'Lectronic Index

Previous 'Lectronic Edition

Photo of the Day

December 22 - Turtle Bay, Baja California

Photo Latitude/Richard

Today's Photo of the Day was actually taken in early November in Turtle Bay, Baja. The fellow who is the third from the left is an American cruiser who left his bag in a pickup truck that had given him a ride through town. The bag contained his wallet, with lots of dollars, pesos and credit cards, and his passport. Fortunately, a local Mexican fellow - second from the left in the photo - found the bag. Rather than rifle through it and take all the valuables, he sought out the Grand Poobah, thinking it might belong to a member of the Ha-Ha fleet. While it didn't, the Poobah was able to connect the two parties. The young Mexican asked for no reward, just that the valuables be returned to their rightful owner.

Sorry we didn't catch their names, as we were a little too busy at the time. But to us, it's a gesture typical of most Mexicans - which is one of the reasons we love that country so much.

Unusual Paint Job

December 22 - Antigua

Photo Latitude/Richard

While off Pigeon Beach, Antigua, earlier this month, we came across one of the most unusual boat paint jobs we've ever seen. The lighting isn't very good, but you should be able to tell this boat is painted as though it were a zebra. We figure she's either from South Africa, home of the game reserves, or was owned by a retired referee. Maybe both.

A Change of Season

December 22 - San Francisco Bay

Because it's a bit of a slow news day in sailing, and because it's now officially winter, we thought we'd remind you, through photos, of what it's like on San Francisco Bay in the middle of June. Luscious, don't you think?

Photos Latitude/Richard

Bon Appetit from the French West Indies!

December 22 - St. Barth, FWI

Photo Latitude/Richard

You've heard of the Scarsdale Diet, the South Beach Diet, and the Beverly Hills Diet - well, we present to you the St. Barth Diet. It's a big slab of boeuf tartare, spiced up, with a big order of what are still called French fries. And you wash it down with a couple of shots of creme de menthe poured into bottled water. It doesn't sound like a diet plate, but it must be, because all the people on the island are skinny. And it sure tastes good!

The New Maxi Cat Orange Hits the Water!

December 22 - Vannes, France

Photo Gilles Martin-Raget

It's not a slow news day after all, as Bruno Peyron's new maxi cat, the 124-ft Orange, hit the water at Vannes, France. She was designed by the Gilles Ollier Team and built at the Multiplast Yard. She's 14 feet longer than the first generation Ollier maxi cats, and has higher freeboard and more sail area. After being tested in the waters off France, it's expected she'll go after the Jules Verne Around The World Record starting in late February.

YOTREPS

December 22 - 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 22 - 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.