Skipr.net

Diomedea heading East

admin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:48:13 +0000

As part of our “Boat of the Month” series , this month we feature Diomedea on our front page.

Many yachts head North during the Australian winter cruising season, but few venture East across the Tasman to New Zealand. That is of course only a jumping-off point for warmer climes in the Pacific – Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia and those further East.

Word is that perhaps we’ll see Diomedea venture further afield over the next 6 to 24 months. Follow them here on Skipr.net and on their Sailblog.

Fair winds, David and Andrea…

New Position Reporting

admin — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 05:15:13 +0000

We have just introduced a more convenient position reporting page. It takes advantage of the built-in GPS in many of todays tablets such as the iPad and provides instant feedback about the position you enter, even when reporting manually.

It’s use is mostly self-explanatory, but to get the most out of its features, below are a some of its highlights:

The Update button appears when an automatic position is available, tap it to transfer that position to the Lat-Lon form.

The Green Marker represents the position in the Lat-Lon form. The marker may be moved manually to refine the Lat-Lon form values.

The Geo (Arrow) button appears when an automatic position is available. Tap it to zoom and centre on that position (marked by a blue dot)./skp/

The Marker button appears when there is a Lat-Lon value in the form. Tap it to zoom and centre the marker.

Manual Entry
And of course you can simply enter numeric values into the Lat-Lon form (minutes may include a decimal fraction). A marker will appear on the map to indicate the entered position. Alternatively, just double click on the map and drag the marker to where your position is, lat-lon will automatically be updated!

Classic Reports
The old position report form is still available, simply click on the “Use ‘Classic’ Position Report” link. It will remember your preference and next time you’ll get the classic report again.

More information.
Skipr.net stores all position report times as GMT and now uses your computer’s time zone setting when reporting.

Editing historical positions with the new page will display them in GMT time only, as does the list of entries under the “Edit Position” menu. However the Classic Position Reporting is still in your local time.

Feedback
Your comments, likes and/or dislikes are welcome, here is our feedback form or if something appears ‘broken’, email support@skipr.net

Hobart Wooden Boat Festival

admin — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:16:31 +0000

We were totally blown away by the response to my suggestion for ‘Skiprs’ attending the Wooden Boat Festival to get together for breakfast. Over 60 people responding to the invite. We had to change the venue to cope with the numbers, causing a bit of last minute confusion despite our best efforts to contact people.

It was a thrill for me to see the enthusiasm for Skipr.net and it looked like everyone was enjoying meeting together. Thanks everyone – we’ll do it again.

The Wooden Boat Festival (pictures) has established itself as THE venue for anyone who enjoys boats and anything made of wood (or antique outboards!). It has grown into an event that every cruising sailor needs to attend (and indeed, plenty were there. Joy and I spent three days walking around and still didn’t see everything.

The enthusiasm by the volunteers who largely run the Fest is inspiring and infectious. Well done, Hobart.

Marius

Newsletter February 2013

admin — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:40:47 +0000

In this newsletter:

Hobart Skipr Meetup

New Reporting page

Alternative ways to report your position

Off the beaten track

Support Skipr.net

For those of you on the East Coast of Australia, I hope you and your boat survived some terrible weather over the past few weeks – it’s a good time to head South, speaking of which…

Hobart Skipr Meetup

The Wooden Boat Festival and the start of the Van Diemensland Circumnavigation provide a great excuse to spend some time in Hobart again this year. With so many of us in one place, it would be a shame not to have an opportunity for “Skiprs” to meet up. So we organised our first “Skipr Meetup”. Well, organised is a big word, it’s like being anchored near a few other boats – introduce your self and have a yarn. So we (Marius and Joy) are having breakfast next Sunday (10th Feb) ~~at the Harbour Lights Cafe~~ At T42 – Elizabeth Street Pier from 0830 hrs and it would be fun for us to meet up! More info

New Position Reporting page

You might have seen some references to our new position reporting page. It is part of an effort to overhaul some of the Skipr.net website. While we provide new features, it is important not to lose the basic simplicity of skipr.net and your feedback is important to us. The new position reporting page provides immediate feedback about your location when you enter your position manually, while auto-filling it using the built-in GPS of iPads (and similar) Give it a try and let us know what you think.

Alternative ways to report your position

While we’re discussing the new position reporting, this might be a good time to remind you that we have a bunch of different ways to report your position. Such as the Web App for smart phones like the iPhone and Android varieties (it works with tablets as well) and by Satellite phone or Sailmail. We’re even compatible with that nifty satellite communicator, the inReach. Have a look at our How to page.

Off the beaten track

It’s fun to see what skipr.net is being used for and I love getting a surprise. For example, Nellie Dick is exploring the Antarctic (hint: Robert might be on a cruise boat instead) and seeing the James Craig pop up on its way to Hobart. A few of you have also used Skipr to chronicle your land travel, like Sue and Brian, they used our Campers and Drivers facility. We hope to see more landlubbers there this year (Joy and I will be).

Support Skipr.net

We’re committed to keeping Skipr.net free and easy, but inevitably there are real world expenses. We get a modest amount from sponsorships and advertising, supplemented by our Skipr Plus Programme (only $49.95) and sales of cruising guides. Your support is appreciated and helps us grow and maintain the service.

See you in Hobart this Sunday!

Skipr Breakfast in Hobart 10th February [Changed Venue!]

admin — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 09:42:49 +0000

With so many cruising boats in Hobart for the Festival and the Circumnavigation, there is a unique opportunity to catch up with other “Skiprs”. Catch up with boats you follow on Skipr.net or have a chat with Marius about what you’d like see next on Skipr.net.

We’re having a casual breakfast get together – nothing formal, just an opportunity to catch up with people you might have only read about on Skipr.net. Join us for Sunday breakfast on 10th February at Cafe T42 on Elizabeth Street Pier from 0830hrs to around 1030 (this is a change in venue due to the confirmed numbers sofar !). If you’re planning to be there, drop us an email (skipper@skipr.net), so we can give the Cafe some idea about numbers – it is bound to be a busy day around the Dock that day!

Joy and Marius

Making Track To Hobart

admin — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 04:52:30 +0000

It’s that time of the year – the best time to cruise to Tasmania! It is promising to be a super year to be in Hobart in early February.

The Wooden Boat Festival.
The last stop for the Island Cruising Association’s Western Pacific Rally
The destination of the CYCA Hobart 2013 cruise
The start of the Van Diemensland Circumnavigation

We will be there and look forward to meeting up with many of the “Skiprs”.

Newsletter December 2012

admin — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 01:04:36 +0000

In this newsletter:

The 2013 version of Skipr.net – apply to become a tester
The Passage Companion – save $$$ on key cruising guides
In the Flesh – meeting up with Skipr’d crews
Join Skipr Plus – helping Skipr expand and evolve
Cruising in Company – Island Cruising Association seminars

The 2013 version of Skipr.net
We’ve been working on a substantial update of the software underlying Skipr.net. While the existing code has served us well for many years (much of it was written more than 5 years ago), the world has moved on and mobile phones and tablets are having a real impact on boats and those who sail in them. We’re looking for a cross section of Skipr users to help us test the new code before we deploy it on the website. Enrol in our test programme.

The Passage Companion Bundle
Our Web Shop’s best selling cruising guides are Rob’s Passage Planner and the Coastal Cruising Companion. In time for Christmas, we’ve negotiated some special pricing on a bundle of both titles, representing a great saving on the normal price. Skipr Plus members save $24! Order now in time for your Christmas cruising plans. Skipr Web Shop

In the Flesh
Over the past few months, I’ve had a the pleasure of meeting cruising sailors in person as part of presentations to the ICA in Auckland, the CYCA and at the RPAYC (last Friday night).
Joy and I expect to be in Hobart during the Wooden Boat Festival in early February and hope to catch up with any “Skipr’d boats ” which are participating in the 2013 van Diemensland Circumnavigation. Be sure to drop us a note if you’re going to be there.

Join Skipr Plus
We’re encouraged by the number of Skipr users who have joined our Skipr Plus programme and are working on expanding the range of benefits available to members. But most of all, joining Skipr Plus helps us grow and maintain the Skipr service. Why not join Skipr Plus today?

Cruising in Company
The Island Cruising Association’s Western Pacific Rally is now heading down the East Coast of Australia. John Martin (Windflower) does a great job “herding cruisers” around the Pacific and carries a wealth of experience. As part of the rally, John is holding a series of seminars (next weekend in Newcastle!) as he cruises south towards Hobart. Well worth catching up with John if you get a chance. More information about the seminars on the ICA website.

That time of the year

admin — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:38:12 +0000

Yes, it’s that time of the year… No, I wasn’t going talk about Christmas (although best wishes of the Season to you, of course), but it seems many of our favourite cruising guides have published updates.

Lucas has “Late 2012″ updates for both the Coral Coast and NSW Coast guides.
Rob has published updates to his Passage Planner and Marilyn (Coastal Cruising Companion has just sent out her 2nd newsletter with updates for those expecting to sail to Tasmania this summer (which should be many, as the circumnavigation is ‘on’ this year).

Oh.. and if you _are_ looking for a Christmas present, why not become a Skipr Plus membership and save a bundle!

Lucas Coral Coast update
Lucas NSW update
Rob’s Passage Planner update
Coastal Cruising Companion Newsletter #2
Become a Skipr Plus member here

CYCA Hobart 2013 Cruise

admin — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:44:47 +0000

On tuesday this week, I participated in the meeting at the CYCA about their Tasmania cruise early next year. We’ve set up a cruise page on Skipr for them and look forward to ‘following along’. My presentation (on using Skipr and Internet at sea) is below.

There was a lot of interest in the inReach Satellite Communicator, check out this page on my other site TracknSend.com. And of course for any other questions, drop me an email – skipper@skipr.net

In Frank’s weather talk, he mentioned Frank’s Weather site (no, it’s another Frank). A very useful site indeed.

The slides of my presentation are below.

Coastal Cruising Companion Newsletter

admin — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 04:32:21 +0000

Click to download PDF

Marilyn Graham started a newsletter to alert buyers of her Coastal Cruising Companion (CCC) to changes and additions.

The CCC is a terrific guide to anchorages and ports between the Queensland border and Hobart. She provides the updated pages by post or email, great service! By the way, when you purchase a copy of her Companion on our site, it is shipped by Marilyn herself and no doubt you’ll get on her mailing list for the newsletter.