Ocean Ventures

Hi Everyone!

I've kept busy since my return from the crossing with the thousands of tasks necessary pull this trip together. Most recently, this has been working away at sponsorship as always and a whole menagerie of other jobs such as getting my radio license, catching up on emails, schooling, studying weather, getting equipment, contacting people and businesses and finalizing plans for the voyage among countless other things. I am making sure to get out on the water and train as much as possible as well because nothing replaces sea miles for readying oneself to take on the world.

I've been touch with the builders of Contessa 32 sailboats  who have been a great source of information, since that is the design I will be using for the voyage. Many people are wondering why I will be using such a small vessel for the voyage, but the reason I have chosen a Contessa 32 is because of their ingenious design and fantastic reputation. Contessa's have been sailed around the world many times and have made it through the worst weather on the planet unscathed. For a modest displacement boat with a 24 foot waterline they are quite fast and are also vessels that can easily be single handed in any conditions.

Nine boats were entered in the first round the world yacht race in 1968 including many radical new boats that incorporated the latest technology into their designs. Most of these vessels had countless problems with the integrated systems onboard and had to stop for one reason or another. In the end, the only boat that made it around was the 32 foot wooden ketch Suhali sailed by Robin Knox-Johnston. This is one great example of how seaworthiness and strength is much more important than size.

I am working with the Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies to see how I can help out with their work while sailing through the remote parts of the Southern Ocean where humans rarely pass. The ocean at the bottom of the planet is a huge place and parts of it are hardly visited at all. The institute is performing studies to better understand the Southern Ocean's role in the Global Climate System, so it will be awesome to be able to do my part to help out with this effort.

That's all for now, I must get back to work!

Cheers,

Ryan