PAGE 4 • SUMMER 2005 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
SAILING LIFESTYLES
founders of the SailTime Global program
was thrilling with 20-25 knots of winds.
Several lessons were spent both sailing and
maneuvering under power to learn the boat.
My confidence quickly grew and I was soon
sailing single-handed up and down the
lake.
I was hungry for more sailing knowledge and
bought several instructional books to speed the
learning process. I also enrolled in the ASA
courses taught by my base owner Grant
Headifen. I progressed quickly through the
101, 103 and 104 courses.
Living the Life
Last year, we fulfilled a dream I’ve had for
many years. After a year and a half with
SailTime, I felt ready to take the next step …
Amy Robertson and daughter, Bryn, 8, take time to smile at the camera while
the Caribbean. We chartered a Beneteau 413
cruising aboard their chartered Beneteau 413 near Canouan.
from Canouan and sailed for a fun-filled week
throughout the Grenadines from Bequia to
continued from page 3
Petit St. Vincent. We were in heaven.
I remember being very intimidated at first by the
numerous lines around the boat. Before my official
Now we’re getting ready to sail this summer in St.
orientation sail with the base owner I “learned the
Marten with Sunsail. Since SailTime gives us a $500
ropes” from my friend who introduced me to the
certificate each year to use with Sunsail we now plan on
program. My subsequent checkout sail with one of the continued on page 8
SAFETY AT SEA Security by Cellphone
By Chris Frosk
T
hroughout the years that sailing has become
added to users’ monthly cellphone bills and users
a national on-the-water pastime, there
can subscribe month to month.
have been many electronic devices to
promote safety. First came Loran, then
MarineWeather provides easy reading text
sophisticated radar, and later GPS and chart
forecasts for coastal, offshore, synopsis and
plotters. Today, there is a new piece of
advisories for the 22 U.S. contiguous coastline
equipment and it has a lot wider ownership in
states. These are the same forecasts that are
the marine world.
broadcasted on the VHF Marine Radio. Text
forecasts can be displayed within seconds.
Cellular phones have become an essential
In addition, MarineWeather accesses buoy
piece of marine equipment for most sailors
stations to provide an easy-to-view graphic
both while on the water and when preparing
that includes actual and forecasted wind speed
for sailing conditions. ekkosoft.us, a wireless
and direction, wave size, direction and period,
publisher based out of Newburyport, Mass.,
sky cover, visibility, humidity, rain percentage
the founding city of the United States Coast
and inches, barometer, dew point and air and
Guard, has published two products for
sea temperature, all subject to geographical
cellphones that can promote safe sailing. The
availability selected by the user.
first product is a seven-day NOAA weather
forecasting product called MarineWeather with
ekkosoft.us has taken advantage of the
Marine411. All data is sourced directly from
communication capabilities of the cellphone by
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
embedding a separate feature in
Administration (NOAA). Sailors can subscribe
MarineWeather called Marine411. Marine411
for $4.99 per month on most Verizon Wireless
cellphones that have Get It Now. The charges are
continued on page 16
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