Creating an Account

"Creating an Account"

This is a rigmarole to check you're not a spammer (thousands try!) and permits us to plant a "cookie" on your computer. The cookie is a tiny file which helps us to:

• Automate your log-in
• Label what's changed since your last visit

And that's all we use them for. When you create an account, you're giving us permission to do this.

Click "create new account"  and complete the form. To filter out automatic spammers,  there's a CAPTCHA code to be completed. And we filter human spammers by cancelling accounts which have unrealistic names and coded email addresses. Your data remains confidential, visible only to the site administrator.

Within 24 hours (or even an hour if you're lucky and I'm awake!) you will receive an email giving a one-time log-in link. This link expires after 24 hours. It takes you to "MY ACCOUNT" (well, yours actually) which will have two blank lines labelled "password". Choose a password you'll remember, and click "save" at the bottom of the page. You're now logged in

Logging In

Once logged in, you can:

• See more detail - extra pages, and comments added by others
• Post "comments" below pages for others to see (and to correct our errors and opinions!)
• Receive newsletters (max: 4 per year, easily cancelled)
• Use a nice search box top right
• Use a nautical chart pop-up (if your browser allows pop-ups) to scroll and zoom to the place you're interested in while you read a page

No email reply?

Two common reasons:

• I'm asleep, or out of touch. Gimme 24 ours!
• Your email address contained a typo, so our reply didn't reach you. Try again!
• Your spam filter intercepted our reply. Check your spam box.
• If those don't work, use this "contact"  link, to tell us the problem

Forgotten Password?

Click "request new password" in the right hand column. A form will pop up. Fill in either your email address, or your user name, and "save" at the bottom of the page.

Within minutes you will then receive an email with a link. If you don't,  check the email address, and your spam filter. Click the link, invent a password you'll remember, put it in those two blank password boxes, and "save". You'll then be logged in.

Forgotten User Name?

That's a pain. We recommend you use a variation of your real name - makes hunting you down more easy! If you have persistent difficulties, email us using "contact" link, or the link at the bottom of this page, telling us your user name and email address. We'll sort it out..

Now Post Something!

At an early stage, we recommend you post something, either a comment to a page, or in "Forum", just to give yourself confidence in using our "comments" system.

Happy browsing . . .