'Lectronic Index

Previous 'Lectronic Edition

Photo of the Day: Piranha Lost

March 23 - Cabo San Lucas, BCS

Photo Dave Voss
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

You may have already heard that the Farr 40 Piranha was lost after an accidental grounding on a beach about 60 miles north of Cabo last Sunday, but there's nothing like a photo to bring the incident into vivid focus. Owner Dave Voss of Marina del Rey reports that surf broke the boat up quickly. He and a crew spent four days salvaging what they could, but the very fine sand was reluctant to give anything up. Fortunately, Piranha was insured. Look for a complete report on the sad end of this beautiful boat in the April issue of Latitude 38.

Pirates Raise a Couple of Grand for Pupils

March 23 - Punta Mita, Banderas Bay, Mexico

A trio of boats enjoy the fine Pirates for Pupils weather. That's the 70-ft cat Humu-Humu in the back, the 40-ft cat Feet next, and, and, and . . . dang, the name of the boat in front slips our mind.
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

Pirates never did get a lot of schoolin', so the numbers aren't precise, but something like 75 'pirates' on 10 boats showed up for the fourth Pirates For Pupils Spinnaker Run from Punta Mita to Paradise Marina. The event started with lunch at El Dorado Restaurant on the beach in Punta Mita, was followed by a guest appearance by a flock of kindergarten kids - who will benefit from the event - who were all decked out in their 'first day of spring' togs, followed by the spinnaker run.

The Mexican kids really know how to dress for the first day of spring. Who would have thought it would be such a formal event?
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

The fleet started with a moderate breeze that went light about halfway through the 10-mile course. Nonetheless, Profligate managed to sacrifice one chute to the nylon gods.Here's how it went down.

Wanderer to helmsperson Caren Edwards. "The wind is kinda light and there's not too much chop, so go ahead and sail with the apparent ahead of the beam."

"Hey Wanderer," said Barritt and Renee of Serendipity, "did you know you've got two small tears in the chute?"

"Ah yeah, don't worry about them."

Two seconds later, a little more than normal beam chop rocked the boat, shock-loading the already strained chute, which resulted in the SC70-sized chute going "Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip!"

But it was all for a good cause.

The trimaran Seawings looked just fine.
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

Ronnie 'Tea Lady', CFO for the pirates, reports that individual pirates forked over a total of $1,100 U.S., the Baja Ha-Ha chipped in $1,000 U.S. on behalf of last year's participants, and hopefully there will be a little more money flowing in. About half the money will go to the special needs school in El Pitillal, and about half will go to the kindergarten, case comunidad and health clinic in Punta Mita.

Cleavage for Pupils?
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

Twice Grammy-nominated songwriter Don Von Tress, far right, who penned the lyrics to Achy Breaky Heart, and his scurvy crew participated aboard Sugar Bird (ex-Mistral).
Photos Latitude/Richard
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

- latitude / rs

Help Wanted Ad: Club Nautique

March 23 - Richmond

The leading sailing and powerboat school and charter club is expanding! We are seeking team members for our Marina Bay Clubhouse in Richmond. Must be able to work weekends.

Sales: Full time, commission + hourly, plus benefits.
Dockhands: Full/part time, detailing and light maintenance on boats.

Send resume by email.

Cruisers to the Rescue

March 23 - La Paz

La Paz cruiser Greg Delezynski aboard the NorSea 27 Guenevere reports that Port Townsend, WA-based cruiser Brian Jose (pronounced "yos") lost his Pearson Triton 28 Shelly B to fire on Tuesday.

Jose was walking down a dinghy dock that night to return home when he realized his boat was on fire. The Mexican Navy tried to help snuff out the fire but it was too late. Shelly B burned to the waterline and sank.

Brian Jose's Pearson Triton Shelly B burned to the waterline while at anchor in La Paz.
Photo Tom Ireton
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

Cruisers are a tight knit group, however, and Club Cruceros, the cruisers' club housed in a small building at Marina de La Paz, quickly passed the hat for the now-homeless Brian. So far, more than $1,500 has been raised from donations by cruisers and locals.

But a few 'guardian angels' took it a step further. On Wednesday, just a day after his home - and his dream of cruising - was destroyed, Brian Jose was walked blindfolded down the dock at La Marina del Palmar and presented with another Pearson Triton 28!

Cruisers rallied together to buy a replacement Triton for their friend.
Photo Greg Delezynski
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

"It was owned by a local and had been at anchor for quite some time," said Club Cruceros webmaster Tomas Daly. The 'angels' negotiated a purchase price, towed it to the marina and worked feverishly to clean it up before surprising Brian. Though its rudder is missing, the new boat seems to be in better shape than Shelly B.

"A work party has already been formed," reported cruiser Greg Delezynski. "A diver will try to recover anything salvageable off Shelly B - including her rudder - and others have volunteered to help re-rig the new boat, work on the engine and help with many other tasks." If you would like to help out a fellow cruiser, contact Club Cruceros by email.

So what's the name of Brian's new Triton? There was really no other choice: Phoenix.

- latitude / ld

Delivery Crew Needed

March 23 - La Paz

Paul Biery of Pleasanton, who has done a number of Baja Ha-Has and a South Pacific cruise with his Catana 431 cat New Focus, shattered and dislocated his shoulder and right arm as a result of a fall aboard his boat on February 20 while 40 miles offshore en route from Z-town to Manzanillo. According to his surgeon, he's out of commission for a year. But he needs to get his cat back to Emeryville. The boat has already been taken to La Paz, and Mark Purdy, who joined Paul in Tahiti a few years ago to crew, has agreed to deliver the boat back to the Bay Area. But he needs three more crew. If you can help, please contact Paul - whom we can vouch for as being a great guy.

- latitude / rs

This photo of New Focus dominated the two-page spread on Zihua Fest that appeared in the March issue of Latitude 38.
Photo Courtesy Zihua Fest
©2007 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

The 710 or the 802

March 23 - The Radio World

If you've been reading 'Lectronic, you know there have been some problems, on some boats, with the Icom 802 marine SSB, the top selling unit by far in that market. As such, we've been getting letters from folks like Scott Harris and others who have been saying that either they were looking to buy a first radio or move up from a 710 to 802, and what should they do.

The very latest information we have is that Icom has come up with a modification they will do to the 802s for free. Jim Corenman of SailMail is looking into the mod to see if he thinks it will take care of all the problems. Don Melcher of H.F. Radio Onboard, who has sold hundreds of the 802s - and had almost no reports of problems - says that all the 802s he sells from now on will have the mod.
Since the modification is just coming out, we'd recommend waiting a couple of weeks to get feedback to see if the mod will provide a real world solution to the problem that some owners have been having with the radios. Once we get a feel for that, perhaps Corenman and/or Melcher will provide some guidance on which radio is best for what purposes and at what price point.