[Rhodes22-list] Autopilot

[William E. Wickman]

Art,
You are correct.  Wind direction with any N component results in steep waves that are closely spaced.  As I learned in the Outer Banks and the Great Bahama Banks, there is a big difference between long 3 foot rollers in deep water and steep 3 foot chop in shallow water.  

I did encounter a NE wind while crossing the Gulf Stream that I'll talk about in my write up.  Not really a horror story.  There were really horrific events on the trip, just some "exciting" moments.  

Funny you should mention youth sailing.  I totally agree.  My home port, Concord Yacht Club, hosts Sea Scout Ship 300, as well as no less than 4 local high school sailing teams.  My son and his friend actually got the sailing bug through high school sailing and ended up co-captains of their high school team. The high schoolers are coached by college sailors from the University of Tennessee (that also bases their sailing from our club).  My son now is passing on his knowledge by teaching sailing to beginners at summer camp and will no doubt continue sailing in college.  It is wonderful to see the sport perpetuated in this way.  Youth sailing is truely the lifeblood of our club.

Bill Wickman


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----- Original Message -----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces
Sent: 06/22/2006 07:12 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Autopilot

Bill,

Your planning and trip are totally fascinating.  I can't wait to read the full account.  Did you encounter and 'northers' enroute, or were you able to plan around such wind conditions.  I understand that the wind, coupled with the gulf stream current direction can be treacherous.  Were these some of the horror stories you dealt with?  

I really respect your priorities toward the next generation, and Jim's as well.  Sailing, perhaps more than any other endeavor, teaches the kids responsibility and adventure at the peak of excitement.  I have supported the Sea Scouts for that reason, a natural venue for sailing.  I wonder how many of us have identified with this next generation of sailors, competitors, Rhoadies, and citizens.

Thanks for any and all of your sharing, Bill.

Art

-----Original Message-----
>From: "William E. Wickman" <wewickman at duke-energy.com>
>Sent: Jun 22, 2006 6:39 PM
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Autopilot
>
>Art,
>It's hard to put a price on the S100 because everyone has a different
>perspective on value and disposable income.  If you force me to say a
>price, I would guess around $150 or so.  My guess as to why it is priced so
>high right now is that it is brand new on the market and Raymarine wants to
>recover it R&D costs; or more likely that it can/is used on much bigger
>boats with much more expensive autopilots owned by much more wealthy
>people.  Don't get me wrong.  I am glad that I have it now that the credit
>card is paid off.
>
>The GPS was actually interfaced with the autopilot.  The S100 remote only
>allows you to do what you would do on directly on the autopilot, only from
>anywhere on the boat.  It is plain and simple a luxurious convenience.
>
>I did not use waypoints when crossing the Gulf Stream because of the strong
>current relative to my boatspeed.  If you simply enter a waypoint when
>crossing, the autopilot will attempt to steer a straight course to the
>waypoint.  When the current starts pulling the boat off of that course
>line, the autopilot will compensate by steering the boat more and more into
>the current to stay on that course line thus greatly slowing your VMG
>(velocity made good).  If the current is strong enough you would find
>yourself standing still in the current, making no headway at all.  Instead,
>I steered an S shaped course.  Near the land masses where the current is
>not so strong, I would enter a bearing that was further south than a
>straight line to the destination.  Then as I entered the main axis of the
>Gulf Stream I steered a bearing that was perpendicular to the current.  Of
>course, entering the Stream at a point south of your destination helps
>quite a bit and reduces the amount of S in your curve.  It was really
>interesting to look at the track on my GPS afterwards.
>
>Bill Wickman
>
>
>
>
>Original Message:
>Bill,
>
>Thanks for such a detailed post, a very positive one about Raymarine.  What
>dollar worth would you put on the s100 remote after your experience using
>it?
>
>It sounds like it did well with GPS, what GPS did you interface with it?
>Did you use waypoints across the Gulfstream or just steer a course?
>
>I have read similar comments from blue water sailors about the positive
>value of an autopilit.
>
>Thanks again,
>
>Art
>
>
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