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Cheers - Bryan
Interested in a boat for 2018 TransPac
- Thread starter jamottep
- Start date
D-5
At the risk of coming across as annoying I'll share that these past few days have been the least filled in a long time. Since I have not done this sort of trip before my experience must be taken with a grain of salt. Maybe I am missing something; I feel as prepared as I want to be. Well, no, I want to be more prepared but I chose to stop moving forward and instead focus on solidifying what I know.
All that I see that's left to do will take place when a few last minute packages arrive (mainly a spare tablet) or when Thursday comes (loading it all and moving out to CYC). Friday and Saturday will be good too. But Thursday will be the busy day. In the mean time I'm watching boring animal documentaries, going for hikes, looking at the weather forecasts, eating, listening to music, looking out the window at the sky, taking walks around the neighborhood.
So Thursday may go something like this:
1. Wake up and have breakfast
2. Maybe go for a hike while traffic clears
3. Load up the car and drive to Sal's inflatables to pick up the life raft
4. Carry on to BYC
5. Load the light items in DE
6. Put DE in the water
7. Install the 100 W solar panel
8. Load the heavy items
9. Get the boat ready and cast off
10. Sail to CYC
11. Dock and get the boat through the last inspection
12. Get a lift back to BYC
13. Drive home
Sailing to CYC will be against the tide in the afternoon. I'll need to keep an eye on the forecast; very light wind could be trouble and I may have to try to ride the morning ebb. My engine may make its absence felt ...
At the risk of coming across as annoying I'll share that these past few days have been the least filled in a long time. Since I have not done this sort of trip before my experience must be taken with a grain of salt. Maybe I am missing something; I feel as prepared as I want to be. Well, no, I want to be more prepared but I chose to stop moving forward and instead focus on solidifying what I know.
All that I see that's left to do will take place when a few last minute packages arrive (mainly a spare tablet) or when Thursday comes (loading it all and moving out to CYC). Friday and Saturday will be good too. But Thursday will be the busy day. In the mean time I'm watching boring animal documentaries, going for hikes, looking at the weather forecasts, eating, listening to music, looking out the window at the sky, taking walks around the neighborhood.
So Thursday may go something like this:
1. Wake up and have breakfast
2. Maybe go for a hike while traffic clears
3. Load up the car and drive to Sal's inflatables to pick up the life raft
4. Carry on to BYC
5. Load the light items in DE
6. Put DE in the water
7. Install the 100 W solar panel
8. Load the heavy items
9. Get the boat ready and cast off
10. Sail to CYC
11. Dock and get the boat through the last inspection
12. Get a lift back to BYC
13. Drive home
Sailing to CYC will be against the tide in the afternoon. I'll need to keep an eye on the forecast; very light wind could be trouble and I may have to try to ride the morning ebb. My engine may make its absence felt ...
Philippe,
That sounds better than my Thursday is looking with working until noon or 1 p.m. then a run up to Alameda to sail to CYC and then grab a ride back to Alameda to retrieve the car (thanks DaveH, you're a life saver).
Meanwhile I have to figure out why it is taking so many attempts to download a grib from the IridiumGo using SailGrib on the tablet and also set up a saildocs subscription as a backup. Hope to have some time to work on that this evening. Anybody have any tips or insight? I'm all ears...
At least the packing is almost done (although the boat is kind of disorganized).
JohnS (who really wishes he could have managed to get this week off from work)
That sounds better than my Thursday is looking with working until noon or 1 p.m. then a run up to Alameda to sail to CYC and then grab a ride back to Alameda to retrieve the car (thanks DaveH, you're a life saver).
Meanwhile I have to figure out why it is taking so many attempts to download a grib from the IridiumGo using SailGrib on the tablet and also set up a saildocs subscription as a backup. Hope to have some time to work on that this evening. Anybody have any tips or insight? I'm all ears...
At least the packing is almost done (although the boat is kind of disorganized).
JohnS (who really wishes he could have managed to get this week off from work)
tiger beetle
N/M 45 Tiger Beetle
Are you using any compression/file management software over the Iridium conection? (e.g., SailMail, Ocens, etc.)
Iridium connections are handed off from satellite to satellite as the satellites orbit by overhead, and it's not easy to maintain a constant computer connection through the hand-off. File management software keeps track of which file bits have been sent and in the event of failure/reconnection can continue the file transfer without restarting at the beginning (e.g., only send the file bits that need to be sent).
In theory SailGrib does the file management for you (they say they are Iridium-approved), verify that it does. I didn't see anything specifc about this in the help docs; if the file is coming over Iridium GO Mail then this should be handled correctly.
Verify the GO! has a good view of the sky (don't put it beneath a solar panel, for example), has a strong connection (count connection bars).
Are you usingi the GO! built-in antenna or an external antenna?
What is the file size of the grib you're asking the GO! to download? Can you obtain the same file using regular internet access (as in test without the GO! in the loop)?
- rob/beetle
This is how I do it ...
In SailGrib use SailDocs as the source (all the way at the top) and Iridium email (all the way at the bottom). SailGrib will spool an email to the GO. Then, using the GO email app do send/receive, it's taking 2 minutes or so. Wait 5 minutes then send/receive again. You should have a response from SailDocs and the download may take a while. Then download, switch to SG and open the GRIB file.
In SailGrib use SailDocs as the source (all the way at the top) and Iridium email (all the way at the bottom). SailGrib will spool an email to the GO. Then, using the GO email app do send/receive, it's taking 2 minutes or so. Wait 5 minutes then send/receive again. You should have a response from SailDocs and the download may take a while. Then download, switch to SG and open the GRIB file.
The Smokester
New member
This is how I do it, also. The external antenna is important.
Thanks Rob, Philippe and Smoke,
It sounds like I am using the same process Philippe described. Unfortunately, I have no external antenna. My testing thus far has been from my backyard with a decent sky view. My experience during my first test a few days ago was that the email request from SailGrib spooled just fine to Iridium mail. That's where things get difficult. The saildocs request email sends pretty well (but it's tiny). The receive required a number of attempts and some of them would make good progress before the attempt failed. On subsequent tries it would start at the beginning rather than picking up where the earlier file had stopped. That's what puzzled me. Trying again now. It sounds like I may regret not getting an external antenna but the boat is so small I can just reach up and put the thing on the cabin top. Yeah, that's gonna fix it. Too late to get an antenna now (sigh).
Also seems I need to figure out how to get the grib email from saildocs delivered to SailGrib from the iridium mail app. More research and more working on this tomorrow.
It sounds like I am using the same process Philippe described. Unfortunately, I have no external antenna. My testing thus far has been from my backyard with a decent sky view. My experience during my first test a few days ago was that the email request from SailGrib spooled just fine to Iridium mail. That's where things get difficult. The saildocs request email sends pretty well (but it's tiny). The receive required a number of attempts and some of them would make good progress before the attempt failed. On subsequent tries it would start at the beginning rather than picking up where the earlier file had stopped. That's what puzzled me. Trying again now. It sounds like I may regret not getting an external antenna but the boat is so small I can just reach up and put the thing on the cabin top. Yeah, that's gonna fix it. Too late to get an antenna now (sigh).
Also seems I need to figure out how to get the grib email from saildocs delivered to SailGrib from the iridium mail app. More research and more working on this tomorrow.
The Smokester
New member
The same thing happens in my backyard where I have tried it without the external antenna. I can transmit short texts but not receive larger files such as gribs. Works fine on the boat in the marina with external antenna.
tiger beetle
N/M 45 Tiger Beetle
If that's the case then the file transfer software is not keeping track of bytes-sent, which means you to receive the entire file before the satellite connection is dropped. That's not something you can easily plan for and means you will need a good connection and a small file to receive the entire file before the satellite drops below the horizon.
The Iridium Mail & Web App features page states: "Mid-file restart of download if connection is lost" and it appears that SailGrib is using Iridium Mail for the file transfer. If you're not seeing this behavior check with the SailGrib author to find out what is really going on as you should not be seeing a complete file re-send.
https://www.iridium.com/products/iridium-mail-web-app/
- rob/beetle
The Smokester
New member
Can someone chime in with the largest typical file size they have downloaded with the Iridium Go!? I don't see file restarts either.
tiger beetle
N/M 45 Tiger Beetle
I am using Sailmail/Airmail on Beetle's laptop to send/receive email and attachments through Iridium GO, file sizes are typically 20K, the big ones are 65-80K. Note that this approach utilizes Sailmail/Airmail capabilities to manage dropped satellite connections and mid-file restart.
I have sent photos from the boat using the Iridium GO Mail & Web App running on my Android "smart phone", this approach does use Iridium's built-in connection and file handling - large photos were 100K though I try to keep them smaller than that (e.g., resize, strip EXIF data, etc.).
I know of one person that was able to download a 900K file over Iridium GO. While it took a long time to do the transfer it was very important to them to get that particular .pdf document to their boat.
I believe the Iridium Mail & Web App default file size limit is 50K, anything larger is directed to what Iridium Mail terms Big Mail and won't be sent over the satellite connection to the GO. The setting, if I recall correctly, is in the App's User Settings under the Limit inbound & outbound file sizes (maximum is 1M). You might want to play with that and do some testing; I would highly recommend testing without using SailGrib to verify you can send/receive a large file via email to yourself - say a 100k grib file as an emai attachment. When you know that works, then bring SailGrib into the loop and demonstrate that the functionality is replicated.
- rob/beetle
D-2
And voilà, Double Espresso is at CYC. It was nice to meet Dazzler/Tom and Shad. The day started with the rental life raft pick up. I loaded a few more items, installed an additional USB charger, washed the deck (birdies!), put DE in the water, loaded a few more items, installed the solar panel and I think it was about 2:30 when I pushed off under reefed main. It was a slow and comfortable ride. George and Dave were there to help and complete the inspection. After a Uber ride back to BYC I drove home. And that's that.
So why am I doing this? After doing a lot of digging I still don't know. I think the closest I came to is "because I can", kinda like why not. Oh well ... If the Trof engulfes the fleet I'll have plenty of time to think about this ...
P.S.: I think it's great that we have a life raft rental shop in the Bay. Now the life raft I got is 10 years old, shows rust and a good amount of wear, and I'm down for a $3,200 security deposit. That is far from reasonable. It's more than the raft cost new but it's reaching the end of its life. I think I'll do more shopping next time.
And voilà, Double Espresso is at CYC. It was nice to meet Dazzler/Tom and Shad. The day started with the rental life raft pick up. I loaded a few more items, installed an additional USB charger, washed the deck (birdies!), put DE in the water, loaded a few more items, installed the solar panel and I think it was about 2:30 when I pushed off under reefed main. It was a slow and comfortable ride. George and Dave were there to help and complete the inspection. After a Uber ride back to BYC I drove home. And that's that.
So why am I doing this? After doing a lot of digging I still don't know. I think the closest I came to is "because I can", kinda like why not. Oh well ... If the Trof engulfes the fleet I'll have plenty of time to think about this ...
P.S.: I think it's great that we have a life raft rental shop in the Bay. Now the life raft I got is 10 years old, shows rust and a good amount of wear, and I'm down for a $3,200 security deposit. That is far from reasonable. It's more than the raft cost new but it's reaching the end of its life. I think I'll do more shopping next time.
D-1
Well then, that's it. I did a bit of shopping for "durable" produce, baked a couple pizzas and filled a few water bottles. I'll keep an eye out for the latest surface charts and run a few routing with SailGrib. I tested the Iridium connection for email and Facebook and I guess the next update will be a racer report, which should get posted on race website.
If stepping off in Hawaii I feel like doing it again then I will have accomplished what I set out to do. And if not I will have accomplished what few do: shake off sedentary life for a while.
I feel a little sad that I will leave DE behind. I would have loved to pass the baton to someone else.
My last dinner was fish and chips
And, no, I didn't install a disco ball ...
Well then, that's it. I did a bit of shopping for "durable" produce, baked a couple pizzas and filled a few water bottles. I'll keep an eye out for the latest surface charts and run a few routing with SailGrib. I tested the Iridium connection for email and Facebook and I guess the next update will be a racer report, which should get posted on race website.
If stepping off in Hawaii I feel like doing it again then I will have accomplished what I set out to do. And if not I will have accomplished what few do: shake off sedentary life for a while.
I feel a little sad that I will leave DE behind. I would have loved to pass the baton to someone else.
My last dinner was fish and chips
And, no, I didn't install a disco ball ...
Dazzler
m/v PACIFIC LOON
Hello Philippe,
It was great to meet you and have a chance for (yet only) a brief chat as you were getting ready to launch DOULBLE EXPRESSO at Brickyard Cove Marina.
I admire your long term focus, and especially appreciate how you have been willing to share it with all of us. I have no doubt that your race/voyage will be personally very rewarding.
All the best,
Tom
It was great to meet you and have a chance for (yet only) a brief chat as you were getting ready to launch DOULBLE EXPRESSO at Brickyard Cove Marina.
I admire your long term focus, and especially appreciate how you have been willing to share it with all of us. I have no doubt that your race/voyage will be personally very rewarding.
All the best,
Tom
I'm stunned. I don't know how long it's going to take for me to process the race; two things are certain: I didn't do it alone and it was a great year for an Olson 30!
Without the SSS this wouldn't have been possible. I'm very grateful that this community exists and for the sailing opportunities they provide. The RC has been very welcoming and professional. I'm very proud to be a tiny part of this community.
So:
1. The boat suffered no damage thanks to a solid preparation by the previous owner Jason L.
2. My sail plan for 95% of the time came recommended to me by Skip A: a poled out #2 and full main. Without this I would have been underpowered.
3. Navigation to Point A was also Skip's handy work.
4. Without Jim Q.'s advice to get a generator I would probably still be out there
5. Skip A. again coached me on many aspects of the race.
6. Brian B. provided much support and advice on a regular basis, appeasing my anxious mind.
And there were a lot of experienced sailors who helped me with advice: Bruce L., Rich F., Joe B., David H., Rob T., and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few while my brain remains foggy. The SSS resources were also very helpful: Andrew S.'s book, Stan H.'s weather advice as Skip A's weather advice.
As most racers' track show it was mostly a DDW run once I jibed away from the high. The wind was often above 15 kts, which worked really well for my sail plan. The Olson 30 just loved it and proved a wonderful, powerful vessel for this year's weather.
I am also acknowledging that Don on CRINAN II is the better sailor. If it wasn't for the numerous equipment failures he had to endure he would have won. I am amazed at the feat he pulled off by hand steering so much.
I feel very fortunate to have met so many wonderful people and to have been at the right place at the right time with the right boat and all the right advice. Thank you!
My part could be summarized as follows:
1. Ask for advice, ask for advice, ask for advice ...
2. Keep the boat light.
3. Keep the bottom as smooth as possible.
4. Stay super conservative to avoid damage.
5. When things went wrong (wind hole at start, jib wrap, AP failures, battery charging with generator, ...) my main goal was to get the boat pointing in the right direction at the best speed possible ASAP.
6. Constantly monitoring weather (Grib files, weather charts multiple times a day) and (not) adjusting course.
7. Constantly monitoring wind angle and adjusting sails or heading to keep VMG up.
8. Staying focused on the race all the way until the end (never give up).
9. Taking care of myself: eat, drink, sleep, communicate, write things down.
10. Keeping the boat in good shape through twice a day boat checks.
11. Start in a very relaxed, happy state of mind.
It was hard, physically and mentally. I do think however that I have achieved my main goal: would I do this again? Yes! Not right away though and something else most likely.
It does take a lot of energy over a long time. For now I'm selling Double Espresso, giving her a new home in a wonderful place, where she will be sailed and loved. What happens next in terms of sailing? I don't know. I have a new job to start, a volunteer position to take over at my daughter's school PTA and a lot of stuff to sell.
Thank you (to everyone), thank you (for perfect weather for my circumstances), thank you (to myself of 2 years ago for embarking on this journey).
Without the SSS this wouldn't have been possible. I'm very grateful that this community exists and for the sailing opportunities they provide. The RC has been very welcoming and professional. I'm very proud to be a tiny part of this community.
So:
1. The boat suffered no damage thanks to a solid preparation by the previous owner Jason L.
2. My sail plan for 95% of the time came recommended to me by Skip A: a poled out #2 and full main. Without this I would have been underpowered.
3. Navigation to Point A was also Skip's handy work.
4. Without Jim Q.'s advice to get a generator I would probably still be out there
5. Skip A. again coached me on many aspects of the race.
6. Brian B. provided much support and advice on a regular basis, appeasing my anxious mind.
And there were a lot of experienced sailors who helped me with advice: Bruce L., Rich F., Joe B., David H., Rob T., and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few while my brain remains foggy. The SSS resources were also very helpful: Andrew S.'s book, Stan H.'s weather advice as Skip A's weather advice.
As most racers' track show it was mostly a DDW run once I jibed away from the high. The wind was often above 15 kts, which worked really well for my sail plan. The Olson 30 just loved it and proved a wonderful, powerful vessel for this year's weather.
I am also acknowledging that Don on CRINAN II is the better sailor. If it wasn't for the numerous equipment failures he had to endure he would have won. I am amazed at the feat he pulled off by hand steering so much.
I feel very fortunate to have met so many wonderful people and to have been at the right place at the right time with the right boat and all the right advice. Thank you!
My part could be summarized as follows:
1. Ask for advice, ask for advice, ask for advice ...
2. Keep the boat light.
3. Keep the bottom as smooth as possible.
4. Stay super conservative to avoid damage.
5. When things went wrong (wind hole at start, jib wrap, AP failures, battery charging with generator, ...) my main goal was to get the boat pointing in the right direction at the best speed possible ASAP.
6. Constantly monitoring weather (Grib files, weather charts multiple times a day) and (not) adjusting course.
7. Constantly monitoring wind angle and adjusting sails or heading to keep VMG up.
8. Staying focused on the race all the way until the end (never give up).
9. Taking care of myself: eat, drink, sleep, communicate, write things down.
10. Keeping the boat in good shape through twice a day boat checks.
11. Start in a very relaxed, happy state of mind.
It was hard, physically and mentally. I do think however that I have achieved my main goal: would I do this again? Yes! Not right away though and something else most likely.
It does take a lot of energy over a long time. For now I'm selling Double Espresso, giving her a new home in a wonderful place, where she will be sailed and loved. What happens next in terms of sailing? I don't know. I have a new job to start, a volunteer position to take over at my daughter's school PTA and a lot of stuff to sell.
Thank you (to everyone), thank you (for perfect weather for my circumstances), thank you (to myself of 2 years ago for embarking on this journey).
I'm feeling empty as I wait here in Nawilili harbor for my flight tomorrow. I've moved in Double Espresso again, my temporary house for two nights.
What's your next boat? What are you going to do next? Two questions that circle the well worn tracks of my racy mind. I had plans before the race for sure. They feel very distant from my reality right now. Really, I just want to get home and spend time with my wife and daughter. Being a free electron zipping on the ocean was great; being part of a community of singlehanded sailors was empowering. As that chapter comes to a close I would like to lie down in my bed and count the boards in the ceiling.
Fall asleep, comfortably, softly.
Renewal ...
What's your next boat? What are you going to do next? Two questions that circle the well worn tracks of my racy mind. I had plans before the race for sure. They feel very distant from my reality right now. Really, I just want to get home and spend time with my wife and daughter. Being a free electron zipping on the ocean was great; being part of a community of singlehanded sailors was empowering. As that chapter comes to a close I would like to lie down in my bed and count the boards in the ceiling.
Fall asleep, comfortably, softly.
Renewal ...
Oh boy, it sure feels good to be back home! I can already feel a desire to start a new project (aka adventure).
But first, anyone would have Joe B.'s contact info?
Next, I've mailed the pink slip to the Kauai Sailing Association. Last I've started putting stuff on Craigslist:
1. Solar charge controller: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/for/d/great-solar-charge-controller/6648602576.html
2. 15A battery chargers (2): https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/for/d/battery-charger-noco-genius/6648587226.html
3. Ritchie bulkhead mount compass: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/bpo/d/ritchie-bn-202-compass/6648582205.html
4. Olson 30 working jib (#3) laminate: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/bpo/d/olson-30-working-jib-3/6648598399.html
Getting ready for the commute, work, commute, sleep, repeat routine ... darn!
But first, anyone would have Joe B.'s contact info?
Next, I've mailed the pink slip to the Kauai Sailing Association. Last I've started putting stuff on Craigslist:
1. Solar charge controller: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/for/d/great-solar-charge-controller/6648602576.html
2. 15A battery chargers (2): https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/for/d/battery-charger-noco-genius/6648587226.html
3. Ritchie bulkhead mount compass: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/bpo/d/ritchie-bn-202-compass/6648582205.html
4. Olson 30 working jib (#3) laminate: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/bpo/d/olson-30-working-jib-3/6648598399.html
Getting ready for the commute, work, commute, sleep, repeat routine ... darn!
I've tried to pick up some stats from the kml files. I'm not sure how accurate this is ...
1. Spent 4 hours in the wind hole;
2. Second track, 24 hours, 210 nm at 8.8 kts;
3. Third track, 24 hours, 195 nm at 8.1 kts;
4. Fourth track, 24 hours, 182 nm at 7.6 kts;
5. Fifth track, 24 hours, 183 nm at 7.6 kts;
6. Sixth track, 24 hours, 186 nm at 7.7 kts;
7. Seventh track, 24 hours, 199 nm at 8.3 kts;
8. Eight track, 24 hours, 174 nm at 7.2 kts;
9. Ninth track, 24 hours, 190 nm at 7.9 kts;
10. Tenth track, 24 hours, 197 nm at 8.2 kts;
11. Eleventh track, 24 hours, 190 nm at 7.9 kts;
12. Twelfth track, 16.3 hours, 119 nm at 6.7 kts.
Max speed (this is averaged over a short period of time, i.e. not peak, 10 fix): 13.8 kts.
1. Spent 4 hours in the wind hole;
2. Second track, 24 hours, 210 nm at 8.8 kts;
3. Third track, 24 hours, 195 nm at 8.1 kts;
4. Fourth track, 24 hours, 182 nm at 7.6 kts;
5. Fifth track, 24 hours, 183 nm at 7.6 kts;
6. Sixth track, 24 hours, 186 nm at 7.7 kts;
7. Seventh track, 24 hours, 199 nm at 8.3 kts;
8. Eight track, 24 hours, 174 nm at 7.2 kts;
9. Ninth track, 24 hours, 190 nm at 7.9 kts;
10. Tenth track, 24 hours, 197 nm at 8.2 kts;
11. Eleventh track, 24 hours, 190 nm at 7.9 kts;
12. Twelfth track, 16.3 hours, 119 nm at 6.7 kts.
Max speed (this is averaged over a short period of time, i.e. not peak, 10 fix): 13.8 kts.