Meetings, interviews, doctors and shopping...

This week I've been off the boat more as dad and his crew do the final installations and testing. Interior cosmetics are being handled by Tim Hill.

JR from Freedom Fabrications is installing a stainless steel arch for the solar panels which have been wired by Level-Line Marine. Monitor windvane is installed. Wind generator is waiting for JR's arch. Pulling together spare engine parts and other tools, parts, etc.

I am meeting with Dr. Lowenberg to go over last things with my medical kit today. My arms are aching from the 4 shots I received yesterday. Looks like once I reach the Soloman Islands I'll be taking a weekly Malaria medicine for most of the rest of my trip.

The course is being fine-tuned and meteorologist/forecaster David Morris is helping me at least for the first leg to learn to interpret the fabulous forecasting program from Clear Point Weather.

I have become quite comfotable doing interviews lately. I've lost count of all of them; Soundings, Latitude 38, LA Times (should be coming out in the Sports section on Saturday the 24th), Good Morning America, multiple media-type meetings and friendly local interviews. I'm hoping to do an interview with the guys over at Sailing Anarching. It has been fun. Discussing sailing and planning for my offshore passage has become second nature to me now. It looks like Good Morning America will be covering my journey until I return. Mom, Dad and I will do our first live TV interview on the Friday before I leave. It should air across the nation between 7-9am on the 30th. After that, I will speak to them via Iridium phone (also sponsored by Clear Point Weather) or when in port.

Mike Smith sent a fantastic camera over for me to use on my trip. It is a Nikon D200 and has amazing capabilities. Have been meeting with some great people in the TV business. They are helping me with cameras, equipment, storage of data, and oraganization of my film. I really hope to use this film for something amazing at some point. I'm also talking with some people about the possibility of writing a book upon my return.

Please come out to see me off on Saturday the 31st. I am leaving from the guest docks at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey. The address is: 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292. There is parking at the park and lots of overflow parking just down Mindanao Way.
I am planning to pull in to the dock between 10 and 10:30. I'll have an hour or two to visit and leave when the wind gets up around 12:00 - 12:30.

Thanks for the prayers and words of encouragement!

Cheers,
Zac