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October 4 - Alameda
| If you spent Tuesday night watching
the presidential debate or watching the A's beat the Yankees
in the playoffs, you missed the fun and excitement at the Mexico-Only
Crew List and Ha-Ha Kick-Off and Reunion Party at the Encinal
YC in Alameda. There was an excellent crowd of in excess of 350 people, and those who arrived before 6:30 p.m. got to see the Coast Guard put on an excellent helicopter rescue demonstration. The Coasties put a volunteer in the water, then had a rescue diver jump from the helo and swim over to him. After getting a good grip on the 'victim', he was placed into a basket and winched up into the helicopter (top photo). Then a hoist was lowered to retrieve the rescue swimmer. For the grand finale, the 'victim' was then lowered from the chopper to a Coast Guard 44-footer. It was another great performance by the men and women of the Coast Guard, a service which continues to become more mariner friendly all the time. Bravo! The only near hitch in the demonstration occurred when some folks sailing a Santana 22 down the Estuary with a chute up held a course that nearly put them beneath the helicopter's downdraft - which blows at about 100 knots (bottom photo). A word to the wise: if you insist on sailing beneath a helicopter, either drop your chute or get ready for a hell of a knockdown. In other party action, Sal of Sal's Inflatables provided a 4-person liferaft for the 'rip stop girls' to inflate and for everyone to crawl into. Dick Markie of Marina Paradise near Puerto Vallarta was there to answer everyone's Mexico questions and to report that Marina Paradise is in the process of adding another 60 much-needed berths. Gerry Cunningham was on hand to show off his various Sea of Cortez Cruising Guides, and Carole Schurch of Qualcomm-Globalstar gave demonstrations of the satellite phones that will be the official communications system of the Baja Ha-Ha VII. |
  Photos Latitude/Richard |
October 4 - San Francisco Bay
In yesterday's 'Lectronic,
we published a photo of a small boat that had sailed dangerously
close in front of a container ship, and identified the small boat
as a Pearson Ariel 26. Ed Ekers of the Ariel fleet quickly emailed
us a message saying he agreed that small boats shouldn't cut in
front of commercial traffic, but advised us that the boat was
perhaps a 22-ft Pearson Commander, but certainly not an Ariel.
His opinion was seconded by Bill Phelon, also of the Ariel fleet.
We appreciate these gentlemen taking the time to correct us -
and to protect the honor of the Pearson Ariel fleet. Having looked
at the photo once again, we're beginning to suspect she's actually
a Bristol 26. Can anyone confirm this for us?
October 4 - Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
Former Hurricane Keith has now moved into the Gulf of Mexico,
but with only 35-knot winds. Other than that, the Atlantic/Caribbean
is clear for the first time in several weeks.
Down Mexico way, Tropical Storm Olivia is blowing at 55 knots,
well offshore and moving further offshore.
To see what the winds are like on the Bay right now, check out http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/wind/.
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.
You can view the new University of Hawaii Department of Meteorology satellite picture by clicking here.
Seas are normal in the Eastern Pacific. Check out today's sea
state at: http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.
For another view, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data/global.html.
October 4 - Richardson Bay
 |
| With just one look at the longer shadows and emptying anchorage in Richardson Bay, you can tell that summer sailing is almost over and the lucky folks are headed south to the tropics. But there's still a couple of good weekends of fall sailing left, allowing folks like John and Laurie to get their sailing kicks - and tan cheeks - on San Francisco Bay. |
 Photos Latitude/Richard |
October 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/
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