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Archive for February 2016

Puddle Jumpers Gather

February 24, 2016
Laurie and Sonia Haynes’ Australian Fountaine Pajot Bahia 46 Moana Roa makes landfall in French Polynesia. latitude/Andy
©2016Latitude 38 Media, LLC In various ports and anchorages along the West Coast of the Americas, a wide variety of international sailors is preparing to make the 3,000-mile leap to French Polynesia — a passage we like to call the Pacific Puddle Jump. More »

Fiji Recovering from Mega-Cyclone

February 22, 2016
Residents of Fiji are still reeling from Saturday’s pummeling by ferocious Tropical Cyclone Winston, the most powerful storm ever to hit the multi-island South Pacific nation — and probably the most destructive.  More »

Antigua Is A-OK

Jolly Harbour on the leeward side of Antigua is ‘ti Profligate’s new off-season home. She’s the cat with the turquoise sail covers.  latitude/Drone38
©2016Latitude 38 Media, LLC Having not spent much time in Antigua since doing six Sailing Weeks with our Ocean 71 Big O in the the event’s heyday of the 1980s and 1990s, the Wanderer had forgotten what a great place it is both for dropping out in quiet anchorages and for being in the middle of world-class sailing competitions. We More »

Corinthian Midwinters/Robgatta

Although the weather was perfect for a raft-up on Saturday, it wasn’t so keen for a Bay tour yacht race. The shifty northerly softened as the ebb built, and the later-starting boats didn’t see more than 6 knots. More »

Panama Canal’s Third Lane Repaired

February 19, 2016
Unlike the original locks, the Third Lane will recycle much of the water it uses, and will have sliding gates that operate faster than those on the original Canal. ACP
©2016Latitude 38 Media, LLC It’s not surprising that a construction project as challenging as the Panama Canal’s expansion would see substantial delays and cost overruns, but it was a bit shocking when cracks were discovered last summer in the solid concrete ‘sill’ beneath at least one rolling lock gate installed in the Canal’s new Third Lane. More »

Vallejo Race Change-Up

Subscribers to the YRA of S.F. Bay newsletter learned of changes to the organization’s biggest race of the year, the Great Vallejo Race, earlier this week. The only change that affects the race itself is the intention to use downwind ratings for PHRF divisions in Saturday’s race to Vallejo Yacht Club on April 30. More »

Zihua SailFest Sets a Record

February 17, 2016
Patrick and Jeann Hughes’ Seattle- and Mazatlan-based wooden schooner Patricia Belle sails through Zihua Bay with a boatload of event supporters on board.  © 2016 Margaret Reid / SailFest We’re proud to say that Latitude 38 played a role in starting Zihuatanejo SailFest in 2002. More »

When Cruisers Become Racers

A light-air spinnaker start to a casual race in the La Paz Channel. Astraea
©2016Latitude 38 Media, LLC When do cruisers become racers? Whenever two or more of them want to! More »