Photo of the Day

Few Signs of the Presence of Man

September 20 - Bahia Santa Maria, BCS What do you have to look forward to when heading south to Mexico? Spectacular vistas, for one thing. In the accompanying photo, Susan and Devon pose atop the highest peak at Bahia Santa Maria. The view of the Pacific, the bay, and Mag Bay - seen in the background behind the long beach - is spectacular. Except for a cement plant in the far distance and the boats in the anchorage, there are no signs of the presence of man. Bahia Santa Maria is about 175 miles north of Cabo San Lucas and offers great protection in the prevailing northwesterly winds. It also has great surf out at the point. If you're careful, you can take your dinghy over the bar and into the mangroves to buy seafood from the panga fisherman. BSM, as it's sometimes known, is the second stop in the Baja Ha-Ha.

Photo Latitude/Richard

Weather Updates September 20 - Pacific and Atlantic Oceans Tropical Weather After months of Mexican tropical storms and hurricanes forming offshore and heading even further offshore, the last two tropical storms have headed northeast toward land. Miriam headed up the Sea of Cortez a few days ago, but with only 30 knots of wind, and we've had no reports of damage. Today, Tropical Storm Norman, with 40 knots of wind, is headed toward the mainland Mexico coast between Manzanillo and Z-town. The biggest threat will come from the associated rain. Meanwhile, Tropical Depression #12, which has worked its way across the northern part of the Eastern Caribbean to Puerto Rico, Hispañola and south of Cuba, continues its march west. But with a maximum of 30 knots of wind, it hasn't caused any problems . . . yet.

Tropical Depression #12 Unisys Weather Graphics

Tropical Storm Norman

San Francisco Bay Weather

To see what the winds are like on the Bay right now, check out http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/wind/. But we can tell you it's going to be another perfect day for racing on the Bay.

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

Today's weather map from the University of Hawaii Meteorology Department was unavailable when we went online, but you can check it at http://lumahai.soest.hawaii.edu/gifs/models/AVN/pac_AVNgoes.gif

Pacific Sea State

You can 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.

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Cruising Flat Calm or Howling September 20 - The Aegean Sea When cruising in the Med and the Aegean, there are two kinds of weather. Flat calm, requiring the use of 'umbrella hats' and the diesel, as in the first photo. Then there's the howling meltemi - it was blowing in the mid-50s when the second photo was taken - where you motor because you don't want to blow out your sails. Odd fact: The meltemi photo was taken off the Greek Island of Kos, said to be the home of Hippocrates. As you know, all physicians take the Hippocratic oath. The cruising guide we were using had a copy of the original Hippocratic oath in which - and we're not taking a position here, just pointing out something we found surprising - abortions were strictly prohibited. So we guess doctors really take a modified Hippocratic oath.

Photos Latitude

YOTREPS

September 20 - 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

1D35 Nationals

September 20 - San Francisco

After two days of racing in the 1D35 Nationals in perfect conditions on San Francisco Bay, three Michigan boats - Dan Cheresh's 'Extreme', Robert Hughes' 'Heartbreaker', and Dick and Doug DeVos' 'Windquest' - are leading the 18-boat fleet. Based on five bullets in six races plus a fourth, 'Extreme' has built up a nearly insurmountable lead over 'Heartbreaker' in second, and a 33-point lead over the four boats tied for third. Don Payan's 'Rigel' from Hillsborough and Kara Zylstra's 'Wild Thing' from Coronado, tied for third with 'Windquest', are the top non-Michigan boats. The Nationals end today.

We were supposed to be able to post great pictures of the event, but . . . technical difficulties. For complete results, visit http://www.sfyc.org/website/regattas/raceresults/natcsv1d35.htm

The biggest ever St. Francis YC Big Boat Series begins tomorrow with what appears will be brilliant weather.