'Lectronic Index

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December Is Out!

November 30 - San Francisco Bay Area

Yes, it's still November, but the December 1 issue of Latitude 38 is already being delivered to the usual locations around the Bay. We just couldn't wait to give it to you.

Photos Latitude/Annie

Newport 30 Sea Ya, Lost at Entrance to La Paz

November 30 - La Paz, BCS

Sometimes tragedy strikes when you least expect it. Such was the case late Sunday night when Alex Heller's Long Beach-based Newport 30 Sea Ya was destroyed at La Paz - after enduring a very rough trip north from Cabo.

Skipper Alex Heller in happier times.

According to Heller, he and crewman Tom Church had clocked winds as high as 47 knots and seas as high as 12 feet during the trip to La Paz from the Los Muertos anchorage. "By 1730, winds dropped and I was able to run through the La Paz channel," he reported. Having been on the helm for nine hours, Heller then gave the wheel to Church, who apparently veered into the shallow water of the area's fringing reef. Sea Ya was soon hard aground. After the tide rose in the early morning hours, Sea Ya eventually floated free, but her keel and rudder had been badly damaged. Before they could secure her the keel broke off, flooding the hull, and the boat ended up grounded in two feet of water.

Although Heller and Church were unharmed, the potential for resurrecting Sea Ya is doubtful. However, the local cruiser community mounted a massive effort to salvage as much of her gear and equipment as possible. The boat was uninsured. "It took two weeks to get here," said Heller, "and I may be staying longer than expected."

Looking dapper on the docks of Cabo, Alex and Tom had a great trip south with the Baja Ha-Ha fleet.
Photos Courtesy Sea Ya

546 Miles in 24 Hours for ABN Amro

November 30 - Atlantic Ocean

Skipper Mike Sanderson and his crew, including navigator Stan Honey from Northern California, just logged 546 miles aboard ABN Amro in the first leg of the Volvo around the world race. It's a new 24-hour record for monohulls, although as navigator of Steve Fossett's PlayStation/Cheyenne, Honey has covered a much greater distance. With well under 1,000 miles to the first stop at Cape Town, ABN Amro leads the Volvo fleet.

As for Paul Cayard's Pirates of the Caribbean and Movistar, the latter the pre-race favorite, both have been repaired and are being/have been flown to Cape Town to resume competition.

We'll have more on that record 24-hour run in the January issue of Latitude 38. But you can be sure it was a wild and extreme 546 miles.

Atlantic Rally for Cruisers Fleet Has to Deal with a Tropical Storm

November 30 - Atlantic Ocean

For the 224 starters in the 20th annual ARC from the Canary Islands to St. Lucia, it's not been the best of times. First of all, the more northern boats have run into the headwinds of Tropical Storm - what? this late in the year? that far east? Delta - while boats to the south have been frying in very hot, windless conditions. This could end up being one of the messiest ARCs in years. We wish them all much improved conditions, especially the boat full of amputees aboard the Spirit of Juno, who report that there are few things worse than getting salt between your skin and an artificial limb.

Blue Heaven in Banderas Bay

November 30 - Banderas Bay, Mexico

Photo Latitude/Richard

In contrast to the nasty norther in the Sea of Cortez, which claimed Sea Ya and nearly the lives of several kayakers up near Loreto, the weather has been fabulous further south on the mainland. It's been day after day of blue skies, warm temperatures, and generally calm conditions. Matenchan Bay (San Blas), Chacala, Punta Mita, La Cruz, Paradise Marina, Marina Vallarta - the weather has been fabulous. Wish you were here. "I wonder if they're still having an Indian Summer in Northern California," said one cruiser.

Maxi Tri Geronimo to Start Record Attempt from San Francisco

November 30 - San Diego

Having just established a new record from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Olivier de Kersauson's 110-ft trimaran Geronimo is back in San Diego getting prepped for an early '06 attempt on the San Francisco to Yokohama, Japan, record. We'll let you know when she's expected in town.