'Lectronic Index

Previous 'Lectronic Edition

Photo of the Day - Digging the Ditch

June 4 ­ Richmond and Stockton

(Click on the photo to enlarge it.)
From start to finish, it's 67 miles of downwind bliss in the Delta Ditch Run.
© 2007 Latitude 38 Publishing, Inc.

The Bay and its tributaries were the place to be this weekend. It seemed there were boats of all shapes, sizes and vintages out playing in all corners of the Bay. But no section was as well-travelled or more pleasant than the course between Richmond and Stockton. Saturday's 17th annual Delta Ditch Run, co-hosted by Richmond YC and Stockton SC, drew 117 boats down the 67-mile race track from the bitterly-cold Central Bay to the delightful Delta.

There weren't many surprises in this most mild and enjoyable of downwind races this year. Multihulls led across the finish line, with Hunt Stookey's 32-ft catamaran Lightspeed first to finish at 4:56 p.m., followed closely by Long Beach sailors Pease and Jay Glaser second on the Tornado E2, and Bill Erkelens, Sr.'s D-Class cat Adrenaline coming in third. The next boat, Don Jesberg's Melges 24 Ego, crossed the line 45 minutes later, with Tim Cordrey's Henderson 30 Sea Saw seven minutes behind. But the race was Jesberg's once again. In addition to being the first monohull to finish, he took top honors overall on corrected time ­ by our count his sixth overall win!

This trio of kites ­ courtesy of Rock Paper Scissors, Motorcycle Irene and Witchy Woman ­ left us with the distinct taste of Bazooka bubble gum in our mouths.
Photos Latitude / Sutter
© 2007 Latitude 38 Publishing, Inc.

As usual, we'll have complete results and more photos in the July issue of Latitude 38. Until then, go to www.stocktonsc.org/ditch for complete results.

- latitude / ss

Conduct Unbecoming

June 4 - Vallejo

We received the following disturbing report from Barry and Tuuli Bookman of the Morgan 462 Pelorus Jack, who keep their boat moored in the Vallejo Marina.

"A few weeks back there was a big shindig at the Vallejo YC for the Vallejo race, with lots of sailboats using the Vallejo Marina. When I went to check on my boat, I found the place chockfull of visiting sailboats, so I decided not to run the engine because I didn't want the exhaust to bother the other boaters. Surprisingly, I found some of the people there very rude, and blocked the walkways chattering with their groups. I got more than one dirty look as I said "Excuse me" to pass through.

I returned the next day to find all of my docklines either hanging in the water or splayed about, and my hose unwrapped and left in a pile. There was also lots of garbage floating in the water - I must have seen at least a dozen water bottle caps float by. The thing that upset me the most, though, were the beer cans in our cockpit. Were people on my boat and using it to hang out? Or were they using it as a garbage can? Fortunately, nothing was missing. Unfortunately, a neighbor had a few things stolen, and also had to deal with some rude 'guests'.

I am sure it was only a few people that were the offenders, but someone should have had the balls to take them aside and tell them to straighten up. I don't mind someone using my hose - just leave it as you found it or better. There is no excuse for the way I found things. I hope the people that did this will see themselves, and perhaps be a little more courteous next time. Don't ruin it for the rest of us - your actions reflect on all sailors. Remember, when you are a guest, act like one. Thank you in advance for the next time."

It's interesting to note that more and more fleets are opting to have their own parties at the Vallejo Marina, and we hear they're the stuff of legends. And while we're certain no one begrudges the racers their fun, we hope we never get another report like this again.

- latitude / ld

A Hero With a Wrench

June 4 - Marquesas, French Polynesia

While cruising in remote corners of the world, it's always nice to run into friends. But Susan Travers and Elba Borgen of the San Francisco-based Cape George 31 Infinity consider it to have been absolutely "miraculous" to come across the Tahitiana 33 Irie at Daniel's Bay in the Marquesas. Why? Because Infinity's engine had conked out two days out of La Paz, resulting in a 36-day crossing, and Christian of Irie is one of those super-handy cruisers who seems to be able to fix just about anything on a boat.

Elba (left), Susan and their mascot, Lola.
Photo Courtesy Infinity

"He slaved for two days on our engine and pretty much rebuilt the thing - after it sat marinating in salt water for 53 days," says Susan. "It now purrs and runs better than before." Based in Washington state, Christian and his English wife Poki met during previous South Pacific travels, fell in love and eventually returned to the States broke, but happy. Prior to jumping off from La Paz, they explained, "We got married, found Irie as an unfinished, forgotten project, rusted through on deck and sinking on the hard, bought her for a song in '97, and we've been preparing for this trip ever since." Goes to show you don't have to have a gold plater yacht to make it to 'paradise'.

Poki and Christian will soon be retracing earlier routes.
Photo Courtesy Irie

- latitude / at

Kiwis up 3-0 in Louis Vuitton Finals

June 4 - Valencia, Spain

With three wins and no losses in the final round of the Louis Vuitton Cup finals, Emirates Team New Zealand seems well on the way to avenging their rout at the 2003 America's Cup. They need to win only two more races against Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge to secure a position opposite the Swiss Alinghi team for the best-of-nine Cup series at the end of the month. Judging by their Midas touch so far, they could easily attain that by mid-week.

One measure of how good the Kiwi team is is how good Luna Rossa was in the semi finals, where they beat the also-once-terrific BMW Oracle team. But now it's the Italians' turn to look bad as nearly everything they do turns to naught. In Race Three yesterday, they even won the start - which at the America's Cup level means you win the race about 90% of the time. But then they picked the wrong side of the course. Emirates went right, found more pressure and turned a one boatlength deficit at the start into a 40-second lead at the first mark. As with every other race so far, they led the rest of the way, eventually winning with a delta of 1:38.

The Kiwis only need two more wins to guarantee their place
in the America's Cup.
© ACB 2007 / Carlo Borlenghi

While past America's Cups have turned on better sails or better masts or winged keels, this one could well be remembered as the battle of the weather gurus. In many races so far, rather than cover a lead, afterguards seem to obstinantly pursue one side of the course for - presumably - the better breeze promised by their weather people. As Luna Rossa learned yesterday, the Kiwis' weather team seems to be a bit better at this part of the chess game.

Today is a layday in Valencia. Race Four is tomorrow. To follow all the action, log onto www.americascup.com.

- latitude / jr

Women's Intermediate Sailing Seminar

June 4 - Tiburon

Corinthian YC will be hosting Session 2 of their annual Women's Sailing Seminar this Saturday, June 9. This intermediate sailing course will cover advanced sail trim, charting, rules of the road and more. For more info and to register, head on over to CYC's site at www.cyc.org/tcw.

- latitude / ld