Hand in hand?

Traditional & electronic navigation should work together but RYA Examiners are finding that new recruits commonly make basic position-finding errors.   

Although the plotter is a great tool, be prepared for it’s box of wizardry to let you down!

https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/cruising-tips/navigation/Pages/the-chart-plotter.aspx

Alex Thomson Racing & the Vendee Globe

Two months to go before the race begins on 8th November.   

New footage shows HUGO BOSS preparing to win the "Everest of the Seas".

https://youtu.be/dTpdfnHN5j4

Also at:-

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=bMJrzQZ79Nw

www.alexthomsonracing.com

A shocking problem?!

Many marinas abroad are reported as having reverse polarity, with many continental adaptors able to plug in either way round to get the polarity right or wrong! 

Most appliances are unaffected by this, but the UK mostly uses single-pole switches where the live supply (brown insulation) in the ‘off’ position doesn’t flow to the appliance, which can then be safely handled.   If polarity is reversed then the appliance would remain live through the negative (blue insulation) although switched ‘off’!   Read more from this RYA news item:-

https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/cruising-tips/hints-tips/Pages/a-case-of-crossed-wires-a-shocking-situation.aspx

Ambition

Sir Ben discusses his sailing experiences, starting as a 19yr old taking part in the 1996 Atlanta USA Olympic Games.    He also describes how lifting the oldest world sporting trophy for team USA convinced him that a British team could return the America Cup next year:-

www.shirleyrobertson.com/podcast

Sir Ben Ainslie and INEOS TEAM UK take Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail single-handed non-stop around the globe in 1969 (312 days solo at sea!), for his first foil.

www.sail-world.com

Try Your Luck!

Armchair sailors and amateur enthusiasts can enter the Virtual Fastnet Regatta for free (after first registering on rorc.org) - finishing at Cherbourg and increasing the world's most popular offshore race to 695nm overall. 

Starting at 1200 UTC on 3 August 2020, the game is free to play with more than 30,000 entries expected.   Get started at: virtualregatta.com or by smart phone via the downloadable Virtual Regatta Offshore App from Apple Store / Google Play Store. 

MOB Recovery

Although demonstrated in benign conditions, this video encourages the immediate deployment of a floating object (life-ring, fender, etc) pre-attached to an aft mooring cleat by at least 30 meters of floating rope (polypropylene, to minimise the risk of a fouled propeller).   A scrambling net attached amidships allows the MOB to climb aboard unaided or to hold on while a halyard is deployed.

The Storm Trysail Club has released a series of tutorial videos for sailors to watch while self-isolating at home:-

http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2020/04/03/video-practical-mob-recovery/

Learn The Racing Rules

In exchange for agreeing to receive their online monthly newsletter, UK Sailmakers have clarified the racing terminology and provided some interesting animated race-course situations. 

www.uksailmakers.com/rules-quiz-program.

Better than conventional radar?

It uses less power, requires no warm up time, gives a clearer picture, needs less tuning and is simpler to use.   Working on Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) broadband pulsation solid state technology, it compares frequency changes between the transmitted and received signals.

What impact it makes on the marine leisure market over the next few years remains to be seen!

https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/cruising-tips/navigation/Pages/broadband-radar.asps

(see also Digital Radar https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/cruising-tips/navigation/Pages/digital-radar.aspx)

Are you prepared?

Ensure your fire extinguisher fits through a properly positioned engine compartment access hole. Check that seacocks & fuel valves can all be accessed outside the engine bay.

https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/cruising-tips/hints-tips/Pages/fire-extinguishers.aspx