You probably reached this page from that called GPS Guided Trans-Atlantic Robot Boat, page . If not, click on the link to know more.
As mentioned above, this page is only for those on the MicroTransat email list, which has acted as an excellent "forum" for years, for many people around the World with an interest in the MicroTransat Challenge. Over the years, Colin, who you will all know, has done an excellent job of maintaining this list, the Microtransat web site, and the rules of the "competition". I don't recall any of my postings not being received back by myself (and presumably everyone else) within a few minutes of my sending it. However, today, my posting sent at 0930 (UK time) had still not arrived now (over 8 hours later). I then remembered that users of the list sometimes had their postings "cross in the post". Maybe this is because delays are sometimes many tens of minutes. My simple practical remedy, for my own postings, is to put a posting here, if I don't get it back within a few tens of minutes. When it is received, I can easily delete it, since there is no need for it to be here. I'm guessing the present delay is simply a rare "glitch", and this is certainly not a criticism of Colin's good service. Keep up the excelent work, Colin ! :-)
Robin Lovelock
6pm 10th September 2014.
Footnote on Saturday 13th September: Posting arrived here at 2030 that day, so it looks like the problem was fixed. Well done Colin.
More recent postings seem to get through, within a few tens of minutes or hours. I've left that one below here for information.
It seems that direct emails from me to Colin may get blocked (e.g. by his spam filter) but
I see the Microsite site is now up-to-date regarding Snoopy, including correction of the mistake
that said he had sailed for days instead of just 24 hours ! :-) Thanks again Colin: I understand
the email from Peter (also at the launch) did get through to you.
My posting to the Microtransat list, mentioning this new page, did get through, and I'm about to send another, related to our plans for the next attempt, later this year. e.g. if we have a similar problem, will it be OK for Snoopy to be pulled into a safer new "start position", by someone offshore in contact with Robin ? I assume this will be OK if we have a good record of the lat/lon position and time. e.g. a SPOT report.
Hi Folks. I thought I'd give you all an update on this last, September 2014 attempt by Snoopy, and what you can expect to see towards his next attempt this year, no earlier than late October.
This morning I updated the detailed "September 2014 Attempt" page, linked prominently from Snoopy's usual front page on www.gpss.co.uk/autop.htm
It already had some "Conclusions", but now has a "More Information" section. This new section includes the KML file, for those who want to look at Snoopy's path in Google Earth. You will see the "Thankyou" to Colin there, and the link to the Microtransat tracking page. I saw that page had updated, with Snoopy's track, a day or two ago ( 24 hours later ?). In due course, when Colin has the time, and has direct communication with me (my emails lost in his spam filter?), other Microtransat pages can be corrected/updated. But, as I've said before, there is not the least urgency in this.
As always, those interested should visit Snoopy's front page above, then follow links to relevant pages. I expect the two pages that will change most frequently in the coming days are the one I mentioned above, and the "blog". The current blog will receive updates on the repairing of Snoopy's boat (10), now started, and retesting on Bray Lake, which may start before my wife and I go on holiday to Sicily from the 18th. We get back two weeks later, and I will immediately be watching for the next "weather window" Meanwhile, Snoopy will be back on 24/7 test, to give confidence in things like the replaced servo. Right now, my best guess is that Snoopy's next attempt will be in late October or November.
If anyone was watching Snoopy's hourly reports via SPOT, and noticed that, last night, many were delayed, and some were missed, that is no surprise: the boat was upside-down in our games room ! The boat is now outside, to catch some sunshine, and soon I'll be off to a local boat yard, to see if I can get some marine plywood to replace that broken keel. Details will appear in the blog.
Many Thanks again to everyone, particularly Colin. Keep up the good work !
Robin
www.gpss.co.uk
© 1991-2014 Robin Lovelock. Please credit www.gpss.co.uk if you use material from any of these pages. Thankyou.