AIS at the chartplotter

[Sandy]

After about a months use of AIS at the chartplotter I thought I'd make a few comments:

• So far I've ignored the wee triangles! I really can't see what all the fuss was/is about;
• Plymouth is a pretty busy port with military, commercial, fishing and leisure traffic, to date nothing has come anywhere near not been seen by the Mark I eyeball, even those really small very fast fishing vessels at 2330 hrs the other night were spotted at least five mins before anybody else onboard had;
• The MOD Police RIBs do ask you, very politely, to move out of the way if they consider that you are too close to their vessel; and
• I've shared the Western Approach with the Pont Aven and we had tonnes of space (good to see the ferry from the mainland again).

With this summer's cruise taking me away from the usual crossing to the mainland I'll report back in October if AIS at the helm has been any use, apart from entertaining the crew.

 

[Ink]

Usual stuff, isn't it. Vital when racing. Generally very useful otherwise. But lots of people manage perfectly well without.

Wind vane at top of mast is jolly good tho.

Depends on the height of the mast. 130' gives you a pretty stiff neck!

Ink