Gary!
Thanks for warm words your find for me!
I think about beach catamaran as a perfect coastal cruising boat. And I enjoyed your story at "On the wire" magazine. Cruising can be as much joy as racing.
Another product I didn't mention on my previous post is inflatable rollers such as made by
http://www.praktek.com/ Using them anyone can roll heavy boat up a shore
Reading the story about ordeal you friend had, I wonder how important to be prepared for worst. I always curry survival kit on the back of my life jacket. Here is a great article from Watertribe site about how to make and use one.
http://www.watertribe.com/Magazine/Challenge/ArticleWhenGodsPlay.aspI have a few packs of "Body Warmer" or "Heat Packs", chemical stuff - it gets warm with contact with air and hold temperature for 6-8 hrs
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=1027&prmenbr=226 and drop it inside of my drysuit when getting hypotermic
Hope to see you on the water
Vlad
