Remember the trouble we had with the autopilots before the start of the race?

Eekels Electrotechniek had sponsored me a complete set of Raymarine's latest, best, autopilot system. Called SPX-5, it is a replacement of the older S1G. Both systems have an integrated solid state giro which really makes all the difference in a seaway. However, the unit did not work as it should. It started out all right, but then suddenly would steer the boat to port. We tried everything: a different compass, sailing in wind mode, but it kept steering to port. Then we found out, that when the boat was moored, the compass heading would suddenly go all round the scale. That was when we sent the unit back to England, for guarantee. Eekels did their utmost, and provided me with a spare computer unit at the very last moment. A new unit was sent by Raymarine, but only after I was already in Plymouth. So Jurrien took it with her when she came to see me off.

The second unit from Eekels was not the new SPX-5, but the older model, and after installation seemed to work quite well. When Jurrien came with the replaced SPX-5, and we installed it, it was not long before we found out that this unit had exactly the same fault as the previous one. The start was coming soon, and I was getting nervous.

Now Raymarine, being world-market leader, send a chap called Mark to Plymouth, to see that everybody with Raymarine stuff had their equipment checked. Mark was brilliant, fixed everything. After concluding that this replacement unit was really faulty, he offered me a reconditioned, checked, S1G computer. I could borrow it, use it, and by the time I got back to Plymouth decide whether I buy it from him or give it back.

This unit was nothing less then perfect. By far and away the best pilot I ever had. Only in the very light, unstable winds could I outperform the pilot, but then only for a short period of time. During rough conditions, broad reaching in 35 knots doing almost 200 miles a day, or running before a 50 knots gale in a high, very confused and breaking sea, the performance of this pilot was unequaled. And best of all, because the pilot was so efficient in giving the right amount of helm at exactly the right time, it was remarkably power-efficient.

Unfortunately, during the lightning strike, this course computer was fried. The print inside is black in places and does not look like it will ever work again. The spare computer, the one that Eekels arranged for me at the very last moment, came back to life after I replaced the 2A fuse inside. Imagine, this unit was stowed in a ziplock bag in a locker, and not connected to anything at all. The electro magnetic field in the air must have been sufficient to blow this fuse! But ever since leaving Newport I am struggling with it. It's not reliable, steering quite well for some time before going in auto-tack, or steering suddenly off course while blaring it's off-course alarm. Last night I gave up and mounted the emergency ST2000 pilot. As it were very calm conditions, this pilot did fine for the night.

At first light I mounted the brand new SPX-5 course computer, bought in Newport. I couldn't get the S1G any more, so settled with this new model, although my confidence in this particular model is almost zero. And sure enough, after a quick calibration run (I know all the settings in the Dealer Calibration Menu, by now) the boat was back on course. But it took only 15 minutes before she went to port... I tried steering in wind mode, but same result. According to Mark this SPX-5 is actually a better pilot that the S1G, but I have had enough of them. I am now steering on the old ST4000+ unit, which (being stowed away in the fore peak) seems to have survived the strike. This unit has always steered the boat, but it's performance in rough weather doesn't come close to the unit Mark provided.

I still have another Atlantic crossing to do and feel bad about this whole Raymarine. At the moment the weather is still fine, although from tonight the wind will increase to force 6, maybe 7 for a time. I am now some 20 miles off the Southwestern tip of Nova Scotia, and still a hundred miles from Halifax. When I get there I may try to arrange something to fix this problem.

Bart

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com