Sailing South Africa with Electronics…Predictwind, AIS, and Raymarine Radar…we used them all!

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In the old days, you used barometers, and GRIB files, and listened to SSB and VHF weather reports to round the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

Now there is just so much more to aid a sailor.

 

We used PredictWind Offshore for planning the trip when we had internet, and then during the trip using our Iridium GO! to get updates to know when it was time to seek shelter. This was probably our biggest tool for weather Routing using the ocean current models , as well as four wind and wave forecasts from Predictwind to make sure we got it right.

We would not sail any ocean now without the Iridium GO and the Professional version of Predictwind Offshore. I would simply refuse to leave the dock without it!

Latest Video

Here is the latest video with us sailing from Richards Bay, underway through lots of wind and speedy currents on the way to Cape Town. It’s part one of a 2 part series, as we need to seek refuge from an upcoming storm, in East London for a few days.

 

Sailboat Security (GOST on a Valiant 40 )

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This detailed article which was in Yachting World in 2015 is from a guy who had his C&C 37 robbed decades ago…It’s very well written, and explains a lot about why we too, chose this company to protect our sailboat.

And this is just what it could do in 2015…just think what it does now!!! Reading it just makes us want to add additional components, even though it isn’t even fully installed yet!

A Great article about GOST…in Yachting Magazine

https://www.GOST.com

What Worked, What Didn’t, After 11 years…on Bluewater Cruising Sailboat Brick House

 

Monkey on a Redport Halo WiFi Long Distance Antenna!

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What happens when a monkey swings from a Redport Halo long distance WiFi antenna on a sailboat in a boatyard in Africa?

We found out today. We are in a boatyard in Zululand Yacht Club…in Richards Bay, South Africa, as many of you know, and a monkey went “ape-shit” on our Redport Halo WiFi Antenna that we use for WiFi, from Global Marine Networks (GMN) The antenna hung there, horizontal…with coal dust heavy on the otherwise white antenna.

Its been a few years now since we put this antenna up..and while we don’t use it all the time, because we often have cellular data..it has proven it’s worth. We arrive to a country and don’t even have to get off the boat to get a new SIM card..and wala…we can get a WiFi signal and catch some internet, often complimentary! Sometimes we even get it Sailing up the coast before we ever arrive! Communication at sea at its best! More about it here

All cleaned up after 2 years and 5000 miles

We crawled up the stern arch, disconnected the antenna and brought it down to the deck. (it’s only a simple network cable, easily replaced anywhere, so if it had no problem!) So we cleaned it up, we applied new tape, and reassembled, tightening the little set screws, and put it back up. ITS WORKING!


So now we all know that a Redport Halo Long Distance WiFi Antenna can get beat up my a monkey in Africa and survive, and triumph!

And look at how stainless the stainless steel looks after 2 years. This thing is built to last!

Borneo Malaysia 3 Years ago…Proboscis Monkey!

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You are a Monkey!