Our Mylo Fund

Help us get a Sony Milo…

The Sony Milo is the COOLEST gadget we saw when we were back in America. It is perfect for cruisers because it turns itself into a free phone wherever there is wireless Internet (WIFI). To keep our site updated when Sandpiper is at anchor we use Sailmail for text that we can transmit through Sandpipers SSB radio, but to post photo’s and videos we have to dinghy our laptop ashore very carefully not to get it wet, or pay at internet cafés.

The Sony Milo connects to the Internet via WIFI where most yacht clubs, marinas coffee shops, restaurants and bars have free WIFI. It also comes loaded with SKYPE where we can call anywhere in the world for penny’s a minute to a phone, and free when calling another SKYPE user. It uses very little power compared to plugging in a laptop to Sandpiper’s batteries and can be left on 24 hours a day to receive phone calls.

If you like what you have been reading these past 3 years, enjoy our photos and entertaining videos and would like to hook a sailor up, then help us get our hands on this little piece of luxury. Imagine how proud you will feel every time you check our site and see that our last entry was sent ‘via Milo’.

If you want to chip in, then feel free to hit this button.

Thank You,
Tom & Amy

Google Map of voyage

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Sail Mail

Tom & Amy can not receive anything sent to their HotMail accounts while at sea. So The Sandpiper has a Sail Mail account that allows them to send and receive emails while at sea by using a radio. Messages are sent over a very low-speed radio link.

Unlike normal email that you are used to at home and work, SailMail has restrictions. It is very low bandwidth and very basic. It can only handle a small amount of data. In order for it to work, the emails have to be short and sweet. They can not have attachments, or graphics, and must be text.

Another serious problem with Sail Mail accounts is spam. Because the bandwidth is so precious, it can not afford to waste data sending junk mail. So it is imperative that the Sandpiper's Sail Mail address must be kept out of the hands of spammers. So in order to do this, I can not publish that email address in a way that can be read by spammers hunting for victims.

Here is their address:

If you can not read the address in the above image, then send an email to Tom's brother Ron and ask for it. I (Ron) will email it back to you. Ron's email is: ron.d.larson@gmail.com.

Please observe the following rules when sending email to the Sandpiper's Sail Mail account.

• Do not push the "reply" button to respond to any email received from SailMail. That is because it will include the text of the original email with the response. The most concise way to reply is to send a NEW message to their email account.
• If you DO use your reply button, be sure to delete the original message text and any SailMail instructions from your reply.
• Replies may not contain attachments.
• Email should be less than 5 kBytes (2 text pages) in length.
• We trust that you will not post their SailMail email address on any other public forum where it can be snagged by spammers looking for new targets.

Thank you very much. And sorry about the inconvenience.
Ron Larson

Sandpiper Equipment List

Here is a complete list of equipment that comes with S/V Sandpiper.

• 224 gallon fresh water tank
• LED running and anchor lights
  
• all new lifelines
• Zodiac life raft
• 2.2hp Suzuki outboard
• six-foot Achilles inflatable
  

Interior Comforts:

• Soft LED Alpenglow lights
  
• Propane heater
  

Communications:

• Raytheon VHF radio
  
• Icom 710 single side band radio with modem for receiving and transmitting Sailmail
  
• Sirius Satellite Radio.
  

Navigation Equipment:

• GPS: Furuno GPS
  
• C.A.R.D (collision avoidance radar detector)
  
• Laptop: Waterproof Panasonic Toughbook using C-map worldwide charts and Max Sea navigational system
  

Electric Power:

• 550amp Rolls batteries
  
• (2) 275-watt solar panels
  
• KISS wind generator
  
• 150amp DC generator
  
• Link 10- battery monitor (at the nav station)
  

Motor:

• Volvo MD3B engine
  
• (2) 90 gallon diesel tanks (180 gallons total)
  

Pilot House:

• Hard dodger
  
• Lexan windows
  
• Raymarine ST6002 wheel drive autopilot
  
• Furuno radar
  
• Autohelm depth finder
  
• Sayes Rig windvane steering system
  
• 12-volt salt water pump
  

Mooring Equipment:

• Electric anchor windlass
  
• 50-lb. Bruce anchor
  
• 20-lb. Danforth stern anchor
  
• 300 feet of 3/8 chain

Sailing Equipment

• Doyle sails
  
• Mail Sail
  
• Jib
  
• Genoa
  
• Wisker pole
  stainless steel safety rail around the mast
  
• new spreaders
• new stainless steel rigging
  

Galley:

• Classic 1976 three-burner propane stove and oven
  
• Refrigerator
  
• Freezer with Frigoboat keel cooled system.

Buy us a Rum Punch!!!

Being a follower of Team Sandpiper you know that we have battled high seas, winds, storms, night squalls, floating pumice, pirate infested waters and sometimes a smelly head!!!!!!

What we look forward too more than a set anchor in the Caribbean is a delicious Rum Punch!

If you want to buy us the next round then feel free to hit this button.

Although not tax deductible, a toast will be made in your name. And if you include a name & mailing address, then a post card might make its way to your mail box.

Cheers,
Tom & Amy, S/V Sandpiper

Buy Us A Beer!!!

Being a follower of Team Sandpiper you know that we have battled high seas, winds, storms, night squalls, floating pumice, pirate infested waters and sometimes a smelly head!!!!!!

What we look forward too more than a set anchor when in port, is an icy cold beer!

If you want to buy us the next round then feel free to hit this button.

Although not tax deductible, a toast will be made in your name. And if you include a name & mailing address, then a post card might make its way to your mail box.

Cheers,
Tom & Amy, S/V Sandpiper