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December 15, 2021

USCG Rescues Two Sailors Near Daly City

Two people were rescued on Sunday night when their sailboat became disabled off the coast of Daly City. TowBoatUS notified Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders at around 5:55 p.m. on Sunday that a 37-ft sailboat with two people aboard was drifting into the surf.

A Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Station Golden Gate 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew were dispatched at around 6:10 p.m.

The Dolphin aircrew arrived on scene at approximately 6:50 p.m. and deployed their rescue swimmer after surveying the area. At this time the two sailboat crew, a man and a woman, were still aboard. The rescue swimmer entered the water with the man and hoisted him into the helicopter around 7:05 p.m.

When the Motor Life Boat crew arrived on scene at around 7:30 p.m. they unsuccessfully attempted to tow the disabled sailboat out of the surf zone. The sailboat then ran aground.

The aircrew lowered the rescue swimmer a second time to rescue the woman off the grounded sailboat, where she was hoisted from the beach.

Both passengers were reported to have sustained minor injuries and were transferred to waiting emergency medical services personnel at Air Station San Francisco at approximately 7:40 p.m.

The sailboat is reported to have little to no fuel or oil aboard and there were no reports of pollution Sunday evening.

The following Coast Guard video shows both the rescue activities and a verbal report of the incident. It is a little long, but it’s interesting to hear the USCG speak about the circumstances and their response.

Get Your Good Jibes Going with Roy Disney

Welcome to Good Jibes Episode #19! This week, host Ross Tibbits chats with Roy P. Disney about Roy’s favorite sailing memories and people. You’ll recognize the name, but you may not know Roy has been sailing since he was walking — including basically every major Pacific race since his first Transpac in 1975.

Hear Roy’s advice for aspiring racers, how to get a handle on big boats, the coolest boat he’s ever sailed, his top sailing idols, and making history with the speed record in the Cabo Race.

Good Jibes Roy Disney + crew
Roy Disney (front right) and the Pyewacket crew.
© 2021 Roy Disney

This episode covers everything from Roy’s top racing thrills to lessons from his father. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

  • What was it like to sail with his father?
  • How did his father learn to sail?
  • What awards does Roy have?
  • How was the 1975 Transpac?
  • Where did the name Pyewacket come from?
  • How did this year’s Transpac go?
  • What advice does Roy have for aspiring racers?
  • Tack or Jibe: What is the #1 thing he wouldn’t do on a boat?

Check out the episode and show notes for much more detail.

Listen to the episode on Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast spots – follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling the Good Jibes!

Is This Your Year to Join the Pacific Puddle Jump?

With the recent, very successful completion of the 2021 Baja Ha-Ha there are many cruisers who have been ‘sheltered in place’ for many months, wondering when they can try their idle anchor windlasses so their anchors once again break the surface and their sails can again unfurl to carry them off to distant lands. The situation is slowly improving, but it’s easy to see from the news headlines that things are still far from back to normal. Andy Turpin, founder and director of the Pacific Puddle Jump, has announced the 2022 event is on, and already has 14 boats signed up. He wrote the following update to cruisers on the Pacific Puddle Jump bulletin board:

“I am told by a variety of sources that from San Francisco to Panama, many sailors are eager to begin their long-delayed South Pacific cruising plans in the coming months. Yet uncertainty remains regarding the reopening dates of many South Pacific nations. And now the new Omicron COVID variant adds another layer of concern.”

Anchored in Tahaa - Pacific Puddle Jump
The times have changed but the scenery hasn’t changed since Wayne Meretsky’s Moonduster was anchored at Taha’a.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Andy

“With all this in mind, I offer the following perspective from French Polynesia: While lying at anchor in the serenity of Raiatea’s Faaroa Bay, you’d think that all was right with the world. But, of course, Tahiti and her sister isles are not immune to the social and economic challenges created by the pandemic. Here’s my take on several key issues:

“- Battling COVID — French Polynesia’s handling of COVID has been impressive: Despite a substantial recent spike that followed a national holiday, stats for many recent days show no new cases throughout the territory. Seventy-two percent of French Polynesian residents have had at least one dose of vaccine, which is higher than the US (where 69% have had at least one dose). But yes, here too there is a relatively small but vocal anti-vax movement. Its mistrust is widely believed to be fueled by — you guessed it — disinformation spread via social media. Recent FP government initiatives to get most government workers, first responders, medical professionals and others vaccinated sparked protests from some local unions.

“By contrast, nearly every cruiser-in-residence that I have met here has been vaccinated (for free) at a local clinic. And I am fairly certain that not a single cruiser has arrived here sick with COVID. (Although a sick superyacht crew did arrive by air in the early days of the pandemic.) Could an Omicron spike lead to a new round of temporary restrictions? Certainly. But Tahitian friends, who are in the know regarding local politics, seem to think further closures to tourism are unlikely, due to economic necessity.

“- Fly-in Tourism’s Slow Return — Today, no adult air travelers may board a plane bound for French Polynesia without being double-vaccinated and having taken a test shortly before flying. So tourism is now slowly inching back toward pre-COVID levels, bringing some relief to the long-constricted local economy.

“- Maritime Border Issues — As most readers of this forum know, the “maritime borders” are still officially closed, presumably because of the logjam of boats that remain idling in Tahiti anchorages, and dry-stored in several outer-island boatyards, while their largely absentee owners await the opening of downstream cruising destinations such as the Cook Islands, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia. Fiji is currently open via a special application process. New Zealand has announced its opening April 30, and some sources anticipate that the Cook Islands will follow suit. Despite the logjam of boats, there are far fewer boats cruising French Polynesia’s five archipelagos now than in pre-pandemic years. (And there are said to be 110 islands and atolls to explore here, in addition to Tahiti.)

“- Cruiser Entry Process — As reported here recently, the government’s maritime agency, DPAM, has approved a special arrangement whereby participants in the 2022 Pacific Puddle Jump rally may obtain advance approval (several months before arrival) to enter FP waters, regardless if the maritime borders remain officially closed. (DPAM may also grant entry to non-rally boats on a case-by-case basis, either for a “normal“ cruising interval or on a provisional basis for refueling, reprovisioning, crew changes, etc.)

“- Cruiser Trickle-Down — The amount of money injected into the FP economy by visiting cruisers is small compared to the outlay of high-rolling honeymooners who rent luxurious over-the-water bungalows, yet international cruisers constitute an important niche in the territory’s economy — not only to “marine sector” businesses, but also to outer islands and atolls, where literally every franc that cruisers spend trickles down into the pockets of local islanders.

“- Welcome or Unwelcome? — Polynesians are typically described by visitors as being friendly, welcoming people. That’s still true today, more often than not, despite the challenges of the pandemic. Nevertheless, a few incidents of unfriendliness toward sailors were reported during the past year, which got a lot of ink in cruiser forums. But during three years of cruising here neither we, nor any of our cruising buddies, have ever gotten a hassle from a local islander. Here, any form of rudeness is rare, and the serious anger and violence that’s now become epidemic in mainstream America and Europe is virtually unheard of here. (A school shooting such as those that plague the US would be unimaginable.)

“- So if your boat is fitted out with the essentials for safety and comfort offshore, and you’re eager for a grand adventure, consider making the passage from the West Coast to Polynesia this season (March to June). And if the camaraderie and safety of a rally fleet appeal to you, we invite you to join the 2022 Pacific Puddle Jump. Registration is now open at www.PacificPuddleJump.com.” – Andy Turpin

If you’re planning to sail to the South Pacific this year let us know here.

Third Woman Joins US SailGP Team

Anna Weis Will Sail in Sydney

The United States SailGP Team announced on Monday that 23-year-old Anna Weis will trial with the team at this week’s Australia Sail Grand Prix in Sydney. Weis could potentially join Daniela Moroz and CJ Perez on the 2022 roster.

Anna Weis and Riley Gibbs hiked out on a foiling Nacra 17
Anna Weis and Riley Gibbs finished the Tokyo Olympics in ninth place sailing the foiling Nacra 17 catamaran.
© 2021 Sailing Energy / World Sailing

The American team is currently just one point away from first place in the SailGP Season 2 overall leaderboard. Sydney will provide a crucial test as the top three overall teams look to qualify for the $1 million Grand Final in San Francisco March 26-27, 2022.

Weis and former US SailGP Team wing trimmer Riley Gibbs raced on the US Olympic Sailing Team in the two-person mixed-gender Nacra 17 class. Weis’s role on the foiling catamaran requires tremendous athleticism, agility and strength, plus keen tactical abilities, in addition to operating the front of the boat. Her top-10 performance in Tokyo caught the attention of US SailGP Team CEO and helmsman Jimmy Spithill.

“Our goal is for the United States to be a powerhouse in professional sailing. Anna’s expertise at the international level stands out,” said Spithill. “We’re looking forward to trialing her in Sydney. Between her, Daniela and CJ, we believe we’re building a strong foundation of talent that will benefit us now and into the future.”

Weis, originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a student at Boston University. She’s deferring her education while pursuing her professional sailing dreams full-time. She overcame injuries and operations on both arms in early 2019.  Gibbs and Weis won the gold medal at the Pan American Games later that year, becoming the first US team to qualify for Tokyo in the mixed multihull class. “I love foiling and learning about high-performance boats,” said Weis. “I’m really excited for this opportunity to learn from some of the best sailors in the world.”

This Week in Australia

The Sydney event is this week — Friday, December 17, and Saturday the 18th. This will be the penultimate event before the SailGP Finals come to San Francisco on the weekend of March 26-27. Since Sydney is a day ahead, you can watch the racing live in the US on Thursday and Friday. Check event details here:  https://sailgp.com/races/australia-sail-grand-prix-event-page.

Racing both days will start at 4 p.m. local time (9 p.m. PST the previous evening) and will air live in the USA on CBS Sports Network, SailGP’s YouTube channel, and the SailGP app.

SailGP boats sailing
On December 14, the eight F50 catamarans took to the waters of Sydney Harbour for a practice session under the clear blue skies and blazing sunlight of New South Wales.
© 2021 SailGP

Following a big win in Cádiz in October, the Australia team currently tops the leaderboard. With 45 points, the team is one point clear of Nathan Outteridge’s Japan SailGP Team and the American team, both with 44 points. The Aussies will try to claim victory on home waters and retain the lead. Brit Sir Ben Ainslie is in fourth place.

US SailGP cat in Sydney
The American SailGP team puts in some sea time ahead of the races in Sydney.
© 2021 SailGP

Looking Ahead to Season 3

The Bermuda Sail Grand Prix will kick off Season 3 on May 14.

Earlier this week, SailGP unveiled the first 8 of 10 events in its Season 3 calendar. They announced two North American stops so far: Bermuda on May 14-15 and Chicago on June 18-19, 2022. From there, the traveling league will move to Europe for the summer, then Dubai in November. It remains to be seen whether one of the remaining two stops will be in San Francisco. The season will wrap up in April 2023.

Free Latitude 38 Christmas Stocking Stuffers

At the beginning of December, Santa’s delivery elves drove the California coast delivering free Latitude 38 stocking stuffers to marine businesses near you.

Free Stocking Stuffer
An easy way to make a sailor smile on Christmas morning.
© 2021 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John

Why do we think your sailor will appreciate Latitude 38 in their Christmas stocking?

Charlie Simon who, with his wife Cathy, did a circumnavigation with the World ARC Rally and a circumnavigation of North America aboard their Taswell 58 Celebrate, just wrote in today saying they’re waiting to take Celebrate to the Bahamas in the spring and signed off, “We love Latitude 38!”

If you’re going to a yacht club Christmas party or checking your docklines this weekend, stop by your harbormaster’s office to pick up a copy. (Harbormasters like Christmas cookies, too.) Or find one at the hundreds of other distribution points up and down the coast. It’s an easy way to check one thing off your list.

Wisdoms of Age
Against all of our youthful instincts, wisdom prevailed and the decision was made to head up to Potato Slough in the Delta the next morning.