Photos of the Day: Spinnaker Cup for Charity

March 21 - Banderas Bay, Mexico

Five California-based catamarans and about 75 sailors and innocent bystanders came together for the second annual Spinnaker Cup for Charity on Banderas Bay near Puerto Vallarta on March 18. The event, a casual 12-mile spinnaker run from Punta de Mita to Paradise Marina, was conceived last year by Latitude 38 to benefit the nearby Mescalez School for developmentally challenged children that was started by Mexican yachtswoman Lupe Dipp of the Puerto Vallarta Marina based Beneteau 44 Moon and The Stars. Recognizing the value of the event, the Mexican government now matches all funds raised by the Spinnaker Cup for Charity.

Señora Dipp, who now runs the Spinnaker Cup, enlisted David Crowe of the South Bay based Morrelli-Choy 70 Humu Humu, Paul Biery of the Alameda-based Catana 431 New Focus, Michael Wright of the Richmond-based Hughes 42 Wavy, John Haste of the San Diego based Perry 52 Little Wing, and Latitude's mostly always moving Surfin' 63 Profligate. Each cat carried 10 to 20 guests who had made contributions to the school, some monohulls tagged along. The sailing conditions were lovely, with an average of 15 knots of wind, 82º temps and blue skies.

Lupe Dipp reports that about $800 were raised, which Latitude kicked up to an even $1,000. After hearing about it, Pat Nolan of the Alameda-based Grand Slam put in another $500, bringing it to $1,500. After being matched by the Mexican government, that will mean $3,000. If anyone else wants to make a contribution, it can be done through a San Diego church and gain a legal U.S. tax deduction. Email Richard for details.

Stephanie Wayne

See Sightings in the April issue of Latitude 38 for more, including maybe some pictures of boats.

Clipper Cup Fleet Shanghaied?

March 21 - Shanghai, China

Apparently not. The fleet crossed the finish line and anchored off a remote group of islands 50 miles to the southwest of the entrance to the Yangtzee River. The plan was to wait until all were assembled, then wait for the pilots that would guide them up-river to visit Shanghai.

But, after the planned berth for the yachts at the Metropolitan Marina Club of Shanghai became unavailable at the last minute, all possible alternative berthing sites on the river were explored. None offered sufficiently safe berthing for the race yachts. Says event chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, "The Huang Po river is probably the busiest in the world where it passes through Shanghai and has always created a traffic problem and large wash from ocean-going ships. Although this has been a difficult decision, without protected berthing, visiting Shanghai is not an option."

Photo Courtesy Clipper Cup

Glasgow finished the Yokohama to Shanghai race first, arriving in the wee hours of the 19th. New York got stuck in unfavorable winds and arrived last, after dropping out of the race.

The fleet will next head to Hong Kong, after a short motor to a starting line south of their present anchorage. This short race will finish up Leg 3, and the crews will get a longer break in Hong Kong.

For more on the Clipper Cup, billed the 'longest circumnavigation race', see www.clipper-ventures.com.

Around Alone Gathers in Salvador

March 21 - Salvador, Brazil

The other Clipper Ventures around-the-world event currently in progress, the Around Alone, is stopping over in Brazil before heading north to Newport, RI, and the completion of their circle.

Ocean Planet in Salvador
Photo Bruce Schwab

Bruce Schwab's Ocean Planet was the last Class 1 yacht to arrive. About half of the Class 2 yachts are in, but the 40-ft Spirit of Canada is still at Ushuaia, near Cape Horn, after pitchpoling and dismasting. Don't count Derek Hatfield out yet though. Despite overwhelming odds, the Canadian skipper could be back out on the water in a little over a week. When he sailed Spirit of Canada up the Beagle Passage two weeks ago, it looked as if any hope of recovery would be impossible, but Hatfield's fierce determination fueled by a lot of energy coupled with some good breaks could just allow the Canadian entry to rejoin the fray.

Spirit of Canada motoring to Ushuaia
Photo Courtesy www.spiritofcanada.net

The latest break came from one of his sponsors, Raymarine. When the boat flipped over all Hatfield's electronics got ruined, and Raymarine have offered to replace everything and are sending a technician to Ushuaia to install and test the equipment. This frees Hatfield up to prepare for the new mast and sort other areas of the boat.

Derek Hatfield in Ushuaia
Photo Courtesy www.spiritofcanada.net

In order to remain a competitor he needs to sail the entire course. He must return to the spot where he turned his engine on and sail from there to Salvador. He will receive a 48-hour penalty for stopping in Ushuaia, and he will receive a 24-hour penalty for being late for the start of Leg 5. Race rules state that a competitor must arrive in port within five days of the start of the next leg otherwise he will be disqualified from the race, except in certain circumstances and at the discretion of the race committee. In this case the race committee has already granted the dispensation stating only that he must remain in port for a minimum of 48 hours. Derek must then sail the entire last leg. He intends to leave Salvador precisely 48 hours after arriving no matter the time of day or night. There is no cut-off date at the end of Leg 5. If he sails all the way to Newport he will remain a viable competitor and will have completed the Around Alone.

To read Brian Hancock's complete report on Hatfield's progress and to check on other competitors, see www.aroundalone.com.

YOTREPS

March 21 - The Pacific Ocean and Cyberspace

Who is out making passages in the Pacific and what kind of weather are they having? The YOTREPS daily yacht tracking page has moved to www.bitwrangler.com/psn.

Weather Updates

March 21 - 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.