Photo of the Day

April 26 - Banderas Bay

At the start of each Banderas Bay Regatta, there's a parade out the Nuevo Vallarta Channel. We on Profligate always use this opportunity to set off a few out-of-date flares. For the story and photos on this year's Banderas Bay event, check out the May 1 Latitude 38.


Photo Latitude



Congressional Cup

April 26 - Long Beach, CA

The Congressional Cup match racing series in underway in Long Beach. Rich Roberts has this report:
"Peter Holmberg delivered a strong message Wednesday that despite rumors to the contrary, all is well with Oracle on two fronts - the America's Cup training base at Ventura and the 37th Congressional Cup 60 miles south. Holmberg, along with Team New Zealand's Bertrand Pacé, won all five of his races on opening day to make an early move toward his third win in four years in the match racing classic. Between fog banks that blanketed the course during a Southern California heat wave, the 40-year-old veteran from the U.S. Virgin Islands swept through Britain's Andy Green, Stars & Stripes' Ken Read, Denmark's Jesper Radich, France's Sebastien Destremau and Rod Davis, a U.S. native who lives in New Zealand and sails for Italy's Prada Challenge.

"I have to credit having [tactician] John Cutler on board," Holmberg said, referring to the New Zealander who joined Oracle after sailing Dawn Riley's America True entry in the last America's Cup. "Once you have confidence in your tactician, I can concentrate fully on driving."

Concentration might have been a problem considering tales of tribulation about the Oracle operation that circulated around the world this week: the imminent departure of designated skipper Chris Dickson; a fracas among crew members; one of the boats, USA 61, falling off its cradle onto some rocks. "There's no truth [to it]," Holmberg said before racing started. "Completely fabricated. Somebody's trying to make a National Enquirer thing in our sport. A little rumor's OK, but this one's gone too far." "

Racing continues Thursday in the double round robin format followed by sailoffs on Sunday.



Pacific Sail Expo 2001 Wrap-Up

April 26 - Jack London Square, Oakland

The very first couple that walked up to the Latitude 38 booth at Pacific Sail Expo at 11a.m. Wednesday morning said they were ready with a five-day pass and we bet, like us, they didn't get to see and do all they wanted. Lot's to see, tons of fun and more sailors in one place than any event in the West. Pacific Sail Expo 2001 was again a fantastic rendezvous for sailors. Boat manufacturers put on their best display of boats ever with more models and more boats than have been seen in one place on the West Coast in 15 years. If you had serious questions on gear and equipment you'd have been hard pressed not to find what you were looking for at Pacific Sail Expo.

We got a chance to speak with Vendee Globe heroine Ellen MacArthur, a visit with Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and Star Gold medal winner, Mark Reynolds, a meeting with French singlehand sailing legend J.P. Mouligne and a chat with ubiquitous sailing personality Gary Jobson. Numerous other stellar sailing personalities were in attendance and available in seminars or exhibitor booths. When you collect all the boats, gear and people involved in sailing in one place we realize why we like our 'sailing' jobs so much. There wasn't a boat there that we didn't want to 'lose the docklines' and jump aboard for a sail.


Photos Latitude





Photos Latitude

After being there for almost every open hour of all five days we still can't believe all the things we didn't get to see. We saw people spilling out of the seminar tents for 'standing room only' presentations by many interesting sailing speakers. The Grand Poobah put on a Saturday preview of Baja Ha-Ha 2001 for those interested in sailing South this fall. Asking who, in the crowd, was going this year had about 90% in the packed seminar tent raising their hands - it should be another great year for the Ha-Ha. It was a constant challenge to decide which to visit between all the seminars, people and boats.

After being blessed with almost perfect weather for the first four years of the show the Fifth Anniversary show was treated to record rainfall on Friday. While it cleared the docks for awhile the somewhat flooded tents became packed with hardy sailors who disregarded the weather and came anyway. As some exhibitor in the tents commented 'Friday gave new meaning to the phrase 'in-the-water boat show'. While Friday was wet it didn't seem to dampen the spirits of sailors or exhibitors.

The weather cleared for the weekend and the docks were once again packed with sailors from all over the West. Like Annapolis in the East, Pacific Sail Expo, has become a show worth the trip. One boat dealer mentioned a prospect who had flown in from Atlanta, GA for two days at the show. It was great to see so many people from all over the West in attendance. If you didn't make it this year plan ahead for next, it's already on the calendar for April 17-21 2002.



YOTREPS

April 26 - 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/



Weather Updates

April 26 - Pacific Ocean

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 Sea State

Seas are normal in the Pacific. But you might check out the Pacific Ocean sea states at: http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.
For another view, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data/global.html.

We're leaving you with a short edition today, as we are furiously working away at completing the May issue, which will hit the streets on Tuesday, May 1.


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