Alan,

Smooth sailing to you.

Having done a few single handed runs I know that feeling of apprehension well. Did I think of everything? Did I check all the things on the list? Did I get new batteries for the flashlight? Etc. Etc.

You have a real life. When I did my first Single handed run I dumped all the ex's gear on the dock, untied the lines and pointed the boat East. 9 days later I raised the outer bouy of the channel to San Diego. Between Honolulu and Diego there is a lot of horizon. But what the heck? I had no one to mourn if I sank or fell over, or whatever. It takes a lot of the worry out of trips like that.

Two days sleeping, filling the water tanks, having a real meal, then the next stop was Panama. That leg took awhile 'cause I spent 5 days becalmed out near the Galapagos. Got to see a Whale Shark though.

After the passage through the canal squashed into locks with tankers, I headed north right into the path of a hurricane off Honduras. 3 days of seas taller than the mast, towing 300 ft of anchor chain as a sea anchor, and living off of peanut butter sandwiches and coffee does weird things to your outlook on life.

Finally arrived in St. Petersburg FL and you know, looking back on the trip the thing I remember is the solitude. I'm the kind of person who can go days and never say a word to any other soul. But day after day of not being able to talk to someone if you want to is different. So, on your trip remember to take a good book.

OK, maybe with an squirrelly ultralight you won't have time to just sit. But if your blessed with consistent winds, & gentle, long rollers, even on a two day trip you will find time on your hands with nothing urgent to do.

Enjoy the trip mate. Those times alone with just you and your boat are rare and blessed. Make the most of them.

And remember to post pics. I have a whole book somewhere of "Here is wave no. 7,559,366,709,572,012." and "Oh look at this, the third grey gull with one feather missing." & "Here's a cloud that looks like Rodin's Burghers of Calais."