SATELLITE PHOTOS ARE MAGIC
This is the first time I have used weather satellite photos when sailing on the seven seas.
I had never been that enthusiastic before in downloading satellite photos to help sort out what I should do when I am sailing offshore.
Times are different now, and satellite photos have been a big help on this voyage.
Why have the satellite photos been valuable?
1. The region of the world In which we are sailing has doldrums which also have the name of “monsoon trough”. The satellite photos do an excellent job of visualizing the monsoon trough.
2. In the digital age, I can create a double exposure transparency using Snapseed that allows me to place our position accurately on the satellite photo. Prior to Snapseed, I had no way to tell where Exit Only was located in the weather satellite photo.
3. We are sailing on the shoulder of hurricane season, and weather satellite photos let me visualize any developing low pressure areas that could become tropical depressions, tropical storms, and progress to hurricane formation.
Those three things are big advantages when you are making passages offshore in this region of the world.
Prior to this voyage, I had heard the words “monsoon trough” but I had never experienced it.
Now that I have been through a monsoon trough, I can tell you with 100% assurance that I never want to go through one again. It’s not that bad, but it does go on forever, it has very little wind, it has lots of squalls, and there is plenty of lightning to go around.
The good thing about the monsoon trough is that it is easy to visualize on satellite photo. The bad thing about the monsoon trough is that expands and contracts daily like an accordion, and it moves north and south in an unpredictable fashion. Just when you think you have escaped the monsoon trough, it expands and moves north, and you are up to your eyeballs in trough for a couple of more days.
The satellite photos help us understand what is happening, and it may modify the course we sail in order to get out of the trough as quickly as possible. When there is no wind, the position of the trough will determine which way we will motor during the next twenty-four hours.
Satellite photos have been very valuable on this trip both to plan the voyage and to maintain crew morale. When the satellite photos turn positive, smiles come across our face, and we look forward to what the next day will bring.
Satellite photos are easily downloaded on the Iridium Go. Simply download the latest weather satellite photo, put the photo into Snapseed, and overlay the photo with our exact position.
Satellite photos are not magic. They are better than magic because they are real.
Long live Iridium Go, weather satellite photos, and Snapseed overlays.
Awesome music video that captures the essence of what it's like to sail offshore in a catamaran around the world when conditions are less than perfect. David Abbott from Too Many Drummers sings the vocals, and he also edited the footage from our Red Sea adventures. This is the theme song from the Red Sea Chronicles.
Sailing up the Red Sea is not for the faint of heart. From the Bab al Mandeb to the Suez Canal, adventures and adversity are in abundance. If you take things too seriously, you just might get the Red Sea Blues.
If you like drum beats, and you like adventure, then have a listen to the Red Sea Chronicles Trailer.
Flying fish assault Exit Only in the middle of the night as we sail through the Arabian Gulf from the Maldives to Oman. And so begins our Red Sea adventures.
Sailing through Pirate Alley between Yemen and Somalia involves calculated risk. It may not be Russian Roulette, but it is a bit of a worry. Follow Team Maxing Out as they navigate through Pirate Alley.
Stopping in Yemen was just what the doctor ordered. We refueled, repaired our alternator, and we made friends with our gracious Yemeni hosts. We also went to Baskins Robbins as a reward for surviving Pirate Alley.
After you survive Pirate Alley, you must sail through the Gate of Sorrows (Bab Al Mandab) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Gate of Sorrows lived up to its name with fifty knots of wind and a sandstorm that pummeled Exit Only for two days. Life is good.
Captain Dave and his family spent eleven years sailing around the world on their Privilege 39 catamaran, Exit Only. During the trip, the crew shot 200 hours of video with professional cameras to show people what it's like to sail on a small boat around the world.
The Red Sea Chronicles is a one hour and twenty-two minute feature film showing their adventures as Exit Only sails through Pirate Alley in the Gulf of Aden and up the Red Sea. The professional footage documents their experiences in Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, and the Suez Canal. It chronicles the rigors of traveling in a remote section of the world rarely visited by cruisers. Exit Only dodges Yemeni pirates, fights a gale and sand storms in the Bab al Mandeb at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The crew explores deserted islands on the western shores of the Red Sea, and learns to check the cruising guides for land mines before venturing ashore.
The Red Sea Chronicles also has outstanding Special Features including an Instructional Video on Storm Management that tells sailors how to deal with storms at sea.
And don't forget the two Music Videos: "The Red Sea Blues", and "Captain - Save Our Souls".
The Red Sea Chronicles is a first class adventure that stokes the sailing dreams of both experienced and wannabe sailors alike.
Join Team Maxingout as they sail through Pirate Alley and up the Red Sea
See what it's like to cruise on a catamaran before you spend a bazillion dollars purchasing one
After watching the Red Sea Chronicles you will be able to see yourself sailing on the ocean of your dreams
Although I like the feel of a paper book in my hand, I love trees even more. When people purchase an eBook, they actually save trees and save money as well. Ebooks are less expensive and have no negative impact on the environment. All of Dr. Dave's books are available at Save A Tree Bookstore. Visit the bookstore today and start putting good things into your mind. It's easy to fill your mind with positive things using eBooks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can pull out your smart phone or tablet and start reading. You can even use electronic highlighters and make annotations in your eBooks just like paper books.
