Here's to Donal!
 

Excellent... you determined both set & drift as well?? That's not easy on a
current that appears to average at over 2 knots at times. Was the seafloor
topography fairly constant or did you compensate for the shallows and surges
they would present?

Could you provide the calcs for that... for the enlightenment of those
unfamiliar of course. ;-)

CM

"Bobsprit" wrote in message
...
| Was this what you expected before setting off? (Tidal direction being 180
| deg to your course, I mean.)
|
| Did your logged speed remain fairly constant (aside from variations due to
| changes in wind speed)?
|
| Yup. Eldridge showed those currents, but I really expected to make a
better
| VMG, for no valid reason!
| Speed over ground averaged 3.5 to 5.5knots. Knotmeter gave 6.5 to 8 knots.
Our
| average was probably below 5 knots after the third hour, but picked up
again at
| the last few hours.
|
| RB

Here's to Donal!
 

"Bobsprit" wrote in message
...
|
| | What a liar you are, taking your trolls to new lows. This is really
| getting sad
| | for you!
|
| Now Bob.... Temper Temper!
|
| Ahhh, but I proved you a liar! Again!

You keep claiming that... but everytime you do, I show you how I arrived at
the conclusion based on your comments. It's merely my sensible
interpretation of your claims..... why do you scream Liar! .... and become
upset each time I ask for clarification Bob??

A defense that's based on ad hominem attacks lacks merit. It certainly does
nothing to substantiate your claims... but it seems to evoke sympathy...
must be a "victim" thing.

CM

Here's to Donal!
 

Was the seafloor
topography fairly constant or did you compensate for the shallows and surges
they would present?

Wow. Desperate, ay? I did not observe the sea floor topography. Nor does anyone
I've met sailing the area.

RB

Here's to Donal!
 

"Bobsprit" wrote in message
...
| Thanks for clarifying that "few" means 10 to 15.... I'll keep that in
mind
| for future reports of your adventures.! ;-)
|
| Coming back into our area on Sunday there were probably 2-300 sailboats
out
| between Fort Totten and Execution Rocks.

So what would your description be of 2 boats to 300 boats.... " a lot
"?... "a bunch"?

Maybe we need a Bobsprit /English translation dictionary. ;-)

CM

Here's to Donal!
 

Excellent... you determined both set & drift as well?? That's not easy on a
current that appears to average at over 2 knots at times.

Observing the track set on the GPS, sailing on a reach, with 1.5-2.5 knots of
current against, we only deviated from our track by about a mile. Once 20 miles
of the return trip were under the keel we could see the Manhattan skyline and
it became a line-of-site sail, though i maintained a specific (245 If I
remember right) SW compass heading anyway.

RB

Here's to Donal!
 

"Bobsprit" wrote in message
...
| Was the seafloor
| topography fairly constant or did you compensate for the shallows and
surges
| they would present?
|
| Wow. Desperate, ay? I did not observe the sea floor topography. Nor does
anyone
| I've met sailing the area.

Odd... it should be displayed on your chart and confirmed on your
sounder.... maybe it was too technical a question for you?

CM

Here's to Donal!
 

"Bobsprit" wrote in message
...
| Excellent... you determined both set & drift as well?? That's not easy on
a
| current that appears to average at over 2 knots at times.
|
| Observing the track set on the GPS, sailing on a reach, with 1.5-2.5 knots
of
| current against, we only deviated from our track by about a mile. Once 20
miles
| of the return trip were under the keel we could see the Manhattan skyline
and
| it became a line-of-site sail, though i maintained a specific (245 If I
| remember right) SW compass heading anyway.

So I take it that you only used the GPS on occasion to verify your chart
plot and rightly considered a cross track [drift] error of one mile in 20 as
not worth concern as long as you knew where you would be on arrival to
corrected waypoint?

Excellent Bob... this is what I was hoping to gently persuade you to discuss
in the first place.

I often find myself too lazy to tweak and set trim to compensate for this as
well... especially when I have dinner in the oven and the heel is perfect
for cooking while underway. Good Show!

CM

Here's to Donal!
 

So I take it that you only used the GPS on occasion to verify your chart
plot and rightly considered a cross track [drift] error of one mile in 20 as
not worth concern as long as you knew where you would be on arrival to
corrected waypoint?

Actually, some dumb behavior on my part. I failed to put fresh batteries aboard
for the the GPS and left the new power cable home. I was "spot" using the GPS
by Sunday and I even failed to buy batteries at port jeff!
Yes, the small drift was just not a factor over such a short distance. The most
I know about the Sound's bottom is that taking more "near coastal" tracks can
ease current woes. On the other hand, I was expecting wind direction changes
and I wanted more course options afforded by being in the center of the sound.

RB

Here's to Donal!
 

"Bobsprit" wrote in message
...
Yes, the small drift was just not a factor over such a short distance. The
most
I know about the Sound's bottom is that taking more "near coastal" tracks
can
ease current woes. On the other hand, I was expecting wind direction
changes
and I wanted more course options afforded by being in the center of the
sound.

OK! I was just about to ask about this. A two knot current is quite
significant.
Even allowing for the potential wind changes, I would have assumed that you
would have been much better off trying to stay in close.

How many hours of contrary tide did you have? What was the wind direction
? What was your course?

Is there a chart on-line?


Regards

Donal
--

Here's to Donal!
 

"Bobsprit" wrote in message

| Actually, some dumb behavior on my part. I failed to put fresh batteries
aboard
| for the the GPS and left the new power cable home. I was "spot" using the
GPS
| by Sunday and I even failed to buy batteries at port jeff!

As a friend once said... Du Du Occurs!

| Yes, the small drift was just not a factor over such a short distance. The
most
| I know about the Sound's bottom is that taking more "near coastal" tracks
can
| ease current woes. On the other hand, I was expecting wind direction
changes
| and I wanted more course options afforded by being in the center of the
sound.

This amplifies the importance of maintaining a hard plot on paper chart. How
did Suzanne derive the cross track?... by hand calc or by spot check
interpolation with the GPS? Both methods are suitable.. it's the end results
that count. You'll find that current surges are typical on raised or
suddenly shallowing seafloor topography where the current is compressed and
moves at a slightly faster rate. The reason to favour the coastal [ read
shallower] areas when combating current that is against you is that the
brunt of the current will favour the deep areas and often you can encounter
a coastal eddy that actually assists your forward motion. I would maybe have
considered shorter coastal tacks than the long ones afforded by sea room if
time was an issue and the extra work involved was not impeding your
enjoyment of the sail. You'll find that options always come at a cost and
the drift afforded by the selection of open area navigation in a current may
adversely affect your ETA.

The importance of navigation and it's application is imperative to becoming
a sailor. How fast you drive a boat is of no consequence when you don't know
where you are going or how you will get there. Keep a log of every trip...
it is a valuable resource for future excursions and illustrates a respect
and proficiency in the art of sail and seamanship.

CM