December 12, 2003

Photo of the Day

December 12 – Portchester, UK

Wow! Check out this stick! We’ve already
heard that it won’t fit under the Golden Gate Bridge – now we
get a visual.

Mirabella V’s mast is loaded
on a barge to leave VT Halmatic

Here’s what the press release has to say
about it: “VT Halmatic has completed production of the world’s
tallest yacht mast, which will be fitted on Mirabella V
under construction by parent company VT Shipbuilding.

“The 90m. hollow carbon epoxy mast,
which has a maximum cross section of 1.6 meters and structural
thickness of up to 40mm, will support some 3,400 square meters
of sail.

“Having been loaded onto a barge at
VT Halmatic’s Portchester shipyard, the mast was transported
to Southampton Docks where the rigging will be dressed and the
mast will be stepped before fitting out is completed.

“The mast has been manufactured in
halves, with the back half comprising two sections and the front
half divided into three sections.”

Charitable Chili Cook-Off

December 12 – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Cherie Sogsti sent in this report on the
Chili Cook-Off in Puerto Vallarta that the cruisers there just
put on for charity.

The location was Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
A group of local restaurants and cruisers joined forces to raise
money for local special needs children.

The day was a burning success (with both
warm weather and hot chili). Nineteen volunteer groups offered
samples of their chili for 50 cents each. Vallarta Yacht Club,
Paradise Village, Coca-Cola and Corona sponsored the event.

The first place trophy went to Moon and the Stars

Jamaica Mistaica won second place and the trophy for
best table decoration.

The Vallarta Yacht Club Bomberos. (Did they need a fire department
to put out their chili?)

Yacht Parade Lights Up the Estuary

December 12 – Alameda/Oakland

Held on December 6, the Alameda Estuary’s
annual Lighted Yacht Parade was put on by Encinal Yacht Club
and co-hosted by Oakland Yacht Club and Marina Village Yacht Harbor.
This was the first time the parade was a charitable event,
benefiting the Oakland Firefighters’ Random Acts of Kindness,
the Fire Department’s charitable arm which works directly with
the community. Toys, gift certificates and money were collected.
This was the parade which had been hosted by Jack London Square
in years past.

The theme this year was Santa’s Work Shop.
The winner of Best Theme, EYC Best and OYC Best was Ketch
22, a 39′ Freedom Ketch owned by Tom & Naty Marlow. Best
Decorated Power Boat went to Mz Mena, a 46′
Maxum Motor Yacht owned by Manuel & Fil Oliveira. Best Decorated
Sailboat was Jitterbug, a 43′ Catamaran owned by
Gary & Claudette Miskel. Marina Village Yacht Harbor chose
Perseverance as their Best. The Catalina 36MkII is owned
by Jeff & Mary Berman. Random Acts of Kindness Best went
to Perfect, a 48′ Riviera Sportfisher owned by Rob &
Carol Woltring.

Caption Contest Quips

December 12 – Sausalito

With the offer of a free T-shirt, we received
a deluge of responses to Monday’s photo caption contest. Readers
were asked to caption this photo of the storm aftermath in the
Richardson Bay anchorage:

Photo Latitude/Rob

Many references were made to boats playing
tag, back scratching, reproducing and performing acts normally
attributed to animals.

First some Honorable Mentions:

“An agitated Captain Nemo was arrested
today when the Nautilus, coming up for the first time
in years, surfaced under a small trimaran. ‘They still let people
anchor here?’ Nemo was overheard saying.” (This was the
best of the Nemo references, from Dave Kendig.)

From John Dodge: “Paris Hilton showed
me this move!”

“This lovely couple will be the proud
parents of a cute little dinghy in a few months.” (Howard
Hammermann)

“We’re hoping for twin Catanas come
spring!” (Phil Agur)

“Just another San Francisco parking
job.” (‘Green Lion’)

“BCDC Submarine Attacks Richardson
Bay Liveaboards” (Wayne Stromberg)

“As the Richardson Bay anchorage becomes
more crowded, boats have begun to mark their territory more aggressively.”
(Jason Miller)

But the response that got a laugh out of
the majority of the Latitude crew who voted, and therefore
the winner of the T-shirt, came from Brian Richards: “SSSHHH.
Now everyone be very quiet. It appears the female is about to
accept the male’s advances. Get your cameras ready as this mating
ritual has never before been filmed.”

YOTREPS

December 12 – 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

December 12 – 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.