Black Panther 654 Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 Correction, I google mapped where the factory is, you need to cross Biscay, that November departure was for the Atlantic crossing. Do a few trips along the French coast as a shakedown, then to Oporto? and the Portuguese coast. That should be a couple of days to sort out your night sailing. Then to the Canaries. If you are still in good shape at that point you are ready to kick off for the Caribbean (Nov). The coast of France and Biscay will be way more difficult than a long passage. Perfect. I'm getting jealous. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 654 Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 oops - just read your last post. Depart the factory about then, but target leaving the Canaries early Nov or thereabouts. You don't want to cross the Atlantic in summer (that's hurricane season). From the canaries dive south till you hit SE trades, turn right and enjoy. Download and study these http://www.offshoreblue.com/navigation/pilot-charts.php Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cabrinha 0 Posted November 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 Thx black panther! Yes I have to decide the stop but will do as many as possible and stop to Belize almost sure as I know that my friend has family there...so would be difficult to not stop there, taking the Western route. And yes, Biscay is notoriously difficult sometimes and will need a very good planning and window. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 Go a Satph, SSB's are old school and on the way out. Satphs cost a motherload less to buy and are cheap to run now and getting cheaper by the day. I can buy minutes for 50% of what I paid 2 years ago and they were cheap then. Now down to about a buck a minute if you shop wisely. So a Satph is already 3-4000 minutes cheaper, maybe more, before you eveb start to install anything. Also if you go ashore for a adventure you can take the satph with you, no idea why but some like to be 24/7 connected. Personally I'm more a BP and don't really worry about having long range comms, but I do like having the ph there 'just in case'. SSB often struggle to get thru the growing mass of radio waves we are filling the world with. Last year the owner of a boat I took to Aussie took 6 days to get anyone in Aussie to even answer a SSB call. It got to the point he rang back to NZ just to make sure Aussie stil existed. The Satph got someone within 60 seconds. Sounds like a fun adventure, I wish you all the best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 771 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 I don't agree with that KM. Sat ph for a short voyage up to a few months. In my experience they are not as reliable as the sales outlets would lead you to believe, and I know boats out there now who pay $300 or more a month in fees, yes, at about $1 a min. Data speeds are not great, and it can take 5 - 10 mins per day to get your email and weather done. $1.00 per min, $10 per day, (either 2 forecasts or one slower connection), $300 per month. Using sailmail is $250 USD per YEAR. So, as BP said, it's cheaper if you plan on a longer voyage, or liveaboard. There is a learning curve with your SSB and Pactor, and it is not instant, and on occasion you have to wait for a connection, but we never found this to be a problem. However, you are right about the voice comms. We hardly ever used the SSB for voice, although some do. Current cost for SSB setup start at about 3 K with a pactor..... Everyone must decide what's suitable for them Wish I was doing this trip, Europe to NZ on a Pogo - sounds Brilliant!! The sea is calling again, but the bank balance ain't yet ready to go again Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 654 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 yes, everyone will choose their own solution, I just don't do email or weather while at sea, so satphone is fine. Careful Cabrinha - any more of this talk and IT and I will come and gatecrash your party. All the best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 771 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 I know your really old BP and in your day weather at sea was what you got, but in modern times weather forecasts at sea have made ocean crossings, especially at higher lats, safer, and at all lats faster! It means you have the info to make the best routing decisions and have the nicest sailing! I really cannot understand those who don't use it. Oh, and email - contact with those at home once a week or so keeps them from worrying too much. Fine to do without it when you're young, but it will/did worry your parents - especially in today's world. Once you have kids, most people want contact, and to be contactable... Again, each to there own! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 325 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 the factory will know what kind of fits people have done and so should be full of good info http://www.boat24.com/en/Sail+Boats/Pog ... il/175968/ http://www.boat24.com/en/Sail+Boats/Pog ... il/177629/ check out the fully description of this boat seems to use the nke gyropilot 40 hydraulic selfsteering http://www.nke-marine-electronics.com/e ... pilot.html http://www.boat24.com/en/Sail+Boats/Pog ... il/104591/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 654 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 Let's not hijack the thread, but I'm not bloody old!!! And lately I have used a satphone to send a txt once a day to keep the family happy. I even own a computer . High latitudes - sounds cold to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkside 18 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 We had a both Mini M satphone and SSB and pactor Hardly used the Mini M at all. Once you get a decent SSB signal (put some effort in and do it right) the combo with the newer pactors works really well. I used the gribs a bit but still liked to look at the faxes where you could get decent ones. Sounds like an awesome trip and nice ride. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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