Photos of the Day

Swimming with the Sea Lions

October 18 - Sea of Cortez

One of the cool things to do in the Sea of Cortez is swimming with the sea lions at Los Islotes, which is about 30 miles north of La Paz - and just off Isla Partida, one of the more interesting islands in the Sea of Cortez. John Arndt of 'Latitude 38' was recently down there with his wife Leslie and daughters Sarah, 8, and Hannah, 5, and some friends aboard a Moorings 3800 charter cat. Using an inexpensive disposable underwater camera, he captured these shots (clockwise from upper right) of the sea lions, his wife and kids, and Sarah with a sea lion in the background.

Los Islotes, like all the islands in the Sea of Cortez, is a wildlife preserve. The only boats that are allowed to anchor to visit the area are registered dive boats, so John's group always left one person driving around while the others dove. Since there are a lot of pups in October, they were warned to beware of protective mothers that might charge. Which they did several times, giving the kids a few thrills. They were told that the sea lions have never bitten anyone, but you never know, for these are wild animals as opposed to trained performers.


Photos Latitude/John Arndt

If you're doing the Ha-Ha, a great way to get up to La Paz is as part of the La Paz Ha-Ha sponsored by Ed Vergara of Marina Santa Cruz in La Paz. He'll be at the kick-off party in San Diego and at the finish in Cabo San Lucas to announce the dates and details. For further information on the La Paz Ha-Ha, email Ed at [email protected]


Weather Updates

October 18 - Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

Tropical Weather

As former Tropical Storm Michael now has 65 knot winds, he's transformed into a hurricane. Located off the East Coast of the United States, Michael is headed to the northeast and thus away from land. The only ones in danger appear to be members of the 12 boat BT Global Challenge, a group of mostly English amateurs who have paid a king's ransom to be able to race around the world. As the fleet departed Boston on Leg Two for Buenos Aires, Argentina, it looks at they might get to meet Michael. Nobody is particularly worried as these are stout boats, Michael is a relatively mild hurricane, and much worse is expected in the Southern Ocean.

It's quiet in the Mexican hurricane region.

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.

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

A Beach for Every Day of the Year

 October 18 - Antigua

One of the places all sailors should visit in their lives is Antigua, home of both cruising and Antigua Sailing Week. We'll let the tourist board photos tell the story.


An overview of Falmouth (foreground) and English Harbor (background) on the south coast of Antigua. This has been and continues to be the megayacht center of the Caribbean and home to Antigua Sailing Week, perhaps the world's greatest fun regatta. Sailing Week starts the last Sunday in April. Want to start a new life by going to sea? Show up here in late April and sign on as crew bound for the Med, the Northeast or Panama and the Pacific. In the far upper corner is Shirley Heights, home on Sunday nights to great BBQ and steel drum music.


Antigua likes to brag that it has 365 beaches, one for each day of the year. It has almost as many anchorages, including this one at Five Islands.

Dwarfed by the 'old marina' in Falmouth Harbor is the tiny Antigua YC, barely seen in the background. The clubhouse is located upstairs of what used to be G&T's pizza, one of the classic watering holes in the world of sailing. About a billion Mt. Gay and tonics were poured there.


English Harbor, one of the most historic naval centers in the Caribbean and ground zero of Antigua Sailing Week.
What great yacht hasn't Med tied here?


The 'new' marina in Falmouth Harbor,
which primarily caters to megayachts.

Photos Courtesy Antigua Tourist Board

YOTREPS

October 18 - 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

Wanna Bet?

October 18 - Bermuda

If you'd like to bet on on how well noted America's Cup skippers Ed Baird, Dean Barker, Dennis Conner, Russell Coutts, Peter Gilmour and others will do at the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour's final event, the Colorcraft Gold Cup on October 22-29, you can now do it through Omni Casino. PR types claim that this will be the first time individuals can wager on their favorite skipper through the event's official online site, which is www.swedishmatchgp.com. Supposedly this will "further enhance the sailing fan's enjoyment", although we suspect that will depend on how successful he or she is at betting.

Just two questions: Isn't it illegal for Americans to gamble online? Is this good for sailing?

The Future of The Race

October 18 - Europe and USA
The just released issue of 'Outside' magazine has a huge section on Cam Lewis and The Race, the no-holds-barred around the world race to start on December 31. At least supposed to start on December 31. While nobody wants to go too public with it, there are several reasons why it might be postponed three months, postponed one year, or not happen at all. The reasons are:

1. Steve Fossett's newly stretched to 125 feet 'PlayStation' will be ready to go and her crew has sailed the boat a reasonable amount of time. But Fossett is said to be in no rush to start the event if there's not enough competitors.

2. Grant Dalton's 'Club Med', which broke a little while breaking the 24-hour speed record, has supposedly been put back together and is in full training for the event. Presumably they, along with 'PlayStation', will be reasonably well prepared.

3. Loïck Peyron's 'Code One', a near sistership to 'Club Med', was just launched. She and her crew might make the starting line, but it would be a stretch to think she'll really be properly prepared to race around Antarctica.

4. Cam Lewis' 'Team Adventure' will be a near sistership to 'Club Med' and 'Code One' - when she gets finished. She was supposed to be done at the end of September, now it's 'mostly done' by the end of October, which means she'll actually be ready for the mast, rigging and sails by . . . well, nobody knows. Even if the boat can be made ready by December 31, would it be prudent to enter her?


Photo Courtesy Club Med

5. Pete Goss' 'Team Phillips' is . . . well, a very sad story. Goss is a man among men, but his high-profile effort has been crippled by enormous structural problems and currently rig problems which seem to be getting worse by the minute. Would it be prudent to sail this untested and problem-prone boat in The Race?

6. Roman Paszke and Tony Bullimore have proven themselves, as have their boats, the former 'Explorer' and the former 'Enza'. But they've yet to be out training, proving they too are behind schedule and budget.

Given the status of the boats, the future of the event is perfectly fuzzy. Nobody knows for sure what's going to happen.


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