'Lectronic Index Previous 'Lectronic Edition

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Cruisers' Thanksgiving December 1 - Mazatlan, Mexico Steve Hersey of SeaScape spent Thanksgiving in Mazatlan: "Marina Mazatlan puts on an extravagant party each year, which also has an extravagant price tag for those of us cruising on a limited budget. The alternative is to make your own party and enjoy the company of like minded cruisers. A group of us from the Isla Marina found an affordable alternative at a local eatery named Munchkins, where the infamous Thorny's Surf Burgers are sold. For Thanksgiving he put on a feast of turkey, ham, stuffing and all the other ingredients that constitute a traditional Thanksgiving meal. All we had to provide was the family to sit down and enjoy. Not all of us cruising down here have large boats and large budgets, so we search out the best deals, and Munchkins was surely the best deal." Budget-minded Mazatlan cruisers enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast - complete with the traditional margaritas and Pacificos! Photo Steve Hersey

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Latitudes Hit the Cold, Sunny Streets of San Francisco Yesterday December 1 - SF Bay Area Photo Latitude/Annie You'll also find them elsewhere on the Bay Area and San Diego waterfront, and they'll be trucking their way around to all the usual distribution points in the next day or two. Enjoy!

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Week One in the ARC December 1 - Atlantic Ocean Sunday marked the end of their first week at sea, and the participants in the Atlantic Rally Crossing, en route from Gran Canaria to St. Lucia in the Caribbean, were enjoying light winds and bountiful catches. "Across the fleet yachts are celebrating their first week at sea with a virtual mid-Atlantic dinner party ­ everyone is invited!" reports the event Web site, www.worldcruising.com/arc. "Om Shanti are joining tonight by holding a Black Tie meal by candlelight. Duty cooks Mike and Ted have been busy in the galley and come up with a menu worthy of Jamie Oliver: Foie Gras Crostini; Trou Normand; Conchiglie Rigate au Thon et Parmesan au sauce Provençale; Poire Belle Helene; Petits Fours; Café ­ magnificent!" On the same day, another Challenge Business event, the Global Challenge, started the second leg of its around the world race from Buenos Aires, Argentina, west to Wellington, New Zealand. The fleet is now approaching Cape Horn. The Global Challenge fleet departed Buenos Aires on Sunday. Photo Courtesy Global Challenge View of Cape Horn from the South Photo Courtesy Global Challenge/http://en.wikipedia.org "We were all awe-struck not by its physical presence, but by the fact that we had made it. Here we were at the most feared and respected icon in maritime history. Here was a place where sailors had drowned in their dozens, trying to claw around the bottom of the world." wrote Will Carnegie, skipper of Veritas in the BT Global Challenge 2001/02. To follow the Global Challenge, go to www.globalchallenge2004.com/en/default.asp

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Vendée Globe Enters Indian Ocean December 1 - Cape of Good Hope While the Challenge Business yachts approach one of the Great Capes, the Vendée Globe racers pass another. Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle) streaked into the lead today after his long time companion Vincent Riou on PRB jibed towards South Africa, jibing back onto course in the last few minutes. Bonduelle is thus making about 10 knots more speed towards the next waypoint of the Heard Islands, to be left to starboard. Further east and now a surprising 53 degrees south of Bonduelle, second place PRB was the first to pass the Cape of Good Hope today at 1420 GMT, after around 24 days and 2 hours of racing, approximately 4 days and 6 hours ahead of Yves Parlier's time in the last edition. See www.vendeeglobe.fr/uk/ to follow this event.

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ConsuMate Goes on Beach near Nuevo Vallarta December 1 - Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico After doing the Ha-Ha and crossing to Banderas Bay, the Alameda-based Hunter 290 ConsuMate ran into trouble. Attempting to enter the channel to Nuevo Vallarta at night, skipper Rick Whitfield missed his goal and reportedly drove right up onto the beach. Fortunately his boat was pulled free a short time later by Dick Markie and others from Paradise Marina without severe damage. There are lots of background lights at both Marina Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta that make entering at night tricky. The Wanderer, quite familiar with both these entrances, feels comfortable doing it, but when captains Donna Andre and Bruce Ladd were bringing Profligate north from Panama, they agreed to spend six hours motoring around in circles offshore rather than risk a night entrance with somebody else's boat. It's very easy to be fooled at night.