Boating Rule and Boat Information

Boating Rule and Boat Information

ICS Navtex

Being a big fan and owner of an ICS Nav 6 this is interesting product. New is the McMurdo's ICS Nav 7, which is a dual channel NAVTEX receiver that also has a large, easy-to-read, daylight viewable color LCVD screen.

This is great as I have my screen in the cockpit with all of the data being interfaced and it does get hard to read sometimes. also they claim being the first NAVTEX that uses a landscape screen format that gives a a paper-like image. Of course it supports reception of all three IMO NAVTEX frequencies, and that includes inshore forecasts and three-day weather outlook for the UK and Europe. Good stuff McMurdo! Boating rule and Boat Information

Important Correction to Reeds, PBO Small Craft Almanac

All owners and users of the 2006 Reeds, PBO, Small Craft Almanac published by Adlard Coles Nautical (who also publish the Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible) are advised that the tide tables for French port of Brest are incorrect and should not be used for any navigation. You can download the correct page at http://www.reedsalmanac.co.uk. Boating rule and Boat Information

Station 53 - Communications Agreement with Intelsat

Station 53 have signed a long term agreement to provide Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), data and internet services through Intelsat's GlobalConnex network. Station 53 will use Intelsat's Network Broadband Service so that yachts sailing in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean have high-speed broadband internet access at throughputs higher than DSL connections. Boating rule and Boat Information

NEW LED BOAT LIGHTING

Danish LED navigation light manufacturer Lopolight has received MCA type approval for the whole range of Lopolight LEDs. So this should see a drastic reduction on sailing yachts of power consumption, no more shaking and breaking bulbs and improved reliability. Boating rule and Boat Information

INMARSAT LATEST

Inmarsat have launched the second Inmarsat-4 satellite. This launch of the second I-4 satellite gives Inmarsat the world's most sophisticated commercial network for mobile voice and data services, This gives broadband connectivity virtually anywhere in the world.

IRIDIUM NEWS

They have announced that the total number of marine industry subscribers has increased by 30 per cent this year. It offers most boaters a wide range of voice and data applications. It is a good alternative for ocean voyagers.

YACHT MONITORING

Spanish company EMMI Network has launched a new yacht control system. The Albatross Control System allows users to monitor and control a yacht systems status both onboard the vessel and remotely via the Internet through its website. The system also gives GSM, GPRS, Wi-Fi or satellite communications between a yacht and land. User selectable device monitoring is possible via the sensor network connected though NMEA 2000, with information on the onboard computer and or transmitted to land via Internet. The sensor data converted to NMEA 2000 signals includes battery information, electric current, motor status, bilge monitoring, tank volumes, temperatures, pressures, levels, navigation lights, fuel consumption. Boating rule and Boat Information

About LED Lighting for Boats

I am a big fan of this newer technology and are happy to see the slow demise of incandescent lights which have served us so well for more than 100 years. Sailnet is marketing the Orca Green Marine Technology LED Navigation Lights. These are the only USCG approved LED-based Tricolor and Anchor combination light available at this time. That’s right! beware of LED navigation lights that don’t carry the appropriate national approvals. The power consumption is 6 Watts (0.5 amps) which is around half the incandescent rating in a night that is around 5 amphours of battery capacity saved. Boating rule and Boat Information

Whirlwind in China sinks 109 Boats!

A whirlwind (I guess that’s the same as a tornado) sunk some 109 fishing boats and three larger vessels this week. That is some powerful tornado!

Gipsy Moth IV is sailing once again

The famous 54ft ketch which Francis Chichester become the first to sail alone round the world in 1966-67, has been re-launched after a 5 month restoration. Like many I visited her where she was moored in concrete in Greenwich in England, close to the equally famous Cutty Sark. A lot of serious work has taken place and she also has new winches, sails, standing and running rigging. Boating rule and Boat Information

Flooded Electrics and Computer Failure

The solo circumnavigator Adrian Flanagan has had a major systems failure going around the Horn. The story is that while throwing trash out of the hatch (for which there is no excuse, keep the ocean clean!) when a very large wave washed across the boat letting in a lot of water and then causing major electrical faults and short circuits and subsequent computer failure, and an expensive waterproofed one at that used for communications. Lessons? Well you be the judge of that. This voyage is to become the first to sail around the world non-stop via the Arctic route, around Cape Horn, north across the Pacific, then the Bering Strait, and west across the Arctic. Boating rule and Boat Information

Boat Yard Death

Be careful when in boat yards. A man has just been charged with manslaughter following a gas explosion that occurred last August also injuring another.

Giant Squid Collision

Volvo Ocean Race boat ABN Amro One has been in collision with a giant 6 foot long squid. It caught around one of the boats rudders

Bird Flu

Due to bird flu in Turkey all yachts that are planning to voyage across to Greece must now apply to the Turkish customs people for a crew medical check prior to departure. It’s not definite yet however talk is that if your yacht is coming inbound from other H5N1 areas (i.e. Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Northern Cyprus and Greece) may also need medical clearances before arrival. A bit of an over reaction, it’s the birds not yachtsman, if you are listening!

Another Yacht Rescue

After setting off their EPIRB, a couple who have been cruising for the last 4 years around the world have been rescued from a 36ft catamaran some 640 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands while on passage from there to Trinidad. Cause why isn’t known as yet. What a sad end.

Container Collision Threats

It’s been a bad week or two for containers getting washed off large ships in bad weather. Some 50 plus went overboard from a large P&O Nedlloyd container ship in the Bay of Biscay and also this happened in the North Sea off The Netherlands last week, and several other vessels also had similar events. Lucky it’s not cruising season there yet. Boating rule and Boat Information

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