August 18, 2000

Photo of the Day

Four Alarm Fishing Expedition?

August 18 – Oahu

While over on Oahu covering the West Marine Pacific Cup, we
paid a visit to the very nice and very new Ko Olina Marina down
past Barber’s Point. More on this fine and going-to-be-getting-better-all-the-time
facility soon. But while up in the harbormaster’s office we were
treated to the curious sight of four firemen trying to haul out
their rescue boat with a full-on fire truck. We made a note not
to get into trouble off Hawaiian waters, for rescue wouldn’t
be too close at hand if these guys were on duty. The guy driving
the truck had to take four cracks at backing down the ramp straight
enough to pick up the boat.

Photo Latitude/Richard

Weather Updates

August 18 – Pacific Ocean

San Francisco Bay Weather

To see what the winds are like on the Bay right now, check
out http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/wind/.
It’s a great time of year to be sailing the Bay.

California Coast Weather

Looking for current as well as recent wind and sea readings
from 17 buoys and stations between Pt. Arena and the Mexican
border? Here’s the place – which has further links to weather
buoys and stations all over the U.S.
www.ndbc.noaa.gov/stuff/southwest/swstmap.shtml

Pacific Ocean Weather

Once again there’s a huge high between Hawaii and the Pacific
Coast of the continental U.S., but the last couple of hundred
miles off California continue to be nasty.

Pacific Sea State

Seas are normal in the Pacific except for close to the Northern
California coast.
Check ’em out at
http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.

For another view, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data/global.html.

August 18 – Atlantic Ocean

Tropical Disturbances

All is quiet in the Eastern Pacific, but there’s new and old
action in the Atlantic. Alberto, the tropical storm that refuses
to die, has done about a 420-degree turn while moving to the
North Atlantic. Of greater concern now is Tropical Storm Chris,
several hundred miles to the east of St. Martin. She only has
35 knot winds and is predicted to move northwest away from land
and toward the far distant Bahamas, but you never know.

See http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atlantic/2000/index.html
and http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/e_pacific/2000/index.html
for more.

Unisys Weather Graphics

Don’t Miss This Festival!

August 18 – New Caledonia

We’ve had several calls about the Arts Festival of the Pacific,
which used to be called the South Pacific Festival of the Arts.
The festival, which is only held every four years, will start
on October 23 in Noumea, New Caledonia, and four other cities
in New Caledonia, and end on November 3. More than 2,000 people
from 27 countries in the Pacific will participate in the following
activities: dance, chants, music, drama, painting, carving, weaving,
body art, pageant of costumes – see the accompanying photo by
‘Annapurna’ of some of the local costumes – stamps, books, writing
and poetry, oral traditions, food, medicine, sports and games,
workshops and much more. This is the most important cultural
event in the Pacific Islands. If you’re down there, don’t miss
it.

Photo Courtesy ‘Annapurna’