Amaya had a spy

tome

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On the trip to Cherbourg we had a little spy on board. This records position, speed, depth, wind speed etc every 15 minutes which can be replayed for later analysis. Here's a chart showing the track and the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://home.btconnect.com/Amaya/10_12.jpg> return trip 12/10.

They are quite big files (370k each) so I've linked rather than posted the jpegs.

The data is in 2 excel spreadsheets and <A target="_blank" HREF=http://home.btconnect.com/Amaya/12_10_03.xls> return trip. These are much smaller files (35k each).

You may or not find these of interest, but they illustrate the classic cross tides encountered in the channel and the true track of a yacht doing a xing.
Tom

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Rowana

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Very interesting.

Do you have a special data-logging program, or what?

I did a paper exercise on graph paper when on the way back from SPP on Tuesday with NigelB just to see what our track looked like compared with what I thought it would be.

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tome

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No special program, the data is recorded by my Navtex receiver. It's an ICS Nav 6 plus which is a really useful piece of equipment - also a GPS & instrument repeater. Really good idea as you only look at Navtex on occasions and it makes full use of the screen for other applications. Data from GPS and instruments are connected to it via an NMEA multiplexor. The data can be downloaded into a PC and I wrote a small routine to convert it to CSV data which imports easily to excel.

The charts with position overlays are done in OziExplorer which allows the import of waypoints. Charts can be scanned and geo-referenced in OziExplorer. It's cheap at <50 quid.

Regards
Tom

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bedouin

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Very pretty - it looks from that as if you started from Cherbourg about 3 hours earlier than we did and the tides worked much better.

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tome

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Derek chose a 5am departure which was a good call. It was his first attempt as skipper and I reckon he did a pretty good job overall.

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ChrisFromBavaria

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I don't have any experience in the Channel so far. Concerning the trip to Cherbourg I would have expected a heading of around 160 to 170 degrees in the area of the traffic separation, since I remember the rule that one has to cross with having a right angle between heading and the direction of the main traffic.
In your Excel sheet I see headings about 210 to 220 degrees in that area. Do I confuse heading with something else (What I mean is course to steer)? Or is this not taken so serious in real X-ing?

Christian




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jimi

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You should be aware that in the channel between Cherbourg and the Solent it is not actually a TSS although there are clearly defined traffic lanes and whilst it is prudent to get across the lanes (which are actually quite narrow) as fast as possible it isnt a TSS governed by the CR. Hope that helps.

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Gunfleet

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ooh, you're going to be in terrible trouble when the Hydrographer tells the First Lord you've been copying his charts.

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bedouin

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Yes - it was a good call. You get the full advantage of the stronger tides on the French side of the channel, and even get the advantage of a bit of help on the last bit up into Portsmouth (in our case)

Unfortunately there was no way I was getting up at 0500 so we were not so lucky. I had to harden up a bit three quarters of the way across to make sure I could clear Dunnose

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Talbot

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these look so similar to the examples in Winchart nexia!! hopefully they are going to include a piece of software for raggies that allows us to see what will be needed due to wind direction (my spies tell me that this may be available for LBS)

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tome

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Hi Talbot

The data I've linked is post-event as recorded. I've no wish to include Bill Gates in my crew and would not welcome any software intrusion in my cockpit. There is no version number that compares with dirty night judgement.

Regards
Tom

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MainlySteam

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Tom

Very interesting, even from 12,000 miles away. Many thanks.

You have encouraged me to try doing some Cook Strait ones this summer, however would not get the same clear tide effect as is mostly agin/with rather than cross, as a large part of the course is around the bottom of North Island.

Regards

John

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tome

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Hi John

Glad you liked it. Wish I could find a way of posting tides. Be great if you could post your trips also. I know your not a great rugby fan, but be ready!

Regards
Tom

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ChrisFromBavaria

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Having a look again on the chart and into a reference book I can see the difference. Jimi is pointing out that the lanes are "quite narrow". What's this about in nm?
Regardless the fact, that the lanes are only recommended traffic seems to concentrate there. Would it be right to assume that let's say 98% of tall ship traffic runs along them and the rest do not? How would you describe that?

Christian




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tome

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Hi again Talbot

Sorry if my last post was a bit grumpy, I'd had it up to my neck with Bill Gates limpware yesterday!

Tom

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