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Solo trans tasman


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I can't stall my AP's, the tiller will break long before I reach that point. That is something I'm planning changing. I can just see a slight movement on the power sucking meter when the AP is really pushing, which is very rarely.

 

Yours sucks 3amp unloaded, holy crap that's massive. The book reckons mine uses 40 millis, 90 with all the lights on in super bright mode. I'm beginning to see why some of you lot need to tow Huntly power station around behind you.

 

And what's this crazy talk about it knot being calm? It will be for me, I paid extra for the 'Premium Weather Package' where it's always 18-20 kts over the aft 1/4 with a nice large following swell that is easily surf able. 22 degrees during the day 18 at night. :thumbup:

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Yep, the weather might be perfect!!! :lol:

 

Most of the bigger tiller pilots cannot output more than about 80kg of thrust. But that is like standing on the tiller, although with a shorter lever, as the tiller pilot is not normally connected at the end of the tiller. Give yours some resistance by hand, and see what the load does to the amps...

 

My AP- maybe I was not clear enough - 3amps while moving an unloaded rudder. On, but not moving similar to yours - less than 0.5 amps!! The better the boat balance, the less power it uses...

 

I run 2x 36 watt solar panels, and a wind Gen, and I still consume about 150 Amp/hrs per day on a light air passage. That is with AP, Fridge, AIS, Radar, Laptop, Sonar, Instruments, Nav Lights, etc all being used. Its about 1 engine hour every 12 hours (one in morning one at night) if there is not much wind over the deck for the wind gen. I ran the engine for an hour a day in the solo tasman - for the freezer - I dont recall having to run it at all for the batts. Had enough wind! :D

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I know what you mean about the AP and loads. But you do have a lot larger unit driving a lot heavier steering system on a lot heavier boat.

 

Holy crap look at that power sucking list, it's huge. I couldn't physically fit all that on my boat let alone power it all :lol:

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HI KM

 

I have two SPx 5 Tiller arm Pilots 2.5a is peak draw at the dock no load. The circs are fused @ 10A, so in big waves it could be drawing that amount, a lot. These motors are used commonly on Mini Transat boats, and are as good as I could afford. I have a cheapo A/Helm 2000, as emergency, which draws a lot less. But its a toy compared to the proper units, and have been thru several cheapo versions on previous offshore trips, so it my last resort back-up. Power will be an issue, and I hope to try to do the 500 miles this side of Xmas to see how I go with the power, and maybe might need to get a Windgen, which with runners and backstays might be an issue.

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Oh so you have a huge unit also RL.

 

I'm running ST1000's and 2000's. If each one lasts 48hrs I'll be leaving with 8-10 days worth. If I'm still knot there by then it looks like some long sits with tiller in hand.

 

The SPX is nice but goes against some of what I want to achieve. Which is the same reason I won't have a HF set, aren't fitting a chart plotter (unless it's a by product of the AIS as it maybe), won't be having 23 sails, won't be wired into 24/7/366 communication systems and lots of that fluff. It's that extreme I'm even, some may need to look away now, taking a book made of paper rather than a iThing...... gosh shock horror :lol:

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For power I have been thinking about a wind gen but have been put off. I think the engine will keep the batteries full.

 

What do you want to know about me. I could use some good ideas myself.

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For power I have been thinking about a wind gen but have been put off. I think the engine will keep the batteries full.
What other power generation do you have or are you considering?

What about Auto pilots, what's your plans there?

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I have put in a brand new Raymarine SPX 5 Plus tiller pilot. Well over sized for my yacht but means it can handle it. I have it integrated with my wing gear and my chart plotter which means it will steer to the wind!

 

At the moment i have just the engine and two small 40w solar panels but i don't think this is enough. I am thinking about putting in another house battery in parallel with the other. After replacing the starter battery this should help.

Any ideas???

 

I'm sure like me there are two or three of us that have to do 1000 miles for our yachts? i was thinking of going to the kermadecs and back in November if there are other yachts out there that need to do the same we could have a little test race!

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7.2 Skipper qualifying requirements

The skipper must have completed a single handed qualifying cruise in the entered

yacht of not less than 500 nautical miles of open sea without anchoring or putting into

port before late entries close. The cruise must be unescorted and the 500 miles

measured in straight lines between not more than 4 fixes.

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9.1 Latest date for entry

Entries should be made so as to reach the Secretary of the Solo Tasman Race Committee by midnight, 31 January 2014. The application must include:

 

 

B) A completed entry form. Where the qualifying cruise is yet to be completed the details called for in Rules 7.2 to 7.5, (inclusive) may be submitted later.

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haven't some yachts qualified on the way to the race start?

 

Loose Goose was a Newark Val 31 trimaran which I was bringing from Auckland to New Plymouth. I was going to use her to enter the Solo Tasman yacht race, New Plymouth to Mooloolaba … and part of the requirement is to do 400 miles qualifying, which is why I was bringing her round.

 

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=49944

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Why don't you just email the organisers KM?

Let them know when and how you intend to the the Qualifying miles and get their blessing.

That why there are no misunderstandings and everyone is happy,

Well happy until you get slammed by a forty knot nor wester at 3 in the morning anyway. :twisted:

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She's all good Willow. I never saw that cut-off date before and had a freaky second when I thought it maybe early Dec but the lads found I didn't need to freak. I'll be able to get a 500nm in by the end of Jan.

 

NW is fine, anything by straight West or East will work for me.

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