Sponsors Supporting my Nonstop Circumnavigation 2012-2013
Companies donating services and equipment
A variety of Raymarine equipment is on board, including radar, plotter and hydraulic autopilot (T3), in addition to basic instruments. The UK HQ team have been very supportive and helpful and are always quick to try to resolve any problems, including whilst on passage. Their autopilot has coped well in bad sea conditions and the plotters and radar have many useful features, one of which is incorporating an AIS input. Another feature I particularly liked was the wind, heading and COG vectors - giving vital info at a glance.
I was contacted by exactEarth in Cambridge, Ontario (Canada) about setting up a page on their website, www.exactearth.com, to show my nonstop RTW track and details via my AIS (VHF) signal, picked up regularly by low-orbiting satellites. They use a constellation of polar orbiting satellites which cross each pole 14 times a day, meaning full global coverage each day with no gaps, although at times my Class B signal was too weak to be picked up....
An excellent, strong, gimballed radar support kept the radar 'looking forward' and level in all sea conditions.
ACR provided their excellent EPIRB and also their new floating, waterproof ResQLink+ Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), together with a Rapid Ditch Bag. International Safety Products (ISP) donated a comfortable 'self-righting' life-jacket with face protection and strobe light.
Dubarry boots and deck shoes - are lovely as well as being functional! Many people have noticed and commented on them - both the (Goretex) boots and the colourful, comfortable deck shoes. My old ones saw good use over several years and I've been very satisfied with them.