tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post7205031410318954118..comments2024-03-21T09:11:16.537-04:00Comments on Cruising the ICW with Bob423: St Augustine - at a dockBob423http://www.blogger.com/profile/09269810283567498286noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-21727524717040501142021-02-19T11:33:09.719-05:002021-02-19T11:33:09.719-05:00It is a very informative and useful post thanks it...It is a very informative and useful post thanks it is good material to read this post increases my knowledge. <a href="https://www.knowwake.com/" rel="nofollow">Waterway Navigation App</a><br />StevenHWickerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05864349482360534088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-48762777593210397472018-04-26T22:26:53.115-04:002018-04-26T22:26:53.115-04:00Laura, I received a lot of suggestions on addition...Laura, I received a lot of suggestions on additional apps and services to include in future comparisons. I will expand the range of choices. I am in direct communication with the Aqua Map developers in Italy so if you think of a feature that’s needed, let me know. By the way I think they did an outstanding job on tides and currents. <br /><br />Bob423https://www.blogger.com/profile/09269810283567498286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-49911340501590680042018-04-26T17:54:38.706-04:002018-04-26T17:54:38.706-04:00Hi Bob- We’re excited about your weather app compa...Hi Bob- We’re excited about your weather app comparison as this is an issue we wrestle with a lot. On Tuesday we left St Augustine and sailed off shore to Winyah Bay Inlet/Georgetown. In deciding go or no go, we were pleased to see all models including PWE in general agreement and real conditions matched the forecasts until we got to Winyah Bay Inlet in an unexpected increasing SSW wind which whipped up the inlet. We saw a gust of 26 at one point. But though choppy it was doable and we were soon safely inside. I guess there will always be weather surprises but out of our 33 hour passage, only the last hour was a bit unexpected. So yes, these apps are pretty good and we rely on them. Your study may help us make more informed choices.<br /><br />I recently purchased Aqua Maps app to replace Garmin Blue Chart based upon your comparison of navigation apps. So far I like the new app and find it more useful than Garmin Blue Chart. For example, the real time current indicators right on the chart screen are great. Thanks for your observations and thanks for taking on weather apps.<br />Laura<br />SV Fancy FreeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-82063656508462500562018-04-26T16:38:51.146-04:002018-04-26T16:38:51.146-04:00Scott'n Kitt, the new iPad is a great buy at $...Scott'n Kitt, the new iPad is a great buy at $325, I will be buying one for Ann to replace her aging iPad 4 which doesn’t even support split screen. I’ll upgrade to the 128GB model and also the GPS chip. <br /><br />Greg, I do not know Chrisi Parker but it would be great if he participated. My experience in 8 years of trying to get from Cape May to New York where I have to go up the coast, is that the NOAA coastal forecast always seems to be exaggerated. Perhaps that’s due to having to cover 20 Nm out instead of just along the coast. Many times I’ve seem PocketGrib give a calmer forecast than NOAA only to see NOAA cone around to the grid forecast a few hours later. I haven’t used PredictWind that much yet but it looks intriguing. You can set the map and then switch between GFS, ECWMF, PWE and PWG and see the changes in the forecast.<br /><br />We tell ourselves we need a human in the loop but then look at the Go and Chess self learning programs that play the game so even the best in the world don’t understand the moves - except the human loses. Then there’s the self taught program that’s finding exoplanets the astronomers missed, except the program can’t tell the logic used to find them since it's buried in the self taught routines. You can be sure the same approach is being used right now for weather prediction. The data is there for the using and the self learning orograms are advancing all the time. There are many more examples. None of this is used in the simple apps, yet, but there’s no reason it can’t be. <br /><br />Thanks for the education on gradients. I have no training in weather forecasting. I just wanted to see which app (or person) can best tell the future! Bob423https://www.blogger.com/profile/09269810283567498286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-88806359228308620042018-04-26T14:25:16.334-04:002018-04-26T14:25:16.334-04:00Hi Bob,
I liked the App article. I have been ca...Hi Bob, <br /> I liked the App article. I have been casually comparing model performance over the years. Easy to do with Windy TV on a laptop as there is a "compare" option that stacks many of the models. (except PWE/G). Not sure one can do that compare on the Windy App.<br /> Best I can tell, the US and Euro models break differently between gradient and gust wind speeds. So often the Euro model has a higher gradient wind than the US model, while both have the same gust speed. On gusty days, the Euro model feels more "accurate" to me.<br /> I notice that the NOAA coastal forecasts often just predict gradient, so on gusty days appear to underestimate. Like you mentioned, NOAA seems to be a little late to catch conditions that are changing rapidly, so report changes in forecast later than what shows up in the GRIB apps. <br /> All that said, and after years of "observing" much of it offshore, my #1 vote for accuracy goes to Chris Parker. Next, I go with NOAA. There are times when the models just get it wrong and the human at NOAA is able to add the experience. Especially when NOAA predicts weather worse than the models. Unfortunately, when NOAA is predicting conditions worse than the models, they are right. <br /> Hopefully some real meteorologists will come on line and enlighten us.<br />We are in Stuart till 9 May. Kids graduation to attend down here, then N to Newport. As much outside as possible, so lets hope I can get a good forecast. I will go with whichever forecast looks the most promising!<br />Greg MV PrivateerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-64086829839537614622018-04-26T08:23:27.767-04:002018-04-26T08:23:27.767-04:00Bob--
We just read your article on Wind Apps. Go...Bob--<br /><br />We just read your article on Wind Apps. Good write up. As much as I hate the thought, we might have to break down and buy an iPad for the boat. Take care and keep well. Hopefully you'll have deep water and favorable winds<br /><br />/s/ Scott'n Kitt<br /> s/v HyLyte<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-72774347583302371912018-04-25T22:10:55.510-04:002018-04-25T22:10:55.510-04:00Anonymous, we cruise at 7.3 kts but today we had a...Anonymous, we cruise at 7.3 kts but today we had a 1 to 1.5 kt current with us the entire way. We flew. We covered the 43 Nm in 7 hours which included a stop for fuel of about 45 min and big slowdowns for a few shallow spots like Ft Matanzas and waiting for a few bridges.Bob423https://www.blogger.com/profile/09269810283567498286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849386655963437560.post-63687750505200812792018-04-25T21:18:42.088-04:002018-04-25T21:18:42.088-04:00Hi Bob,
What was your average speed today? We did ...Hi Bob,<br />What was your average speed today? We did our first leg from Melbourne to Titusville, and it was a nice ride, but after 12 pm wind gusts were in the range of 25-27 knots, so we took the head sail down, to make it more comfortable. After that, we only averaged 5 knots.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com