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**s/v Jedi** · 12-02-2012, 19:20

This is a warning to all who are currently in the West Caribbean: use extreme caution when a multihull approaches you. The reason is that Mark (colemj on CF) has just left Colon, Panama with a completely new set of electronics which includes a fully integrated autopilot!!

I just received an email from Mark in which he states that he actually set a waypoint and let the AP steer to that... the horror!

Study the following image carefully as this is one of the few pictures known to exist of this dangerous boat, where complacency is sure to make the Siren's song be heard!

ciao!
Nick.

boasun · 12-02-2012, 20:08

Thanks for the warning: I will immediately build a potato cannon to protect myself from him

**msponer** · 12-02-2012, 20:27

Do you have his Iridium number? Can we at least text him if he is about to run us down?

**skipmac** · 12-02-2012, 21:09

Since I am 80 miles inland I think I'm safe. But will put out some fenders just in case.

knottygurl · 12-02-2012, 21:48

Is this an in between the lines way of saying due to (Viagra/Cialis) I was forced to upgrade my electronics and auto pilot.

**44'cruisingcat** · 12-02-2012, 22:33

I'm not worried. Going by the picture, he's moving away from us!

**rebel heart** · 12-02-2012, 22:40

It will break in a few thousand miles; nothing to worry about.

deckofficer · 12-02-2012, 22:47

I think we will be safer if it doesn't die after a few thousand miles as he might be hand steering. lol

**rebel heart** · 12-02-2012, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by deckofficer

I think we will be safer if it doesn't die after a few thousand miles as he might be hand steering. lol

What man, you don't like hand steering for days on end? I can still picture the funny symbols the compass makes that I was so sleep deprived I couldn't determine the numbers for what they were. Just a series of white on black shapes.

**anjou** · 13-02-2012, 00:05

How much Grog did he take aboard for the voyage? I see shes listing to sbd a little, could be a sign.

deckofficer · 13-02-2012, 00:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel heart

What man, you don't like hand steering for days on end? I can still picture the funny symbols the compass makes that I was so sleep deprived I couldn't determine the numbers for what they were. Just a series of white on black shapes.

I do believe this scenario is a reason wind vanes are such a popular back up option.

Instead of "been there, done that", haven't done it and don't want to.

**rebel heart** · 13-02-2012, 00:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by deckofficer

I do believe this scenario is a reason wind vanes are such a popular back up option.

Instead of "been there, done that", haven't done it and don't want to.

Honestly I won't leave the harbor without an autopilot. Unless I'm fleeing from a civil war, I'm not moving without self steering.

deckofficer · 13-02-2012, 00:32

Well there is self steering in regards to apparent wind, which with the vane keeps you in a trimmed state but doesn't always follow a given course, but once your off shore the winds tend to stay at a given direction so in fact could hold the course. Simple, doesn't require power and unlike an auto pilot, keeps the boat from gybing or backing its sails, which an autopilot could do in a wind change.

But of course I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, but your reply sounded like you would take an auto pilot over a vane. I prefer both, but if budget (electrical or coin) precluded both, then it is the vane for me.

Factor · 13-02-2012, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Well there is self steering in regards to apparent wind, which with the vane keeps you in a trimmed state but doesn't always follow a given course, but once your off shore the winds tend to stay at a given direction so in fact could hold the course. Simple, doesn't require power and unlike an auto pilot, keeps the boat from gybing or backing its sails, which an autopilot could do in a wind change.

But of course I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, but your reply sounded like you would take an auto pilot over a vane. I prefer both, but if budget (electrical or coin) precluded both, then it is the vane for me.

My pilot can steer to wind. I suspect almost all can.

CarinaPDX · 13-02-2012, 02:05

Factor-

I doubt it. Autopilots steer to a compass. When in "wind" mode the autopilot slowly changes the desired heading to follow the change in the average wind. Thus it does not respond to short term changes in wind direction. Nor can it "parry puffs" (i.e. respond to short-term change in apparent wind angle due to changes in wind strength). I've had a wind sensor on my autopilot - next to useless and certainly nothing like a wind vane.