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March 3, 2008

Photos of the Day: Schoonmaker Wreck

At first, locals thought someone had careened this old woodie on Schoonmaker’s beach.

latitude/LaDonna
©2008 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

Saturday night’s northerly winds played the usual havoc with the anchored boats in Richardson Bay, sending this abandoned woodie smack onto Schoonmaker Point Marina’s beach. How the untended 30-footer managed to make its way into the lagoon without damaging docks or other boats is a mystery and, frankly, a bit of a miracle.

The chafed mooring line explains how she broke loose but not how she miraculously avoided damaging boats or docks.

latitude/LaDonna
©2008 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

As the ebbing tide left the boat high and dry, beachgoers investigated the wreck and quickly discovered how it got loose. The frayed mooring line in the shot above tells the story. It’s heartbreaking to see lovely boats like this come to such a sad end.

Seasonal Moorings Available in Monterey

"‘Lectronic readers might be interested to learn that it appears that there may be some limited monthly or seasonal availability for east moorings in Monterey for boats from 25 to 50 feet this season," advises Scott Pryor of the Monterey Harbor Office. Monthly rates for the East Moorings (available from April 1 through October 31) are determined by vessel size and include a spot on the dinghy dock:

  • Under 30′: $89.70
  • 30-40′: $118.90
  • 41-54′: $149.10
  • 55 and over: $178.30

"The moorings might be a good alternative for those who would like to be around Monterey for the summer, but who have lighter budgets. Anyone with questions can call me at (831) 646-3950."

Spring Pops Early for Racers

Saturday’s breeze caught more than a few boats on the wrong side of a jibe demonstrated here by Steve Klein’s Express 27 Magic.

© 2008 Peter Lyons

Spring doesn’t officially start until March 20 but Mother Nature held a pre-party Saturday, popping the cork on a bottle of 20- to 25-knot northwesterly that sent some boats sideways. A few apparently took the title of St. Francis Yacht Club’s Spring Keel #1 too literally — showing their keels instead of keeping them under their rigs, resulting in a couple trainwrecks and the hungover "putt-putt of shame" back to the dock. Five J/24s, six Knarrs, seven Folkboats, eight Melges 24s, 15 Express 27s and 23 Moore 24s showed up for some tight racing where the largest winning margin for any class was only six points. For full results visit: app1.regatta-manager.com/stfrancisyc/springkeel08/results

The Farr 36 Wicked lights it up off the Cityfront.

© 2008 Peter Lyons

After Saturday’s festivities, Mother Nature must have been feeling a little dissolute — despite breeze in the morning on Sunday, the Bay welcomed some sedate SoCal weather for the second day of Spring Keel, the final SYC midwinter, and final RYC Small Boat midwinter of the season. The wind evaporated into vestigial 10-knot-and-under breaths and the sun stuck around making for a balmy, relaxed day on the water. Sausalito had a lively mix of PHRF boats, and Richmond had everything from El Toros to Wabbits on three courses.

The crew of Crouching Skipper, Hidden Crew showing that a lazy, sunny day doesn’t get in the way of an International 14 getting on a plane.

latitude/Rob
©2008 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

Bay Charter Skippers: Stand Up and Be Counted

Here at Latitude 38 we’re clipping in our seatbelts and strapping on our editing helmets as we begin to work on our April issue — timed with the Strictly Sail Pacific boat show.

The 90-ft schooner Bay Lady is one of the largest charter boats in the Bay. Based at South Beach Harbor, she’s licensed to carry up to 80 passengers.

latitude/Archives
©2008 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

As regular readers know, one of the usual features of that edition is a comprehensive listing of every keelboat available for rental in the Greater Bay Area (aka bareboats), as well as info on every crewed charter boat.

Naturally, we know all the boats and operators that have been around for awhile, but if you’re new to the local charter biz and would like to be included, please drop us a note with details on your boat(s) and the types of charters you offer. Hopefully the free publicity will bring you some new business!

It sort of looks like these boats were knocked over by a hurricane… © 2008 Rob & Linda Jones Rob and Linda Jones, Ha-Ha vets with their Gemini 3000 catamaran Cat’n About from Whibey Island, Washington, sent us the accompanying photo of what looks to be sailboats in Costa Rica knocked askew by hurricane force winds.