Hi Tech on the High Seas

HI TECH ON THE HIGH SEAS

When I first decided to join Paddy for this ocean voyage adventure, I wasn’t really thinking too much about “safety”, I just put my life in his hands.  I mean, he HAD already been sailing for 10 years taking him from Oregon down the west coast to Mexico and then onto the South Pacific and Australia, then from Venezuela up through the Caribbean and to Florida.  (He sold his Baltic 42’ in Australia and bought Le Chat Beaute’ in Venezuela.)  So, how could I go wrong with this sailor?  Well, I wasn’t wrong, but have since learned A LOT about what helps to make for successful safe cruising, in addition to a well-qualified sailor.  I AM in good hands.   It’s called technology.

Pre-Bill Gates, Captains would literally plot their course using charts and various navigational tools.  Known as the chart table.  Now with all the electronics on board, I just call it the "mess!" 

We don’t always have internet.  Actually we don’t have it more often then we do.  But there are other pieces of equipment on this boat that provide us with the information necessary to make sailing “safe”.  Of course you need to know ”how and what” to do with the information you gather.

Single-side band radio (SSB) – you can communicate with the world on this radio.  It’s also your main contact link if you need to call “Mayday”.  Every day at certain times there are radio broadcasts which give you local weather and updates.  These broadcasts also give you the opportunity to air any “emergency, medical or priority traffic”.   We have a function that even gives us the ability to send and receive email when we don’t have internet.   Ours is an ICOM IC-M802.  Note:  the red distress bottom top left.

VHF – VHF (Very High Frequency radio) is used for closer proximity broadcasting.  Channel 16 is the main channel as it is monitored by the Coast Guard (when in the states),  local port captains and authorities, and nearby marinas.  Also a Mayday channel.  Story:  When we were in Roatan (and this scenario is common in most large cruising anchorages), we had a local VHF broadcast every morning at 9 a.m.  There is always the call for “emergency, medical or priority traffic”, then the weather, and a call to see who’s listening.  At that time all who wish to do so, call into the radio their boat name and it is acknowledged by the Net (short for network) Controller.  It is the perfect opportunity to ask for information because there are always sailors there that know everything!!!   Like, where’s the best place to get gas?  Where’s the local market?  How far is it to the Port Captain’s office?   What time does Stephen pick up the laundry? (my favorite!)  If there are any social events going on, those would be announced, like Pizza night, movie night, pot luck, Easter dinner, etc.  Everything and anything cruisers need to know.

Charts and GPS  – on our IPAD we have programs with regional charts showing our location, depths, coast line, speed, anchorages, marinas and areas to avoid – i.e. reefs, shoals, rocks, all those things you DON’T want to hit!!!

This photo was taken during our crossing of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, which can be a very dangerous area if the winds are blowing.  The winds were 25 - 35 kts. 2 days before we sailed through.  Today we are motor/sailing because there is NO wind!  Hence, the importance of weather forecasts.

 GPS – we have a hand-held GPS so we can plot our course by entering the lat/long (latitudes and longitudes – for you land lubbers!) to our next destination.  In the case of longer voyages, we enter numerous lat/longs since we may be turning to port or starboard  (left or right land lubbers!).  In the perfect  world,  we prefer to “run the rhum line” which is a straight line from origin to destination.  The GPS also indicates our speed (5.5 kts.), how long we have been at sea (18 hrs, 19 mins.), an approximate time of arrival (on another screen!), and how many miles we have travelled (103).  This tool is always within hands reach.

 Depth Gauge – self-explanatory! lol

EPRIB – Emergency radio information – when activated, it sends out a satellite signal that includes the boat’s name and our personal information that is picked up by the U.S. Coast Guard when we are anywhere in the world.  If they determine that there is an actual emergency, they WILL come look for us. 

  I also have a PLB – personal locator beacon.  Again, once activated it sends my registered information and boat name/location to NOAA .   My going away gift from Gator Dave!  

  AIS - Accident Intervention System – (my other FAV!)  a small laptop is designated for this program.  Imagine looking at a radar screen and in the center, well, there YOU are!  Around you are circles indicating 1, 5, 10, or 20 miles (depending on the zoom in or zoom out feature).  If there are any other ships/boats within those areas, you will have a “flag” where they are, so you know if there is any potential danger of running into them or having a ship run into to YOU!  This program is used for all long distance trips that include night sailing.  Click your mouse on the flag, and that ship’s info will appear.  The name, class (which refers to length – we are Class B.  Class A are the large commercial ships.), speed, direction, and lat/long. ALL Class A vessels are REQUIRED to have the system AIS.  Privately owned sail and motor vessels are not.  But if you choose to have it, you can have the receive only – you can see what’s out there but they can’t see you.  Or send/receive which is what we have so not only can we see them, but they can also see us.   Needless to say, I am always on the 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. watch and I want to know who’s out there and which way they are going.  The AIS was VERY handy in the Panama Canal area as ALL the large ships in the world transit that area, so there are MANY ships awaiting transit of the busiest passage in the world.. (except the REALLY big ships that are too big to go through the canal and have to go around “The Horn”).  Story:  One night while sailing from Roatan to Provedencia with 3 other boats, I noticed “lights” on the port side but maybe a few miles away.  I radioed on the VHF to Patricia (the more experienced sailor) sailing in front of us (for some strange reason the gals always end up with the graveyard shift!)  …… “do you see that ship?”  She hadn’t but to make sure they saw her, she radioed them on the VHF using the information on the AIS,  i.e.  the ship’s name.  They had seen her and but altered their course for the "comfort zone".

 Last, but not least – Auto Pilot  -  I absolutely can’t tell you how important the auto pilot is.  Imagine standing at the helm manually steering the boat…………….ok, maybe you can’t imagine that.  Well, it can be hard work, especially in rough seas and stormy weather.  With the auto pilot you punch in the direction you are heading by degrees, i.e.  270 degrees, due west.  Story:   While on my watch one night, we snagged a fishing trap and line that literally disabled the auto pilot so we were going in completely the opposite direction.  It’s not fail safe, so you do need to check it regularly to make sure you are on course.

Since we are on the fast track to San Diego before hurricane season, we will be covering a lot of territory.  800 miles has already been covered since we left Panama City.  Only another 800 to Cabo San Lucas and then 700 to San Diego.........................yes, ma'am, it's a long trip.   Today we are leaving @ 4 p.m. for Zihuatanejo which is about 350 miles......2.65 days at sea.  

Safety?  Most importantly it’s all about your Captain.  Be assured, I AM in good hands.