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Archive for May 2011

Blubber in the Rigging

When racing offshore, such as in the Oregon International Offshore Race from Astoria, OR to Victoria, BC, there are always plenty of safety concerns. But getting clobbered by a breaching humpback whale isn’t usually one of them. More »

“A Lot of Unpleasant Situations”

We’ve gotten considerable impassioned telephone and email response to our Wednesday ‘Lectronic titled ‘Is The Hangman’s Noose the New Symbol of Puerto Escondido?’ Puerto Escondido is the very popular cruiser center on the east coast of Baja that is also home to Loreto Fest, the largest cruiser gathering in the Sea of Cortez. More »

Cirque’s Unbeaten Path

Louis Kruk and Laura Willerton’s San Leandro-based Cirque enjoying Animas Slot all alone. Cirque
©2011 Latitude 38 Media, LLC Louis Kruk and Laura Willerton of the San Leandro-based Beneteau 42s7 Cirque left the Bay to cruise Mexico for a winter four years ago. More »

Spotlight on Southern Cal Cruising

Although we’ve sailed along parts of the Southern California coast more times than we can count, we don’t claim to be experts on all aspects of cruising there. So we’re asking you, our loyal readers, to share your tips and insights on exploring both the Channel Islands and the Southern California coast — especially if you’ve chartered a boat to do so. More »

Washington Bans Copper Bottom Paint

On May 4, Washington governor Chris Gregoire sounded the death knell for copper-based bottom paint in her state by signing into law a ban on the use of the product on recreational boats under 65 feet — the first state to do so. More »

Bar Pilots . . . or Bar Pirates?

"The pilots who steer the big ships in and out of the Bay have been green-lighted for a rate hike that could have them making upward of $432,000 a year by 2015," reported Phil Matier and Andrew Ross in the May 7 San Francisco Chronicle / S.F. More »
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Bill Garden Passes Away

Renowned yacht designer and naval architect William ‘Bill’ Garden passed away on April 29 near Sydney, B.C. He was 92. A Canadian by birth, Garden lived in Seattle until the late ’60s, when he moved back to B.C. More »

In Celebration of the Big Jump

Are these sailors smiling because they’re finally on dry land or because they’re among like-minded friends? All of the above. Pictured are sailors from Britannia, Ceilydh, C’est si Bon, Dilligaf, Hadar, Inca, Moondance, Pegasus 7, Piko, Slow Dance, Songline, Sudden Stops Necessary, and Whatcha Gonna Do. More »