Today’s Photos of the Day came from last
Saturday when we were out on the Bay taking shots of the Sausalito
Cup. Not far from Alcatraz, a series of boats – apparently part
of a YRA race – sailed by to weather. As you can tell from the
photos, they were looking good. We didn’t get the names, but
the boat leading at the time was a Newport 30 with a number of
crew hard on the rail. Next along was a Cal with the Cityscape
in the background. The last two boats we saw of this group were
a Catalina 30 and a Santana 22, with the bigger boat overtaking
the smaller one. A salute to all of you for looking so fine in
such perfect sailing conditions.
Photos Latitude/Richard
Can Everest Horizontal Be Found
Upside Down?
June 25 – Atlantic Ocean
As reported in the last
‘Lectronic, last Friday the keel bulb fell off Tim Kent’s
Open 50 Everest Horizontal while he and Rick McKenna were
competing in the Bermuda 1-2. Although the two were quickly rescued
110 miles from Bermuda by a cruise ship, now the search is underway
for the upside down hull. The search efforts are hampered by
the fact that Kent doesn’t have the means to hire a plane to
look for the proverbial ‘needle in a haystack’ at $700/hour.
Having looked for a missing craft from the air, we can confirm
it would actually be easier to find a needle in a haystack than
an overturned 50-footer in the middle of the ocean. Nonetheless,
when a guy is down and out, it’s often his least well off friends
who are willing to pitch in and help, no matter how slight the
odds. Thus it is that fellow Around Alone competitor Bruce Schwab
– who raced around the world virtually without any money at all
– is flying back to Newport so he and Kent can search for Everest
Horizontal from the deck of Schwab’s Wylie 60 Ocean Planet. Meanwhile, Brad Van Liew, another Around Alone competitor,
will be coordinating from shore.
If anyone wants to chip in, either in terms
of cash or moral support, contact the Everest Horizontal
Shore Crew at www.everesthorizontal.com.
Good lucks guys – we admire your passion and your being there
for each other.
More Shots from Last Weekend’s Sausalito
Cup for IACC boats
June 25 – San Francisco Bay
Il Moro di Venezia and NZL-20 appear to be chasing a Folkboat.
Oracle BMW Racing crew
NZL-20 leads Il Moro di Venezia
The newest of the fleet, Oracle BMW Racing was out in
front by herself.
Photos Latitude/Richard
Weather Differences Split DaimlerChrysler
North Atlantic Challenge Fleet
June 25 – Atlantic Ocean
Having to be one of the five boats that
started the 3,500-mile Newport to Cuxhaven, Germany, race a week
later than the majority of the fleet, the R/P 86 Zephyrus
V owned by Mill Valley’s Robert McNeil is finding itself
getting the short end of the weather stick. So far the mighty
hard blue sloop has averaged a relatively pitiful 9.35 knots
for 500 miles, while the 66-ft Zaraffa – navigated by
Marin’s Mark Rudiger – has averaged 11.86 knots for 2,630 miles.
It takes more than the best boat and crew to win a race – you
need some luck, too.
It Looks Like Perfect Weather for the
19th North Sails Race Week in Long Beach
June 25 – Long Beach
Rich Roberts reports: “It must be
witchcraft that is chasing away the notorious marine layer called
June Gloom that strips sun, wind and joy from the Southern California
sailing scene, just in time for the 19th North Sails Race Week
starting Friday. More than 130 boats will compete. Forecasts
call for temperatures in the 70s and up to 15 knots of breeze
on the weekend, which would be a welcome change of pace from
recent events in the region. Credit may be due Pyewacket, Roy E. Disney’s record-setting Reichel/Pugh 75 named for
the mystical cat from the movie Bell, Book and Candle. Pyewacket, in its final tune-up for the TransPac, will
make a rare inshore appearance in PHRF-A.”
Pyewacket (chased by Pegasus) off Baker Beach at
the start of the Coastal Cup Photo Latitude/Richard
By the way, the TransPac will be the last
race for Pyewacket under Disney’s ownership. From Hawaii
she’ll be delivered to her new owner in Hong Kong. As for Disney,
he’s to soon take delivery of a high-tech R/P 86.
YOTREPS
June 25 – The Pacific Ocean and Cyberspace
Who is out making passages in the Pacific
and what kind of weather are they having? The YOTREPS daily yacht
tracking page has moved to www.bitwrangler.com/psn.
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.
