Vehicles

Pegasus Open 50 Log: Rainbows…and We’ve Lost Power

By Brian Lam on July 12, 2009 at 5:00 PM

July 11, 9:20 PM PST Lost all ways to recharge batteries, down to emergency battery. Just like an aeroplane.

July 11, 9:42 PM PST

July 11, 10:15 PM PST

Just enough power to send emails. We have not regained anything yet. Lost some more. Dark and squalls with no electrical – Bad. Safe but bad.

July 11, 10:28 PM PST
All down – Down to flashlighs, mechanical compass and add-on batteries for iPhone GPS [They've got MotionX GPS apps] and hand held iridium. Trying to fix.

[So they're looking at finishing the race and getting through the nights with no gps and no autopilot. Just celestial navigation using the sextant (which the navy no longer even teaches sailors in annapolis). Philippe is a bit of a math genius, so using a flashlight and the sextant and some paper, he can get it done. And they've got spare charge packs for the iPhone (and its GPS) and the flashlights. But that's about it.-BL]
From earlier in the day, at 5pm PST, a post about navigating with and without electronics:

Philippe Kahn founded Borland, invented the Camphone, and decodes human motion. He’s also a fellow outdoorsman, splitting time skiing Tahoe and sailing in Santa Cruz. He’ll share his Transpac 2009 sailing race with us live from the Pegasus Open 50. He and Richard Clarke set the race record for a double handed team in 2008 with a time of 7 days, 15 hours, 17 minutes and 50 seconds, besting all boats in overall time for that year.
[Previous Pegasus Sailing posts on Gizmodo, Pegasus]

Tagged:

Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)

  • DarcyNewt
    July 13, 2009 at 12:58 AM

    Cool. Thanks to Giz and Phil for posting!

    DarcyNewt

  • UnderLoK
    July 13, 2009 at 12:40 AM
    It might sound silly but as a kid sailing with my Grandfather I always found it much more exciting doing it the old fashion way. Back then your only other option was Loran, (obviously doesn't work out in the middle of no where) but learning to use charts and the stars is something that pays off on land and at sea.

    Now days the only time we are far enough away from land to need any kind of navigation is when headed from Detroit to Put in Bay (if it's night).

    Good look guys!
  • Johnny Tzeng
    July 13, 2009 at 12:25 AM
    Awesome work and an excellent post Philippe! I wish you a safe trip and the best of luck!
  • Sticks Calhoun
    July 12, 2009 at 11:57 PM
    @VenomIreland: You see that because his post was initially not approved by any moderator, so only starred people could see it. Since it was on-topic, and was essentially what I was going to post, I made him a commenter and promoted his comment. For whatever reason, it says whoever approved the post "edited" the comment.

    The new system at work!
  • VenomIreland
    July 12, 2009 at 10:56 PM
    @SeemantiMelpomene: Ok this is slightly off-topic, but why do I see this below your comment? Edited by Sticks Calhoun at 12/31/69 7:00 PM
  • Yeastmeister
    July 12, 2009 at 10:28 PM
    I guess the next upgrade to the boat will be to incorporate a seawater battery system. Basic ionic chemistry, but they have a ready supply of electrolyte at their disposal.

    Yeastmeister

  • Shamoononon, Vampire Grater - No
    July 12, 2009 at 8:46 PM
    Gee, and the only excitement I get out of life is wondering when my insomnia will shut down.
  • kuriakos
    July 12, 2009 at 8:35 PM
    I didn't even know that you could do that many at one time
  • Sticks Calhoun
    July 12, 2009 at 8:03 PM
    @SeemantiMelpomene: Indeed! A much needed backup for the backup.
  • SeemantiMelpomene
    July 12, 2009 at 7:03 PM

    I guess the Lucky Sextant is becoming very handy after all!

    SeemantiMelpomene

  • whiteknight89 still plays Diablo
    July 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM
    I really gotta give it to Gizmodo. They found the best gadget we have yet to work with - our own mind. I'll take right now to pay homage to that fact, as I lay mine down for some long-needed rest.

    Hats off to the crew of the Pegasus. Good luck and Godspeed.
  • mikeness
    July 12, 2009 at 6:23 PM
    Good luck Phil, looks like you got the power issue under control. I gotta say I have come to like these reports. Never been sailing before but those videos of you tearing across the ocean with only the noise of the wind and water whipping by are fun to watch.
  • Shamoononon, Vampire Grater - No
    July 13, 2009 at 2:55 PM

    @Sticks Calhoun: Oh hmm.

  • The5thElephant
    July 13, 2009 at 2:28 PM

    @ Ah yes, all those bright towns and cities in the middle of the Pacific.

    The5thElephant

  • Sticks Calhoun
    July 13, 2009 at 12:13 PM

    @Shamoononon, Vampire Grater - Now SWF: No, there are posts that only starred commenters can see. They have a red box around them. They are from first-time posters that have yet to be approved by Gawker moderators.

  • Shamoononon, Vampire Grater - No
    July 13, 2009 at 11:52 AM

    @Sticks Calhoun: Actually, that's not true. Anybody can see any comment, you just have to click the extra link at the bottom of the page.

  • Curves
    July 13, 2009 at 11:32 AM

    I bet sunrise is going to look pretty good to these guys after whats bound to be a long dark night.

  • Yeastmeister
    July 13, 2009 at 8:27 AM

    Wait, I dont understand. If they have an iphone, its build in gps, motionx, satellite phone, and a mechanical compass, cant we be the autopilot? Sent me the coordinates at your current location, the destination, and I will tell you the compass direction? Of course, the iphone alone can do that unless you don't have the bandwidth to cover it.

    Yeastmeister

  • Charging Mooses
    July 13, 2009 at 4:50 AM

    @UnderLoK: well these days, navigating by the stars is made near impossible because of light pollution. i know that in cities, and even small towns, light pollution can really obscure the stars.

  • lordstoli
    July 13, 2009 at 4:27 AM

    Altitude 0. Well thank god you're still at sea level.

    lordstoli

Post Your Comments

Got something to say? There are two ways to comment:

1. Guests

Click here to comment instantly.

2. Facebook Users

Click below to comment using your Facebook account.

We're looking for comments that are interesting, substantial or highly amusing. If your comments are excessively self-promotional, obnoxious, or even worse, boring, you will be banned from commenting. All comments are moderated.