Today’s Photos of the Day come from yesterday’s
action at ‘The Wedge’ in Newport Beach. Thanks to Hurricane Hernan
off Mexico – which once had winds to 150 knots – the surf was
up and forecast to stay that way through Friday. The waves were
so big that guys were surfing head-high waves inside the Newport
Beach breakwater on the Corona del Mar side. There was, however,
plenty of depth in the middle of the channel, so boat traffic
was not impeded.
The action at The Wedge was the best, and
it was virtually non-stop. There were great rides, horrible wipeouts,
and plenty of ballsy performances. Despite ‘experts only’ in
double overhead conditions, at least three bodysurfers had to
be dragged from the water, spewing water from their lungs. But
there was humor, too. Late in the day, the force of a wave ripped
a guy’s trunks off just as he was thrown up on the beach in front
of the crowd of thousands. Guys hooted and women squealed. The
poor guy tore off his fins and used them for front and aft coverage
as he worked his way through the throngs. It was hilarious.
Photos Latitude/Richard
The Wedge
Almost 60, Conner Still Kicking Ass
September 5 – San Pedro Channel
Rich Roberts reports:
A 38-boat fleet rode a roller coaster of
swells through the first race of the 2002 Etchells North American
Championship Wednesday, led by Dennis Conner in defense of the
title he won at Holland, Michigan, last year. The unsummerlike
scene also featured a lingering coastal fog that formed a daunting
backdrop around the 1.75-nautical mile windward-leeward course
set in the San Pedro Channel between Santa Catalina Island and
the mainland. Conner, with Peter Burton and Al Pleskus as crew,
sailed from third place to first on the last leg of the nine-mile
race to edge longtime Etchells rival Jud Smith of Marblehead,
MA, and the Mark Thornburrow/Tim Parsons entry from Hong King
after a two-hour battle. “They went to the wrong [side of
the leeward] gate,” Conner said. “The [south] gate
was farther upwind. As soon as we went around we were ahead of
them. We went around and tacked and they were inside of us.”
Photos Rich Roberts
Three for the Record
September 5 – Isle of Wight, UK
Bruno Peyron and the maxi-cat Orange
were recently denied Steve Fossett’s Around Ireland and Britain
record by a matter of hours, but that hasn’t stopped three more
maxi-multihulls in their own attempts on the record. Already
today, Olivier de Kersauson has taken off in his maxi-trimaran Geronimo, and Tracy Edwards has taken off in the maxi-cat Maiden(ex-Club Med and sistership to Orange).
Soon to join them is the radical foiler trimaran L’Hydrotere,
which although half the size of Geronimo and Maiden, is capable of perhaps even higher speeds. She’s notoriously
fragile, however. The weather forecast looks excellent for breaking
the record, so it’s likely to be a slam dunk for either de Kersauson
or Edwards. Bon voyage!
Aussie 18 Regatta
September 5 – San Francisco
The International 18 Skiff class is making
a rare appearance on the Bay this week, treating spectators to
a visual feast. Skimming across the wavetops at speeds normally
only attained by windsurfers in these waters, these ultralight
skiffs are said to be among the most difficult – yet most exhilarating
– boats ever designed. With five out of 11 races scored, General
Electric, out of Long Beach,sailed by Howard Hamlin,
Mike Martin and Andy Zinn, is leading with 12 points (see www.stfyc.com). Racing continues
through Saturday. Look for a full report in the October issue
of Latitude 38.
Photos Latitude/Andy
YOTREPS
September 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/
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.
