Flicka 'round the world' trip planned

[AdriftAtSea]

Yes, most wind generators will need a dump resistor for when they're generating too much electricity.  Basically, it is a big resistor block that the excess current dumps into and it sheds the extra electricity as heat. 

what regulator is he sending you??

Wish Heather good luck, fair winds and following seas for me. :)

[Lost Lake]

Oh my God!! 14' seas? I can't imagine... How are those measured, from crest to valley? Her Flicka will be in swells twice as tall as she is!

More for us to worry about.... Please post here how great she is doing when you speak to her Gene...

[Captain Smollett]

I'll go off the reservation a bit here and state my (nearly worthless) opinion as a question.

Gene, as you stated above, the key to rough weather is SEAROOM.  If she cannot get out far enough, and I think one accepted 'standard' in this regard is 100 nm from shore (or shallow water), from her 1 Jan departure before the rough stuff hits on 2 Jan...

WHY PUSH THE DEPARTURE ON 1 JAN??

What has she got to lose to wait a few extra days?

Isn't a big part of seamanship prudence?

But hey, I'm all for her calling her own shots.  I wish her well whatever she does.

Fair Winds.

[CharlieJ]

what I don't understand about this is that the web sites for Air-X CLEARLY state that that is all built in, automatic. It shuts itself down when batteries are fully charged. At least that's what it says on their web site.

Here's the quote, lifted from the web page-

"Previous AIR designs required 300-400 amp hour battery banks so the trickle charge of the wind turbine could be adequately absorbed. The AIR-X's charge controller periodically stops charging, reads the battery voltage, compares it to the voltage setting and if the battery is charged, it completely shuts off all current going to the battery. This function is performed within a few milliseconds. The closer the battery is to reaching its full state of charge, the more often the AIR-X's circuit repeats this action. This means any size battery bank from 25 to 25,000 amp hours or higher can be charged safely. When the battery has reached its charged state, the AIR-X will slow to an almost complete stop. Only when the battery has dropped below its voltage set point will it startup and resume charging. The Benefit: Extended battery life, no overcharging."



So if that is true, why would they need something EXTRA?? It's supposed to be built in already. So it would then seem that the adverts are incorrect if what Gene has been told is in fact the truth.

Since I am looking at wind generators, I'm really curious about this. Because if it ISN'T what is stated on the web site, I'm not interested.

[Pappy Jack]

Hi Gene,

OK, 10:32 A.M. it is ;D. If it's really bad out there she could just sail out a mile or so then come right back in ::). Or, just sail down to Cedar Key and tuck in out of the wind for a day or two. If she is like my wife(and daughter), she'll just do what ever she wants to anyway so I'd be quiet and keep out of her way;D.

Fair winds

Pappy Jack

[Lost Lake]

Did I miss the significance of 10:32 am for departure? Is it scriptural or celestial? Is it exactly one year after the announcement she was going to do it?

[skylark]

Cutting the dock lines is a big event.  Whether she goes 100 feet or 100 miles, getting away from the dock is what is important.  All she needs to do is to move to a protected anchorage and wait out the storm. 

[CharlieJ]

Exactly- and Cedar Key is but a short distance south. The actual point of leaving is the important point- after that she's voyaging ;D

And voyagers aren't on a schedule other than Ma Nature's ;D

[FLIGHT]

Gentlemen -

I've got a few minutes....

Heather's out motoring to warm up her stuffing box, so she can check the drip rate.  She recently re-stuffed it, and it's been fine, but it's past due for checking and adjusting if necessary.

Speaking of which IVAN KADAR recently gave me a great safety tip, which Heather has rigged:  Take a two piece stainless 1" collar, and clamp it onto the propeller shaft just forward of the stuffing box.  Then - even if your shaft broke or came loose at the flanges, the shaft COULD NOT go out the aft end and let water pour in.  The collar would prevent the shaft from moving more than a quarter inch.  Excellent idea - thank you Ivan.

Now, in answer to your questions:

No, AdriftAtSea, I have no idea what Hamilton Ferris has in mind about these batteries and such.  I know Heather has now received his new additional regulator, and the two new batteries are due for delivery today.  BUT HE ALSO SAID SHE HAD to have a something-or-other "dump" thing.  Ever heard of it?  It supposedly "dumps" off excess electricity?  And he has not been able to find one, but says we have to use one.  He says we have to use these two new batteries AND the additional regulator AND this "dump" whatever-it-is.  Heather has been talking to him, and she knows what he's talking about - I have no idea!

But I do still trust Hamilton Ferris.

Yeah, CharlieJ - I don't understand why we were hit with all this at the last minute!

Frank, the forecast has picked up for Wednesday the 2nd now:  40 KNOT (GALE FORCE) WINDS 23 FOOT SEAS!

Unfortunately, New Year's Day is fine sailing weather.  It would be the next day that would be the killer, and she would not be far out enough for safety.  Right about the time all that weather would hit her, there are sunken ships awash and right close to her rhumb line, plus one reef.

So yes, IF the forecasts turn out to be true, she'll be hiding for a day or two in some little anchorage near Steinhatchee.  BUT SHE'LL BE ON HER WAY!

Some guy told me yesterday that the most dangerous thing any sailboat could have aboard would be a calendar - and that's exactly right!

Captain Smollett you are exactly right, and Heather and I both know that full well.  Here's out thoughts:  First, there's a 50-50 chance the Forecast will be wrong or will change between now and Tuesday, so we'll wait and watch.  But folks are coming from all across America to see Heather off on the FIRST, and the weatherman says the FIRST will be fine.  So, IF the first is good, she'll take off.  But, if it looks like the SECOND will be dangerous, she'll anchor in any one of several little hidden bays right out of Steinhatchee, and wait for it to blow over.

She could handle 23 foot waves and 40 knots of wind - lying to her sea anchor - but she can't get out far enough Tuesday to safely deploy the sea anchor on Wednesday.

SO YES, SHE'LL EMBARK NEW YEAR'S MORNING, BUT SHE MAY NOT GET VERY FAR THAT DAY BEFORE SHE ANCHORS.

CHARLIEJ - I'm with you.  Before I bought the new batteries which Heather has had in her boat for a couple of months, I called the Air-X people, and asked them if these batteries would be satisfactory, and they said "YES".  AND NOW HERE, HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE, WE'RE TOLD WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO OTHER BATTERIES, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL ALTERNATOR, PLUS A "DUMP" SOMETHING OR OTHER (I don't recall the name).  So do you think I'm happy?

LOST LAKE, you asked about the 10:32 am departure time.  I found many decades ago that if you say something like, "Well, as soon as I can get the boat ready, and as soon as I have a weather window, I'm going to cast off and go!" - you'll never leave the dock.  Larry Pardey is not a hero of mine, but he's bright, and he said that also, "You're never going to be ready to go and you're never going to have the weather you want.  If you want to ever go, you eventually just have to pick up and go!"  So Heather and I picked the day and time, and we're still going to do it, though she may only get thirty miles that first day.  But she will be on her way around the world!!!!

Heather just called me, and yes, she's going to have to readjust her stuffing box, but all her tools are here at my house, where I've been getting them ready for her, so she won't be able to adjust and recheck 'til tomorrow.  And yes, her batteries and regulator are all there at the marina now.

Again, thank you guys so very much for all your kindness to my baby girl.

Reef early!
Gene

[SolarSailor]

I caught up with this pretty late in the game - BUT - all the Best to Heather and her craft.

Two points to consider based on my own experience sailing a Flicka

1) Practice with Sheet To Tiller sailing as a backup to the wind vane - the vane may break down - but sheet to tiller  will still be better than trying to hand steer for several hundred sea miles to the nearest port for repairs.  The Flicka handles PERFECTLY under sheet to tiller steering - both on the mainsheet or on the jib sheet

2) A small solar panel is a good investment - if you did not already have that aboard - no need for a fancy charge controller - just connect it when you need the juice and the wind does not cooperate in your chosen anchorage.

Fair Winds

Jobst

[Auspicious]

1) Practice with Sheet To Tiller sailing as a backup to the wind vane - the vane may break down - but sheet to tiller  will still be better than trying to hand steer for several hundred sea miles to the nearest port for repairs.  The Flicka handles PERFECTLY under sheet to tiller steering - both on the mainsheet or on the jib sheet

I agree with Jobst. I used sheet to tiller steering on my Catalina Capri 22 to try it out and was very pleased with it. I have tried it a couple of times on my current wheel-steered boat -- it works okay but not nearly as well as on the tiller boat.

[CapnK]

5.  Pappy Jack - we changed from the Nor-Sea to the Flicka when the owner of Nor-Sea bilked Heather out of $30,000!  Long story.

He's *still* doing that?!? Or - doing it again, now? Sheesh...

I hope that the reason you aren't saying more is on the advice of legal counsel.

$30,000 is a large part of what Heather will spend on her whole trip, I'd bet. Grrr.

[Lynx]

I hope that she leaves soon, there is a Flicka here in the Man of War Harbor. She can do it. I hope that she makes it by here before she crosses the pond.

[FLIGHT]

No, Sorry, she won't ever be hitting Man Of War Cay.  Check out her site, and you can read her route - Florida, Mexico, Panama, Marquesas, Oceania, Australia, Med., Europe, Caribbean, home to Florida.

I used to love Man Of War.  I went there often before anything was there.  Albury had his little boat building shed.  No tourists.  No visiting yachts.  This is back in the '50s.  It was really nice back then.

Best wishes,
Gene

[AdriftAtSea]

Gene-

You're assuming she'll stick to the planned itinerary... she may change her mind and change it...or she may find someplace she loves and stay a while. :)  She probably has no idea what is really in store for her on this voyage.

Dan

[FLIGHT]

You're assuming she'll stick to the planned itinerary... she may change her mind and change it...

------------------------

She does not have a fixed itinerary at all, but if you're talking about Man Of War Cay, she positively will not be going there.  She's been there, done that and wasn't crazy about it.

------------------------

or she may find someplace she loves and stay a while. :) 

----------------------------

Yes, she'll probably spend a month or so in some places.  Then, after she gets back here, she'll probably be heading out again, perhaps for Ireland.

----------------------

She probably has no idea what is really in store for her on this voyage.

-----------------------

Yes, Dan, she has been a world traveler, and knows exactly what is in store for her on this voyage.

Gene



Dan
[/quote]

[Lynx]

Gene, more boats and houses now in Man of War. From my understanding the islands north are still rustic as well as the Bight of Abaco. I will find out and let you know.

Thanks for letting me know her plans. Sounds like a good trip.

[AdriftAtSea]

Gene-

I think that being a world traveler by airplane is a very different thing than being a world traveler by small boat IMHO. 

[FLIGHT]

You're absolutely right, AdriftAtSea.

She has no idea what is in store for her, boating-wise. 

Although she has sailed to Man Of War Cay, and most of the islands of the Bahamas (on that year and a half cruise with me), and although she remembers it well, she was only a child then, and seeing it through adult eyes would be quite different.  You are completely correct; forgive me for arguing with you please.

However, again I don't know whether you were suggesting she ought to go to Man Of War Cay again.  But if you were, remember it would be nearly 2,000 miles out of her way round trip.  And it would be right on her final leg home from the Windward Islands of the southern Caribbean.  Plus, having sailed there before and remembering it well, she would not be going to Man Of War again.

Yes, although she has sailed 1400 blue water miles with me, it was many years ago, and she has much to learn about voyaging.  She says so in her web site.  Plus she has much to learn about sailing, and is the very first one to admit it.  She emphasizes she is little more than a learning lubber.  I boast too much for her - forgive me - I'm a poor, wretchedly doting, old father.

Thank you very much for your thoughts,
Gene

[AdriftAtSea]

Gene-

I certainly wasn't suggesting that she go to Man 'o War Cay, just thinking that what she thinks she will encounter on her upcoming voyage may be very different from the reality of what she actually encounters... Her preconceptions of the world may be very different from the reality of it, when she gets out there. 

In the future, she may decide to re-visit Man 'o War Cay at some point..and the place may be very different as an adult there, by herself, than it was as a child. 

I look forward to following her voyage as she makes her way around our big blue marble.

Dan