Ancient Mariners
Vega
Hugh and Annie
Wed 26 Apr 2017 16:21
The fish through the window was an omen! We should have been on our guard. Two days ago a wave hit us broadside on the windward side and sent water across the coachroof and in through the open window above the chart table - and on which my Macbook was sitting. It was quickly wiped and dried and for a while remained on but ominously the cursor wouldn't respond. Then the whole thing shut down and is now akin to the proverbial dodo.
A little while ago Annie offered to buy me an iPad for my birthday (which by the way is tomorrow) as a backup to the laptop. On the basis that between us we already have another laptop, two iPhones and an iPad, I declined. What I hadn't thought through was the fact that none of these devices has the software downloaded for reading Grib files - the source of our weather information. Furthermore Annie's iPad has always picked up our Mailasail emails but it transpires she has never been able to send any. I was beginning to panic!
Initial relief was provided by my iPhone that would both send and receive emails through our iridium satellite system. So, we still had contact with the outside world. That is until my iPhone suddenly stopped sending emails - why, I do not know. At this point we thought our only means of communication would be the Garmin Inreach device we keep in the grab bag. This is like a hand held satnav that you can link with maps for outdoor activities. However, and what is of interest to us, it also has a satellite link for sending text messages from anywhere in the world (a life raft for example) and has an SOS function for linking with the search and rescue services. Now, we weren't needing to send out a distress call but at least we would be able to send text messages. Annie had been worried that if we suddenly stopped communicating people would be worried the boat had gone down, with no way of reassuring that we were alive and well until we reach land in three or four weeks time.
Fortunately we managed to adjust the mail settings on the iPad so that we can now send emails which is how, assuming Mailasail can remind us of the posting address, you can read this blog!
We also have internet access so in theory we can look at weather forecasts. However without being in the form of a compressed Grib file this will rapidly use up all our data. One option might be to get the passageweather compressed zip files emailed to us from the uk. However, we can get forecasts in written format by email and we are in email contact with other boats doing this passage who can send us info about the weather.
So, all is not lost and we have made contact with a weather forecaster in New Zealand called "met bob" who sends out a weekly passage planning advice note for yachties and from which we have waypoints to follow the best route between Galápagos and Marquesas. We are heading for 10S 115W and we can email Bob for more advice when we get there. He seems to be the New Zealand equivalent of Chris Parker in Florida who does a similar thing and who helped us plan around hurricane Matthew in the Caribbean.
The moral of the story? No, not get SSB radio as some might advise! It was stupid not to make sure that all our backup devices for the laptop were fully functional when we had good wifi access and also to make sure they all had the software to read a Grib file. I will need to replace the laptop...... now what shall I ask for, for my birthday?