FAQ
How can we post a comment?
We encourage comments, they let us know that you are interested in our site and a way for the family to communicate by using this blog. You simply click on the (no) comments tag at the end of each article, type in your name and email address, and write your comment.
How can we follow your trip?
When we are underway, we send automated position reports to the Winlink web site, which can show our location on a map. If we are at anchor for many days, the position link expires, so if it doesn’t show our position, then we’re probably hanging out somewhere at anchor. Click Winlink Position Report to see where we are now and to see a track of our journey click ShipTrack and enter our radio ID which is K6MAI.
What is a blog?
The word “blog” is shortened from the word “weblog.” The simplest definition of “weblog” is a regularly updated web-site featuring articles arranged in reverse chronological order - that is to say, the most recently added article appearing first, followed by the second-most-recent one, and so on. As new articles are added to the page, older articles are “pushed” father down the page.
How do you know where you are going?
Today most navigation is done by using GPS or Global Positioning System. The GPS units utilize a constellation of 24 US military satellites to determine your exact position anywhere on or above the globe. Position is given as latitude and longitude coordinates. The GPS also displays the speed and the compass direction you are heading. If you provide the latitude and longitude of an island you are trying to find, it will display the compass course to steer to get there, how far away it is and based upon your current speed what time you will arrive.
What are latitude and longitude?
Early geographers divided the earth into a grid to assist in agreeing where the various continents were. The earth is divided into lines of longitude that run from the north pole to the south pole. There are 360 lines of longitude. Lines of latitude are parallel to each other and are drawn below as concentric circles from the equator at the center of the globe to north and south poles. EachLatitude and Longitude degree of latitude and longitude is further divided into 60 minutes and for GPS use into hundredths of a minute. One minute of latitude equals one nautical mile. Key West Florida lies at latitude 24 degrees 34 minutes north and longitude 81 degrees 48 minutes west.
The black longitude line running vertically down in the center of the globe is called the prime meridian and runs through Greenwich, England. The red lines are longitude from 0-180 degrees west and the blue lines are longitude from 0-180 degrees east. They meet in the mid Pacific at the International Date Line.The black concentric circles running horizontally are the lines of latitude which run from 0 degrees at the equator to 90 degrees north at the North Pole and 90 degrees south at the South Pole.
The best way to remember which is which is to remember the Jimmy Buffett song Changes in Latitude which is about heading south to warmer climates. So latitude is degrees north or south of the equator.
Are you afraid of pirates?
Actual cases of piracy are quite rare today. Professional pirates in the South China Sea do occasionally attack large freighters full of Japanese TV’s and stereos. The biggest security issues for sailors usually involves thieves sneaking up to the boat at night and trying to steal the outboard motor from the dinghy. We generally lift our dinghy out of the water at night and also lock it wherever we go.
What is the worst storm you have been in?
Fortunately we have never had a REALLY bad storm at sea. Aboard Cloud 9 we sailed in 50 knot winds and 12-15 foot seas for 3 days between Cartegena and San Andreas Columbia. Aboard Aphrodite we had a very bad storm between Florida and Bermuda and 3 major storm between Bermuda and the Azores. In Scicily we had 65 knot winds in the protected anchorage and drug into and sank two fishing boats with damage to our keel and some cosmetic damage which is now repaired.
Do you get seasick?
It is not uncommon for us to feel a bit lethargic on rough passages. This usually manifests itself as simply feeling any movement is too much effort. Jeri uses Sturgeron which is available in Mexico or 1/2 of a Scopolamine patch, and/or an electrostim wrist band which keeps her feeling pretty well. Michael rarely experiences seasickness.
