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When the
wind is blowing, I'm almost never behind the steering wheel. Then I use a
windpilot, which is a mechanical wind steering that is supposed to maintain a
course relative to the wind. The only drawback is if you are in the open sea and
sleep "a little longer than planned". If the wind has changed direction, this
means you have too. This can be the cause of a little grumpiness when you have
been heading in the wrong direction for a couple of hours. The windpilot is in
no control in a light breeze or when going by engine, and I have to get help
from Robert, the electric autopilot. "He" can keep me on course when navigating
by compass. I also use him as a sort of power steering during canal cruising and
in ports, etc. I couldn't do without either one of them.
My wind vane is actually really annoying and I'm getting pretty tired of him. He
simply isn't capable of steering in rough seas. Or even swells. And that is
basically what it's like most of the time on the open sea. I'm surely going to
replace my Ullermatic with another brand. There are many more disadvantages too.
Had I only known a little bit more about it when I bought it, then I would have
bought something different. There are several good ones out there, and I have
yet to hear anything good about the Ullermatic. I just didn't do my research and
put too much faith in what the salesman was telling.
- and then a little engine towards the next port
It's a funny thing with seasickness. Well, not suffering from it, but getting
over it. Today I think I'm past it and feel fine. I have always suffered from
it, and it has always kept me from going on sailing trips with friends etc. At
the start of this journey, I didn't eat very much during sailing. Mostly
biscuits and such. I didn't really feel like eating. I would rather just lie
down or scream into a bucket. But now I eat solid meals with gravy and lots of
garniture. The first few times I ran into bad weather, I took a couple of pills.
And when I reached the Bay of Biscay too - when I was expecting a storm for 24
hours. But the storm lasted 42 hours when it finally arrived. And I don't think
two pills are going to cut it (then). I took them just in case. I know how poor
you feel when you are seasick. And I'm not sure that seasick people always make
the right decisions...
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