Cruising

We Stand Corrected

December 4 - Moorea

"In the October 25 'Lectronic Latitude item called 'The America's Cup Angle', the guy driving the motor scooter around Moorea with his feet on the handlebars is Capt. Stephen 'I Cheated Death Again' Mann of the sailing vessel Tawodi - not me," writes Christopher Miller of the Tayana 52 Seaplusplus. "It's a good thing, too, because Stephen 'wiped out' later that day. At the time, he was visiting us at Moorea and Huahine. He'd been the best man when Catherine Wenzel - who I met in La Paz while she was on another boat - and I got married in Canada. He was also the guy who rerigged Seaplusplus in San Diego before we set off across the Pacific to New Zealand. To prevent further confusion, that's me, Christopher, on the left in the accompanying photograph, and Stephen on the right. In any event, keep up the good stuff in 'Lectronic and the good stuff in Latitude."

No problem, Christopher. By the way, if you still have those photos you originally sent us, we'd love to get them again - but at higher resolution. Particularly the one of Janet of 'Starship' painting the tattoo on Stephen's butt after he lost at strip poker or whatever you guys were playing.

 

Photo: Catherine Miller

Remember Your Friends and Loved Ones


December 4 - Anywhere You Are

About 10 days after the Ha-Ha, the U.S. Coast Guard contacted the Wanderer/Poobah asking for the information about the location of the Catalina 42 'Reunion'. The San Diego based boat had done the Ha-Ha, was reported to have headed back north, but hadn't been heard from in much longer than folks and relatives had expected. We directed the Coast Guard to Downwind Marine, which has excellent Ham contacts throughout Mexico. Two days later we got the following email from the Coast Guard:

"Thank you for your prompt response to our email. It was helpful in determining where the S/V 'Reunion'; was not. We appreciate your advice regarding the Downwind Marine Net. We have activated the Manana, Picante, Baja, and Southbound Nets through a CG Auxiliarist named Bill Seeber. From Mr. Patrick Malone, another Ham operator, we learned that 'Reunion' left Cabo San Lucas on 15 Nov. Mr. Malone talked to another sailing vessel who saw the 'Reunion' on 16th headed straight through to San Diego. He was northbound at seven knots."

So sailors, always try to keep your friends up to date. And friends, have patience, sailors are almost always behind schedule.


Morgan's Run

December 4 - Colombia

Always fancied yourself as something of a pirate? If so, the La Ruta de Morgan - or Morgan's Run - sponsored by the Club de Pesca of Cartagena, Colombia, on June 16 might be just for you. The 400-mile "friendly regatta" will start in Cartagena, which has remained a cruiser favorite despite Colombia's many problems, to Isla Providencia, the old pirate hangout some 150 miles off the east coast of Costa Rica. Be forewarned, there's not much of anything at Providencia. Sailors will also be able to start from Seaport Marina in Aruba. The event will provide a great opportunity for cruisers and others to sail in semi company from either Aruba or Cartagena in the direction of Belize and the Rio Dulce of Guatemala. The timing for weather couldn't be much better, as by June the trades have died down and hurricanes in June are quite rare. This will be the third running of this almost always off the wind event. The fleet should arrive at Providencia in time for the Festival of Old Providence - part of which will be Old Providence Rendevouz 2001, which will include an around the island race, horseracing on the beach, catboat races, music, and plenty of partying.

For you historical buffs, Providencia was colonized by the same Londoners who had taken the Mayflower to Massachusetts. When these Puritans arrived in 1631, Dutch smugglers and privateers were already calling the island home. After the colonists were captured by the Spanish and sent to Spain as prisoners, the island was retaken by Edward Morgan and his Port Royal Privateers - which was not a rock 'n roll band. Morgan viewed the island's central location between Vera Cruz, Porto Belo and Havana as "a loaded pistol perpetually directed at the breast of Colonial Spain". As the years and cultures have mixed, Providence is said to have become an interesting place. "It is the Eastern Caribbean 50 years ago," say some.

For more info, email lee miles at :[email protected].

YOTREPS

December 4 - 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

America's Cup

December 4 - Auckland, New Zealand

America's Cup. You win some and you lose some. Team Dennis Conner, the New York YC challenge for the 2003 America's Cup in Auckland are delighted to have signed on Computer Associates as a $10 million platinum sponsor. They're also glad to have helmsman Ken Read and most of the old crew back to race the two boats that are to be designed by Reichel/Pugh and built by New England Boat Works. On the debit side, the word is that Peter Holmberg, a Virgin Islander who was a key member of the Team DC afterguard, is heading for Larry Ellison's Oracle Racing Syndicate for the St. Francis YC. The America's Cup world is a small one, and it's common for rivals to become teammates and then back to rivals again. Rarely are there any hard feelings, particularly since the money has gotten so much better.

Crystal Cup

December 4 - Bahamas

There's lots of racing news, but you won't get it from us today, as 'Lectronic's editor is cruising in Mexico and 'Lectronic's racing editor is sailing aboard Doug Baker's Andrews 70+ 'Magnitude' in the first ever Crystal Cup at Paradise Island, Nassau, the Bahamas.

For the first year, there are only a dozen or so boats, but most are big and some are important.

We'll have a full report when it's over. Until then, visit www.crystalcupatatlantis.com.

   



Weather Updates

December 4 - Pacific Oceans

Tropical Weather

The Atlantic/Caribbean region hurricane season is almost over, and it looks as though there will no be any more tropical storms or hurricanes.

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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