If you're still stuck on shore, like me, dreaming of your future sailing trip, and forced to wait with virtual browsing, so have a look at Christophe's weblog. He maintains there, for a while, a logbook of the many convoying he performs around the globe, in all sea and weather conditions, as convoy boats is not always holiday trip.
You'll find posts, written by him or his crew, wonderful pictures, videos… And if you are planning a trip around the world, or just cruising to far destinations, go to section « Labels » in the left pane. You'll find updated information on navigation conditions you may encounter in areas that interest you, best… as the worst.
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Francis thank you for this comment. For those interested, quick details on the equipment I use. Compulsion : This material is not fixed and I have to take on the airplane, not too heavy. I carry all the time, knowing that it works and I do not know what I find on boats.
So MacEnc with a collection that begins to be fairly complete official ENC charts I buy at Marc Lombard (ScanNav, I said kindly). If there are no official Enc (Polynesia or the Galapagos, for example) I use the ChartWorld Enc.
For material, I follow your advice : a MacAir, GPS antenna BU 353.
To retrieve the weather info (wants) I use an Iridium 9505, a base and an external antenna. I recommend this basement and the antenna, I tested the antenna configuration data during normal kit and a bouncer, too much loss of signal. With the external antenna and base, 30 000 miles and a maximum 2 or 3 cuts.
I manage on my Iridium MacAir but ironing on Windows NT with Bootcamp. I do not Vizada, but Geolink, I know that both walk, but I have a friend in Geolink …
I make my requests grib myself that I send to Saildocs (see my other comment) and I want to make my mail and feed the blog (Google blog, can send messages and it automatically comes as a new post in the blog). To give you an idea of orde, after 2 escorts to Tahiti, I still had about 100′ on a map of 500′.
I also « save » MacBook Pro, I use for photos, Video and everything else, with a GPS antenna MC GM Navy 900, the MacAir is reserved for the nav. With MacEnc you can have as many licenses as machinery and maps ENC, c’est, I think 5 Licenses.
Otherwise, I just get a charger Mobile Power Adapter 60W, not tested, but I once had a scare with a failure 220 … And I'm testing an AIS is not working yet, I think it comes from RS 232, I ordered the Keyspan, I will keep you.
Again thank you for all your advice and good surfing to all
A question from a browser : Systm what do you use the connection between Iridium and the MacBook Air ? Bluetooth ? Cble adapter, if so which ?