Merry Christmas and Happy New 2017 year :)

Brilliant lighting at Scheveningen harbour during the holidays :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New 2017 year everyone :)

AIS Class B transponder

I think it is a good idea to get AIS information on board in North Sea traffic lanes in the Netherlands. For all commercial vessels and vessels above 15 m in length the AIS class A transponder is obligatory in the Netherlands. Because I think it will be nice not just you to see the others, but also it would be useful that others see you I decided to go not just for receiver, but for transponder device. My boat is not extremely fast, and it can be very useful when crossing the big ships  traffic lanes a front of Hoek van Holland, Rotterdam, or Westerschelde area in front of Antwerpen for example. I do not have marine plotter on board, and I considered mainly wi-fi options. Funnily there are not many of them:

Smartfind M10 / M10W AIS Class B Transponder
XB-8000 Class B AIS Transponder with Built-in WiFi and NMEA 2000 Gateway
EasyTRX²-S Klasse B AIS Transponder
Watcheye B Class AIS Transponder

I went for the cheapest and easier to install: Watcheye, it has integrated GPS antenna (so no need to drill extra holes in the hull), I got also the antenna splitter from Watcheye (no need to install second VHF antenna), and the Watcheye wifi device.

 

The installation is pretty simple and straight forward. I display the data with iSailor software on my very old Android Samsung Tab. I normali use Navionics, but iSailor was the cheapest software solution (other possibility would be WinGPS Marine, but it was way too expensive for me) which would permit importing AIS and NMEA data via wifi direct on the nautical charts. The free Apps solution were like displaying on a radar like display.

More August sailing :)

Could not resist to post that, nice sailing evening with my niece and unexpectedly met friend and sailing buddy :)

Dutch summer :)

Brilliant weather for spinnaker sailing yesterday at the North Sea :) There was not space for extra line since I installed the rolling Genua. I placed the spinnaker halyard through a block at the top of the mast with a help from friend of mine. It was the first test. We sailed into the sunset together with my niece (the last photo is hers) :) Looks good thought :)

Samsung Tablet as GPS Plotter.

I was thinking a lot about the installation of GPS plotter, because of the high price, at the end I decided to go for my old Samsung 10.1 tablet with installed Navionics charts. I used fixation for the tablet above the navigation table (a.k.a. sink :) ), and connected the charger through the USB port. Looks nice, and the plotter because of it size is also seen from the cockpit :) On top of that of course one could use all the features of a tablet on board, like wi-fi, internet, TV :)

Anchor thoughts.

In the Netherlands, anchoring is not really an issue because most of the people do not anchor. North sea is too dangerous, and in another sailing areas there are plenty of harbours. The Netherlands is probably one of the best organised for sailing. I decided to look more carefully into the subject, since last week, when I was in open sea my motor did not started. Luckily there was enough wind and I was able to sail into Scheveningen harbour. The accidend brought me to the thoughts that if there was not enough wind, I have could been carried by the currents along the coast. This made me check my anchor possibilities. I upgraded my plough anchor on the bow with 32 m of 14 mm line and 8 m of 8 mm chain. I was wondering should I do all chain, but I saw on J. Rogers website that he sells the new Contessa 32 with similar set up; and decided that it will be more than adequate for the 2 times lighter Contessa 26 :). As the second anchor I decided to go with something which I can easily move around. I choose Fortress Guardian G-16 completed with 5 m of 8 mm chain and 30 m of 12 mm polyester line. The whole set-up weight is 12.6 kg which makes it easily to store and carry around :)

Relocating to the new home haven.

Two weeks ago I relocated Sasha to the ne harbour of residence :)

It was nice 90 NM opening of the new sailing season.

New harbour of Scheveningen really looks great, it will be easier for me to sail more :)

Bye lovely Den Oever, it was great time spent there, and last two years gave mi time to prepare Sasha for North Sea :)

Launching 2016

I launched Sasha in the water during the last weekend :) The sailing season 2016 is officially open :)

Ready to rock :)

Last works before the new season.

Sasha got this year Interspeed Extra from International as antifouling. The engine was checked, the water pump neaded changing. All the filters and oil were changed, and the fuel tank was cleaned.

Isn't she a beauty :)

At the top of the hard antfouling she got a layer of soft one (Interspeed Cruiser Uno).

In such a way, she has as a ground Primocon and a hard antifouling. At the top is the soft one, which could be washed under presure and renewed every year without geting many layers of an old antifouling during the years.