Hilton Head Island: from the past; a reply to a comment

In writing the GANNET book I have been reading journal entries from the time of the voyage and have come across some bits that I believe are worth posting again after a decade, including the above cartoon sent to me in 2015 by Larry who knows that I share Carl Sagan’s view of the universe.  It brought a smile now as then.  I thank Larry again.

On November 13, 2014, I wrote:  I just read on the Internet a study that concludes that men who have had sex with more than twenty women are less likely to get prostate cancer than those who have not.

That’s a relief.

Also, a reader with the fine name Chance sent me:  The meek shall inherit the Earth; the brave will get the oceans.

To one journal entry the ubiquitous anonymous commented:

I may have missed a post where you have listed all of your offshore equipment, food, safety, extras, sails, water, beer, something to make you laugh when it gets rough, or wondering what am I doing here.  Thank you for your reply.

I told him that I have written about all those things, but not in one place and to respond fully would take a book.  However when I had time I would respond as a journal entry because others might be interested.  I have time today, so here it is.

Offshore equipment.  For the year Carol sailed with me I had a life raft and an EPIRB.  I normally do not carry either and when those died, I did not replace them.  I have survived in an inflatable dinghy for two weeks and three hundred miles.  If a boat sinks almost instantly a life raft may save my life.  If it takes ten minutes I can pump up the dinghy.  Of EPIRBs, I have always saved myself.  I do have a Yellowbrick tracking device on GANNET which can send up a distress signal.  I do not carry it for that, but to let Carol and others who might be interested know where I am and how I am progressing, or not.  I would disable that feature if I could.  I have on GANNET a Jordan drogue which I am glad never to have used.  I also have a dry suit, which I am also glad never to have used.  I  have two sets of foul weather gear and the required life jackets, flares, fire extinguisher, and fog horn.

Food.  As should be well known, I do not cook.  I only boil water.  My breakfast at sea is uncooked oatmeal, trail mix, dried fruit, protein powder, dried milk, water; a box of juice; a cup of black instant coffee.  Ashore I have the same except the fruit and milk are fresh and the coffee is not instant.  Dinner is a freeze dry meal.  Lunch in the past has been a can of fish or chicken or Laughing Cow cheese.  I seldom eat lunch any longer.  I also have chocolate, some chips, cookies, etc.

Sails.  For four decades my boats have been three sail boats.  Fully battened main, furling jib, asymmetrical spinnaker.  The jibs have over the years become increasingly smaller.  GANNET’s is nominally a 110%, but with the tack set above the deck on a furling gear drum is really only about a 100%.  On GANNET the asymmetrical is set on a short carbon fiber bow sprit and top down furling gear so it can be quickly furled from the cockpit.

Something to make me laugh.  Nothing specifically.  I have a sense of humor and easily find things to laugh at, including myself.

Wondering what I am doing out here.  I sometimes would end a voyage at a given moment if I could, but I can’t, so I carry on.  I never wonder what I am doing out there.  I have known from the beginning.