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More 'Stone Age' Than Manu RereAugust 31, 2009 – Society Islands, South Pacific
The name Glenn Tieman should ring a bell with regular visitors to this site and readers of Latitude 38 magazine. He's the Southern California traditionalist who hand-built a primative Wharram catamaran, and recently sailed from Mexico to the South Pacific. In the excerpted report below, we catch up with Tieman in Moorea, a few days after his crossing from the Tuamotus: "At Moorea I met Hans Klaar on his one-of-a-kind 73-ft voyaging double-canoe. On his previous boat, also a Wharram cat, Hans was one of the first westerners to use crab claw sails — like the ones I have on Manu Rere. His current boat is likely the only yacht even more radically stone-age than my own. Although he does use a 5-hp outboard engine, he had the Ontong Java built, along Polynesian lines, from big planks cut from two trees in West Africa. The gaps between the planks are sealed with strips of rubber tacked over. "Before leaving Papeete I got an email from him saying he was at Moorea with one too many girls aboard and hoping I could take one. They were beauties too. Several people at Moorea appreciate Polynesian vessels like Manu Rere and they kept me entertained with diving, touring and dining.
"I moved on to Huahine, then to Bora Bora, which, despite its drawbacks, looked like the Matterhorn heaving out of the sea and mist. Again at Bora Bora I anchored next to Ontong Java, and I've come across a few other Wharram catamarans and their crews as well during these last couple stops. From here it's a thousand miles to Wallis Island, possibly first stopping at Samoa, then north through Tuvalu before the southern hurricane season begins." Look for more on Tieman's travels in an upcoming issue of Latitude. - latitude / at |
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Angry Jimena Barreling Toward Baja
August 31, 2009 – Pacific Coast
Batten down the hatches, Jimena is heading inshore - and she appears to be in a very bad mood. © 2010 NOAA |
More often than not, strong Eastern Pacific storms and hurricanes threaten the Mexican mainland and Baja Peninsula, but veer offshore or diminish in strength before inflicting much damage. It could be a different story with Hurricane Jimena, however, which is now slowly advancing toward Cabo San Lucas, packing sustained winds of 127 knots (145 mph), and gusts reported up to 155 knots (172 mph)!
Thankfully, this graphic is just a simulation. With any luck, Jimena will take a flyer away from the coast. © 2010 NOAA |
If the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's three-day prediction simulation is correct, hurricane-force winds could lash lower Baja by mid-day tomorrow. Historically, however, wind strengths generally diminish substantially as they approach or cross land masses. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed that this monster hangs a sharp left soon.
- latitude / at
Solo Sailor Overdue in Marquesas
August 31, 2009 – Marquesas
Family and friends are 'waiting for Godot' to arrive safely in the Marquesas. Photo Courtesy Godot © 2010 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc. |
Friends and family of singlehander Jim Cheshire, 63, are asking Pacific Puddle Jumpers to keep an eye out for Cheshire's Alberg 35 Godot. Cheshire left Manta, Ecuador, on July 21 bound for the Marquesas but has not checked in with his shoreside contact. Godot has a white hull with no name, and the main is emblazoned with Pearson's logo and the sail number 153. His EPIRB has not been activated.
It appears Jim Cheshire had a liferaft and EPIRB aboard Godot - the EPIRB has not yet been activated. Photo Courtesy Godot © 2010 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc. |
USCG Pacific Search and Rescue in Alameda was advised on Saturday of Cheshire's overdue status and has notified commercial traffic along his proposed route. Hopefully Cheshire has simply been experiencing a slow crossing — it's a 3,500-mile journey — and will make contact soon, but if you have any information on his whereabouts, you might ease some very worried minds by emailing his family or calling (860) 304-5733.
- latitude / ld
Weekend Racing Wrap-up
August 31, 2009 – The Bay
Jeff Nelson and Mike Martin, 2009 505 World Champions. © 2010 Erik Simonson / www.marinemediaalliance.com |
Mike Martin and Jeff Nelson sealed the deal on the 2009 SAP 505 World Championships, when they won the ninth and final race of the week-long series Saturday. After discarding their two worst scores — a DNF and a 12th — the duo counted just eight points for the remaining seven races: 1-1-1-1-2-1-1. There was little doubt that the Newport Beach-based duo was the class of 97-boat fleet. With superior boathandling and speed, they marched through the regatta, bouncing back from a broken rig and changing gears for the two very uncharacteristic days of light air, before coming through in the clutch with the regatta on the line on the penultimate day. Martin is now the first person to win the worlds as both a skipper and a crew, having done the latter 10 years ago with Howie Hamlin.
Elizabeth Muir rolls across the slot during Saturday's Great Schooner Race hosted by San Francisco YC. Photo Latitude / Rob © 2010 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc. |
Sixteen schooners in two divisions turned out for the San Francisco YC's Great Schooner Race on Saturday afternoon. Bob Vespa's Scorpio beat all comers in the Marconi division, while Jeff Hawkins' Jakatan beat six other gaffers. Sailed in breeze into the low 20s, the pursuit race saw the Marconi division do a Bay tour — Yellow Bluff-Cityfront-Blossom-Southampton Shoal-finish at the club — while the gaffers did all but the Yellow Bluff leg.
Flash just moments after strafing the St. Francis YC's committee boat W.L. Stewart. © 2010 John Navas |
Shortly after the last 505 had finished the final race on Saturday, St. Francis YC's committee boat, the W.L. Stewart, was attacked by the the TP 52 Flash while the latter was out practicing for Big Boat Series. We don't have any details yet, but if you were involved, drop us a line here. Finally, there is some great spectating opportunitites this week for fans of the 18-ft skiffs, which will be here on the Bay through Friday for St. Francis YC's 18-ft Skiff Invitational, plus Thursday's Ronstan Bridge to Bridge Race.
- latitude / rg
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