While paddling around the harbor last week, I ran into Captain Dave, a friend of a friend who I’ve gotten to know a little bit. He mentioned he would really like to get out and sail, so I invited him on the boat that Wednesday. Little did I know, this would turn into one of the most exhilarating sailing experiences of my life.
Dave is an incredible sailor and a wealth of information. He’s got great stories and has a lot to teach me about sailing. Other than him occasionally losing his balance and scaring the crap out of me, there’s really no downside to having him around.
We headed out of the harbor at the usual time, and he gauged the wind to be about 13 to 15 knots. “Perfect sailing weather,” he said with a grin. That’s no big deal, but when it gets closer to 15 knots, I usually put a reef in to make things more comfortable. But with my crew’s skills improving and having the addition of Dave on the boat, I figured we’d go for it.
Crossing the break wall, the salty breeze whipping through our hair, we unfurled the head sail. Dave got to work trimming, his hands moving with the precision of a seasoned sailor. He added twist to the sails, expertly handling the traveler, jib cars, and sheets. The wind was blowing about 14 knots, and we were moving at about 6 knots. The boat was flat, really flat. Usually, in that kind of wind with full sails, we’re heeling 20-30 degrees. I realized that I have a lot to learn about my new boat.
As we sailed along on a port tack to get upwind, the Wet Wednesday race was starting. The air was electric with excitement, and Dave urged us to continue on course. But all I saw was a collision course. “Tack now! Helm’s a-lee!” I screamed. My crew jumped into action, and we crash-tacked like we all knew what we were doing. We sailed alongside the fleet as they sped past us, the adrenaline pumping through our veins. While sailing the starboard tack, the wind became shifty and started to die. When the fleet had passed us, we tried to tack, but with the current and lack of speed, we weren’t able to get the bow to cross the wind. We ended up back winding the head sail and gybing around 270 degrees to get us turned and back on course.
We sailed upwind for a while longer, the sea spray cool against our faces, then got ready to bear away and set the spinnaker. After a lot of yelling and some tumbling around the deck, we had the spinnaker up. But the wind was fickle, shifty, and light. We were well past the harbor, so I gave the command to drop the spinnaker. We put the genoa back out, gybed the boat like pros, and headed back to the harbor on a broad reach. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the water. It was an incredible day, one of the best days of sailing I’ve had in a while.
Looking back, I realize just how much I learned from that day. Sailing with Dave was like having a masterclass on the water. I discovered new ways to trim the sails, how to better read the wind shifts, and most importantly, the value of having an experienced hand on board. It was a thrilling reminder of why I love sailing – the constant learning, the unexpected challenges, and the sheer joy of being out on the open water.
So, what about you? Have you ever had an unforgettable sailing experience? Share your stories in the comments below – I’d love to hear them!
Diving into Open-Source Boating Projects
Having spent years in tech, I decided it was time to dive into some open-source boating projects. The idea of creating a digital wind vane intrigued me, but the cost was prohibitive. During my search, I stumbled upon an open boat project, though I won’t link to it because I don’t have it yet. If I succeed in building it, or the developer sends me the board I payed for, I’ll share the repository and instructions.
Discovering OpenCPN
While exploring, I found OpenCPN, a comprehensive chart plotter. I decided to refurbish an old laptop for course planning and weather routing. However, it quickly became clear that a laptop wasn’t ideal for the boat environment. Enter the Raspberry Pi. But which OS? OpenPlotter was literally built for the job.
The Raspberry Pi Setup
I ordered a Raspberry Pi and an SD card, then got serious about planning. My goal was to add a computer to the nav station that integrates with my existing equipment, like my Garmin chart plotter and in-hull transducer. I would struggle to make a case hardy enough to withstand the ocean and the Garmin was literally built for it, so I wanted to make sure I made the best use of the tools and technology I already have.
Further research led me to the MacArthur HAT for the Raspberry Pi, which interfaces with NMEA 0183 and 2000, 1-wire sensors, and more, powered by the boat batteries.
Final Configuration
After several trials, I settled on this setup:
- Raspberry Pi 4: Chosen because OpenPlotter documentation indicated the Pi 5 isn’t fully supported yet.
- MacArthur HAT: Attached to the Pi for connectivity.
- MAINIA AIS: Ordered but not yet received.
- m.2 SSD in a USB enclosure: More stable than an SD card.
- 10.1″ touchscreen Raspberry Pi monitor: Note, OpenCPN doesn’t support pinch zoom.
- Mini wireless keyboard and mouse: For ease of use.
- USB puck GPS: Might be replaced by the MAINIA’s GPS.
Next Steps
The next step is to install this setup on my boat. I’ll likely need to build a case to protect it from salt air and rough conditions.
What’s Next?
Next week, I’ll guide you through configuring OpenPlotter, connecting devices via SignalK, obtaining GRIB data for weather routing, and more. Stay tuned!