<<<Autopilots, GPS, Radar, Furling..... all this stuff is supposed to make our onboard lives more convenient, but at a COST. INCREASED RISK OF FAILURE. As sailors, we are supposed to be able to deal with the worst case scenario, and build up from there.>>>
ALEX GIANNELIA Here Ya'go . . . . (an oldie but a goodie) I must go down to the sea again, in a modern high-tech boat, And all I ask is electric, for comfort while afloat And alternators, and solar panels, and generators going And deep cycle batteries with many amperes flowing. I must go down to the sea again, to the autopilot's ways, And all I ask is a GPS, and a radar, and displays, And a cell phone, and a weather fax, and a short-wave radio And compact disks, computer games and TV videos. I must go down to the sea again, with a freezer full of steaks, And all I ask is a microwave, and a blender for milkshakes, And a water maker, air-conditioner, hot water in the sink, And e-mail and a VHF to see what my buddies think. I must go down to the sea again, with power-furling sails, And chart displays of all the seas, and a bullhorn for loud hails And motors pulling anchor chains, and push-button sheets And programs which take full charge of tacking during beats. I must go down to the sea again, and not leave friends behind And so they never get seasick we'll use the web online And all I ask is an Internet with satellites over me And beaming all the data up, my friends sail virtually. I must go down to the sea again, record the humpback whales Compute until I decipher their language and their tales, And learn to sing in harmony, converse beneath the waves And befriend the gentle giants as my synthesizer plays. I must go down to the sea again, with RAM in gigabytes, And teraflops of processing for hobbies that I like, And software suiting all my wants, seated at my console And pushing on the buttons which give me complete control. I must go down to the sea again, my concept seems quite sound, But when I simulate this boat, some problems I have found. The cost is astronomical, repairs will never stop, Instead of going sailing, I'll be shackled to the dock. I must go down to the sea again, how can I get away? Must I be locked in low-tech boats until my dying day? Is there no cure for my complaint, no technologic fix? Oh I fear, electric fever is a habit I can't kick. Anon (found on a notice board in Fiji) Bill Coleman C&C 39 _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
