Today’s ‘the ocean is so great and my ship
is so small’ photo was taken on August 2 just east of Anacapa
Island. We have no idea what boat it is, but it sure looked gloomy
out there. Despite appearances, it was actually quite nice.
Photo Latitude/Richard
Birkenfeld Still In Intensive Care
August 14 – Glyfada, Greece
On August 8, Kimberly Birkenfeld, the number #1 ranked sailboarder
on the U.S. Olympic team, was hit by a motorboat while practicing
off Glyfada, Greece, for the 2002 Athens Regatta. She suffered
two major injuries, one to the base of her skull, the other a
severe laceration of her leg. Doctors, who are said to be cautiously
optimistic about her recovery, are encouraged that she is beginning
to be able to respond to external stimuli.
A Cat Out of Water
August 14 – Pacific Northwest
An unnamed 65 foot catamaran was recently pulled through what
looks like a lumber mill in the Pacific Northwest on her way
to the sea. Like most new boats, she’s behind schedule and has
some teething problems, but she should arrive at her new San
Francisco Bay home before too long. She’s intended to carry over
100 passengers. When the time is right, we’ll tell you all about
her.
No Osama on Catalina
August 14 – Catalina
As previously reported, one of the reasons for our taking Profligate
to Catalina this month was to stand guard against the rumored
invasion by al Qaeda forces. The curious thing is that much of
the Catalina landscape is similar to that of Afghanistan. Indeed,
our suspicions were aroused by the sight of this semi truck roaring
up the dusty switchbacks on the back side of the island near
Little Harbor. There’s almost nothing on the back side of the
island – no Home Depot, no Costco – to warrant such a big vehicle,
so we suggest that the L.A. Sheriff check out the trailer for
arms, ammo, and people who don’t know the Rams moved to St. Louis.
After days of searching for al Qaeda, the
closest thing we could find was on the dirt road above Cherry
Cove where we came across the ominous-looking individual outfitted
in camo and carrying a green cord that looked ideal for garroting.
Our first impression was that the individual was the point person
in an imminent attack on the recreational fleet in Fourth of
July Cove. Alas, it turned out to just be Doña de Mallorca
doing her morning exercises – which somehow involved a green
jump rope.
Photos Latitude/Richard
Boat Pets
August 14 – Hawaii
While in Hawaii covering the West Marine Pacific Cup, we stopped
by Skip Allan’s Wylie 28 Wildflower, the overall winner,
for an interview. While aboard, Skip introduced us to his boat’s
pet, a five-inch long praying mantis. Skip petted the cute little
guy, who didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he’d been hanging out
in the same general area of the starboard side of the boat for
several days.
While later working at the Waikiki YC,
a similar size praying mantis hopped onto the windshield of our
rental car. Somehow he managed to cling to the smooth windshield
in up to 35 mph of wind as we drove to the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor.
Having had a chance to observe a praying mantis at a distance
of six inches for a long time, we know where people came up with
the idea for the common depiction of the head of ‘aliens’.
Photos Latitude/Richard
YOTREPS
August 14 – 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/
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/Maps/Southwest.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.
