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Cats, Carnival and Sticks

Posted: Fri 29th January 2010 in Blog
Position: 17° 12.7' N, 61° 46.5' W

Bar the odd, and largely irrelevant Twitter message, I suppose a proper update is in order. First let us discus quantum physics, don't worry this is going somewhere.

 iklanchSM.JPG
What's Missing?

Schroedinger's Cat

 Without going into excessive detail, there's a cat in a box with an atom of radioactive material a radiation detector connected to a vial of poison. As a physicist will tell you radioactive decay is a random process. Since the box is closed there is no way to know whether the cat is alive or dead. This is used in quantum physics to explain the state of uncertainty. In this case the cat is both alive and dead at the same time.

Believe it or not this quantum third state is applicable to masts as well. Island Kea has a mast, in a box, a shipping crate actually. This mast is both here and not here. A quantum state of uncertainty known as customs.

We have a mast but on Friday they changed the way customs deal with untaxed goods. Yachts are frequently not necessary part of the country they may happen to be in and sometimes do not have to pay import duties. Island Kea is (supposed) to be "in transit" and its mast I believe is not paying tax on the new stick (or mast). However the computers have crashed due to the new customs rules. So are mast is here but not here at the same time.

Now normally you'd use Newtonian physics on masts, but in this case quantum theory works better.

Who says God doesn't negotiate?

 Now were on a bit of a schedule here, as Goldie Lookin Chain put it  "Jesus was nailed up to some wood, 2000 years later book sales are still good". I like to blame the Abrahamic religious sects  for pretty much everything, but I've got to give 'em credit, this is the pagan's fault too. Jesus was according to the Christians, crucified. It obviously wasn't a terribly memorable occasion cos no one's entirely certain when it happened. In fact they claim it happed at Easter named after Eoste, who's pagan date moves around. The 40 days before Easter it is lent and at the start of lent its Carnival!

South America, the Caribbean  in general grinds to a halt. Including the Panama Canal. We're supposed to go through with the rest of the Blue Water Rally. If we don't get to Panama on the 12th the were going to be held a week at least probably more. We've good trade winds. If we can run 200Nm a day we can make Panama in 6 days. Its still doable but getting very very tight.

 In summary, I'm still in Antigua. Been working really hard on the boat (gallery soon). if we get the mast off the damn docks in St Johns pronto and its put in pronto and we sail like demons (200Nm a day is a hell of a run) we might still make it.

Ever seen room 101 on the telly? Well Caribbean Customs made it in, as did motor boat owners.

[Printable]
Share

Cats, Carnival and Sticks

Posted: Fri 29th January 2010 in Blog
Position: 17° 12.7' N, 61° 46.5' W

Cats, Carnival and Sticks

Bar the odd, and largely irrelevant Twitter message, I suppose a proper update is in order. First let us discus quantum physics, don't worry this is going somewhere.

 iklanchSM.JPG
What's Missing?

Schroedinger's Cat

 Without going into excessive detail, there's a cat in a box with an atom of radioactive material a radiation detector connected to a vial of poison. As a physicist will tell you radioactive decay is a random process. Since the box is closed there is no way to know whether the cat is alive or dead. This is used in quantum physics to explain the state of uncertainty. In this case the cat is both alive and dead at the same time.

Believe it or not this quantum third state is applicable to masts as well. Island Kea has a mast, in a box, a shipping crate actually. This mast is both here and not here. A quantum state of uncertainty known as customs.

We have a mast but on Friday they changed the way customs deal with untaxed goods. Yachts are frequently not necessary part of the country they may happen to be in and sometimes do not have to pay import duties. Island Kea is (supposed) to be "in transit" and its mast I believe is not paying tax on the new stick (or mast). However the computers have crashed due to the new customs rules. So are mast is here but not here at the same time.

Now normally you'd use Newtonian physics on masts, but in this case quantum theory works better.

Who says God doesn't negotiate?

 Now were on a bit of a schedule here, as Goldie Lookin Chain put it  "Jesus was nailed up to some wood, 2000 years later book sales are still good". I like to blame the Abrahamic religious sects  for pretty much everything, but I've got to give 'em credit, this is the pagan's fault too. Jesus was according to the Christians, crucified. It obviously wasn't a terribly memorable occasion cos no one's entirely certain when it happened. In fact they claim it happed at Easter named after Eoste, who's pagan date moves around. The 40 days before Easter it is lent and at the start of lent its Carnival!

South America, the Caribbean  in general grinds to a halt. Including the Panama Canal. We're supposed to go through with the rest of the Blue Water Rally. If we don't get to Panama on the 12th the were going to be held a week at least probably more. We've good trade winds. If we can run 200Nm a day we can make Panama in 6 days. Its still doable but getting very very tight.

 In summary, I'm still in Antigua. Been working really hard on the boat (gallery soon). if we get the mast off the damn docks in St Johns pronto and its put in pronto and we sail like demons (200Nm a day is a hell of a run) we might still make it.

Ever seen room 101 on the telly? Well Caribbean Customs made it in, as did motor boat owners.