Hula Farewell for Sailboat Grounded off Malibu
Earlier this week David Gorney got in touch with us about a sailboat that was grounded off Malibu, near the locality of Paradise Cove. David sent us some pictures of the boat and its AIS track on Marine Traffic.
But that was all he knew. Similarly, our subsequent efforts to learn more about the boat, its owners and crew, and how it ended up in the shallows turned up nix.
But as luck would have it, yesterday we received the following story and accompanying photos from Wailani O’Herlihy, who had heard about the vessel on Sunday.
“On July 4, 2021, I got my car ready to join the Pt. Dume 4th of July parade, and overheard there was a boat that had gone aground in Pt. Dume. Suddenly sadness was felt in my na’au (gut), because I’ve been a sailor for 43 years with a history of sailing from Kaua’i to Redondo Beach, the British Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, and Tahiti. I tried to wrap my head around how this could happen, especially when someone texted me a photo of this gorgeous sailboat aground at the end of Zumirez in Malibu. I decided to pay homage to this boat that could have sailed the seven seas.”
“As I drove to Paradise Cove yesterday, many thoughts went through my mind. Did the owner put out enough scope when he anchored the boat off the Cove for the 4th of July weekend? The reason I know the path the boat took is a friend from Anacapa Yacht Club showed me the path of the Aequus on the Yellow Brick app. Was the anchor big enough for the boat? Did the owner calculate the size of the waves this weekend? Was the boat left alone at night?
“After arriving at Paradise Cove yesterday morning, I walked out to the water’s edge and glanced around the corner to see the mast leaning over with a set of three spreaders. The tide was high, therefore I would have to navigate walking around rocks to get to the boat. I analyzed the waves and dashed across as the water receded. I made it to the beach and had it all to myself with the boat in front of me. There were a few paddle-boarders about 500 feet to the right. I put on my headphones and played Hawaiian music while saying farewell by dancing hula to this beautiful sailboat, Aequus. I stopped to research the Latin definition of this name and it meant kind, patient.
“Hula is a form of communication and storytelling, and I stood there by myself and poured my heart out to this magnificent vessel. A big ‘Aloha’ to a legacy that could have been; to the adventures it had in the past. God bless the people that were on board and that they were safe after such an ordeal.”
“I received photos of the [vessel’s] ocean side from Sunday and Monday, in which the boat was trying to be towed off the sand bar but to no avail. It seems the boat would be left there to be tattered by the huge waves and to break up piece by piece to its demise in this sanctuary of the area we call Pt. Dume.
“I send a big Aloha to this beautiful yacht called Aequus.”
July’s Caption Contest(!) Is Here!
Here we go folks! It’s July’s Caption Contest(!) time.
We love sailing for many reasons, one of which is the crazy perspectives that can sometimes be captured by the lens. And … Go!
Thank you to Janie Allan Noon for this photo, taken during the AMSS / SDYC Kettenburg & Classic Yacht Regatta, June 26, 2021.
Westwind Boat Detailing Offers Washing, Waxing and Varnishing
Serving the entire Bay Area for more than 30 years.
Calling on American Offshore Doublehanders
US Sailing is looking for two American coed offshore doublehanded teams to race in the 2021 Hempel Offshore World Championships. Even though a potential offshore mixed-doubles event has been nixed in favor of kiteboarding for the 2024 Olympics, the niche garnered a lot of interest and gathered a lot of momentum during COVID. It was just so much easier to sail with your own significant other, and more likely that there would be a race for you.
How to Apply
Interested teams should submit their sailing résumés and complete the application form no later than Thursday, July 15, 2021. US Sailing will announce results before the end of the month. Nostra Rosa Regatta will host the event on September 16-26 on the Adriatic Sea in Italy.
Check out the Notice of Race here and the selection procedures here.
It won’t be cheap. The costs are approximately $12,000 for charter of a Figaro 3, accommodations, food and ground transportation. That figure doesn’t include airfare and a damage deposit. Still interested? Apply here.
Also see www.offshoredoubles.org.
Cruising the Delta in 1981
“Just pack the same things you took to Kauai,” said John, in his usual misjudgment of the situation. If you’re going cruising anywhere, across the Pacific or up the Delta, it’s always helpful to learn from those who’ve gone before.
People have been cruising the Delta for longer than Latitude has been around, and we’ve been passing along the stories and misadventures of Delta cruisers from our very early issues. Regardless of the thousands of boats that have made the trek, and the hundreds of pages of coverage, the Delta remains a forbidding mystery to many Bay Area sailors. They don’t know what they’re missing.
In many ways, nothing much has changed about cruising the Delta. It’s still hot, it’s still full of warm, very swimmable fresh water, and there are many nooks and crannies in which to hide away. And there are plenty of fun, lively destinations too.
We thought we’d bring one more story from our archives to this year’s Delta Doo Dah participants, and anyone who’s still thinking of signing up and going. Read about Cruising the Delta in 1981.
You can learn more and sign up for the Delta Doo Dah on our Delta cruising page.
Latitude 38 Delivery Driver Wanted
The perfect sailor’s job: 29 days off every month! This is a one-day-per-month position to deliver Latitude 38 magazines to our San Francisco/Peninsula route, from the St. Francis Yacht Club to Redwood City, on the first of each month. Drivers act as ambassadors for the West Coast’s premier sailing and marine magazine. Applicants should feel comfortable engaging with our wonderful distribution team and maintaining relationships with sailing and marine businesses in the Bay Area. An ideal candidate will keep track of the magazines delivered to each location and look out for new distribution locations.
To apply, send your résumé and cover letter with sailing experience by email to [email protected] with “Latitude Driver” in the subject line. Please, no phone calls!