'Lectronic Index

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Photos of the Day

July 28 - Gulf of the Farallones

Photo Chris Perkins

Today's Photo of the Day might look a little familiar. Last year we ran a similar shot, which is of little Charlie Perkins lying down next to a salmon caught off Muir Beach. Dad Chris is trying to catch a salmon bigger than his son each year, but with Charlie growing so fast, it's getting harder all the time. For example, last year this 33-pounder would have done the trick, but not this year. But Chris will keep trying. By the way, from what we're told, the salmon fishing outside the Gate is unbelievable this year. People are catching so many so fast they don't know what to do.

Chris Perkins is doing even better on the race course than with the fishing rod. He got four bullets in four races last weekend at the Simpson Regatta with his J/105 Good Timin', all but wrapping up the season championship once again.

Of Wind There Was a Lack, in the Chicago to Mack

July 28 - Mackinac Island, MI

Line honors in the Chicago YC's 333-mile Mackinac Race, the longest freshwater race in the world, have gone to Randall Pittman's spanking new Dubois 90 Genuine Risk from San Diego. Alas, this 96th running was very slow as the winds on Lake Michigan have been quite light for the more than 200 entrants. Indeed, lack of food is becoming an issue for some.

Bring on the Lawyers!

July 28 - Geneva, Switzerland

The America's Cup action is in full swing now, what with the split and angry words between Kiwi and former Alinghi helmsman Russell Coutts and Alinghi owner Ernesto Bertarelli. The lawyers have been called in, and we're already bored with the whole damn thing.

Dirty Laundry Being Washed in Public

July 28 - UK

Tracy Edwards MBE, a gutsy Brit known for putting together the first all-woman Whitbread Around the World Team, taking a good crack at the Jules Verne record with the maxi cat Sun Alliance, and having her crew cover 697 miles in 24 hours in her maxi cat Maiden 2 (ex-Club Med), has become the focus of a nasty public financial dispute. This comes as something of a surprise, as just recently she announced getting $50 million in backing from the Gulf state of Qatar for two around the world races, one with a prize of $1 million. Andrew Pindar, a huge supporter of sailing, is demanding he be repaid the $2 million loan he made for Edwards to buy Club Med. There are several other creditors, and it's getting nasty.

It's Almost August . . .

June 28 - Santa Barbara/Catalina Island

. . . and for us at Latitude, that means it's time to head to Southern California for sailing fun. We're going to have a jam-packed boat for the Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race on August 5, which should be a hoot. We haven't been able to get an entry list yet, but we expect that there will be the likes of the new 80-ft Magnitude, the new 80-ft Alchemy, the good old 61-ft Medicine Man, and lots of familiar suspects. Oh yeah, no doubt Bill Gibbs will be there with his 52-ft cat, which always beats these sleds to Redondo and Ensenada.

Two Harbors

The following weekend we'll be doing a long cruising weekend: Long Beach to Avalon to Two Harbors to Newport Beach. What a blast this has been. Here's a few shots of what Catalina looks like.

Eric's at Avalon

Golf course

Near White's Landing

Lonely anchorage
Photos Latitude/Richard