'Lectronic Index

Previous 'Lectronic Edition


Photo of the Day

May 12 - Sausalito

Today's Photo of the Day is of Sylvester, Donald Shipley's Maine coon cat, "maintaining a constant watch (between frequent naps)" aboard Shipley's Sausalito-based boat. Do cats have it easy or what?

 


Doña de Mallorca Recommends . . .

May 12 - San Francisco Bay

If you're looking to have a lot of fun with your boat and other sailors on June 3, and you're not turned off by a little friendly competition, Doña de Mallorca highly recommends the Singlehanded Sailing Society's In-the-Bay Race on June 3. Despite the name of the sponsoring organization, you can race singlehanded or doublehanded.

The course is a relatively easy one. You start at the Corinthian YC shortly after 11 a.m., reach across the Bay to the Blossom Buoy, beat your way up the Cityfront to the Blackaller Buoy near Crissy Field, have a spinnaker or wing-on-wing run down to Southampton Shoal, which is most of the way to Richmond, then beat/reach back to the Corinthian YC finish. The course must be about 15 miles and shouldn't take more than three or four hours. Because it's shorthanded sailing, the competition is particularly friendly and supportive.

For information, visit www.sfbaysss.org.

"I'm looking forward to seeing you out on the course," says de Mallorca.


America's Cup

May 12 - Valencia, Spain

In the first America's Cup racing of the year in Valencia, Spain, the 'big four' - Alinghi, Emirates New Zealand, BMW Oracle, and Luna Rossa - all racked up two victories. All but Alinghi were sailing their new generation boats. Of the three new boats, BMW Oracle's appeared to be the least impressive, although in the light conditions it's hard to draw too many conclusions. The current racing is just more of the 'Acts' that are leading up to next summer's America's Cup Finals.


USA 87 gets its first win in the second racing day of Louis Vuitton Act 10.
Photo Gilles Martin-Raget


Day of the Dolphins

May 12 - Egypt

The last time we were doing paperwork in Panama City, we bumped into Pat and Ali Schulte, a young couple who grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, got married, then moved to Chicago where they made a little money and came up with "the crazy idea to sail around the world" - even though neither of them had been on a sailboat before. Nine months after coming up with the idea, they left Florida aboard their Wildcat 35 cat Bumfuzzle, a boat they spent all of about one day picking out. Indicative of what sailing novices they were, it wasn't until they were halfway to Tahiti that they discovered that two-speed winches have a high and a low gear.

Despite the steep learning curve, they've now made it to Egypt. They've had a million adventures along the way, including having this group of dolphins swim beneath their bows.


Photo Courtesy Bumfuzzle


The Value of Leadership

May 12 - New York, NY

On the first night of the 6,400-mile Spain to South Africa first leg of the current Volvo Race, Paul Cayard's Pirates of the Caribbean entry was so badly damaged that she ultimately had to be flown to South Africa to continue. Despite the terrible start and uncertainties about the boat, despite having had little time to bring his boat and crew up to speed, and despite subsequent structural and mechanical problems with the boat, Cayard always remained calm and confident, and supportive of his crew. What's been the result? Six legs and most of the way around the world later, Pirates has climbed all the way into second place behind the untouchable ABN Amro One. It's been a very impressive performance by the St. Francis YC member and Marin resident.

The Volvo fleet has just started their leg from New York across the Atlantic.

Photo Courtesy www.volvooceanrace.org


Youngest TransPac Team Ever to Be Filmed for Documentary

May 12 - Los Angeles

Having retired from active racing, Roy Disney has purchased Philippe Kahn's TransPac 52 Pegasus for use in a film project based on next year's 44th TransPac from Los Angeles to Honolulu. The concept is to document the recruitment, training, and performance of the youngest TransPac crew ever aboard what is to be rechristened Morning Light. With a year to train, including in Hawaii, under the supervision of Olympic gold medalist Robbie Haines, and a near sistership to the last two boats to win the TransPac, the Morning Light team will have a genuine shot at winning the 2,225-mile race.

In a short time, Haines will begin a nationwide search for a crew of 10 to 11 sailors in the 17 to 21 year-old age bracket. If you fit the bill and want to apply, check out the PacificHighProductions.com Web site that will be up soon.


Pegasus
Photos Rich Roberts

Executive producers of the project are Disney's Pacific High Productions and Mike Tollin of Tollin/Robbins Productions (TRP). Leslie DeMeuse, an Emmy winner as producer of numerous sailing documentaries for television, will be a co-producer. To nobody's surprise, the film will be distributed by the Walt Disney Company.


Roy Disney to Appear Onstage at Harrah's in Reno on June 10

May 12 - Reno, NV

Really, and with the aforementioned Leslie DeMeuse in a program titled An Evening of Sailing with Roy Disney and Leslie DeMeuse. It's all part of a fund-raiser for the youth sailing program Sierra Nevada Community Sailing. The evening will consist of a video presentation of Disney's exploits around the world with his various Pyewackets, including the MaxZ86 version, which he recently donated to the sailing program at Orange Coast College.

If you're afraid that Disney might be some arrogant and pompous rich guy, you couldn't be more wrong. While he certainly has some money, he has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the nicest and most down-to-earth personalities in sailing.

Since this is a fund-raiser, tickets are $100 each, $175 for a couple, or $800 for a table of 10, and include dinner and a cocktail reception. For details, call Kerry Myers at (775) 425-3646 or Lori Jones at (775) 852-2320.

By the way, Sierra Nevada Community Sailing is looking for a summer instructor for their kids' dinghy program. They are offering a $500 signing bonus, $700 a week for 10 weeks - even though it's two weeks on, one week off, with pay - and includes room and board. Plus, the work day is only six hours long, and there will be three junior instructors to help. If interested, contact Lori Jones at (775) 852-2320.


Top / Index of Stories / Previous 'Lectronic Edition

Subscriptions / Classifieds / Home

©2006 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.