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Photos of the Day Easing Away from the Herd November 17 - Bahia Las Tortugas, Mexico Sometimes we humans tend to think that virtually all existence revolves around us. But then you sail down to Mexico, you get reminded that we're just a very small part of a very large picture. In the first photo, about half of the 400 or so Ha-Ha folks can be seen in the lower left corner at the beach party at Turtle Bay. Clearly, we're just bit players in a big scheme. The second photo is of the beach at Turtle Bay. It goes on and on and on and on. And it's just one of hundreds of untrod beaches on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. So for those of you who think there's no escape from the crowds, consider easing away from the herd. Photos Latitude 38/ Richard

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Weather Updates

November 17 - Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

Tropical Weather

Once again it's quiet in the tropics - all the way around the world.

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. Also check out http://facs.scripps.edu/surf/buoylist.html (but note that the Java Applet is still not working with some browsers on Macs - including your Webmistress's Netscape Communicator!)

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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Cruising

Dharma

November 17 - Auckland, New Zealand

A phone number or email address is needed immediately for Don and Sally Branch of the Westsail 43 'Dharma' in New Zealand! As reported two days ago, Don fell ill in Tonga, and after flying to New Zealand was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and a brain tumor. He recently lost most of his vision, and the doctors have told him he only has months to live. He and Sally need money to make their last days together as comfortable as possible.

Derrick of the Seattle Westsail Association reports that he is rallying Westsail owners to contribute money to help the Branches. If you want to contribute, contact him at (206) 443-1480. In addition, he has a friend who is a member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron who would like to get in touch with the Branches to see what he might be able to do in the way of immediate assistance.

So if anybody knows how to get in touch with the Branches immediately, please call Derrick.

Heading South . . . from Marina Paradise November 17 - Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico About a week ago, Malcolm and Jackie Holt of the Victoria, BC-based 'Aeolus' arranged for a meeting of 18 southbound boats. These weren't boats southbound from California, but southbound from Puerto Vallarta. In other words, they all had a season under their belts. They're seen here on the steps of Marina Paradise. The boats, crews, hailing ports, and destinations are as follows:

Photo Dick Markie

BOAT NAME	CREW NAMES	HOMEPORT	DESTINATION
Heather K	Ed & Norma Hasselmann	San Diego	Rio Dulce
Starshine	Don & Ann Becker	Newport Beach	Chesapeake
Ragtime	Don & Patricia Lewis	Boston, MA	Caribbean
Aeolus	Malcolm & Jackie Holt	Victoria, BC	Circumnavigation
Karina D	Kathleen Murphy & Dale Moore	Calgary, AB	Panama & East
Joss	Kathy & Barry Devine	Portland, OR	Caribbean
Amazing Grace	Judy Glossman & Bob Lundstrom	Phoenix, AZ	Panama Canal
Ariadne	Jim & Joann Mathews	San Diego	Panama East
Serendipity	Barritt & Renee	San Diego	East Coast via Panama
Whisper	Philip & Adrianne	Seattle, WA	Trinidad
We Three	Dwight & Fran Fisher	Anderson Is., WA	Caribbean
Ornen	Virginia Dvorak & Werner Jensen	Wilmington, DE	Caribbean
Lady Tamora	Barb & Ernie Taylor	Victoria, BC	Panama
Brave Skye	John Froshaug	Lorigmont, CO	East Coast
Miss Kris	Chuck & Kris Robinson	Juneau, AK	East Coast
Bacaruda	Dale & Kris Robinson	Seattle, WA	Caribbean
About Time	Eric & Corrinn Bates	Ft. Lauderdale	Caribbean
Mystic Spirit	David Hernley	Anacortes, WA	Caribbean

YOTREPS

November 17 - 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/

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Racing

Vendée Globe

November 17 - Canary Islands

Nearly half of the 23 Vendée Globe singlehanded around the world fleet has gotten past the 'gateway' at Gran Canaria Island and is rapidly headed south. The leaders are currently one day or 15% ahead of the record pace, primarily because of more favorable weather. The current leaders are: 1) 'PRB', Michel Desjoyeaux; 2) 'Sodebo Savourons la Vie', Thomas Coville (+46 miles); 3) 'Aquitaine Innovations', Yves Parlier (+47m); 4) 'Active Wear', Marc Thiercelin (+66m); 5) 'Kingfisher', Ellen MacArthur (+66m); 6) 'Solidaires', Thierry Dubois (+94); 7) 'Sill Matines La Potagère', Roland Jourdain (+104m).

Race website: www.vendeeglobe.com.

The Race

November 17 - Vilamoura, Portugal

The maxi-cat 'Club Med' is practicing and trying out new sails off the coast of Portugal in a variety of conditions, including running before winds as high as 35 knots. After a few days of sailing near the Canary Islands and Madeira, Grant Dalton and crew have departed for a training run to the Straits of Gibraltar, after which they will return to the Mediterranean around November 26, headed for Portofino, Italy.

For more great photos, see www.therace.clubmed.com.

Not your father's catamaran Photos Carlo Borlenghi/SEA & SEE

The Club Med crew has the world at their fingertips.

Flying high