PRINTMORE1@aol.com At 04:49 PM 1/3/05 -0500, you wrote: >Mike: Thanks for your comments. I do get concerned though that others who >are in the planning stage to go offshore might get influenced negatively >and drop their dream of cruising the seas. We do not hear too much of all >the successful cruises but only those that make the I am inclined to think that dreams tend to evaporate more from unspoken fears than from explicit ones. I think that in general we agree. I am inclined to think that a factual clear debate about even the worst possible accidents will tend to encourage even novices to proceed with their plans as long as they have reason to believe that they are not being suckered into taking on more danger than they are prepared to cope with. If anyone has some notion that I have no fear, then get this. I have no interest in being the object of attention of some very large powerful storm. And if it came to pass, for that to happen, I intend to have a clear idea about what to do about it. Having done this kind of work over so many years, I am convinced that there is some slight chance of getting ones ears pinned back in spite of the best planning and intentions. Any method that I would employ is likely to be followed by some others. For my own peace of mind, for myself and for anyone who might follow my methods, I would prefer that my methods be as well thought out and based on the best information available. The best method for surviving the ultimate storm is not clear. There are competing methods and variations. The Jordan Series Drogue is a part of any serious debate about this subject. Unfortunately, some of the worst mistakes have been made by thems that did not survive to tell the tale. And we have no information to know what those mistakes consisted of. Mike Capt. Mike Maurice Tualatin(Portland), Oregon