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Photos of the Day

September 20 - Venezuela & Argentina

Today's Photo of the Day might as well be titled 'What's a Woman to Do?' It's a photo of Pam Yost, by her husband Steve, of the Redondo Beach-based Viva while the boat was in Venezuela earlier in the year. The couple had had the engine rebuilt during their absence last fall. After it was reinstalled, they varnished the yacht's lovely interior. But the engine had to be removed for more work, causing Pam to understandably throw up her hands in frustration. Not wanting to be around for more engine work, the couple took a land trip to Argentina where, among other things, they observed plenty of tango in the streets.

The unfortunate news from the couple is that after a number of years, they decided it was no longer safe to cruise the beautiful waters of Venezuela, and headed west.

- latitude / rs


Isla La Borracha, a Venezuelan anchorage
Photos Courtesy
Viva
 


Vicki Sodaro Dominates Adams Cup

September 20 - Cleveland, OH

It was a Californian sweep at the end of the U.S. Women's Championship on Sunday, hosted by Edgewater Yacht Club and sailed in J/24s, as the team of Vicki Sodaro (Tiburon), Stephanie Wondolleck (San Rafael), Karina Vogen Shelton (Watsonville), and Emily French (Santa Cruz) representing Northern California's Area G won the title. This was the second time for Sodaro to win the Adams Cup (she also won it in 2002), one of the oldest women's sports trophies in the United States.

Throughout the four-day regatta, the NorCal gals dominated the Championship, winning eight out of 11 races. "I had just a great crew and that made it nice," said Sodaro. "All I had to do was steer."

A team from Los Angeles finished in second place. After a disappointing day on Friday, the SoCal team of Susan Taylor and crew Kellie Fennessy, Denise George and Michelle Ondrey managed to come back with a sixth place finish in the final race to finish second overall, taking home the Woods Trophy.

For complete results, daily reports, and photos from the Championships, see www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/women/uswsc.

- us sailing / marlieke de lange eaton & latitude / cw


Classy Classified Ad:
Need a Low-Cost SSB/Ham Radio for the Baja Ha-Ha?

September 20 - Mill Valley

How about the SGC 'Powertalk' model, with the tuner, manuals, and everything but antenna? Used for roll calls and all communications on Ha-Ha mothership Profligate for nine years. We guarantee that it works. $750. Call Doña at (415) 269-5165.

- latitude / rs


Pusser's Rum to Support the Baja Ha-Ha Again this Year

September 20 - Tortola, BVI

We didn't get the word until yesterday, but Chuck Tobias tells us that Pusser's Rum - famous as the main ingredient in 'Pain Killers' - will be back to support the Baja Ha-Ha again this year. You never know what kind of booty they'll be passing out, but veteran Ha-Ha skippers are hoping it will include the orange "Good to the last drop" hats, the ones with the embroidered illustration of a sailor hanging from a noose.

The Pusser Rum Party at Bahia Santa Maria drew a good crowd to the mothership Profligate last year.

For what it's worth, Ha-Ha paid entries are up to 181. "No mas," says Ha-Ha Honcho Lauren Spindler.

- latitude / rs


Fifty Miles Away from Lane Was Close Enough

September 20 - Mazatlan, Mexico

"Hurricane Lane was due west of Mazatlan sometime between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. last Saturday morning," remember Alan and Margaret 'Mac' Mathison, and boat cat Maggie, of the Mazatlan Marina-based Effie. "The winds started up around midnight, and the heavy rains began around 2 a.m. Most of us here in Marina Mazatlan elected to stay on our boats and ride it out. I have to admit that there were times when I was a little nervous. The highest winds we were able to get a reading for were around 46 knots, but we didn't go outside much. I don't think we've ever seen so much rain. Actually, it was a downpour, not rain! But it was so nice to hear hear the voice of weatherman Don on Summer Passage during the weather portion of the Amigo Net. He told us we were probably at the peak of the storm, and that it would lessen as the day went on. He was right, of course, but boy did it feel good to hear a familiar, friendly voice telling us it wasn't going to get any worse! We continued to have heavy wind gusts for some time, and then it rained, and it rained, and it rained.


Photo Courtesy Effie

"On Sunday morning we headed out with Dennis and Susan of Two Can Play for some groceries and to see how the town of Mazatlan did during the storm. There were some flooded streets, lots of signs down, some damage to tarps and a couple of roofs, but other than that it looked fine. So far we've only had reports of some shredded tarps and a couple of torn sail covers in the marina, with all the boats seeming to be fine. The Marina Mazatlan staff were around to help, and were all very supportive. Antonio, the Harbor Master, had a meeting on Friday night before the hurricane to talk to all the cruisers to let us know we'd have their support and to answer our questions. It turned out not to be bad, but it's as close to the eye of a hurricane as we ever want to be."

It was the closest Mazatlan has gotten to being hit by a hurricane in 31 years.

- effie & latitude / rs


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