Clarification of Fitting Up Supper challenge

[ChattingLil]

Miles Logged: over ground or through the water??

And does racking up miles messing around in the river count?

Talking which - what do you put in your log re miles logged? I've never been very good at these calculations and either average it over number of hours sailed x average speed. But even then, seeing as my log wheel thingy hardly ever works I can only go by my SOG less what I reckond the tide is doing.

 

[PaulGooch]

If you don't have suitable logging equipment on board, how about a hand held GPS ? We carry one as a backup, reset everything as we set off and it logs distance and speed and keeps a track.

 

[ChattingLil]

how about a hand held GPS ?

I do have a Garmin chartplotter, but as I am a complete technobimbo I have never figured out how to use it properly with regard to getting tracks and measuring distances. I suppose I should read the handbook....

I've also got a mechanical log that you trail out the back.... but it does't work properly - for example, when my garmin tells me my speed over ground is 6kn, the log tells me 8 or 9! I haven't figured out how to calibrate that either - double

 

[MoodySabre]

There is bound to be a trip Odometer on the Garmin - there's one on my Garmin Handheld.

Log thing on a bit of string (or wheely never blooming works gadget) relates to speed through water so will almost never tie up to Speed over Ground.

I thought it was men who didn't read the manuals

 

[ChattingLil]

Log thing on a bit of string (or wheely never blooming works gadget) relates to speed through water so will almost never tie up to Speed over Ground.

yes I know that!! what I mean to be asking is... in the absence of a reliable wheely in the water, or thing on a string... is there another way of calculating speed through water? (other than what I am kind of doing now - ie SOG less what I expect tide is giving me).

Apart from tying a knots in a bit of string and chasting it through the water!!

I thought it was men who didn't read the manuals

Well, I have been told that I have more balls than most men...

 

[MoodySabre]

I have never found the need to know speed through the water. I am interested in whether I'm going to get back to the marina with enough water, whether I'll make a sandbank or waypoint on time - SOG tells me that. Only racers or ludite navigators need to know speed through the water IMO.

 

[ChattingLil]

I have never found the need to know speed through the water. I am interested in whether I'm going to get back to the marina with enough water, whether I'll make a sandbank or waypoint on time - SOG tells me that. Only racers or ludite navigators need to know speed through the water IMO.

heheh, agree, not really sure why I got distracted on this point either!

 

[AliM]

How are you doing on your 463 miles (was it?), then Lisa?

Our log is the permenant home to some barnacle or something, and we sold the trailing log, for the same reasons as Roger said, so we can't measure distance through the water.

We keep a running total on our GPS - so all the faffing about on the river is counted.

So far 1004 miles in 2010, and about 550 since the dinner. Off on holiday next week, so your estimate (1200, I think) is likely to be a bit low.

 

[Athene V30]

My record of distance to date is a mix of logged and GPS distance.

Don't always have GPS on as being a 'Luddite' navigator I do from time to time take and plot fixes, do DR and EPs as I like to know I can still do it should the batteries fail, USA turn off the satelites etc. Likewise the log gets weed so doesn't always turn from the off. Have got a towed log somewhere too.

Note to self, borrow and practice with star spanner!

 

[FullCircle]

I have never found the need to know speed through the water. I am interested in whether I'm going to get back to the marina with enough water, whether I'll make a sandbank or waypoint on time - SOG tells me that. Only racers or ludite navigators need to know speed through the water IMO.

Do I detect a hint of Luddism in your own post there Roger? I like speed through the water, as my personal hate is punching tide......

 

[AliM]

But it's so satisfying to pretend that the 8 knots that you manage up the Wallet is due to your superior sailing skill, rather than a mundane 5.5 knots through the water + tide. We also try to avoid punching tide - 3 knots on the GPS, when you get the Wallet timing wrong, is a bit depressing!

 

[Athene V30]

when you get the Wallet timing wrong, is a bit depressing!

Sometimes I plan to get the Wallet wrong with the aim of smoother water and a happier crew - that is when I have a crew! It almost worked last Sunday with youngest son! I think I beat passed Harmony off Walton and didn't see her catch me when I turned off at Colne Bar.

SOG has its uses as does speed through the water. I am not a racing sailor BUT I do like to know my boat is sailing well. Speed through the water tells me that as a tweak here or there (on a sail ) can make a difference that doesn't show up as immediately on SOG.

 

[Marmalade]

Not a racer in any way, shape or form but I do like to tweak the sails every now and again to get the best from her - speed through the water is the only real measure of that isn't it?

 

[D3B]

Do the miles count as logged on ones own vessel or should we add time spent blagging hours on someone elses boat

 

[Wunja]

Can I add in the miles driven to forum events?

 

[Athene V30]

can i add in the miles driven to forum events?

no, just get on with some sailing :d:d:d