{"id":2854,"date":"2014-03-22T15:07:34","date_gmt":"2014-03-22T15:07:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=2854"},"modified":"2014-03-23T11:05:44","modified_gmt":"2014-03-23T11:05:44","slug":"paper-charts-are-dead-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/?p=2854","title":{"rendered":"Paper charts are dead! Not!!!"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s Saturday morning and it\u2019s laundry day here for Pandora in Black Point Settlement, Exumas.\u00a0 You may recall that we were here a while back and I was raving about the terrific laundry and barber services of Ida.\u00a0 Anyway, I won\u2019t bore you with all that again except to say that we are looking forward to clean sheets.\u00a0 No, don\u2019t check back to that post to see how long it\u2019s been since laundry.\u00a0 We\u2019re ready indeed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Forgive the digression but clean laundry looms large.\u00a0 However, the real point of this post is about getting around and paper and electronic navigation.\u00a0 Sound boring?\u00a0 Probably, but it\u2019s my blog so there!<\/p>\n

Some months ago \u201cActive Captain\u201d a well-regarded source of cruising information, announced that paper charts were dead and no longer needed due to the advances in electronic charting and the number of redundancies for onboard navigation.\u00a0 I have to admit that I was skeptical at the time and really doubted that tossing out something as enduring as paper was a good idea.<\/p>\n

On a personal note, for those that have been reading about our trials of getting around and staying in touch after the demise of our iPad, you may recall just how hard it has been for us to get this resolved.\u00a0 Well, yesterday we finally received our new iPad after some three weeks of effort.\u00a0 That\u2019s a long time and once we had it in hand we spent nearly the entire day setting it up and getting everything reinstalled.\u00a0 Happily, we are now \u201cgood to go\u201d and all is back in working order.<\/p>\n

What this whole effort has made me appreciate is the fragile nature of electronic devices.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 One moment the iPad worked and the next\u2026<\/p>\n

I know that we are WAY over reliant on our easy-to-use electronic gadgets and have been so for many years.\u00a0 However, I am happy to say that we were indeed able to get around without our electronic charts, using the good old paper chart books.\u00a0 However, even with all systems functioning properly we have always keep paper charts handy and with \u201celectro-problems\u201d we really made sure that we were tuned into the paper world.<\/p>\n

I have to say that when the iPad pooped, I was very concerned that we had become so reliant on electronics that would be stuck, paralyzed and unable to get around at all.\u00a0 However, as it turned out, while we were slowed down, we were not stopped.\u00a0 I found myself being much more aware of water color as a sign of water depth and I also did a lot of checking the lay of the surrounding islands against what I saw on paper with the hope that I was where I hoped I was.\u00a0 Mostly, yes.<\/p>\n

Anxious as we were, we did make it around fine so what\u2019s the need for the fancy equipment?\u00a0 Well, I guess that it\u2019s more about confidence and comfort and knowing that we can double check what we think we see against what we see on the plotter.\u00a0 Having electronic charts that show exactly where we are at any given moment is like having a \u201cpilot\u201d on board to validate what we see and provide reassurance that we are where safe and on the right track.\u00a0 Winding between coral heads and sand banks takes real nerve when you are trying to do it without \u201creal time\u201d information from the plotter.\u00a0 Yes, the water is famously clear but even though you can see the bottom most of the time, it\u2019s still tough to be sure.\u00a0 And, \u201calmost right\u201d isn\u2019t quite good enough when you are at risk of crashing into a coral head.<\/p>\n

What this process has reinforced for me is that the \u201cold fashioned\u201d paper is still great and surely not dead but that it\u2019s just so nice to have an \u201cextra set of eyes\u201d from a plotter to confirm that \u201cyes, Bob, you are on the right track, carry on\u201d.<\/p>\n

Another take away from all of this is that you can get anything you need in the Bahamas but that it might take weeks and cost a lot.\u00a0\u00a0 So, what are you willing to pay for peace of mind?\u00a0 In the case of Pandora\u2019s crew, plenty.<\/p>\n

\u201cBob, OK, OK enough technical drivel.\u00a0 Please show us some pictures!\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, pictures are good.\u00a0 While we were in Staniel Cay waiting for our packages to be flown in, we took some time to visit the pigs on nearby Big Majors Spot.\u00a0 Yes, I have already posted about the local swine but wanted to show yet another picture of some of the little piglets. \u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/a>They were so cute, if a bit salty and sandy.\u00a0 And, how I know about this is because I couldn’t resist picking up the littlest piglet. \u00a0But, first I had to choose one. \u00a0How about the littlest? \u00a0\u00a0Here piggy, piggy\u2026 \u00a0Just a little closer…<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Gotcha! \u00a0He was fairly traumatized by the attention and squealed relentlessly in a very pathetic way.\u00a0 I \u00a0was a bit fearful that mama was going to come to his rescue, all 600 lbs of her.\u00a0 Happily, she wasn’t nearly that attentive. \u00a0 He was very vocal and didn’t squirm at all as he was probably terrorized by the experience. \u00a0I preferred to think of him as “stoic” and just resigned to tolerating the indignity of it all. \u00a0 Only the piggy knows…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Speaking of local wildlife\u2026\u00a0 Every afternoon the folks at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club (actually it\u2019s not a club at all but I won\u2019t quibble) clean fish and lobster in preparation for dinner.\u00a0\u00a0 The food there is very fresh and pretty good actually, and the scraps go into the water to feed the local fish population.\u00a0 Sharks and rays come in from all over to enjoy the feast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In spite of being in a busy marina, the water is incredibly clear.\u00a0 It almost looks like they are just laying on rock.\u00a0 No, there is some 4\u2019 of water.\u00a0 Really, really clear.\"\"<\/a>There was quite a crowd looking for dinner. \u00a0\"\"<\/a>So, now that we are all set with our new iPad, after three weeks of waiting, we are again working our way south.\u00a0 Today, laundry and tomorrow we will head further down the Exuma chain and get ready to dodge the next cold front that\u2019s due to drive through the area next week.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, another front and this one is now bearing down on New England as a major noreaster (is that how you spell it? \u00a0Not in spell check).\u00a0 Glad we are not there right now.\u00a0 What a winter they have had.\u00a0 Yuck.\u00a0 Me?\u00a0 I\u2019d much rather be here enjoying another sunny warm day.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Have I said that it\u2019s sunny in the Bahamas?\u00a0 And warm?\u00a0 Yes, thought so.<\/p>\n

With all our equipment back in order it\u2019s a new day so what better way to sign off than with a shot of yesterday\u2019s sunrise in Staniel Cay.\u00a0 Yes, a great day indeed.\"\"<\/a>So, here I am finishing up on this post as our wash is swishing around getting clean. \u00a0The laundromat has free wifi too. \u00a0That’s Ida for you. \u00a0The best laundry and haircuts in the Bahamas and WIFI too!<\/span><\/p>\n

And, of course, all this proves that paper charts are not dead. \u00a0Right? \u00a0No, not the best segue to end with. \u00a0Oh well.<\/p>\n

But there’s more…<\/p>\n

Today there is a big barbecue at the local school here in Black Point. \u00a0And, we certainly can’t miss that. \u00a0Hmm…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s Saturday morning and it\u2019s laundry day here for Pandora in Black Point Settlement, Exumas.\u00a0 You may recall that we were here a while back and I was raving about the terrific laundry and barber services of Ida.\u00a0 Anyway, I won\u2019t bore you with all that again except to say that we are looking forward […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","_s2mail":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2854","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2854"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2854\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2863,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2854\/revisions\/2863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}