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September 24, 2007

Marina Riviera Nayarit

Marina Riviera Nayarit as seen last Friday.

latitude/Doña de Mallorca
©2007 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

Doña de Mallorca paid a visit to the much anticipated 400-berth Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz on Banderas Bay last week to check on the progress. Her guide was Marina Director Christian Mancebo. De Mallorca noted that there has been much progress and many people are working hard, but that much work remains to be done.

According to Mancebo, the marina will be ready to accept tenants following the Baja Ha-Ha in early November, but that there won’t be electricity until at least the middle of December.

More slips are being put into place each day.

latitude/Doña de Mallorca
©2007 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

We think it’s best that everyone realize that this is a work in progress, and will be for sometime. Nonetheless, with the only other options on popular Banderas Bay being the packed-to-the-gills-for-the-season Paradise Village and Marina Vallarta, which is also packed in the high season, even the partially completed Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz will be much welcomed.

When it’s done, Marina Riviera Nayarit at La Cruz should look like this. But it’s going to take several years.

© Marina Riviera Nayarit

For information, email the marina or Christian Mancebo.

Speaking Of Aussie Girls . . .

"I’m a 26-year-old Aussie lass who will be heading your way to join my parents on their boat Warrior in Puerto Vallarta," writes Melissa Kuiboer. "They spent the last year in the Sea of Cortez and mainland Mexico. Once I join them, we’ll be heading down to Central America.

"It occured to me that the Baja Ha-Ha would be a great introduction to the cruising lifestyle, and a great way to meet people as I make my way down to meet my parents. I already have my ticket to San Diego, and will be arriving there on October 20. The question is, how do I go about getting a berth on a boat, as I’ll be in Australia until the 20th, and therefore won’t be able to make the Crew List party in Alameda on October 3? I don’t have a lot of sailing experience, but I’m a really fun person to have around, and am willing to jump in and try my hand at anything. I’m also a good cook and could keep any crew well fed. I put my name on the Mexico Only Crew List but if you know of any good spots, could you point me in the right direction? I’d prefer sailing down with an older crew."

We think you’d have an absolute blast on the Ha-Ha, as you’d arrive in Cabo with – and we’re not making this up – scores of new sailing friends. With so many boats entered, we doubt that you would have any trouble finding a berth. In fact, we’re sure you’d be able to hitch a ride from Cabo to Puerto Vallarta once it’s over. Because you’re out of the country, we’re going to post your email address to better help people contact you directly. Good luck!

 

NorCal Women’s Sailing Seminar

Ok, ladies, time’s running out to sign up for the 15th Annual Northern California Women’s Sailing Seminar. This weekend of on-shore and on-the-water training sessions runs October 6-7 at Island YC in Alameda and is always raved about by participants of all skill levels. Not only do you learn sailing and/or cruising techniques (students get to build their own curriculum based on their interests) in a low-stress and non-yelling fashion, you also can make tons of friends. Guys, if the lady in your life doesn’t appreciate your . . . um . . . ‘teaching style’, this might just be the ticket to getting her out on the water with you. But watch out – she may come back knowing more than you!

For more info on the seminar, head on over to www.iyc.org/wss.htm. Note that the ‘interactive’ application form takes forever and a day to download so, unless you have the patience of Job, you have three much faster alternatives. Download the basic form, fill it out and fax it in, send an email, or just call them at (510) 521-2980. The wonderful volunteers will help you register right over the phone.

RYC Totally Dinghy – Totally Dude!

Richmond YC was busy this weekend with 140 boats racing their Totally Dinghy Regatta. With a record turn-out, sailors found themselves dealing with "gusts of four knots" on Saturday – seems like the winter doldrums set in early. According to race chair Gail Yando, racers saw winds up to 15 knots through the weekend.

Sixteen classes and 140 sailors raced RYC’s Totally Dinghy Regatta this past weekend. Saturday’s storm brought little wind but on Sunday it picked-up to 15 knots.

Richmond YC
©2007 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

Classes raced included: El Toro, Buccaneer, Opti, Snipe, Byte, Laser, International 14, Wylie Wabbit, 29er, FD, CFJ, FJ, Day Sailor, Southampton OC, Potrero OC and Lightning. For the Lightning, Byte and Day Sailor Classes, it was also their annual championships. Dan Gravatt took first in the Lightning class, Dan Ouellet  took first in the Byte class, and Steve Lowry took first in the Day Sailor class. There are too many results to post them all, so check out www.richmondyc.org for the tallies.

The longer, stronger Pyewacket off Diamond Head. latitude/Richard
©2007 Latitude 38 Media, LLC Today’s Photo of the Day is of the modified MaxZ 86 Pyewacket, which was built for Roy Disney, as seen crossing the finish line at the end of July’s TransPac.
Just this morning Joseph McGinnis wrote to Latitude 38 asking how he might find a ride on this year’s Baja Ha-Ha cruisers rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas.
When we first met Ray and Peggy Wilson in Puerto Vallarta last spring as they were preparing their Long Beach-based Transpac 49 Sol Searcher for the Pacific Puddle Jump, they looked pretty fit.
KKMI is working with Janssen Pharmaceutica to develop a greener bottom paint, and are inviting Bay Area boaters to help in the effort by volunteering their own bottoms for a one-year study.