Photos of the Day

October 2 - San Francisco Bay

Today's Photos of the Day are from last weekend when all the weather forecasters said it was going to be cool and not very pleasant. We nonetheless went out on Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, and enjoyed three of the most sun-drenched and pleasant sailing days on the Bay.

Photos Latitude/Richard

'Lectronic Quiz

October 2 - Sacramento

Which candidate for Governor of the State of California competed in the Olympics as a sailor? Answer at bottom.

For Laundry or Sundowners?

October 2 - Mill Valley

The folks at the Laundry Alternative, Inc., claim their 'Wonderwash' hand-operated washing machine is the greatest because: 1) It washes a five-pound load in just one to two minutes with 90% less water and detergent. 2) It doesn't require electricity. 3) It's only $42.95. 4) It takes up less space than a traditional washer/dryer. 5) It only weighs 5.9 pounds. We're not sure how well the product works for laundry because we've only used our Wonderclean - a near identical product - for mixing drinks. It's just great for that, but perhaps some cruisers who have used one of these products for laundry can give us a review. A sante!

Louis Vuitton Challenger Series Race Called Off - Too Much Wind

October 2 - Auckland, NZ

America's Cup boats don't race when the wind is under seven knots or over 22 knots, and since it was blowing over 22 yesterday, there was no Louis Vuitton action. If the wind is lighter today, the action will feature Stars & Stripes (USA 66) versus Luna Rossa (ITA 74); OneWorld (USA 67) against Alinghi (SUI 64), in a battle that's going to be very revealing; Oracle BMW Racing (USA 76) in what should be a beating of Mascalzone Latino (ITA 72); and Orn (SWE 63), making her first appearance against Le Defi (FRA 69), the slow but radioactive French entry. Wight Lightning takes the day off.

Our Man in Auckland, George Backhus, Reports on the Scene

October 2 - Auckland, NZ

"While America's media interest in the America's Cup seems to be losing steam, the opposite is happening in New Zealand. This time around, TVOne is providing daily live coverage of the racing - albeit full coverage of just one "featured race of the day" with frequent updates on the other three contests. For those Kiwis without a TV at work, or an Internet connection for viewing on Virtual Spectator (very few), the Six O'clock News dedicated its first five minutes to coverage of the first race day of Louis Vuitton Cup. It even preceded the rugby news. Yes mates, this is sailing heaven!

"Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes appears to have quite a stiff rig. Undoubtedly this design feature is a result of sponsorship from Viagra, whose name appears, appropriately, on the forward end of her boom. In spite of the very chilly spring weather, Aucklanders are fired up that the America's Cup has finally taken to the water and they are out enjoying all the hoopla. Tuesday night the restaurants, both indoor and outdoor seating, in the America's Cup Viaduct Basin were jammed, and the bars were pumping. The cunning Alinghis and Oracle have confirmed speculation that they are fast, and the pairings for this week's racing should give us a pretty good idea of who will be home for the holidays."

Greg and Cherie in Costa Rica

October 2 - Flamingo Bay, Costa Rica

Greg Rudowski, who did the Ha-Ha last year with his Morgan Out-Island 41 Scirocco, and the often-photographed Cherie Sogstie, who did it aboard the Swan 53 Mistress, have been a hot item the last year and have just returned to Greg's boat in Costa Rica. Their plan is to spend the next six months sailing to and in the Caribbean. Here are some of their shots from Costa Rica.

Cherie on the beach at Flamingo Bay

Scirocco tucked in the middle of "Marina Flamingo"

Scirocco asleep in Flamingo Bay

Answer to 'Lectronic Quiz

October 2 - Sacramento

Peter Camejo, the Green Party candidate for Governor of California, competed in the 1960 Olympics in Rome as part of the Venezuelan sailing team. While he didn't win a medal, he told the Chronicle that he wore the participation medallion around campus at UC Berkeley - before he was expelled - "to pick up girls."
Despite his sailing background, Camejo's comment that all American soldiers in Afghanistan should be treated as war criminals will probably prevent him from garnering much of the 'sailing vote'.

Not Too Late for Women Skippers

October 2 - Berkeley

The folks at Berkeley Yacht Club just sent us the following email:

"Ladies - if you haven't entered the Berkeley Yacht Club Women's Skippers
Race on October 5, 2002, it is not too late!

"Men - if you do not have a woman skipper for your boat yet there is still
time to line one up.

"Join the FUN FUN FUN Race! Entry FREE!

"Details, entry forms, and instructions available at: www.berkeleyyc.com."

YOTREPS

October 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

October 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/Maps/Southwest.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 views of sea states anywhere in the world, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data/.