Just some thoughts on all the speculation going on here. I knew Ken
when I lived up in Newport Beach, he was part of the sailing scene
there. But I'll hold on my opinion of him as a sailor and a person, as
that was a long time ago.

But I will talk about Newport Beach. It's a land of incredibly rich
and self absorbed people, and a peasant culture running the
infrastructure. There's an undercurrent of white collar crime, like
phone scams, dope and gold bullion stock.

Pool cleaning is a big business in So. Cal. I don't know what Ken's
operation was prior to departure, but a one man operation is
comfortable; and with organizational skills and enough Mexicans, pool
cleaning can be quite lucrative. It's also a way to connect with the
beautiful people; there's a running joke about "pool boys."

His girlfriend and sisters are completely normal non peasant "Newpies",
right accent and apparel, and a willingness to blab and bare all on
camera. The local papers said it became quite the media frenzy. He
signed up a public relations consultant before the trip started. His
girlfriend's smart, said she had no desire to be cooped up in a boat
for a year, but was apparently supportive.

But what puzzles me is what he did after the rollover. Hitting land
wasn't an immediate concern. One would assume he had the medical
equipment to deal with a leg cut. If there was danger of foundering he
could have jettisoned most of the *tons* of life support stuff
(propane, fuel & food). The boat looks watertightable. Why push the
Easy button? Abandon the grand circumnavigation, and establish a new
goal of salvaging the boat.
50,000 pounds of steel worth some dough.

Why didn't he just chill until the seas abated, then surmise his
situation? I wonder if he did a shakedown, Hawaii and back, or
better, Vancouver and back. Or any long, shorthanded voyage.