'Lectronic Index

Previous 'Lectronic Edition

Photo of the Day

November 14 - Ventura

Today's Photo of the Day is one of good news - Just Imagine back in a berth!

Photo Rick Hildahl

If you've read the November issue of Latitude 38, you know that Tom and Lyn Camp's 50-ft George Buehler design was being used by the Farallon Patrol when she broke away from her Farallon Islands mooring on October 9. Surprisingly, they couldn't find the boat the next day, or the next, or the one after that. But now the Camps have great news:

"On November 6, we were notified by the Coast Guard that Just Imagine had been positively identified at sea. That morning a Navy helicopter had attempted to contact our vessel, as she had drifted into a military training zone off the Channel Islands. After unsuccessful attempts at contact, the Navy notified the Coast Guard, who in turn notified us. So four weeks to the day after she broke anchor from the Farallones, our boat was rescued by Vessel Assist out of Ventura. We are still awaiting the survey for assessment of the damage, but she was upright and dry!"

The photo was taken last weekend by Rick Hildahl of Attitude Adjustment at Ventura West Marina. Rick says Just Imagine appeared to be in good shape - other than the radar antenna dangling from the mast by its wiring bundle.

One Third of Bison Removed from Catalina

November 14 - Santa Catalina Island

One hundred of Catalina's 300 bison have been taken from the island and relocated in South Dakota, the excuse being that they were destroying native plants. The relocation was done at a cost of $25,000 by conservationists and animal welfare advocates.

We're not sure we approve. After all, what animal would willingly agree to be taken from their family and friends, and the salubrious Southern California climate, for relocation in bone-chilling South Dakota? Having seen the bison enjoying the beach at White's Landing, it sounds like cruelty to animals to us. And we're not sure about the 'environmentalists' either. Did the environmental impact report for the move consider what might happen to the island if there's no longer enough buffalo milk for the island's easy-to-swallow signature cocktails? There could be big trouble.

The Smoke Got in Our Eyes - and Everywhere Else

November 14 - San Diego

In case any of you Ha-Ha folks don't remember how ugly the Southern California fires had made things for the start of the Ha-Ha, check out this photo taken by Patty Murray from aboard her Deerfoot 72 Locura. Nasty!

Photo Patty Murray

In case you folks in Southern California don't believe it was clearer in Mexico, check out the photo of Crew Sans Suits dog-paddling around off Lover's Beach at Cabo. Not only was the water and air clear, the water was about 83 toasty degrees.

Photo Latitude/Richard

Looking Good!

November 14 - Baja California

Photo Latitude

How do you like this shot of Marek Nowicki's Dreadnought 32 Raireva, complete with tanbark sails, looking good just south of Turtle Bay at the start of the second leg of the recently completed Baja Ha-Ha?

Profligate's Progress

November 14 - Guatemala

When traveling from San Diego to Panama, the place a boat is most likely to get nailed by a blow is the Gulf of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico. Fortunately, Profligate made it through just in time, or she would have been delayed in her mad dash to the Canal and hopefully the Eastern Caribbean. As it was, they had about 25 knots for 8 to 10 hours, with peak gusts of 37 knots. Finally getting a good sailing breeze, they put up the main. After bursting to speeds of 16 knots under main alone, and not knowing if the wind was going to build, they dropped the main and continued under jib alone. This was when they were at 15º 44', 93º 50', or about 118 miles from the Mexico/Guatemala border.

Photo Latitude Archives

This morning at 10 a.m. PST, they report being at 13º 55', 91º 32', off the coast of Guatemala. "It's incredibly hot and the sea is like a lake," reports Doña de Mallorca. They hope to make Puesta del Sol Marina in Nicaragua late tomorrow, quickly clear, take on fuel and propane, and head on out to Panama. There'll be no dilly-dallying around, as the goal is to get to the Eastern Caribbean, and the window across the Caribbean remains open . . . but who knows for how long?

Graphic Latitude/Annie & Chris

YOTREPS

November 14 - 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 Links

November 14 - 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.