SailFar Chat.... 'ChaTuesday'.

[Jack Tar]

I log in, I see five users , I have no way to talk to them other than a post, I dont know where they are or what they are reading or posting on. 

[CapnK]

Done.

http://sailfar.net/chat

You get a choice of 3 rooms to join - I would suggest we use the "default" room by, um, default , so that if you join that is the most likely way to find someone.

It's probably a good idea to register your name there, tho I think you don't have to, it just protects your name if you do. You can use the same name/password combination that you use for the Forum, if you'd like to make it easy.

It would probably be a good idea to "schedule" a regular chat, say maybe for Tuesday nights or something like that. Folks can meet there anytime, but picking one particular time might work best all around.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

[seanshine]

That's amazing Krunch.  Two hours from Jack's post and you have the chatroom up and running.  I'm impressed.........Hmmmmm, what  is next?

[CapnK]

Actually, it's really easy with the web hosting company I use. "Personalizing" it (if possible) will take longer.

I'm glad Jack brought it up, I've been meaning to get one up and running.

[Amorous]

Good show!!!!

[Jack Tar]

Thanks Capt. You Da Man

[s/v Faith]

Great job Kurt,

  .... again. 

[Jack Tar]

Could you put a link on the site so we can access the chat by clicking a Chat Icon or tab. Thank Capn.

[CapnK]

Look up top, in the Forum News banner - there's a link there now.

I pop into the chat room every so often - never seem to catch anyone there - wah - is it working OK?

How about a scheduled meet up, say for later tonight, 9PM EST and later? I'll check in then, see if anyones around. I'd like to test it with several folks there at once, see how it works...

[CapnK]

I'm heading over to another liveaboards boat for a while (and some free beer(s)), but will be back and log in to the chat around 9 - maybe see some of y'all there?

[CapnK]

Solace and I are in there now, Zen was in earlier - come join in for a bit!

[seanshine]

Is it too late?

[seanshine]

Krunch, the chatroom has some issues............

[CapnK]

Hi Sean

I just went in there to check it, it was working fine, I saw that you had been in. It might have *looked* like there were others in there, but noone else was when you were - check the time stamps next to when people post.

Notice this message at the top of the page next time you go there:

"Messages are deleted after 96 hours and usernames after 4 minutes ..."

Also, there is a display of how many people are in the room that you can look at.

This chat works, but I don't like it a whole lot. Eventually I plan to put something better in place. It's a little too busy for me to do that right now.

[CapnK]

I posted the other day that I was going to meet Neal and Darlene Petersen (link) for a lunch cuppa and a talk. Well, we had a lot of fun and not nearly enough time that afternoon, so they invited me to come down to their house for dinner last night. We had a *great* dinner (Darlene did a wonderful job - yummy!), I got to see Neals boat "Stella'r" up close, and we talked a whole bunch more. Still, I don't think we are done talking quite yet. And there are those sailing plans we have, come springtime...

Anyway, I told Neal about our site here, and asked him if he'd be interested in joining us in a live Q&A chat session sometime. He said he'd like that, so I'm going to set it up, try and coordinate a time where we can all meet, and anyone who wants to can ask questions of a guy who - although his boat *is* over 30' LOA - has sailed around the world singlehanded. I'm not sure just yet what method we will use, probably *not* the sailFar chat page, because it doesn't seem optimal. Neal has an AOL chat client, so I may set it up that way, but don't worry if you don't already have an AOL account/client; if we use that method, I'll put up directions on how anyone can join in. First I wanted to find if we'd have enough interested participants to make it worthwhile that Neal set aside time in his schedule for it. Who would like to do this?

If you aren't familiar with who Neal is, he's a guy who built his own cold-molded plywood boat and then raced it in several world class events - across oceans several times, as well as around the world. A "black" man from a not-rich family on the wrong side of the tracks in apartheid-ridden South Africa who rose above all of the obstacles in his way and learned the power of a dream to make happen those things which he wanted for his life. Neal works now as a motivational speaker among other things, and he is also part of a company involved in bringing electric auxiliary propulsion to the sailing world, Solomon Technologies (link). A fascinating *and* nice, humble guy. He is also rather animated when he talks about the 2012 Vendee Globe, and building and then sailing an Open 60 in that race...
 

I wrote about Neals book "Journey of a Hope Merchant"(link) down in the book locker. Since I read it the first time, it has won the National Outdoor Book Award - Congrats, Neal!

Neal said he would also be glad to autograph / personalize copies of the book for anyone who has or purchases a copy. "Katie Marie" has hers signed now.

Here's Neal at home (I was kidding him about having "swallowed the anchor"), with "Stella'r" in the background.

[Iceman]

Count me in

[Coastal Cruiser]

WOW!! a woooooooodeeeeeeen hhhhhhullll you say? PLease include me in on this one! Thanks for the headsup.

[Iceman]

How do I obtain an autographed copy of the book Capnk?

[CapnK]

Coastal - I told Neal we had some folks here who were wooden builders. I forget to mention that Neal didn't just build the boat - he *designed it*, too.

Ice - email here:

darlene@kesgroup.com

That is Neals wife Darlenes address, she "manages" Neal and the business, she can set you up, I'm sure.

[Iceman]

Thanks Capnk
I may need to  ;Dkeep the Commander to keep my book collection in