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Final Message (for now) - (22/08/2009)
The last trip along the Belgian and Dutch coast went much faster then expected. The wind gradually veered to the southwest, and slowly increased to a force 7. So I flew the spinaker for as long as I dared, (not too long, as I didn't want to risk to break anything this last trip), then set the High Aspect jib. I flew along at a steady 9.5 knots, having almost a knot and a half of fair tide. So late in the morning, I called Jurrien that, if I kept on going, I could be in IJmuiden that evening. So she hurriedly finished her job of that day, raced home on her new Bromton bicycle, getting soaked in the process, got in the car and raced to IJmuiden. We got there at the same time, she going up to the inner pier (Kop van de Haven, near the restaurant), and I sailed into the harbour and temporarily tied up along the pier for a long kiss...
Then we both went to the Seaport Marina, she by car and I by boat, and had another long kiss and a dram of whiskey.... Went to bed early...
The next morning, when I was to finish this 4 month trip officially, we first had a visit of the insurance expert, who came to see all my damaged equipment. Then we went off to the lock, where both our parents, my sister, brother in law, friend Saskia and my aunt Bep all waited to see us in. It was a very heartwarming welcome! After that, Jurrien and I sailed to Amsterdam, where we had a quiet night at the Levanthaven, before we this morning went over to the Sixhaven. All day people came in, some that I expected, some completely unexpected. Very nice indeed.
I would like to thank everybody who visited my website. The number of hits is beyond belief, with visitors from all over the world! Many people either wrote in the Gastenboek, or sent me a private message of encouragement or congratulations. The fact that so may thousands of people apparently enjoyed this site, and my trip, greatly motivated me to keep on writing blog messages, although I did not always like to write things, especially when things didn't go so well. I thank you all.
Bart
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Last few miles... - (20/08/2009)
I got into Lymington at 2AM, and, not willing to wake up the whole place with my noisy engine, took up a vacant mooring. Next morning, at 9, I set off to the Town Quay, to do some shopping; trying to get some of the English electronics destroyed in the lightning accident. After this, I set off again, and sailed up the Solent, past Cowes, and out again on the other side. Since the weather forecast was for only one more day of nice westerly, I wanted to get east as far as possible. Unfortunately, at night the wind died completely and I lay becalmed for some 4 hours just off Dungeness. In the morning a little wind came up from the south, and I crossed the shipping lines and sailed into Duinkerken.
I had never been there, and also have never visited Belgium. So in Duinkerken I bought a chart of Belgium (my charts of that area were very old and of too large a scale), and yesterday sailed along the beach, in tropical conditions and a very light northeasterly breeze. A dead beat all the way, but quite some tide in the right direction. At 7 PM I was near Blankenbergen, and decided to try to get in. I did, but only just! I touched the bottom several times...
This morning at 6 I escaped the place again. It is thundery over Belgium, and there is only very little wind, from the south. But the wind is expected to freshen, and if the gods are good and don't hit me again with lightning, I will be in Amsterdam next Saturday.
Bart
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The Good life - (16/08/2009)
Yesterday I sailed from Plymouth to Dartmouth, a distance of some 35 miles. I started off a little late, because I first went to QAB to see some other boats. So I finally left at 3 PM. Dartmouth is a wonderful place. It is situated at the mouth of a river (the Dart). The very entrance is quite narrow, and guarded by an ancient castle on either side. As it was around sunset that I came in, and floodlight was just being lit, it was a marvelous sight. I tied up to the city wall, and rushed off to take a taxi to a nearby village called Stoke Fleming. Peter Crowther is landlord of the local pub, called The Green Dragon. Peter (67?) is in his fourth decade of sailing ostars. He also holds the record for having done the most ostars, and also for the slowest time (89 days). He always enters, and, except for this year, is always last.
For anyone interested in
a) OSTAR
b) a decent English pub
The Green Dragon is highly recommended! The place was established in 1168 (!!!), and records of the landlords go back to 1607. Peter and his family run the place for the last 16 years now, and when I was there (OK, a saturday night), was loaded with people. I was too late for dinner, unfortunately, as the card looked good and looking at other people's plates made me even more hungry!
Today was true Gentleman's sailing. I started off after a decent breakfast and some shopping. Oh, the luxury of coastal sailing! I just finished my supper, which consisted of a shoulder of lamb, a full pound of it, cooked medium rare. With a sliced courgette, a handful of mushrooms and small fresh potato's. Only a good bottle of Bordeaux missed. I finished it with a delicious pine apple. I am now having a cup of tea with some chocolate... All the while the boat was sailing at 7.5 to 8.5 knots, under spinaker, and passing Portland Bill on it's way to the Needles (Isle of Wight). I will miss the tide at the needles, so it will be early tomorrow morning that I get there. But after this meal I will survive a couple of hours!
Bart
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Homeward bound - (15/08/2009)
Last Tuesday I came into Plymouth. It was great coming there, many people gave me a heroes welcome. I didn't win anything...
Because of the very light weather many Fastnet boats came in very late. Home of Jazz, owned by Dutch friend Maarten Russchen, came in last night. I went out to see him in and finally took his lines in Sutton Harbour, downtown Plymouth, and we had a very late supper with him, his crew Ben and Sharon and Richard from Velocity Girl which is a sister ship to Home of Jazz.
Now, Saturday afternoon, I finally left Plymouth and am heading for Dartmouth. I hope to see Peter Crowther, who also did the ostar. He holds the record for having done the most ostars (9?) and was in his fourth decade of doing it!!
Next week Saturday, August 22, I intend to be in Amsterdam. In the morning, I will be in the Sixhaven, and would like to invite anyone interested on board for a cup of coffee and a chat! Hope to see many!
Bart
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- (12/08/2009)
Yesterday around noon, I finally reached Plymouth. I went into Queen Anne's Battery (home of the Royal Western Yachtclub) first, to see some people, have a shower and a beer with some of the club members. Then I moved over to Millbay Dock, where my host Ian Hall had arranged a berth for me.
I did not rest long, but am working on getting all my pictures on this web site. So check them out on the fotoalbum section!
Bart
5005N 0440W - (11/08/2009)
I did it! I managed to avoid all 300 Fastnetters! Last night, during the dark, it brought strong memories of a Dutch 24-uurs race, so many boats! And they were all on directly opposite course to me, and also on a starboard tack. So I had to avoid all of them. Not much sleep...
And worse, I am now becalmed, with only 20 miles to go. It feels a bit like the finish of the OSTAR, however, this time I just start the engine!
Bart
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4936N 0605W; English Channel - (10/08/2009)
A few minutes ago, at 1730 UTC, I crossed the imaginary line between Bishop Rock and Ile d'Ouessant. This means that I am now not in the Atlantic any more, but sailing up the English Channel.
The day has not been as fast as I hoped it to be. Not only was the wind rather unstable, with unexpected strong gusts (which prevented me from flying the spinaker), but I also had a foul tide. I almost forgot, there are tides in the channel! and from 11 til 5 the tide has been against me. But now the tide is fair, for some 6 hours to come, and the Lizard is only 39 miles ahead. That should be possible! Plymouth is still some 90 miles off, so I will probably get there some time tomorrow.
Now, as the strongest gusts have passed (the wind is supposed to die out over night), I fly the jib poled out on the spinaker pole, and also have the code 0 on the leeward side, as well as a full main. Makes a nice combination, and also easy to reef down in case of gusts. And we finally go fast again, over 8 knots at the moment.
I haven't seen any Fastnet boats yet, and am curious how far they are. Have the first boats rounded the Bishop yet? We'll see.
Bart
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4911N 0938W - (09/08/2009)
Today was not really a day of speed records. Starting out in flat calm, ever since 2 AM the wind very, very gradually increased until it just now reaches a strength of some 10 knots. Subsequently, the speed has gone up from 1 to 5.5 knots now, all day under spinaker. But it was a very comfortable day, with hardly any swell, which allowed me to catch up some rest after last night. It's been overcast all day, but as from about noon the fog cleared and visibility became excellent. And by going at a steady speed, albeit slowly, in the end of the day, the day's run is not as bad as I feared earlier today. Might be up to some 110 miles.
The forecast is for strong soutwesterly winds tonight. I can't wait! It are now the closing stages of my crossing; the nearest port is now St. Mary, at the Isles of Scilly. Bishop Rock, at the western end of the Scillies, is only 131 miles off. If all goes well I will pass the Scillies tomorrow evening.
Bart
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4854N 1048W - (09/08/2009)
Why is it that during the days, I don't see a living soul. But as soon as night falls, and the fog rolls in, there's boats everywhere! Last night was terrible. No wind to speak of, a swell that made the sails slam against the rigging, and the radar alarms beeping that at least two boats were around. Very tiring!
But now the fog has cleared, a NW wind has come up (although still only 6 or 7 knots, but enough to get me going), and we're off again. I got a visit this morning from a Spanish fishing vessel. Maybe that was the vessel that hang around last night!
I was informed last night, that the famous Fastnet race starts today. A 300 boat fleet leaves Cowes (Isle of Wight) at noon today. They will sail down the Channel, around the Bishop Rock, up the Celtic sea to round the Fastnet rock off the SW coast of Ireland, and then back into the channel for a finish in Plymouth. I'm afraid I will see all 300 of them! As the winds will be SW from this evening, it will be a dead beat for them. And I might be going under spinaker, so not the most ideal conditions to dodge a 300 boat fleet!
But I hope to beat them into Plymouth!
Bart
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4849N 1213W - (08/08/2009)
Thick fog, almost becalmed... Bah!
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4835N 1318W - (08/08/2009)
Today is probably my last day in ocean proper, for some time to come. At the moment I am still in the so called Porcupine Abyssal Plane, a valley in the ocean floor with a depth of over 4000m; as from this evening I will start to ascent the continental shelf. Today is quite different from the week before; it is drizzling, foggy and damp. The high pressure ridge has moved somewhat to the east and a small trough has moved in, giving me this weather and a moderate southerly breeze. There is no swell to speak of, and, while I am reaching under spinaker, quite comfortable inside. The invaluable Alladin lamp is burning slowly, and the boat is nice and warm. But, for the first time in two weeks, I am wearing jeans and a sweater! English summer, I presume!
This reaching under spinaker, how nice it may be, will not last long, as we are going in the wrong direction. That is, too far to the north. But I have the choice of going at 7 knots too far north, or going at 4 knots in the right direction. So when I reach 49 degrees north, and the wind is still southerly, I will take the spi down and go due east. If I go too far north, I might get on the northern side of the low, and run into easterlies! This little trough is a sort of intermediate system between the high on the southeast, and a new, Atlantic low. The new low, with accompanying westerlies, will only come in on monday, so for today and tomorrow I will have to do with this. ETA Plymouth still Tuesday night or Wednesday morning...
Bart
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4745N 1630W - (07/08/2009)
It might start to get boring, but I can only report of yet another perfect sailing day. The whole of last week has been marvelous, with my worst day (mentioned in the previous posting) of 140 miles. Then a day of 152, and all other days in the 160's. Sunny, partly clouded, wind southwesterly some 20 knots. Jib poled out. Yesterday, the wind abated a little, so flew the spinaker for some time. Gave me something to do :-).
Today we continuously sailed very fast; if conditions last til midnight this will be a 170, or maybe even a 180 mile day. But, conditions are forecast to calm down, as a high pressure cell develops over my position tomorrow. As it looks now, the wind will die out tomorrow, and by tomorrow night will be completely becalmed. But, last time predictions proved wrong and we kept some wind, so let's hope that will happen again. Still 470 miles to the Lizard.
When I get in Plymouth, I will post all my pictures on this site, so keep checking next week!
Bart
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4611N 2034W - (06/08/2009)
The fast sailing lasted two full days, both gave 160 miles. After that, I was supposed to enter an area of high pressure and subsequently less wind. But, maybe as a result of my attempts to sail around, over the top, of this high, the speed loss was not as bad as expected. In fact, I still did 152 miles yesterday. And the course is also not so bad, although a little north or the direct course. Finisterre is now 518 miles off, Flores is 615 miles behind and the Lizard 655 miles ahead.
The huge swell of the last few days, a result of a mammoth depression west of Ireland, finally abates somewhat. It makes the sailing much more comfortable, without this swell!
Bart
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4438N 2510W - (05/08/2009)
Another splendid day! Stiff wind (20-25kn), fast reaching on a huge sea. The surface of the sea is quite choppy, with waves from all directions the boat bounces over. Underneath these waves is a ridiculously huge swell; in an attempt to estimate the height I climbed the mast to the lower spreader, but from there was by far not able to look over the top of the next wave when the boat was in a trough. So I estimate the height at at least 6 meters. Rather impressive!
Occasionally the boat just takes off, surfing down these big waves. Regularly she hits 11 or 12 knots. De Franschman will quite easily plane at speeds in that range. The highest speed, until last week, was 15.3. That was set back in 1998, the first year that the boat went to sea. Amazingly, it took til last week to improve on that. This being not a race, and the middle of the Atlantic makes me a bit more careful than I would have been closer to a shore. But conditions were just right: a gust, a little too much sail, and the perfect wave. The boat just accelerated and didn't stop, just went faster and faster. And I was in my sleeping bag, looking at the speedometer going up and up, all the way to 16.7! Waw! And nothing much happened; after this mighty surf the boat returned to more normal speeds, and I quickly put a reef in!
Bart
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4400N 2645W; Europe - (04/08/2009)
Last night I passed the longitude of Horta, and most of the other Azorean Islands. I am some 250 miles north of them. And more importantly, I crossed the Mid Atlantic Ridge. According to the map, I sailed right over the top of a mountain, only 625 meters below me. That sounds still deep enough, but this mountain rises from the seabed at some 4000 meters. So, seen from the ground, quite a mountain! I am now back in deep water, again, and over the European tectonic plate.
The wind is still fresh, from the north west, and we are going fast, over 7 most of the time! There is quite a big sea running. Surely, to my north, the wind is much stronger! But this situation is not to last; a high pressure system will move in from the south, and, if I am far enough to the north, will bring gentle westerly winds. Not bad, but we will slow down a bit. But probably teh temperature will rise again, as this morning it was only a little over 10 degrees, Cold, especially when you are used to subtropical nights!
Bart
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4213N 3145W; Europe, here we come! - (02/08/2009)
As the long range weather forecast for the Western Approaches seems good (no tropical hurricanes forecast, calms instead...), I have decided to head directly for Europe. Flores, the westernmost island of the Azores, is almost due south from my position, but some 150 miles away. Cape Finisterre still 994 and the Lizard 1194.
During the past week I sailed due east, skirting the southern edge of a big Low, which is currently stationary west of Ireland. It gives gale force winds all over, but here, on the southern edge, only some 15 knots. This morning, the wind steadily decreased, so around noon I took the decision to gybe and sail ENE to look for some wind. Indeed, the wind slowly increased again to 15/20 knots. Perfect sailing with poled out jib. Further, tomorrow a cold front will pass, and the further north I am the better it will be; am I too far south the wind will veer all the way to the northeast; am I sufficiently far north, the wind will only veer from west to northwest.
Last night I saw a fish inspecting the lure. At first I thought is was a dolphin, and felt sorry for that. But later I realized that, although this fish had a dorsal fin on it's back, it looked much more like the blue fin tuna's from the book. It twisted around the lure a few times, and was then gone. What a pity! I have nog caught anything since that single bluefish on the way to New York.
Bart
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4140N 3549W; Mid Atlantic - (01/08/2009)
Around noon today I could fold the chart so that I am now closing in to Europe. A big step this is! I am truly in mid-Atlantic, happily skirting the southern edge of a big Atlantic depression. And while gales rage to the north of my position, I only have a gentle westerly wind of about 15 knots. This is likely to slowly increase tonight and tomorrow to 20 or 25 (force 6), but that's OK with me.
At the moment I am:
244 miles off Flores, on my starboard bow
1181 miles off Camarinas, on the northwest corner of Spain, due east from here
1367 miles off the Lizard, England
1122 miles off Whitehead, Nova Scotia (this is measured in a straight line, as the crow flies. It does not take into account the dogleg I made to get around the Grand Banks)
1589 miles off Newport, Rhode Island.
Depending on the long range weather forecast for the Western Approaches, tomorrow, I might skip a visit to the Azores and head straight for Europe. So far, the trip is going very smoothly, and it is a shame to visit exotic and remote islands as Flores (or the other Azores), without having time to enjoy them properly.
Bart
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4135N 4055W; Off the chart - (30/07/2009)
Since this afternoon, I am 'off' the last chart that only had North America on it. This was a large scale chart of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. But now, being to the east of 41W, the only chart I have where I can plot my position on is "Atlantic Ocean, Northern part". On this chart the daily runs are only a few cm long, so this chart is not very motivating to navigate on. However, having just plotted on this chart my daily runs for this return trip so far, I am already over one third of the distance. Furthermore, if we can continue this pace, it will be the day after tomorrow that I am on the other side of the chart, that is, the side with Europe on it. Then you really develop a feeling of getting closer every day.
Today we have sailed flat out, all day. Perfect conditions, with a WNW breeze of 15 to 20 knots, a pooled out jib and 1 reef in the main. Easy sailing, but so far have averaged over 7.5 today! The counter current of the last few days is definitely gone!
But conditions are not likely to stay as they are now. Tomorrow we will have a high pressure system right over our heads, which means no wind... But after that, another low is coming up, promising more westerlies. Just what we need!
Bart
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4138N4418W Fish - (29/07/2009)
This morning I found a flying fish in the cockpit. Too small to eat, though. And when I got in the towing generator, I found bite marks on the propeller! Knowing the force at which the propeller turns, I think the attacking fish (shark, tuna?) needs a dentist! That should teach him!
Around noon a front came through, with fierce rain and gusting wind up to 30 knots. I took the mainsail down for a while, and continued under jib only, still doing 6.5 knots. After the front, skies cleared and the wind steadied again at some 15/18 knots, due west. Perfect, easy sailing.
Bart
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4144N 4718W Full speed, at last. - (28/07/2009)
The low pressure system behind me is finally overtaking me. Last night and this morning were terribly slow, as there was hardly a breath of wind. I slept most of the time, trying to relax. The first 12 hours of today, I did only some 35 miles.
Later this morning saw the conditions everybody dreams of: Ocean of the deepest blue, not a cloud in the sky, no swell and a gentle (a little too gentle, to my taste) breeze on the quarter. Seawater temperature 27 degrees. I got some more suntan reading the biography of Peter Blake. Motivating lifestyle, this guy had!
Gradually, high clouds came in from the west, until is was completely overcast. Then the wind started to build, slowly but surely, and at the moment we are broad reaching in SW winds of around 15 knots, with the high aspect jib and full main. The wind is expected to build up to 30 knots tomorrow afternoon, so this promises to be a fast night. No swell as jet, so easy going.
Bart
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Time out; 4140N 4804W - (28/07/2009)
Yesterday and this morning have been sort of a time out. I was in the midst of a ridge of high pressure, with little or no wind. Yesterday I made only 92 miles in 24 hours. Now, when racing, this weather is an absolute nightmare. But this time, I just take another cup of tea and continue reading a book. I motored a bit, also to recharge the battery, but an hour or two motoring doesn't help much on a 3000 mile crossing... I also slept a lot, and generally try to come to grips with this crossing.
In a way, it is much less exciting then the ostar. During the race, I was constantly trying to make the most of it. I was also very curious about the others, and looked forward to every report by Nicolette. Where is British Beagle, what kind of weather? How can I catch up with him? What is Dick Koopmans doing? Why does he have wind while I am becalmed?? It was a much more intense way of sailing. I have to get used to the lazy affair that this crossing is. But I have a couple of books left, so I will manage.
And besides, the weather is about to change. When this ridge of high pressure has passed (and that goes very slowly as I almost keep up with it), a new, deep low is coming up. This will give gale force conditions to the north of me, and also a couple of days of nice, maybe strong, westerly winds to carry me east. I can't wait!
Bart
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4150N 5204W - (26/07/2009)
Yesterday was a lost day. In spite of all the forecasts, grib files and even 'Herb', the wind persisted in being contrary where it was supposed to veer to the southwest. Only at 10 (UTC) last night, the wind veered from ESE to S. I could then lay a course due east, but could only go slowly as all waves were still coming from the east.
Yesterday was a lost day. In spite of all the weather forecasts, grib files and even the prediction of guru 'Herb', the wind persisted in being contrary. It was also very unstable, both from direction and strength. Only at around 10 (UTC) last night did it veer from ESEerly to Southerly. I could then steer due east, but could go only very slowly as all the waves (steep, 2/3 meters hight)were still from an easterly direction.
But finally, early this morning, the wind did veer to the southwest, and increased in strength to over 30 knots. I was sailing under reefed jib and main sail with one reef, and that was way too much sail. Then a squall hit and the boat took off, hitting a top speed of 16.7 knots! I scrambled outside and took the mainsail down. Later, when the wind stabilized a little, I reset the main, this time well reefed!
All in all it is a bit of a stop-and-go game, with the wind changing between 35 and 10 knots. At the moment it is 10 again, and we bounce around on the still steep waves.
Still a long way to go...
Bart
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4145N 5500W - (25/07/2009)
Oncee past Sable Island, which consist of a long and narrow sandbank running east to west for some 60 miles, and only a fraction of it actually rises above the water, the wind veered to east-northeast, under the influence of a new, tropical depression. I sailed a southeasterly course, trying to cross the depression's path so that, when it overtakes me, the wind will veer southwest. But it seems that the depression is not in a hurry, and it overtakes me only very slowly. This gives me very annoying easterly, now southeasterly, winds of force 4 to 7. Now that I am at the correct latitude, I took the jib down and, reefed main sail only, go slowly and wait for the westerlies to come. Not yet... According to the latest grib files, it will probably not be before midnight tonight that the westerlies set in.
Last night a warm front came through, which changed the wind from ENE to ESE/SE. With it came dense clouds, thunder and lightning. I didn't feel comfortable at all! I guess it will take a while before my nerves will get used to lightning again.
Bart
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Return trip - (23/07/2009)
The trip to St. Pierre and Miquelon did not go as planned... It started out all right, with a nice following breeze. However, tuesday, the second day, didn't bring a breath of wind. So I motored a long way. By the end of the day I'd had enough of it and tucked into one of the fjords on the very East end of Nova Scotia. It is quite a spectacular coast, with many rocks and off lying dangers, and all very poorly marked with only an occasional buoy. I made my way in through a labyrinth of rocks, escorted by many seals, and tied up along a small floating pontoon in a village called Whitehead. The place was utterly idyllic, but for the mosquitos. They were extraordinary noisy and blood thirsty, and over the bay hang a noise as a Dakota coming in. I realized this too late and had all my doors and hatches open, so before I knew there were hundreds inside.
That night a light wind came up from the east, and fog set in, all according the forecast. It seems that summer is over, here, and a long train of tropical depressions is making it's way north along the gulf stream. Strong easterly and northeasterly wind are expected in the area of Newfoundland. Not very appealing... especially as easterly winds invariably bring a lot of rain and fog.
So I decided to set of from Whitehead. But before I could, I wanted to do some more shopping and also have a haircut. The nearest place with anything of a shop (and a barber) was Canso, some 35km away. So early morning, in thick fog but only a light drizzle, I set off on foot. Within five minutes a car came past and he gave me a ride all the way to Canso. As we went along the roads, I started to realize that this was a bit risky. All the way we only passed a single car going in the opposite direction! For the rest is Nova Scotia (New Scotland) the Christmas tree capital of the world, for as far as you can see.
So I did my shopping in the local supermarket, and met a couple from South Africa, camping in a tent. By that time the rain had set in and it rained like hell all morning. The Southafricans didn't have much else to do in this weather, with their tent pitched at the bottom of a mud pool and an air bed floating around inside, and accompanied me to the hairdresser. The place was most interesting, with all sorts of memorabilia up to original items off Titanic. He also had a passion for hats, and there were hats everywhere.
After me having had the haircut, the three of us had lunch in the local motel, and then they brought me all the way back to Whitehead. We had coffee on board, and while drinking this, the front came through. the wind veered from east to southwest, the rain stopped and the fog lifted (a little). I had to go! I said goodbye to the Southafricans and went up to the house of one of the locals who had helped me the night before with an internet connection for the latest weather forecasts. At his place I could have a shower and filled up some bottles with water.
Back on board, the southwesterly wind started to build and I knew I had to be quick, otherwise the wind would be too strong. I had hardly left my pontoon as the fog came back. As there is fog almost every day in this area, and the strong easterlies forecast, I carried on, carefully finding my way between the rocks. Visibility was less then 100 meters. But I made it safely outside, and started my Southeasterly course in the fog.
This morning I passed to the east of Sable Island, and now I am at 43d46N and 58d31W. Out into the Atlantic, in deep water now, the fog has cleared. But the wind died, too...
Bart
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Lightning - (21/07/2009)
Yesterday morning I also bought a new map reading light for at the chart table (as the old one has a short-circuit in it that I can't fix), and new LED lamp bulbs for the cabin light. I had two white lamps and one red, as the lamp has a switch to choose between red and white light.
So at sea, yesterday, I fitted all this. It was a failure! The white bulbs turned out to be green(!), and the reading light (also of LED type) is so enormously bright that it's unusable at night as it will blind you completely.
So annoying...
The good news, though, is that I had some strong words with my SPX-5 autopilot, after which the thing steered the boat quite satisfactorily all evening and night. Gives hope!
Bart
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