Modern Technology

Re: X-channel minimum

Agree - Ban all technical passage planning and use only paper charts and tide-tables which are available to all. No PCs to be used.

Given that your new boat will struggle to keep up /forums/images/icons/smile.gif and that we'll be leaving from a number of points, how do we handicap? Like the idea of predicted log. Perhaps combine with predicted TOA?

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Why not go the whole hog?

GPS has rightly been accused of making us more reliant on instrumentation but in the process causing us to lose touch with the skills and instincts of past yachtsmen who had to rely more on their own judgement.

Exactly the same was once said of the compass. Long sea passages have always been made without even this. Robin Knox-Johnson navigated a Viking replica boat from Norway to Scotland with only a primitive sun-compass. An article in YM in the 1970's described a fisherman who regularly sailed 600 miles between the Canaries and Cape Verde islands with no instruments at all. The Frenchman Bernard Moitessier once ran a sea school which attempted to re-instill the necessary instinct, with passages from France to Corsica without even a compass.

So, how about it? Solent - Cherbourg with a chart but with absolutely no mechanical instruments, including a watch. Assuming reasonable visibility it would be necessary to steer accurately about 10 degrees either way - that will get you within easy visual range of Cherbourg. Could you?

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Re: X-channel minimum

Could do a handicap chase with different departure times so all should theoretically arrive at 6pm. So I leave at 4am and Qsiv leaves at 3pm;-)

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
 
Re: X-channel minimum

That might work, but how would we decide the departure times?

How about setting Needles Fairway and Bembridge Ledge as departure points and the boat with the least corrected miles on the log to Cherbourg wins?

We'd have to scrutinise the winners log, mind.

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Re: X-channel minimum

No - you can't specify departure times. A key part of the skill is judging your arrival at Cherbourg to match the tides and skippers should be allowed to chose their own approach.

Probably need to do it handicapped on LWL timed from Bembridge to Cherboug Fort d'Est

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Re: X-channel minimum

I know - we might have to paddle hard to keep up with the rest.

As for handicap - I dont think thats a real issue :-
a) it ought to be for fun!
b) if it's predicted log, then it is more about how close to your ETA you arrive.

Alternatively, the race comittee (!) could nominate an arrival time, but leave departure open. The only problem with that is that could lock some into unfavourable crossing times - for example this weekend gives us a crossing time of under 3 hours - which might mean leaving the Solent with a foul tide (which would be vile and possibly dangerous at The Bridge). I'd say allow skippers to predict arrival, and choose any departure time.

Looks like the bright shiny RaceVision2 thats just arrived wouldnt have a place on this trip!

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Re: So it\'s arrived?

No - but I have pictures ...

Hull moulded, interior in place, and deck being stuck on. Mast is being moulded elsewhere, keel and strut completed, but not installed. Sails being built right now.

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Re: Imagination

Probably not! There are many Quicksilvers around which gives rise to confusion on the radio, and on race entries (I know they COULD read the whole name).

Wraith and Alchemist are front runners for the new name. Wraith seems appropriate (Black hull, Black/grey sails and black spinnakers). Spi's have two pale grey panels in the luffs in order to make them trimmable at night. Hopefully the tell tales on the jibs will contrast enough to make them usable in the dark as well.

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Re: Why not go the whole hog?

I think in particular GPS has caused us (well me at least) to lose the instinct for leeway and tides - it is now all to easy just to glance at BTW and COG. This is particularly the case when single-handed when it is all to easy to rely on the figures on the GPS rather than going to the hassle of maintaining a proper plot.

I was very impressed with Robin's sun compass - but unfortunately it was solar powered so not much use in an English summer :)

In good visibility and settled weather I am fairly sure I could hit Cherbourg from the Solent without Compass - and pretty sure I could do it given a clear night.

Not so sure about a hazy day though - might be out of sight of any reference points for too long.



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Re: Imagination

.. its got to be "The Black Pearl" .and you'll have to get Kim to change your handle to Captain_Sparrow!

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
 
QSIV takes delivery

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<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
 
Re: Imagination

Sounds VVV nice! Dayglo telltales and UV mast light?

Wraith is good but the radio? Warlock?

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Re: X-channel minimum

Not No chart table - just small - and there are bunks, but not designed for comfort!

the boat can be found <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.santanasailboats.com/boats/schock40/schock40.htm>here</A>

Top speed seen on one of the Californian boats last year was about 35 knots...

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I seem to remember that when competing in RORC offshore races, the only electronic Nav-Aid allowed was an RDF receiver. The challenge in those days was as much about navigation as boat speed or tactics.

When I had the privelage of crewing on the Fastnet on a 55 footer (in the days that Ted Heath was in out Admirals Cup team), as radar wasn't permitted, we removed the scanner form its deck mounting and stowed it below. Somewhat different to what is considered desirable these days!


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Time to put ideas into action

So when you going to do it then? I'd be interested if available, probably rather go as crew than take my own boat, though.

How about starting another thread to make specific arrangements.

<hr width=100% size=1>I'm average size, Its just that everybody else is short.
 
Re: Time to put ideas into action

And .. are we allowed to use the donkey or is that banned (unless required for collision avoidance)?

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha
 
Re: Time to put ideas into action

Dunno when, any suggestions? Maybe we need to get Kim to start a 'Low-Tech Xing' forum?

Always willing to accommodate a couple of crew. Losing Derek this season as he's off to earn some dosh in Iraq this weekend, and probably won't be back until end June.

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