Photos of the Day

February 9 - Trinidad

Is there anything more beautiful than a wood boat? We don't think so. But is there anything that requires more upkeep than an older wood boat? Probably not. Just check out the boatowner in the midst of his labors while hauled out at Power Boats Ltd. - which hauls mostly sailboats - in Trinidad. Nearby is some of the detritus of the job.

 

Photos Latitude/Richard


Yachtspeople Of The Year

February 9 - New York

During a ceremony this morning at the Model Room of the New York YC in Manhattan, US Sailing named Mark Reynolds, 45, of San Diego, and his Star Class crew Magnus Liljedahl, 46, of Miami, their 2000 Rolex Yachtsmen of the Year. Among other things, the two made a dramatic comeback to win the Olympic Gold in the Star Class in Sydney. It just so happens that Reynolds, a great guy and a class act, is the subject of this month's 'Latitude 38' Interview. Check it out.

The 2000 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Award went to another Olympic duo, J.J. Isler, 37, of La Jolla, and Pease Glaser, 39, of Long Beach. The two women overcame several hurdles to claim a Silver in the 470 class in Sydney.

By the way, have you ever been to the model room of the New York YC? Having once bought a boat from Sparkman & Stephens, the Wanderer got to spend a few hours there one evening about 15 years ago. It was nice enough, but in all honesty, the Wanderer would have much preferred to have been out sailing or even on the hook. Nonetheless, it turned out to be a wonderful evening, as the Wanderer's date seemed to be positively intoxicated by the proximity of symbols of wealth and power.


Photo Latitude/Annie

The Race Update

February 9 - Southern Ocean

Having averaged over 27 knots for more than 29 hours, Grant Dalton's 'Club Med' kept breaking the 24-hour sailing mark. It currently stands at 655.2 nautical miles. Oddly enough, it was relatively easy to do. Grant Dalton explains: "Although the pace has been ridiculously fast, because it is a reach, it has been relatively easy on the boat. I'd have to say easy on the crew, too. The standby watch is down below, always a sign that things are going OK. In fact, the only work we have done on deck in the last 24 hours is to shake a reef out." Which is not to say they're in ideal sailing conditions. "It is unbelievably wet here. Not from large amounts of water over the deck, but because it is drizzling and has been for the last two days. It is bitterly cold and everything is damp, even my elbows and sleeves. With this kind of apparent wind blowing, it just makes everything feel worse."

'Club Med' is currently about 1,000 miles from the turning point towards warm water at Cape Horn, and has a 922-mile lead over 'Innovation Explorer'.

Ranking of Feb. 9, 2001, 19:00:00 GMT:
1. Club Med / dtf 7671.3 miles
2. Innovation Explorer / dtl 922.5 miles
3. Team Adventure / dtl 5,045.6 miles
4. Warta Polpharma / dtl 6,025.7 miles
5. Team Legato / dtl 6,882.2 miles



Graphic Courtesy Club Med

Blue Club Med
Green Innovation Explorer
Orange Team Adventure
Yellow Warta Polpharma
(not shown) Team Legato

You Win Some, You Lose Some

February 9 - Southern Ocean

Frank Profitt, the great French sailor, has had some ups and downs in the last few days. On February 6, he lost a partial claim to the Transatlantic record, as he'd been a part of the team aboard Bob Miller's Briand 147 'Mari-Cha III' that had previously held the record. But the next day, he and the 'Club Med' crew covered an all-time record of 655 miles in 24 hours, breaking 'Innovation Explorer's previous mark, as they sprinted toward Cape Horn. We live in interesting sailing times, folks, as in the next few years we're going to be seeing an unprecedented number of assaults on round-the-world and transoceanic sailing records. We've got a new generation of boats that can go so much faster, and we've got a new generation of sailors who are indeed willing to push things to extremes.

Vendée Globe Update

February 9 - Atlantic Ocean

Having been battling some of the worst weather on Earth as well as more than 20 talented competitors since early in November, you can imagine how desperately Ellen MacArthur of 'Kingfisher' wants to get back to land and the luxuries of shore. Well, maybe you can't, because she actually has mixed feelings about it. "My life is here, home is on board 'Kingfisher', with water surrounding us. I just adore being at sea and to suddenly stop this will not be easy at all."

Ellen, whose star is about to explode over England and much of Europe, seems destined to finish second to Michel Desjoyeaux of 'PRB', who has a comfortable lead with just 700 miles to go. He's sailing comfortably in 20-25 knots of wind and making about 15 knots. When Desjoyeaux finishes on Saturday off Les Sables D'Olonne, France, he might as well be proclaimed the new King of France. They're that crazy about sailing.


Ellen MacArthur at home aboard 'Kingfisher'
Photo Gilles Martin-Raget www.martin-raget.com

For more details, visit www.vendeeglobe.com.


U.S. Cruising Rallies

February 9 - Western Hemisphere

Want to do a cruising rally on the East Coast? Steve Black has announced that the West Marine Bermuda Cruising Rally, from Hampton, Virginia, to St. Georges, Bermuda, will be held on June 18. The event is held every other year. The annual West Marine Caribbean 1500, from Hampton to the British Virgins, will start on November 4. When you finish the 1500, you end up in waters that look like those in the accompanying photograph of Gorda Sound. If we have one gripe with these two events, it's that they don't tell you up front how much they cost. To get that information, you have to send in for a detailed entry package. What's that about? We'll find out for you soon. Meanwhile, you can visit www.carib1500.com.

On the West Coast, the big rally continues to be the Baja Ha-Ha. This year's version will start on October 30 from San Diego. The Ha-Ha folks are in hibernation until May 1, so please don't request an entry pack until then. The Ha-Ha entry fee will be about $200. It's only about one-third the price of other similar rallies, and each entry gets a ton of free stuff. For complete details, wait until May 1. See www.baja-haha.com.


Gorda Sound, Virgin Gorda
Photo Jim Scheiner
Courtesy Cruising Guide Publications

YOTREPS

February 9 - 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 www.bitwrangler.com/yotreps/


Weather Updates

February 9 - 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.

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