September 12, 2000

By Grzegorz | September 12, 2000

Totally Cool!

September 12 – San Francisco Bay

While it would primarily be of interest to Northern California
sailors, everyone interested in wind patterns should check out
the new and improved – thanks to Nick Thompson – San Francisco
Bay Wind Pattern Streaklines. Until recently, it was a static
representation of the winds on San Francisco Bay and Delta, but
thanks to Thompson, it’s now animated. As a result, in just a
few seconds you can learn more about Bay winds than several years
of daysails. Check it out and check it at http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/wind/streaklines.shtml

Baja Ha-Ha Update

September 12 – Baja Ha-Ha World Headquarters

Deadline Is upon Us

Today is the deadline to get your completed entry packet into
the Ha-Ha volunteer Race Committee at 21 Apollo Road, Tiburon,
CA 94920. If your entry doesn’t come in the mail today and you
still want to join in the fun, it’ll cost you double the $169
entry fee. That’s, um, let’s see, $338. For more details on the
Ha-Ha, check out their Web site at www.baja-haha.com.

Space Available on the Mothership

The Wanderer, aka Grand Poobah, still has room for crew on
‘Profligate’, the 63′
catamaran/race committee platform. Crew should be able-bodied,
easy-going, eager to help out, and willing to pay expenses. If
you’re interested, email Richard.

‘Profligate’ sails the Bay in summer;
Mexico in the winter.
Photo Karen Ramsey

Surfin’ in the
Rain?

September 12 – Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

Tropical Weather

Tropical Storm Lane is blowing at 45 knots with gusts to 55,
presently located well off the coast of Baja, 560 NM southwest
of San Diego, at 25.6N 121.9W, and traveling NW at 10 knots toward
the Central Coast of California. Lane is expected to fizzle out
before reaching us, however he will be throwing some subtropical
moisture our way, as well as some good surf.

In the Western Pacific, Super Typhoon Saomai is lashing Okinawa
with winds of 95-115 knots and 30-ft seas. Large waves combined
with heavy rain are flooding the island group. Saomai is moving
NNW and is expected to weaken over the next couple of days.

Tropical Storm Lane

Super Typhoon Saomai

Unisys Weather Graphics

In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Florence blossomed to near-hurricane
strength yesterday and is expected to reach hurricane status sometime
tomorrow. Currently, Florence is about 385 miles SSE of Cape Hatteras,
NC, near 30.4N 73.1W, with maximum winds of 60-75 knots. Florence’s
movement is slow and erratic and not currently a threat to land.

San Francisco Bay Weather

To see what the winds are like on the Bay right now, check
out http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/wind/.
From our office, it looks like it’s going to be a great week for
sailing, despite a few mid-week sprinkles.

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

Click here to see today’s weather
map from the University of Hawaii Meteorology Department.

Pacific Sea State

Tropical Storm Lane is kicking up some seas of up to 18 feet
off Baja right now. Check it out at:
http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.

For another view, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data/global.html.

Cruising

Unusual Ways of Making Money

September 12 – Trinidad

You see all kinds of boats out cruising, and
this gaffer in the accompanying photograph has always one of
our favorites. A former fishing boat, it was owned by a burly
Belgian guy and his French wife. Together with their kids, they
had cruised all over the Atlantic, the Med, and the Indian Ocean.
We met them in Trinidad about 10 years ago, and they told us
of their unusual ways of making money. For awhile, for example,
they imported small palm trees from the Chagos, which is in the
middle of the Indian Ocean, to South Africa. They’d make money
on the return trip by importing South African goods to Madagascar
and Maritius. Later, he dove for diamonds off the coast of Namibia
– which is one weird country. Although we can’t remember the
name of the boat or the owners, they’ve always represented the
spirit of cruising to us.

Photo Latitude/Richard

YOTREPS

September 12 – 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

International 14 Nationals