This was a nice surprise. It used to be tricky to connect a Navico MFD Ethernet network with a consumer-style boat router — and it remains impossible with some MFD models I’m pretty sure. But that’s exactly what’s happening on Gizmo right now, even with older Simrad NSS evo2 MFDs, and the benefits are multifold. I’m also pleased with the latest version of the Navico Link app, which is seen running fine over the boat router above and which is also compatible with many B&G and Lowrance displays.

NSS evo2 network connected to boat router with Navico adapter cable

While ...

April 24, 2019

Day 201

Noon Position: 0 19S  30 04W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): WNW 3

Wind(t/tws): SW 5

Sea(t/ft): 1 – 2 various directions

Sky: Dark cloud entirely, heavy rain

10ths Cloud Cover: 10

Bar(mb): 1016

Cabin Temp(f): 88

Water Temp(f): 85

Relative Humidity(%): 67

Sail: Big genoa and main.

Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 62

Miles since departure: 27,362

Avg. Miles/Day: 136

Leg North Miles: 4,412

Leg North Days: 35

Avg. Miles/Day: 126

Wind remained light at north and east most of the night but died away altogether by early morning. I lowered the main, rolled up the jib, and ...

April 23, 2019/Day 200

Noon Position: 1 09S  29 20W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): WNW 4

Miles since departure: 27,300

Avg. Miles/Day: 137

By my estimation, we entered the doldrums this afternoon. The marker was pretty clear, our soft but steady easterly softened by half and turned northeast. Sundown. For several hours our average speed: 2.5 knots.

Squalls overnight. I was on deck almost every hour easing sheets or hauling in again. Rain. Giant lines of cloud backlit by a moon so bright it almost hurt the eyes.

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Now the dominant bird is the Booby. I say dominant not like in ...

April 21, 2019/Day 198

Noon Position:  05 20S  27 02W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): WNW

Miles since departure: 27,015

Avg. Miles/Day: 136

A strange night. Altostratus covered the sky by sundown and stayed there. Its layering was thin, allowing the full moon to shine through with here and there a star, but beneath this, dark squall clouds built. A light, hot wind threatened to do nothing more than die away altogether.

I lay splayed and sleepless in the cabin, still 89 degrees at midnight. By dawn the squall clouds were getting serious, and I began preparing for a dirty day. But ...

April 19, 2019/Day 196

Noon Position: 09 28S  25 24W

Miles since departure: 26,747/Avg. Miles/Day: 136

It took me a while to figure it out. Why I was perspiring so heavily in the cabin while doing nothing at all. But it’s the wind, of course, which is now generally aft of the beam at 10 or so knots. Consequently, the breeze below is much reduced. And man, it’s hot.

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Today’s video is a miracle. Actually, that you are seeing it is a miracle. For three days, the app I use to edit and compile video has failed to export ...

Behold the Victron “app” now running on the Simrad NSS7 evo2 that I’ve been long testing on Gizmo. Now I can see all sorts of power data on a bright MFDs at the helms, and I can even use the integration to control the boat’s Victron Multi charger/inverter or configure many of the power system components. And this valuable feature only required some software updates and an Ethernet adapter cable.

beta test Victron app running on Simrad NSS16 evo2

In fact, I’m running a beta version Victron Venus software, and I don’t usually write about beta testing, but ...

This section of the ICW is called the “South of McClellanville” section. It is one of the longest and shallowest trouble spots on the ICW. The following is an overview of this stretch of the ICW between Awendaw Creek and Jeremy Creek.  While there are some places with 8-10 feet of water, there are also stretches with less than 5 feet of water at MLLW. If you drift out of the “channel” you will find water less than 3 feet.  So, what defines the channel?  How do you find it?

We transited this section for the eleventh time on March ...

April 18, 2019/Day 195

Noon Position: 11 33S  24 42W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): WNW 5

Miles since departure: 26,615

Avg. Miles/Day: 137

Not sure if wind fell lighter overnight, causing us to slow down, or if we were slowed by taking the wind aft of the beam. In any case, we were slower. Winds are steady but quite light; rarely over 10 knots.

I should be flying the big genoa, but we are back to wind just forward of the beam this afternoon, and that sail is a bear on a reach. At least that’s my excuse. I’ve not changed sail ...

April 16, 2019/Day 193

Noon Position: 15 59S  23 17W

Course(t)/Speed(kts): NxE 6

Miles since departure: 26,335

Avg. Miles/Day: 136

Good sailing last two days. Even wind. Mo is consistent in head and speed. Have barely touched the tiller or sheets yesterday or today.

Woke to a visitor in the scuppers, a rather large flying fish that, in the night, had not managed to escaped the Monster Mo.

Interesting to examine the fish. Their bodies are shaped like inverted triangles with big eyes pointing down to see what must be their main foe, the Dorado, as it charges up ...