Stop the Delta Gates
"I’m not an activist," writes Molly Pruyn of Richmond YC. "I’m just a 59-year-old nurse who has spent every summer in the Delta since I was born. I don’t think the majority of yacht clubs and sailors are aware of the danger the Delta is facing. There’s legislation that has already passed to transport more water to Southern California. Several new pumps are already in place and more are planned. What’s stopping them is that two giant tunnels — bigger than the Chunnel — are needed to get the water to LA.
"If this whole ‘Delta restoration’, as our governor calls it, is completed, salinity could reach Stockton, channels will narrow, habitat will be lost and anchorages will be lost. The report even talks about building salinity plants (to protect the Delta!), indicating that officials anticipate a problem that we Northern Californians are supposed to fix. The plan is fraught with ill-conceived ideas that are now being reviewed and hopefully stopped. Our reps passed this right under our noses and we didn’t even catch the drift.
"More information can be found at www.nodeltagates.com," she continues. "I hope everyone will join me in signing the petition opposing the plan. It’s all very alarming, and we need to get the boating community and anybody that loves the Delta to wake up. This is the last chance to turn this around."
Molly also notes in her email that today is the last day for the public to comment on the plan. Check out the site, read the Delta Stewardship Council’s final draft of the plan, and email your comments.
Bull Canyon on Sale
Lin and Larry Pardey are icons of the cruising community. Their tales of adventure aboard their 24-ft Serrafyn and then their 29-ft Taleisin have entertained and educated sailors for decades. But the time between the two boats — the four years they spent building Taleisin — has been a mystery to most fans . . . until Lin released her memoir about that time last June.
Bull Canyon: A Boat Builder, A Writer and Other Wildlife details their time in a remote California canyon 65 miles inland building their beloved Taleisin, and the challenges involved in taking on such a feat so far from the ocean, boatyards and even such basics as electricity.
The book, which has been a finalist for several awards, has received nothing but four and five stars on Amazon, where it was selected as one of their ‘100 Kindle Books for $3.99 or Less‘. "They convinced our publisher to reduce the price to $2.99 for the month," Lin told us. "The reason they chose it was because it is one of two finalists for the Willa Cather Literary Award in creative nonfiction." This is not only a wonderful boost for Lin but is an outstanding opportunity for fans to get the ebook for 80% off its normal price.
Tell Us About Your Holiday Charter
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC
The two-week period surrounding Christmas and New Year’s is by far the busiest time of the year in the international yacht chartering industry. Although both charter prices and air fares are generally higher then, it’s a fantastic time for families to get away together and build unforgettable memories; for lovers to add an exotic touch to their romance; and for all who dread the cold days of winter to trade sweaters and jackets for swimsuits — and work on their winter tans.
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC
If you were lucky enough to get away to some warm, sunny charter destination over the holidays, we’d love to hear about it. Send us a few paragraphs about the highlights of your sailing vacation, along with a selection of medium-to-high resolution photos, and we may publish your account in an upcoming edition of Latitude 38. In return, we’ll send you some ‘official’ Latitude logowear. Such a deal!
