I agree with you Bob, I lean towards the para-anchor in the ultimate case. I started this discussions on these devices some time ago after an incident in Central America. Regrettably I did not get back to it with a more through look at drogues <http://boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=10448> ------ Original Message ------ Received: Sat, 07 Apr 2007 03:10:07 PM EDT From: "bob Austin" <thataway4@cox.net> To: "Passage under power" <passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com> Subject: [PUP] Sea Anchors and Drogues ...A sea anchor was necessary for survival of this frail craft. ...The Para-anchor is used frequenty by smaller fishing boats who will shut down and drift at night while sleeping ...The Series drogue is to keep the stern to the waves, and prevent both broaching and pitchpolling. The shorter drogues have the problem of comming out of the water, being out of sync with the waves and the boats and not giving adequate drag, plus the danger of entanglement in the running grear. ...(A friend had a 65 foot 100 ton wooden Colin Archer power boat --had been vessel which the pilots lived aboard off the the entrance to Bergan Norway. He was caught in a hurricane on an Atlantic crossing, and eventually put out a drogue--it was tires, fenders, chain, wooden beams etc. A large wave swept the drogue toward the boat--and tangled the 2" diameter cable in the running gear--so he was helpless). ....I envision the sea anchor as a respite to try and get rest or repair gear if possiable during a storm. Or if it is an ultimate storm, as a survival technique. I now of one tri which broke apart even though bridled when riding to a sea anchor. Brian Eiland beiland@usa.net www.RunningTideYachts.com distinctive expedition yachts