Ocean Marina - Portsmouth VA
Magic Friday
Phil, Di and Annelise
Sat 21 Apr 2018 17:56
A good night's rest, checked in with the marina office and a hearty breakfast! Taking advantage of the light winds and very little boat rocking - a trip up the mast to replace the wind anemometer.
What was to be a simple "replace / plug-and-play" task, well..not so? Yes - the upgraded anemometer fitted the existing masthead cradle nicely, but NO - the instrument would not talk to the SIMNET bus. No wind readings on any instruments below. Rather than rush up the mast again, the afternoon was spent trouble shooting from below .. A search on several sailors forums (reset, power down etc.) - no success; plug in the old anemometer (with its missing wind vane) into the bus behind the control panel - that worked. So, either an incompatible upgraded anemometer (software difference?) or a problem with the mast SIMNET bus (that's a BIG problem to re-thread from 65' down to the control panels - no hope of performing that job without a rigger)!
Nevertheless, some great views (as always) from the masthead for a few pictures of the surrounds - naval shipbuilding, the busy Elizabeth River and downtown Portsmouth high rise - almost worth the trip up the mast, and at least Di did some good sewing repairs on the spray-hood!
As the sun dropped below the masts of other boats in the marina, the fix would have to wait - probably until Monday when we can speak with a SIMNET technician. Nothing for it but sundowners, a pizza delivery ordered from Domino's and a movie! Tomorrow's another day (but that wasn't the movie)!
Phil and Di
