akcarlos wrote:
my point was that you can have a larger yacht and sail it quite well
short crewed
without having lots of modern toys like roller furling, electric
winches etc .


True enough, but apparently you also forgot that "Spray" was a very old
wooden boat ballasted with loose rocks, and that while Slocum did manage
to sail around the world in her, he was also lost at sea in her.

Modern gear is better. It isn't necessary, of course, but much of it (if
intelligently chosen & properly installed) makes life while
sailing/cruising SAFER as well as more comfortable.

Fresh Breezes- Doug "Throw A Brick At A Luddite Today" King