Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure

[Giles]

@Bridger

https://shipping.nato.int/nsc/operations/news/2021/ais-automatic-identification-system-overview

We have AIS transmitters on our life vests, if one of us goes over, the transmitter starts transmitting and automatically comes up on the chart and forward looking camera. Our camera pans and tilts and if we hit any AIS icon on the screen, the camera will point at the object. So if I go over, Paula can hit the "Giles-just-jumped-in" AIS icon and she will have immediate vis of me (as long as I'm floating). Our camera is infra red, so it'll work in the dark.

May seem a little over the top, but most of our sailing is done with just the two of us on board....

[Bridger]

@Giles Sounds like fantastic use of techology and very sensible with just two of you, like you say.

[Giles]

This is the tech @Tago-Mago ...

[Tago Mago]

@Giles the MOB capability is such a cool and more importantly potentially life-saving feature. Tried and tested (or at least filmed) in the Solent no less

[Giles]

I got a good deal on some 12mm red Dyneema. So I decided to make new loops for the end of the travelling mooring warps. Now the stern and bow lines have a red loop at the end and the "springs" have yellow loops. This will make it easier for me to instruct people who are not familiar with SAKURA, where each warp goes, as we approach a new mooring....

12mm red Dyneema dogbone with white Spectra chafe guard (not that the Dyneema really needs it, but it looks pretty )....

[Giles]

And here is the bowline and one of the springs....

[motojobobo]

Those dog bones look excellent! Well done.
How long did the dog bones and chafe guard take you to make?

[louisbosco]

@Giles said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

This will make it easier for me to instruct people who are not familiar with SAKURA,

I'm pretty sure the actual term used was incompetent.

[Giles]

And we have pulled her out for a clean, touch up the antifoul, check the anodes and cut, polish and wax.....

[Giles]

And the anodes are looking pretty shot

[jordanscollected]

@Giles you seem like a feverish researcher and detail man, and I'm sure the boating experience is no exception. What has surprised you or caught you off guard the most about owning Sakura?

[Giles]

@jordanscollected said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

you seem like a feverish researcher and detail man

Guilty as charged.

Ooh, that'll take some thought.....I will respond soon.

[Giles]

But here is a quick one. I had to hold for about 20 minutes waiting to come into the hoist bay. The wind was blowing from starboard, but at only 5-6 knots. The way that the bow was being continually blown to port was amazing. It took a lot of thought and concentration to keep her pointing where I wanted her to point......

[Giles]

But, I did not need 6 tugs like this loser does......

[jordanscollected]

@Giles yeah, but if you and Paula got tired of each other on that ship there'd be enough elbow room to separate for a bit.

[goosehd]

@Giles …so you’re saying that the sea is a moody mistress who can be a lot of fun when she’s in a great mood, but if you let your guard down can kill you?

[louisbosco]

@Giles mans got 6 tugs. can't be that bad.

[Giles]

@goosehd said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

@Giles …so you’re saying that the sea is a moody mistress who can be a lot of fun when she’s in a great mood, but if you let your guard down can kill you?

Yeah, sort of The sea scares me, floating on it, diving under it, at times standing next to it. I treat it with great respect, everything is fun until it isn't.....

[goosehd]

@Giles It's the fear and respect that keeps us alive...and makes us realize how small and insignificant we really are

[Giles]

@goosehd said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

how small and insignificant we really are

You talking about me