AIS and the Weather 40:03.2N 34:46.7W Miles from Newport 1694 and 366 to go to Terceira
Ellatrout3
Sat 19 Jul 2014 22:54
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The light winds near the centre of the High caught up with
me today.The cloud we have had for days gradually dispersed and we are drifting
along in bright sun at between 3 and 4 knots. We will struggle to do 100
miles in the next 24 hours. But what am I complainibg about? Since I left
Plymouth I've been saying where are the blue seas and warm sun and balmy
winds to drift along in? well there here you couldn't wish for more
pleasant conditions it's just that instead of arriving in Flores on Sunday it
now looks like it will be Monday afternoon. It's beginning to cut things a
bit fine, I would like to have a worthwhile visit.
During the night I was woken by the sails crashing and
banging; ET had wandered off course and was demanding my attention. Having
got her back on track I was just going to climb back in my bunk when I thought
"I'll just have another look out" Good job I did, dead ahead in the darknss was
a light. I went straight below to see if there was an AIS signal stating
her business, course and speed; there was not. I stayed up and as we
approached, as I expected, it was a very large fishing vessel and I had to
alter course to avoid him. Fishermen often don't display their position on
AIS and I presume this is to keep their favourite fishing spots a secret.but if
I hadn't spotted him I wonder if he would have seen me if I gone straight to my
bunk to sleep?
As it turned out he may be blameless! During the
afternoon a large ship called me up on the radio, the captain obviously curious
about so small a vessel out in the open ocean just 5 miles in front of him. We
had a very enjoyable chat, him mainly quizing me and I sent him on his way
to look up Jester Challenge and Oceanracetrack. He caught me just as my
dinner was ready so in the end I had to close the conversation. Whilst
eating I realised he should have come on screen as a dangerous target and set
the AIS alarm going so I called him back to ask if he was transmitting. He
assured me he was and could see two other ships in range. I could see
none; very worrying. I hadn't seen a ship for at least a week in sight or
on AIS. I jiggled all the wires tugged all the connections, no AIS.
What to do? I would have to change my sleeping pattern. Then I thought
"After all the chart plotter, on which the AIS is displayed, is only a
computer by another name, turn it off and turn it on again" Which I did
and low and behold all three ships appeared on my screen. I may have to
reboot the chart plotter each night before sleep if there are no
ships curently on screen, which there aren't at the
moment?
As I write Flores is still 120 miles away, I hope these
light winds don't linger.
Love Poppa/Dad/Roger
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