The Black Rock Journal

I picked up on this when I first watched "The Constant" but it only became clear how significant it was when I watched it for a second time...

Penny's father won an auction for a journal that was from the ship "Black Rock." The same Black Rock that is on the island. This journal is the only remaining piece of the ship that is known to the outside world. The rest of the ship was "lost at sea" sometime in the mid 1800's. It's contents have only been seen by the "Hanso" family... sound familiar? They are likely the founders of the Hanso Foundation.. who are responsible for the Dharma initiative.

What is the significance of Penny's father winning the auction? Does the journal have some information about how to get to the island? Does Desmond read it at some point between 1996 and 2004 and as a result, go on a journey to the island? Was the "round the world race" just a pretense for his trip to the island? Does Desmond's suspicious line to Jack from Season two "See ya in another life brother" have more significance now? Is there something that we don't know about Desmond? Does Penny's father have a bigger role to play?