Mark Deppe

First off…Who are you? Where are you from? What would you consider your Home Port and sailing locale?

Me..Mark Deppe. I’ve been in the San Francisco Bay area ever since 1976, and in fact this is where I learned to sail some 30 or so years ago.

Please describe your sailboat. What type of boat is it? Year? Make? Model? How long have you had it? Any major modifications made to your boat for solo sailing or offshore sailing?

I own a 2001 J120, which I had manufactured for me at the factory. I had them build in a second watertight crash chamber aft of the one under the anchor locker so that the entire bow can pretty much be stove-in without the boat sinking. The running rigging was completely changed from the stock J120s in order to facilitate singlehanding. I also had them build an SSB ground plane into the hull.

How long have you been sailing? When did you decide that the solo experience was for you?

30 years or so. I started sailing by taking some dinghy courses at Lake Vasona in San Jose. Then I took all the courses offered by OCSC in Berkeley, and after that bought my first boat.

A piece or pieces of gear you would not do without? Self-Tailing winches? AIS? Egg Timer? Gimbaled cup holder? What do you value and consider vital for safe, comfortable Singlehanded Sailing?

AIS is right up there at the top. But I am assuming we are talking about optional equipment, right? I wouldn’t go offshore without a liferaft or EPIRB or harness, etc., but those are required already. Radar and night vision is pretty useful too if you can afford it. Some way to download weather faxes or gribs is pretty important to keep you out of bad conditions. (Or during races, to look for the optimal conditions.) A comfortable and warm place to sleep, and some very loud timers to get you up on schedule. (I use a timer called a ‘screaming meanie’ which was designed for long haul truckers. For the singlehanded races, SSB. For that matter, for singlehanded cruising, SSB. Doubleheaded or ‘butterfly’ jib for when you can’t or don’t want to fly a spinnaker. Books and fishing gear to stay amused and break up the boredom.

Most memorable trip/passage/ adventure you have had so far sailing solo?

Probably the 2006 transpac. Very challenging flukey weather conditions and great competition.

Worries and or concerns when you are out solo? Pirates? Tankers? Whales? Flying fish? What is on your mind?

First and foremost fear is of falling overboard, followed by having a major medical accident, followed by getting run over by a ship. It’s always a constant reminder that the harder I push the boat to be more competitive, the more at risk I put myself. On a 40’ boat, the forces involved could easily fling me over the side or crush me under certain conditions. It’s very sobering. Before each TransPac I tell myself ‘I could die out there this time’. It helps me to be more careful.

What is your favorite thing or things about being out in the middle of the ocean by yourself?

Looking up at the blazing Milky Way, and watching the shooting stars all night. Watching the wake disappear behind the boat at night glowing green with phosphorescence. The way the moon reflects on the water making it look like flowing silver. The sound of the water rushing by the hull when the spinnaker is up and the ocean is calm. In the day, the way the sunbeams disappear into the depths of the deep blue. In the middle of the Pacific High on the way home, with the ocean mirror calm, and reflecting a perfect image of the sky above. The feeling of oneness with everything, as you look about and see nothing but ocean and sky for as far as you can see.

Solo sailors who have inspired you to do what you do?

Donald Crowhurst. Just kidding! I would have to say no one has inspired me to do what I do. I admire all of them, but I do it because *I* want to do it.

Future sailing plans or aspirations?

I don’t know.

Why do you think people are drawn to solo sailing?

I don’t think there’s much mystery, it’s a way of challenging oneself, proving that you are up to the challenge. And experiencing the spiritual feeling of being totally alone yet at one with everything.

And now for the rapid fire, stream of consciousness, quick response section of the questionnaire…

Hank on or Roller Furling? Roller
Wheel or Tiller? I have a wheel but a tiller would be fine too.
Fin or Full keel? Either, or… Fin 
Dacron or Kevlar? Depends
LED Tricolor or Deck mounted Kerosene Running Lights? Well, if you have an LED Tricolor, you still need deck lights. But I wouldn’t go with kerosene…

Mast Steps or Ratlines? Ratlines would be cool. But I hoist myself up.

Depth sounder or lead line? Are these trick questions?

Bucket or a well plumbed head? A head, when it works. Otherwise, a bucket.

Water or Whiskey? Water
Whiskey or Rum? Rum, but with Coke
Rum or Kool Aid? I haven’t had Kool Aid since I was a kid.

SSB or Sat Phone? Both, if you can. SSB if you can only have one.

Large meals or Steady Snacking? Both
Coffee or Tea? Coffee but decafe
Dodger or No Dodger? Dodger! Dodger! Dodger! You’ll see why.

Autopilot or Windvane? Both if you can. Otherwise, a totally redundant autopilot system at the very least, and you better have a totally reliable electrical system if that’s the route you go. Which is just about impossible!

Traditional Boom Vang or Rigid BoomVang? Rigid
Fresh water or saltwater showers? Freshwater. But then, I also hose off the deck with freshwater. But then, I also have a watermaker!

Solar Panels or Wind generator? Solar if you are doing the Transpac. Both if you are cruising. Wind generators don’t do much good on downwind races.

Three Strand or Spectra? Depends!