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San Diego Cruising Cat Robbed in Cartagena, Colombia

October 20 - Cartagena, Colombia


Photo Latitude/Richard

Today's Photo of the Day is of John Haste's Perry 52 Catamaran Little Wing, which we regret to report has been robbed at gunpoint in Cartagena, Colombia, after coming out of the Fero Chem Boatyard. Apparently there was only one person on Little Wing - it may not have been Haste, who may be back in the States getting ready to do the Ha-Ha aboard Bob Smith's 40-ft cat Pantera. In any event, Little Wing slowed down because a cayuco with three men blocked her path. Showing a shotgun, the men came aboard, bound whoever was on the boat, and proceeded to steal all the electronics, lots of valuables, and $400 in cash. Although bruised, whoever was on Little Wing at the time wasn't seriously hurt.

What makes this report a little unusual is that Cartagena has generally been considered the one and only safe place in Colombia. In fact, not long ago Haste emailed us to report that he was having a fabulous time there.


Jessica Cup

October 20 - San Francisco

Twenty-three classic yachts turned out for the Jessica Cup on Saturday. This event is the 'other' regatta on the Master Mariners yearly calendar. Though attracting only about a third of the usual number of boats as the big Memorial Day regatta, the Jessica Cup has enjoyed slow but steady growth since it began in the late '80s. It's also enjoyed mostly lovely weather and this weekend was no exception.

For results, see the November issue of Latitude 38.


Flirt (left) and Simpatico head for a fog-shrouded Bridge.


The lovely Aida.


In one of the best duels of the weekend, Farallone Clippers Echo (#12) and Credit were this close most of the race and traded the lead off several times. Credit finally prevailed.


Charge of the heavy brigade (l to r) Makani Kai, Brigadoon, Dutch and (barely visible) Johanna.

Photos Latitude/JR


He Did It!

October 20 - San Francisco

Fourteen-year-old Shark Kahn, pictured below, won the Melges 24 Worlds last Friday, beating runner-up Harry Melges by nine points after a nail-biting final race.

Shark, who is home-tutored and splits his time between Santa Cruz and Honolulu, and crew Mark 'Crusty' Christensen (main), Richard Clarke (tactics), Brian Hutchinson (trimmer), and Brian Lee (bow) put together a dominant 5,3,1,2,3,2,1,(16),3 record against a tough, international 68-boat fleet. Among the victims of the Amazing Shark Attack was Kahn's father Philippe, who finished 19th. The victory bowled over just about everybody except Shark, a nice kid who seemed unaffected by the big win. . .

The Star NAs kicked off the day after the Melges regatta ended, with 40 boats competing on the Circle Saturday and the Cityfront Sunday. Howie Shiebler, who owns the local Protector franchise, and crew Will Stout are leading after two races. However, familiar names - Cayard, Reynolds, Hutchinson, Loof, Doyle - are nipping at Shiebler's heels and with two days of racing left, the title is still very much up for grabs.


Paul Cayard and crew Phil Trinter (8159) lead the charge around the weather mark. World Champions and multiple Olympic medalists Mark Reynolds and Magnus Liljedahl (8129) aren't far behind.

Audi Melges 24 Worlds (final) - 1) Pegasus 24-1, Shark Kahn, 20 points; 2) Star, Harry Melges, 29; 3) Full Throttle, Brian Porter, 44; 4) Joe Fly, Luca Santella, ITA, 61; 5) P&P Sailing Team, Phillipe Ligot, FRA, 66; 6) Ebrex Logistic, Babbi Egidio, ITA, 78; 7) USA 39, Dave Ullman, 80; 8) Black Seal, Jamie Lea, 95; 9) Unprotected, Robert Greenhalgh, 100; 10) UK 444, Ian Cleaver, Scotland, 109. (68 boats; 9 races; 1 throwout)

Keane Star NAs (after 2 races) - 1) Howie Shiebler/Will Stout, 3 points; 2) Paul Cayard/Phil Trinter, 7; 3) Mark Reynolds/Magnus Liljedahl, 7; 4) Terry Hutchinson/Andrew Scott, 8; 5) Frederik Loof/Anders Ekstrom, 11; 6) Eric Doyle/Rodrigo Meireles, 12; 7) Flavio Marazzi/Enrico De Maria, 15; 8) George Szabo/Mark Strube, 18; 9) John MacCausland/Bard Nichol, 23; 10) Bill Allen/Brad Lichter, 23. (40 boats)


All Melges Photos Latitude/Rob

Action in the Star North Americans:

Around the first weather mark. Bow #19 is three-time Star World Champion and '84 Olympic Gold Medalist Bill Buchan.


The Berkeley Circle was wet and wild. The Pegasus Racing Team-logo'd #02 is sailed here by Sweden's Frederick Loof (skipper) and Anders Ekstrom.


Some Star sailors had a better first day than others. Dale Hoffman and Robert Ferro DNF'd both races after this unfortunate dismasting.
All Star Photos Latitude/JR

See www.stfyc.com for more on both regattas. We'll also have more in the November issue of Latitude 38.


Could It Be Valencia, Spain?

October 20 - Valencia, Spain

There hasn't been any official announcement, but rumors are going around hot and heavy that Valencia, Spain, will be the site of the next America's Cup. Two other leading contenders, Marseilles and Naples, have both let it be known they won't be the one.

Valencia is on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, due west of the Baleric Islands. It has about the same population as San Francisco, is home to many sporting activities, and is said to have a 'boiling nightlife'. The time from Friday evening to Sunday morning is called La Movida or 'the movement' in Valencia, when nobody takes any time for sleep or even rest . . . they just party.


Peyron Versus Edwards

October 20 - France

If you think there was already bad blood between France and England, it just got much worse. It was only a few weeks ago that Frenchman Bruno Peyron - who has been the major figure in maxi-multihull around the world racing - announced that plans for a second The Race and The Race Tour for maxi-multihulls have been postponed because teams haven't been able to raise sponsorship money. But just last week, Brit Tracy Edwards, who owns the maxi-cat Maiden, announced that she's scored over $50 million in sponsorship money from the Gulf State of Qatar to create two new Peyron-like around the world events for maxi-multihulls. To say that Peyron is steamed would be an understatement.


YOTREPS

October 20 - 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.


Weather Updates

October 20 - Pacific Ocean

San Francisco Bay Weather

Check out this guide to San Francisco Bay Navigational Aids: http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/sfports.html.

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 is at 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/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.

Pacific Sea State

The site for the Pacific Ocean sea states has moved to http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/PacRegSSA.shtml.
For views of sea states anywhere in the world, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data.


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