4.12.18 @ 1000 Local, 1700 Zulu Day #18
Latitude: 01°35’N Longitude: 130°26’W Covered Distance Last 24 Hours: 114 NM Distance to the Marquesas: 845 NM Distance from Punta de Mita, Mexico: 2126NM Weather: scattered clouds 25% Winds: ESE 14 knots Sea State: 1.5-2.0 meters Barometer: 1012 Crew’s Mood: getting anxious for the Shellback ceremony. Wahoo!

Off Grid Communication
Dazzler has been equipped with a high frequency radio for over ten years. It is an ICom model M802 with a Pactor radio modem for email communications. And for many years that is all I had to communicate. Yes, I’d use a cellular phone with a US provider or use the Telcel provider in Mexico for data, but off grid away from the Cell towers it was the reliable HF radio.
Early last year I purchased a used InReach two way texting device. It was very cumbersome to use until I studied it more and realized you could use an App on your tablet or smart phone to type the messages. It became an instant way to text with anyone and better yet with other InReach uses off grid.
We used my US based cell phone with AT&T up until the time we hauled anchor for this voyage and for the last two years it has been awesome when we are near cell towers. Before leaving Mexico, I called AT&T to have them suspend my number for now. That way I still keep my telephone number I’ve had since the late 1990’s. Once I get some reliable WiFi, we’ll port the number to Google phone until we return to the states.
Last February, I travel back to The Land of Plenty in Southern California where I purchased and setup an Iridium Go satellite communication device. I opted for the unlimited text and data plan which costs all in $167/month. I took my laptop and tablet to the store with me so that I know it would be connected properly before I walked out the door. I’d heard other stories of nightmare configuration issues and mountains of telephone time with tech support that I wanted nothing to do with. Having my equipment with me in the store probably saved hours of frustration down the road. I also didn’t want something to not work in Mexico and have to make another trip to San Diego. Don’t get me wrong, I love San Diego, but we had a journey to prepare for. We also opted for an external antenna to mount outside with clear view to the sky. The antenna does NOT come with a surface or rail mount so pick one up before installing.
While in the Satellite Store on Shelter Island in San Diego, everything seemed to be set up and the first test message was being downloaded. I swear the feeling I had must have been similar to a family in the fifties watching black and white television for the first time in the living room with the old RCA radio pushed back into the corner of the room. It was outstanding. I told the sales rep that I could believe how fast it worked. He looked at me with a funny expression and said, “We usually hear, why is it so slow!” I explained to him the way the HF radio and Pactor modem worked. I would be down loading weather for 30 minutes. Then the radio link would be lost and I’d have to start all over again. Sometimes two or four different attempts in a row to get the weather. I can tell you that even though it might be at 4800 baud rate it has been more reliable than the HF radio/Pactor modem. It is important to note that I am not in any way saying that it should replace the HF radio and Pactor modem system. I’m saying that it is great to have options. When one doesn’t want to work there are backups. And I’m not talking about Adam 12 or Starsky and Hutch.
With the Iridium Go, we are able to use a widget for Word Press that allows us to upload articles directly to our blog for your entertainment and our pleasure. Until next upload, live for the moment when retired freedom is available to you.
Cheers!
Captain Dan

4.11.18 @ 1000 Local, 1700 Zulu Day #17
Latitude: 03°00N Longitude: 129°15W Covered Distance Last 24 Hours: 113 Distance to the Marquesas: 956 NM Distance from Punta de Mita, Mexico: 2010 Weather: 30% cloud cover with Winds: Southeasterly Trade Winds at 10.5 knots Sea State: .5-1.0 meters Barometer: 1014 Crew’s Mood: I get tire of saying Awesome all the time. Ha ha ha. Not!
Dull Drums
With the song from the circa 1970’s movie Voyage of The Yes, reverberating in my head…. I’d rather be a hammer than a nail, yes I would, if I could, I surely would….. we are crossing the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Commonly referred to as the doldrums. The place where the northern and southern trade winds converge. It is also where the northern and Southern Hemisphere ocean currents and high pressure systems duke it out. A few days ago we monitored the water temperature and watch it go from 86°F, down to 74°F and then up to 96.7°F. That is crazy! We haven’t seen water temps like that since Puerto Peńasco in the northern Sea of Cortez. But even crazier was the wide swing of temperature.
I had to laugh yesterday because we saw a fishing vessel called the Fu Yuan Yu. If you say it real fast it sounds like Fooie on You. I’m still laughing about it. We drug lines for another day with no results. Jilly says she has seen a few large fish swim by the boat, but she could not I’d them. Maybe they are acquainted with the Fooie on You fishing boat. LOL We are still hopeful. I’d like to see the water temps drop to about the mid eighties though.
Looking at the down loadable Predict Wind weather source yesterday morning it looks like we should be into the influence of the southeast Trade Winds soon. But wait! Where were the doldrums at? Yes we had to motor in light or no winds for several hours, but it wasn’t none stop. We had a very leisurely sail the day before with 9-11 knots of breeze from the NE and sailed for about 6 hours before it died out. Then yesterday morning after walking up, we had 10 knots of breeze from the NE. Motor off sails up and away we go again. Sailing in the ITCZ. It’s not so bad. The day before yesterday while sailing in the afternoon, the vistas of 360° ocean view with fluffy white and grey clouds dotting the sky was amazing. The sky was so blue and the water. Well, the water is very clear, but it doesn’t have that ice clear blue look here. I’m guessing it may have something to do with the water temperature and the convergence of several different ocean currents. We haven’t seen that many flying fish in these really warm waters either.
The sunrises and sunsets here are breath taking. The blue gray hues along with the orange red glow resting on the horizon as the sunlight peaks through the openings between the clouds huddled near that well defined line between heaven and earth. As the sun gradually lifts closer to that line, the colors gradually change giving way and blending into light blue shading to darker blue farther away from the horizon. The night is losing its dominant grip to the overpowering of the sun. All without a struggle as if this where the description of the word Harmony came from. Nature in a private concert and being played out before our eyes where only those here at this moment and at this time are fortunate enough to behold and take it in.
Doldrums? Is say not at this time or on this voyage. Definitely an experience to behold. Then a twist of a few degrees to change the heading and Dazzler increases her speed and by God we’re sailing along at 5 knots. Shazam!
Okay folks, until next time, will this be the end of Batman and Robin? Will the Joker finally foil Gotham’s crime fighting duo? Tune in tomorrow, same Bat time, same Bat channel. Where the H-E-double hockey sticks did that come from? Tha tha that, tha tha tha that’s all folks. Sorry my 60’s 70’ flashbacks just took over. Ha ha ha. Maybe too much touchy feely stuff in this post.
Cheers!
Captain Dan
PS Jim H2O temp 96.1. Crazy!