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December 27, 2017

Year in Review

On Friday we’ll close out 2017 with the delivery of the January issue of Latitude 38. We thought we’d take a moment to remember all the good times from the past year. If you want to travel back in time or catch up on what you missed click on any of the covers below. You can pick up the January edition at your favorite waterfront location on Friday.

We started the year relaxing in southern latitudes under a big, green chute on a warm day with gentle breezes. 

© 2017 Lewis Allen
J/105s checking the line and looking for which way the wind blows. 

© 2017 Martha Blanchfield
Some of the 300+ Three Bridge Fiasco participants searching for breeze on a Bay famous for its wind, strong currents and harsh conditions. You wouldn’t have known it last January 28th. 

© 2017 Leslie Richter
Jim DeWitt sailed onto the cover with one of his dramatic paintings of sailing the Bay. 

© 2017 Jim DeWitt
Think small. The annual Bullship race taking El Toros across the Bay from Sausalito to San Francisco started in calm conditions, then ghosted along the Sausalito waterfront.

© 2017
Green Buffalo leads Azure as the Great Vallejo Race enters San Pablo Bay. Our new editor, Tim Henry, captured the scene.

latitude/Tim
©2017Latitude 38 Media, LLC
As fast as a Maserati — almost. The foiling trimaran Maserati spent time on the Bay treating us and prospective clients to a ride before heading south to compete in the Transpac in a tight race with Phaedo3 and Mighty Merloe. One rudder was smashed underway, and Mighty Merloe, sailed spectacularly by Loïck Peyron, went on to win.

© 2017 Roxanne Fairbairn
There’s nothing like sailing the Bay. Iolani went on a two-year Pacific circuit, Baja Ha-Ha, Pacific Puddle Jump, island hopping and more before returning to sail San Francisco Bay.

latitude/John
©2017Latitude 38 Media, LLC
Nice not to be commuting. Rolex Big Boat Series participants found traffic on the Bay but much less of it and much more fun.  

© 2017 Sharon Green / Rolex

PHOTO

Continue on for the rest of the story…

Year in Review, Part 2

Aha! Our template only allows 10 photos per story. We need to remember that. So the last two months show up in the ‘2nd story.’ 

Time to relax. Sometimes it feels like everyone heads south for the winter, and then you see a photo of Catalina Island just 25 miles from 20 million people. We found a typo in the caption that said "No wife, no phones…" We’re pretty sure we meant to say no Wi-Fi! 
 

© 2017 Greg Kreugerman
Profligate lookin’ good and sailing south during her 23rd Baja Ha-Ha. She’s sailed all but one and looks better every year.  

© 2017 Richard Spindler

Ask Your Doctor

All these months of fabulous sailing mean lots of time in the sun. And, not to be a downer, but this does create a worry about various forms of skin cancer. Dan Barr of the Seattle Yacht Club just sent us a short news item from the Seattle Times that adds another item to consider adding to your arsenal of precautions: Nicotinamide.

Beyond sunscreen, hats, biminis and all the rest there is evidence of this being helpful for many as reported in the Australian Journal of Dermatology and the New England Journal of Medicine. Pretty solid sources. Like so many of these findings there are plenty of precautions and debates but, if you have some concerns, this sounds worth investigating.

Enjoying sailing is the best way to spend your day. But good to be aware of all of the advice under the sun. 

latitude/John
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC

  

Most of the entries in our Lighted Boat Parade Photo Contest were taken at the Lighted Yacht Parade on the Oakland-Alameda Estuary December 2, including these three favorites: Shantung got second place to Ketch 22 in the Sailing Division, but Fred Fago’s image of her is tops in our esteem. The
After suffering a knockdown in the high southern latitudes, enduring days of gale force winds, and losing not one but two of his autopilots, Randall Reeves has been forced to head for port so that he can make repairs, and continue the Figure 8 Voyage. 
Now entering its 73rd edition, there’s as much anticipation as ever for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
One of the rewards of having a sailboat on San Francisco Bay is a hike to the top of Angel Island any time you want.