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November 17, 2021

Sunny November Sailing in Monterey

Over the weekend we were invited down to Monterey Bay for a sail aboard the Farr 53 Atalanta with Shearwater Sailing. The weather was perfect: 75 degrees, plenty of sunshine, and light, variable breeze, though we did have to head offshore to find enough to fill the sails. A few humpback whales even joined the sail, cruising alongside for a while.

Nicki
Atalanta cutting through the waves in Monterey.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Nicki
Saturday's Crew
Atalanta‘s Saturday crew (from left to right) Christopher Deaver, Angela Madden, Kevin Wasbauer, Stan, Nicki Bennett, Lily Robnett, and William Pryor.
© 2021 Scott Watkins

Those of you who call San Francisco Bay home might remember Atalanta from the St. Francis Yacht Club, where she occupied a prime slip in front of the club for 25 years. In 2020, Atalanta was acquired by Kevin Wasbauer, who undertook a major restoration, upgrading and replacing nearly all of the boat’s systems: rigging, hydraulics, windows, canvas, electrical, lifelines, electronics, rudder bearing, steering systems, and deck hardware. She is right at home on Monterey Bay and is now the proud flagship of Shearwater Sailing.

Atalanta from above.
© 2021 William Pryor

Shearwater Sailing is Monterey Bay’s newest charter outfit, but is hoping to offer different types of charters than just your typical daysails and sunset cruises, though those are available too. Kevin is planning to offer a range of trips and experiences, from multiday offshore trips to multiweek trips down the coast.

spinnaker
Lily Robnett, Scott Watkins, and Christopher Deaver fly Atalanta‘s spinnaker.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Nicki
Kevin Wasbauer at the helm, with Angela Madden trimming the sails.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Nicki

During our sail, Bay Area sailor William Pryor took some great drone footage, which really showcases this beautiful boat in action.

As the days grow shorter and winter looms, the weekend was a great reminder of why this is such a lovely time of year to sail in Northern California. The weather is warm and the winds are mild, and we hope you will enjoy some of this special season.

If you do get out sailing, don’t forget to send your photos to be included in our next edition of Sailagram. Email photos to [email protected].

It’s Time for Good Jibes Episode #15 with John Taussig

Welcome to Good Jibes, Episode 15! This week, join host John Arndt as he chats with John Taussig about his craziest sailing stories and top safety tips. John Taussig is a paramedic, USCG 50-Ton Master License holder, adventure sailor, and executive director for Backcountry Medical Guides. He’s been an EMT and paramedic professional for 20 years, and, he’s a lifelong sailor.

Hear how to be safely prepared for your afternoon sail, how to rescue someone who’s hypothermic, and about the importance of communication on an adventure, John’s experience with the Panama Canal, and the time he was surrounded by a dozen orcas. This episode covers everything from extreme ocean adventures to top-notch safety advice.

John Taussig
At minute 48:07 discover the most important lesson sailing has taught John Taussig.
© 2021 John Taussig

Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

  • Was John ever a racer?
  • What attracts him to spending time outdoors?
  • Is his wife a sailor?
  • What drives him to go on long cruises?
  • How do you rescue someone who is hypothermic?
  • What got John to be an EMT?
  • How should you prepare for your afternoon sail?
  • Short Tacks: What’s the most important lesson sailing has taught John?

Check out the episode and show notes for more detail. You can also read more about John Taussig at https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/immediate-range-pac-cup-prep/.

Listen to this and previous episodes on Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast spots — follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling the good jibes!

Good Jibes is brought to you by the Safe Boating Campaign, in partnership with the National Safe Boating Council and US Coast Guard. Learn more at SafeBoatingCampaign.com.

Views of the Baja Ha-Ha

Since Sunday and even earlier, the 130-ish boats in the 27th Baja Ha-Ha have scattered, many turning the corner from Cabo San Lucas into the Sea of Cortez and La Paz, with stops at scenic anchorages along the way. Some crossed over to the mainland and Mazatlán, while others headed farther down the coast for La Cruz or Puerto Vallarta. But here we take a look back at the rally down the Baja peninsula.

Baja Ha-Ha Leg 1, San Diego to Turtle Bay

Baja Ha-Ha boat parade
Ha-Ha boats parade out of San Diego Bay on their way to the start on November 1.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris
Coronado Islands with spinnakers
Sailing under spinnaker past the Coronado Islands in Leg 1, as we make our escape into Mexican waters. Boats take a wide berth around these islands, home to fish net pens.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris
Sailing onboard Shenanigans
Jim Immer steers Shenanigans while skipper Mike Clarke takes a break. Shenanigans is a J/120 now retired from a successful racing career to go cruising. Wayne and Suzie Koide’s Outbound 46 Flyer can be seen in the rearview mirror.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

In Turtle Bay (Bahia de las Tortugas)

Halloween scarecrow
Making new friends in Turtle Bay.
© 2021 Howard Elfant
Turtle Bay beach party
The Grand Poobah (in the coral linen shirt — practically a uniform) at the Turtle Bay beach party on November 5. The beach at Turtle Bay is fabulous: flat and wide, and just the right firmness. It could take an hour to walk from one end to the other.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

Leg 2 / Bahia Santa Maria

Spinnaker trimming with colorful kite in the background
Day 1 of Leg 2. Howard trims the kite on Shenanigans, with Lance and Amy Lindsay’s Panda 38 Lorien out of Tacoma in the background. We had the lightest wind of the rally during Leg 2.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris
Sunrise in Bahia Santa Maria
Sunrise in Bahia Santa Maria on November 8.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris
Pangas on the shore
Pangas like these ones ferried cruisers from the anchorage in Bahia Santa Maria to the rock ‘n’ roll party on shore in Bahia Santa Maria.
© 2021 Chris

Cabo San Lucas

IGY Marina in Cabo San Lucas
After the quaintness of Turtle Bay and the remoteness of Bahia Santa Maria, the return to ‘civilization’ in Cabo San Lucas was something of a shock. This is the view from the dinghy as we enter IGY Marina.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris
Check in
Checking into Mexico with the Barreda Agency, conveniently located at the dinghy dock in IGY Marina, Cabo San Lucas.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Chris

Some Panoramic Views

Look for much more in the December issue of Latitude 38, wherein the Grand Poobah himself will file a report with many more photos.

Bay Area Sailor Rich Jepsen Takes the Helm at US Sailing

If we were to pick one word to describe Rich Jepsen, we’d say “dedicated.” Actually, maybe it would be “competent.” Then again, we might say “inspiring.” Another word is “sailor.” The truth is, there isn’t one word that describes Rich Jepsen. We’ve had the opportunity to work with Rich over the past 35 years as he helped OCSC Sailing develop into one of the most successful sailing schools in the country, watched as he skippered the J/24 Rail to Rail on San Francisco Bay, as he volunteered to develop the US Sailing’s sailing school certification programs, worked on the board of Alameda Community Sailing Center, and wrote stories of his BVI charter trips. We know we’re leaving many other contributions unwritten. The good news is that Rich has now been elevated to become the new president of US Sailing.

Rich Jepsen US Sailing
San Francisco Bay Area sailor and St. Francis Yacht Club member Rich Jepsen is taking the helm as president of US Sailing.
© 2021 Allison Chenard/US Sailing

We believe this is a good thing for sailing, the Bay Area, and US Sailing. West Coasters have often felt US Sailing, based in Rhode Island, has been too focused on the East Coast, but creating unity in a country of our scale isn’t easy. Regardless, Rich is among many West Coast sailors who have long contributed to US Sailing in ways that undermine this ongoing misperception.

While Rich is the incoming president, Paul Cayard recently stepped into the role of executive director of the US Sailing Olympic team, and Stan Honey is joining the board of directors. Charlie Arms, who spent 15 years as the director of sailing at Cal Maritime, has also been reelected to the board. Bay Area resident, Justin Shaffer, is also on the board as sailor representative. The 2028 Summer Olympics are coming to Los Angeles, with the sailing to be held off Long Beach.

This is in addition to many other ways California and Bay Area sailors and organizations have stepped up to support US Sailing, including support of athletes from the America One Foundation, ongoing support for US Olympic sailors from Kilroy Realty, and the development of the new Siebel Sailors Program supported by Tom Siebel. This past summer saw the inaugural three-regatta US Sailing Open Series in California as a new component of the US Sailing Olympic development program.

Additional background from US Sailing informs us that Jepsen will be succeeding Cory Sertl, whose tenure has focused on three strategic pillars: Olympic and high-performance sailing, membership experience and value, and organizational effectiveness. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve as president of US Sailing’s board for the last three years,” said Sertl. “I am confident that Rich Jepsen will continue to lead the board and US Sailing on the journey toward excellence. Rich brings a breadth of experience and knowledge of the array of items US Sailing must tackle and a dedication to improving our programs and customer service.”

Rich Jepsen US Sailing
Rich Jepsen appeared on the cover of Latitude 38 in June 2005.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Rob

“In the last three years US Sailing has been through one of the most transformative periods in its history,” said Rich. “Now, with a deeply skilled leadership team installed, we are poised for international competitive success, greatly improved service to members, and operational excellence. My board colleagues and I will stay the course plotted under Cory’s leadership, following the tenets of our strategic plan.”

Jepsen’s plans for US Sailing during his tenure will build upon the board’s ongoing strategies while introducing new and important focuses. He plans to encourage transparency and lead with curiosity. He aims to support the excellent leadership of the US Sailing Team and the US Sailing Foundation as they continue the biggest transformation in American Olympic sailing history, as well as continuing the support of staff leadership’s efforts to transform the organizational culture, effectiveness and accountability started under Sertl’s presidency. “This will be especially important to our mission of service to our members,” said Jepsen. “We must provide value and promote that effectively to our membership, and we must also clearly and continually articulate our efforts to improve sailing for everyone, so they see their dues making a difference.”

Jepsen also plans to focus on increasing diversity, from the grassroots to the boardroom. “Our sport needs to be more popular, and there is an entire demographic that is under the misapprehension it is not for them,” said Jepsen. “We’ll have to work from the top of the organization to the grassroots. We’ll recruit for the leadership and, using our public access sailing organizations, recruit for the base.”

There is a tremendous amount of new energy and opportunity coming from sailors all across the country. We believe that US Sailing and Rich Jepsen will make sure it’s a strong, national organization with the support of all California sailors.

Smooching in the Sand and Surf
Channeling Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr from the 1950s movie 'From Here to Eternity', the Poobah gently threw his future wife down on the sand, embraced her, and passionately kissed her as he rolled her into the breaking surf.
Stories of a Boat Building Legend
Today, November 15, is the first anniversary of Catalina Yachts founder Frank Butler's passing. Frank's son Dave wrote to us to share some memories of his dad.
Update on Delevopment
Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency is holding a Virtual Open House on November 17, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to discuss proposed rates, discounts, and hours for the Treasure Island toll.