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Photo of the Day

March 31 - Banderas, Mexico


Photo Latitude/Richard

Do you ever get the feeling that there is nothing in this world but rain, gray skies, rain, gray skies, and more rain? That would be understandable if you spent the month of March in Northern California. If, on the other hand, you lived on the coast of Mexico for that same month, you might get the feeling that the only kind of weather in the world is sunshine and blue skies. As, for example, being experienced in the Photo of the Day by sailing instructor Eugenie Russell and her J/World students on Banderas Bay two days ago. It's about noon, the wind is blowing hard enough for one reef in the main, and will build to about 17 knots by the middle of the afternoon. By 7 p.m. the wind will have died and the water be flat as a pancake. It's strictly t-shirts and shorts weather during the day - and, oddly enough, all through the night, too.

Today is the start of the three-day Banderas Bay Regatta out of Paradise Marina, and the skippers of the 40 or so boats are expecting the same kind of picture-perfect sailing conditions. You'd have to be insane to miss this one. But you know, there are a lot of insane people around.

 


Pirates for Pupils

March 31 - Banderas Bay, Mexico


The Reno-based Island Packet Dos Amantes, sailing to raise money for good causes

Wednesday's Pirates for Pupils Spinnaker Run for Charity from Punta Mita to Paradise Marina, the first event of the newly formed Punta Mita Yacht & Surf Club, was held in typically delightful conditions last Wednesday. All the participants gathered at the El Dorado Restaurant in Punta Mita for a pirate-themed lunch, followed by the 12-mile spinnaker or wing-on-wing run to Paradise.


Katie & Dustin ride the boom aboard the catamaran sponsored by the Mexican Marine Insurance Association.

During the lunch, Don Girdner and Ana Moreles, representing Punta Mita Beach Club and Punta Mita Realty, donated $1,000. Karen Milleson of El Faro Condos donated $500, as did the Baja Ha-Ha Class of '04 and '05. The money will be used for various educational and marine ecological causes around Banderas Bay and particularly in the Punta Mita area. It's no Zihua SailFest, of course, but it's a start.


For a pirate, Laura's eyes were unusually clear & focused.


People are curious but is this the real 'Rusty Debris'?


Cherie had warned Dustin about his continued use of bad language.
Most Photos Latitude/Richard


"We Made It!"

March 31 - Nuku Hiva, Marquesas

The first Pacific Puddle Jump boat has made it to the Marquesas. Ken Kay of the Texas-based MT-42 Aquarelle sent this message (via Bob and Brenda of the Seattle-based Gulfstar 44 Sisiutl, also on their way across):

"Hi all. Just a quick note to tell you that we are anchored in Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva. Howard caught a nice Wahoo today and we finally got to eat fresh fish. We are very tired and will write more tomorrow."

To meet many of these intrepid seafarers, see the Pacific Puddle Jump story in the April issue of Latitude 38, which hits the streets today.


The April issue, which is making its way around the damp Bay Area today.
Photo Latitude/Annie


Vandalism During Big Daddy Regatta

March 31 - Pt. Richmond

The following is a letter from the Commodore of Richmond Yacht Club, Eric Arens:

"The tires on nine cars were slashed at Richmond YC during the Big Daddy regatta, held March 11-12. Some of the cars were inside the club grounds and some were outside the fence.

"There have been occasional thefts of equipment on sailboats and of fishing gear on power boats at Richmond YC in the past, but there has never been a brazen midday vandalizing of property before.

"Our primary defense lies in vigilance by the members. Liveaboards in the harbor help provide 24-hour awareness, and the harbormaster is always attentive. We will bring the matter up at Board of Directors and General Membership meetings. This situation is serious. We have scheduled meetings with the liveaboards, club staff, and concerned members to decide on changes that must be made to our club security procedures to properly address and cope with the problem.

"The neighborhood around the club is changing, with almost a thousand new housing units recently completed, being built, and to be built soon. A new access road over the hill was opened a year ago. Perhaps these new developments are bringing us contemporary problems.

"Additional security measures will be considered. We will probably have the parking czars during the Big Daddy, Big Dinghy, and Great Pumpkin regattas stay on the job to watch the premises after the cars are all parked. Recording cameras might be useful.

"The members of the club are all very unhappy about what happened, and the sailors in the Bay Area should know that we will undertake some action or actions to lessen the chance of thievery and the newly begun destruction of property, so that this first case of vandalism at the club will be the last case, at least for a long while.

"Our sincere apologies to all the owners of the vandalized cars."


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