Cruising on $5 to $10 a Day?
©2007 Latitude 38 Media, LLC
With nearly 200 cruising boats getting ready to head to Mexico in the next month or so, a number of parsimonious skippers are wondering how inexpensively they can cruise. In the past, we’ve heard veteran cruisers say it takes anywhere between $500 and $2,500 a month. But according to Evan Dill, the subject of today’s Photo of the Day, he’s been able to cruise his Crowther 48 catamaran Java in the Sea of Cortez this summer for $150 a month – and sometimes even less. French Polynesia wasn’t much more.
And it’s not like Evan is some kind of weirdo. As you’ll be able to read in the November Latitude interview, he graduated from the Naval Academy, then spent decades in the construction business in California, his last job being for an A++ list Hollywood actor. After signing up on the Ha-Ha Crew List a few years back to see if he liked cruising, Evan ended up in Zihua, then sailing to French Polynesia and Hawaii, then down through the South Pacific. It was in Western Samoa he made the decision to fly to Australia to buy his own boat. Since then, he’s been loving the ‘less is more’ approach to cruising.
As you might expect, Evan doesn’t spend much – if any – time in marinas or tourist bars. But he does dine out frequently and indulges in the bounties of the Sea, no matter if it’s good waves around the East Cape, anchorages not found in any cruising guides, or the clams and plentiful fish. If you can’t wait to read all about it in next month’s interview, as well as why he prefers the South Pacific to Mexico, you can invite him to be crew for you on the Ha-Ha. Just shoot him an email.
Aquarius 21 ‘Grace’ Overdue from Hawaii
The Coast Guard is asking for the public’s help in locating overdue solo sailor Everett Evans aboard the Aquarius 21 Grace. Evans left Kauai, Hawaii, on or around August 17 bound for Ketchikan, Alaska. Conservative estimates would have had him arriving around September 20 but his shoreside contact has yet to hear from him. If anyone has information on Grace or Everett Evans, contact Alameda Coast Guard at (510) 437-3701.
We don’t want to be critical at a sensitive time like this, but we would be remiss if we didn’t point out that Aquarius 21s were neither designed nor built for conditions commonly found in the North Pacific.
Record Tally for Leukemia Cup
Of the 46 Leukemia Cups held in the United States this year, the San Francisco YC’s was the most successful, raising a whopping $296,400 on September 28-29. And more money is still coming in. Even the participants and organizers were amazed. Not only was the event a financial success, but there was a record 80-boat turnout, up from 55 a year ago.
In addition, 40 Opti youth sailors also competed in the inaugural Youth Regatta, including young Campbell Nolan, who is battling leukemia. His father Bill, co-chair of the event, was the top invidividual fundraiser, having brought in $50,233.
More Leukemia Cup coverage in November’s Latitude. For results visit www.sfyc.org. More pictures of the event can be viewed and bought through www.pbase.com/dibshare/leukemia_cup_2007.
Bird Boats Birthday Party Tomorrow
This Saturday marks the 85th year Bird Boats have been sailing on the bay, making it the oldest fleet on the West Coast to be raced continuously. The party will start at 1 p.m. at the San Francisco YC in Tiburon, with six boats at the guest dock for inspection. Cocktails are at 4:30 with a film and slide presentation of vintage races by RC Keefe in the Commodore’s Room, followed by dinner ($25), stories and more film at 6:30.
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC
I grew up racing Petrel (#8) with my family in the late 50’s, and now own Teal (#6) which is undergoing restoration. Petrel is now owned by Pierre Josephs, who is restoring Puffin right next door, and his brother Jim owns Curlew, one of the prettiest boats in the fleet, right next to Robin, owned by Pat and Cissy Kirrane. Cissy is the organizing chairwoman of the event and can be reached at (415) 435-3366 for more info.
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC
Everyone who has ever owned, raced or drooled over Bird Boats will be in attendance. We hope to raise funds to rescue and restore several boats in the fleet. Should be a great event!
The Tall Ships are Coming
The American Sail Training Association (ASTA) has announced that the 2008 Tall Ships Challenge, slated for the North American West Coast, will add San Francisco as a port of call from July 23 – 28, 2008.
ASTA holds a Tall Ships Challenge Series every year but alternates between the Great Lakes and the North American East and West Coasts. Each Challenge includes a series of races in which barques, brigs, brigantines, schooners, sloops, barkentines, full-rigged ships and more participate, along with the general public. Founded in 1973, ASTA fosters youth education through their programs at sea with more than 250 tall ships and sail training vessels as members.
©2007 Latitude 38 Media, LLC
The entire 2008 Series begins in Victoria, British Columbia on June 25, then sails on to Tacoma, Washington and Port Alberni, B.C. before heading to the Bay. For further information visit www.tallships.sailtraining.org.