February 2024
44Debunking French Polynesia
If you've ever dreamt of sailing away to the South Seas and exploring all of the magical islands of French Polynesia, but put your plans on pause because of horror stories on the internet of boats being vandalized or robbed, or tales of dinghies being stolen and locals being hostile to cruisers, I want to set the record straight.
50Rolex Sydney Hobart Race: Boxing Day Packs a Punch
It was controlled mayhem as 103 yachts of all sizes, shapes and descriptions jockeyed for positions at the start of the 78th Sydney to Hobart ocean race on Boxing Day, December 26.
54Season Champions, Part 3
The Singlehanded Sailing Society held their last meeting of 2023 in person at Richmond Yacht Club on December 10.
60Baja or Bust
Since purchasing our first sailboat in 2016, my wife Sally and I have been preparing for our ultimate goal of coastal cruising. To prepare and refresh our rusty sailing skills, we joined Club Nautique in 2018.
64Max Ebb: Winging It
I think I'm a pretty good sail trimmer. After many years of calling trim on my own boat, and being assigned the trimmer position on many other race boats — and winning my share of races — I think I have a pretty good eye for it.
68Racing Sheet
The Midwinter season is at its height. Here we check in with Golden Gate (complete with capsize, rescue and recovery) and Jack Frost, then head down the coast to Monterey and Marina del Rey — all in one day! Then it's back up to the Estuary and Berkeley. We end with the Corinthian Midwinters.
78Changes in Latitudes
WIth reports this month on Wayfinder's almost empty-nest adventure; Appa's young owners making good their escape; and Convergence's first (can you believe it?) Baja Haha. We also catch up with a few more 2023 contributors in our annual Where Are They Now? feature, and check in with a few other folks in Cruise Notes.
Advertisers' Index
Thanks to all these companies who support the local sailing community and Latitude 38 with their advertising in our current issue.
- ATN
- Atomic Tuna Yachts
- Baja Ha-Ha Rally
- Bay Maritime Group
- Berkeley Marina
- Berkeley Marine Center
- Boat Yard at Grand Marina, The
- Brisbane Marina
- Club Nautique
- Compass Canvas
- Cruising Specialists
- Cruising Yachts
- Denison Yachting
- DeWitt Studio
- Dream Yacht Charters
- Emery Cove Yacht Harbor
- Fisheries Supply Co.
- Gianola Canvas Products
- Grand Marina
- H&M Marine / Beta Marine Engines / Hirschfeld Yachts
- Helmut’s Marine Service
- Hood Sails
- Hotel Coral & Marina
- Hydrovane
- KEEFE PACIFIC
- Keenan Filters
- KKMI - Full Service Boatyard
- KKMI Chandlery
- Lind Marine
- List Marine Enterprises
- Makela Boatworks
- Marina de La Paz
- Marina El Cid
- Mariners Insurance
- Modern Sailing School & Club
- NAOS Yachts
- Napa Valley Marina
- Outboard Motor Shop
- Punta Mita Beachfront Condos
- Quantum Pacific
- Raiatea Carenage Services
- Richard Boland Yacht Sales
- Richardson Bay Marina
- Richmond Yacht Club
- Sailrite Kits
- San Francisco on the Bay
- San Juan Sailing
- Schaefer Marine
- Singlehanded Sailing Society
- Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors/SAMS
- South Beach Harbor
- Spectra Watermakers
- Summer Sailstice
- Svendsen’s Bay Maritime Group
- Swedish Marine
- Swiftsure Yachts
- The Canvas Works
- The Moorings
- TMM Yacht Charters
- Trident Funding
- Ullman Sails San Francisco & Monterey Bay
- Vallejo Marina
- Vallejo Yacht Club
- Westwind Precision Details
- Whale Point Marine Supply
- Whiting and Associates
- Yachtfinders/Windseakers