Photo of the Day

March 5 - St. Maarten

Today's Photo of the Day (above) is from last weekend's Heineken Regatta in St. Maarten, and shows the kind of action that can happen in a 230-boat regatta. Note that the bowman is in the process of falling overboard on account of his boat being T-boned on the port side. The photographer, who is not identified, was nonetheless nice enough to go back and pick up those who ended up in the drink. In addition, here's some other Heineken photo action.

Cayard Picks the Best for the America's Cup

March 5 - Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand

Marin County's Paul Cayard may no longer be sailing for Oracle - although he's still on the payroll - but according to an Andy Rice interview published in today's madforsailing.com, he still puts Larry Ellison's team at the top of the challengers.
"I would put Oracle on top, the Swiss second, Prada third, OneWorld fourth, and then the Brits, probably. I think the Brits could surprise a few people. A good, fresh, new approach, with young guys who are doing it for the first time, who are truly motivated to do a good job."

After the Brits, Cayard taps Dennis Conner, illbruck, Victory Challenge, Mascalzone Latino, and the French. He says that the Brits and Conner might be able to knock off OneWorld and Prada, but not Oracle or the Swiss. As for the Cup itself, Cayard rates the New Zealand defense as being no stronger than Oracle or the Swiss. Check out the rest of the interview at madforsailing.com.

For what it's worth, right now a number of the challengers are sailing in the informal CORM in the Hauraki Gulf. GBR narrowly beat Prada in light winds, and the next day they whipped the Oracle team in 20 to 23 knots winds.

In other America's Cup news, Seattle's OneWorld Challenge christened their first boat, USA 65, today. The boat was designed by Laurie Davidson, Bruce Nelson, Phil Kaiko, and a 29-member design team. And, if lawsuits are to be believed, information that was wrongfully stolen from the New Zealand team.

As John Kostecki of Marin gets ready to start the fifth of nine legs in the Volvo Ocean Race from Rio de Janeiro to Miami aboard illbruck, there are reports that the money has been found for illbruck's one-boat America's Cup campaign for Germany. It will be interesting to see how much Kostecki will have left and how well a first-time German team can do in New Zealand.

What Stopped Geronimo?

March 5 - Atlantic Ocean

Olivier de Kersauson's 110-ft tri had to abandon her Jules Verne attempt off Brazil last week after the helm locked solid and made a horrible noise while sailing at 28 knots. From then on, the rudder blade would periodically shake itself violently for a few seconds, for reasons nobody could determine. When the seizing of the helm - which could result in the trimaran flipping - became more frequent, they threw in the towel and headed for home.

Did you know? 1) That Caroline, de Kersauson's wife, is a descendant of Jules Verne? 2) That during the first Jules Verne attempt, three boats started more or less together: Bruno Peyron's cat Commodore Explorer, Peter Blake and Robin Knox-Johnston's cat ENZA (stands for 'Eat New Zealand Apples'), and de Kersauson's trimaran Charal. Actually, de Kersauson - who doesn't enjoy a reputation for being well-liked - started a week early because he didn't want to pay the $16,000 entry fee. He and his tri - which three attempts later under the name Sport Elec would set a new Jules Verne record - dropped out in the Southern Ocean after hitting ice. ENZA also dropped out with hull damage in the Southern Ocean. Only Peyron and Commodore Explorer made it to the finish - crossing the line just hours under the fabled 80 days to get around the world.

The Bel-Aire Hotel

March 5 - Careyes, Mexico

Perhaps the most sumptuous place to enjoy lunch along Mexico's Gold Coast is the Bel-Aire Hotel at Careyes. Check it out.

YOTREPS

March 5 - 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 5 - 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.