As we pull out, even though I don't normally respond to Boob:{)),
since he's brought it up twice, I just had to comment:

"Bob" wrote in message
...
On Aug 19, 3:14 pm, "Skip Gundlach" wrote:
While we were under way, of course we couldn't access the links to
the
current charts (that is, the forecasting charts showing the
direction
and strength of the currents flowing in real time), our forecaster's
recommendations made it so we were able to either avoid adverse, or
take advantage of positive, currents. Still, those links were
invaluable to our initial planning, and will figure, again, in our
planning when we actually leave here.



**** Skip, get some CHART ! and **** the guys telling ya where to go.
take a class on how to set a course and then do it. Sont EVER rely on
someone telling you where to go. Your the guy in charge only you know
whats going on. So do it!
*****

We have charts, and you know it. We have paper charts, we have chart
kits, and both Cap'n and MaxSea (along with the complete selection
from Maine to Venezuela and into the canal, as well as NOAA's entire
catalog) electronically in addition to our chartplotter. We have a
cubic yard, dammit, of charts, which is interesting to store. I also
have a RDF and a handheld bearing compass, just because, in addition
to all those lovely charting tools (that we know how to use). No, we
don't own, nor do we anticipate ever having, a sextant...

Before we had all that, we navigated with paper charts, compass and a
handheld, DR'ing our time, direction and distance, on our first voyage
(Ft.Lauderdale around Key West, to St. Pete), 4 years before we both
got 100% on our navigation segments in the OUPV tests. Somehow we
managed to make it through the Miami/Key Biscayne shoals, navigate Key
West, into Charlotte Harbor and Venice, and eventually up Salt Creek
past the USCG to, first, the pond outside USF/Dali museum, then across
from Fish Tales.

We believe we can know where we are and where we're going. However,
we *don't* have access to the sites which show actual and forecasted
*currents* - which will allow us to maximize any benefit or minimize
any detriment, if possible. See my 7-28 Float Plan post for those
links. Useful info, including that through today and tonight, and
into tomorrow (by which time we should be there), the currents are
generally favorable along our route to Cape Cod. Not that we could
avoid it - but we could take into account, were they going the other
way, that we'd have a heading current, rather than a boosting one (not
much, but we'll take any assistance we can).

Pilot charts, planning charts, charts enroute (all of which we have) -
none will give twice-daily flow directions and velocity. So, those
links are valuable planning aids. Our forecaster has access to those,
and others, I'm sure, and did a great job of keeping us in the best
currents when our forecast models (only 120 hours) expired, making our
pre-departure planning moot.

(and a couple more throwaways):

We got a great deal more familiar with our new sails, occasioned

Good , but Id hope yould have done that jsut straight out of a harbor
you knew and then shook them out in your back yard not on the high
seas...
******
"Great deal more" is that we used them continuously, offshore.
Previously it was done in the backyards and 36-hours stints of the
trip from St. Simons Island to Miami and back (with intermediate stops
on the way south, plus a few day trips north and south) to Fernandina
Beach...

We caught two large fish in succession,

And i hpe you sliced them on the deck with your knife and ate the RAW
flesh as it twitched on your lips. Be a man and embrace the sea as a
preditor instead of wimpy spouse. ARgg!
*******
Well, in fact, I did, just for sampling. And while not predator in a
reflexive sense, we definitely are hoping to provide the bulk of our
protein from the sea...



So, with a flurry of paper charts, MaxSea open, the chartplotter on,
and 4 eyes on deck, we'll take our leave. See ya in the Cape Cod
area...

--
L8R

Skip

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog
and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog

"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to
make it come true. You may have to work for it however."
(and)
"There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its
hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts."
(Richard Bach, in The Reluctant Messiah)

We got reasonably familiar with, and nominally successful at (the
challenges being blamed on worldwide lousy HF radio signal
propagation, but perhaps an issue with our rig??) sailmail, the
radio-based email program which allowed us to send and receive
email from the middle of the coastal Atlantic.

**** can, deep six, and send the ssb to Davy Jone's locker.
Get a SSB RECEIVER and irridum sat phone


Regrets, I've had a few...

Of course, thats called learning.
Skip, its time you found a "Captain Ron" some one OUTSIDE of
recreational yachting. Find a 1600 mate with OINW on a day off. Pay
the guy $600/day and get ready to learn more than you ever emagined.

Bob