'Lectronic Index

Previous 'Lectronic Edition

Photo of the Day

July 13 - Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Today's Photo of the Day is of a couple of nice looking 'bugs' from the Sea of Cortez. They were taken and photographed by . . . well, we'd better not say because it's illegal for non-Mexicans to have lobster anywhere but on a plate in a restaurant. Although this law seems to be held in about as high regard as speed limits in California.

"I got these and eight of their siblings while standing up in just four feet of water," reports the woman skipper. "My only weapon was a barbecue fork. Boy, do I love the Sea of Cortez!"

TransPac Has the Slows Real Bad

July 13 - Pacific Ocean

It wasn't windy for the Monday start, and unfortunately, the wind didn't pick up during the afternoon or night.
Photo Rich Roberts

Pity the poor folks who started on Monday, as in the first 19 hours the fastest boat covered less than 40 miles. Ouch! We haven't gotten today's report yet, but according to buoyweather.com, conditions don't seem to have improved all that much.

More Good News on Clearing in Mexico

July 13 - Mexico City, Mexico

"I just got back from Mexico City," writes Tere Grossman, President of the Mexican Marina Owners Association, "where I talked to the Director de Marina Mercante (director of Merchant Marine) Lic. Jose Tomas Lozano. It's final, domestic clearings can be done either via radio or by filling out a form such as the one that was run in 'Lectronic Latitude. In addition, an agent can't be required when you clear into the country or out of the country. Lastly, the Director asked me to send him any complaints about port captains who ask for anything else. I would need to know which port captain and what date."

Sweet, isn't it?

Pat Henry, First American Woman to Circumnavigate Singlehanded, to Speak at the Corinthian YC Thursday Night

July 13 - Tiburon

Pat began sailing in 1976 at the age of 35 when a friend with a 50-ft trimaran invited her on a Christmas voyage from San Francisco to Mexico. Sailing became her passion. She eventually crewed for 40,000 miles on various boats, primarily as navigator. In 1988, she acquired her present boat, Southern Cross, a Southern Cross 31, which she has sailed more than 40,000 miles. In recognition of her solo circumnavigation, Henry received the Joshua Slocum Society International's Golden Circle Award in 1999.

Pat, second from left, and some of her students at this year's Banderas Bay Regatta

An accomplished artist, Henry painted watercolors to finance her sailing, and it gave her greater insight into the 40 countries she visited. In 2004, she founded Coming About, Any Woman's Sailing School, in Puerto Vallarta. Her mission is sharing her passion for and knowledge of sailing to help develop confident women skippers and crew in an intensive nine-day sailing program.

Come to the Corinthian Yacht Club on July 14 for an unforgettable evening where Pat's exceptional adventures will inspire you. The doors will open at the club at 6 p.m., and a buffet ($12.50/person) and a no-host bar will be available. Pat will start her talk around 7 p.m. Admission is $10 person.To make reservations, call the club at (415) 435-4771 or visit their website at www.cyc.org.

Eight Bells for Derek Baylis, 81

July 13 - Pt. Richmond

Derek Baylis did it all. He was a great sailor, invented the two-speed winch, built and campaigned the very successful Molly B, raised a family of tremendous sailors, and even had the 65-ft sailboat that gives public service tours at the Monterey Bay Aquarium named after him.

Derek Baylis in 1956
Photo Courtesy Commodore Tompkins

Derek's daughter Liz, a world class helmsperson, got the news just a half hour before starting the TransPac aboard the all-woman's Cal 40 entry Illusion. There is no question that Derek would have wanted her to carry on, which is what she did.

Derek and the Baylis family were the subjects of a feature titled 'Inheriting the Wind' in the September 2003 issue of Latitude 38.

New Focus Looking for Crew from Hawaii to San Juan Islands

July 13 - Honolulu, HI

"I'm looking for crew for the passage to San Juans, hopefully leaving here around the 20th of July," reports Paul Biery of the Northern California based Catana 431 cat New Focus. "We - including Mark Purdy, who I got from my last Crew Wanted ad in 'Lectronic, and Leno Petteys - made the passage from Raiatea to Honolulu in 15 days, and one hour. My crew was great, as they were qualified and compatible. At times they were so busy fishing - successfully - and playing very hard-lined cribbage tournaments, that my wife wondered who was really on watch! Light winds kept us motorsailing for the first 36 hours, then we broad reached for two days under spinnakers in light air, followed by a week of great sailing with the wind just ahead of the beam. We hit the ITCZ about 5 degrees north, and spent the next couple of days dodging storm cells. The wind would go from 5 knots to 30+ knots in less than two minutes, with 180 degree windshifts. Needless to say, we were kept very watchful, and my Catana 431 cat handled it like a dream. We got out of the ITCZ zone at about 9 degrees north, and then started hitting the eastern winds and found more great sailing conditions. Two days out of Hawaii, the winds shifted from the east to the north, and we had pretty much head-on conditions. It was a little bouncy, and we finally motored in the last day to make port before nightfall.

"We are currently at dock at the Waikiki YC, where we have been shown great hospitality. The docks are in superb shape, and harbormaster Bill Foster is great. Those interested in crewing with me can reach me by email."