L'Eau Commotion Westabout

Day 12 12 Noon Wednesday 19th June 2019
After a nice steady run through the night the wind died away and after a futile hour chasing fickle airs around the clock furled the jib and centred the main. Though not welcome is was to be expected as I have headed to the North of a weak high settling to the West of Tassie.
For long range communications I have chosen the Iridium satellite system and Iridium Go transceiver. These neat little units are shown mounted on the fwd saloon bulkhead and measure 120x80x50mm. The lower, active, is shown with the USB power cable to the right and external aerial to the left. The upper, spare, is powered with a USB and no external aerial and mounted horizontally to allow the vertical erection of its little stub aerial in case of the loss or malfunction of the external aerial which is mounted on the push pit. The data plan, purchased through Predictwind at US$125 per month is not cheap though considered good value as it gives unlimited data and text and 150 minutes of clear though slightly delayed talk time. This is a “ Black Box” which is wirelessly accessed through one of my three iPads or two iPhones. For shorter range communications I have an Icom IC M402 VHF with a pushpit mounted aerial. The range can be augmented slightly by swapping with the dedicated AIS masthead mounted aerial. For backup I have an Icom IC M23 handheld whose Li battery can be charged through the 150w sine wave inverter. There is also a swappable AAA battery pack. In case of dire emergencies I have a main EPIRB and two personal ones plus one in the liferaft. In addition the Iridium has a panic button which is monitored 24/7 by Geos for a small annual fee. It has been traditional for long range communication to have a High Frequency radio but they have their well known limitations plus a healthy appetite for fresh 12 volt batteries and because of its severe limitations I have foregone this equipment.

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