'Lectronic Index

Previous 'Lectronic Edition

Photo of the Day: Lake Circuit Upset

May 2 - Clearlake

Backatcha Bandit stole the light-air show at Clearlake last weekend.
Photo Courtesy KBSC
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

With all local eyes on Opening Day this weekend, several dozen Bay Area sailors escaped inland for the Konocti Bay Sailing Club's 23rd annual Konocti Cup. Light winds, accompanied by very welcome warm temperatures, helped shake up the results among the 39 boats that raced. Last year's winner, Kim Desenberg's Wylie Wabbit Mr. McGregor, fell to ninth place this year. Staging the upset was fellow Richmond YC member Ben Landon, whose Thompson 650 Backatcha Bandit won honors for first to finish and first on corrected time. Second in the 26-boat Full Cup division (which raced the entire 26-mile zig-zag course) was Tom Burden's Ultimate 20, Layla, which topped the eight-boat U20 one design division. At the top of the leaderboard for the 13-mile Half Cup division was Ray Proffitt's Balboa 26 Lusty. Bill Erkelens' Tornado E2 bested the two-boat multihull class.

"Konocti Bay Sailing Club is growing with new boats and new participation," reports race organizer Pat Brown. "KBSC is planning on hosting some national level championships in the coming year." For more info about KBSC and full race results, go to www.kbsail.com.

May Day Brings May Latitudes

May 2 - Mill Valley

The May issue of Latitude 38 was delivered yesterday around the Bay, and is working its way out to distributors further afield. Get yours while they're hot!

- latitude / cw

Be sure to save time between Cinco de Mayo fiestas to check out the new Latitude. Muy caliente!
Photo Latitude/LaDonna
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

Feast or Famine at Louis Vuitton Cup

May 2 - Valencia, Spain

Top-ranked BMW/Oracle won both races against Team Shosholoza in flight 3.
©2007 Gilles Martin-Raget

Not much has changed off Valencia since Monday, since not many races have been run. On Monday, light winds delayed the start several hours and only a single flight was run, rather than the usual two per day per course. Then yesterday, winds in excess of 25 knots cancelled all racing.

This morning's bouts were being sailed in 7-10 knots and should be another two-point notch in the gun for the top three teams: BMW/Oracle Racing, Luna Rossa Challenge and Emirates Team New Zealand. All three are racing low-ranked teams. At the time this was written, Italy's Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (with alternate skipper Cameron Dunn - yup, another Kiwi - having replaced Flavio Favini) was slightly ahead in an important duel with Spain's Desafio Español. These two teams are battling for the all-important fourth spot in the Round Robin competition - when RR 2 is over next week, only the four top-ranked teams get to advance to the semi-final round. To keep track of the action, log onto www.americascup.com.

- latitude / jr

Maltese Falcon Breaks Cutty Sark's Record

May 2 - Azores

We received the following email yesterday from our good friend Tom Perkins aboard his amazing 287-ft yacht Maltese Falcon:

"Just a quick note from East of the Azores. I'm happy to report that the Falcon has just broken the Cutty Sark's best 24-hour run. The Cutty did 362 nautical miles and we've done 380. I believe the Cutty's record has never been broken by a square rigger . . . until today. The wind's averaged about 27 knots and the forecast is for slightly stronger winds into Gibraltar, so we'll be shooting to break 400 miles tomorrow."

It's an interesting contrast that the Cutty required a crew of nearly 30 men while Falcon can be sailed at the push of a few buttons by just one man.

- latitude / ld

Delta Essay Assignment

May 2 - San Joaquin/Sacramento River Delta

Have you ever wanted to be part of a Latitude 38 article? Have you ever been to the Delta? Well, have we got a deal for you. We're beginning working on our annual Delta article for the June issue now and thought it might be fun to put in reader highlights. To take part, all you have to do is write us a quick note about your experience on the Delta. This could be a favorite trip, favorite stop, secret spot, best experience or best recommendation to entice sailors who have not yet experienced this marvelous playground northeast of the Bay. Again, make it short (one paragraph or no more than 100 words), email to LaDonna, and don't delay - we'll need to get them by May 15.

- latitude / jr

In-Bay Whale Sighting

May 2 - San Francisco Bay

"Did anyone else see a gray whale in Hospital Cove on Sunday?" asks Bay sailor Wayne Meretsky of the Alameda-based S&S 47 Moonduster. Apparently it was a small gray, and was seen "stirring up the muck around the boats" which were anchored in the Angel Island cove.

Scientists tell us that migrating whales sometimes get disoriented and find themselves in the Bay. At other times they come in due to ailments. In any case, if anyone else observed this wayward cetacean, we'd love to hear about it - or see some photos. (Click here to send us an email.)

- latitude / at