40:22.8N 62:49.3W sailed 372 miles and 1646 to go
Ellatrout3
Thu 10 Jul 2014 21:36
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Wednesday 9th July
Although the wind is quite variable in both strength and
direction today it was relatively calm so I decided to try and resolve my radio
communication problems. When I was in Newport and I called the yacht club
from the moorings they could hear me but I could not hear their
reply. On Monday I inspected all the aerial connecections and
found the one at the base of the mast corroded. Having cleaned that up as
I caught up Paul yesterday communications seemed better. Then during the
night we passed 2 ships and a group of fishing boats and I recieved no AIS
(Automatic Identification System) signal from any of them. This was
worryinfg as this is how I know if a ship is going to come close; had I
disturbed something when checking the aerial connections? Paul confirmed
that the fishing boats weren't transmitting and he had received AIS
signals from some ships. I had to be sure as no AIS meant I could not
sleep confident that the AIS alarm would go off if a ship came
near.
I turned everything off and sailed blind for 4 hours which
is how long it took me to check every joint and connection that could possibly
interfere with the AIS. One Manufacturer supplied aerial wire came apart in
my hands, although I did not believe it was the problem, which I had to
resolder, otherwise everything was fine. I got no signals for the rest of
the day and saw no ships so I don't know!! There's a 20 mil;e gap in the
recorded log and track while everthing was turned off.
It has been stifflingly hot today, full sun, no shade and
a cabin like a hot house; well the sea temperature is now up 32.1 degrees C, i
could have done with a dip in the sea to cool off!
A note in an email I received from Tony Head might
interest you:-
Any volunteers, are there any Ella Trouts out there? She was
a tough old bird!
Love
Poppa/Dad/Roger
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