'Lectronic Index

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Zihua SailFest Raises Record Sum for Local Schools

February 7 - Zihuatanejo, Mexico

The Lagoon cat At Last heads for the starting line of the Z-Fest fun races.
Photo Rob & Linda Jones
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

Although we've not yet received a full report on the recently completed Zihua SailFest, the big news is that a record $85,000 was donated by those in attendance to fund improvements in a dozen local schools - to our knowledge the largest sum ever generated by a cruiser charity event.

After cruiser donations were totaled at $42,000, that amount was matched by sailor/rancher Pete Boyce of the Sabre 402 Edelweiss III and the Bellack Foundation, bringing the grand total to an astounding $85,000, half again as much a last year's tally of $57,000. The funds are administered by Por Los Niños of Zihuatanejo, a Mexican-registered non-profit corporation, with oversight by local ex-pat and Mexican residents.

As in years past, this year's event, which ran from January 31 to February 4, focused on light-hearted fun, including sailboat and dinghy races, a chili cook-off, a street fair and more. Look for complete report in the March edition of Latitude 38.

- latitude / aet

Stamm Rounds Cape Horn

February 7 - Cape Horn

Shortly before 21:30 UTC last night, Bernard Stamm became the first of the 2006/2007 Velux 5 Oceans fleet to pass Cape Horn, bidding a relieved au revoir to the Pacific Ocean and bonjour to the Atlantic. The Swiss skipper passed the islands that mark the Cape on a single jibe at 16 knots. While the seas were rough in the relatively shallow waters, this rounding was much different than his previous rounding four years ago when he discovered he had broken his keel and had to make a pit-stop in the Falkland Islands.

As you may have noticed, we've been light on coverage of the second leg of the solo ocean race since it departed Fremantle on January 14 because, well, it's been rather boring. The fleet of five is spread out over nearly 3,000 miles, with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in last place. Kojiro Shraishi, in second place, trails Stamm by 1,800 miles. All of the boats have encountered minor equipment failures and varying weather conditions, but nothing like the first leg, which saw the retirement of two boats and saw most others make an unscheduled pit stop at least once before the finish.

The fleet is expected to finish leg two in Norfolk, Virginia, around mid-March. For complete race updates, go to www.velux5oceans.com.

- latitude / ss

Racing Crew List Closing in on Finish Line

February 7 - Mill Valley

You'd think keeping your sailboat in top racing shape, with a smooth clean bottom, halyards that run freely, unfrayed lines, winches that turn when you want them to, fast sails, and sandwiches for everyone would be hard. It's all a challenge, but the real challenge is finding the 'everyone' to hoist those halyards, wrap those lines around those winches, trim those sails, and eat those sandwiches.

To make it a little easier for boat owners to find crews, Latitude 38 long ago created an annual crew list. The racing list comes out in the March issue, just in time for skippers to put the finishing touches on their prep for the upcoming season, and focus on the hardest part of all, beating the competition. If you'd like to get on the list, either as a skipper or crew, we need your form and $7 fee by February 15 (not postmarked by, but in our office by). You can find the forms and instructions in the January and February issues of Latitude 38, and also online at www.latitude38.com/crewlist/Crew.html.

Not into racing? The rest of the crew list comes out in April, so the deadline for that is March 15. An added benefit of getting on the March or April list is free admission to our Crew List Party, to be held again at Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4.

- latitude / cw

Better Late than Never

February 7 - Adelaide, South Australia

We just received some outstanding photos from Australian photographer Greg Pratt, who was at the SAP 505 Worlds last week in Adelaide, and couldn't pass up the opportunity to share.

The sailing instructions for the SAP 505 Worlds in Australia were amended to let the race committee help capsized sailors out of the water so they wouldn't become some shark's lunch.
Photo ©2007 Greg Pratt/www.paparazzi.com.au

Although Danish sailors Jan Saugmann and Morten Ramsbaek stole the show - winning the regatta by a nine-point margin without sailing the last race - the Americans also put on a class act. Four of the top-10 boats in the 92-boat fleet sailed under the Stars and Stripes, including Northern Californians Nick Adamson and Steve Bourdow who placed eighth. Two other NorCal teams finished in the top 20: Mike Holt and Carl Smit (13th), Doug Hagan and Aussie crew Michael Duffield (17th).

The competition started off with a bang - screaming winds and the resulting carnage - but ended on a soft whisper of a breeze.
Photo ©2007 Greg Pratt/www.paparazzi.com.au

For complete results, go to www.505worlds2007.com. You can see more photos online at www.paparazzi.com.au.

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Know any Yacht Chartering Secrets?

February 7 - Lake Huron

A map published in the World of Chartering section of the January Latitude 38 professed to show the 'Primary Bareboat Chartering Bases Worldwide'. The graphic inspired at least one reader to chime in with additional info.

Ralph Folsom wrote: "Your map. . . leaves out Lake Huron's North Channel, considered by many the best cruising grounds in North America. Why so? Pristine, wilderness cruising among thousands of sweetwater islands, great sailing conditions and remote anchorages, wonderful fishing and swimming - no tides means hot water!" You also get a lot of bang for your buck, as you'll be spending Canadian dollars.

Lake Huron's North Channel offers an enticing North American cruising option.
Photo ©2007 David Grover/www.sailingsource.com

This makes us wonder if there are other 'sleeper' destinations for bareboating within North America that we have never publicized. If you know of any, please let us know by emailing Andy.

- latitude / aet