27 June 2010

6. up to the sandbar

I have a few GPS/Mapping apps for the iPhone, and the one I have been trying out the most is iNavX. As soon as I can remember I open it up and it begins to keep a track. As we sail along, dotted lines represent where we have been. Then, when we're done, I can export this track to x-traverse and upload it. This is what it looks like. I have to admit, I don't quite have the hang of it yet - like, what was happening when the track wasn't being recorded? Was that when we didn't have the app open? It keeps track when the screensaver comes on, but it doesn't keep track if I close the app. And I also find it interesting that we sailed right over the same track on the way in that we sailed out. I guess it's not that amazing, since we have to go through the center of the bridge, but to be so close surprises me.
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For today's sail we had a small breeze from the south. It was very hot and very humid and hazy. Jessica, Cory, Allison, and I sailed out past the bridge and tacked right before we got to that oh, so annoying sandbar that juts north and forces all sorts of maneuvering to dodge.

A few years ago I was obsessed with hanging over the bow and taking pictures of the front of the boat cutting through the water. I took dozens of dozens of shots trying to get that perfect shot (horizon level, the bow perfectly in the middle, and maybe something interesting in the background). This year's obsession seems to be taking pictures of sailboats when they are positioned in the wedge between the bow pulpit and the first stanchion. But what I particularly love about this picture is the tell-tales on the jib. Mmmmm...flow...

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