March 10, 2004

Day Charter Cat Flips in Hawaii, Passengers
Saved

March 10 – Maui

On Monday, March 8, the Conser 47 charter
cat Paragon I flipped over during a daysail to Lanai.
The boat’s EPIRB was automatically activated and all passengers
(approximately 10) were rescued within two hours, with no major
injuries.

Operated by Paragon Sailing Charters of
Maui, Paragon I and her sistership, Paragon II,
are considered to be among the most high-performance cats in
Hawaii, Paragon II having once been clocked at 31.4 knots.
According to the company’s office staff, however, Paragon
I was not being pushed hard during Monday’s ill-fated daysail.
Prior to her capsize, she was reportedly doing about 8 knots
in moderate wind conditions, however, seas were abnormally rough
due to recent storms. Although neither the captain nor owner
Eric Barto could be reached directly for comment, their staff
indicated that while under sail in open water, Paragon I was
being lifted by an irregular wave when a sudden strong gust flipped
her over with, as we understand it, her rig intact.

The Paragon sisterships. Paragon I, which capsized, is in the background. Photo Courtesy Paragon Sailing Charters

Designed by John Conser and built in the mid-’90s, both Paragon
sisterships measure 47 feet, with 24 foot beams, and have 10,000
lbs displacement. They carry 1,050 square feet of working sail,
not counting their wing masts. It is unknown whether Paragon
I’s 1,900-square-foot spinnaker was being flown at the time
of the capsize.

Van den Heede Completes Fourth ‘Wrong-Way’
Attempt

March 9 – Ushant, France

Having failed in three previous attempts,
French singlehander Jean-Luc van den
Heede successfully completed a non-stop, singlehanded, westabout
circumnavigation yesterday aboard his 84-ft
aluminum sloop Adrien, obliterating
the previous record by more than 29 days. When van den Heede
crossed the finish line off Ushant, France, after 122
days, 14 hours, 3 minutes and 49 seconds,
he became only the fourth sailor to
complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation the ‘wrong way around’
– that is, against the wind. Others
in that small fraternity are Chay Blyth, Mike
Golding and Philippe Monnet, who set the previous record (151
days, 19 hours, 54 minutes and 36 seconds)
in June of 2000.

Photo Benoit Stichelbaut/Rivacom

Van den Heede, a former mathematics professor,
became well known in the world of singlehanding
through two BOC Challenges (’86 and ’95) and two Vendée Globes (’89 and ’92). In each of
those contests he never finished below
third. His previous ‘wrong-way’ attempts, however, proved much
more challenging. Aboard his former
Open 60, his first attempt was aborted just past
Cape Horn due to keel damage. During his second attempt, aboard
the purpose-built Adrien, he
suffered a Southern Ocean dismasting and had to retreat to Hobart, Tasmania, under jury rig.

This final trip, by comparison, seems to
have been a cakewalk. Van den Heede
was quoted in the European press as saying, “I really enjoyed
myself throughout the trip, especially
off Cape Horn. Rounding that mythical rock with
a 40-knot wind behind me . . . is something extremely rare and
I couldn’t have dreamt of that.”
See www.vdh.fr/gb/
for more details.

Profligate
Looking For Crew

March 10 – Panama

Looking for adventure at sea? Need sea
time for a Coast Guard license? Profligate is looking
for crew for Panama to San Diego, leaving Panama on May 8. If
you arrive a few days earlier, you can join the 63-ft cat for
the Canal transit. Planned stops are at Nicaragua, Acapulco,
Cabo San Lucas, and Turtle Bay. The trip is expected to take
three weeks to a month.

This is a delivery trip, not a pleasure
cruise, and will consist of a lot of motoring. However, Profligate
is very comfortable in all but the roughest conditions and is
extremely roomy. In addition, veterans of delivery trips get
first choice on future downwind delivery trips.

Final Thoughts on the Heineken Regatta

March 10 – St. Martin

Mischievous

This year’s Heinie is easy to summarize
– four wild races and four nights of wild partying. Bang! could
have been the official sound of the regatta, as three of the
four races featured true wind to the low 30s, and blocks exploded
right and left, in addition to about five rigs coming down.

The photo here shows a couple of the destroyed
blocks from Profligate, including the main halyard block.
We’d used that puppy on over 400 previous sails without a problem,
but it just couldn’t take the shock loads of both the wind and
the seas in the Heinie, and started raining roller bearings.
The wind was no problem; the flying over waves and landing in
deep troughs was. The racing on the last day was perfect, with
17 to 22 knots of wind, mostly flat seas, and brilliant sunshine
under a blue sky. These are the more typical conditions for the
Heinie. What fun!

Party, party, party. Heineken brought seven
miles worth of specially canned beer to keep everyone happy,
and it was consumed quickly – along with Carib, Stella Artois
and other beers, plus God knows how much rum. The Heinie is unlike
most regattas in that even all the non-sailing island residents
are welcome to enjoy the fun. And they do. It’s a nice atmosphere,
too. As John Haste of the San Diego based Perry 43 Little
Wing told us, “I can’t believe how uptight everyone
is in California. Life is so much more relaxed down here.”
He couldn’t be more accurate about that. So if you like great
competitive sailing and a little partying, make a note that next
year’s Heinie will be the 25th, and is the first weekend in March.
Reserve a charter boat now if you can’t make it with your own
boat.

One of the funniest moments in the Heinie
was when members of the Black Eyed Peas – who are apparently
huge in Europe, were nominated for three Grammys, and were the
featured band at the regatta – were busted for possession of
pot. “We’ve never been treated so badly by the police,”
said members of the band.

Photo postscript to the Heineken: The good
news for Rex and Celeste Conn of the 50-ft racing tri Alacrity
is that their mast – which almost landed atop a Volvo 60 on the
first leg of the first race – was found by divers.

Here the mast, with the main, genoa, and
screecher still attached, as well as all the winches and blocks,
is being towed underwater back to the dock and salvage. It’s
been a couple of tough months for the Conns. After having a block
manufacturer sign off that all their blocks were adequately large,
they blew up five of them in the first race back in Florida.
After their first-rate sailmaker assured them their main was
so robust it couldn’t tear, it tore in half. The sailmaker didn’t
believe it when they told him over the phone, and he still didn’t
believe it when the evidence was placed at his feet. And then
the mast. You bleed money at the cutting edge.

Second Heinie photo postscript: One guy
who didn’t have any trouble with his boat was Les Crouch, owner
of the new R/P 44 Storm. Crouch is known to West Coast
sailors as being the owner of Maverick, the bright red
aluminum N/M 68 sled he used to campaign on the West Coast, and
later sailed around the world in the Expo ’98. He keeps her in
the Caribbean, but only for cruising. For racing, Crouch had
Paul Amon of Soca Boatworks in Trinidad built him a high tech
R/P design, and couldn’t be happier with the results. “Paul
is an absolute sweetheart of a guy, and built the most perfect
racing boat I’ve ever seen – and at 25% less than it would have
cost in the States.” Crouch and Storm took first
in their division at Key West, but didn’t do so well at the Heinie.
The boat is only three months old, however, so they are still
getting to know her. “My wife Judy and I now spend four
months a year in San Diego, four months in Las Vegas, and four
months in the Caribbean – life couldn’t be much better,”
Crouch said with a smile.

Storm crewman Mark Hamelmann of Las Vegas (who says the
Ha-Ha he did a few years ago was his “favorite regatta ever”)
and Storm owner Les Crouch
Photos Latitude/Richard

Puddle Jumpers Set Sail for the Marquesas

March 10 – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Every year about this time westbound voyagers
set sail for exotic landfalls of French Polynesia because early
spring generally offers ideal sailing conditions for attempting
that 3,000-mile passage.

Last month at Puerto Vallarta we caught
up with many of the crews who will soon earn their place as members
of what we like to call the Pacific Puddle Jump Class of 2004.
As you read this, in fact, some have already said “Hasta
la vista” to Mexico and are plying their way toward
the misty peaks of the Marquesas.

“Yippee! We’re goin’ to Tahiti!” Gathered together
February 24 at Latitude 38’s annual Pacific Puddle Jumper’s
Kickoff Party, held at the Vallarta Yacht Club, two dozen boatloads
of soon-to-be passagemakers compared crossing strategies and
swapped cruising tales. The shindig was co-sponsored by the club
and the Paradise Village Resort and Marina. A dozen or more other
boats will be departing from Z-Town and elsewhere along the Mexican
coast. Look for a complete report in the April issue of Latitude 38.

Remember Anna? She was pictured in the March Latitude
(Sightings) with her friend Miriam. They wrote in about their
frustration when their promised ride to Australia fell through.
Remarkably, before that issue even hit the streets, Anna had
found a solid ride across with South Pacific-bound Bill Cowan
aboard the Vancouver, BC-based Gulfstar 44 Antares I.

After longtime offshore racer John Prentice did the Puddle Jump
two years ago as crew, he claimed it was an easier trip than
the TransPac. At least that’s what he told his wife Renee, who
will doublehand with him this time aboard their San Diego-based
Serendipity 43 Scarlett O’Hara.

Taking the long way ’round: After marrying last year on their
home island of St. Thomas, USVI, Don Wilson and Gwen Hamlin crossed
the Caribbean; transited the Canal; sailed to the Galapagos;
back to Cocos Island, Costa Rica; and north to Mexico. N-o-w
they’re ready to head for Tahiti aboard their CSY 44 Tackless
II.
Photos Latitude/Andy

America’s Cup – the Plot Thickens

March 10 – Sausalito

With the next America’s Cup still more
than three years away, there’s no telling how many campaigns
will emerge to challenge for the Auld Mug. Two, however, made
headlines this week: the South African Challenge and the Sausalito
Challenge. For our report on the South African Challenge, see
yesterday’s ‘Lectronic.

A truly unique approach to Cup campaigning
comes from Bay Area sailor/entrepreneur John Sweeney, who will
stage an online auction on eBay next month to generate multi-million-dollar
bids for sponsorship of his Sausalito Challenge. Earlier this
week, in an interview with the online newsletter Scuttlebutt, Sweeney explained his novel
idea. His fundamental contention is that among eBay’s bidders
are those with very, very deep pockets, evidenced by the number
of extremely expensive items – such as Ferraris – frequently
sold there.

Sweeney, who proved his inventiveness in
recent years by staging a series of races between veteran A-Cup
boats, said, “We know of almost a dozen companies that will
sponsor a Cup team,” adding that most have not yet declared
which team they will support. “So it was logical to create
a global marketing idea that got us in front of these decision
makers before we missed out.” If bidders respond favorably,
this could be the biggest auction yet on eBay. While the old
guard at the New York Yacht Club would certainly be skeptical
of this approach, you’ve got to give Sweeney credit for thinking
outside the box. Who knows? It might just pay off. As he says,
“Log onto eBay
Motors April 2-9 and watch for yourself.”

US Sailing Seeks Coach for Youth Development

March 10 – Portsmouth, RI

The Olympic Sailing Committee of US Sailing
has announced the creation of a new coaching position in support
of youth development. The new Laser Youth Development Coach will
be responsible for creating and coordinating a development program
for advanced youth sailors in the U.S. specializing in the Laser
and Laser Radial. The coach will also organize and conduct Advanced
Training Camps at select junior championships, including the
U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship (Smythe Trophy) and U.S.
Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship (Leiter Trophy), as
well as the qualifying events to determine competitors for the
ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship. Responsibilities will
also include attending both the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship
and the Laser Radial Youth World Championship in the role of
Coach/Team Leader.

This seasonal, contractual position would
be a good fit for a college or high school sailing coach. The
ideal candidate will have completed US Sailing’s Level Three
Instructor Certification, and have elite coaching experience
on the national and international level, along with specific
expertise in the Laser and Laser Radial. For the complete job
description see www.ussailing.org/ads/ussailing/employment.htm.
Interested coaches should apply immediately by submitting a coaching
resume and cover letter via email to Olympic Head Coach Gary
Bodie.

YOTREPS

March 10 – 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 Links

March 10 – 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 old link we had for the Pacific Ocean
sea states is dead, so check out: www.oceanweather.com/data/NPAC-Eastern/index.html.
Thanks to Keith Cress for calling this to our attention.

For views of sea states anywhere in the
world, see www.oceanweather.com/data.