Photos of the Day

May 1 - Antigua

Judging by the Photos of the Day, they're doing Antigua Sailing Week once again in the sunny Caribbean.

Four Volvo Boats Break 24-Hour Monohull Record

May 1 - Atlantic Ocean

On their way from Annapolis to La Rochelle, France, four Volvo boats have broken the previous 24-hour monohull record of 467 miles set by the Open 60 Armor Lux last year. SEB beat the record by just one mile, Assa Abloy turned in a 471 day, Tyco scored 473, and the John Kostecki-driven illbruck did an astonishing 484 miles, to become the first monohull to ever average more than 20 knots for 24 hours. It should be noted, that the boat did benefit from the favorable current of the Gulfstream. In any event, illbruck continues to lead this leg, but by only 15 miles.

Sunday Should Be the Day

May 1 - Atlantic Ocean

To keep things in perspective about illbruck's new 24-hour record of averaging just over 20 knots, Bruno Peyron and the maxi cat Orange have covered 26,000 miles at an average of nearly 19 knots, and are less than 1,500 miles from the Jules Verne finish line. Despite the fractured ball on which the mast sits, all is looking good for the big cat and a new Jules Verne record. It's very unlikely, however, that the record will last for even a year, as at least four attempts will be made this coming winter: Tracy Edwards with Maiden (ex Club Med); Steve Fossett with PlayStation; Ellen MacArthur with an unnamed maxi cat; and Olivier de Kersauson.

Ensenada Race Was the Fastest Ever

May 1 - Ensenada, Baja California

Last weekend's Ensenada Race was the fastest ever, with a strong and consistent breeze allowing the fastest boats to sail a rhumb line course. Bill Gibbs 52-ft cat Afterburner was the first to finish, followed by Doug Baker's Andrews 79 Magnitude.

Photos Latitude/Richard and Rob

Spring Is Here,
Catalina Is Looking Good

May 1 - Avalon, Santa Catalina Island

Photos Latitude/Richard

YOTREPS

May 1 - 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

May 1 - 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/. The National Weather Service site for San Francisco Bay is at www.wrh.noaa.gov/Monterey/.

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.