Photo of the Day

September 25 - Richardson Bay

At this time of year, Canadian cruisers bound for Mexico traditionally spend a couple of weeks on the Bay enjoying Indian Summer - such as these boats anchored off Richardson Bay. The last thing they were expecting was last night's major - for the Bay Area - lightning storm. Trust us, folks, that was very unusual, and we should still have a couple of weeks of great weather.

Photo Latitude/Richard

Postpone or Cancel the Ha-Ha?

September 25 - Baja Ha-Ha World Headquarters

"My father is the skipper of Tenacious for the Ha-Ha," writes Steen Wagner, "and with all the recent concern about the terrorist incidents, we're wondering if the event might be postponed or canceled if the situation escalated in the Middle East and our borders were again closed."

The Wanderer, speaking as the Grand Poobah, has no intention of postponing or canceling the Ha-Ha at this time, and none of the paid entries has indicated they would be dropping out. Nonetheless, these are somewhat uncertain times, and we could imagine situations in which the event would be postponed or canceled. But for right now, it's full steam ahead.

Volvo Ocean Race

September 25 - Atlantic Ocean

With about 7,000 miles to go in the first leg of the Volvo, the seven boat fleet is sailing in light airs while skirting the Bay of Biscay, no more than 15 miles separating them.

Amer Sports One crashes through the spray at the start.
Photo Peter Bentley
Both Photos Courtesy www.volvooceanrace.com

Tropical Cruising in the Bocas del Toro

September 25 - Panama

Early this year, Irwin Studenberg and Judy White of the Gemini cat Speck visited the Bocas del Toro region of the Caribbean side of Panama. It's suddenly become popular with backpackers, surfers, cruisers - there are two marinas - and American retirees. This shot was taken as Irwin and PeeWee the dog return to Speck from the Green Acres farm owned by ex-pats from San Diego. You can read more about it in the October issue of Latitude 38, which will hit the streets Monday.

Photo Judy White

YOTREPS

September 25 - 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

Hurricane Juliette Reaches Category 4

September 25 - Eastern Pacific Ocean

Hurricane Juliette, a powerful Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 125 knots, is moving to the northwest several hundred miles off the coast of mainland Mexico. While the storm is expected to stay offshore, officials' biggest fear is that it might curve back toward Baja. Meanwhile, Hurricane Kiko, with just 65 knots, blows harmlessly even further offshore.

Hurricane Juliette
Graphic Courtesy Unisys Weather

September 25 - 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.