SV Panta Rhei Retirement Trip

We have integrated the Iridium phone with Sailmail and the service is active. We've added an external antenna for the Iridium phone (which makes a huge improvement, though the service is still occasionally sketchy). This update is a test made at the dock. At sea there is an element of faith that the update works since we can't view the internet directly (actually its is possible, just not practical). We can use our telnet via the vodaphone cellular service to check it here at the dock.

This integration of Sailmail with Iridium and Winlink seems to work, but it is not simple. Communications at sea is not simple. Satellite communications is even less simple but when it works it is faster and doesn't upset the autopilot. It is becoming expected that yachts will have internet access. For example, we have to notify Australian customs 96 hours or more before our arrival that we are enroute. The uncertainties of travel can be overcome easily with an email, but they really do want to know. Better to be able to send that email. And then there is the issue of weather ... which in this part of the world is not to be taken lightly. This integration of Iridium with Airmail software makes worldwide weather easily accessible. For backup we have the ssb which can be used if the autopilot is off and steering is done manually or with a wind powered self steering device.

Engineers seem to adapt to all the learning that is required to keep this stuff working. People who were not engineers get their spouse to do it!