If you go down the Blackwater to play.......

[MoodySabre]

after Monday then you will see this amazing contraption anchored near the Thirslet. The technician did try to explain to me in some detail all the things it will be measuring - umpteen chemical elements. It is to be anchored at four corners so they see the tidal flow. The data will upload via telemetry and will eventually appear on a website somewhere. A computer will cross-reference this with satellite images.

This is a mega expensive project involving 4 universities and boffins galore. It will be in the Blackwater for a prolonged test. The estuary is a SSSI and very complex in composition. Eventually this thing will end up in Venice where they have real water quality problems.

This has been included in the East Coast Pilot website news and here is a pic taken in the berth next to me at Bradwell where they have been working on it.

Not often you meet a chest freezer when you are out sailing /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Athene V30]

How long will it be until it is hit by something?

I know of 2 boats on Marconi moorings that have been hit in the last couple of years.

 

[MoodySabre]

According to ECP it will be in Thirslet Creek until the end of January so it should be OK there unless the thieving scrotes find it first - it has £thousands of bits of computer kit plus solar panels, wind gennie, GPS, wind thing etc. secured by padlocked hasps.

 

[phatcat1]

Looks like 2 old freezers and a bucket!

 

[pyrojames]

Looks like the zen version of Aussie boating. Two fridges, solar panels on something that floats. What more could you want except consumables?

Actually,
Hang on, where's the BBQ?

 

[CPD]

Nice cover story for your new boat Roger /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[leomagill]

Solar powered floating ice cream salon, what a great idea!
Room there for beer barrels too.

 

[sarabande]

hmm, vertical solar panels. Do they know something about the sun which we don't ?

 

[Cantata]

Don't those cabinets look like chest freezers? Perhaps if they left it for the summer they could serve us ice-creams...
Nice of Roger to take that pic, he's been a guinea-pig for our new website and with his kind permission it's found its way onto there as well. Thanks mate.

 

[MoodySabre]

You're welcome Dick /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[kds]

Yes - this time of year a vertical panel will catch more than a horzontal.
ken /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif