Photos of the Day

It's a Start

December 18 -
Portrero Bay, Costa Rica

You think there's no yacht racing in Costa Rica? If that as the case, what was Brad of the Catalina 25 'Rosa del Mar' doing drinking out of the Coco Bola Cup Trophy? Here's the report:

The second annual Flamingo Cup Sailing Regatta was held in Costa Rica in combination with the Flamingo Beach Race Weekend - which consists of jet ski races and a powerboat rally. All in all, it brought some life to the area. The sailing fleet consisted of 'Rosa del Mar', a Catalina 25; 'Samonique,' a 53-ft custom boat; 'Shannon', a CT-49; and 'Spanish Dancer', a 36-foot catamaran. The two days of racing were held in heavy winds in Portrero Bay. New this year was the beautiful Coco Bola Cup Trophy, which will always be on display at the winning Costa Rica YC or if won by a cruiser, at the Hotel Marinero at Flamingo Beach. The Costa Rican Coast Guard and others made it a great event.

As the second photo indicates, it wasn't a big fleet, but you have to start somewhere.


They pour generous drinks in Costa Rica.


A wide variety but small number of yachts
competed in this year's Flamingo Cup.

Photos Courtesy Flamingo Cup


You Rocked Our World

December 18 - Mystery Marina
In the December 15 'Lectronic we asked readers to "rock our world by identifying the mystery marina in the accompanying photograph."

Greg Retkowski had the first response: "It's Coyote Point Marina after the SFO expansion." A brilliant answer, but not the one we were looking for.

That left it to Lance Berc, who wrote, "I don't remember a harbor next to Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong, and I've never been there or even seen pictures, but could it be Gibraltar?" Yes, it could, which we hinted at by asking everyone to 'rock' our world.

Next in line with the correct answer was Mark Matthews, who knows a thing or two about the place: "Highlights of the last time I was there include watching police shoot rubber bullets from the beach at cigarette smugglers whizzing by in their pangas, and the airplanes taxiing across one of the main roads in town - also something you don't see every day." Calling the smugglers' boats pangas, Mark, is like calling a Ferrari a go-cart.



Another Puzzler

December 18 -
Mill Valley

We were going to drop the quiz business for a couple of days, but then we saw this in the January 2001 issue of 'Showboats International'. The question is, what's wrong with this item.



Cruising

Farewell to ARC 2000

December 18 - St. Lucia
"Farewell to ARC2000, as the rally comes to a close. The prize-giving held at Rodney Bay Marina, St. Lucia, Saturday night marked the end of the 15th Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). Organized by World Cruising Club, this was the 11th ARC to finish in St. Lucia. With 215 starters, this year's event was the second largest in terms of the number of entries. Nineteen nations were represented by yachts, and many other represented by crew.

"Good winds made for an excellent crossing this year, and a new course record was set by the French flagged Open 50 'Multicap Caraibes', skippered by Luc Coquelin. They covered the 2,700-mile course in 12 days, 18 hours, 7 minutes and 20 seconds. Good winds ensured fast passages for all the yachts. Very few yachts experienced any damage, although many blew out spinnakers."

The Canaries to St. Lucia rally is a great event, and if you ever have the chance to do it, we recommend it. The organizers provide a great database of information. Check out, for example, the final results at: www.worldcruising.com/arc/results.htm


Lovely Rodney Bay, St. Lucia,
temporary home to the ARC sailors.

Photo Courtesy St. Lucia Tourist Board


Multicap Caraibes crosses the finish line.

Photo Tim Wright/photoaction.com

The Whereabouts of Interlude and Nomaer

In the December 15 'Lectronic, we ran a photo of the skippers and mates of 'Nomaer' and 'Interlude' as they showed off their costumes for the 1991 Carnival in Trinidad. We wondered if anybody knew where they were now. Thanks to the miracle of the Internet, we got an almost immediate response:

"Per your question on 'S/V Interlude' and Lois and Merle," writes Roger Young of 'S/V Ballerina', currently at Taurganga Bridge Marina in New Zealand, "they were just back in the States where Merle was getting some medical treatment. 'Interlude' is still in Trinidad at the yacht club. Lois was most recently elected to be a member of the Board of Directors of SSCA. We last left them in 1997 in Venezuela, but stay in contact via email. We lost track of 'Nomaer' in '95. Fair winds and smooth seas to everyone!"

Thank you, Roger.

YOTREPS

December 18 - The Pacific Ocean and Cyberspace

Who is out making passages in the Pacific and what kind of weather are they having? Check out YOTREPS - 'yacht reports' - at http://www.bitwrangler.com/yotreps/




Racing

The Strength and Courage of Women Sailors

December 18 - Southern Ocean

Are you one of those who think that women don't have the courage and strength to make great ocean sailors? Before you answer for sure, listen to the situation 5-foot tall Ellen MacArthur of 'Kingfisher' found herself in on the Southern Ocean the other day while sailing in the Vendée Globe singlehanded around-the-world race. And what she did to resolve it.

Her Open 60 had been surfing hard at 30 knots - a hair-raising experience to start with - in 40 knots of wind when the boat accidentally jibed, leaving it knocked down almost 90 degrees. MacArthur managed to release the running backstay, which allowed the boat to right herself again. But in the process, a batten broke out of the front end of its pocket above the second spreader. This meant there was no way to drop the main - and the wind was getting even stronger. Going aloft in 40 knots of wind on the stormy Southern Ocean is the kind of situation that was once described as 'separating the men from the boys', but with women like MacArthur sailing, it's more accurately described as a situation that separates the courageous from the not courageous.

Fully aware of the considerable risks to her life, MacArthur started the job she had to do. She told reporters that, "the last two feet were the hardest two feet of my life." Once at the batten, she had to pull it out so the sail could be lowered. It might have seemed like the hard part would have then been over, but that was not the case. Very cold and shaking with effort, MacArthur says it took her over an hour to lower herself 45 feet.

With her life no longer in so much danger, she lowered the main, replaced the batten, sewed it back in place, then raised the main again. After all, she was racing. Having completed the task, she "collapsed in the cockpit."

For the full story of this example of great courage, visit sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport


British sailor Ellen MacArthur

Photo Courtesy Europe 1 New Man Star



Weather Updates

December 18 - Pacific Ocean

San Francisco Bay Weather

To see what the winds are like on the Bay and just outside the Gate right now, check out http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/wind/.

California Coast Weather

Looking for current as well as recent wind and sea readings from 17 buoys and stations between Pt. Arena and the Mexican border? Here's the place - which has further links to weather buoys and stations all over the U.S.: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/stuff/southwest/swstmap.shtml.

Pacific Ocean Weather

You can view the University of Hawaii Department of Meteorology satellite picture by clicking here.

Pacific Sea State

Seas are normal in the Pacific. But you might check at: http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.
For another view, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data/global.html.


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