Photos of the Day

May 2 - Falmouth Harbor, Antigua

The Photos of the Day are from yesterday's Antigua Sailing Week Lay Day fun and games at Falmouth Harbor, Antigua. The day always drives the event organizers a little crazy, because they want it hot and sexy, but not too hot and sexy. Unfortunately, different people have different standards of what's going too far. One year, for example, a couple of girls in the wet t-shirt contest started rubbing up against each other lesbo style, which totally infuriated the guy with the microphone running the event. "You women are sick and disgusting!" he shouted. "You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You're out of the contest. Throw them off the beach!" Not everyone in the crowd agreed with the MC's assessment, however. "This is pretty interesting," some shouted, "let's see how far they'll go!" Good old Antigua.

In the not so fun department, Bruce Schwab's Wylie-designed Open 60 Ocean Planet is having trouble finding her groove, having corrected out last in division in each of the three races. Roy Disney's Pyewacket, however, has two firsts and a second.

Less Buzz for the Cup?

May 2 -
Auckland, New Zealand

Is it just us, or does it seem as though there is less of a buzz around the America's Cup this time than in 2000? In any event, the official America's Cup Web site is open at www.americascup.com, and here's their introduction:

"On October 1, 2002, nine sailing teams representing six nations will meet on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf to commence battle for sport's oldest prize - the America's Cup. These are yachting's elite sailors, the best match racers in the world. From the United States, Italy, Great Britain, Sweden, France and Switzerland, these are the challengers. First, they must do battle among themselves in the Louis Vuitton series to decide their champion. The ultimate winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup goes on to challenge for the America's Cup itself. Backed by some of the world's wealthiest individuals, they carry with them not only national but individual pride. Waiting and watching their progress will be the Defenders, Team New Zealand. As the challengers engage in their gruelling rounds, Team New Zealand will be practising and preparing for their moment of destiny on February 15, 2003 when the America's Cup Match commences. From October, the southern spring equinox can unleash strong winds and nasty waves - boat-breaking conditions. Towards the summer, the winds usually lighten off. But the Hauraki Gulf can always surprise the unwary with its fast-changing conditions. The racing is hard and exhilarating. The stakes are high. Welcome to the world of the America's Cup. Between now and the end of the contest, this official website will provide fans with information about the event, the syndicates, the highs and lows of their battles on the water and the on-shore festivities that surround this great regatta. Enjoy."

Actually, there might only be eight challengers for the Cup, as it's entirely possible that OneWorld may get the boot for having allegedly benefited from secret information about Team New Zealand's winning boat. Today, Prada announced that they believe OneWorld may have obtained some of the privileged information on sail shape.

The Women's Entry Loses Stick in Volvo

May 2 - Atlantic Ocean

It's been a tough Volvo Around the World Race for Amer Sports Too, the women's entry, and it got worse yesterday when they lost their mast 400 miles east of Canada. As is not unusual these days, it happened with a bang while it was only blowing 12 knots. The remaining seven boats are within 52 miles of each other, with illbruck and Assa Abloy running in first and second.

Orange 1,200 Miles from Finish

May 2 - Atlantic Ocean

With just 1,200 miles to the finish and a new Jules Verne Around the World Record, Bruno Peyron, skipper of the maxi cat Orange has this to say: "It's quite astonishing, but we are not really conscious of having been round the planet. We're under the impression that our world is not as big as all that. The South is still incredible purity, contrasting with our hemisphere where not a day goes by without us glimpsing the symptoms of our civilization on the surface... "

Cruising Shots

May 2 - Villefranche, France

The South of France may not have the best sailing conditions in the world, but it sure is beautiful. And you can have the time of your life there. This is Villefranche, just around the corner from Beaulieu sur Mer, where Steve Martin shot Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Photo Latitude/Richard

YOTREPS

May 2 - 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 2 - 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.