Newsletter #26 - January 19, 2010

ActiveCaptain 2010


In This Issue:

- ActiveCaptain X - the Final Beta Release
- A Captain Contributes to the Canine Crew Series
- What's in Store for 2010
- A Captain's Request



ActiveCaptain X - the Final Beta Release
==========================================
Your response to the ActiveCaptain X Beta has been great. We're working feverishly to have it completed within the next few weeks. Your biggest request has been for Hazard Markers - many of you are chomping at the bit to enter information you have gleaned while cruising south.

Well, you can start entering them now. ActiveCaptain X Beta version 0.9 is now live. You can add new markers in X including the new hazard marker. There are several hundred markers entered already. We encourage everyone to include comments about existing Hazards. A Hazard comment is kind of like a review - it lets you tell others what your experience was at a Hazard location. Please include all relevant information such as the type of boat, your draft, tide conditions, etc.

To create new markers in X, press and hold the mouse cursor on the place you'd like to create a marker. A popup menu will appear. It should be obvious from there. Notice that there are other options in that popup menu too.

The only features missing from X beta are the ability to move markers and the Location Search card. Both are coming soon.

Let us know what you think. If you have any problems with the X Beta, please leave us a comment by clicking on the Contact Us link in the upper right of the website or email support@activecaptain.com



A Captain Contributes to the Canine Crew Series
==========================================
As most of you know, we cruise with our canine crew, Dyna and Dylan. We love hearing information about sharing the cruising life with four-footed crew members. In Charleston we were fortunate to meet fellow cruisers Rick and Linda Sandler and their canine crew member Kirby. Kirby proved resistant to the training methods we discuss in our article Canine Crew:
http://www.activecaptain.com/articles/dogs/canineCrew.php

So Rick and Linda devised their own unique method of "business" training for Kirby. We thought others might find it helpful and asked them to write it up. They agreed and you can now read their story: http://www.activecaptain.com/articles/dogs/holdThatDinghy.php



What's in Store for 2010
==========================================
2009 has been an outstanding year! The ActiveCaptain community has grown dramatically with over 1 million accesses to marker information. The website won awards, received praise from the media, and was featured in numerous articles and reviews. We have met hundreds of users at shows, rendezvous, on the dock, at anchorages, and over the radio. What a great community.

So what's in store for 2010? Big things. Huge things! Two important developments are in progress now:

1. We're working with major marine electronics manufacturers to incorporate ActiveCaptain into their products. Expect to see some exciting developments here including offline storage of all marker data with synchronization when an internet connection exists.

2. A new way for marinas to offer co-operating deals and savings. This is unlike anything that exists in boating today. Wait 'till you see it.

All of this is coming in the next few months. Of course, nothing you love about ActiveCaptain is going to change. It will continue to be free to access, update, and use.



A Captain's Request
==========================================
One of our Captains has asked that users include slip pricing information for monthly, seasonal and annual rentals if they know it. So if you have information about longer term slip rentals please include it under "Additional slip info" on the Dockage tab. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!


After surviving record cold on the east coast we are looking forward to warming temps this week as we continue our voyage south. We're spending this week in Vero Beach and next week in Stuart. Here's were we are in Vero Beach:
http://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=27.657673&lon=-80.370215&t=n&z=16

Here's where we'll be in Stuart:
http://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=27.200098&lon=-80.258774&t=n&z=15

Don't hesitate to hail us on the VHF or knock on the boat when you see our logo. We'd love to hear from you. To find out what Dyna and Dylan are up to check out our blog:
http://takingpaws.com

Wishing everyone calm seas and warm temperatures!


==================================
Karen and Jeffrey Siegel
aCappella
Castine, Maine

www.activecaptain.com
The Interactive Cruising Guidebook

2010-07-21	#35 - My Card, messaging, and more...
2010-06-29	#34 - New ActiveCaptain award...
2010-06-02	#33 - MaxSea Time Zero v1.9 Released
2010-05-18	#32 - ActiveCaptain loves the iPhone/iPad
2010-04-27	#31 - Coastal Explorer Now Available
2010-04-14	#30 - ActiveCaptain Loves Coastal Explorer
2010-03-16	#29 - ActiveCaptain Co-Ops - This is big...
2010-02-23	#28 - ActiveCaptain "X" is now live
2010-02-15	#27 - ActiveCaptain Loves MaxSea/Furuno
2010-01-19	#26 - ActiveCaptain 2010
2009-12-10	#25 - ActiveCaptain X goes beta
2009-11-17	#24 - Quick Lists
2009-10-20	#23 - A fresh look at the iPhone
2009-09-22	#22 - Are we the wave of the future?
2009-08-19	#21 - ActiveCaptain Sets Sail
2009-07-21	#20 - Rescue Tape for 150 Points
2009-07-14	#19 - ActiveCaptain Rocks!
2009-07-01	#18 - ActiveCaptain Gets a Facelift
2009-06-02	#17 - Another ActiveCaptain award!
2009-05-19	#16 - Hats off to you!
2009-05-06	#15 - Twitter, New PodCast, and more
2009-03-17	#14 - Using phones in the Bahamas
2009-03-03	#13 - The best fuel prices
2009-01-28	#12 - SAIL innovation award
2009-01-05	#11 - Power accessories article
2008-12-02	#10 - Bluetooth headsets article
2008-10-28	#9 - The next wave
2008-09-13	#8 - ActiveCaptain Mobile news
2008-06-15	#7 - Mad Mariner
2008-03-12	#6 - ActiveCaptain Mobile
2008-01-21	#5 - Inlets
2007-09-19	#4 - Boat ramps
2007-07-09	#3 - Local knowledge released
2007-04-14	#2 - Global support
2007-02-11	#1 - Anchorages released

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