WiFi pirate, that is.
Accessing reliable Internet is difficult for a boat at anchor. Sure, there are the occasional Internet cafes on shore, and we use them when needs must. However in certain areas either Internet cafes are rare-to-nonexistent, or you have to schlep your precious laptop in a dinghy through rain or choppy seas; or you might have to land your dinghy and its delicate cargo through surf. Such scenarios can end badly and we try to avoid the risk whenever possible.
The Fox is equipped with an alternative to taking the ol' Gateway ashore: a long-range WiFi antenna that on a good day can pick up a strong signal from a good antenna 2 or 3 miles distant. Of course, weak signals from crappy antennas are more the norm; and most of those signals are encrypted. But every so often there's a kind soul ashore who keeps their signal open so that folks like us can pick up a taste of the good life on the Interwebs. As I write this* we are in one such place and this post is being made courtesy of the generous people in the hyper-fancy resort off which The Fox now rests. Thanks, y'all!
* As you read this, we're long gone from this fine place. But while we were there, I sure did a lot of Internetting.
When we enter a bay, we WiFi pirates look over the shoreline and count the number of dwellings there. If there are more than 10 houses clustered together - and especially if those houses are of newer, fancier construction - the chances are good that at least one of them is trying to download Internet porn and might have an unencrypted signal we can exploit. If we see a likely-looking settlement, instead of raising the Jolly Roger we WiFi pirates hoist our antenna up our port flag halyard, so that the plunder can commence....yarrgh.
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