Many firms, some of whose products I had already been using over the last few years, have very kindly agreed to help me with my new boat, after the loss of my old one, by donating or discounting equipment or spares. In the present difficult economic climate, it has often been difficult for companies to provide this help - so what has been provided is that much more appreciated!
Sponsors donating equipment / Services
Weather Routing Inc. (WRI) is the world leader in yacht forecasting, specializing in services for mariners for nearly 50 years. While enroute, WRI will be providing constant weather surveillance to Jeanne throughout her circumnavigation, and provide forecast/routing assistance as conditions deem necessary. WRI will also alert on heavy/severe weather when such weather threatens.
I have used the Nobeltec electronic charting system since October 2000. I find it really user-friendly and it makes it so easy to plot new passages, with the bonus of good tide & current information for the US and Canada. As of this year, 2009, I shall be using their excellent new C-Map Max Pro cartography, available in version 10. I am very grateful for the ongoing support I have received from Jeppesen Marine throughout my recent travels & into the next passagemaking.
Sealevel are providing me with the USB hubs and USB-to-serial communications hardware that I will need to connect boat equipment to my laptop - their products are well-known for being very reliable.
ACR have very kindly donated their excellent i-Pro GlobalFix 406 EPIRB and a Firefly Plus floating, waterproof flashlight with strobe
I am delighted that Garmin have again provided a hand-held GPS unit. Their GPS units are so reliable and make a superb emergency back-up - the 60CSx takes Bluechart chips and so is very useful in everyday use, not just for emergencies, with its built-in electronic compass and barometer.
Dubarry boots - are lovely! ... so many people have noticed and commented favourably on seeing me wearing them!! My old ones saw good use over several years and I'm very happy they're being replaced!
Whale pumps have provided their reliable freshwater footpump and manual seawater pump for the new boat - I expect many years of trouble-free use, as on my last boat. Thank you, Brian.
Denrex ApS in Denmark kindly sent the Propspeed coating system I wanted for the Autoprop. I had applied Propspeed when hauled out in Cairns during my first circumnavigation and found it worked well - it's not a toxic antifouling, relying solely on a very smooth plastic finish containing silicon.
Musto have donated a replacement pair of their sturdy waterproof Ocean Goretex seaboots which I appreciated so much the last time around when the going got rough and wet!
Gill have kindly donated some base and middle-layer clothing - that will be much appreciated , especially when I'm in the Southern Ocean with its cold weather!!! That was initiated by Pauline of Force 4 Chandlery who have also donated quite a few items for the new boat as well as giving lots of help in connection with that
Support also from
Raymarine have frequently been very helpful, both in the past and with the new boat, on instrumentation and equipment issues. They are continuing to be very supportive and are also giving me whatever technical help I need.
Andersen winches are a delight to use and they have several times sent spares & items from Denmark for my winches - servicing them is a job I actually enjoy doing, the winches are so beautifully engineered.
My Brunton's Autoprop, a self-adjusting propeller, is also a lovely bit of engineering & the last one performed impressively, requiring noticeably fewer engine revs for a given speed through the water than the previous fixed prop.
Lopolight kindly sent me heavily discounted LED navigation lights in stainless steel - I'm looking forward to the resulting energy saving on overnight passages.
Dickinson Marine in Coquitlam, B.C. (Canada) were extremely helpful in the pricing and freighting of their beautifully-designed Sigmar 120 cabin heater which I'm looking forward to using if & when I find myself in colder climes...!
Kelvin Hughes are very kindly helping with replacing books and charts I lost - thank you, Terry!
Icom UK have again been helpful and kindly donated a spare microphone along with a discounted Icom M801 SSB radio & ATU. I'm hoping the new SSB radio installation will work really well - it will see a lot of use for speaking to other boats and 'ham' radio users, as well as for emailing and weather information.
Selden - both in Sweden and in the US - gave me excellent support in the past and Selden UK are being very supportive this year.
Scanstrut design excellent instrument supports - I particularly like their self-levelling radar mount on my stern steelwork.
Nasa Marine have helped with the discounted purchase of their Navtex and their AIS stand-alone units. AIS is really useful in collision avoidance both inshore and when on long ocean passages - and keeps working in storms when radar is sometimes not!
Navionics UK - their Navionics Gold+ chart cards are used in the Raymarine chartplotters
Ambassador Marine - their Ropestripper tis placed on my propshaft to protect against lines & thin wire tangling the prop.
Andark Diving Many thanks to Andy and Craig for their cheerful help with dive gear and pricing - very much appreciated!
Finally, I must say a big "Tack så mycket!" ("Thank you very much") to everyone at Najadvarvet for all their friendly help in the boat construction and fitting out. So many people have been involved and they all seemed to take pleasure in working on the additions and modifications I brought to 'Nereida II', invariably showing great care and pride in their workmanship. It has been a delight to work with them and I hope they will (vicariously through my website) enjoy my sailing in the new 'Nereida' for many years to come!!
Stellar Systems Solutions