camping with 16

Hi there, I am new to this forum but not to hobies. My father and uncle raced 16's for years and I grew up sailing every weekend at the lake. We still have both boats and I have been refitting them to prepare for salt water excurtions. We live in Alaska and I have always wanted to take the boats out in Prince William Sound for several days at a time. I finally have the boats ready and my sailing skills up to a point where I am comfortable with the risks of such a trip (the unpredictable weather and cold water turn mistakes into dire situations rapidly). My question is this. What is the proper way to stow gear on board? Dry bags of course, but where to stow them? I figured just behind the mast lashed to the tarp would be ok but wondered if anyone else had better ideas. Thanks --Swill

P.S. We don't have hatchs and I think my father is still too atached to his boat to let me poke any holes in it.

Swill,

You may want to post this question to the beachcats site on yahoo. There are several folks who camp and take fairly long ocean trips on their cats and they will have some very useful safety tips and safety equipment suggestions: Example a lot of the ocean sailors stow some emergency food and water, signaling devices, etc under the trampoline in case they turtle and have to wait for rescue.

Chuck

I will try that. I looked at the beachcats site and did not see a link to a forum. I will look again. thanks--Swill