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Photos of the Day: McNish ClassicAugust 11 - Oxnard  The lovely Witchcraft, which got third in Schooners Photo Ariane Paul SoCal's McNish Classic, held out of Pacific Corinthian YC in Channel Islands Harbor, features boats designed before 1952 ranging in size from 17-ft to 82-ft. This year's 29th running, held on August 5, saw winds starting light at 12 knots building to 18 by the finish. And 29 boats finished the 17-mile course, picked to favor the sailing style of traditional styled wooden boats NorCal's Ariane Paul of the Master Mariners Benevolent Association (MMBA) made the trek south to join the 71-ft Dauntless, skippered by San Diegan Paul Plotts, which took first place in Schooner Class. San Francisco sailors may remember Latitude-sponsored Dauntless's runs in the Master Mariners Regatta here in 2006 and 2002.  Onboard Schooner Division winner Dauntless Photo Ariane Paul Dan Israel of Woodland Hills, skippering his 30-ft cutter Silvan, won the Strathmore Cup (Overall Winner), as well as the Sloops & Cutters A division. Israel needed every bit of sailing skill and sailor's luck because it was a drag race as Elusive II, sailed by Don Greene of Ventura, finished a mere three seconds behind Silvan. Israel also won his weight in Mumm's Champagne - five cases full.  Silvan and Elusive II battle it out in Sloops & Cutters A. Photo Louise Ann Noeth "Had I known there were five cases of champagne in the offing," remarked Israel, "I would have sailed faster! The first two marks were no problem, but we had to fight it out with Elusive II all the way to the finish line even though they had lost their steering at the start forcing them to use a tiller. We must have done everything right!" Other trophy winners were: - louise ann noeth & latitude / cw |
La Vie's Arrival at Ua PoaAugust 11 - Marquesas, French Polynesia Bluewater voyaging isn't for every sailor, but for those who can stomach month-long ocean passages in a relatively confined space, the rewards are often sweet. As this from Dave Kane's Seattle-based Beneteau 405 La Vie clearly shows, some landfalls are truly dream-like, especially in the South Pacific.  Photo Dave Kane Having set sail from Puerto Vallarta in early April, La Vie made her initial landfall at Eaio, the largest of the extreme northwestern Marquesas Islands, 21 days later. Kane and his crew sailed on to Nuku Hiva, then to rarely visited Ua Pau (wah-poe), pictured here. "The island has the most amazing geological rock formations," wrote Kane in his blog, "with incredibly sheer 4,000-ft rock spires towering over the bay, making this what has to be one of the most beautiful harbors on the planet. The residents of Ua Pau are super friendly - a trait I believe is associated with a lack of tourism - and surprisingly there are more and better stocked shops here than on Nuku Hiva." We hope to bring you more of Kanes' spectacular photos in an upcoming edition of Latitude 38. At this writing, La Vie is en route to Penrhyn, in the Cook Islands. - latitude / aet |
Sailing on the BayAugust 11 - San Francisco Bay Peak sailing season is upon us and sadly, will be gone all too soon. If you haven't taken the time to get out on the Bay this summer, here's a reminder of what you're missing.  Chimera's crew enjoys a beautiful run under perfect conditions during the YRA Second Half Opener held July 29-30. See www.yra.org for results. Photo Fred Fago  Even
in the midst of rounding a mark, the crew of MAX takes
a moment to wave at the camera.Photo Margaret Fago Several races are coming up this weekend, including the YRA-OYRA Half Moon Bay Race (www.yra.org) and the always fun Gracie & George Regatta, a coed doublehander featuring 'Gracie' on the helm (www.encinal.org). Check out the Northern California Sailing Calender for a complete racing schedule. - latitude / ld  Sailing isn't just for us old fogeys. This group of young people look like they're having a blast on their J/24. Photo Latitude/LaDonna |
15 Sailor/Actors to Begin Training for Disney TransPac FilmAugust 11 - Long Beach Of the 538 young sailors who applied to participate in the Morning Light project - a Disney documentary film on the youngest crew ever to compete in the TransPac - 30 finalists have been performing onboard tryouts this week in Long Beach. Tomorrow, the crew will be halved, as the final 15 are selected. They will begin training early next year in Hawaii aboard a TP-52. Reportedly, the tryouts, aboard four similar Catalina 37s, went very well, with one exception: Benefactor Roy E. Disney, who was on hand to observe the tryout races, took an unexpected swim while attempting to step from one of the 37s to his motor launch in sloppy seas. "I think it's a first," said the 76-year-old lifelong sailor in his eternally cheerful manner. Stay tuned for announcement of the final 15. - latitude / aet  Roy E. Disney is lifted from the water,  then sits on the step of his chase boat with John Romanko, who jumped into the water to assist Disney, still in the water at his feet.  Back at the dock Disney greets Romanko, 19, of Vancouver, BC, one of the 30 finalists for the Morning Light team. Photos Rich Roberts |
Acura Miami Race Week Makes Changes in Format for 2007August 11 - Miami, FL Premiere Racing announced a change for their Miami event today - shifting to a 'Grand Prix', single venue format for 2007.  Photo Tim Wilkes/www.timwilkes.com The Farr 40s have already committed to the 2007 Acura Miami Grand Prix to be held March 8-11. A second featured class will be the 'big-boat' IRC class. Up to two additional classes will be allowed to compete. The Mumm 30 class, coming off of a November World Championship in Miami Beach, represents a potential third class. In the two years since taking over SORC, Premiere Racing grew the event from a 58-boat single venue regatta to a 142-boat event featuring racing on both Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. March 2006's event included the Rolex TP-52 Global Championship. The unusual 2005 hurricane season and the subsequent effects on fuel prices and boating in South Florida are the driving forces in a business shift by the Miami Beach Marina. The official site can only commit to a limited number of transient slips. There simply will not be enough transient slips available in the area for a multi-division 80-90 boat ocean fleet in 2007. While discontinuing the event was considered, Acura and Premiere Racing both felt it was worth pursuing the Grand Prix approach for 2007 and then revisiting all alternatives for 2008 and beyond. One of the primary goals is to keep the regatta venue, dates, visibility, and potential intact while assessing future options. One significant factor will be the impact, or lack thereof, that the 2006 hurricane season might have on the marina and local infrastructure. - premiere racing To read the complete press release, go to www.premiere-racing.com/miami07/pages/miami_2007_news.htm. |
