[SMCARA] HF radio assistance needed for KB3SMU sailing trip to Bermuda - please read

[petebutt at comfac.com]

Folks... forwarded on behalf of Steve Speer (N3SCS):


This morning, SMCARA member Reg Townsend departed St Mary's for Bermuda on
his sailing vessel Rainbow.  He has HF and PSK capability and desires to do
a daily checkin at 2000Z (1600 EDT) on 14.275Mhz and/or alternate 14.325Mhz
for the 6 day (max) adventure.  What he needs from any of us is the current
weather buoy information you can get on line (all he needs is wind
direction, strength, wave height, etc) for the following buoy's (and in this
order as he goes Eastbound)



WWW.NDBC.NOAA.GOV

When this site comes up, you will see a box on the left side that asks for
station ID.  The three buoy stations Reg will be looking for (and in this
order) include 44014, 41001 and 41048.  Reg will need the update today for
44014 (it is only 64nm E of Virginia Beach).  Monday he will need the data
for 41001 etc.



So if you have some time this week, tune in please to the above stations and
see if you can hear him calling me (N3SCS). If I don't get contact, please
feel free to jump in and offer the assist if you can.  He will also be using
PSK31 (maybe) and his email address is KB3SMU at Winlink.org



He will also be using the MMSN (Maritime Mobile Service Net at 14.3 as a
primary/backup as well.  This could be a fun project for any of us.  And by
the way, on the MMSN.org site, they have a block where you can type in Reg's
call sign and see where his boat is on a Google Map.  Pretty slick I would
think.



Finally a note. Reg's boat is only powered by wind and a small Genset so he
doesn't spend much time on the air for fear of running his batteries down
(although that is what a genset is for).



Any questions give me a call. I won't be at the desk today at 1600 so if any
of you hear him call me, please jump in.



Thanks.

Steve Speer

N3SCS

240.298.4079



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