Boy this site has just had an adrenalin rush - great! I love my Class A AIS, and found its benefit coming around Wilsons Promontory (lowest point in mainland Australia) in the notorious Bass Strait in heavy seas at 0300h, and finding the Iron Monarch on a reciprocal course. As the name implies it was full of iron ore. It was comforting to hail her and suggest our change of course, and more comforting for them to acknowledge, and to tell us of their course change intentions as well. Last year I went into a holding area for ore ships at anchor in the middle of the night. My AIS identified 72 targets (full), and the screen showed many more radar targets. I decided to cut through them as I needed to head north as I was off course trying to skirt them. What I should have done was switch off my AIS because I activated AIS alarms on every one of these at anchor ships I guess, as the VHF sounded like a Chinese laundry had just run out of washing powder. Class A AIS is now mandatory for all boats entering Singapore Harbour, and I think this is a portent for the future, particularly if we ever have a water bound terrorism event. Have replied personally to John from "Seahorse" from yesterday's PUP post saying that the N55 Heads Up Report is just for members who own 55's (3 exceptions because of professional expertise) and we deal with pure 55 issues. A lot of the content is to help the new owners. I'm told the 55 will be PAE's most successful model ever and production is tipped to break 100. Scott your F/S post was so helpful - thanks! My topping lift for the pole is already spliced to give me 45 degs, which makes it very hard to pull forward with the foreguy. One of our members uses his windlass Gypsy which has solved this problem for me. Randy Repass from West Marine was on his hook in SV Convergence close by the other night and I'm sure he was envious of the stability we had with our F/S in a small rolly bay. Everyone keep up the good work - this site has legs Peter PS Alan Wagner, great stuff with your mission back on track. I bet you were like a dog with a bone as a lawyer. ******************************************************