sv Hula Girl

Author: Steve

  • Internet Setup

    Tech Notes – Wed 3/30/25

    For those interested in how we maintain connectivity while sailing, here are the details of the setup aboard Hula Girl.

    The heart of the system is the Peplink HD1 Dome Pro 5G cellular router. This was designed specifically for sailboats and sits high atop our mast. We have the optional SIM Injector installed to allow easy changes of SIM cards from the cabin as we sail around. We’ve easily had good 5G service from ATT 10 miles offshore. This is what we used the last couple of years as we sailed around coastal Florida. This device will use free WIFI from a nearby shore signal at a marina, then seamlessly transfer to Cellular when the WIFI signal is lost.

    Fast forward to late 2024, Starlink released the Starlink Mini. This is a game changer, with unlimited data for $150/month with the Roam Unlimited plan.

    • When going more than 12 nautical miles offshore, you must opt in for the roam data at $2/gb. Do this before the 12nm limit!
    • Once back within site of land, as long as the country allows Starlink usage (not all do), then you can turn the pay per go option back off for unlimited use.
    • This effectively makes any IPhone a “sat phone” as we can make calls over the satellite IP connection.

    The Peplink router then connects to the Starlink WiFi signal and uses that to provide internet service to all connected devices onboard. This is setup just like any other WIFI as WAN connection.

    All devices aboard alway connect to the Peplink router, so there is no need to adjust settings on each device, regardless of the source of internet; WiFi, Cell or Starlink.

    Additionally, a VPN service is required in order to enjoy your US streaming services abroad. We had noticed that new channels used for weather and video services such as Peacock were blocked. Netflix defaulted to Bahamas features for example. By using a VPN, the streaming services think we are in Miami, FL and work as normal.

    We use SurfShark VPN aboard Hula Girl. To set this up with a Peplink Router, you must log into your SurfShark account and setup a manual OpenVPN connection. It will generate a user ID and PW for you, then download the UCP file for the location you wish to be seen at. Next, log into the Peplink router, go to Advanced, VPN, OpenVPN, put in the ID/PW and upload the UCP file enabling it for either the 2.4 or 5ghz connection that you are getting Starlink From. You can also do this with a foreign SIM card for a cellular connection. Apply the changes to the router, and like magic, the streaming services think you are in Miami.

  • And a pig named Bacon!

    And a pig named Bacon!

    Captain’s Log – Sat 3/29/25

    Life here at The Grand Bahama Yacht Club is very easy going. The place is gorgeous, the people are so nice, there are many local restaurants to choose from and there is even a pet pig named Bacon. We almost don’t want to leave. We will definitely be back.

    This is Bacon, wagging his tail like a puppy. He wouldn’t be so friendly if he knew exactly how much I love bacon!

    There were a few boat chores to take care of. I had to defrost the fridge. If anyone knows how to keep a non-frost free style fridge/freezer from frosting over, let me know! I put the dinghy back up for travel, and thoroughly checked the engine over. The water tank was switched to the forward RO water tank as the water maker is due for it’s auto flush cycle Sunday morning. We can’t flush with city water that has chlorine in it. Not sure if it does here but better safe than sorry.

    We spent the afternoon touring the Bahamas Maritime Museum. Interesting history of the original Lucayan people, the timeline through history from Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, the pirates and the effects of slavery and the American Revolution on the islands. Much of this not the world’s finest moment.

    The waters here are rich with treasure from many wrecks of Spanish Galleons and pirates. There are silver bars over a foot long! Must add under-water metal detector to my dive gear!!!

    The Marivillas

    ✌️❤️⛵️

  • One Month Sailiversary

    One Month Sailiversary

    Captain’s Log – Fri 3/28/25

    We set sail from St Pete Beach one month ago today, sailing down the west coast of Florida, through the Keys, across the Atlantic gulf stream to Bimini and then to Lucaya, near Freeport, where we are currently docked.

    To mark the occasion, we celebrated with dinner at the Bell Channel Inn, a cute little pink hotel in port Lucaya with a table overlooking the harbor. In a decidedly island simplicity, the wine list here consists of two options; red or white.

    Since there’s only two days left in lobster season and I haven’t yet had the chance to get my own, I opted for the local surf and turf. The lobster dwarfed the 10oz steak! Looks like it’s steak tacos for lunch tomorrow!😆

    This morning we evaluated the latest weather forecasts and have made a tentative plan to depart Lucaya early Monday morning, sailing NW around West End and then east again to a little island called Mangrove Cay for the night. Then on Tuesday we’ll sail to Great Sale Cay where we will anchor and wait out the weather for a few days before pushing east into the Abaco Islands.

    In preparation, we made a run to the grocery store. The Grand Bahama Yacht Club has a free shuttle to the store. Surprisingly, it was much the same as our local Winn Dixie. We found everything we were looking for except canned beer. We just don’t like having glass on the boat.

    And in other news, I heard through the grapevine that the company I was working for did a big round of layoffs. Looks like I picked a good time to leave on my own terms.

    ✌️❤️⛵️