Still wringing the AI out. What are it's limits? What are mine in it?
Decided to try for F Buoy. That's a FAD (Fish aggravation device see:
http://www.hawaii.edu/HIMB/FADS/ )
It's 11.5 miles west of Keauhou light where I operate out of.
I figured allowing a wander factor of 2 nm, plus perhaps up an additional mile for the scope of chain offset( ~ 1 mile in radius) put me at ~25 nm+ round trip.
Rumbling of a bad trip started the night before. My GPS was kaput.
Well I had a compass. And while I did not have a "mothership" I did have a "safety boat" ; a fishing buddy that would meet me half way, then proceed to the buoy and await my arrival. Then make sure I started back safely. It was the first attempt and I was concerned about no wind, and getting sucked into a heavy current. I'm old, not bold so wanted some extra safety on this first trip.
I left almost 25 minutes late from my projected time 0600. More bad karma. However it was still first light before sunrise. I was hoping for a strong offshore wind. Figured it would flatten around 1000 and shift to onshore, hopefully at least 10 knots.
The wind was lighter than I wanted. I was going too slow. I tried to avoid pedaling to conserve energy. My buddy showed up and gave me a fix. I had only been doing 2.5-2.8 knots. We were 7 miles to go, and the wind was dropping.
Somehow I had left my VHF radio on the night before when testing and the battery was so low I could no longer transmit. My new cell phone also had problems. Communications were a big concern for both of us..
But a lot of work had gone into this.
He shoved off for the buoy to fish and check conditions. He was along in case the wind pooped out, and the current was too strong.
I followed somewhat encouraged from a few hard strikes, but no hookups.
When he returned the wind was almost useless to proceed. The buoy was now only 3 miles away. But with no wind, and maybe having to pedal all the way back I aborted. Hawaiian fishing guys would also appreciate his report of stenos (large porpoise that are excellent bait stealers) had been hanging at the buoy. Why proceed.
So I turned around. The wind hadn't shifted, but was almost non existent.
Eventually I just furled the sail and continued pedaling. About 2 miles out the wind picked up just a tad. I got some help wind wise, but not much, the last mile and half.
I figured I covered around 17+ miles, on about 75% pedal power. One of the disadvantages of the AI when the wind drops on the way home.
I had taken a lunch which I devoured early. Had the wife pack an extra three candy bars to give me a glucose kick if I needed it. I did!!
My buddy apologized later. After he left me he ran into a "floater". He was about a mile away trying my cell, radio several times, etc. They hooked up over 11 mahi hanging on the surface.
Next time I will be damn certain my communications work. I have a spare battery pack for the radio. It's going along from now on. I took the cell phone back (brand new) and got one that works.
Thought I was in shape to do this if wind died. I was, but wouldn't want to do too much more.
I think with GPS the buoy is a safe obtainable fishing target. Only have to get about half that South Point wind I described earlier. But you have to be ready in case th wind isn't correct. I had gone on basis of up to 15 knots predicted.
BTW lost my last bait on the way in.
Sign me
Pooped puppy.