it's bigger than its predecessor) but otherwise is compatible with all the GoPro camera mounting accessories, so I can still use it with the bits I purchased last year.<br />
<br />
Apart from the option to shoot in 1080p, 960p, and 720p in 30 and 60 fps (720p) - which is a quantum leap in image quality - the new HD Hero comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with about 2.5 hours' life, which is a step up from constantly changing AAA batteries to keep the thing running (annoyingly the AAAs would discharge in no time at all, even with the camera turned off).<br />
<br />
<em>Arabella's</em> first sail of the season is tomorrow, if the weather gods remain in a benign mood, which is likely to be before amazon.com deliver the new camera. But if all goes well, and the HD Hero lives up to its hype, footage will start appearing in susbsequent posts.Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-70597532862648025502010-06-19T02:27:00.043+01:002010-07-16T01:43:27.732+01:00Round The Island Race 2010<div align="left"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">2nd in IRC Division 1C. 7th in IRC Group 1. If you're wondering how </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Arabella</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> managed that, you're correct: <i>she</i> didn't. This exceptionally good result was achieved by the pithily named </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Squire Sanders Dempsey Hurricane</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">, an Elan 450 skippered by <a href="http://www.brianthompsonsailing.com/">Brian Thompson</a> of Team Pindar and </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Vendee Globe</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> fame.</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNgm6OHMqTTvi_yCZHalJDaKX8ifcGXpa7kwcF-lyAG5vImhIPoYwrAvCLb1B7wcCNBr_lfyOMXXxLvx_hY4wzX8NKFsbuH1c_elE01J0fDxzH_hEPhqLUqLX6SyXNAz_a-ap/s1600/BekenCrop4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNgm6OHMqTTvi_yCZHalJDaKX8ifcGXpa7kwcF-lyAG5vImhIPoYwrAvCLb1B7wcCNBr_lfyOMXXxLvx_hY4wzX8NKFsbuH1c_elE01J0fDxzH_hEPhqLUqLX6SyXNAz_a-ap/s640/BekenCrop4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Above:</b> Image copyright <a href="http://www.beken.co.uk/">Beken of Cowes</a>, used with permission</i></div><br />
After three consecutive years of racing <i>Arabella</i> in the RTIR - an experience that, as recounted elsewhere on this blog, is a little bit like spending 10 hours inside a bucking, heaving, washer-dryer - I felt ready for a change. It was also a great opportunity to combine sailing with corporate hospitality. And to practice nav/tac on a much faster boat and a far less forgiving skipper than usual... <br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486764213721933106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoofDjdfHMvQ4PZyz5kKKMf72ZC3NY5jZ-ZVd82M-_EOL0e8B0weLwTmKT37kcZum59l7Gr3-AW0sHQ5va1PiIMuPty-1-ka0_BuyvD_GZBGa30gM2YIxz36NAywLPfL8kuvVy/s640/4731145065_862a19b41e_b.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" width="300" /><i><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>Above:</b> Oo-er. No idea what Brian's looking at, but I'd better look interested too in case it's important...</span></i><br />
<br />
Moving up from the slowest ISC-rated class into IRC Group 1 brought with it some interesting challenges, not least the 0530 start which necessitated being on the boat by 0400. After watching England's dismal World Cup performance against Algeria in the pub in Cowes the night before, and tossing and turning in uncomfortable berths on board for a few hours, it was a bleary-eyed crew that assembled in the cockpit in the pre-dawn darkness, still suffering from the aches and pains of the previous day's practice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486761950412404498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgComCmR4lTbSvR7l2x6W7ph86GqzJrrFdcDVQO4SCUlepr0D5-VN5_syH2Z0lsN6Jmcc9OrejEBCO4akDsxeujjx7TLgKrBF1N0K4e7ehbqRIwnxMGj0tjXjBfeG6hFHF-gR1S/s400/4731717204_268e59a9ec_b.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486726054308863682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0PeeMJrGRUu9ZlodN-y1N5CKt5QRWams3xVpkal2Mbd3h61-BbzvNs9fJs58ijN3hz7voerGF1QR1mgAHypiClcMlMJqlqH2LqH7dwJyGMhGPxtuxqlSt2hKqBNE_YYo_Zz5/s400/4731080909_e37e1d5382_b.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /> Soon enough, however, we were treated to a glorious sunrise as we positioned ourselves for the start. Everyone's spirits lifted from there on in, and we enjoyed some fantastic downwind sailing in a light, steady, north-easterly on the first leg down to the Needles.<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486763466894747026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjART5O-HQEPq0rRkJZ7KIM-oesrejz_qcQl14Grsf-Nqg6Zlb21WwfB9SS5mdFJFYnOVdKDM84kclWDAPVlN57HPXN9wSe7mnmX7rD2afD-IbcCEIlJja7B4n448tazFr8p9Sd/s400/4731730182_8ecf316848_b.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485776700241987250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLItAhIuj-biFO1fjCERuMLN11uhYdbB56nYZSJ9Ownlu7l8AgnAB8YczrlRhxynN_3Ma4QY0lQnbX9yX5U9z025R3pV4ap6ikLHavyZAVlhgAHjKluezR0ZhwJf1N0ZnlW3Jd/s400/Brian_Thompson_01.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /> <br />
<div align="left"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Below</b>: Two images of</i> SSD Hurricane<i> on the leg down to the Needles, copyright </i><a href="http://www.yacht-photos.co.uk/"><i>Hamo Thornycroft</i></a><i>, used with permission.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytcUuMon1FTVVSuo7OSLLx70rov0IUNL_q80THTqCNNcCOOAXfyq1yIt15gt_4703tD7S-Z55DV1SB6tt1GIeeR7Yq5lkwlvHqLUevTl_8wihOogtoeqfKoH8HV-lSAkYlock/s1600/SWE450crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytcUuMon1FTVVSuo7OSLLx70rov0IUNL_q80THTqCNNcCOOAXfyq1yIt15gt_4703tD7S-Z55DV1SB6tt1GIeeR7Yq5lkwlvHqLUevTl_8wihOogtoeqfKoH8HV-lSAkYlock/s640/SWE450crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtOKGB68v3nv_v6PgDsomazjELr0biRzWrAYW2BoE5PmqqP9bVXPTUzY5EimwPd72RjyWg5TbMAe-upQ4hki08Wv3bo49iI40zmQAVm33kbC73XArpYcvgEwJ7zlwmclUnEjw/s1600/100619_0448L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtOKGB68v3nv_v6PgDsomazjELr0biRzWrAYW2BoE5PmqqP9bVXPTUzY5EimwPd72RjyWg5TbMAe-upQ4hki08Wv3bo49iI40zmQAVm33kbC73XArpYcvgEwJ7zlwmclUnEjw/s640/100619_0448L.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
For someone like me, who had only ever raced in the thick of the fleet in the RTI, being among the early starters was a revelation. As the pictures show, we were able to sail in relatively clean air for the simple reason that the major part of the fleet was behind us. </div><div align="left"></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486786759889539474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEsLlzRM4FsMLGQ6EE22L7ac1iRD7StLubhl69AXsPT38I4FTNn3STXFhMLMOJsSYFczFJsL-zqP9DgF75T4R-WUffsGbE6JOS9vc0mNCq5kwyEnjxa123JzhjL2VPPlLCn1_/s400/South_of_the_Needles.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /> <br />
<div align="left"></div><br />
<div align="left"></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486768623373302770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEVNooXxalaF65fmyInelNLzF4SDYS_ddPGrqpbDyw0q4q1NW0v6LZdcNOuUsRvD61F8TdhUUfugSqDfHcKgMmJ3P6JcbgxIncOwlZRHWgWBullLbNVB2m1UNjOKCx2Zw1oue/s400/4731763888_a6a81241c5_b.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><span style="font-size: 85%;"><i>Above: It wasn't exactly crowded at the front of the fleet - this was the only boat near us as we rounded St Cat's at about twice the speed that </i>Arabella<i> would normally travel at...</i></span><br />
<br />
<div align="left">Being in a fast boat not only enabled us to extend our lead over the fleet as the hours went by, but also resulted in a ridiculously fast time round the island - we took 7 hours, 20 minutes and were motoring back into Cowes by lunchtime. We were joking that we felt cheated; we should go round and do it again!</div><br />
<div align="left"></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486767856381767474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yGzeB2KO7FVOFs5I0ghco2y_cgqOiw3vj1sEDMIpki05y56d9Tl0YPNgXfCWBnIhPnQRHyYk8qw68HkcGOypXFrvA77ASVUHtg6g71wXofwHIF9mEJV7sZmBX26_AJz7mlNe/s400/4731778888_dc8381a9d5_b.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486779673060405250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRCg-6ZOSad5tWkCoAjhm2kdMyHzDzsDMRmGtZOR6fZ_A9Uymhzq5w_BoodrqR85NtVo72-iUy0RrAuOoDI73FiUfyAr-S1gw4b4GWaKnNYQ1yErrJgf_GVQzNX7FdFhsiiTz/s400/4731129161_1f398d58ef_b.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
It seems popular among yachties to decry corporate sailing. Sunsail seems to be the target of particular vitriol. It didn't occur to me to disagree with the prevailing view, until I had a go at corporate sailing myself at Cowes Week 2008. I couldn't comment on Sunsail, having never been sailing with them, but last year I organised two corporate sailing events through <a href="http://www.ondeck.co.uk/">Ondeck</a>, and this year the number of events has increased to three, with Cowes Week 2010 still to come in a few weeks' time. So I do feel reasonably qualified to say that the prejudice is misplaced. With the arguable exception of Cowes Week 2009 - when there was no wind at all, the tide was adverse, the race was abandoned and the yacht inevitably turned into a floating pub - all I have witnessed is experienced sailors and debutants alike getting a great deal of enjoyment out of these events.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486768192773335090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjXF_bPtClxiRBgj35cO2dgPqyR480_ffCXc-ynJ6o7R5A2qErhhZhuKdi-A0sIFZcGZ1-I5csJjTZOUQ-BrpJ5sBXHJSDo7ah30B22Y8MUdBZo-fu7Yh2bgg75zMIKRaTusU/s400/4731775376_d1b838b067_b.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
Is corporate sailing 'better' or 'worse' than sailing <i>Arabella</i>? I'd say neither. It's merely <i>different</i>. I don't see myself abandoning <i>Arabella</i> and becoming a full-time sailing client. Corporate sailing is simply an excellent way to enhance the sailing season with a wider range of waterborne activities and, for those that want to, to gain increasing experience and new skills. <br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486782186979713058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqjdbhi1HcsUNoGFQCkExyKg4njQCO80CstyzNqgWhxtBxuT258Bg0Y2rUzs1TYQKDJ4tnR5uPnDCCKTGEntFCBzgt-4FdDER2IdjK1WOW4SqBdqtZHXfd-2Z1yRP0x3MDmqE/s640/4731769714_67aaf040eb_b.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="640" /><br />
I rather doubt that I could have just persuaded a sailor of the calibre of Brian Thompson to take me out on the RTI any other way, no matter much of an unassuming gent he is (which, by the way, he is). I doubt I'd have been tested on nav/tac anything like as much as Brian tested me - including making sure I did my homework before the race. And I doubt I would ever have been able to crew on a boat that achieved such a high position in IRC Group 1. We also raised more than £3,300 for <a href="http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx">Macmillan Cancer Support</a>, which made it all that much more worth while.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFKJU1Ct6pvoEncA5kHLQNwF3-PYiv5zha95O3lNJ5aLhNXFnNlHSjvd3oAcsoJoS7j1k0Gu8kDCFIs8SZmQtjziIpZPJqpy8xXmi2MJJL-pA_vuJeVTLOwEowbZxPcKMrMc1/s1600/beken_crop_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFKJU1Ct6pvoEncA5kHLQNwF3-PYiv5zha95O3lNJ5aLhNXFnNlHSjvd3oAcsoJoS7j1k0Gu8kDCFIs8SZmQtjziIpZPJqpy8xXmi2MJJL-pA_vuJeVTLOwEowbZxPcKMrMc1/s640/beken_crop_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKHHWQvGFVKostf6OKIxFJ7cI0xXTmwLhib1WKs-D1xOWjipp_TmirrAgGJ1hRc86Ku7EdLfi3I-CYdvPqJ7yKysYcORn5pwOLQBpdgrZSXos7BuogNgaQmIxEElKWPFRD_0z/s1600/BekenCrop_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKHHWQvGFVKostf6OKIxFJ7cI0xXTmwLhib1WKs-D1xOWjipp_TmirrAgGJ1hRc86Ku7EdLfi3I-CYdvPqJ7yKysYcORn5pwOLQBpdgrZSXos7BuogNgaQmIxEElKWPFRD_0z/s640/BekenCrop_03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Above</b>: Images copyright <a href="http://www.beken.co.uk/">Beken of Cowes</a>, used with permission. <b>Below</b>: Our GPS track, care of <a href="http://www.windvector.com/passageplus/home.html">PassagePlus</a>.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="233" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486764224133109586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwijTkl9a6760tUtgq-Qec6qWyeDCP7vJ2j_9xTe1JONjmOzKfEVkfAA48Erme2meV5N92AqmP5kDw1Cj3k2_8QQZBpzZQCTtmH5TAHTkUPDNd8x6ukc_pQa54qru8B2Z6K-8H/s640/RTIR_track_01.JPG" style="display: block; height: 233px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="400" />Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-42684028635467798122010-06-09T00:39:00.007+01:002010-06-28T23:09:04.983+01:00Match Racing 2010<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sorry, it's been a while. No big changes here, just the usual thing: life getting in the way of sailing. Today was my first day out on the water this year. Even by my tardy standards, this was late in the year to get started, and it wasn't even on <i>Arabella</i>. Instead, I hosted29 colleagues and clients for a day's racing in three Beneteau 40.7s, laid on by <a href="http://www.ondeck.co.uk/">Ondeck</a>.*</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8n1hhc1lbRwjTOqRUbTxvtB4a-Bp2yj8L_98kYYMF2GVTIZwFai5hyphenhyphen3TxEPZpNFGOB8q8dQoNXERkRJm4S5sxoEDg0z7VtjctQtECB00XHCtCo3G1t_0bFF2K0ev1v_baxTDl/s1600/IMG_2414.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487603277342377170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8n1hhc1lbRwjTOqRUbTxvtB4a-Bp2yj8L_98kYYMF2GVTIZwFai5hyphenhyphen3TxEPZpNFGOB8q8dQoNXERkRJm4S5sxoEDg0z7VtjctQtECB00XHCtCo3G1t_0bFF2K0ev1v_baxTDl/s400/IMG_2414.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Lots of fun in some not-especially-demanding races - but for me the important thing was to get some practice in on foredeck work and hoisting/dropping the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinnaker">spinnaker</a> in light winds. With the <a href="http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk/web/code/php/main.php?section=home">Round The Island Race</a> looming in a couple of weeks, I wanted to keep working on my confidence and ability with my least favourite sails.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQ2v7G1jg-dx4KX0GP0FTYH4BifOWuCrdOlbftw3DWkOeMuU1wsKTMRnM38zKxXGdBmzWAZKQvUo8Dmbmq-jZnYH-bLparWaBmOlLhViaV0QWqsKFw21YApAV7_W-17E6_1Dd/s1600/IMG_2424.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487603287086451522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQ2v7G1jg-dx4KX0GP0FTYH4BifOWuCrdOlbftw3DWkOeMuU1wsKTMRnM38zKxXGdBmzWAZKQvUo8Dmbmq-jZnYH-bLparWaBmOlLhViaV0QWqsKFw21YApAV7_W-17E6_1Dd/s400/IMG_2424.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>After four hoists and drops, and a few dip-pole gybes, I felt a bit more comfortable. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgra_iGNcCsETnI_VUCMGadXG_hGeK-Zx-3fqVAVsBMUBL7axN8nRHdr5wcp7N2lOv_-ZIT4TKe7JEwW0AP3WvPySyKrWj3qz40NP5TMf_EdMMcUfI0lcAPIJEWdo0vZ2JSZnbp/s1600/IMG_2432.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487603290133238290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgra_iGNcCsETnI_VUCMGadXG_hGeK-Zx-3fqVAVsBMUBL7axN8nRHdr5wcp7N2lOv_-ZIT4TKe7JEwW0AP3WvPySyKrWj3qz40NP5TMf_EdMMcUfI0lcAPIJEWdo0vZ2JSZnbp/s400/IMG_2432.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLJBaxAGsI2TIX5nkJvpkKmSFF-zWLNIMwDue-ZDyJEr4DKNUZqtgHqFzJyOYgsteH9XDDD1vAl3JtK0eqh1_qjzVyRR6GriqECfBTDs5YhtVtqVBaFeNQ51_AQnt-B_7jOya/s1600/IMG_2441.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487603294165618626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLJBaxAGsI2TIX5nkJvpkKmSFF-zWLNIMwDue-ZDyJEr4DKNUZqtgHqFzJyOYgsteH9XDDD1vAl3JtK0eqh1_qjzVyRR6GriqECfBTDs5YhtVtqVBaFeNQ51_AQnt-B_7jOya/s400/IMG_2441.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGWYKWLVTos7Q3cZh4P-9R1LtTxhxMmigiTUI6cZI6STUxwQoLhqn-m-eSQ0VU93AbhmARlCZwVdF6NDbhHXiwM4E-6y2TZhdeNG6nFfgkPXMFkJx0rVpqZEz_VK7Ik2fPHLY/s1600/IMG_2443.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487603299066470850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGWYKWLVTos7Q3cZh4P-9R1LtTxhxMmigiTUI6cZI6STUxwQoLhqn-m-eSQ0VU93AbhmARlCZwVdF6NDbhHXiwM4E-6y2TZhdeNG6nFfgkPXMFkJx0rVpqZEz_VK7Ik2fPHLY/s400/IMG_2443.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<i>*<u>Note:</u> I received a typical 'Mr Angry' email during my recent lengthy absence offline. My febrile correspondent accused me of using my amateur - or is that </i><i>amateurish? - blog to disseminate disguised advertising for <a href="http://www.ondeck.co.uk/">Ondeck</a> and demanding a full explanation of my connection with them. I was too busy doing stuff in the real world to be bothered to compose a reply mounting a spirited defence against a raving troll lurking in the virtual realm. But just in case you're wondering, I am a satisfied customer, who pays full market rates like anyone else, and just once, for this year's Round The Island Race (reported <a href="http://yachtarabella.blogspot.com/2010/06/round-island-race-2010.html">here</a>) my firm and theirs joined forces to get publicity out for the sole purpose of raising money for <a href="http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx">Macmillan Cancer Support</a>. Anyway, this is my blog and if I want to say <a href="http://www.ondeck.co.uk/">Ondeck</a> a lot, I will...</i>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-31847511441275953922009-08-05T23:45:00.006+01:002009-08-06T01:48:09.974+01:00Becalmed in Cowes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsLdnOkvX4RzTAU61yKi-_BIQH8FxD7znuRTSLNbjJrEsmOxEDmkqTyA5O7R7pdivfizCxStF0nUIGyRUq9QhyphenhyphenSKEaVNRWm9esXzRy29H-wFmhfEu9shruQfGa0vnh23tB0FT/s1600-h/DSC00035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsLdnOkvX4RzTAU61yKi-_BIQH8FxD7znuRTSLNbjJrEsmOxEDmkqTyA5O7R7pdivfizCxStF0nUIGyRUq9QhyphenhyphenSKEaVNRWm9esXzRy29H-wFmhfEu9shruQfGa0vnh23tB0FT/s400/DSC00035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366645627989511938" border="0" /></a>I took some clients and guests racing on a Farr 65 today in Cowes Week, with the ever-reliable <a href="http://www.ondeck.co.uk/">OnDeck.</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIckv9coTZ-6jbovnviJAM1Yuh_fzjVrwt7-lKRCOoK9xzO97CPyfJ-F27_4N1uIFan8ydBZHERc-DcNjFXkkDFnE3n_HXurGyMhyWekp92K-Kf3ohhqx4jtA-Lp9QgaM1uTMB/s1600-h/DSC00046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIckv9coTZ-6jbovnviJAM1Yuh_fzjVrwt7-lKRCOoK9xzO97CPyfJ-F27_4N1uIFan8ydBZHERc-DcNjFXkkDFnE3n_HXurGyMhyWekp92K-Kf3ohhqx4jtA-Lp9QgaM1uTMB/s400/DSC00046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366641292446581410" border="0" /></a><br />Initially there was a nice westerly breeze, but the Eastern Solent turned into a millpond as the afternoon progressed. Understandably, given the boat we had, we kept moving long after some of the yachts taking part in other races around us had formed involuntary, but cosy, clumps.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKW5XuELeKeXxxD-OnhzfouaCV51VpEOmyRlwc8SXLLZAxIPfQRBHn-6obruNThnb8nFHGIdHejxusEd_kWcvAaJEo0rim36D4-6vcAngF77W3KnLv96J25tlVpi4ZKXeXwuBH/s1600-h/DSC00041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKW5XuELeKeXxxD-OnhzfouaCV51VpEOmyRlwc8SXLLZAxIPfQRBHn-6obruNThnb8nFHGIdHejxusEd_kWcvAaJEo0rim36D4-6vcAngF77W3KnLv96J25tlVpi4ZKXeXwuBH/s400/DSC00041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366641284540214706" border="0" /></a><br />Eventually, however, even we had to accept the inevitable and retire. For all that, Cowes Week offered a great day out for a nice bunch of people, including Lloyds TSB, who had kindly taken me along <a href="http://yachtarabella.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-other-half-lives.html">last year</a> but who - for obvious reasons - were not chartering yachts themselves this year.Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-56093408895291447982009-07-31T23:12:00.016+01:002011-07-31T03:12:54.185+01:00Third Time Singlehanded<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tgDbgHxzel0&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tgDbgHxzel0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object></div><br />
Well, so much for the "BBQ Summer" that the Met Office promised us. As <a href="http://www.positiveweathersolutions.co.uk/UK-7-Day.php" style="color: #000099;">Positive Weather Solutions</a> put it: <span style="font-style: italic;">"As with 2007 and 2008, the position of the jet stream is unfavourable, and current projections show it may well stay there, meaning, we had our Summer at the end of June and start of July."</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmSnxhi1AdrNHHyo3zbeoIf-AiPelIGDz3aTCXlcV9dJgGKx5GNG4U5h-Jc57CVQfLO2zuZJAteldlg74kIvhTqfFcqh8T4bT_1Y7MEJgdkpmq4htcXphz7ZwWCPRaL2w7XAU/s1600-h/_46137116_july_weather_466.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365190676871004178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmSnxhi1AdrNHHyo3zbeoIf-AiPelIGDz3aTCXlcV9dJgGKx5GNG4U5h-Jc57CVQfLO2zuZJAteldlg74kIvhTqfFcqh8T4bT_1Y7MEJgdkpmq4htcXphz7ZwWCPRaL2w7XAU/s400/_46137116_july_weather_466.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>So I grabbed what seemed like the first fine day in weeks - or the Friday afternoon at least - and headed out in the hope of beating the next front to come passing through on Friday night.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsoRPZA-KrjrS9PPkH0hS9bR3YaHkKB1_CcZbbLxSDOTEcw_O-Ioqs_DXgTiVdxuatcFRwZgL49aNlWOMsjY3pQ0APuvMaDKzC9y80fqOO2AgI0M-ETPp44Dhm02oaEJsNzT-/s1600-h/FSXX00T_00.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365192436113937874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsoRPZA-KrjrS9PPkH0hS9bR3YaHkKB1_CcZbbLxSDOTEcw_O-Ioqs_DXgTiVdxuatcFRwZgL49aNlWOMsjY3pQ0APuvMaDKzC9y80fqOO2AgI0M-ETPp44Dhm02oaEJsNzT-/s400/FSXX00T_00.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 265px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Not much to say really. It was just a relaxing sail, enjoying my increasing confidence in sailing singlehanded, the spirit of which I've tried to capture in the vid and its soundtrack rather than wittering on about it. You can, incidentally, see the next batch of cloud already building ahead of the looming warm front, as the trip progresses.<br />
<br />
One more day's sailing next week - in Cowes Week on Wednesday - then I am off to Italy in search of SWMBO and the bambini...and maybe some reliable sunshine...The long range forecasts say that the weather might improve from late August - fingers crossed.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><b>Conditions:</b> SSE backing E, F3 - F4, mixed cloud and sunshine. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sea state:</span> slight</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><b>Distance covered (GPS over ground):</b> 12.4 NM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><b>Total distance covered to date (2009):</b> 124.1 NM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-weight: bold;">Engine hours: 1.6 </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;">(total for 2009: 9.6 hours)</span></span>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-87581726844547328732009-07-15T03:56:00.000+01:002009-08-02T04:03:09.730+01:00Arabella's Kid SisterChris Waller sent me this great pic of his Pandora International on her first sail of the season, back in April. <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella's</span> sail number is 535, and as you can see, the sail number on Chris's Pandora is the next in sequence.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EZzD6vVyxIlgD0KuZKOZJW3l3v-4TUdh10AdrZF3lsz5yOj3Og6Paejf6zhEVPd0BHp1gPpCmEJB_WfxZGE5T3LdRPqaTVrh_AcxcY5Jsl5qilPaOZHb-9UuKIbcCM0xOEhO/s1600-h/p1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 371px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EZzD6vVyxIlgD0KuZKOZJW3l3v-4TUdh10AdrZF3lsz5yOj3Og6Paejf6zhEVPd0BHp1gPpCmEJB_WfxZGE5T3LdRPqaTVrh_AcxcY5Jsl5qilPaOZHb-9UuKIbcCM0xOEhO/s400/p1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365195828511042834" border="0" /></a>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-19331937586202067642009-06-20T23:20:00.012+01:002009-08-02T11:18:56.633+01:00RTIR 2009: 50th overall<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Arabella</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> came in 50th overall this year - not as good as her best result of 30th overall in 2007, but if anyone had suggested beforehand </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">that we would manage two top 50 placings in three years, I wouldn't have believed them. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">We should have done somewhat better, in fact - but that's racing for you.</span></span><br /><div><div><div><div><div align="justify"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zz-kxyniRIc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zz-kxyniRIc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Above: </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Some fun ArabellaCam (tm) footage captured us surfing under spinnaker between the Needles and St Catherines Point. To view all Arabella's vids, go to <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://web.mac.com/andrew.knight/Arabellas_Movies/RTIR_2009.html">Arabella's Movie Gallery</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">or her </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealAKnight?view=videos">new YouTube Channel</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></span></span><br /><br /></div>We drifted over the start line on the tide, in no wind at all, but as the breeze filled in, things began to speed up. </div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350178129288262034" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpoyo6uroIlqQUsQvSssRMgxljo0Pe9EFI9Y1MAu7Tnj67heNh_rdh8p9ZiJE6TiiJSvDY7jseO8SjKdERnSgCnGQfGXzjqLTs-5xlZHwsO5qOAEEhPZFK6Lx153KSoDsM-Oc/s400/image01.jpg" border="0" /><em><strong>Above and below:</strong> A civilised start-time for a change, but no wind!</em><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350178132120070050" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 267px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN86Xr6qAUt0RLLpoN2eB1DkyH3DnVE7HdHvWS-CLNQ6Vt4zsi_TVfkhQhD_zMGAqDZTcdwmjl52ZhZr21nTFyDUv-H2vIZ8F2jLcu1BWywKFwEpaP_FqlYehR94IzOi8KKpie/s400/image02.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify">As the GPS track below shows, we picked up the tidal conveyor through Hurst just right, and had a tremendous run round the back of the Island - surfing down the waves under spinnaker at up to 9.4 knots - and rolled over what looked like hundreds of boats.<br /></div><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6C8UfE98YaK0wjlVOkKc9LEB6CN0UPH_d-9Fik2ITVCcc91QfnanDh-QFg3K3ZxgiLxWSSp9Z-Fwg-6DrwDZIuGzeboNaUq8D8SpnaxhzirY4JKsa53V8i0optRuR2vb_HG_/s1600-h/rtirgrab09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350090693096098386" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 239px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6C8UfE98YaK0wjlVOkKc9LEB6CN0UPH_d-9Fik2ITVCcc91QfnanDh-QFg3K3ZxgiLxWSSp9Z-Fwg-6DrwDZIuGzeboNaUq8D8SpnaxhzirY4JKsa53V8i0optRuR2vb_HG_/s400/rtirgrab09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><em><strong><br /></strong></em><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEnXlCfv1zSoprTylj-OMTWSfsZxU5uOtEEcX4sxz8tlZMW1WCZ_KZTRx_Y56RaLtF0xD5aJLRxu8RPZym6AUggEiah9I8txGwlUCzfK5nlsia2LlnhmTHAVuXOwaYA2BaPPm/s1600-h/IMG_5872+screen-res.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353823284063567490" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 266px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEnXlCfv1zSoprTylj-OMTWSfsZxU5uOtEEcX4sxz8tlZMW1WCZ_KZTRx_Y56RaLtF0xD5aJLRxu8RPZym6AUggEiah9I8txGwlUCzfK5nlsia2LlnhmTHAVuXOwaYA2BaPPm/s400/IMG_5872+screen-res.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong>Above:</strong> Rounding the Needles, quite a long way back in the fleet....</em><em>....(image copyright <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" href="http://www.sailingscenes.co.uk/">Sailing Scenes</a>, used with permission).</em><br /><em><br /></em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350178137448866802" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5T2rjbA8aNF6-tdEUqt9R1VU7oy79GMU9wugxyRhrECpJoa40IgYDRp6J1HRef8UT4DT2jPy1pPelf-u1MJPbzr645868HH8F2oQZFVP50aIh8yLEewSOi4KTk-SrNm6cB9Vy/s400/image03.jpg" border="0" /><em> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Above and below:</span>...to find</em> rather <em>a lot of boats in front of us....(below image copyright <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" href="http://www.sailingscenes.co.uk/">Sailing Scenes</a>, used with permission).<br /><br /></em><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMK0o_3qd-AUGiBgtqejr0_sGj3Xz6wvv574b7h7lolI5BDxr-v8vEcO5djCnlWOlfNjePnixe57lGCE8pM0Fy_c_zdkOl7vTpnoSjR_uDnaYAIE0r1JVfUzpJ8BDJGOfmJft/s1600-h/A76D9775+screen-res+landscape.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353824843232753442" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMK0o_3qd-AUGiBgtqejr0_sGj3Xz6wvv574b7h7lolI5BDxr-v8vEcO5djCnlWOlfNjePnixe57lGCE8pM0Fy_c_zdkOl7vTpnoSjR_uDnaYAIE0r1JVfUzpJ8BDJGOfmJft/s400/A76D9775+screen-res+landscape.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-weight: bold;">Below:</span>...although thankfully not too far ahead of us...</em><br /><em></em></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350183160351524546" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaolOS7GIs7sea7aTWUGPojZ3UqYX48EUlHpaRyJBrDJtIVZocxsZbO4jJ12iMrHB6QJFSPGguAJBG4YBw2U0q1Qlaaba-o5rduC9fxuJC476L14O5qcn7ySGWTzUea1KSFEC0/s400/image04.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350183169189428610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6RwKhct_ZEOolnIJ4LtRlHmkkShpsQ7bWCfMeAuZEUvHje6munsltuB6_KDAtC396D27mfJ-Wj8MSnSo7b2kWcw-6iqrCxv90p8w99NHUFWjf_KdSOWz_3dsDNKHOr7Sl8Vk/s400/image05.jpg" border="0" /><em><strong>Above and below:</strong> ...and after a few hours of surfing downwind, rather of lot of them now seemed to be behind us :-)</em><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350183173428618578" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6UV7if-76gvdXCJXyeoxiOKLtZQVjze63r6oulTZkQH9zud29W87pSNcdMmDHeYek5rqTV_D3zwDqveUvThnPith37C9RY3RwQbUpJhG6L-_76nT2P3RmMuRoINBCOCNQpiH/s400/image06.jpg" border="0" /><br />At this point we were beginning to entertain thoughts of a very good result indeed, but it all went wrong for us on the final leg up the Eastern Solent. We found ourselves becalmed in a sea of much, much larger boats squeezing round the easternmost marker post for Ryde Sands. In all the dirty air, our sails flapped uselessly, while the big boats with their taller rigs proceeded to sailed over us, and we went backwards on the tide.<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350183181379174034" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-f1xqFYkjPAS6TnO3JauTOdojLEEuN7PYryTNeQVv6aXQQxkxz7f62wPc5m0RKQuJ0wrAxFHg3J9CR3DojFT12JOcgSd3Hh0TRoHSwmWGkodEmAsfO8VaKAYBydffaZloz0jw/s400/image07.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Above and below:</span> The marine car park at the eastern Ryde Sands post (visible centre) and what it cost us in terms of progress.</span></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTscmH7nZ-8UQQWexXFEvz7srIT2xnqsR-iwDEsdEfPybgiSFUS_xh_WvlXKPTjRo2jjZiF5crvOrLGZaoQ6opDTSHman2_Hi6k9ReUS42sEK0QrRXVvKYVwTVanuzCKdfZ9Z6/s1600-h/rtirgrab09-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350090694790186754" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 219px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTscmH7nZ-8UQQWexXFEvz7srIT2xnqsR-iwDEsdEfPybgiSFUS_xh_WvlXKPTjRo2jjZiF5crvOrLGZaoQ6opDTSHman2_Hi6k9ReUS42sEK0QrRXVvKYVwTVanuzCKdfZ9Z6/s400/rtirgrab09-2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We wasted an hour like that, first heading out into the main channel to see if we could get clean air but finding that the breeze had died off. Eventually, we got brave and headed back inshore, passing through the marine car park once again. We then tiptoed along the edge of the sands, once touching them and (luckily) tacking back off, until we picked up a favourable eddy right up against the Island shore. With what little wind there was, we and a few other brave souls that had stayed close in managed to pull back some of the places we had lost.</p><p>In the circumstances, we decided that getting 50th overall was a better result than we had any right to expect. But we also learned some important lessons which we will try to apply next time:</p><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella </span>sails so much better to windward than before as a result of her new sails. But they can't save her when she is trapped in the dirty air from larger boats. To a point, at least, clean air matters more than a fair tide. After the debacle at Ryde, we learned to cover our windward side, agressively if necessary, by sailing so far inshore that anyone bigger would have been suicidal to follow us. That policy paid good dividends as we worked up the Island shore, recovering some of the tens of places we had lost.</li></ul><ul><li>Sailing inshore is not free from risk, but as well as encountering less adverse tide close in against Ryde, we also picked up a favourable eddy close inshore between Norris and the Shrape, while competitors further out were visibly still stemming the tide.</li></ul><ul><li>At the relatively late stage at which we tend to reach Ryde, the flood is well established but with a few hours of rise still to go. That does mean we can have two or more metres of tide under us, with which to scrape over the sands. I think that I will recce that area in more detail in the coming months, and see whether the fabled inshore route is viable for <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella </span>on a rising tide. It would be handy to have that knowledge in our tactical toolkit for next time.<br /></li></ul><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Conditions:</strong> NW backing SW, later veering W F1 - F4, mixed cloud and sunshine. Sea state: slight to moderate.</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Distance covered (GPS over ground):</strong> 76.3 NM</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Total distance covered to date (2009):</strong> 111.7 NM</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Engine hours: 3.9 </span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">(total for 2009: 8.0 hours)</span></span></p></div></div></div></div>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-29977642541746134692009-06-19T22:01:00.002+01:002009-06-22T00:22:42.874+01:00Final Preparations<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The last bits of deck gear were installed on Arabella with two days to spare before this year's Round The Island Race...</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti2YKvJdXdW3BM30Q9iXCx5E27yo9d4d9k2WVpg-7ZtFiv3IzmIJ_dEYNbAxdwn-UaMeMTGlM1AC8ehbFHThpcASB_zJIDVkPDDB65gKV8_RpjGwyc-IOwBEgX9de37H3hUvd/s1600-h/IMG_3203.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti2YKvJdXdW3BM30Q9iXCx5E27yo9d4d9k2WVpg-7ZtFiv3IzmIJ_dEYNbAxdwn-UaMeMTGlM1AC8ehbFHThpcASB_zJIDVkPDDB65gKV8_RpjGwyc-IOwBEgX9de37H3hUvd/s400/IMG_3203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349921601671420514" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz-AQ-9vUWdHm4ekd3DBxYi2k5PXqHDhuoVetroSL6IsX5DB5Bb_LeJ0U2525lPWnWjQY6Kk1eIlMwMvQrqpUse8WQ4seN3D-0nNZ-E1Cc3N1GdP-GV5QzRh-gor0Wm9IoVod/s1600-h/IMG_3204.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz-AQ-9vUWdHm4ekd3DBxYi2k5PXqHDhuoVetroSL6IsX5DB5Bb_LeJ0U2525lPWnWjQY6Kk1eIlMwMvQrqpUse8WQ4seN3D-0nNZ-E1Cc3N1GdP-GV5QzRh-gor0Wm9IoVod/s400/IMG_3204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349921606015694882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Above:</span> New halyard winch fitted to the mast.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetrwNXZz_BdnXTJy7JGVbKEwH9eFHXXIXjy4C0Th1S87lxdDfdkPEwaGM6vV5zcL7vWaCbf6lvz-8HT5bhqwS1oYNsdYBE-nArSnjxZE6wTv_3T2T_nf65nYJSSFBQfJS2oMC/s1600-h/IMG_3206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetrwNXZz_BdnXTJy7JGVbKEwH9eFHXXIXjy4C0Th1S87lxdDfdkPEwaGM6vV5zcL7vWaCbf6lvz-8HT5bhqwS1oYNsdYBE-nArSnjxZE6wTv_3T2T_nf65nYJSSFBQfJS2oMC/s400/IMG_3206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349923458209344482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Above and below:</span> New Harken adjustable genoa track</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUsqQvKYdnTMO9feubOIhYEqrLhTwvIKZC2nSE6HD0epzOw09fh3tq2UQPOIcOeup0cV_VhyFsbvIozaYJaeyyQlDc8hNj7TzxkvwtQ8qUdWUPjgcr_odue34-Ma4XWICaTuJ/s1600-h/IMG_3207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUsqQvKYdnTMO9feubOIhYEqrLhTwvIKZC2nSE6HD0epzOw09fh3tq2UQPOIcOeup0cV_VhyFsbvIozaYJaeyyQlDc8hNj7TzxkvwtQ8qUdWUPjgcr_odue34-Ma4XWICaTuJ/s400/IMG_3207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349921618572418402" border="0" /></a><br />In addition, a new outhaul had been fitted, which now gave a decent purchase when the time case for hardening it up. With new sails and all these go faster bits on board, and with her interior stripped out, <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella</span> was starting to look like a proper little racing yacht - if, that is, you were prepared to ignore her twin keels.Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-79296204018443467702009-06-12T14:30:00.003+01:002009-06-15T00:44:06.614+01:00Going Pro (as it were)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346431623915457282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbt0_kdMw3Dchw4K3tcR9kqLCLhGWfFnSHQQSmQnDi2ncIHxEfWrj0nVNX4IHrG6OR9RKCP_-Gc58mHxHwTc59wFuspX8HmGORtkZD_vpxTppaDCNEro-wiz0sKa6dsK9CytG/s400/DSC00761.JPG" border="0" /><br />Never being one to miss up the chance of playing with a new gadget, I have invested in the new <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" href="http://www.goprocamera.com/">GoPro Wide POV Cam</a>, in the hope of capturing some decent footage of the RTIR.<br /><br /><p>I've toyed with the idea of using action cams in the past, but have been discouraged by the poor quality video output of the consumer-priced models that were available and unwilling to shell out for professional quality kit. Now that GoPro have brought out reasonably-priced models with 5 megapixel quality and wide angle lenses, however, I thought I'd give it a go.</p>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-79588112048831330972009-06-10T23:22:00.012+01:002009-06-15T00:44:32.803+01:00Match Racing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEM3G14fzZNmrSr_CdkNrvBIr8PH3hzVjjCLK3Gt4b2CAHaOfWTc_giAwglPxVsVYLZjoSO3qvNN_k3PB2v4Le0PDDutd9zCHTG034zxKv7skQ4AxeuWv04ytUua8TmZm9cnt/s1600-h/IMAG0034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEM3G14fzZNmrSr_CdkNrvBIr8PH3hzVjjCLK3Gt4b2CAHaOfWTc_giAwglPxVsVYLZjoSO3qvNN_k3PB2v4Le0PDDutd9zCHTG034zxKv7skQ4AxeuWv04ytUua8TmZm9cnt/s400/IMAG0034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346852102716884050" border="0" /></a><br /><div>More corporate sailing - taking 27 clients and colleagues out on three Beneteau 40.7's with <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" href="http://www.ondeck.co.uk/corpgrp/index.htm">OnDeck Sailing </a>. Training in the morning, and match racing in the afternoon. OnDeck are really good at organising these events and I highly recommend them if you're looking to organise a client day that's a bit different from the norm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HPX1InQ1IJxyg_ZmXA3D6sK-YZaLW60_I367ZLYbOcdEsjWE6EBNuYesmgOi0Yccj_84VhFM6FEr9mGhA4iboFEPRO5Vf9HuPt672MPgR_YnYKfUXzoafZA28bXo-u7V3Fym/s1600-h/Sailing+Day+10+May+2009+058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HPX1InQ1IJxyg_ZmXA3D6sK-YZaLW60_I367ZLYbOcdEsjWE6EBNuYesmgOi0Yccj_84VhFM6FEr9mGhA4iboFEPRO5Vf9HuPt672MPgR_YnYKfUXzoafZA28bXo-u7V3Fym/s400/Sailing+Day+10+May+2009+058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346234484267932258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKj_SQZubKj2tvv9VVuVJMlGbhW1SVHp_M68kEqmKnA4M293qDWBdASx_lOKL-1ohPKcvDVUAv5MeURGXeWtKF-mcHRSnbRnSmQO5OoYWTJnB_zxomCZqOpHbDpS_oH5d4ieM/s1600-h/IMG00035-20090610-1609.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKj_SQZubKj2tvv9VVuVJMlGbhW1SVHp_M68kEqmKnA4M293qDWBdASx_lOKL-1ohPKcvDVUAv5MeURGXeWtKF-mcHRSnbRnSmQO5OoYWTJnB_zxomCZqOpHbDpS_oH5d4ieM/s400/IMG00035-20090610-1609.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346234488238114178" border="0" /></a><br />However, it is important to guard against your guests becoming over-tired ;-))<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpySKov29iAinmtD_WuExhlTXsKEBoI6xeJ9BVxnRTcz1q-FDgmodjFkZyuq_CwJY5Sc_wWGwo_jN_iadoavtdtip4_TR1RvPnNvRCxWrBwfXr3X3yhW2mf-gtcbOFq3it5m4/s1600-h/Sailing+Day+10+May+2009+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpySKov29iAinmtD_WuExhlTXsKEBoI6xeJ9BVxnRTcz1q-FDgmodjFkZyuq_CwJY5Sc_wWGwo_jN_iadoavtdtip4_TR1RvPnNvRCxWrBwfXr3X3yhW2mf-gtcbOFq3it5m4/s400/Sailing+Day+10+May+2009+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346237659994023282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-84022862765458663812009-06-03T23:02:00.019+01:002009-07-19T21:57:54.115+01:00Second Time Singlehanded<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTSvjFz26RivB93dZ5uzvOwYfg96k5btsSklNPCzocD4XDx_S7wH5YzZciRj3o3bBijaRxcctcHrZD6YXS-CnOWVVPosh-62BsgWwlkU225Ndb1FVBcUtn1uwOYdNJnsoe7cq/s1600-h/IMG_3201.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343249303050422786" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 267px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTSvjFz26RivB93dZ5uzvOwYfg96k5btsSklNPCzocD4XDx_S7wH5YzZciRj3o3bBijaRxcctcHrZD6YXS-CnOWVVPosh-62BsgWwlkU225Ndb1FVBcUtn1uwOYdNJnsoe7cq/s400/IMG_3201.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Above:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Reefed down and goose-winged in a F5...it has since been pointed out to me that you reef a loose-footed mainsail properly by securing the bunt by tying it around the foot of the sail, not around the boom.</span>..<br /></div><br />The forecast had predicted cooler, cloudier weather and easterly F3-4 breezes. It got the direction right, at least.<br /><br />The sun was shining brightly, but of slightly more concern to <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella </span>and me, having exited the marina swiftly and smoothly, was the fact that <span style="font-style: italic;">no way</span> was this a F3-4. The breeze had strengthened and veered sharply from NE to SE just before lunchtime, while I was still attacking <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">coachroof</span> with the orbital polisher. Now, bouncing into an increasingly choppy flood tide with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tillerpilot</span> struggling to hold <em>Arabella's</em> head into the wind, I was seriously wondering whether it had been wise to come out on my own today.<br /><br />I managed to get the main up, opting for two reefs. As things would turn out, I'd be very glad I had put those reefs in, as the wind briefly touched the top of a F5 - 20 knots - before settling to 17-18 knots and staying there for the rest of the afternoon. Letting out about a third of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">genoa</span>, I pulled the kill switch on the outboard and started sailing.<br /><br />I made a complete pig's ear of my first tack, and the second too. The net gain to windward was zero, although the sails flogged most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">impressively</span>, if I say so myself.<br /><br />That was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">frustrating</span>, but I saw little point in turning back. Granted this was a bit more of a step up than I had intended from the benign conditions of my first <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">singlehanded</span> effort eleven months ago. But I was out now, and if I couldn't get this bloody yacht to windward <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">singlehanded</span> in a steady F5, then I might was well give up all thoughts of independence and go back to pottering round under tuition from the long-suffering Roger. Or put another way, if I <span style="font-style: italic;">could </span>do it, then an awful lot else that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Solent</span> will usually chuck at you would seem that much easier.<br /><br />I glanced up to my right, at the Southampton <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">VTS</span> control tower. I was making a dick of myself right in front of them. I could just imagine them, watching me through the panoramic control tower window and having a wry chuckle at my antics.<br /><br />Increasingly frustrated and angry, I had another go, and another, and another. Bit by bit, the tacks improved, the sails were trimmed a little better between tacks and the gain to windward increased. So lost was I in concentration that quite a time passed before I realised a couple of things.<br /><br />Absently glancing over my shoulder, I saw that <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella</span> and I had travelled long way upwind, despite the adverse tide. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Dock Head</span> had fallen well back into the distance. And those three dinghy racer thingies, which had emerged out of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Netley</span> some time earlier, all hiking out, flying spinnakers and capsizing, were no longer rocketing past me as quickly as they had been. Not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">surprising</span>, with 5.4 knots showing on the log.<br /><br />I had chosen to sacrifice a bit of pointing in exchange for more speed, as I relentlessly tested my hypothesis that speed would kill off <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella's </span>leeway, and just as on the previous such occasion, it appeared to be true. I trimmed the sails a little bit more, and watched the log reading climb to 5.7 knots. And stay there.<br /><br />This was becoming fun, all of a sudden. I put in another tack, refining my technique. I was finding that, without the encumbrance of crew sharing the cockpit, what I lost in helping hands I made up for in other ways. More space to work in, for a start, but other, more subtle gains as well.<br /><br />Once the bow had passed through the wind and began to pay off, there was a short time - 3 seconds, perhaps - in which the helm could be abandoned, and the genoa sheeted in hard by hand, before <em>Arabella </em>succumbed to the urge to round up . Then, staying on the low side of the boat, I could take the helm with one hand, and the winch-handle with the other. Once the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">genoa</span> had started to draw on the new tack and <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella </span>had begun to accelerate, I could gradually sheet on the winch in while luffing gently up , then finally trim the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">mainsheet</span> to the telltales.<br /><br />I was trying to apply the principles I had been reading about in the racing and sail trim books, about "going up through the gears" as boatspeed increased following each tack. I was quite sure I was getting the practical application of much of the detail completely wrong, but I got the general principle, and since it suited my approach of sailing for speed first and pointing second, I was happy to apply it.<br /><br />Combining all of the tasks in a single person was not physically easy in these demanding conditions. But because only one <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">person's</span> central nervous system was involved, the co-ordination between the trimmer and the helm was seamless. The trimmer could trim the sails to the course steered by the helm, or indeed the helm could steer to the sails. And I had stopped looking at the log - I could feel <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella</span> accelerating, even in small degrees, through the seat of my pants and tweak the course or sail trim accordingly. This was a sensation that I had never previously experienced, only ever read about, but on this day it was palpable.<br /><br />I glanced at the log anyway, and was rewarded with 5.8 knots for just the briefest of instants, before <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella </span>fell back into the groove at 5.7 knots again. Upwind. In a F5. With two reefs in. And two keels, come to think of it. Awesome.<br /><br />I tacked round downwind, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">goose winged</span> the main and genoa, and headed back for home. And - oh, yes, I nearly forgot - took a picture, the only one I took all day. Too busy sailing, you see!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Conditions:</strong> NE veering SE F5, mainly sunny. Sea state: slight.</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Distance covered (GPS over ground):</strong> 12.1 NM</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Total distance covered to date (2009):</strong> 35.4 NM</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Engine hours: 2.2 </span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">(total for 2009: 4.1 hours)</span></span>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-59157234991467474582009-05-30T22:12:00.029+01:002009-06-04T12:50:12.885+01:00Testing, Testing...<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EZEHGlGl8nXs0o2nThcwFoiZYNbcZfg6wyvpVBlj773gcCWYndPBqhzRjUDcijevWR2rAPuuhp1lw5jX58XE3hI3IvY9ELI2X46-C8IxHxmYWTU13P4nb8pjvexarpIFDrIZ/s1600-h/IMG_3181.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341994692204598658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EZEHGlGl8nXs0o2nThcwFoiZYNbcZfg6wyvpVBlj773gcCWYndPBqhzRjUDcijevWR2rAPuuhp1lw5jX58XE3hI3IvY9ELI2X46-C8IxHxmYWTU13P4nb8pjvexarpIFDrIZ/s400/IMG_3181.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Above:</span> C. gets to grips with Arabella</span><br /></div><br />Saturday dawned bright and clear. And <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">warm</span> - could it really be that we were going to have a nice, hot summer after the previous two appalling years? I spun by the lock-up early, and picked up a couple of bits that would be needed to sail with, then headed for the marina for a full English while waiting for my brother, C. to turn up. There would be slack water until about 10.15, and I was keen to get away before the flood tide arrived.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">My obligatory gadget fix for the week...</span><br /><br />Yesterday, before leaving home, I had set up (yet another) bit of technology.<br /><br />Jon Fewtrell, the author of the <a href="http://www.windvector.com/passageplus/home.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">PassagePlus</span></a> software that I used on my MacBook Pro, had alerted me to a rather nifty VNC application, discovered by one of his other users, that allowed the use of iPhone or an iPod Touch as a wireless handheld repeater for a Mac laptop.<br /><br />If it worked, this would be a Godsend. Each year, on the Round The Island Race, I would find myself perched miserably out on the side deck while our lunatic racing skipper called on me to provide him with real-time tactical information as he hurled <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Arabella</span> suicidally into the shallows, in an attempt to cheat the tide. Which would be fine, if I <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">wasn't</span> out on the side deck and therefore completely unable to see the chartplotter screen displayed on the laptop. I did have a Garmin 60Csx handheld, which lived in my pocket. I like the Garmin very much, but it only displays vector charts - and as noted elsewhere on this blog, I'm not a fan of them when they are zoomed in on a small screen. It's too difficult to make out the contours and hazards. For close-quarters navigation, I want to see an actual Admiralty chart and that means using raster charts.<br /><br />My natural propensity for cowardice is matched only by my tendency to worry obsessively at whatever happens to be frightening me at any given time. The need to feel in control of the necessary information while up there on the side deck had driven me to distraction. I'd spent hours, usually in the middle of the night, researching all sorts of ideas, but had only encountered expensive PC-based solutions such as a Toughbook tablet with GPS.<br /><br />I was of course aware of the traditional way of doing things, involving a board with the requisite chart tacked to it under a film cover, with a shoulder-strap and little hooks to trap onto the lifelines. It was a nice theory to try on an ocean racer, where on each tack you'd simply slide over the coachroof and under the boom as it swung across, with all the time in the world. Racing <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Arabella </span>bore absolutely no relation to that. Tacking was a frantic, bumpy affair. There was no room to slide under the boom and with the cockpit full of two manic racers doing their thing on the helm and sheet winches, going via that madhouse was not an option. Which left sliding round the front of the mast, dodging the wildly flapping genoa and clinging grimly on as <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Arabella</span> slid over onto a new, dangerous angle of heel that left no room for errors - and all without the benefit of a harness because the jackstays ran along each side deck, not across the coachroof.<br /><br />That was not an environment, under any circumstances, in which I would contemplate carrying either a tablet PC or a chartboard slung over my shoulder. Whatever I used either went securely into my jacket pocket or it didn't come out onto the side-deck at all.<br /><br />All of which made this potential trick with the iPod Touch very attractive, and I wasted no time in giving it a go.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHevqMKxH-hm9543H6PurSHch16IG7vbX0qFTLC8q8b8_HWHqrMgEMn4h3Fx9QngEG_duIGCNXUxYPmaLhKz-ag66eCSWomKjTVVfXFaFCjLu6wYBI5c1ctv_kvBiot4I55Ky5/s1600-h/DSCN1695.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341320596303652130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHevqMKxH-hm9543H6PurSHch16IG7vbX0qFTLC8q8b8_HWHqrMgEMn4h3Fx9QngEG_duIGCNXUxYPmaLhKz-ag66eCSWomKjTVVfXFaFCjLu6wYBI5c1ctv_kvBiot4I55Ky5/s400/DSCN1695.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Above: </span>My iPod Touch (resting on the keyboard of my MacBook Pro, lower right) wirelessly screen shares whatever appears on the laptop display. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Below:</span> If you find that you have to squint to read the iPod Touch screen, you just zoom in, using the touchscreen.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacGr9Hpwf3IlQG2Fuo7XE4yxBM0uFvj82nyi9Ej7_lzHE6f2snAi-wVP8fdaRdb1VeUaqJcevH1S_5uz16JbYe59rC7RM1ficzsLxPkXCUQJLG7z4cVVTuqnWHeGCQzN4-RkO/s1600-h/DSCN1696.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341320609040366610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacGr9Hpwf3IlQG2Fuo7XE4yxBM0uFvj82nyi9Ej7_lzHE6f2snAi-wVP8fdaRdb1VeUaqJcevH1S_5uz16JbYe59rC7RM1ficzsLxPkXCUQJLG7z4cVVTuqnWHeGCQzN4-RkO/s400/DSCN1696.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The VNC software - available for US$24.99 from the Apple iTunes Apps Store or via the link on the software developer's own website at <a href="http://www.jaaduvnc.com/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">http://www.jaaduvnc.com/</span></a> - did something that was really nifty. It didn't merely enable my iPod Touch to screen share what was on the laptop display, like a dumb repeater. It also permitted me to control the laptop, by using the touchscreen controls on the iPod Touch, like a remote mouse.<br /><br />So PassagePlus charts could be selected, scrolled and zoomed just as they could be on the laptop itself. The laptop could be tucked away under cover, and everything necessary could be done from the side deck using the iPod Touch (protected in a waterproof <a href="http://www.aquapac.net/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Aquapac</span></a> case). All that I now needed to check was that it worked onboard, with the USB GPS and the AIS-2-USB hooked up to the laptop in live navigation mode, such that the yacht's GPS plot and the surrounding AIS targets would also display satisfactorily.<br /><br />Another useful application for the iPod Touch (or the iPhone), that I had downloaded from the iTunes Apps Store, was <a href="http://www.ayetides.com/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">AyeTides</span>.</a> This clever little App enabled the iPod Touch to display tidal data and real-time tidal curves for 10,000 locations worldwide. It had two important features from my point of view:<br /><br />(1) It was a stand-alone application - it didn't require internet access to function, because everything was preloaded into a database stored on the iPod Touch, so tidal data and curves were available any time, all the time.<br /><br />(2) It carried the tidal data and real-time curves for (among the thousands of other places) Ventnor, Sandown and (crucially) Bembridge and Ryde. Those last two locations were exactly where I had previously encountered the most difficulty in promptly providing tactical information to the helmsman on the Round The Island Race - like when to tack before running aground on Ryde Sands. Armed with the current height of tide on AyeTides and decent, clear, Admiralty charts on the PassagePlus chartplotter (via VNC) on the iPod Touch, I now had all I needed right there to hand on the side deck (remembering of course to double-check the AyeTides predictions for that date and location in the traditional way before the race).<br /><br />(<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">For the sake of completeness, I should point out that if you already own an iPhone, you do have the option of using the built-in GPS receiver and going for a self-contained solution with <a href="http://www.inavx.net/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">iNavX</span></a><span style="color:#ff9900;">,</span> or simply using iNavX as a repeater for <a href="http://www.gpsnavx.com/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">GPSNavX</span></a> or <a href="http://www.macenc.com/"><span style="color:#ff9900;">MacEnc</span></a><span style="color:#ff9900;"> </span>running on your Mac below decks. These programs are the competitors to PassagePlus, and by all accounts are very good. For the <a href="http://yachtarabella.blogspot.com/2008/02/laptop-navigation-with-mac.html"><span style="color:#ff9900;">reasons stated elsewhere</span></a>, however, I prefer using <a href="http://www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk/arcs_home.asp"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Admiralty raster charts (ARCS)</span></a> in PassagePlus, which dictated my choices here.)</span><br /><br />Anyway, with luck, that all seemed sorted, subject to testing it today, and I was now free to obsess about something else - like the fact that my brother, bless him, is the kind of bluewater sailor who is an absolute queen about boats and I hadn't had the opportunity to clean <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Arabella</span> yet...<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">And now for a spot of actual sailing...<br /><br /></span>The anticipated breeze (SE F4-5) hadn't filled in when C. arrived, and there was no current at all in the marina, which made for perfect conditions for testing the new morse-style control for the 6HP Tohatsu outboard. I was really, really hoping that this would solve my previous problems with manoeuvring under power. C. and I rigged the mooring lines as slips, and I stepped aboard and gingerly pushed the control lever into reverse and increased the revs. Obediently, Arabella moved astern<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">. </span>For the first time, from this new position, I noticed that there was a fair amount of propwash coming out to starboard, meaning <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Arabella</span> would kick to port.<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> </span>That wasn't ideal for the way I wanted to turn. Now that Arabella had some way on, I throttled down and, sure enough, the stern came back into line and then, in response to the tiller, swung nicely round to starboard. Reversing the tiller, I put the control into forward gear and gave it a burst of throttle. Sure enough, Arabella's bow swung round to the right course, and she lay, virtually motionless in the still water, waiting to be told what to do next. Fantastic!<br /><br />We turned upriver for a change, waiting for the breeze to fill in, and raised the new mainsail. First surprise - the new sail was loose footed. Crikey. That was a bit controversial. I hadn't specified it, I'd just asked Peter Sanders to "give me something a bit racier than the average cruising sail". Not that I was averse to giving it a try, and exploiting the benefits of being to adjust the outhaul easily sounded like fun. I like tinkering with sails. On the downside, it would put the outhaul itself under greater strain and I wasn't too sure of the efficacy of the brake - to be on the safe side, after setting the outhaul not too tight, to give the foot of the sail some belly in these light winds, I made the bitter end of the outhaul off on one of the mast cleats. I'd have to see what the RTIR race crew made of <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">that</span>.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9h8GQKl8Dd1QKoacjcTQlR9pdC8iO4TGhBnb5L4ZIreWIlZuVXyvuCNw7959IWvKGZp8Dx2Vks0ksqPSsmNrmuPw9kt_BwLuYLPfRbzrJHfqWRg9t_pwvDhat9CWAnzDZwek/s1600-h/IMG_3180.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341986617469340338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9h8GQKl8Dd1QKoacjcTQlR9pdC8iO4TGhBnb5L4ZIreWIlZuVXyvuCNw7959IWvKGZp8Dx2Vks0ksqPSsmNrmuPw9kt_BwLuYLPfRbzrJHfqWRg9t_pwvDhat9CWAnzDZwek/s400/IMG_3180.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Above: </span>Just about the least flattering shot of the main possible, reefed down and running downwind. (Sorry, too busy sailing to take many shots).</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> I see I've been promoted by the sailmaker from K535 to "GBR535". That's posh.</span><br /></div><br />As the promised breeze started to fill in and reached F3, we unfurled the new genoa. That was a bit more traditional, but I notice the leech shape was more curved than on its predecessor. Interesting.<br /><br />Next, I switched on the iPod Touch to test whether the VNC software would still work with the laptop hooked up to the GPS and AIS receivers in live navigation mode. Nothing doing. The iPod wouldn't connect to the laptop at all. I smothered a curse and - given the choice between sailing and playing with IT below decks - chucked the iPod back in my bag and went sailing.<br /><br />Off we went down river, into Southampton Water. Having chosen to set off at low water, we would be stemming the incoming tide, and with the wind now from the ESE, we'd be close-hauled. This was a deliberate choice on my part (well, not the wind direction, obviously) - I was looking to replicate as closely as possible the conditions experienced on a number of occasions last year when <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Arabella</span> suffered badly from leeway, to see what if anything these new sails were going to do about that.<br /><br />The answer, in short, was: a lot. In fact the results were little short of spectacular. <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Arabella</span> was sailing upwind, against the tide, in a rapidly rising breeze that soon filled in to a steady F5. The most obvious gain was in our boatspeed. The newly-calibrated log regularly showed over 5 knots on this trip (our SOG, obviously, was lower) - last year, in similar conditions, we often struggled to beat 4 knots. My hypothesis was that the faster we went, the more we could point upwind without suffering leeway, because we would increase the stall angle on the keels. All the indications were that it worked. Between 50 and 60 degrees off the wind, there was <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">no discernible leeway.</span> There was some really, of course - you can't beat the laws of physics - but it was so small as to be undetectible by the naked eye, using reference points on the shore. Trying to luff up beyond that point did introduce some modest leeway - it was a little hard to tell how much of it was due to the tide, now in full flood, and how much was due to the wind, but it was there, nevertheless.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHy_bg3tJWR7aE0e6VCXvz4zIYStGJ9wvZzzWMj0JehXvj5zZgHlH08lXyea6BimIiSH7yD12p8S3P9AYEhpPfLzzLBeBAV5id19rLzs0rIwrrxymElIpTgY0kuNhJ1UXihI3Q/s1600-h/IMG_3183.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341991826433958274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHy_bg3tJWR7aE0e6VCXvz4zIYStGJ9wvZzzWMj0JehXvj5zZgHlH08lXyea6BimIiSH7yD12p8S3P9AYEhpPfLzzLBeBAV5id19rLzs0rIwrrxymElIpTgY0kuNhJ1UXihI3Q/s400/IMG_3183.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />By now, we should really be reefing down, as <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Arabella</span> was starting to become overpressed. We were having so much fun, however, that we delayed for a while longer, while I played with the set of the sails. It soon became apparent that hauling in on the outhaul (to flatten the loose foot of the mainsail) was not possible beyond a certain point, at least not by hand. I suspect we could have squeezed just a few more degrees upwind if I could have sorted that, and it did make me wonder if it wasn't worth fitting a small winch to the mast base to assist - it would help with the main halyard too.<br /><br />Eventually, we had to accept that we couldn't put off reefing anymore, not with the occasional F6 gust coming through. The only other boats out on this moderately busy day that were not reefed were the big racers, and they were starting to look horribly overpressed. Putting in the first reef was straightforward, and we turned onto a broad reach to calm things down and have some lunch.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo-l-suUSAp3NhVB-fklhuVUnoSQfFLEL6_KCFVN37Y0SQosrWXgI9_tNt24gh3zfeva7hP7vwElFZuErC-R_l1hSYGbCOlxc-7xXaRyt2IcHdzsQppDY-6S754g2_4PWofaJ/s1600-h/IMG_3182.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341986266085558866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo-l-suUSAp3NhVB-fklhuVUnoSQfFLEL6_KCFVN37Y0SQosrWXgI9_tNt24gh3zfeva7hP7vwElFZuErC-R_l1hSYGbCOlxc-7xXaRyt2IcHdzsQppDY-6S754g2_4PWofaJ/s400/IMG_3182.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Above:</span> a spot of calm on the broad reach</span><br /></div><br />On impulse, we ran up into the River Test, through the docks as far as the upper swinging ground. It was being used to swing, as it happened, by <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Houston Express</span> - a 330-metre Hapag-LLoyd container ship - with the assistance of two tugs. Discretion being the better part of valour, we turned back upwind and began to beat back down to Dock Head.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxklTCFs7uI_3RhWUyaYjrEWVdQzxexg05ZBuZMN5x9vl8VDNjc5Anm-wQspIK3uDqe8B6yfDntq0wIfJAynl5KASkhcy2lXPW0f8soYGgu5oiA8aXaHfisVXz3YCza2Milg5/s1600-h/IMG_3185.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341995344088542930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxklTCFs7uI_3RhWUyaYjrEWVdQzxexg05ZBuZMN5x9vl8VDNjc5Anm-wQspIK3uDqe8B6yfDntq0wIfJAynl5KASkhcy2lXPW0f8soYGgu5oiA8aXaHfisVXz3YCza2Milg5/s400/IMG_3185.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We were now in the exact same spot where my long-suffering teacher Roger and I had suffered leeway to die for last year. Roger and I had had two reefs in the main that day. This time around, we had only one reef in. There <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">was</span> leeway, but it was noticeably less than on the previous occasion and before long we were back out of the River Test and round into the Itchen for the run home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkxJQN2_VeI-2Of66jaOammfmWYt-C4JB9C2RKMZCAZ3NkoJVc25_Hj5fCfboIo7HA3aiH422YEljyslhBbaila9lKk_ciqCJaWlSucaA7wuBpFreOFWg2qCKQGbaLhNFe1mI/s1600-h/IMG_3184.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341996968096748962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkxJQN2_VeI-2Of66jaOammfmWYt-C4JB9C2RKMZCAZ3NkoJVc25_Hj5fCfboIo7HA3aiH422YEljyslhBbaila9lKk_ciqCJaWlSucaA7wuBpFreOFWg2qCKQGbaLhNFe1mI/s400/IMG_3184.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The breeze began to fall off, and we sailed calmly upriver, in almost slack water. The perfect opportunity, while C. helmed and worked on his sun tan, to work out why the hell the iPod touch wasn't talking to the laptop. There followed a short period in which the peace of the river was shattered by bursts of cursing from below decks. None the wiser, and bereft of results, I emerged muttering to myself, and we started the engine and dropped the sails.<br /><br />A spot of carelessness on my part gave us an excuse to practice our shoe overboard procedure and we rounded off the day with half-an-hour's pontoon bashing, playing with the new morse-style control for the outboard. We found that we could reverse into and out of the berth without complications, and use the full width of the lane between the two rows of berths secure in the knowledge that <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Arabella</span> would stop and spin in her own length.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9AmCfTsqzsDlq6zVEqdz0BI1knahTYzI-Jb3iWiFnKquJO5AJ7Q_ubN1t9kX6TjKrHsUPZm7RVIFYXZK86DXHFaHFyVpIEB7kqtdPZBMzoFIhWMuQIczkzVlT5nUDJJL250c/s1600-h/30_5_grab1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342003204958234130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 252px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9AmCfTsqzsDlq6zVEqdz0BI1knahTYzI-Jb3iWiFnKquJO5AJ7Q_ubN1t9kX6TjKrHsUPZm7RVIFYXZK86DXHFaHFyVpIEB7kqtdPZBMzoFIhWMuQIczkzVlT5nUDJJL250c/s400/30_5_grab1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Above</span>: where we went today</span><br /></div><br />Everything put away, and C. departed, I took a deep breath and got back to grips with the damn iPod. I must be doing something wrong, but I just couldn't figure it out.<br /><br />Then, like a light going on, I realised what a fool I'd been. In testing at home, the iPod Touch had been connecting to the laptop via my home's wifi network. Of course it couldn't do that here, away from home. It needed a network with which to connect, and I needed to create one, using the Airport card in the laptop as the host. I quickly set up a network called "Arabella", adjusted the iPod's wifi settings to join that network, re-started the VNC server software and sure enough...<br /><br />I'm slow, but I usually get there in the end.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLARRIVVYaXLVgFHudrkroa_sBUSCm-p-rkBv1FQPSgZJ2adOQ50xP74uzho8vb1AFnDuiLfxIa6r4N0Lfm7fTlYqK5kNcCMc8KqlrUJcEUZ5vCiWNIHddIrlpokgPkD-0IT6Y/s1600-h/IMG_3199.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342000124382760946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLARRIVVYaXLVgFHudrkroa_sBUSCm-p-rkBv1FQPSgZJ2adOQ50xP74uzho8vb1AFnDuiLfxIa6r4N0Lfm7fTlYqK5kNcCMc8KqlrUJcEUZ5vCiWNIHddIrlpokgPkD-0IT6Y/s400/IMG_3199.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Above</span>: It works! !<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Below</span>: How it looks on the iPod Touch screen.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFp5Y2NnJYUZHFaJizJtUlMHrzSw5oHU_kTDfOqRb0O1DKgho0X5YPkl8F-wNU_esdZjWfo7BmF-eOO0oZ25WAV8jWHUdgDQE3dB09ewtP0qabBMTwNHIhuLihPzInNV4PYIhD/s1600-h/IMG_3200.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342000536912157842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFp5Y2NnJYUZHFaJizJtUlMHrzSw5oHU_kTDfOqRb0O1DKgho0X5YPkl8F-wNU_esdZjWfo7BmF-eOO0oZ25WAV8jWHUdgDQE3dB09ewtP0qabBMTwNHIhuLihPzInNV4PYIhD/s400/IMG_3200.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Conditions:</strong> ESE F4-5, mainly sunny. Sea state: slight.</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Distance covered (GPS over ground):</strong> 23.3 NM</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Total distance covered to date (2009):</strong> 23.3 NM</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:times new roman;" >Engine hours: 1.9 </span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">(total for 2009: 1.9 hours)</span></span><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br /></span>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-12237773848811625722009-05-29T23:09:00.013+01:002009-07-08T01:12:05.559+01:00Basically Ready<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >That was the best description for Arabella when I arrived to rescue her from the tender mercies of the marine trades specialists one bright, sunny Friday evening at the end of May. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadJ46p5B-o08zZAv5AaqjM9I_xzKJ38w3k79iQNU4aj1IT0eCdMib9ZzRORdYZYCsH-XzyJXjEUzqFjC7eYI4fUZ8ajZftCFGXFP2Rcx4e6SrraYTsTdEKLEOBfcVusS2yx7X/s1600-h/IMG_3194.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341975823001494898" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadJ46p5B-o08zZAv5AaqjM9I_xzKJ38w3k79iQNU4aj1IT0eCdMib9ZzRORdYZYCsH-XzyJXjEUzqFjC7eYI4fUZ8ajZftCFGXFP2Rcx4e6SrraYTsTdEKLEOBfcVusS2yx7X/s400/IMG_3194.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Above:</span> </span>Arabella<span style="font-style: italic;">, ready(ish) to go.</span><br /></div><br />Will of <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" href="http://www.blueyachtmanagement.com/">Blue Yacht Management</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"> </span>had finally got the b*ggers to do their jobs - no mean feat - but my plans for a midweek shakedown sail had been given, quite literally, a rain check when a system swept briefly through, breaking a spell of fine weather with heavy rain and force 7 winds. But that had moved on now, leaving beautiful sunshine and breezy conditions in its wake. On the plus side, the marine tradesmen had won an extra few days to (not quite) finish their work and (almost) put everything back where it was meant to be.<br /><br />I abandoned the train for a change and took the car down to the coast. Not the ridiculously flash (not to mention obscenely big) new SUV with all the V6 go-faster bits, acquired for a massive discount back in the depths of the motor industry's recessionary despair in February, using some of my ill-gotten earnings from the banking crisis. SWMBO and the <span style="font-style: italic;">bambini</span> had hijacked that and taken it to Italy for the half-term holiday. It seemed to be quite expensive to keep fueled up, if my wife's ever more frequently-texted demands for internet cash transfers was anything to go by. Clearly it was eating into her clothes shopping budget. Instead, I got SWMBO's geriatric VW Golf. As it wheezed down the A3, I could feel the tension of the last few weeks falling away as London fell behind and the rolling countryside of Surrey and Hampshire slipped by in a myriad hues of incandescent green under the glorious sunshine.<br /><br />I even got to choose the music for a change - normally I have to suffer through <span style="font-style: italic;">High School Musical 23 </span>(or, like, wha'ever) or <span style="font-style: italic;">Barbie Girl</span> - and lost myself in Cat Stevens' <span style="font-style: italic;">Foreigner Suite, </span>part of the soundtrack of my youth. Not that it's aged any better than I have. Cat still sounds like he can't quite make <span style="font-style: italic;">"Cos you taste to me as good as God made honey taste, babe" </span>scan properly. The last five-and-a-half minutes still make me want to cry, though. Back in the 1970s, I thought <span style="font-style: italic;">Foreigner</span> was the dog's proverbials and used to drive my brother nuts by nicking it from his LP collection and playing it on my decrepit mono record player - do you remember those really crappy boxes, with a lift-up lid and a sort of mesh speaker across the front? I read in the paper just recently that Cat, or Yusuf to give him the moniker he prefers nowadays, was claiming that Coldplay's <span style="font-style: italic;">Viva La Vida</span> sounded suspiciously like the closing section of <span style="font-style: italic;">Foreigner Suite. Viva La Vida</span> is easily one the most-played tracks on my iPod - ever since I saw one of the contestants on the Italian version of X Factor (we're a highbrow household, you see) do a cover version live that kicked Coldplay right out into the long grass - and I can <span style="font-style: italic;">kind of </span>see what Yusuf is on about, but honestly I think he's stretching a point.<br /><br />The last few weeks had been a little nerve-wracking, as work on <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella</span> seemed to lurch from one period of inactivity to the next, punctuated by occasional attempts by the contractors to meet their (broken) deadlines. Now she was ready to sail, if not quite finished in the everyday sense of that word - anyone who has ever used a boatyard will have learned that marine tradesmen have a less demanding definition of 'finished' than the rest of the world - and I had also got a couple of small jobs done on her myself - in particular re-bedding the forehatch gasket with a fresh layer of sealant in the hope of keeping <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella's </span>interior dry if we took green water over the foredeck, as we had done in the Round The Island Race last year. My handiwork had passed the hosepipe test - we'd see what happened if conditions this year were like last year's.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxtodSkVSaxsLydhJZw7eM1dEW57LeWTck-rSfKFzZQpSHpS82VZGimbZtH4SI3kThO91QNAhyUkMzNOppSih3j-SKd2_lId54ETo6S3aiYIFYL0ILgjVQu4LCQ-sUoPPLo4w/s1600-h/IMG_3191.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341976330780236258" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxtodSkVSaxsLydhJZw7eM1dEW57LeWTck-rSfKFzZQpSHpS82VZGimbZtH4SI3kThO91QNAhyUkMzNOppSih3j-SKd2_lId54ETo6S3aiYIFYL0ILgjVQu4LCQ-sUoPPLo4w/s400/IMG_3191.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Above: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">My Round The Island race crew weren't going to like this - remote, morse-style controls for the Tohatsu 6HP outboard would make dismounting the engine more tricky. I was hoping this would be the solution that finally enabled me to manoeuvre with confidence under power in marinas - no more fiddling with the outboard's gear lever and throttle while desperately tryng to prevent it from stalling on me? I'd find out on tomorrow's test-sail...</span><br /><br />With only three weeks now remaining until this year's RTIR, I'd opted not to fit-out <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella</span>'s interior with all of her normal cruising comforts. I would only have to strip her bare again before the race, or else suffer the annual round of complaints from my once-annual race crew that she was "too heavy with all this crap on board". <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella</span> might as well stay light for the race. Her cruising kit stayed safely in my lock-up.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I made sure that everything was ready for tomorrow's test sail. My older brother, C., an experienced blue water cruising yachtsman, had "volunteered" to come out with me and check everything on board <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella </span>was functional. You might have thought that was a given, but much of <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella</span>'s cabling had been re-routed at the same time as the new locker dividers had been glassed in, as part of my ongoing campaign to ensure we didn't lose all the electrics to an early bath.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIjXHlx9JlkjZ7Uhg3DGVd7wruCjAk-YOSjVx0cOlHW-ADBczSPSECg3EQv_lqqRWPp7IEboNSPfOt6vXozqmfYZnP2Jz3ndZc4Tddb8h6OV-98ZKrC72gWg-fquv5WPbfgMS/s1600-h/IMG_3195.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341977092941066434" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIjXHlx9JlkjZ7Uhg3DGVd7wruCjAk-YOSjVx0cOlHW-ADBczSPSECg3EQv_lqqRWPp7IEboNSPfOt6vXozqmfYZnP2Jz3ndZc4Tddb8h6OV-98ZKrC72gWg-fquv5WPbfgMS/s400/IMG_3195.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />At the same time, all the mast cabling connections had been tidied up and simplified so that a master's degree in electronics was no longer required to disconnect and re-connect the masthead cables every time the mast was unstepped. In the circumstances, I'd have been surprised if everything <span style="font-style: italic;">did</span> work first time out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8_93Qt594tewK-8IpFTZpcWVn3Kz-JHBPZ2bUDTfsyqkieiJLgGCnn0QbEQ_y2YighkszjC0OrpwwxEJkCzslMb4fGMB0xJYbGVvQ8-hQIqSQEsEkH4trjyw6eQ5mAwLrfAh/s1600-h/IMG_3197.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341977085944384322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8_93Qt594tewK-8IpFTZpcWVn3Kz-JHBPZ2bUDTfsyqkieiJLgGCnn0QbEQ_y2YighkszjC0OrpwwxEJkCzslMb4fGMB0xJYbGVvQ8-hQIqSQEsEkH4trjyw6eQ5mAwLrfAh/s400/IMG_3197.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Above:</span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;">One item that didn't work out quite the way it was meant to - what I asked for a removable shelf on which the fuel tank would sit, vented overboard, to limit the flow of petrol fumes into the bilges. What I got was a little different. There was in fact an exterior vent, which can't be seen here, but there was also a very large void, as you can see, leading down to - yes, you've guessed it - the bilges. Perhaps I should have tried harder to explain that petrol fumes are heavier than air. Ah well, there's always next year's fitting-out...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRyVi4MrZ0tBLXHGxqAgbX-KhdgGQP6ALbf5NucfHgFE3sigFGgzACMoVxVnN0fepSmruWPtcjN28rhRG9D4Jl2XjJQRIYERlPC9yJncNuwkS0DNP85PKv5YOk9eqbLZEUEd5/s1600-h/IMG_3186.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341977084284808402" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 267px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRyVi4MrZ0tBLXHGxqAgbX-KhdgGQP6ALbf5NucfHgFE3sigFGgzACMoVxVnN0fepSmruWPtcjN28rhRG9D4Jl2XjJQRIYERlPC9yJncNuwkS0DNP85PKv5YOk9eqbLZEUEd5/s400/IMG_3186.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Above:</span> Just in case some water </span>does<span style="font-style: italic;"> still get in, the battery now lives in a nice deep battery box.</span>..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dSIJzDGQWgetBHYnxz8X-SQlAQ9eDuFZ_v5EI3eTgG_FowKlUs82rMliYLwlHIlOsPfMEjIbhDOFmY9On7J2mRy9JqFFnC3QoDmzoZ_1-TRKN-TtmA9abCWTcgYYwgND6lOd/s1600-h/IMG_3189.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341977088689945762" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dSIJzDGQWgetBHYnxz8X-SQlAQ9eDuFZ_v5EI3eTgG_FowKlUs82rMliYLwlHIlOsPfMEjIbhDOFmY9On7J2mRy9JqFFnC3QoDmzoZ_1-TRKN-TtmA9abCWTcgYYwgND6lOd/s400/IMG_3189.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Above:</span> ...and the lifejackets and other essential items live in Overboard waterproof sacks, with windows to enable quick identification of the contents.</span><br /><br /></div>As it would turn out, the electronics all worked just fine. But the most important thing of all that C. and I would test the following day had nothing to do with electronics or cabling. After some dithering over the price, I had splashed out on a new mainsail and genoa from <a href="http://www.sanders-sails.co.uk/sails/index.html"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Sanders Sails</span></a>. These would, I hoped, go some way towards curing <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella</span>'s reluctance to point well upwind without giving away a huge amount of leeway. I couldn't do much about her hull shape and keel configuration, but a decent set of sails, properly set, should generate some decent lift and increase boatspeed, which in turn would bring the apparent wind further forward and counteract the tendency of the keels to stall. That was the theory anyway.<br /><br />I had two more little tricks up my sleeve. One of them was technological and would be unveiled and tested tomorrow. The other one involved <a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);" href="http://yachtarabella.blogspot.com/2009/06/final-preparations.html"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">some new deck hardware</span>,</a> which I had fallen in love with when sailing OnDeck's First 40.7 the other week, and which I had asked the yard to fit in advance of the <a href="http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk/web/code/php/main.php?section=home"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Round The Island Race</span></a>. I wasn't going to hold my breath on that happening, however.<br /><br />I ran my hand one last time over <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella</span>'s newly-varnished brightwork, and headed off in seach of food, leaving her behind in the cool twilight.Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-42564394070384770492009-05-20T23:28:00.011+01:002009-07-08T00:47:57.078+01:00A Grand Day Out<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDI28dzwKq-oJX2qPhCHiJSdJO-9GhHvwgfB8GkMAYFY0qmPQIpnndXlZKqH5QymeHdnOkrLJf6-AcjiyfwhqICwpNlok57lzFbX7p3xRcy1m0FPbwQcmLqoexccnJfsxnhjOH/s1600-h/DSCN1694.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338037613045038402" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDI28dzwKq-oJX2qPhCHiJSdJO-9GhHvwgfB8GkMAYFY0qmPQIpnndXlZKqH5QymeHdnOkrLJf6-AcjiyfwhqICwpNlok57lzFbX7p3xRcy1m0FPbwQcmLqoexccnJfsxnhjOH/s400/DSCN1694.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Those wacky marine tradesmen. They were at it again, the scamps. <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella</span> wouldn't be ready for yet another week.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2LFgIYQ7TU4O42-qxfYs3m_8YiAiUAZw41cAKcoXHtktuwowXq4l_mkAXP_f61rvFwFlrXIJWgb5mtI3lYeam8FbYhrTGNCc9BlzccqG0XtGt-7hCiBpqr8iy6HrVlfH-8a0/s1600-h/DSCN1685.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338037618291714130" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2LFgIYQ7TU4O42-qxfYs3m_8YiAiUAZw41cAKcoXHtktuwowXq4l_mkAXP_f61rvFwFlrXIJWgb5mtI3lYeam8FbYhrTGNCc9BlzccqG0XtGt-7hCiBpqr8iy6HrVlfH-8a0/s400/DSCN1685.JPG" border="0" /></a>Lucky for me therefore that those nice people from <a href="http://www.ondeck.co.uk/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">OnDeck Sailing</span></a> laid on a very nice corporate day today. There wasn't a huge amount of wind, which was no fault of theirs, but there are worse ways of spending a working day bobbing around in one of their Beneteau 40.7s<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaYnjMKQ3sDwu0Hv9RbPTibHYwugc-2stes3mf3n58feVsSW3tEMgbhkkjZ1xH1GdVMIUt2StX6ZcFl_RBl0OnC8vO09ljl9IYyp1r7GUuYqJY52AD5gYmcJ13nfy7mn6MJX8/s1600-h/DSCN1689.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338037621508255826" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaYnjMKQ3sDwu0Hv9RbPTibHYwugc-2stes3mf3n58feVsSW3tEMgbhkkjZ1xH1GdVMIUt2StX6ZcFl_RBl0OnC8vO09ljl9IYyp1r7GUuYqJY52AD5gYmcJ13nfy7mn6MJX8/s400/DSCN1689.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /> It was tough. But someone had to do it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mAcUXjD0RySZlW4H9NfDMB3zoXtnlwsUk8FFM5rn4SaDAIx2hP5htpDwxTBUjTFcY1ozy7DPKQ-37kXQ4CDJ9qcwn_iTPW-cYTR1Hl-5LJfbCoG3Ujz2-m6DaJ-xysbcqXBU/s1600-h/DSCN1692.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338037628304549826" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mAcUXjD0RySZlW4H9NfDMB3zoXtnlwsUk8FFM5rn4SaDAIx2hP5htpDwxTBUjTFcY1ozy7DPKQ-37kXQ4CDJ9qcwn_iTPW-cYTR1Hl-5LJfbCoG3Ujz2-m6DaJ-xysbcqXBU/s400/DSCN1692.JPG" border="0" /></a>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058074.post-86324914019108644522009-04-06T20:09:00.020+01:002009-07-08T00:59:26.458+01:00Refit progress (sort of)<div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Arabella</em> is nearly ready for the new season. Externally, that is. Her interior will take a while longer. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br />I really should have learned by now that the marine trades operate to their own, geological timescale. But every year I forget just how awful it was the last time around, just how frustrating it is to get them to do their jobs on time, and leave the boat looking clean and, er, <em>improved</em>, at the end of it all. To be fair, I had been lulled into a false sense of security by the relative speed of fitting-out last season.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321733924982825506" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9xSHkKlQZSGNBsMaepBo1OQNrQ2T_znPgkKmX-FYu6UjA7JKVF4D_BUO3pfAuLJR2ztv8rPNfrt0euRf8ZyvZ7G_I3SFyFLwWnGNGcz82lmG3DSp7vPpZhIBVU46rFA6TDNH/s400/DSCN1626.jpg" border="0" /><br />I've spared you any shots of the state of <em>Arabella's </em>interior generally, so those of a nervous disposition need not look away. Suffice to say that a very significant clean-up will be required at the end, whenevever that might be. I'm not sure how people can work in such a mess. When I moonlighted as a labourer, I was always taught to leave the work area tidy and clean because it actually enhanced the quality of my work. I'm just very glad I took the opportunity this winter to strip the interior of <em>Arabella</em> clean of anything that wasn't bolted down - at least it's safe, clean and dry in storage, away from the unbelievable mess below decks.<br /><br />I should just point out that the delay was no fault of <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" href="http://www.blueyachtmanagement.com/">Blue Yacht Management</a>, who took over the regular maintenance on <span style="font-style: italic;">Arabella </span>when Boatcare UK folded last year. Will French, who formerly worked for Boatcare UK, has set about creating a really good organization that delivers a quality service on time and on budget. It's well worth checking out his site, as his <span style="font-style: italic;">gardiennage</span> package is a seriously good proposition if, like me, you live a distance from your boat and your lifestyle doesn't allow you much time to make the trip down very often. At least you are free, if you so choose, to just go sailing when you do get down to the boat, and this year I was determined to make that my priority.<br /><br />Even Will's excellent organisational skills, however, couldn't defeat the traditional marine trades attitudes of his sub-contractors on this occasion. He got a suitable discount out of them, which is more than I've ever managed in the past, and in return I agreed to be patient.<br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />Most of the work shown here is intended to tackle the particular issue of water sloshing around inside the lockers. The irony is that <em>Arabella</em> is an exceptionally dry boat. Water has never entered while she is moored. Unfortunately, repeated attempts to prevent water entering via the forehatch while <em>Arabella</em> is under way have only had qualified success. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />The new seal that was added to the forehatch in the last round of work has prevented rain and spray from entering, which is an improvement. However, in the testing conditions of last year's Round The Island Race, <em>Arabella</em> took a lot of green water over her bow, and enough of that found its way inside to make life below very unpleasant. That was the only occasion on which water gained ingress all year, but it was enough to make me want to rethink the cabling arrangements and consider adding divisions into the lockers which are open fore and aft. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />I've also located one or two spots in which the forehatch seal is not bedded correctly, and I suspect that would have allowed a fair amount of water ingress. I'll be attacking that separately.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;" align="left"><em></em></div><div align="left"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E-3wGtmDtYoQvucb9HxdCW9OSPPkOEERFOrNDAiXqIW3GLah_7W6W9lHuhngt2l5IX1xS1rjT0BIG5uFeIpQ1AD8GrXDG0jN8LVVhrA6avCSCi9Q56hueGhWDk7sGrQ6yPZ7/s1600-h/DSCN1620.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321737009242459010" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E-3wGtmDtYoQvucb9HxdCW9OSPPkOEERFOrNDAiXqIW3GLah_7W6W9lHuhngt2l5IX1xS1rjT0BIG5uFeIpQ1AD8GrXDG0jN8LVVhrA6avCSCi9Q56hueGhWDk7sGrQ6yPZ7/s400/DSCN1620.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Above: </span>As part of the plan to ensure that any water that enters doesn't slop fore and aft along the lockers, new bulkheads have been glassed in to the locker interiors. This one is to port and corresponds to the aft end of the galley. In last year's Round The Island Race, sea water entered via the forehatch, then ran aft through this point and triggered the hydrostatic valves in the lifejackets stored here, causing them to inflate.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321733783147594706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjZ-FzHQKvfgxdLCQpAcBRnoa4Zw-IFD9QRAZz3befQh-YNUEbGCGfQZAvmGYopWBY0zJ0pTfUlWZWMJjveHsjhoGbwmTqAZlP0XxihPNVC1NcduFR1wddH34tozGtawU18af/s400/DSCN1621.jpg" border="0" /><em><strong>Above:</strong> all of </em>Arabella's <em>interior cabling has been re-run along the top sides of the interior lockers, hence - I hope - reducing the risk of it taking a bath in the future.</em> <p align="justify"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOHaPhWfWPoNTPRZSofOWgmZxUxNvettfpRdXOpz3b_s6rLQBAUBDNY3NsbY14GVrUnotyOcCC72MrVMUkTiQgMjnrOxNmn-xljivnVR4OM43Rixn7_lvktK8PMyH6ItU14oz/s1600-h/DSCN1619.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321733782178610882" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOHaPhWfWPoNTPRZSofOWgmZxUxNvettfpRdXOpz3b_s6rLQBAUBDNY3NsbY14GVrUnotyOcCC72MrVMUkTiQgMjnrOxNmn-xljivnVR4OM43Rixn7_lvktK8PMyH6ItU14oz/s400/DSCN1619.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><p><em><strong>Above and below:</strong> another of the new divisions that have been glassed in to the lockers - this one separates the starboard side locker under the saloon berth from the locker under the V-berth in the forecabin. The primary purpose of this division is to prevent any water from running aft to the battery.</em></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321733780468904754" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenJW6tSMVKMYDkc6FeSy1LvjDeighuUvUl8r0fv6Tm47S_9jcc4ssmJLSMZniqnrZtYm_AKKm_w64CKrxRvA4Ii-OGGXZ_GqjyH9jqnXyZqCy7A4xxItcFlzOLUjSF4YjIubu/s400/DSCN1617.jpg" border="0" /></p><p></p><p align="justify"><strong><em>Below:</em></strong> Arabella <em>has been antifouled with hard antifoul once again this year, and her topsides have been polished. The rubbing strake has just been oiled, which accounts for its 'nearly-new' look.</em></p><p align="justify"><em></em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321733787192146098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOQgdr907GK58eXCsUHfagDOBVDcFwTTjBZScyKcqfJOCmEK87ruR64eSKPn99oCdwTv9YDqM6MbFKN-ryyl197oXJelq_DMtEC3kxgTAZ0P2_SG4pEOnH6tG49g6ue3sSO4J/s400/DSCN1623.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>I've asked Will to see if he can get the contractors to finish their work and be off the boat by the end of April...I'm not holding my breath, though.<br /></p>Andrew Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400895307820462578noreply@blogger.com