Project Kea II: Sailing Solo for Mental Health

Kia ora, I’m Richard.

I’m a dad, a husband, and a sailor — and like many Kiwis, I’ve had challenging periods in life. One of the few places I’ve always felt calm is on the ocean. Sailing keeps me present, grounded, and honest in a way everyday life sometimes doesn’t.

I’m slowly preparing my 30-foot family yacht, Kea II, for a future solo Tasman and Coral Sea voyage. This project is about taking on a long, steady challenge while speaking openly about mental health.

To train offshore safely, I need to upgrade a few essential pieces of gear — things like AIS, a storm jib, a new mainsail with deep reefs, windvane and autopilot steering, and reliable emergency equipment. I’m working through these one at a time, as I can.

Your support helps me take the next small step toward preparing Kea II safely for this journey. It’s not about records or speed — it’s about showing that progress still matters, even when life feels heavy, and that slow, steady work can carry you a long way.

I’ll share simple, honest updates as things progress. Every contribution goes directly toward safety equipment for Kea II.

Thank you for being part of Project Kea II. It means more than you know.

Ngā mihi,

Richard