Édition spéciale : L'équipage de Don Pedro vous souhaite une très bonne année 2011 et vous remercie de votre fidelité et de votre soutien au blog conçu et entretenu avec constance par le capitaine, sauf les photos, il faut bien justifier sa présence à bord. Jusque là, pas de mutinerie, pourvu que ça dure...
Je rends l'antenne, à vous les studios.
- Corine
Friday, December 31, 2010
Bad forecast/Mauvaise météo
We are ready - new chainplates are in place - and good to go.
But the weather is bad, squalls back to back, gusting up to 40 knots, and curtains of rain...
This come from the ridge north of a low, in our south-west. We should be above it tomorrow.
That's all right, Friday never was a good day to start sailing.
New videos are available, still in the same document, mentioned earlier.
On est prêt à partir - les nouvelles cadènes sont en place.
Mais le temps est mauvais, on passe d'un grain à l'autre sans discontinuer, des rafales à 40 nœuds, et des rideaux de pluie...
Ça vient d'une dorsale au nord d'une dépression, dans notre sud-ouest. On devrait être au-dessus demain. C'est pas grave, de toute façon, on ne part pas un vendredi.
De nouvelles vidéos sont disponibles, toujours dans le même document, déjà mentionné.
But the weather is bad, squalls back to back, gusting up to 40 knots, and curtains of rain...
This come from the ridge north of a low, in our south-west. We should be above it tomorrow.
That's all right, Friday never was a good day to start sailing.
New videos are available, still in the same document, mentioned earlier.
On est prêt à partir - les nouvelles cadènes sont en place.
Mais le temps est mauvais, on passe d'un grain à l'autre sans discontinuer, des rafales à 40 nœuds, et des rideaux de pluie...
Ça vient d'une dorsale au nord d'une dépression, dans notre sud-ouest. On devrait être au-dessus demain. C'est pas grave, de toute façon, on ne part pas un vendredi.
De nouvelles vidéos sont disponibles, toujours dans le même document, déjà mentionné.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Stuck in Tahiti/Coincés à Tahiti
We're waiting for the shipyard to make us a new chainplate for the bowsprit, and the guy in charge is on vacaction, good for him.... That's OK, we'll wait. Tahiti is probably not the worst place to be stuck in...
On attend que le chantier naval nous fabrique une nouvelle cadene de moustache pour le bout-dehors, mais le specialiste est en vacances, tant mieux pour lui... C'est pas grave, si on doit attendre un peu,Tahiti n'est surement pas le pire endroit...
On attend que le chantier naval nous fabrique une nouvelle cadene de moustache pour le bout-dehors, mais le specialiste est en vacances, tant mieux pour lui... C'est pas grave, si on doit attendre un peu,Tahiti n'est surement pas le pire endroit...
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Moorea
Friday, December 17, 2010
Sailing with Sky/Navigation avec Sky
Today was Sky's first sail.
We left the mooring at Arue, for Point Venus (about 2.5 miles).
That was upwind, but that was OK.
The original plan was to go next to Port Phaeton, but Moorea is closer, and sounds like a good option too. We'll see tomorrow.
We left the mooring at Arue, for Point Venus (about 2.5 miles).
That was upwind, but that was OK.
The original plan was to go next to Port Phaeton, but Moorea is closer, and sounds like a good option too. We'll see tomorrow.
Aujourd'hui, premiere navigation pour Sky.
On a quitte le mouillage d'Arue pour Point Venus (a peu pres 2 milles et demi).
C'etait au pres, mais ca allait.
Le plan original etait d'aller ensuite a Port Phaeton, mais Moorea est plus pres, et semble etre une option interessante. On verra demain.
Next day, we set sail for Moorea.
It took us about 4 hours to reach the Opunohu Bay, which we entered at 12:20.
We went first to the Robinson Cove, at the back of the bay, but the shore was too buggy, we left for the anchorage
close to the reef of Vaipeu. The water is warm, and crystal clear...
Sky likes it, apparently.
Le jour suivant, on part pour Moorea.
Ca nous a pris environ 4 heures pour atteindre la Baie d'Opunohu, dans laquelle on est entres a 12:20.
On est d'abord alles a l'anse Robinson, mais il y avait trop de bestioles a terre, on est donc repartis pour le mouillage a proximite du recif de Vaipeu. L'eau est chaude et transparente...
Sky aime ca, apparement.
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Saturday, December 11, 2010
Early access
For those interested, I've put a first draft of the relation of the trip here. I begin with the English version, this way, I am sure I'll be able to translate it. French version will come next. Videos are not uploaded yet, and some pictures might be missing. It will also include some Google Map stuff, as well as several weather charts. It's not only supposed to be yet another blah-blah-blah about our fascinating adventures, it's also supposed to contain what I missed reading other people's blogs and related writings...
Pour ceux que ca interesse, il y a un premier recit du voyage ici. Je commence avec la version anglaise, comme ca je suis sur de pouvoir traduire. La version francaise suivra. Toutes les videos ne sont pas encore disponibles, et il se peut qu'il manque quelques photos. Je vais aussi ajouter des cartes sur Google Map, ainsi que des fax meteo. Il ne s'agit pas que d'un baratin supplementaire au sujet de nos fascinantes aventures, l'idee est aussi d'y trouver ce qui me manquait en lisant les blogs des autres...
Pour ceux que ca interesse, il y a un premier recit du voyage ici. Je commence avec la version anglaise, comme ca je suis sur de pouvoir traduire. La version francaise suivra. Toutes les videos ne sont pas encore disponibles, et il se peut qu'il manque quelques photos. Je vais aussi ajouter des cartes sur Google Map, ainsi que des fax meteo. Il ne s'agit pas que d'un baratin supplementaire au sujet de nos fascinantes aventures, l'idee est aussi d'y trouver ce qui me manquait en lisant les blogs des autres...
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Arue Lagoon/Lagon d'Arue
We left this morning the anchorage in Point Venus, to go to the Arue Lagoon, where the Yacht Club of Tahiti is.
It's a short leg, 2.5 miles. We arrived with a rain squall. The secretary of the Yacht Club of Tahiti came to us on a Zodiac, to assign us a mooring. That was very welcome, as the place was too crowded to anchor peacefully.
After securing the mooring, we went ashore to meet the YCT guys - very nice and welcoming - and then we had some supply to work on. "Carrefour" is just across the street; Corine just got crazy about all the French stuff (Camembert, real ham, this kind of things).
It is blowing today, between 5 and 6. But that's just gorgeous.
It's a short leg, 2.5 miles. We arrived with a rain squall. The secretary of the Yacht Club of Tahiti came to us on a Zodiac, to assign us a mooring. That was very welcome, as the place was too crowded to anchor peacefully.
After securing the mooring, we went ashore to meet the YCT guys - very nice and welcoming - and then we had some supply to work on. "Carrefour" is just across the street; Corine just got crazy about all the French stuff (Camembert, real ham, this kind of things).
It is blowing today, between 5 and 6. But that's just gorgeous.
On a quitte le mouillage de la pointe Venus ce matin, pour aller mouiller au lagon d'Arue, ou se trouve le Yacht Club de Tahiti. C'est une petite etape, 2,5 milles. On est arrive sous un grain de flotte, le secretaire du Yacht Club de Tahiti est venu a notre rencontre en Zodiac pour nous indiquer un mouillage. C'etait fort bienvenu de sa part, il y avait definitivement trop de bateaux pour pouvoir penser a mouiller sereinement. Apres avoir assure le mouillage, on est alle voir les gens du YCT - fort accueillants - et on avait quelques courses a faire. Un magasin Carrefour est justement en face. Corine est devenue barjo avec le clacot, le jambon, et toute cette sorte de trucs.
Il y a du vent aujourd'hui, entre 5 et 6 Beaufort. Mais c'est top cool.
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Sunday, December 5, 2010
Tahiti
The post of last evening was a bit laconic, due to the sea conditions.
There was this now usual Polynesian swell, from the South East (forecasted South West. I still wonder how they do the swell forecast..., roll a dice, toss a coin, pick'n choose?). Hitting the right key on the keyboard was quite a challenge.
Anyway, we left beautiful Rangiroa in the morning, to cross the Avatoru pass with the ebb. Which we did, not without putting a line in the prop (re-anchored, cleaned the mess, and off we go).
The wind was blowing 6 Beaufort, from the East, good for us.
But that swell..., what a pain.
But we were moving fast, and now, we are in Tahiti. That would have been to short for Taina Marina, the tide for the Arue Lagoon was not right, so we anchored behind the Pointe Venus, and this is good like that!
There was this now usual Polynesian swell, from the South East (forecasted South West. I still wonder how they do the swell forecast..., roll a dice, toss a coin, pick'n choose?). Hitting the right key on the keyboard was quite a challenge.
Anyway, we left beautiful Rangiroa in the morning, to cross the Avatoru pass with the ebb. Which we did, not without putting a line in the prop (re-anchored, cleaned the mess, and off we go).
The wind was blowing 6 Beaufort, from the East, good for us.
But that swell..., what a pain.
But we were moving fast, and now, we are in Tahiti. That would have been to short for Taina Marina, the tide for the Arue Lagoon was not right, so we anchored behind the Pointe Venus, and this is good like that!
Le message d'hier soir etait un peu laconique, en raison des conditions de mer.
On avait cette - maintenant habituelle - houle polynesienne, du Sud-Est (prevu Sud-Ouest. Je ne sais toujours pas comment ils font les previsions de houle..., aux des, a pile ou face, ou au pif ?). Taper sur le clavier etait deja un challenge.
N'empeche ; on a quitte la belle Rangiroa le matin, pour prendre la passe d'Avatoru avec le jusant. Ainsi fut fait, non sans avoir foutu l'orin dans l'helice (re-mouille, demele, reparti).
Il soufflait un bon 6 d'Est, juste bien pour nous.
Mais cette houle..., ah quelle chiasse.
On avancait bien, cependant, et nous voila a Tahiti. Ca aurait ete un peu court pour la marina Taina, le jus n'etait pas dans le bon sens au lagon d'Arue, alors on est mouille juste sous le vent de la Pointe Venus, et c'est tant mieux!
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Leaving Rangiroa/Depart de Rangiroa
Choppy seas, but good speed!
Mer hachee, mais bonne vitesse
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Friday, November 26, 2010
Rangiroa
With the thunderstorms and lightnings (very useful, it was like daylight!) the wind increased and we rushed down to Rangiroa, where we arrived too early at the Tiputa Pass (at midnight local time). So we tacked a couple of time, waiting for the sun to show up. We were in the pass at 5am local time, all by the book: sun, tide and wind in the back. We have already overused all our superlatives in the Marquesas, but the Tuamotu seem to deserve some as well... We dropped the anchor in about 40 feet of water, and we still see it... The geography of the atoll is quite different from the Marquesas. We went from 1200 meters for the highest point to about 10... The highest points are the tops of the palm trees.
Avec les orages et les eclairs (tres pratiques, on voyait comme en plein jour) de la nuit derniere, le vent est monté, et on a fait route a toute vitesse sur Rangiroa, et on est arrive trop tot a la passe de Tiputa (a minuit local). On a donc tire des bords devant la passe en attendant que le soleil se montre. On etait dans la passe a 5 heures, comme dans les livres: le soleil, le courant et le vent dans le dos. On a deja usé tous nos superlatifs aux Marquises, mais on dirait que les Tuamotu vont en meriter aussi... On a mouille dans douze metres d'eau, et on voit l'ancre... La geographie de l'atoll tranche un peu avec celle des Marquises. On est passe de 1200 metres de point culminant a environ 10... Les points culminants sont les cimes des palmiers.
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Thursday, November 25, 2010
Squalls/Grains
Squalls and thunderstorms surround us. We should be arriving in Rangiroa shortly.
Des grains et des orages tout autour de nous. On devrait arriver a Rangiroa bientot.
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Approching Tuamotu/On approche des Tuamotu
The wind drops as we're approaching destination...
Landfall tomorrow?
Landfall tomorrow?
Le vent baisse au fur et a mesure qu'on approche de notre destination...
Terre demain?
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Slow day/Journee tranquille
Slow day, but nice weather. We are gybing downwind to the Tuamotu.
Journée tranqulle, mais beau temps. On tire des bords de largue vers les Tuamotus.
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Monday, November 22, 2010
Good progress/Bien avance
Still enjoying nice conditions
On profite toujours des bonnes conditions.
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Sunday, November 21, 2010
On the road, again/Sur la route, encore
We left Nuku-Hiva this morning, heading for the Tuamotu. The conditions are ideal, East wind, between 15 and 20 knots.
On a quitte Nuku-Hiva ce matin, en direction des Tuamotu. Les conditions sont ideales, vent d'est 15-20 noeuds.
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Monday, November 15, 2010
Anaho Bay/Baie d'Anaho
We has spotted that little bay in the guides, but as it is on the North coast, we were not quite sure is was quite enough at this season... Some people we met yesterday told us it is. And it is indeed, now we are anchored in it, we are the only boat, and this is just beautiful. We have the jaw on the lap!
On avait repere cette petite baie dans les guides, mais comme elle est sur la cote nord, on n'etait pas surs qu'elle soit assez tranquille en cette saison... Des gens qu'on a rencontres hier nous ont dit que si. Et de fait, c'est le cas, maintenant qu'on y est mouilles, on est tout seul, et c'est magnifique. On a la machoire sur les genoux!
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Sunday, November 14, 2010
Still in Taiohae/Toujours a Taiohae
We wanted to head for Hiva-Oa, but the sea was a real big mess, beyond that actually. Two swells facing each other, and us in between, that was not right.
So after a couple of hours, we eased the sails, and made it back to Taiohae, our base camp.
So after a couple of hours, we eased the sails, and made it back to Taiohae, our base camp.
On voulait aller a Hiva-Oa, mais la mer etait un vrai bordel, au-dela de ca meme. Deux houles face a face, et nous entre les deux, ca n'allait pas.
Alors apres quelques heures, on a choque, et nous voila de retour a Taiohae, notre camp de base!
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Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Baie du Controleur
We left TaioHae for the Baie du Controleur, in the East, and against some swell...
The anchorage seems pretty calm, so far!...
The anchorage seems pretty calm, so far!...
Quitté Taio Hae ce matin pour la Baie du Controleur, dans l'est, et contre la houle.
Le mouillage a l'air tres calme, jusqu'a maintenant !...
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Sunday, November 7, 2010
Back in Taiohae/Retour a Taiohae
We left the shelter of Vaiehu this morning, after a calm night, surrounded with rocks and the thunderclap of the waves hitting the cliffs...
We headed 6 hours against the trade wind, a good steady 5-6, and we are now back in Taiohae, for the supplies, before heading to the south part of the Marquesas.
We headed 6 hours against the trade wind, a good steady 5-6, and we are now back in Taiohae, for the supplies, before heading to the south part of the Marquesas.
On a quitte l'abri de la baie de Vaiehu, apres une nuit calme, entoure de rochers, et du bruit de tonnerre des vagues contre la falaise...
On a remonte l'alize pendant 6 heures, un bon 5-6, et nous voila de retour a Taiohae, pour le ravitaillement, avant de se diriger vers le sud des Marquises.
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Saturday, November 6, 2010
Vaiehu Bay
Less than 10 miles away from Hakahau, we're anchored alone in a nice little bay, on the West coast of Ua Pou.
A moins de 10 milles de Hakahau, on est mouilles dans une jolie petite baie, sur la cote ouest de Ua Pou.
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Friday, November 5, 2010
Ua Pou
We left Nuku Hiva this morning, and the beautiful little bay we anchored in...
Ua Pou is wrapped into dark clouds. We dropped the anchor at Hakahau Bay.
Ua Pou is wrapped into dark clouds. We dropped the anchor at Hakahau Bay.
On a quitte Nukuy Hiva ce matin, et la magnifique petite baie ou on etait ancres...
Ua Pou est enveloppee dans des nuages sombres. On a mouille dans la baie d'Hakahau.
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Taioa Bay/Baie de Taioa
We left this morning the anchorage in Taio Hae Bay, to reach the Taoia Bay, about 5 miles in the west.
That's quite close, but that is bloody remote!
The entrance is pretty narrow, but the bay behind it, wow!, it's like a lake in the middle of the paradise (palm trees, white sandy beach...)!
Another - just one - boat was anchored when we arrived, a Rorqual, I believe.
That's quite close, but that is bloody remote!
The entrance is pretty narrow, but the bay behind it, wow!, it's like a lake in the middle of the paradise (palm trees, white sandy beach...)!
Another - just one - boat was anchored when we arrived, a Rorqual, I believe.
On a derapé ce matin de Taio Hae pour aller a la Baie de Taioa, 5 milles plus a l'ouest. C'est pas loin, mais c'est isolé, c'est le moins qu'on puisse dire.
L'entree est etroite, mais derriere, ah la vache!, c'est comme un lac au milieu d'un paradis (cocotiers, sable blanc...)!
Un autre - juste un - bateau etait mouille quand on est arrivé, un Rorqual je crois.
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Saturday, October 30, 2010
Bilan de la premiere etape
On a plus navigue durant les 25 derniers jours que dans les 6 dernieres annees...
On a perdu une manivelle de winch, ca flotte toujours pas tres longtemps.
Plusieurs periodes se distinguent dans cette etape:
- SF au tropique
- Du tropique a l'ITCZ
- De l'ITCZ a l'equateur
- De l'equateur a Nuku-Hiva
Energie
- Le frigo consomme en fonction de la temperature exterieure..., et on n'est pas en Alaska. Du coup il tournerait en permanence si on n'y mettait pas le hola. Quand il est arrete, le panneau solaire et l'eolienne suffisent a nos besoins en energie (essentiellement le pilote, la radio, et l'osmoseur). Mais encore une fois, il y a mieux a faire en ce qui concerne la refrigeration.
Comportement du bateau, equilibre sous voiles
- C'est vraiment un bateau agreable. Pour le faire taper, il faut vraiment y aller. Et il y a rarement de l'eau dans le cockpit.
- Ca ne sert vraiment a rien de le surtoiler, c'est ca les bateaux lourds.
- Au pres, il faut garder l'artimon le plus longtemps possible, quitte a affaler la grand voile, et a ne garder que l'artimon.
On a porte quasiment tout le temps le yankee et la trinquette. Le genois est reste dans son sac, et ne nous a guere manque.
Prevision, etc.
- En zone tropicale, sur le livre de bord, les colonnes visi, baro et nuages ne servent quasiment a rien.
- Les GRIBs sont peu fiables - trop vagues - dans cette meme region.
On a du faire des trucs dans des conditions ou on n'aurait pas sciemment mis le bateau (genre plusieurs jours au pres dans 30 noeuds d'alize).
On en tire une confiance accrue dans ses capacites, plus on navigue avec et plus on aime ce bateau, et c'est tant mieux.
La peche, on n'a mange que des poissons volants ramasses sur le pont, on doit pouvoir mieux faire!
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Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Nuku-Hiva
After 25 days at sea, we arrived this morning in Nuku-Hiva, we were actually early, we tacked in front of the Taio Hae Bay waiting for daylight to enter this unknown place. We dropped the anchor in 40 feet of water. This place is just gorgeous.
Apres 25 jours de mer, on est arrivé ce matin a Nuku-Hiva, on était en fait en avance, on a tiré des bords devant la Baie de Taio Hae en attendant le jour pour entrer dans cet endroit inconnu. On a mouillé par 12 metres de fond. La Baie est superbe.
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Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Land ho!/Terre!
We've seen the land tonight at 6:40pm (PDT). Nuku-Hiva and Ua Huka.
We're approaching Nuku-Hiva, but the wind shifted North East, and dropped.
We still believe we can make landfall by tomorrow...
We're approaching Nuku-Hiva, but the wind shifted North East, and dropped.
We still believe we can make landfall by tomorrow...
On a vu la terre ce soir a 18:40 (PDT). Nuku-Hiva et Ua Huka.
On approche de Nuku-Hiva, mais le vent est passe Nord-Est, et a molli.
On pense quand meme pouvoir atterrir demain dans la journee...
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Current with us/Le courant est avec nous
We are doing more than 120 miles per day on the water, and more than 150 on the ground.
The south equatorial current is with us!
The south equatorial current is with us!
On fait plus de 120 milles par jour sur l'eau, et plus de 150 sur le fond.
Le courant sud equatorial est avec nous!
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Sunday, October 24, 2010
Progressing
Progressing, beam reaching...
Ca progresse, au travers...
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From fall to spring/De l'automne au printemps
We've crossed the Line just before sun rise, at 13:52 UT.
For lunch we've opened the bottle of wine presented by Michel for the occasion, 2003 Saint Estephe, south is good!
The previous night, 6 flying fish landed on the deck. They ended up in the frying pan, Even Brendan would have loved it!
For lunch we've opened the bottle of wine presented by Michel for the occasion, 2003 Saint Estephe, south is good!
The previous night, 6 flying fish landed on the deck. They ended up in the frying pan, Even Brendan would have loved it!
On a franchi l'Equateur juste avant le lever du soleil, a 13:52 UT.
Pour dejeuner, on a ouvert la bouteille de vin offerte par Michel, un Saint Estephe 2003, c'est bien le sud!
La nuit d'avant 6 poissons volants ont atterri sur le pont. Ils ont fini dans la poele, meme Brendan aurait aime ca!
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Friday, October 22, 2010
Dummy day/Un jour pour rien
We did not make much progress yesterday with this current.
It's now weaker, and we resumed our progression.
It's now weaker, and we resumed our progression.
On n'a guere fait de progress hier, a cause de ce courant.
Il est maintenant plus faible, et on a repris notre progression.
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Wednesday, October 20, 2010
En route
Very slow day today...
Plus some current - probably wind generated - against us.
Connection is bad. Do not be surprised not to find new posts...
Plus some current - probably wind generated - against us.
Connection is bad. Do not be surprised not to find new posts...
Journee calme aujourd'hui.
Et du courant - probablement genere par le vent - contre nous.
La connection est mauvaise, ne soyez pas surpris si vous ne voyez pas de nouveaux messages.
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Fishing/En peche
We caught this morning a beautiful mahi-mahi, but that one managed to get off the hook when I was about to pull it into the cockpit. Ah shit!
We put the line back in the water, but at night, the leurre was gone... We must have caught something with teeth.
After that - at night - the wind picked up. We are heading against a force 5 to 6. Welcome to the trade wind.
We put the line back in the water, but at night, the leurre was gone... We must have caught something with teeth.
After that - at night - the wind picked up. We are heading against a force 5 to 6. Welcome to the trade wind.
On a attrape ce matin un mahi-mahi magnifique, mais ce couillon a trouve moyen de se decrocher juste avant que je le ramene dans le cockpit. Ah merde!
On a remis la ligne a l'eau, mais le soir, le leurre etait parti. On a du attraper un truc avec des dents.
Ensuite - la nuit - le vent est monte. On est maintenant au pres contre un bon focr 5 a 6. Bienvenue dans l'alize!
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Monday, October 18, 2010
British Trade Wind
We had a good night, bouncing from squall to squall.
But no sun this morning, clouds all over the place, plus some rain.
Very British, indeed.
But no sun this morning, clouds all over the place, plus some rain.
Very British, indeed.
On a passe une bonne nuit, a rebondir de grain en grain.
Mais ce matin, pas de soleil, que des nuages, et de la pluie.
C'est tres anglais.
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Sunday, October 17, 2010
At last!/Enfin!
The ITCZ is behind us! That's the good news. The other news is that we are heading in 30 knots of wind. We've put the dodger on, to keep the crew happy :)
Anyway, last night was a real big mess.
Anyway, last night was a real big mess.
Le front inter tropical est derriere nous! Ca c'est la bonne nouvelle, l'autre nouvelle, c'est qu'on est au pres dans 30 noeuds de vent. On a mis le dodger, pour que l'equipage soit content :o)
N'empeche, la nuit derniere etait un vrai bordel.
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Saturday, October 16, 2010
ITCZ again
Forgot the position in previous post
Oublie la position dans le message precedent.
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ITCZ
The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone front is moving south as we are approaching it...
Le front de convergence inter-tropical se deplace vers le sud au fur et a mesure qu'on s'en approche...
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Friday, October 15, 2010
Rodeo
What a night! Rodeo from squall to squall all night long, non stop.
We were carrying yankee, staysail, and two reefs in the main.
Rarely under 6 knots, very often above 7.
Did not sleep.
We were carrying yankee, staysail, and two reefs in the main.
Rarely under 6 knots, very often above 7.
Did not sleep.
Quelle nuit! Rodeo de grain en grain toute la nuit, sans interruption.
On portait yankee, trinquette, et deux ris dans la grand voile.
Rarement en dessous de 6 noeuds, souvent au dessus de 7.
Pas dormi.
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Thursday, October 14, 2010
Doldrums/Pot au noir
We're right in it! Heavy squalls, with rain - big big rain.
On est dedans. Des grains, avec beaucoup de pluie (des seaux, des citernes, des Canadairs).
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010
In the Trade/ Dans l'alize
Yesterday was a real trade day. The wind had shifted East a bit at the end of the night, and in the morning we had all sails out, full main, full mizzen, yankee, staysail. Then it picked up and we reefed the main. Then it shifted north-east, and we dropped the mizzen. It picked up again, we put a second reef in the main. The night went like this, in a steady strong 5 to 6 beaufort. And the was the first night without the foulies. This morining, water temp is 25.6 Celcius.
Hier, c'etait une vraie journee d'alize. Le vent avait pris un peu d'est la nuit precedente, et au matin on avait tout dessus, grand voile haute, artimon haut, yankee et trinquette. Le vent a forcit, on a pris un ris dans la grand voile. Puis il est retourne un peu au nord-est, on a affale l'artimon. Il a forcit encore, et on a pris le deuxieme ris dans la grand voile. On a passe la nuit comme ca, dans un bon force 5 a 6 etabli. Et c'etait la premiere nuit sans les cires. Ce matin, l'eau est a 26.5 Celcius.
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Monday, October 11, 2010
Nice night/Jolie nuit
Finally, the clouds cleared up a bit. It looks more like Trade Winds.
The moon is now 2 days old, making it even nicer.
The moon is now 2 days old, making it even nicer.
Enfin, les nuages se degagent un peu. Ca a deja plus l'air de l'alize.
Et la lune qui a maintenant 2 jours rend le tableau encore plus agreable.
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Alize breton/Britain Trade Wind
We are now officially in the Trade Winds, but - apart from the temperature - it looks like some place in Brittany. Overcast sky, and choppy seas. And no flying fish. The ones we've seen the other day must have been placed there by the visitor's center...
On est officiellement maintenant dans l'alize, mais a part la temperature, on se croirait en Bretagne. Ciel couvert, et clapot. Et pas de poissons volants. Ceux qu'on a vus l'autre jour oont du etre mis la par le syndicat d'initiatives...
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Sunday, October 10, 2010
Tropic
We crossed the tropic of Cancer this morning at about 05, as well as the 1000 miles on the ground.
We've not seen the sky during the night, cloudy all the way.
We've not seen the sky during the night, cloudy all the way.
On a franchi le tropique du Cancer ce matin vers 5 heures, en meme temps qu'on passe les 1000 milles sur le fond. On n'a pas vu le ciel de la nuit, nuageux d'un bout a l'autre.
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Tropic
We crossed the tropic of Cancer this morning at about 05, as well as the 1000 miles on the ground.
We've not seen the sky during the night, cloudy all the way.
We've not seen the sky during the night, cloudy all the way.
On a franchi le tropique du Cancer ce matin vers 5 heures, en meme temps qu'on passe les 1000 milles sur le fond. On n'a pas vu le ciel de la nuit, nuageux d'un bout a l'autre.
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Saturday, October 9, 2010
C'est reparti
The wind came back from the NE, s expected. Nice day!
Le vent est revenu du NE, comme espere. Belle journee!
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Friday, October 8, 2010
Impossible
Based on the Pilot Charts, it is impossible to have calms or south wind where we are, absolutely impossible.
But that is what we had last night, though...
But that is what we had last night, though...
D'apres les Pilot Charts, il est impossible d'avoir du calme ou du vent de sud la ou nous sommes, categoriquement. Mais c'est pourtant bien ce qu'on a eu cette nuit.
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Thursday, October 7, 2010
One night with no wind/Une nuit sans vent
We've been stuck - almost - all night in no wind. The north wind died with the day.
We hope the the trade wind will show up soon.
We hope the the trade wind will show up soon.
On a ete empetole toute la nuit, le vent de Nord est mort avec le jour.
On espere que l'alize va se montrer bientot.
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Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Flying fish/poisson volant
On a eu le premier poisson volant ce matin, il a aterri sur la figure a Corine pendant qu'elle dormait sur le pont.
We've got our first flying fish this morning, it landed in Corine's face when she was napping on the deck.
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Windy!
Voila deux jours qu;on est dans un flux de N de 20 a 25 noeuds.
On porte yankee, trinquette et deux ris dans la grand voile.
Il y a une bonne houle d'ouest.
Tout va bien a bord!
On porte yankee, trinquette et deux ris dans la grand voile.
Il y a une bonne houle d'ouest.
Tout va bien a bord!
We've been in the past two days in a North flow of 20 to 25 knots.
We carry yankee, staysail and two reefs in the main.
Big swell from west.
All is Ok!
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Monday, October 4, 2010
Sortis des nuages/Out of te clouds
Le ciel s'est degage cette nuit, on est en route sous yankee, trinquette et grand voile haute.
Tout le monde est en forme.
Tout le monde est en forme.
The sky cleared up last night, we carry yankee, staysail and full main.
Everyone is in good shape.
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Sunday, October 3, 2010
first night / premiere nuit
Tout va bien, on a eu une premiere nuit rapide, tout dessus.
Avec marsouins, baleines, et dauphins ce matin!
Avec marsouins, baleines, et dauphins ce matin!
All is OK, we had a first fast night, all sails out.
With porpoises, whales, and dolphins this morning!
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Saturday, August 28, 2010
Mercator Scale
There are two schools - at least - to plot a line of position with enough details.
Mercator templates are one, plotting sheets are another one.
The plotting sheets rely on the Mercator scale, available at the bottom right corner of the document above. It gives graphically the ratio between one degree of latitude and one degree of longitude.
The Mercator projection relies on the concept of "Increasing Latitude", that gives the value of the latitude, in degrees of longitude...
The increasing latitude λ, for a latitude φ is given by the following formula:
λ(φ) = ln(tan(π/4 + φ/2))
The Mercator scale gives the the ratio between one degree of latitude and one degree of increasing latitude at the given latitude. In consequence, its formula is
ratio = (φ - (φ - 1)) / (λ(φ) - λ(φ - 1))
simplified as
ratio = 1 / (λ(φ) - λ(φ - 1))also written
ratio = (λ(φ) - λ(φ - 1))-1That's it!
The main difference I can see between the two methods is that the Mercator templates can be reused, just like a chart, and the plotting sheets are just a draft, to be dropped after used. That's just my opinion. Whoever has a better - or other - one is welcome to speak up.
Monday, July 12, 2010
True Wind calculation, SOG+COG vs BSP+HDG
It is a commonly admitted fact that you should calculate the true wind with the apparent wind speed and angle (a vector), to which you add the vector of the boat speed and heading.
The trick is that the boat speed and heading should not be the one taken on the water, but on the ground. That means that you need COG & SOG coming from the GPS, and not the Boat SPeed and HeaDinG returned by the instruments (like speedometer and compass).
Imagine that:
You are sailing is absolutely NO wind at all, and you have a current of 3 knots, taking you to the 270° true. The apparent wind you feel comes from the 270° true, at 3 knots. We assume that your boat speed - returned by the speedometer - is 0 knots, and we just don't care about the heading.
If you combine this apparent wind vector with the data returned by the GPS (COG=270°, SOG=3), than you appropriately find that the TWS is zero, as it actually is.
But if you use the Boat Speed returned by the speedometer, then you find a TWS of 3 knots, which is absolutely wrong!
I believe most of the stations computing the True Wind for you are in fact using the data coming from the instruments (and not the GPS). I need to check that..., but is that is the case, then there is a problem.
The trick is that the boat speed and heading should not be the one taken on the water, but on the ground. That means that you need COG & SOG coming from the GPS, and not the Boat SPeed and HeaDinG returned by the instruments (like speedometer and compass).
Imagine that:
You are sailing is absolutely NO wind at all, and you have a current of 3 knots, taking you to the 270° true. The apparent wind you feel comes from the 270° true, at 3 knots. We assume that your boat speed - returned by the speedometer - is 0 knots, and we just don't care about the heading.
If you combine this apparent wind vector with the data returned by the GPS (COG=270°, SOG=3), than you appropriately find that the TWS is zero, as it actually is.
But if you use the Boat Speed returned by the speedometer, then you find a TWS of 3 knots, which is absolutely wrong!
I believe most of the stations computing the True Wind for you are in fact using the data coming from the instruments (and not the GPS). I need to check that..., but is that is the case, then there is a problem.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Routing Slicing
Just like we had a GRIB Slicing feature, you can now visualize the conditions at the routing level.
Drag the mouse on the top pane, and that tells you where you are on the chart, with a big red dot.
Beside that, it was so windy today in Oyster Point that the wind blew my glasses off my nose... I just could see them sinking 30 feet away from the dock. Rats!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Dynamic Java compilation, from a String
Kind of out the the scope of this blog, but as it made me sweat, it might be interesting for some people... The main goal was initially to be able to dynamically override a method of some (Java) class, compile and run it.
I used it for Unit Testing (JUnit), to have the setUp() method of some generic test object to initialize some System variables, context dependent (defined by some properties file).
It's about being able to dynamically generate the code to compile into a String (or StringBuffer, or byte array, or whatever...), compile, load and run it. It is not as trivial as it sounds.
Here is the code I used.
And it is possible not to write the class on the file system. Everything happens in memory.
It's about being able to dynamically generate the code to compile into a String (or StringBuffer, or byte array, or whatever...), compile, load and run it. It is not as trivial as it sounds.
Here is the code I used.
And it is possible not to write the class on the file system. Everything happens in memory.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Moving to Google Code
I'll be moving the code to the Subversion repository of Google Code.
We will have at least the following projects:
- javanmeaparser
- coreutilities
- chartcomponents
- weatherwizard
- fullnmeaconsole
This way, the code will be safe. I am usingOracle 's JDeveloper and its Subversion extension, that works like a charm. The Weather Wizard is using a Swing graphical interface. This is not managed nicely by an IDE like Eclipse.
The last project is this NMEA Console I have been working on.
We will have at least the following projects:
- javanmeaparser
- coreutilities
- chartcomponents
- weatherwizard
- fullnmeaconsole
This way, the code will be safe. I am using
The last project is this NMEA Console I have been working on.
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