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Photo of the Day

October 3 - Vannes, France

Today's Photo of the Day is the first of Bruno Peyron's super maxi cat, code named B1, currently under construction at the Multiplast Yard in France. Everyone has known that the Gilles Ollier Design Team boat was being built, but no detailed information had seeped out until now. She looks to be about 120 feet - see the graphic below comparing her with the three 110-ft previous generation Multiplast maxi cats built for The Race four years ago - and is expected to be capable of speeds in excess of 45 knots!

Gilles Ollier says the cat is longer, finer, and higher above the water than the Club Med generation to prevent her from being slowed down by waves. She's also stiffer. They expect she'll be able to do more than 700 miles a day - which would mean a three-day TransPac if conditions were ideal. No launch date was given.


Mari-Cha IV After Her First Record

October 3 - Atlantic Ocean

While Bruno Peyron's likely-to-be fastest cat in the world is still months away from launching, 70-year-old British billionaire Robert Miller's recently launched 140-ft schooner Mari-Cha IV has just taken off on her first record attempt, the prestigious west to east Transatlantic record. Like Peyron, Miller is out to smash all the longer distance sailing records in the world. With Miller at the wheel and 23 of the world's best sailors as crew, they started by crossing the Ambrose Lighthouse off New York Harbor. God willing, they'll be the first boat to sail across the Atlantic in less than eight days - although they'd be reasonably happy breaking the 8 day, 20 hour record set by Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm on his self-built and relatively tiny Open 60. They also plan on crushing John Kostecki's 24-hour monohull sailing record of 464 miles. Despite being 140 feet long, the all carbon yacht with two 160-ft masts only weighs 50 tons.

If you want to follow the action, bookmark www.mari-cha.com - and don't miss the videos of Miller's old boat, the magnificent Mari-Cha III that raced in the West Marine Pacific Cup last year, a slug by comparison to the new boat, surfing near the end of her Transatlantic record run.


Paul Cayard to Speak at the Corinthian YC Next Wednesday

October 3 - Tiburon

Having won the Whitbread Around the World Race, competed in five America's Cups, and won the Star Worlds and many other prestigious events, Marin's Paul Cayard thinks it's time to go for the gold - an Olympic Gold medal in Athens. Cayard will be speaking at the Corinthian YC in Tiburon Wednesday evening from about 7 to 9 pm. The entry fee is $10, with all proceeds going to the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors. Make reservations early, as this is sure to sell out. Call (415) 435-4771 or visit www.cyc.org/speakers/paulcayard.html and fill out the online reservations form. There will also be a $10 buffet starting at 6 pm.


Mexico-Only Crew List and Ha-Ha Kick-Off Party

October 3 - Alameda

About 300 people showed up for the festivities on Wednesday night at the Encinal YC and seemed to have a good time. It was a perfect chance for skippers to find crews and crews to find skippers. There were a number of familiar faces, as some folks are vets of three, four, five, six, and even seven Ha-Has.


Virginia and Karen. One is a 747 pilot for United and will be taking her boat in the Ha-Ha, the other works for UC Santa Cruz and will be meeting her husband in Cabo. By the way, there will be two United 747 pilots in this year's Ha-Ha.


Skipper Mac Lingo of the Express 52 California Girl discusses a possible crew position with one of the attendees. Mac's wife Suzanne was unable to make the party, but will be on the Ha-Ha.
Photos Latitude 38


Not everyone at the party was doing the Ha-Ha. Kathleen Buyers, who did last year's Ha-Ha with Ron Milton aboard the MacGregor 65 Vivace, was there with Ron looking for crew across the Atlantic to the Med.


Rich Mullinax and friend Leslie try out the Switlik liferaft, which Sal of Sal's Inflatable Services brought along for everyone to check out.


Attention All Ha-Ha Skippers

October 3 - San Diego

As you may have heard, very few slips are currently available in San Diego. However, the Baja Ha-Ha Rally Committee expects that there will be plenty of room in specially-designated anchorages. But here's some advice for avoiding berthing headaches:

Berth along the Way - The tight berthing situation in San Diego gives you more reason than ever to take your time while heading south and enjoy some of Southern California's other harbors and anchorages. For example, you'll find plenty of moorings available at Catalina, and both some berths and lots of moorings at Newport Beach - both of which are well worth a visit and just 75 or so miles from San Diego. You can also try Long Beach and Dana Point. So don't be in a rush to get to San Diego weeks before the Ha-Ha.

San Diego Slips - When you arrive - or shortly before your arrival - at San Diego, call Ha-Ha sponsor Downwind Marine. The folks there are keeping tabs on all San Diego marinas, and they'll know when, and if, berths become available - but don't get your hopes up. Call (619) 224-2733.

Anchoring in San Diego - As in years past, the friendly staff at the San Diego Harbormaster's Office - also known as the Recreational Mooring Office - have been very helpful in allowing Baja Ha-Ha fleet members to anchor in their special cruiser anchorages. The "A-9" cruiser anchorage - located off the east end of Harbor Island - is normally the most desirable, due to its close proximity to services. You must, however, have a permit to anchor there or at Glorietta Bay across the way at Coronado. So on your way into San Diego Bay, stop off at the Shelter Island Harbor Police Dock and go to the Harbormaster's Office to obtain your permit. Their phone is (619) 686-6227.

Police Dock Slips - If you're wildly lucky, you may also have a chance to berth right at the Police Dock. They now have at least 30 transient slips available on a first-come, first-served basis. For boats of 55 feet or less, the fee is only $10 per day for the first five days, and $20 per day for the next five days, with a 10-day maximum stay. For further questions regarding harbor regulations, call the San Diego Harbor Police at (619) 224-6272.

Cabrillo Isle Marina, located on Harbor Island, directly across a land bridge from the airport and adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel, will be the site of the October 26 Skippers' Meeting (at noon) and Pre-Halloween Kick-Off Party (2 pm). Managers Tim and Linda Leathers can be reached at (619) 297-6222.

The Baja Ha-Ha Rally Committee does not arrange berthing at San Diego or Cabo San Lucas. At Cabo, you should be prepared to anchor. However, the Cabo Marina staff will try to accommodate as many boats as possible, with priority based on the chronological order in which Ha-Ha entries were received.

By the way, if you've sent in your packet with all the forms, the next step is to show up at the Skipper's Meeting at the Cabrillo Isle Marina at noon on Sunday the 26th. If you still need to turn in waivers, you can do that at Cabrillo Isle Marina on Saturday the 25th from 5:30 to 7 p.m. , or Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon. If you need more crew waivers forms, we expect to have a copy available for you to download from the Baja Ha-Ha Web site, www.baja-haha.com, later today.
- Lauren Spindler, Ha-Ha Honcho


YOTREPS

October 3 - 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

October 3 - Pacific Ocean

San Francisco Bay Weather

Check out this guide to San Francisco Bay Navigational Aids: http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/sfports.html.

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

The site for the Pacific Ocean sea states has moved to http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/PacRegSSA.shtml.
For views of sea states anywhere in the world, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data.


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