Overseas Voyage Certificate (Cat 1)

[Zozza 372]

Radar, AIS, etc.... good aids for sure, but my question is -> you gotta sleep, even as a single-hander, so you truly cannot always be keeping a watch, at least not a human one.  I guess the gizmo's do a beepy thing loud enough to wake you up from dreaming about mermaids when another ship is near..... AIS does for sure, not sure about radar.

[Black Panther 1,815]

I think it should be the skippers decision.  I was interested that a couple of countries visited recently insisted on ais and that it be on. Ours stopped transmitting at one point and they got agitated. " is there a technician on this island who can look at it?".  Nope.

[Island Time 1,344]

On 22/10/2025 at 5:31 AM, Zozza said:

Radar, AIS, etc.... good aids for sure, but my question is -> you gotta sleep, even as a single-hander, so you truly cannot always be keeping a watch, at least not a human one.  I guess the gizmo's do a beepy thing loud enough to wake you up from dreaming about mermaids when another ship is near..... AIS does for sure, not sure about radar.

Modern Radar is a better watch keeper than most crew - can can have a LOT of different alarms - Zones, Proximity, Collision risk (via MARPA or Doppler), and can, via a relay, run any alarm you want. Low power consumption, never needs a piss, doesn't get tired, grumpy, or distracted...

[Zozza 372]

On 23/10/2025 at 5:28 PM, Island Time said:

Modern Radar is a better watch keeper than most crew - can can have a LOT of different alarms - Zones, Proximity, Collision risk (via MARPA or Doppler), and can, via a relay, run any alarm you want. Low power consumption, never needs a piss, doesn't get tired, grumpy, or distracted...

Better leave the wife at home then...

[mattm 107]

On 22/10/2025 at 9:22 AM, Black Panther said:

I think it should be the skippers decision.  I was interested that a couple of countries visited recently insisted on ais and that it be on. Ours stopped transmitting at one point and they got agitated. " is there a technician on this island who can look at it?".  Nope.

Do you intend to do long single handed passages?

[Black Panther 1,815]

16 hours ago, mattm said:

Do you intend to do long single handed passages?

I have done plenty, most recently Wellington to Auckland, might have another 1 or 2 left in me.

[Black Panther 1,815]

1 minute ago, Black Panther said:

I have done plenty, most recently Wellington to Auckland, might have another 1 or 2 left in me.

No, I'm wrong, since then I have done cairns to Brisbane single handed.

[mattm 107]

On 31/10/2025 at 11:05 AM, Black Panther said:

No, I'm wrong, since then I have done cairns to Brisbane single handed.

How do you manage sleeping?

[Black Panther 1,815]

21 hours ago, mattm said:

How do you manage sleeping?

20 mins and an alarm clock. Normally sleep on deck.

If I get tired I'll heave to for a few hours.

[Black Panther 1,815]

16 hours ago, Black Panther said:

20 mins and an alarm clock. Normally sleep on deck.

If I get tired I'll heave to for a few hours.

Thinking about that trip Wellington to Auckland,  I was really enjoying it up to losing steering and autopilot somewhere between east cape and Colville channel. But I did discover steering a 60ft schooner with a 6 ft emergency tiller is possible,  if a little tedious.