AIS at the chartplotter

[ip485]

I think we all use AIS to varying degrees depending on lots of factors. However on a pitch black windy night with a good sea running I challenge even the most experienced to not be greatful for some extra information. I recall going into Eastbourne one dark night at about 2 am just off Seaford the vis. went from 10k to less then 50m in about 5 mins. Very surreal. There was a dredger working in the bay and several boats fishing. I was very grateful for both the AIS and radar at the wheel. Fortunately about 3 miles from the entrance the fog lifted.

 

[rotrax]

Why just teenagers? People learn to sail at all ages.

Better to show people what needs to be done. Demonstrate, explain, practice. As soon as you do 'tell' they switch off.

You can include in that using the horizon to estimate vessel range and bearing change using a hand bearing compass. Then use of AIS and radar. When walking has been nailed, move on to run.

You wanna try busy, cross the Gib Straits!

Teenagers because that is who the OP said spent all their time screen watching!

Last Time I visited Cherbourg the AIS showed 27 in the first lane and 32 in the second. Speeds varied between 14 and 24 Kts. Often 3 abreast.

That is pretty busy!

As is Portsmouth Harbour. When we were berthed there we had small vessels moving, the Gosport Ferries, the Fast Cats, the Ryde Ferries, the Hovercraft, MOD Police vessels and Naval vessels. Through a very narrow and very tidal enterance.

That was quite busy too...................

A well known NZ race sailor and his wife spent two weeks with us in 2019.

The number and closeness of the vessels in Portsmouth Harbour enterence caused him to relinquish the wheel to First Mate - he could not cook it!

He said, as only a Kiwi could " Take this bloody wheel! My bum is puckering like a rosette! " ?

You know all about training being ex RN. I concur with you philosophy there.

 

[rotrax]

As they say, our mileages are different.

I prefer to sail looking out of the cockpit, especially crossing at TSS. To date I've yet to see a ship speed up/slow down, apart from a submarine on the surface outside Plymouth who went from dead slow to very quick in about two boat lengths perhaps the CO realised that the Mess was about to open, or make a sudden alteration from course (I'm pretty sure that the would be giving sound signals). For what we do we don't need the exact course and speed, for example, that ship a is going from starboard to port and has taken 2 mins to pass that stanchion, or more importantly has not moved from that stanchion, is all you need to work out what is going on.

See post # 18.

Very difficult to judge, at night, what the first six ships in a bunch of 27 are up to. Hitting the AIS data button lets me know the CPA of the chosen vessels.

If, at our course and speed the CPA is sensible, I know I can continue on course.

Looking out of the cockpit - or, as in our case, the Pilothouse - would not give anywhere near the same information. One or two ships, perhaps, half a dozen, not so confidence inspiring.

Before we had AIS overlay crossing the lanes was far more stressful!

You are correct, we use our resources in ways that suit our sailing.

Our boat is a poor sailer. Going West we find it is often benificial to go to Cherbourg or Alderney for a better slant on the wind.

Hence lots of night crossing of the E/W Shipping Lanes. We like to arrive in daylight, uptide of the entrance.

 

[ip485]

It is interesting if you are not use to night crossings. I recall crossing the channel, and the crew calling me up on deck. We have two ships there, not sure how close they are going to get. They had been watching them for some time. Conditions werent perfect, but you could make out a light at what appeared to be the front, and another a ways behind. You have guessed. It was one ship but on the cover of darkness and loss of depth perception (and to be fair a long ship) the mistake was very easily made. We had been headed to pass between.

Easily resolved if all else failed with the AIS.

 

[lustyd]

I prefer to sail looking out of the cockpit, especially crossing at TSS. To date I've yet to see a ship speed up/slow down, apart from a submarine on the surface outside Plymouth who went from dead slow to very quick in about two boat lengths perhaps the CO realised that the Mess was about to open, or make a sudden alteration from course (I'm pretty sure that the would be giving sound signals). For what we do we don't need the exact course and speed, for example, that ship a is going from starboard to port and has taken 2 mins to pass that stanchion, or more importantly has not moved from that stanchion, is all you need to work out what is going on.

Maybe you need to upgrade your mk1. Crossing the channel almost every ship alters speed or course when they see a sailing vessel. Of course, the reason I know that is because I can see both their speed and heading as it changes to avoid the boat.

 

[Sandy]

Maybe you need to upgrade your mk1. Crossing the channel almost every ship alters speed or course when they see a sailing vessel. Of course, the reason I know that is because I can see both their speed and heading as it changes to avoid the boat.

I've no plans to cross to the mainland this year due to "challenging world issues", so won't be able to check that out on an English Channel TSS.

 

[pvb]

AIS on your plotter is great. In olden tymes, I used to think that MARPA was great, but AIS beats it hands-down.

 

[Goldie]

‘Twas a busy day in the Channel. Not essential, but AIS certainly made life easier. We’re the red one in the middle.

Edit: picture won’t upload, I’m working on it!

 

[johnalison]

AIS on your plotter is great. In olden tymes, I used to think that MARPA was great, but AIS beats it hands-down.

It’s a bit like having radar and plotter combined. So long as you can have a system that doesn’t get cluttered, the more compact your system the better, at least in small craft.

 

[Stemar]

As is Portsmouth Harbour. When we were berthed there we had small vessels moving, the Gosport Ferries, the Fast Cats, the Ryde Ferries, the Hovercraft, MOD Police vessels and Naval vessels. Through a very narrow and very tidal enterance.

The last thing I'm going to be looking at in the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour is the AIS. I'm far too busy dodging that effing great gin palace and those 3 Clipper boats and the Normandy, and I already know all the CPAs are way too close

 

[GHA]

seems few know, but you're allowed to glance at ais data and still look around. At the same time!! If that's too hard then maybe better off staying home with a computer game...

 

[sfellows]

I think AIS is one of the most useful tools available when crossing the Channel.

I think AIS is one of the most useless tools available when in the Solent.

 

[RichardS]

I think AIS is one of the most useful tools available when crossing the Channel.

I think AIS is one of the most useless tools available when in the Solent.

Apart from one's eyes, which no-one would argue is always the most useful tool apart from in fog, what would you say is a more useful tool than AIS in the Solent?

Richard

 

[capnsensible]

You know all about training being ex RN. I concur with you philosophy there.

Well yes, that was a big help, being sent to a training school to learn how to train...?

But spending most of the last twenty five years as a sailing instructor helps!

I learnt most of how to qualify in that by years of sailing out of Gosport. ?

 

[RJJ]

For years I've had an AIS transceiver down at the navigation station, primarily there for:

• the CG - should I ever have the need to hit the wee red distress switch;
• the family - so they have a rough idea where I am; and
• fellow sailors - so they know when to get the beers in as I'm usually last back to the bar.

Secondly, I might take a passing interest in that big ship over there, but that is rare and usually as I'm crossing the shipping lanes en route to the mainland (Continental Europe).

Today after much head scratching, looking at diagrams and joining tiny multi-coloured wires together I now have AIS at the chart plotter! Will this turn me into a gibbering wreck, terrified of going out on the water as the Mark I eyeball is going to feel redundant?

More importantly, I have found and repaired a second puncture in the dinghy, and will be able to get to the pub at Dittisham.

I think those of us who have learned using the old-fashioned tools of paper, hand-bearing compass and binoculars, and now have the benefit of fantastic technology, have a great advantage. Why not use it?

Not only "learned" but put in practice over many passages.

Having only last year laid eyes on AIS for the first time, I'm still getting used to it. But I still instinctively reach for the compass "just to check" and I'm still in the habit of thinking things through several times, including continuing to track any changes of course.

My missus on the other hand is just about to do her DS. She'll cope, I trust, with the requirements. But she'll then probably spend most of her sailing life with AIS, plotters, GPS at the touch of a button. It's most unlikely she'll refine the "traditional skills"; she'll probably be tech-dependent.

 

[DJE]

Apart from one's eyes, which no-one would argue is always the most useful tool apart from in fog, what would you say is a more useful tool than AIS in the Solent?

Richard

Echo sounder.

 

[capnsensible]

I don't think that anyone would argue against having AIS. It's extremely useful. The recommends from the couple of boat owners on here who have it make that clear.

But there are shed loads of boats that don't. Do boat owners ever go on other boats? I do. And most of them don't have ais. Most, including mine, don't have a plotter. We cope. ??

 

[doug748]

I think AIS is one of the most useful tools available when crossing the Channel.

I think AIS is one of the most useless tools available when in the Solent.

Yes, I tend to agree. Never switch the thing on unless I feel it might be useful.

Just one proviso. Sometimes it can be most handy in thick fog, even at very close range, where you know there are lots of slow moving class B targets.

.

 

[ip485]

AIS is just another tool. If you sail at night, in fog or even bad weather it can be a very useful tool. Its no more vital than light aircraft often having neither traffic avoidance or a transponder (the equivalent of AIS) but there are times its nice to eliminate luck.

Dont be a technophobe, it is a nice tool, and if you have the funds, I would add AIS.

 

[Stemar]

I have neither AIS nor radar, nor do I think I need them for pottering around the Solent in good weather, but leaving cost aside, I'd fit radar before AIS for use in fog because there are still plenty of WAFIs like me who wander around without AIS and, in fog, they're likely to do the same as me and head for the 5m depth contour. However, the fact that AIS is a fraction of the cost of radar, may well influence my decision.