I’ve been wrestling with failures on some of the original Nexus instruments this year. First the wind sensor and electronic compass, then one of the Multi-control displays on the sprayhood. Rather than continue to bandaid fixes on obsolete parts, I’ve decided it is time to make the jump and upgrade the instruments to a full B&G system. This includes spray hood displays, the autopilot, the helm chart plotter and the “brains”. The Nexus server will be replaced by a B&G H5000 Hercules Processor. The mast displays will eventually be replaced, when I decide what works best for our program, but the Nexus XL displays may stay on for another year. The existing sensors for speed and depth will be used. The Garmin Nexus wind sensor that was just replaced will also be used, if I can prove that the new processor will accept wind from the NMEA 2000 bus to perform the advanced corrections. Otherwise, a new B&G 213 Mast Head Unit will be installed. The Nexus HPC compass was already replaced this season with a B&G Precision 9 Compass.
The left most Nexus Multi-control display on the spray hood was replaced on 2 October with a B&G Triton 2 display as shown on the picture below. Over the winter, the spray hood will be updated to include a B&G H5000 graphic display, the B&G H5000 pilot controller and an additional B&G Triton 2 display.
The B&G H5000 graphic display will be located in the center of the spray hood and provide some advanced features such as start lines and lay lines. It also provides control for other features in the upgraded system. Next to it will be the B&G H5000 pilot controller for the new B&G H5000 Pilot Computer autohelm. This will allow complete control of the autopilot from the companionway, in addition to control via the chartplotter at the helm.
The helm display will be updated to a B&G Zeus 3 – 12″ multifunction chartplotter. This replaces the existing Raymarine e125 chartplotter at the helm and provides integrated autopilot control, along with access to all the advanced B&G H5000 Hercules Processor sailing features.
The new processor will be the B&G H5000 Hercules Processor which does all the advanced performance calculations. It does everything the Nexus server does plus more, and provides an expandable interface architecture allowing upgrades to be more easily done on the future. The updated autopilot will be the B&G H5000 Pilot Computer which has significantly better performance in all conditions and has been proven in offshore racing on many winning programs. It will be a game changer for short handed racing allowing reliable helm control in all wind and sea conditions. It is also very easy to operate and will be useful for deliveries and cruising.
Bill has some winter projects to do on Vento Solare!
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A great day to be out sailing for the 2024 maiden voyage. We helped Blue Skies pushed off the dock at 1100, then were soon underway. We put up the main and unfurled the jib on a reach as soon as we were clear of Borden Light Marina. SOG was 9+ knots for a portion of the trip. We arrived at the Navy Marina at 1320 - pretty good time!
The delivery crew: Scott, Burch, Jack, Steve & Bill
A great weekend on Block Island with Kathy, Claire & Bill. Great race results and appetizer contest results. We were fortunate to have the blender and the heater on the boat. After a nice weekend on Block Island we had a fast ride back with everyone taking time on the helm.
A few pictures from our family sail on Grandpa's birthday weekend. Unfortunately hurricane Ophelia changed our plans for a weekend on Block Island. We did a Friday evening sail in Newport, grabbed a mooring for cocktails and dinner, then went back to our slip at the Navy marina. We stayed on the boat Friday night and went to the YMCA for Isla's soccer which was moved to the indoor gym.
Underway on Vento Solare with Grandpa, Kai, Daddy & Isla
Enjoying appetizers in Newport Harbor before sunset.
Family dinner on Vento Solare while on the mooring.
Kai's note to Grandpa for his birthday weekend.
A great weekend of racing with everybody with Vento Solare finishing 2nd place overall. Crew work was fantastic all three days. Starting from the bow with Roland, mast with Will, pit with Andrew, trimming with Sarah & Mary, and main / tactics with Trevor (Jeff Roy for Around the Island on Friday). We saw the full spectrum of wind from 5 to 22 kts over 3 days.
Congrats to Divided Sky who put up all first place finishes. The rest of the class including J/109 URSA, J/99 Upbeat, Sunfast 3300 Avalon and Express 37 COUCOU all provided the challenge as fierce competitors.