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Photos of the Day

March 26 - Micronesia

Today's beauties are from Micronesia, and were taken by the crew of the 75-ft motoryacht Starship during a Millennium Expedition to examine the health and beauty of the planet. Three of the shots were taken by Michael Poliza: 1) Starship in the Rock Islands of Palau; 2) A chief gutting a green turtle at Ngulu Atoll, Micronesia; and 3) A frangipani flower at Yap. The fourth photo was taken by James Frankham and is of Ngadmau Falls, Palau.

For more great photos, as well as details of the expedition, visit www.ms-starship.com.

Forster Freed from Clutches of Transvestite!

March 25 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

It's been a bad year for journalists, but at least one got out of a dicey situation - at least a dicey situation for a yachting photographer. Barry Pickthall reports:
"With typical precision timing, Swiss photographer Daniel Forster was released from jail in Rio early today, just in time to catch a flight to Miami to photograph the Volvo Race fleet. Photographer Forster was freed from the clutches of a transvestite with whom he had been forced to share a cell - and other things - thanks to a worldwide thrash for cash by his journalist chums. The greatest thanks go to Big Bob Greiser of San Diego, who offered to loan $10,000 to the campaign to get our man out. At a press conference today (see photo below), a heavily disguised Barry Pickthall, left, praised everyone who had sent messages of support and money. Mercifully Daniel, right, looked none the worse for his two-week ordeal. Indeed, if anything, he looked younger than when he went in. This he says is due to the care and attention - not to mention body lotions - lavished on him by his new found friend Christina. Hello magazine, who have bought exclusive rights to this gruesome story, have snapped up Daniel's film and the full extent of his time in jail will be revealed in next week's edition."


Barr Pickthall (left) and Daniel Forster
Photo Courtesy Barry Pickthall

Let's see, Barry got the 'who', the 'where', and sort of the 'when' of the story, but not the 'why'. For gawd's sake Barry, why did Forster have to spend two weeks in a Rio slammer?

Mystery Spot Revealed

March 26 - Read on. . .

Chris McKesson of the Sausalito-based Sundance correctly identified yesterday's 'mystery spot'. "I'm gonna say Yelapa - but that is largely because of the Kettenburg in the frame, and the picture of Profligate I looked at a few moments ago. It's been 30 years since I've been to Yelapa, but I remember the cove as being smaller."

It is indeed Yelapa, Chris, and hardly a thing has changed in 30 years. Remember the falls? Here's a shot of Wendy, who frequently crews aboard Profligate, meditating near the trickling waters. Muy tranquilo, no?


Photo Latitude/Richard

Missing Sail, Missing Lead

March 26 - Atlantic Ocean

How important is having the correct sail in an event like the Volvo Around the World Race? Well, event leader illbruck was at the head of the pack for the last two weeks in the Rio to Miami leg, but then tore their light wind masthead genniker. In just one night, the previously untouchable Kostecki and crew have lost 15 miles, as Assa Abloy have pulled even with them. With just over 100 miles to the finish, Kostecki and crew are praying for a change in wind speed or wind direction - anything. If they don't get it, it's going to be a glum crew in South Beach.

Orange Continues to Lose Ground

March 26 - Southern Ocean

Bruno Peyron and the maxi cat Orange are continuing to lose ground on the Jules Verne record, just when they are supposed to be piling up 500 to 650 miles per day. It's all due to unusual weather; either too rough or too sloppy to pour on the speed. And it doesn't look to get much better in the next day or two. But Peyron is no dummy, and realizes that all he has to do to break the record is keep Orange in one piece. So far, she seems to be holding up well.

YOTREPS

March 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

March 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/. The National Weather Service site for San Francisco Bay has moved to www.wrh.noaa.gov/Monterey/.

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 Winds and Pressure

The University of Hawaii Dept. of Meteorology page posts a daily map of the NE Pacific Ocean barometric pressure and winds.

Pacific Sea State

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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