November 21, 2000

By Grzegorz | November 21, 2000

We want to apologize for the inconsistency of
‘Lectronic Latitude during the last couple of weeks, as a combination
of working 18-hour days before and during the Ha-Ha and an early
‘Latitude 38’ deadline because of Thanksgiving really put us behind
the eight-ball. But the Ha-Ha is over and the December issue of
‘Latitude’ was sent to the printer just minutes ago, so let’s
get electric!

Photos of the Day

Endangered Bachelorhood

November 21 – Cabo San Lucas, BCS

Is a sailing adventure dangerous to one’s status as a single
person? Based on what we heard in Cabo this year, it could be
the case.

The couple you see standing in the accompanying photo are Jim
Phillips, owner of the Catalina 42 ‘Vantage Point’ and Sandee
Sullivan. “We’ve been going out for almost a year,”
said Sandee, “and when we arrived down here at the Cape
at the end of the Ha-Ha, Jim proposed to me in the forward stateroom.
I’m now flying home to tell my boss ‘I quit!,’ because we’re
going to continue cruising.”

By the way, Sandee had never been on a sailboat before April
of this year, having been a water-skier and spent some time on
powerboats. After starting to go out with Jim, she took sailing
lessons – in fact, she just finished the week before the start
of the Ha-Ha. And she was able to cope with the stress of having
lost all the boat’s power off Cedros Island. They sailed to outside
of Turtle Bay, then waited until morning to enter.

In any event, congratulations to both of you.

While kicking around on the beach in Cabo the day before the
beach party, we bumped into Joni Jacobson. She looked familiar,
so we asked her how she liked this year’s Ha-Ha. She explained
that she’d actually done the Ha-Ha last year aboard ‘Skookum’
with her parents – including her 75-year-old dad. At the conclusion
of the Ha-Ha, Anne of ‘Michaelanne’ introduced her to Larry Brown,
who had crewed on ‘Nokia Grande’. At the time, Larry was going
to take off sailing for two years, but a kiss at the Hard Rock
Cafe changed all that.

Photos Latitude 38/Richard

The couple became engaged in July, were married on November
4, and were honeymooning in Cabo “at the scene of the crime.”
When they said they decided to honeymoon in Cabo because of “unfinished
business”, we assumed they meant . . . well you know. It
turns out they meant they’d never had a chance to go to Lover’s
Beach or diving last year. Anyway, they hope to sail in next
year’s Ha-Ha.

Weather Updates

November 21 – Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

Tropical Weather

Once again it’s quiet in the tropics regions of the entire
world.

San Francisco Bay Weather

To see what the winds are like on the Bay and just outside
the Gate right now, check out http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/wind/.

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.
Also check out http://facs.scripps.edu/surf/buoylist.html
(but note that the Java Applet is still not working with some
browsers on Macs – including your Webmistress’s Netscape Communicator!)

Pacific Ocean Weather

You can view the University of Hawaii Department of Meteorology
satellite picture by clicking
here.

Pacific Sea State

Seas are normal in the Pacific. But you might check at: http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.

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

Cruising

The Bridge at Z-Town

November 21 – Zihuatenejo, Mexico

While wading through a mountain of photos on our desk, we
came across this February ’99 photo of the famous footbridge
in Z-town. We seem to remember reports that it had been replaced,
but having not been there in a year or two, don’t know for sure.
Can someone give us an update?

What we can tell you is that Rick of Rick’s Bar in Z-town
has had to move because his landlord greatly increased his rent.
So if you get to Z-town this winter – and don’t we all hope to
make it? – don’t get frustrated if Rick isn’t in the same old
place.

Provisioning in Mexico

November 21 – The Gold Coast of Mexico

If you’re headed south from PV along the Gold Coast of Mexico,
make sure you bring along a little rice and beans. For in places
like Chemela, this little bodega is what passes for a supermarket.
Of course, you won’t starve, as they’ve got a couple of palapa
restaurants that cook up great fish.

Photo Doña de Mallorca

YOTREPS

November 21 – The Pacific Ocean and Cyberspace

Who is out making passages in the Pacific and what kind of
weather are they having? Check out YOTREPS – ‘yacht reports’ –
at http://www.bitwrangler.com/yotreps/

Racing

America’s Cup Boat for Sale

November 21 – Richmond

Looking for an inexpensive late model IAAC boat to start an
America’s Cup campaign? There’s one at eBay with an asking price
of less than $90,000. Check it out at: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=505192937,
or at KKMI.

The Race

November 21 – UK and USA

Finally some good news for Pete Goss and Team Phillips. The
much troubled wave-piercing cat with the twin sailboard rigs still
was hoping to make The Race in nine hours of sailing in a variety
of conditions yesterday with nothing major having gone wrong.
They are working the boat up slowly, but this is encouraging.
You have to admire Goss, who has maintained his composure through
seemingly endless problems and bitter disappointments. You’re
doing yourself proud, Pete!

It’s hard to say whether the situation is even worse for Cam Lewis
and his Team Adventure entry for The Race. Lewis says he won’t
be able to start without an infusion of $2 million in cash. Needless
to say, time is running very, very short to raise that kind of
money, particularly at this time of year. But we sure hope he
finds it in his Christmas stocking.

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