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Antigua Classic RegattaJune 15 - Antigua The Antigua Classic Regatta was held in mid-April, but as you can see from these photos by Tim Wright, the beauty is timeless.  For more of Tim's incredible pictures of this event, see the May 9 'Lectronic Latitude. His sailing photography can also be found at www.photoaction.com. |
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June 15 - Baja Ha-Ha World Headquarters
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The folks at the Baja Ha-Ha, Inc., report
that earlier this week they sent out the first 103 entry forms
for this fall's Ha-Ha Rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas.
And that they've received their first three entries: If you'd like an entry packet for the Ha-Ha, send $15 to Baja Ha-Ha, Inc., 21 Apollo Road, Tiburon, CA 94920. Include a 9x12 self-addressed envelope. Don't try to call, because there is no phone. The entry fee is $250, except for owners under 35 years of age and boats under 35 feet in length, in which case it's $200. One good reason to sign up early is that it puts you higher on the list for the few berths at Cabo Isle Marina. |
 Last year's group in sunny Cabo San Lucas Photo Latitude Archives |
June 15 - Isle of Wight, UK
And you thought the Ensenada Race was big. As many as 1,735 boats
and 13,000 sailors are expected for this weekend's 50-mile Hoya
Around the Isle of Wight Race. This would make it the second biggest
fleet in the history of the event. One of the line honor favorites
is Mike Slade's 90-ft Reichel/Pugh maxi Skandia Leopard.
Slade has twice set monohull records for the course, including
the current monohull record of 5 hours and 12 minutes with the
Farr maxi Longobarda. The all-time record is 3 hours and
55 minutes, set eight years ago by the 60-ft trimaran Paragon.
Another ViewJune 15 - Banderas Bay, Mexico |
 Photo Dick Markie |
June 15 - San Francisco
As you may have read in Latitude 38, Fonatur, the National
Tourism Development Fund of Mexico, has decided they will spend
$210 million dollars of public money, plus get $1.7 billion dollars
in private investment, for what they're calling a 'Nautical Route'
to lure wealthy U.S. boats to Mexico. The project calls for 10
new marinas, dozens of hotels and more than 30 golf courses.
But the June 12 edition of the Mexico City News featured an article in which "critics say that Fonatur is badly miscalculating U.S. demand". We were one of those critics. Fonatur says there is "unlimited demand" for boats to come to Mexico, suggesting that 800,000 Americans will come to Mexico in 50,000 boats by 2010. We're quoted as saying there aren't 50,000 boats in California that could make the trip on their own bottom, and said we'd be stunned if 5,000 boats come to Mexico in 2010. (In fairness to all, Fonatur is talking about boats 16 feet or larger, while we told the reporter that we were talking about boats that could make the trip on their own bottom.) Besides, if Fonatur thinks somebody pulling a 16-foot dinghy is going to spend a couple of hundred bucks a night for a big hotel room and then another $120 for a round of golf, they just don't understand the market or the attraction of the Sea of Cortez.
Mary Shroyer of Marina de La Paz is quoted as saying that, "Bad weather limits the high season for big boats to April and May. It's a niche, middle-class market. The Sea of Cortez is not going to attract these rich guys who want everything to be perfect." The owner of the oldest marina in Mexico, Mary knows what she's talking about.
"Don't think we're stupid," replied Project Director Alejandro Rodriguez. We wouldn't use such a harsh word, but if he thinks 800,000 Americans are going to bring 50,000 boats down, let's just say he's unrealistic.
Kirsten Grossman, owner of Marina San Carlos, told the paper that her marina has lost business for the last decade and hasn't been full since '89. She said that additional development would help fill her marina. But she also said that the number one obstacle to nautical tourism is paperwork and fees when crossing the border and entering ports. We don't know if it's number one, but it's right up there.
For the full story, visit www.thenewsmexico.com, go to June 12, then click national news.
An Attractive Nuisance?June 15 - Sausalito |
 Photo Latitude/Richard |
June 15 - Mill Valley
The Wanderer, who normally edits 'Lectronic Latitude, is off to
Europe on Sunday to shoot stock photographs. It's unclear how
frequently 'Lectronic will publish between now and then. We'll
all have to see.
June 15 - 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/
June 15 - Pacific Ocean
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/.
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.
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.
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