It's been a while since the last update so I will take the opportunity to let you all know what's happening.
I have continued to talk to sponsors and others interested in the trip. It is amazing to have so much interest and support coming from all over the planet.
I talked to Zack Smith with Fiorentino Para anchors and they have kindly agreed to provide both a sea anchor and a drogue for the voyage.
A sea anchor is a parachute like device that is attached to the bow during a storm. This keeps the boat in a safe position to the waves and allows them to pass without damaging the vessel. The sea anchor is sure to get a lot of use in the southern ocean and I will be lucky to have the best equipment to use.
Another technique to use in a storm is to run downwind with the weather but this can pose a few problems. When you run with the storm the boat can pick up speed and surf along the wave out of control. For a boat not designed for surfing this can cause the vessel to get knocked down or to broach. However, a small boat sailor can deploy a drogue to solve this problem. A drogue is very similar to a sea anchor but it is deployed from the stern of the boat and is used when running downwind with the storm. When the boat picks up speed this slows her down considerably and lets the waves pass safely.
On another note I am preparing to join the crew of Ragtime on the sailing passage from Honolulu to Los Angeles. To sail between these two points you usually end up sailing far to the north of a straight line to get the most favorable conditions passing around the North Pacific High.
Many people imagine the high to be a permanent weather system allowing sailors to be slingshot to their destination. In reality it is constantly changing position and you have to position yourself in just the right place for getting ideal conditions. If you get too close to the center of the high you can find you can find yourself becalmed for days at a time. On the other hand if you are too far away you can lose the favorable wind or get stuck in a low coming from the north.
I look forward to testing my navigational skills on the passage and getting a taste of some exciting North Pacific weather!
All the best,
Ryan