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Useful Information

Tide times for Portsmouth Harbour

Portsmouth is a primary port located in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, on Portsea Island. It is home to the world's oldest dry dock still in use and home to many famous ships, including Nelson's flagship HMS Victory. Tides are calculated using Portsmouth as a primary port. Portsmouth Tide Times(opens in a new window)

Glossary of sailing terms

A really useful and informative glossary of sailing terms and jargon in an accessible and easily navigable format

Sailing glossary

Favourite Anchorages in the Solent

Latitude-longitude positions are given more or less in the middle for each anchorage. However, these are only intended to assist finding the right general area on the chart; they should not be taken as the definitive point for anchoring.Popular Solent anchorages

VI-SA-GB Empowerment and awareness training

VI-SA-GB recognise the need to take a fresh look at visual awareness in relation to sailing and the specific environment

This course and the subsequent certification exists to develop, and recognise the skills and competence needed by Skippers and crew, when sailing with visually impaired people. Read more about Empowerment and awareness

VI-SA-GB's online sea chest

the www.visa-gb.org.uk web team are slowly approving secondary and third party web sites that we feel meet the accessibility expectations of our members and visitors

We have called this the VI-SA-GB online sea chest, free the clasp, swing back the lid and you'll discover many amazing treasures!

useful links

Auto Helm audio compass acquired for VI-SA-GB members

The association has recently acquired an Auto Helm audio compass and GPS from the Longford Offshore Sailing Association.

Our sincere thanks and appreciation must be extended to the remaining trustees of the LOSA who decided to donate this invaluable item of accessible navigation equipment to VI-SA-GB

The Auto Helm audio compass and GPS will be used on all association voyages and loaned to associated organisations for voyages where VI-SA-GB members are participating. The equipment may also be loaned to members of the association when not allocated to any of these voyages.

Accessible instrumentation?

Thanks to the dedication and efforts of Paul Elliot some good progress has veen made on his development of AudioNav (the blind sailing programme), and he is ready for some feedback.

Find out more about Audio Nav the accessible instrumentation development project for the blind sailing enthusiast [opens in a new browser]

Subscribe to the Audio Nav mailing list

To subscribe to the Audio Nav mailing list, simply Send an e-mail! leaving the body of your e mail blank and await for the yahoo response asking you to confirm your application to subscribe.

Reply to the e mail from yahoo by either following the links in the e mail or by simply replying using your e mail client commands.


To unsubscribe from the Audio Nav mailing list, simply Send an e-mail!

Announcing the Maxpac audio aid to steering for visually impaired people

Frank Hatfall and his son have been building a new audio aid to steering for visually impaired people.

They have called it MaxPAC The Max Programmable Audio Compass

  • Based on the Arduino chip set and uses a proper minature fluxgate compass.
  • Fully portable with an internal battery.
  • Visually impaired sailing enthusiasts have been involved in the development and final tests.

The MaxPAC Audio Compass is specifically designed for Visually Impaired sailors as an aid to steer an accurate course.

The MaxPAC is very easy to use and is completely self-contained. Simply press the button to switch on and the MaxPAC immediately notes your current course. If you deviate by more than 5 degrees it will beep once every two seconds. It beeps low to turn left, high to turn right.

MaxPAC then progressively beeps more earnestly the further you deviate off course. To reset the course, just get onto your new heading and press the button again.

The MaxPAC is based on the Arduino Mega chipset and a miniature fluxgate compass, and checks your heading once every two seconds. The MaxPAC is software upgradable via most PCs and a little programming knowledge.

The MaxPAC is self-contained within a strong plastic water resistant box 15cm x 8cm x 5cm and uses a standard PP3 battery. The unit can easily be held in place with Velcro or bungee. All the components are standard items and easily replaceable.

There is an option for an extra external buzzer that can be worn in a pouch around ones neck.

VI-SA-GB logoAll information provided and presented by the association is protected by copyright (c) and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, copy or transmit, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the association.