FAQ - Did You Make that WindGen Yourself?

Marcie unexpectedly had to go back to the U.S. for a couple of weeks. While she is gone, I will try my hand at writing the majority of our blogs instead of my usual once weekly contribution. I'll do my best to keep them interesting for everyone, but for those of you who could not care less about the technical side of our lifestyle – we apologize. -David When we first starting equipping Nine of Cups for extended cruising, a high priority was adding a wind generator or two. There were several on the market in 2000-2001, and we wanted to make the right choice. Some of them didn't put out much power, and some of them sounded like banshees when the wind picked up. Some looked very aerodynamic and high tech, while some looked... well, like I might have made them myself out of spare parts lying around.

We went to the Annapolis boat show that year, and while we were anchored off the town jetty, we realized there must have been close to a hundred other cruising boats anchored in the vicinity – most of which had windgens. On one particularly windy day, we took the dinghy around the anchorage and listened to each of them. We were going to have to live with our decision for a long time, and we would much prefer having one that didn't keep us and half the anchorage awake at night with a noise not unlike a jet taking off. It wasn't hard to eliminate quite a few of the candidates, and we narrowed the choices down to just a few.

We talked to a few of the owners, looked at specs, visited each of the booths at the boat show, and finally decided on the Fourwinds windgen. It was one of the quietest and had the highest power output of any of the candidates. It also had a very clever centrifugal brake that kept the blades from rotating too fast and self-destructing in high winds. Unfortunately, it wasn't one of the high tech, streamlined models out there, but we could live with its lack of aesthetic appeal.

We talked at length with the owner. By the end of the day, we had taken advantage of his show specials and ordered two windgens and all the associated accessories. These arrived a few days later, and I spent a week or so installing everything.

Now it is 13 years later. The original owner of the company sold it and went cruising, and the business is now either very low profile or out of business entirely, because we can't find them online for parts anymore. Our two windgens are now down to one, as the one on the port side was used for spare parts to keep the starboard one running. The remaining one is doing great – we still get comments about how quiet it is – and it still puts out a steady flow of amps. But all the decals have long since faded out and while I have repainted various parts of it numerous times over the years, it definitely looks its age now.

Over the years, we found them to be quite high maintenance items. The internal magnets have a tendency to come lose, and it is an all day process to tear the windgen down, epoxy the magnets back in place and reassemble everything. The brushes were rather short-lived as well, and had to be replaced about once a year. On the other hand, they have survived quite a bit of abuse. On more than one occasion we've wrapped several hundred feet of fishing line up in them, they've survived more than one kamikaze attack by birds, and have weathered numerous storms and gales. Despite all that we've put them through over all those years, however, they did keep on working and have certainly earned their keep. Overall, I'd have to say we have been quite happy with them.

I suppose it's time to start looking at the latest and greatest in windgen technology and start planning for the day when our remaining Fourwinds gives it up for good. Maybe we can find one that is quiet, has a high output and is beautiful to look at as well. In the meantime, the answer to the very frequently asked question - “Did you make that windgen yourself?” is “Nope – it just LOOKS like I did?!”

FAQ - What's your watch schedule? What do you do on long passages? How do you fill the time?

 

First of all, whenever Nine of Cups is in motion, someone is on watch. One of us is either at the helm, in the cockpit or, in inclement weather, sitting at the nav station watching the radar. Even when the weather's bad and we are in the middle of an empty ocean, we still pop our heads up every 10-15 minutes to take a took around. In bad weather, this is the uncomfortable price you pay for traveling by sailboat. In fine weather, this is a perk. Unless we're on an overnight passage or in heavy shipping traffic, this is not a difficult task. You “watch” and make sure you don't hit anything, nothing hits you and Cups is doing her thing. We're usually both topside enjoying the view anyway.

There are as many different watch schedules as there are sailors out there, it seems. Nothing is “standard”. We've heard of one fellow who can't sleep during the day, so his partner stands watch all night long and sleeps while he's on watch all day. That certainly wouldn't work for us, but it works for them. We tried four hour watches, but found the middle hours interminable. We tried two hour watches, but the off-watch person doesn't get enough sleep. So, over the years, we've settled on three on-three off and this works for us. Rarely do we have an extra crew member aboard, but when we do it makes watches much easier.

So, what does one do on “watch” during the night to pass the time when there's nothing going on? David has his own schedule. The first hour he plans his second hour meal. The second hour, he prepares and eats his meal. The third hour, he cleans up and gets ready for bed. Some folks read; others watch movies or play video games on their laptops. I don't usually eat, read or watch movies during the night … I sing. Oh, yes, I can sing to my heart's content as loudly as I please. I've got a whole repertoire to go through. I don't sing particularly well, but David can't hear me below and the fish don't seem to mind. On beautiful clear nights, when the sky is so full of stars there's not room for even one more, we can sit bedazzled by the wonder of it all. I've been known to talk to the moon at length on night watches. She rarely answers.

Of course, there are a few chores to do as well. We log our position, speed, etc. on the hour. We check radar and AIS regularly. We make sure we're on course or at least the best course for taking advantage of the winds and currents. One thing we do not do is sleep on watch. Many folks do. Obviously, that's how single-handed sailors sail. They set radar and AIS alarms and nod off. We feel more comfortable with one of us awake and alert and actually “watching” during our watch. We used to insist that our ship's cat, Jelly, keep watch, but she was unreliable.

Overnight passages and especially long passages introduce a new element to standing watch. Daylight hours are easy. Visibility is usually good. We're diurnal creatures and function best during the day. Night watches can be tiresome. You're by yourself, while your partner sleeps. Visibility is markedly decreased by the darkness. Radar works well, as does AIS, for identifying land masses and larger boats out there. But sometimes there's a lot of boat traffic, fast-moving ferry boats sneak up on you and you're not sure of their route or you don't know where those fishing boats ahead have laid their nets. The positive thing about adrenaline rushes is that they keep you awake.

The worst passages for us are the 2-3 day variety. We're tired all the time, perhaps seasick and then we arrive exhausted. We haven't seen each other because one of us is always sleeping. Longer passages allow us to get into the groove. Our bodies become accustomed to the odd sleep pattern rather quickly … for us 3-4 days. After that, we sleep soundly during our off-watch hours at night and only nap occasionally during the day. Not sleeping together at night is a bummer, but something to look forward to when we reach port.

So, what's your watch schedule and how do you fill the time?

FAQ - Do you worry about ciguatera (fish poisoning)?

 

We've been asked several times about ciguatera poisoning, how to avoid it and what happens if you get it. We've never had ciguatera (cross our fingers) and tend to avoid any fresh fish caught in reef areas. With that in mind though, a cruising friend bought some fresh fish at a market in Vanuatu and was deathly ill with it. Luckily, our good friend and naturopathic physician, Alan Profke, was in the anchorage at the time and was able to treat Isolde and help her recuperate. So, when yet another person asked us about ciguatera, it only seemed logical to ask Alan if he'd help out with a bit more advice and write up something that might benefit all the cruisers out there.

CIGUATERA POISONING. POISON FIS. (POISON FISH IN BISLAMA)

by Dr Alan Profke ND

At the request of the Nine of Cups crew, I was asked to provide some information to assist yachtsmen and women in the treating of ciguatera. I hope this helps.

What is Ciguatera?

The first recorded case of ciguatera fish poisoning was noted in 1774 in the logs of Captain Cooks' ship, the HMS Resolution. Captain James Cook himself suffered with this malady twice whilst in the New Hebrides, or Vanuatu as it is now known. The toxins that produce ciguatera come from a group of organisms called dinoflagellates that proliferate in tropical and subtropical waters. Dinoflagellates adhere to coral, algae, and seaweed where they are eaten by herbivorous fish who are in turn eaten by larger fish and so on. The larger the fish, the more toxin that can accumulate in its flesh. Gamberdiscus toxicus is the primary dinoflagellate responsible for the production of a number of toxins that bring on ciguatera. The toxins are known as ciguatoxin, palytoxin, maitotoxin, and scaritoxin. Ciguatera is odourless, tasteless and heat resistant, so the toxin cannot be eliminated by cooking.

Which fish carry ciguatera?

The fish that affected Captain Cook was thought to be a red bass, however there are many fish that carry the toxins. In fact, up to 400 species of reef fish have been identified so far that are affected by these toxins. The fish that are most likely to be affected are RED BASS, WRASSE, TRIGGER FISH, SNAPPER, SPANISH MACKEREL, QUEEN FISH, MORAY EELS, CORAL TROUT, BARRACUDAS, PARROT FISH,GROUPERS, AND AMBERJACK. Predator species are the worst affected, but other fish can carry the toxins as well.

Symptoms of Poisoning

The symptoms of ciguatera poisoning range from mild to severe and can be evident within one hour or can take up to 24 hours or more to start showing their effects. The symptoms can last for weeks, or in more severe cases, can take months or even years to finally be gone. In some cases, the poisoning has led to long term disability, but this is not generally the norm. Patients can recover and then have relapses. Many patients that have had severe cases of fish poisoning have told me of repeated symptoms months or years later after eating fish, even when the fish has not affected anyone else who has eaten it. There seems to be an association between the consumption of fish and the development of perceived symptoms even when the fish appears to be "toxin free". It has been reported that symptoms can also be triggered by nuts, seeds, alcohol, products containing fish, chicken, eggs and even exposure to bleach and other chemicals. Exercise can also trigger symptoms to surface. This, I have only found in the worst cases.

The major symptoms in humans are gastrointestinal and neurological. Nausea, vomiting, cramping in the abdomen, metallic taste, aching teeth, and diarrhea are often followed by neurological symptoms, such as headaches, myalgia (muscle aches), paraesthesia, numbness, vertigo, hallucinations and ataxia. Excessive sweating may be the first sign, however tingling or altered sensation around the lips, mouth, tongue and throat are the most common first signs. There may be numbness, tingling or extreme sensitivity or even reversed feelings of heat and cold. It has been reported that healthy partners of a ciguatera-affected person can suffer some of the symptoms after sexual intercourse, signifying that the toxin may be transmitted sexually as well. Facial rashes and diarrhea have been reported in infants being breastfed when the mother has been poisoned, so this may be another route for secondary poisoning. In the most severe cases, breathing can be affected, so the person who is affected needs to be monitored closely.

How do I know if a fish is poisoned?

First of all, when you are near an island check with the locals. They will usually know if the fish are safe to eat or not. They may point out certain areas that are affected, so the advice is steer clear of fishing in that area or even close to it.

There have been many suggestions made and theories put forth as to how one can tell if a fish is affected or not. I will list some of these here, but must stress that none of these is scientifically validated.

1. Take a tiny piece of the raw fish flesh and hold it in your mouth, preferably under your tongue. If you perceive any numbness or a tingling sensation, then ditch the fish.
2. If you have any tingling, numbness or a stinging sensation on your hands or skin whilst filleting the fish, ditch it. You obviously need to have the raw flesh of the fish make contact with your skin to have this occur, so if you wear gloves when filleting, remove them.
3. Flies will not touch the fish.
4. Cats will not touch the flesh. This one I know personally is incorrect having lost my dearly loved moggie on a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. The toxin affected him within two hours and despite our most heroic efforts to save him, he died shortly thereafter. He had eaten part of the liver of a mackerel that I had filleted.
5. Try putting a piece of fish on the ground to see if the ants will touch it. If ants continue to walk on the fish and not die, then it is considered safe.

None of these methods has any scientific validity, so I would not place a lot of faith in any of them. I personally use the sub-lingual method and to date have not suffered any effects of ciguatera. Note that I have ditched a few fish along the way that I suspected of being poisoned.

How do I treat ciguatera poisoning?

I list the following points to assist cruisers who may be exposed to ciguatera and those providing care.

First of all, it is important to monitor the patient carefully and to treat the patient both symptomatically, as well as assisting the body to detoxify the ingested toxin. It is vitally important that the affected person be resting and drink absolutely no alcohol. Keep up fluids by drinking filtered water. I also use Vitamin C, preferably in a powdered form with Bioflavenoids. In the first stages of poisoning, take 1/4 teaspoon (500 mg) in water, ingested three times per day. Make sure the patient continues to take Vitamin C, even after improvement is noted. The dosage can slowly be reduced, i.e. take 1/4 teaspoon three times per day for a week and then 1/4 teaspoon twice daily for a week and then 1/4 teaspoon once a day for a month before discontinuing.

It is also vitally important to keep the bowels open, so one should expect to move ones bowels once or twice per day. Stay away from highly salted and sweet foods. I recommend probiotics. These must be a good species. Many probiotics today are just sold for commercial reasons and are not very effective. I personally use a product from the USA called Trenev Trio or Healthy Trinity (Natren is the company in the US). In the first stages, take one capsule before morning and evening meals and, as you improve, reduce to one capsule only before the evening meal.

Liver support is vitally important, so in this regard, I use a homeopathic medication from a company called Heel (Germany). The product is called Hepeel and I recommend one tablet sucked sub-lingually before meals. This is very effective for treating the nausea and assisting both phase 1 and 2 in detoxifying of these toxins.

To treat the diarrhea, I use Saccharomyces Boulardi. This is available in 250 mg capsules and can be used in the acute phase at two capsules, three times per day. Again, as you improve, lessen the dose to one capsule three times per day and then down to one capsule twice per day until totally recovered.

Calcium channel blocker drugs have been used to reduce the severity of the symptoms of ciguatera. Magnesium is a natural calcium channel blocker, so can be added to the Vitamin C. It is imperative that the magnesium is either a citrate or a diglycinate, so as not to exacerbate the diarrhea. In a powdered form, take 1/4 teaspoon along  with the Vitamin C.

All of the above doses are for human beings 12 years of age or older. Children from 5 years of age to 12 years of age should be administered half that dose. In the case of the homeopathic medicines recommended, you can break the tablet into two.

A drug called Questran has also been used to assist in ridding the body of ciguatera toxins. This drug combines with bile acids and prevents them being reabsorbed, thereby excreting the toxin through the bowel movement. A good liver support that assists phase one and two detoxification is vital along with the probiotics that assist bowel detoxification. I personally will not use Paracetamol as this can have a negative effect on liver detoxification, and so, would recommend Ibuprofen for pain relief, if this can be tolerated.

In closing...

In closing, I must say that it is my belief that the more healthy a body is and the better the body is at detoxifying substances which is largely dependent on liver and gut health, the better the body will handle exposure to ciguatera toxin as with any other toxin to which you may be exposed.. To that end, I always suggest a least a good daily multi-vitamin that contains high doses of Vitamin B along with a good probiotic and a healthy diet.

Many cruising yachties do ocean passages and suffer sleep deprivation and, in some cases, dehydration . This can have a devastating effect on the immune system. To assist the body in its recovery and to support good health, the minimum I would suggest would be the good multi-vitamin and a probiotic. In my clinic in Australia, I seldom see ciguatera, but I often see it in Vanuatu where I also have a clinic. I have had very good results using the above to assist the many native patients I see on our island home and some of the cruisers who visit us from time to time. Without a doubt, the best way to handle ciguatera poisoning is to avoid it.

I wish you Fair Winds and Following Seas.

Dr. Alan Profke. ND. Naturopathic Physician

Brisbane, Australia and Aore Island, Vanuatu