What, no tin foil beanie?

SV

"Michael" wrote in message
...
I'm sure there had to be more but I haven't read backwards in time.

This is weather related for voyage planning. Download the 500 milibar
chart. Look for a heavier than normal line marked "564." Stay at least
300
miles south of it for large, fast ships and 500 miles south for our size
vessels. That's good weather. The buffer zone is for just in case one of
the pressure areas decides todip South. Gives you time to go a bit more
south yourself. We saw a lot of sailboats heading across this time but
May
is the best month for crossings so that was no surprise. Mostly they
showed
up as a tiny speck on the radar first about 10 miles out then eyesight 6-8
miles. And we're 120 feet up! One guy looked like the return from a
carrier! He came close enough and we talked on radio a bit. He had a
mast
mounted refector, a regular reflector hung properly and and a second one
up
on the windward side flag halyard plus had stuffed his wooden mast with
crumpled tin foil (a old Pardey trick.) Two had radar detectors that
picked
up our 10cm beam. All were having thoroughly enjoying a great month of
crossing weather!

Cheers

Michael