Sometimes good ideas are not pushed forward due to a lack of will or energy, and sometimes very good ideas fail even when worked on and cherished. In the latter case, it is often because the timing is wrong.
It is a rare combination where good ideas, the energy and wherewithal to pursue them, and the timing all come together. Some people call this luck, but perhaps it is more accurate to say that it is where preparation meets opportunity.
Having been online on board since 2004, it is amazing how fast things have developed. At first, connections were via a mobile phone and dial-up Internet… dead slow. Then GPRS Internet connections sped things up dramatically, though the prices were very high.
Next came 3G, which offered substantially higher speeds and lower prices. Even newer technologies are used nowadays, but the net result is that prices for mobile Internet access have been constantly coming down.
My first 3G data card cost me almost €200, and I constantly had to watch usage, with prices running at around 60 cents per megabyte (early 2006). Nowadays, in the UK, you can get gigabytes for £15. Furthermore, the nifty little modems (similar to a USB stick) are almost custom-made for mounting away from the computer in a decent location to get the maximum signal.
It is now totally practical to have the Internet onboard, with a laptop at the chart table safe in the bowels of the boat, the modem mounted higher up or outside (with suitable protection), and mobile phone operators providing decent coastal coverage.
Mobile phone signals are similar to VHF in that they are high-frequency line-of-sight operations. Therefore, if your dongle (modem stick) is mounted fairly high – or better still outside on a gantry – you can expect Internet access up to 20 miles off the coast in many cases.
At sea, perhaps the best use for an Internet connection is to stay fully updated on the weather. There is so much information available. Another main use is for emails.
On passage, we have found ourselves habitually passing reasonably close to islands or stopping places to get a decent Internet connection. We then check the weather for the next couple of days and often decide to push on rather than wasting time going in. Generally, weather and wind forecasts are pretty accurate for the forthcoming two or three days, with accuracy tailing off rapidly after that.
As a safety tool for passage makers, the Internet is valuable, especially as it transcends languages. Add to that the ability to keep in touch by email and use the laptop for navigation (with GPS and charting software), tidal flow charts, predictions, and more. When you reach your destination, you can even settle down and watch a good DVD.
By 2009, the technical and price barriers had come down, and they are likely to continue falling, making seagoing Internet connections well worth having.
This idea for an online pilotage guide had been in our minds for a few years, but finally all the pieces are falling into place.
Apart from mobile phone technology, website technology has advanced rapidly. The ability to build super-fast database websites, as opposed to old-fashioned static HTML, means things can be updated from any computer with an Internet connection.
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that most of the content of this website was compiled on laptops, on board boats, and uploaded using a well-known phone and Internet provider.
Many of the photos used on this site were simply not available even a year ago. Furthermore, the UKHO has only just started issuing licenses to use its magnificent collection of charts (and other data) online.
The spirit of the World Wide Web is one of cooperation rather than grabbing and holding, and enlightened government organizations like the UKHO, plus various hydrographic offices abroad, have realized its power for innovation. They are prepared to license their products under strict control and see where it leads.
We are certainly not the first to think of producing online information for pleasure boat sailors. Various sailing “wikis” have sprung up, resembling Wikipedia. The problem, particularly in the UK, is that they simply do not work as no one provides the information. We have our own theories about this, which may be the subject of another article entitled “Wikis Won’t Work”.
We now have the correct and improving technology at a reasonable (and improving) price, a cooperative attitude from authorities, photographers willing to share their work (one of whom flies around in a motorized hang glider!), and a rich source of information from harbour authorities, marinas, and yacht clubs online. Add Google’s interactive aerial photography and numerous marine businesses and clubs with their own websites, and you have a wealth of information available online.
It was high time for someone enterprising to combine all of this together, plus plenty of original content, to provide an information service second to none, unmatched by any paper publication. It’s not just for “yachties”; everyone who uses harbours will find something useful here, whether you operate a fishing charter boat, or prefer speedboats or PWCs.
We believe we have the right formula, and we also believe we are the right people to carry this forward. Apart from our vast sailing experience, Bryant has highly developed entrepreneurial skills forged over many years in business, Mackenzie has an attention to detail akin to a fully trained surgery nurse, and Thomson loves investigating harbours on his boat!
We firmly believe this site will only prosper if you, the reader, participate by contributing information, articles, tips, etc. We also understand a reluctance to participate unless you can see “What’s in it for me?”.
“In our experience, people are most motivated when they can clearly see the benefits of their efforts. Equally important is feeling genuinely appreciated and recognised for their contributions, knowing they are a valued part of something meaningful.”
For the moment, let’s just say we hope you enjoy using VisitMyHarbour . We hope you can see how useful it could be for planning voyages at home or for quick links to information at sea. Any feedback, good or bad, is welcome via the contact form.
Mackenzie & Bryant