Thank you for the suggestion on writing something up. I do on occasion get the same sort of requests concerning the initial 7 summits climbs, North/South Pole Expeditions (especially about leading the the Sir Edmund Hillary-Neil Armstrong North Pole Expedition) and other adventures/expeditions etc, ...

Sorry guys no pix right now; boat headed on back to Mexico, trailer back in Arizona, me on the road/working. However, I'll see if I can find my initial design drawings and post them. Basically think of the system when set up as two goal post uprights one on each side of the boat with a line drawn be...

Phil, You might consider using a system similar to what I use on Zeno's Arrow. I have a Carbon 32' mast w/ 12' foot boom with double spreaders and oversized standing rigging & almost always have to raise and lower it by myself. Biggest problem besides ground handling the beast was the mast tippi...

It might surprise some to learn I consider going far out to sea alone in any boat a form of Russian Roulette. The trick is trying to reduce both the probability and severity of unforeseen circumstances. It's more a matter of developing the skill and experience needed to understand exactly how many c...

Ever wonder what MM does when he's out there alone for days on end with time on his hands? OK, so this one isn't exactly 'boat' related; however, it soon will when I get 'boat-tricks.com' up and running. For you bike fans there is also going to be a 'biketricks' site. See: www.roadtricks.net and tha...

Patrick, I'll get back back to you on this- I'm now on my Blackberry and typing while everything is jumping about on small keys is a pain. MM

Patrick, All good observations and well thought out. Some food for thought: 1- Not all heavy weather situations will give you the time to properly lower the mast (sudden extended heavy squal-middle of the night). The mast dropping system would have to be as easy to operate and as quick as furling a ...

Hi all! Just a quick update on Maddmike (me) and Zeno's Arrow. As most know I was trying to get to Hawaii a year eariler than origionally planned because a 'window' at work opened to make the attempt possible. However, sometimes as the name of my boat implies I only get about halfway to somewhere be...

Try to keep it short. 1995 single-handing my CSY 44 from Aruba to Panama. Downwind 30+ kts of wind and big steep seas off Columbia. Headsail furled to about 20%, Main reefed all the way down (no staysail out). Furling line frays apart, headsail unfurls. I go forward on jackline, start hand rolling t...

Sorry Guys, I've been out of touch on a last minute work assignment, literally at the last minute as I was called in to work while loading up to set off for the Hawaii effort, which now will have to take place either after Sept. 15, or not until next May, still up in the air. I currently do not have...

I completely agree with Scott, with one possible exception (not likely to happen much, but nice to know): If you only have a Genny (no jib) on board and use a furling system, and if you get into gale/storm type conditions, and are furling down to less then 20% of you Genny area to address the situat...

Hi Bubba The problem I have with setting my assym. with no crew is once the wheel tied, and all lines are outside and clear, then I jerk the halyard, and have a sheet wildly flailing until I can get back to cleat it off. This can turn the boat downwind no matter where the wheel is set, and leave yo...

Already on Sailing Anarchy site though, might take some attention away from the MAC

MM

My mast is a do it yourself Carbon Fiber rig. The stick was cut down from a Henderson 30 mast that was made at Southern Spars that didn't pass Q.C., so I put in the extra manhours in to bring it up to specs., then cut it down to 32'. The S-1 spreaders are a set of Melges 24 spreaders I had laying ar...

I currently have 2 Gennakers, One is a Cruising Direct 269 sq. ft. kite which attaches to a block at the fractional headstay point (as my mast is 32' this point is 2 ft. above the stock mast position). This is a very consertive downwind sail that uses a snuffer and tack strap around the furled heads...