Smart sailors always adapt to their local environment. The following
photos by Andy Turpin of Latitude 38 show how Southern
Californians have adapted to the possibilities for pleasure at
Catalina.
Photos Latitude/Andy
Transatlantic Challenge
August 16 – New York
Ever since the New York YC lost control of the America’s Cup,
they’ve been looking for a glamor event to fill the gap. It’s
become their 3,100-mile Transatlantic Challenge, from New York
to London. They’ve held 11 of them since 1865, and the next will
start in May. The goal of the Rolex-sponsored event is for someone
to beat the 12-day, four-hour record – under race conditions
– that was set in the 1905 race by Charlie Barr and the schooner Atlantic. The 2002 event will be limited to “superyachts”
from 85 to 300 feet, and is expected to be one of the most impressive
gatherings of big yachts ever.
The first ‘modern’ Transatlantic Challenge
by the New York YC was held in ’97, and attracted 16 boats. A
couple of boats came close to the record – including the Paul
Goss skippered 212-ft (LOA) schooner Adix, which is very
similar to the old Atlantic – but the wind petered out
in the end. Another of the entries in that event – which was
ultimately won by the schooner Adela – was Belvedere’s
Tom Perkins and his immaculate 135-ft (LOA) schooner Mariette.
Perkins and Mariette will be back for another go – in
fact, all interested parties will be gathering this week in Cowes
aboard Perkins’ magnificent motoryacht to discuss the event.
At the wheel of Adix
Also returning will be Isam Kabbani of
Saudi Arabia, a very nice guy who owns the 135-ft ketch Sariyah
– the name rhymes with ‘Maria’. (Some of you will remember that
this massive ketch took a full and sustained knockdown while
serving as a race committee boat in the wicked Key West to Baltimore
race two years ago. As a result, her skipper Tim Laughridge laughingly
told us he’s never slept well at sea since.) Nonetheless, they’ve
taken 17,000 pounds off the lead wings in the keel and will be
doing other things to improve their light air performance.
Sariyah
J. Craig Venter, former surfer and the
honcho of Celera – which kicked the government’s butt in mapping
the human genome but nonetheless saw its stock value plunge 85%
– did the last race in the 82-ft Sorcerer, but will return
in ’02 with a 95-ft Frers of the same name. Sergio Andrade has
entered his 112-ft S&S sloop Zingaro, which we were
lucky enough to race aboard late last year in the Caribbean.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, winner of the first round the world
race and co-skipper of the cat ENZA when she won the Jules
Verne Around the World Trophy, has entered the 135-ft topsail
schooner Eleonora on behalf of the Brits. For a list of
other early entries and details on what’s going to be a big event,
visit www.nyyc.org.
Sergio and Captain Clive at the wheel of Zingaro
Fastnet Race
August 16 – Cowes, UK
While many of the 211 boats in the Fastnet Race are still on
the course, befuddled by light winds, nobody will be able to
overtake Skip Sheldon’s R/P 65 Zaraffa for the Fastnet
Challenge Cup honors. For details, results and photos visit www.rorc.org.
YOTREPS
August 16 – 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
August 16 – Caribbean
Tropical Storm Chantal Develops in the
Caribbean
It’s been very quiet weatherwise in the
Caribbean, but now the conditions for developing tropical storms
and hurricanes has changed. As such, Tropical Storm Chantal,
with just 35 knots of wind, has formed just to the east of the
Eastern Caribbean. It’s hoped that she won’t develop further
– at least until she’s passed the island crescent.
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 Winds and Pressure
The University of Hawaii Dept. of Meteorology
page posts a daily
map of the NE Pacific Ocean barometric pressure and winds.
