From: "Ron Rogers" <rcrogers6@kennett.net> >Is this endeavor any more foolish than the offshore voyages of other >pleasure boats - only a little. >Ron Rogers ------------------------ As someone who has done a fair amount of offshore voyages... I crossed the Atlantic with 17 other boats, I have talked with AT LEAST 30 other boats (all others were sail boaters) who crossed an ocean (usually the Atlantic but sometimes the Pacific) to get to the med, and NOT ONE required outside assistance. What is the percentage of NW passage boaters needing outside help? It would seem to be greater then 50%. Comparing the two is terms of resources comsumed by the two trips is like saying 50% income tax is only "a little more" then a 1% income tax! In fact I wonder if ocean crossing vessels require as much outside help as near coastal vessels due? Scott Strickland Strickly for Fun Nordhavn 47 Currently in Turkey.