'Lectronic Index

Previous 'Lectronic Edition

Magnitude 80 Slashes Coastal Cup Record!

June 9 - Santa Barbara

The 19-boat Coastal Cup fleet gets off the starting line.
Photo Ellen M. Hoke/Grand Prix Sailing Academy

Doug Baker's IRC sled Magnitude 80 from Long Beach creamed into Santa Barbara early today, having made extremely short work of the Encinal YC's 277-mile Coastal Cup race, which started off St. Francis YC at 1100 yesterday. Magnitude's new course record of 20h, 54m, 30s slashed over five hours from the previous mark set in 2003. Making the most of stiff northerlies gusting to 30 knots, Magnitude's crew put Pt. Conception behind them around 1230 this morning, and held on in fading breeze to enter the record books. The Alan Andrews-design reportedly appeared slightly the worse for wear upon arrival at the Santa Barbara YC, having sheared off a portion of the bow pulpit while jibing early this morning. But, hey, we reckon Doug and his crew ­ who deserve hearty congratulations ­ considered it a small price to pay.

Doug Baker's Magnitude 80 working her way out the Gate yesterday afternoon

Magnitude starts to ease her sheets in anticipation of heading south.
Photos Courtesy www.oceanfilmboat.com

Look for a full Coastal Cup report in the July issue of Latitude 38.

Pt. Reyes Overboard Victim Identified

June 9 - Point Reyes

The 18-year-old male who tragically died off Pt. Reyes Tuesday morning after falling overboard has been confirmed as Andrew Brinkley of Vancouver, WA. Brinkley - who graduated from high school just last week - was with his dad, two friends, and another parent, helping deliver the family's new 29-ft sailboat Fat Chance up the coast to Portland on the "trip of a lifetime." Brinkley had just come on deck wearing his PFD, but had yet to tether himself in, when a sneaker wave knocked him overboard. A Coast Guard helicopter recovered his body nearly five hours after he went in the 55-degree water. An autopsy will be performed but the family presumes the cause of death was hypothermia.

Our hearts go out to Brinkley's family and many friends.

The Colors of Southern Mexico

June 9 - Pacific Coast of Southern Mexico

This photo of a colorful wall was taken by Shannon Switzer, crew on Liz Clark's Cal 40 Swell from Santa Barbara, currently on sailing surfing safari in Mexico and further south. Fantastic colors, no? The second photo is of Liz banging the lip somewhere south where the air and water are warm. We'll have more on these great gals and their cruise in the next issue.

Photos Shannon Switzer

The Entire June Latitude 38 Available Now, Online

June 9 - Cyberspace

It's real, and it's spectacular! No matter if you're in Alviso or the Arctic Sea, you can browse or download the entire magazine, with all photos and ads, in brilliant color, for free. Just go to www.latitude38.com, and click on the blinking 'e-Books' box. We think you'll love it!

Geronimo Should Arrive Tomorrow Afternoon . . . Maybe

June 9 - Pacific Ocean

As of 11 a.m., the maxi trimaran was just 400 miles from San Francisco - but had a 150-mile wind hole in front of her. Depending on how long it takes her to 'break on through', she may finish many hours before or after her current Saturday afternoon ETA. But when she does arrive, she'll be a spectacular sight.

Going to the Isthmus this Weekend?

June 9 - Somewhere on Planet Earth

"Meet me at the Isthmus this weekend?" You might want to be more specific than that, as there are more than a few Isthmuses familiar to West Coast sailors. There's the Isthmus at Catalina, the Isthmus at Panama, and the Isthmus as seen in the photo below. Can you guess which one that is? Can you name any other isthmuses? Or is it isthmui?

Teens to Voyage Seaward Aboard Seaward

June 9 - Sausalito

What are your kids up to this summer? School's getting out, and if you want your teenagers to do something more worthwhile with their time than cruising the mall or the Internet, you might consider sending them off on a real adventure - a cruise on a tall ship.

Photo Courtesy Seaward

During this five-day/four-night sea-going educational adventure aboard the big schooner Seaward, guided by a professional captain and crew, students are challenged to become a team, learning to sail a traditional ship and taking her on a voyage beyond the Golden Gate. Given increased responsibility as the days pass, their skills grow; they develop confidence, teamwork and leadership abilities. Dependent on weather, wind and tide instead of social pressures and electronic entertainment, they gain an appreciation and respect for the ocean environment. By fully participating in all aspects of shipboard life - steering, navigating, standing watch, and helping in the galley - students become one with the rhythm of a ship at sea, often returning to shore forever changed.

Academic curriculum is based on the readily observed and immediately relevant phenomena of the Bay and coastal maritime environment. Topics include physical oceanography, meteorology, Bay and coastal marine ecology, navigational exercises, and history and traditions of the sea.

'Voyage Seaward' runs from Monday, July 31, through Friday, August 4, 2006, and costs $750 per person - but partial scholarships may still be available through Golden Gate Tall Ships Society. For more information, see www.callofthesea.org and www.ggtss.org, or contact Seaward's captain, Alan Olson, at (415) 847-0426, or Ken Neal-Boyd at (415) 331-3214.

The lovely schooner Seaward nears the finish line of the 2006 Master Mariners Regatta.
Photo Latitude/Chris

Advertisement: Diesel Engine Maintenance Seminar this Weekend at KKMI

June 9 - Pt. Richmond

This Saturday, June 10, 9:00 a.m. at the KKMI Boathouse in Pt. Richmond. 

KKMI is an authorized Yanmar, John Deere, and Volvo dealer and service center. For more information, see www.kkmi.com.

Call (510) 235-5564 to reserve your space.