September 12, 2001

Onward!

September 12 – San Francisco Bay Area

Despite the horrific terrorist attack on
New York City and the Pentagon, we are resuming publishing ‘Lectronic
Latitude today. While it may seem callous to some, we believe
it’s a mistake to think you can’t grieve – particularly if you
didn’t personally know anyone who was killed or injured in the
tragedy – and carry on at the same time. In fact, we think it’s
essential that everyone do both to the greatest degree possible.
The two biggest contributions average Americans can make is to
give blood and to carry on as normally as possible – at least
in our opinion.

The attack on the World Trade Center was
as much an attack on the country’s economic system as it was
on the people inside the buildings. So as odd as it might sound,
one of the strongest ways to respond to this greatest terrorist
attack in history is to continue to spend money as you otherwise
would have. Go out to dinner. Buy a new set of foul weather gear.
Get your hair done. Continuing to spend money in a responsible
way is as patriotic now as scraping rubber off the pavement was
back in World War II. In addition, if you’re in the markets,
support them once they reopen. Bailing would probably not only
be foolish because most of the negative effects of the tragedy
would have been factored in, but it would put your interests
as an individual ahead of the country’s.

Despite the recent national tragedy, St.
Francis Yacht Club announced today that they will hold an abbreviated
version of the 38th Big Boat Series, i.e., five races over Saturday
and Sunday, with registration beginning on Friday. Other weekday
events are canceled. Several of the Farr 40 owners and big boat
owners – among them Roy Disney – have already withdrawn from
the downsized Series. Please see the yacht club’s Web site (www.stfyc.com) for the official
statement.

From Ed Ekers: “While I agree with
you that our lives have been disrupted and we should do all we
can to not break our normal routine, I must disagree with the
notion the Big Boat Series should go on. I am scheduled to race
in this series and can’t begin to think how I will be able to
leave my loved ones for four days to go have fun. Routine, yes.
Laugh, joke and celebrate, I don’t think so.”

We understand your decision, Ed. We would
only point out that we think it’s possible to have a Big Boat
Series that is more of a tribute to those who lost their lives
rather than a normal Big Boat Series of laughing, joking and
drinking.

From Jane Goldsmith on Kauai: “Your
comments are always so thoughtful that I checked to see what
you had to say about yesterday’s events. Thank you for being
consistent. We must not let these terrorists keep us from doing
our daily jobs or whatever is our routine. I heard a woman
who had been in London during the bombings of World War II say
that continuing with their daily lives and not letting the enemy
be in control is what kept them strong.”

While it’s surely different in many respects,
the current crisis is our London Blitz, our Pearl Harbor. Stand
tall.

Highways & Honky Tonks . . . and the
Ha-Ha

September 12 – Baja Ha-Ha World Headquarters

What we’ve got here is the latest CD from Heather Myles, who
is described as the “Honky tonkiest gal in country music.”
She’s the real deal, too, and her totally country CD includes
a duet with Merle Haggard. We mention Heather because she’s one
of the 121 folks who signed up for this year’s Ha-Ha by Monday’s
deadline. Heather will be sailing south aboard her Robert Perry
designed Islander 32 Desire along with crewmembers Sandy
Desoto and Marlene Proctor. We hope Heather brings her guitar
– and her cute country outfit.

Speaking of the Ha-Ha, here are entries
91 through 100:

91) Wild Cat / F/J 46 Cat / Frank and Tina Waters / Newport
Beach
92) Cat Ballou / Catana 42 Cat / Chuck Longanecker / Sausalito
93) Mikelali / Trawler 42 / Greg Rodgers / Oakland
94) Minor Threat / Catalina 34 / Earl Ford / Los Altos
95) Siren’s Song / Brewer Oceanic 43 / Ruck & Linde
Goldreyer / Marina del Rey
96) Mistress / Swan 53 / Tom Lafleur / Rancho Santa Fe
97) Jo Jo / Bayliner 45 / Greg Heinrich / Huntington Beach
98) Sea Horse / Tayana 37 / Patrick and Lisa McVeg / Kingman,
AZ
99) Air Ops / Amel Maramu 46 / David & Merry Wallace
/ Rancho Murieta
100) Windarra / Stevens 47 / Rich Jablonski & Elaine
Cashar / Bainbridge Island

Right now we’re in the middle of writing
up the bios for all the skippers of the Ha-Ha, and you can’t
imagine the variety. In addition to singer-songwriter Heather,
we’ve got corporation presidents, lots of young skippers, folks
who struck it rich in dot coms, folks who got fired from dot
coms, and lots and lots of folks who have decided to retire early.
You can read all about them in the October issue of Latitude
38. For more information on the event, see www.baja-haha.com.

Crew List Party Changed to October 10

September 12 – Alameda

Latitude’s Fall Crew List Party and Ha-Ha Kick-Off and
Reunion was scheduled for October 4 at the Encinal
Yacht Club in Alameda. Due to a scheduling error, the date
has been changed to Wednesday, October 10. Please alert your
friends. We will make every effort to contact everyone on the
Crew List and entering the Ha-Ha. More information and directions
are available via our Crew
List Web page.

Fantastic Fund-Raising for Ha-Ha Sister
City

September 12 – San Blas, Mexico

The accompanying photo is of Capt. Norm Goldie of San Blas, Mexico,
along with Asuncion and his mother. Last year a $400 charter
on Profligate in the middle of the Ha-Ha resulted in 1,500
items of clothing being purchased for the residents of impoverished
Caleras de Cofrados, and Asuncion being sent to learn Braille.

A short time ago, Rennie Waxlax and Anne
Blunden of the Swan 65 Casseopia enclosed $300 for the
project. The couple, who will be doing their second Ha-Ha this
year, say they are happy to contribute because it’s a good cause
and because Norm helped them with a minor problem in San Blas.

Then two days ago, Michael Beattie and
Patricia Goldman of the Gemini 32 cat Miki G. stopped
by, and despite not having a lot of money, gave us a check for
$1,000 for the same project. The catch is, we have to raise a
matching $1,000 in order to cash it. So if any of you want to
contribute any money now, it’s actually worth twice as much.

The sign the girl in green is holding reads, “Thanks cruisers.”
Photos Courtesy Norm Goldie

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/

Weather Updates

September 12 – 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 Winds and Pressure

The University of Hawaii Dept. of Meteorology
page posts a daily
map of the NE Pacific Ocean barometric pressure and winds.

Pacific Sea State

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.