'Lectronic Index

Previous 'Lectronic Edition

Photos of the Day

May 15 - Ushuaia, Argentina

Today's Photo of the Day shows what sunrise can look like at the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, Argentina. It was taken by either Mike or Catharine Whitby of the Vancouver, BC-based Contessa 38 Breila. Cruisers in Mexico may remember the couple, as they spent quite a bit of time down there a few years ago, including being instrumental in the success of one of the Zihua Sail Fests.

The second photo is a self-portrait of the couple as they round Cape Horn. It's possible to cruise the waters around Cape Horn, say Mike and Catharine, but the weather can be ferocious, and almost every year at least one boat and skipper are lost. The third photo is of the famous Beagle Channel.

Photos Courtesy Breila

For a detailed report on cruising the far south, check out the June issue of Latitude 38 - which will be on the street on May 26 so that you'll have something fun to read while sailing over the Memorial Day Weekend.

Goat to Hero in Less than a Week

May 15 - Valencia, Spain

After the first day of America's Cup racing in Valencia, the buzz was that the new BMW Oracle was the least impressive of the new generation boats. Now, after six races for all but two teams, BMW Oracle is the only undefeated boat, and the talk is about how tightly she can turn without slowing and her ability to perform a 'handbrake turn'. It all sounds like World Series predictions after the first week of spring training.

Photo Gilles Martin-Raget

For what it's worth, Marin's ubiquitous Dee Smith, who has become a major player in the South African syndicate Team Shosholoza, denies speculation that BMW Oracle has anything radical below the water OR that her rig has been moved further forward than any of the others boat.

Doing the Beer Can Challenge to Prep for the West Marine Pacific Cup

May 15 - Northern California

"I've read about the Latitude 38 Beer Can Challenge, which requires doing five beer can races in a single week," writes Loren Mollner of the J/30 Slim, who will be doublehanding the boat in the July Pacific Cup with brother Mark Mollner. So to prep for the race to Hawaii, we're going to attempt the Beer Can Challenge. Here is our schedule:

"Wednesday, 5/24 - Vallejo YC beer can race
Thursday, 5/25 - Deliver J-30 Slim to the Cityfront from the Vallejo Marina
Friday, 5/26 - Start of Spinnaker Cup to Monterey
Saturday, 5/27 - Race to Monterey
Sunday, 5/28 - Return to Bay Area
Monday, 5/29 - Finish return trip and race at Bay View Boat Club
Tuesday, 5/30 - Sausalito YC race
Wednesday, 5/31 - Oakland Sweet 16 race
Thursday 6/2 - Benicia beer can race
Friday, 6/2 - Berkeley YC beer can race
Saturday, 6/3 - Singlehanded Sailing Society In-the-Bay Race

"Eleven days on the water. Working and commuting, repairing and packing. Delivering, fixing etc. Eight races total. A few hundred miles. A ton of experience for the crew."

The First South Swell of the Season

May 15 - Mexico

How has the surf been on Liz Clark's surfing-sailing adventure aboard her Santa Barbara-based Cal 40 Swell? We'll let the accompanying photos of the first south swell of the season speak for themselves. We're not going to tell you where the photos were taken, but we will tell you that they were taken by Shannon Switzer. We'll have more on Liz and Shannon's adventures in the June issue.

Photos Shannon Switzer