Merry Christmas From All the Crew at Latitude 38
Wherever you are, and whatever you sail (and even if you don’t sail), we wish you all safe, fun, warm, and happy holidays, and a very Merry Christmas!
We’ve had a great deal of fun this past year, collecting and sharing sailing and sailors’ stories from near and far, and we thank you all for your support and your involvement. If you’re one of the many who have shared your story with us and our readers, thank you! Your stories are the wind in our sails, the rudder that steers our course … etc., etc. — let’s not get too corny or gushy here.
Back to Christmas …
Our crew is taking a well-earned rest over the next couple of weeks, but please be assured, the January Latitude 38 issue will be published. Delivery day is Thursday, December 30. So hop, or sail, on down to your favorite distributor and get a head start on 2022 by picking up your copy. (Sorry, we won’t be sharing the year’s winning lottery numbers.)
Next Monday, December 27, we will share some of our favorite ‘Lectronic Latitude stories from 2021. Then on Wednesday, December 29, we’ll bring you previews from the January issue. We’ll be back to our three-times-weekly schedule beginning January 3, 2022.
While we’re talking, this is a good time to remind you that we love hearing from you, our readers. So while you’re out cruising, racing, anchoring or just messing around on boats over the holidays, take a few pics and drop us a line to let us know what you’ve been up to: [email protected].
By the way, as far as we know, the big, jolly guy in the red suit will be cruising the skies on Friday night, so if you happen to see him, give him a big wave. He loves sailors best of all!
See you in 2022!
Nicki and Jessie Share Sailing Stories on Good Jibes
In this week’s episode of Good Jibes, Nicki Bennett is joined by Jessie Zevalkink to chat about mixing sailing adventures and exploration with raising a baby and staying diligent with work. Jessie is a photographer, storyteller, mom, wife, and sailor who hails from Michigan and is currently based in San Carlos, Mexico. Hear her top baby boat tricks, how to work while cruising, sailing America’s Great Loop, the Northwest Passage, and the endless helpfulness of the sailing community.
This episode covers everything from circumnavigation to photography. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear:
- What is a story that shaped Jessie as a sailor?
- How was flight school?
- What was Jessie’s childhood like?
- How was her boat-buying process?
- What is America’s Great Loop?
- Will Jessie be working when she’s on the boat?
- How is the cruising community when you’re meeting new people?
- What is Jessie’s project on women sailors?
Learn more about Jessie on Instagram at @JessieBrave and her website.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast spots – follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling the Good Jibes!
Westwind Yacht Management — Washing, Waxing and Varnishing
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Stories of Coast Guard Boardings in Florida and San Francisco
In response to recent stories in ‘Lectronic Latitude about Coast Guard boardings, Bay Area sailor James Fryer wrote in with a couple of stories of his own. James owns the modified Wylie 34 Cheyenne, which he frequently raced singlehanded in the Bay Area in the ’90s while sailing out of the Estuary. One of the boardings happened on the Estuary, and the other involved some white powder he was transporting from Guatemala to Florida many years ago.
James wrote, “Thus far Cheyenne has been boarded twice by the Coast Guard for safety inspections. Once was in 2008 along Alameda in the Estuary. We attracted the Coast Guard’s attention since I had just repainted the boat and not yet affixed the name, homeport or CF numbers. The boarding and inspection went smoothly and was friendly. But there was one little moment of drama.
“With Cheyenne motoring along with the autopilot engaged, I was below with the inspectors when my crew on deck suddenly yelled that I need to immediately get back out there. A few boat lengths directly ahead was a floating wood piling with a large, long rusty metal spike pointed directly at Cheyenne’s freshly-painted bow. Even the Coasties were wide-eyed at the damage that would have done. We quickly maneuvered around it and the Coast Guard RIB towed it out of the middle of the Estuary channel.”
James went on to let us know his Cheyenne is still very active. Utilizing his professional background in marine sciences, he is researching and monitoring the efficacy of marine protected areas. His present plans are to focus more on remote areas in the Micronesia region, and he was en route and mid-ocean when the borders closed in March 2020. When James wrote to us, the borders remained closed, but he has since made his way to the Tuamotus.
You can read the full account of the Florida boarding in the December issue here.
Look Out for the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
Each year on December 26, Boxing Day (Sydney, Australia, time), Australian sailors ‘turn on the telly’ to watch the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. This year, 94 yachts of varying sizes and pedigrees have registered to begin the race. The sight of almost 100 sailboats and dozens of official boats, press boats and well-wishers on Sydney Harbour is a spectacular sight.
Here in the US, we won’t have access to the same media coverage that they will in Australia, but according to the race website, we’ll be able to watch the start, live.
If you are planning to watch, remember the time difference: Sydney is 19 hours ahead of California. So to view the start you’ll need to set your alarm for 6:00 p.m., Saturday, December 25.
In the meantime, here’s a recap of the 2019 race.
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.
Why do we think your sailor will appreciate Latitude 38 in their Christmas stocking? Because they will!
Find one at your favorite distribution point up and down the coast. It’s an easy way to check one thing off your list.