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Archive for September 2016

Offshore Priorities

September 23, 2016
San Miguel Island is a lonely place that sees few recreational boaters. When conditions there got dicey yesterday, this singlehander’s only chance of help was activating his EPIRB. © 2016 Courtesy US Coast Guard You may think it was foolhardy for the solo sailor pictured above to venture into the rough waters surrounding San Miguel Island (24 miles south of Point Conception) in his engineless, 23-ft pop-top sloop — especially since he had to be rescued by the Coast Guard. More »

Getting Hot Over Stoves

The first Dickinson stove the Seybolds received was all dented up. This was the second. Mind you, this is a $2,000 stove. The question is, will they get a usable stove in time to cook their Thanksgiving turkey? More »

Sailing Keeps Me Young

A while back we did a shout-out to young sailors within our readership to learn how they enjoy the sport of sailing, how they got into it, and how they like the content of Latitude 38. More »

USA Silver in Paralympic Sailing

September 21, 2016
The American Sonar team won silver in Rio. © World Sailing We took a little break from reporting on the Paralympics to cover the Rolex Big Boat Series in San Francisco, but we couldn’t let another day go by without acknowledging the accomplishments of the Americans who competed last week in Rio. More »

Grants Available for Boating Nonprofits

These days there are so many worthwhile organizations seeking financial help that it could make your head spin. In recent years, West Marine has taken a creative approach to sorting out which groups it can and cannot support by instituting the BlueFuture Fund, which is accepting grant applications through October 1. More »

Militants Release Abducted Sailor

September 19, 2016
After being held captive for nearly a year by Philippine militants, Norwegian sailor and business manager Kjartan Sekkingstad was released Saturday, much to the relief of family and friends. The release was reportedly spurred by the Philippine government’s ongoing military operations against Sekkingstad’s Abu Sayyaf captors. More »

Murder at a Cruiser Center in Mexico

This photo shows Marina Riviera Nayarit, just after it opened a few years back, and the town of La Cruz. With a new four-lane highway making La Cruz the gateway to Punta Mita, and construction about to begin on the town’s first multi-story waterfront hotel, La Cruz is becoming an ever more busy place. More »

Tomorrow Is Coastal Cleanup Day

September 16, 2016
Volunteers clean up an East Bay wetland. It’s a great feeling to be part of this massive annual effort.  © Just as the sport of sailing requires harnessing the power of the wind, those who take part in it can’t help but become acutely aware of their natural surroundings. More »

Rolex Big Boat Series Underway

In the choppy, gusty conditions yesterday on the Rolex Big Boat Series Alcatraz course, both Marstrom 32 catamarans dismasted. This one is Ravi Parent’s Aston Harald, seen on San Francisco Bay for the first time. More »