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Photo of the Day April 18 - Mystery Cruising Destination Can you identify the location of today's Photo of the Day? Although it's well off the current cruising Milk Runs, it's rapidly growing in popularity, thanks to uncrowded cruising, great fishing, friendly indigenous people, great surfing and a low cost of living. By the way, so far nobody has come close on yesterday's 'mystery photo'.

Photo Diana Redwing Email answers to Richard.

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Pacific Sail Expo Opens Today at 11:00! April 18 - Oakland Pacific Sail Expo, the largest sailboat show on the Pacific Rim, and the second largest in the United States, opens today for five days at Jack London Square in Oakland. There will be over 300 exhibitors and 100 sailboats on display. The hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 11 to 7; Friday and Saturday from 10 to 7; and Sunday 10 to 5. Tickets range in price from $ 8 to $12. Sailing superstars Ellen MacArthur of Kingfisher, Olympian Mark Reynolds, and others will be on hand to sign autographs today. MacArthur, 24-year-old round-the-world yachtswoman who electrified the world by finishing second in the Vendée Globe, will be honored at a special autograph session at 4:00 p.m. today. During her 94 days alone at sea - traveling over 26,000 miles of ocean - MacArthur smashed countless records, and became the youngest person to complete the race. When visiting the show, remember to stop by the Latitude booth, #403/500, not far from the entrance to the show. We've got scores of free back issues, and all sorts of Latitude shirts, jackets and hats for sale. On Saturday at 4:30, the Wanderer/Grand Poobear will be hosting a seminar - his first ever at Sail Expo - announcing the details on this year's Baja Ha-Ha. He'd love to see you all there. If you've done a Ha-Ha, remember to wear a Ha-Ha shirt or hat on Saturday.

Scenes from last year's Pacific Sail Expo Photos Latitude/John Arndt For details on Sail Expo, check out the April issue of Latitude 38 or visit www.sailamerica.com.

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Oracle Racing Starts Training and Testing in Ventura

April 18 - Ventura

Oracle Racing yesterday launched and sailed two of its America's Cup boats to begin its second training session at the team's summer sailing facility in Ventura. The boats are intended to sail five days a week, leaving the docks before mid-day and returning late afternoon. The Ventura base is home to the two Oracle Racing training boats as well as to the team of 100 individuals. Oracle Racing recently concluded six months of intensive training in New Zealand on the Hauraki Gulf.

In unconfirmed news about Oracle Racing's America's Cup effort, we're hearing rumors they are about to sign on with a San Francisco Bay yacht club any day now. Not the St. Francis - but close. We're also hearing that there will soon be some personnel changes, some of them in key positions, at Oracle Racing. All in all, the Oracle Racing effort seems to be charging ahead. It doesn't hurt that Oracle's stock is up by more than 12% in early trading this morning, increasing founder Larry Ellison's net worth by a couple of billion.

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YOTREPS

April 18 - 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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Weather Updates

April 18 - Pacific Ocean

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 Sea State

Seas are normal in the Pacific. But you might check out the Pacific Ocean sea states at: http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.
For another view, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data/global.html.