Author: TIMEZERO

MaxSea at Navalia 2014

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This week, Sandrine Abadie, MaxSea Inside Sales Manager, represented MaxSea at the Navalia International Shipbuilding Exhibition, which took place this week in the north-west of Spain.

When: 20, 21 and 22 May, 2014Navalia Trade Show

Where: Vigo, Spain

Navalia Info: In 2013, over 25,000 professional visitors attended from 90 different countries. There were approximately 500 exhibitors. Read more about this exhibition here.

MaxSea Booth: MaxSea products were demonstrated at our partners’ booth: FURUNO España and Nautical.

Navalia attracted many professionals involved in the commercial fishing industry.

sandrine with guest
Sandrine Abadie – MaxSea Inside Sales Manager with Miguel Nogueira – FURUNO España Sales Manager

MaxSea TimeZero PLOT software is specifically designed for commercial fishing, and was demonstrated with the new WASSP Module, showing advanced compatibility features with the multi-beam sounders.

wassp boat show
MaxSea TimeZero integrated with a WASSP multi-beam sounder

This event was very successful and MaxSea would like to thanks FURUNO and Nautical for their cooperation. See you next year!

 

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Top 5 Boating Blogs to Follow Right Now!

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There are many boating blogs out there – some are general whereas others specialise in just one element of boating, from commercial fishing to safety rules and regulations. We’ve scanned the internet to pick out five great blogs that all boaters should follow! Here’s the countdown, from 5 to 1:

5. Capt’n Pauley’s Virtual Boatyard: This is very good DIY boating blog, with information on everything from rigging to boat restoration to engine maintenance. If you’re looking for some tips and advice and like to work on your boat, this is the blog for you!

4. Bitter End: Capt. Richard J. Rodriguez keeps you up to date on news related to the world of boating. A good mix of topics!

3. G-Captain: Captain John Konrad does a great job of writing entertaining and informative articles. This blog mainly focuses on commercial fishing, but even if you’re a recreational boater, you’ll find high-quality information and advice.

sailing anarchy

2. Sailing Anarchy: Scot Tempesta edits this sailing blog, and he’s a guy with attitude! This blog stands out because it takes a no-nonsense, down-to-earth approach to sailing and yachting. It’s updated several times a day and if you love sailing, you’ll find the articles very interesting. Over 80,000 likes on Facebook too – impressive!

Ben Ellison - then and now!
Ben Ellison – then and now!

1. Panbo: Our number one pick has got to be the ubiquitous Panbo blog. MaxSea loves it because it covers virtually everything in the world of marine electronics. Writer and editor Ben Ellison has become well-known by most people who own a boat.

Why do we like this blog so much? Because it is updated so often and you can find thorough, informed reviews of just about every major marine electronics product here. Definitely one to follow!

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Download the free MaxSea guide: Cold Weather Sailing

Team Ashram Qualifies for World Marlin Championships in Costa Rica!

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MaxSea is proud to be a partner of The Ashram Fishing Team. This Australian-based team recently participated in the “Seasport Charters Marlin Cup,” using MaxSea TimeZero PLOT on board. Here is their account of how the tournament went.

The team is made up of Sangeeta Menon, Andy Ziepe, Mark Jarrett and Rhyss Whittred. The Seasport Charters Marlin Cup was hosted by the Perth Game Fishing Club in Jurien Bay, and ran from February 20-23rd.

Jurien Bay is approx. 400km north of Team Ashram’s home port and boasts some excellent game fishing species. The winner of this tournament receives an invite to compete in the Offshore World Championships in Costa Rica for 2015.

Rhyss Whittred gives us his account of the tournament:

Team Ashram's boat“For our team this was the first major tournament we had competed in since I purchased my Wellcraft 270 and revamped the electronics to include Maxsea TimeZero PLOT and Furuno’s latest technology. I can’t say how keen we were to compete and in fact one of the teams there had the reigning world champion angler on board Valkoista (Craig White).

It was a 3 day tournament with your 2 best days fishing score counting towards overall championship points. The night before the tournament commenced I downloaded the latest Maxsea weather file and carefully worked out our fishing plan in line with sea surface temp, currents and plankton.

We headed out and had a cracker of a day. The Maxsea oceanic data was spot on and my team was fantastic with their art of angling and we managed Southern Blue Fin, Striped and Yellowfin Tuna to give us some great points of 2,850 points and our nearest competitors were on 375 points.

Saturday dawned and I planned to go to the same area north where we had done so well Team Ashramthe day before. Alas, the water temperature was down 2 degrees, with no bait and no birds. We could hear others on the radio with great fishing results. Unfortunately I had left my mobile phone at the hotel and couldn’t download a current weather file. We were now at a complete low and did not turn a reel for the day.

The next morning I was up very early and downloaded the weather file and made a plan of attack. In fact the good water and temperature breaks we had 2 days before where now 40kms south of Jurien and we needed to get among it. With the early start we got down there in time for lines in at 6am and once again we tagged our limit of tuna and returned to port.

The scoring by other teams was very good and it was an absolute pleasure to have revealed that the Ashram Team picked up Champion Boat, Champion Female Angler, Runner Up Male Angler and Champion Tag and Release.

So my friends at Maxsea, I thank you all for your cutting edge technology and how it all worked in so well with my Furuno equipment and helping us to win this tournament.”

– Rhyss Whittred

Thanks Rhys! And best of luck for the World Marlin Championships in Costa Rica!

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4 of the Most Common Causes of Boat Accidents

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To stay safe onboard, it helps to know what the most common causes of boat accidents actually are. Here, we list 4 of them so you can make sure to avoid them happening to you!

4 of the Most Common Causes of Boat Accidents

1. Not being prepared for the weather

Poor visibility can make boating extremely difficult – and sometimes very dangerous. It is indispensable to check the marine weather forecast before leaving port. Be sure that you and your boat are able to handle the weather that is forecast. Boaters can face problems such as lightning or waterspouts if they do not keep informed of the weather.

Weather forecast in MaxSea TimeZero: an essential tool to avoid boat accidentsLuckily, this is easy to do in MaxSea TimeZero, which includes free and unlimited GRIB file weather forecast downloads. Simply use an Internet connection to download marine weather forecast for the area of your choice. This information can be overlaid on your chart and you can animate the weather to see how it will progress for the next 16 days.

2. Not keeping lookout

When boats experience collisions, the most common reason given is failing to keep a lookout. Objects in the sea and other boats can approach extremely quickly, and it’s important to always be aware of your surroundings.

An effective way to do this in MaxSea TimeZero is to to use the built-in AIS target overlay. You just need to connect an AIS-receiver to view the position, speed and direction of eacAIS/ARPA targets in MaxSea TimeZero: an essential feature to avoid boat accidentsh AIS target near your boat. You can easily set up a guard zone around your vessel. If a target enters this zone, an alarm will sound from your computer to warn you of a nearby boat. If you use radar onboard, even better. This will allow you to view ARPA targets on your MaxSea TimeZero chart. Display radar overlay on MaxSea TimeZero Explorer if you are using a natively-compatible radar.

3. Falling over board

This is an obvious one. It can easily happen and will usually just cause some embarrassment but nothing more. However, if you knock your head when falling, it is very dangerous. If the passenger loses consciousness, it is imperative that they are wearing a life jacket.

Always wear your life jack when on board! According to US Coast Guard statistics, around half of the drowning fatalities in boating involve boaters without life jackets.

Also, try to always wear the emergency engine cut-off switch lanyard so that you can cut the boat’s engine. This prevents the boat from riding away from you and also prevents you getting run over by the boat if it turns in hard circles.

Hopefully, you never need it, but just in case, remember that there is a MOB tool (Man Over Board) in MaxSea TimeZero to mark the exact position of the fall. Then use the Go-To tool to send your boat back to position.

4. Running Out of Gas

If you are in a calm area, this is usually not a huge problem. Just call a towing agency and they can bring you enough fuel to return to port. However, there are many areas with strong currents, or approaching waterfalls where you definitely don’t want to run out.

In this case, prevention is definitely better than cure. Use the 1/3 rule.  One third of your fuel going out, 1/3 coming home and 1/3 for what you didn’t expect. Next, always leave with a full tank and know your fuel consumption rate.

If you have a fuel gauge on board, connect it to MaxSea TimeZero so that you can constantly monitor your fuel rate and level.

Unfortunately, these are just a few of the causes of boat accidents. Boating can be dangerous, so please follow this advice and always think safety first!

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Free Guide: 10-point safety checklist before sailing

MaxSea Office Closures for Easter

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We would like to inform you that our sales department will be closed for 2 days this Easter weekend due to public holidays.

We're Closed

The dates are as follows:

– Friday April 18th
– Monday, April 21st

Please also note that Technical Support will be closed on Monday April 21st only.

Remember, you can order software, charts, modules and services 24/7, every day of the year on the MaxSea Webstore. Take a look at it here.

 

Feel free to contact us if you need any further information.

 

Download the free MaxSea guide: Cold Weather Sailing

Boat Racing for Dummies!

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Henri Antoine is an International Race Officer at the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). This week, he tells us about a recent boat racing training session that was organised for newcomers to sailing racing: Racing for Dummies!

The first ‘Racing for Dummies’ training session was held in Dunkerque, Northen France on Saturday, April 5, 2014, on the premises of the North Sea Yacht Club.

Boat racing for Dummies
A poster advertising “Racing for Dummies” training session

This event was designed to encourage boaters to take part in boat races. Boaters often want to race but are apprehensive about beginning. It is a fear of not understanding how it is done, or looking ridiculous in comparison to more seasoned competitors.

Thierry Maurick, Chairman of YCMN, (the North Sea Yacht Club) immediately found the idea interesting and fun. It was a way to bring a new audience to boat racing without any pressure in a relaxed setting. Hence the idea of the event title “For Dummies”.

The goal: to demystify and “play down” boat racing, which many people believe to be more complicated than it is.

Participants in this Dunkirk training session really enjoyed it and the event was very successful. To make it as accessible as possible, many concrete examples, diagrams and pictures were used.

MaxSea TimeZero Navigator weather forecast service explained during the boat racing training session
GRIB weather files overlaid on the chart in MaxSea TimeZero

MaxSea TimeZero was used to demonstrate how coastal routes can be easily viewed. In coastal routes in areas where marine navigation is tricky, this helped participants to quickly understand how to approach this type of race. They learned how to read and understand nautical charts in a practical way.

The participants really liked how easy it was to integrate wind information (using GRIB files in TimeZero) and tidal current data. These types of information are of course, very important for boat racing.

There was positive feedback from participants, and another session in mid-May is planned.

This was a great initiative – thanks Henri!

For more information about ISAF, please click here.

To find out more about the North Sea Yachting Club in Dunkerque, France, see their website.

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Under the Pole – Underwater Polar Expeditions

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We are very happy to announce that MaxSea has recently developed a new partnership with French expedition ‘Under the Pole‘. By providing our navigation software to this great organization, we are able to contribute in some way to the fantastic research that they carry out.

What is Under the Pole?

Under the Pole carries out a series of underwater polar expeditions to explore the polar environment. Their aim is to increase scientific knowledge of the poles.

Each time they carry out a new expedition, they build up more knowledge that is added to the existing data base. Each expedition is also considered a preparation for the next one.

Lucas Santucci - Under The Pole - 2014
Lucas Santucci of Under The Pole, using MaxSea TimeZero software in 2014

What have they done so far?

From March to May, 2010, Under the Pole carried out an expedition to the North Pole, which lasted for 45 days.

Cold Weather Sailing Guide

During this trip, they studied the icecap in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, and led a unique submarine exploration under extreme conditions.

Exploring the North Pole in 2010
Exploring the North Pole in 2010

In January 2014, Under the Pole have began an expedition to West and North Greenland, which will last for 22 months altogether, and is being dubbed “Part II”.

This is a continuation of the study carried out at the North Pole. This time they will focus on the submarine environment between the pole and the polar circle.

Greenland Expedition
Greenland Expedition

What’s next?

In 2016, they will move to the other hemisphere and will lead an expedition to Antarctica.

We wish Under the Pole all the best in these exciting and enlightening expeditions!

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The Arctic is a victim of climate warming.

A fascinating world is disappearing.

Some species living there are threatened of extinction.

Many of them have not yet been observed.

 

Download the free MaxSea guide: Cold Weather Sailing

New Worldwide Tidal Data Now Available in TimeZero!

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We are happy to announce that new worldwide Tidal Data for TimeZero users is now available on our website totally free of charge.

When you download tidal data in your MaxSea TimeZero, you can view tides stations directly on your chart for the present moment as well as into the future. This is very helpful for planning the best route and departure time.

To install the new tidal data, simply go to our website and click on the link marked in red below:

Please read the PDF file here for full details of this new tidal data.

Feel free to contact us if you need any further information.

 

The Ultimate Guide to Boat Rentals

UK, Ireland and Holland Navionics Chart Updates

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The following two Navionics vector chart zones have been updated and are available as of March 24th, 2014 in our Chart Catalog:

Navionics vector chart updates

 

Enhancements

These chart zones integrate the new routing system in the southern part of the North Sea. This new organisation was put into place on the first of August, 2013 in accordance with the IMO Sub-committee on Safety of Navigation proposal NAV/58/3/2.

Significant improvements have been introduced to contour lines in general.

Here are some examples of these improvements:

Old vc. New UK Contour Lines

Old vs. New Channel Islands Contour Lines

Further details about the Mega Wide Navionics chart for UK, Ireland and Holland (MWVNEW28XGMAP6.1) can be found here.

More information on the Wide Navionics chart for the UK and Ireland (WVNEW28MAP6.1) can be viewed here.

You can find further examples of the changes made to these updates charts in our Facebook or Google+ albums.

 

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Remember!

Until April 15th, 2014, enjoy a 10% off reduction on all charts in the MaxSea webstore by entering the promo code* MX10 upon checkout, before payment.

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5 Tips for Choosing the Best Nautical Chart

My Favourite books about the Arctic, by Janusz Kurbiel

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Since 1975, Joëlle and Janusz Kurbiel from IMERPOL, have dedicated their lives to the exploration of the North Pole. For the last few years, they have navigated through this region with the help of TZ Navigator, their marine navigation software.

In this post, Janusz shares his favourite books written about the Arctic. So if you planning to navigate in this region, make sure to read as many of these books as you can!

Arctic Ice.

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Books about the Arctic Ocean

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  • Tilman, H.W. – The Eight Sailing – Mountains-Exploration Books, Diadem Ed., 1987.

If you need further information on how to purchase any of these books, just leave a comment below. Safe journey!

Cold Weather Sailing Guide

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