For when we leave next year, having a Starlink antenna on board will come in very handy. For those who do not know what Starlink is ... "it is satellite constellation under construction by the U.S. space company SpaceX (Elon Musk) to provide Internet access. By placing thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, the company hopes to provide broadband Internet worldwide, at a cost comparable to current (wired) Internet connections. To do this, users will need an antenna "the size of a pizza box."

Most sailors who are on the move for longer periods of time have now purchased such an antenna. With it, even in the middle of the ocean you have an Internet connection like we are used to at home. Instead of a very thin connection via satellite phone.

In the beginning these antennas were still very expensive, but not anymore. Now the generation 3 version is just out which is currently only for sale in the US and UK. The advantage of the generation 3 version over the generation 2 version (which most sailors have) is that this antenna no longer has a mast with motors and can therefore be mounted flat more easily.

We bought the antenna in the UK and had it delivered to Sam's parents. It does indeed look like a large white pizza box.

Toine thought carefully about where and how to install this antenna. He made a custom aluminum frame with a rim of plastic in which the Starlink antenna is mounted. This frame is mounted under the solar panel so that the antenna is in line with the solar panel and at the same height, still above the dinghy. This keeps it out of the way and also makes it a robust mount in stronger winds and heavy seas. The edge of plastic around the antenna is necessary to receive the GPS position. The first edge of aluminum blocked that 😎. The cabling was brought in through the Davits.

Connecting the antenna was a piece of cake. What a wonderful device 😃😊.