Did You See This Boat Cruising the Bay on the Weekend?
Sandy and Bill Edinger of SV Defiance were cruising the Bay on the weekend, when they spotted a boat with interesting images on their mainsail and jib “scooting along the S.F. Cityfront.” They sent us a photo asking, “What’s it all about?”
It makes us think the owners are quite the travelers.
Did you see this boat? Do you know the story behind the sails? We’d love to hear from you if you do. Email us at [email protected].
Mexico’s Unsolvable TIP Catch-22
If you remember Maj. Major Major Major from Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 you may remember that his assistant was told to only let people into his office when he wasn’t there, and not let people in when he was there. This is the situation many boat owners find themselves in when they discover they have a boat with an uncanceled Mexico TIP (Temporary Import Permit) issued before 2005. The department that issued those TIPs has been disbanded and there is absolutely no agency in Mexico that can solve the problem. The Baja Ha-Ha Grand Poobah wrote recently on his FB page, “DO NOT BUY A BOAT WITH AN UNCANCELED TEMPORARY IMPORT PERMIT!!!” However, there are a wide variety of situations that can arise without an owner’s knowledge. A second or third owner of a boat may have no idea his boat has an uncanceled TIP.
We heard from owners stranded in San Diego last year with this problem and recently heard from Brad Shaw, owner of the 1977 Islander 32 La Solana, when he discovered he was in the same boat and wrote us about the situation, which he has not been able to solve.
‘”La Solana, our 1977 Islander 32, took our family safely to the Sea of Cortez and as far south as Zihuatanejo in 2001. Thankfully, we missed the whole World Trade Center disaster, only finding out about it weeks later when Hurricane Juliet forced us into Puerto Escondido and cruisers passed around a video of the towers coming down. We had a truly magnificent year, spending the winter on the mainland and the summer in the Sea of Cortez.
“Luckily for me, my wife was game for the trip, and even homeschooled our second-grade son Michael and our pre-K son Mason. I can’t tell you how much it truly changed all our lives, so much so we went back five years later and did it all again. Both boys grew up loving the ocean, from surfing and sailing to fishing and spearfishing. If it happens on the water, they’re into it.
“This brings up my problem. I want to take La Solana back down to relive those magical times but I can’t get a new TIP, or temporary import permit. This is required to visit Mexico and you may have read in Latitude about issues regarding uncanceled TIPs on resold boats wishing to visit Mexico. I did, but didn’t think it would affect me since I still own my boat and could do whatever paperwork would be needed to create a new TIP. As it turns out our 2001 TIP was issued by aduana, or customs, in La Paz, a government agency then responsible for this process. Ours was good for 10 years, which served us well for both trips. I’m told that agency no longer exists so they cannot cancel our expired TIP. I have spoken to several Mexican officials including a lawyer in Mexico specializing in this particular problem and understand that without an official document showing the boat leaving Mexico, we are out of luck. We had our boat shipped home through Marina San Carlos both times and apparently it was not checked out of the country in that process. The only solution offered by anyone in Mexico so far is to permanently import the boat to Mexico, a very expensive process that probably has implications here in the US when I return.
“I recognize our situation is a bit unique but I wonder how many others may be in a similar situation, perhaps without even knowing it. I really want to go back to Mexico so if anyone has any useful information I would sure appreciate it.”
Brad, Nancy, Michael and Mason
Islander 32, La Solana
Somehow, someday you imagine the Mexican government might find a way to create a process to issue a new TIP to these stranded boats to allow them to return to cruising in Mexico. But when? It also has us wondering: If there really isn’t any paperwork or department in Mexico that knows anything about these boats and TIPs older than 2005, why not just apply for a new one? Is there something that would show up in the records somewhere? It sounds risky, but who would know?
You can learn more about TIPs in the First Timer’s Guide to Mexico, and see more Mexico cruising news on our Heading South page.
Good Clean Fun Starts With the Pumpout Nav App
It all starts with you. Protect our waters from avoidable pollutants and harmful bacteria. Next time nature calls, or your holding tanks is full, use the Pumpout Nav app to find the nearest floating restroom, pumpout or dump station. Download it today.
The September Racing Sheet Is Full of Winners
The current September Racing Sheet is full of winners — as usual. Do you know who won the C420 North Americans at Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation? Or the Moore 24s in the High Sierra Regatta? The Belvedere Classic/Great San Francisco Schooner Race? The Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race? These and many more events are reported in the September issue of Latitude 38. Below are a few shots from the many stories of summer racing winners that appear in our September Racing Sheet.
The YRA Encinal Regatta sent everyone out the Gate before a long run back to Encinal Yacht Club on the Estuary, while the BAADS Herb Meyer Regatta was hosted off the South Beach Yacht Club in San Francisco.
The Viking was looking good in the above photo, while later in this regatta the Sea Scouts’ other whaleboat, Corsair, broke their rudder down near Blossom Rock. That story will appear in the October issue.
The SFYC crew of Looper went on to finish second in the Corinthian division of the Melges 24 Worlds hosted by San Francisco Yacht Club at the end of August. That story is coming up in our October edition.
Beyond race reports we recognize many winners in the Racing Sheet including Viggo Torbensen who won PHRF A in the Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race aboard his IMX 40 Timeshaver, Mark Cummings and Evelyn Chisholm who won the Fireball division (remember Fireballs?) in the CGRA Columbia Gorge One-Design (CGOD) that ran from July 26–26, Kim Desenberg/Chris Gibbs who won Spinnaker 4 in the YRA Encinal Regatta aboard the Wyliecat 39 Checkered Past, Bradley Schooch who won the Santana 22 class in the Stillwater Yacht Club Santarama Class Sails Series race on August 3, and Deb Fehr and Cam Campbell who won the Spinnaker Class in the Encinal Yacht Club Gracie & George Regatta on August 11 aboard the Santana 22 Meliki.
This is just a very small selection of the winning sailors and boats appearing in our September Racing Sheet. If you want to see them all you can click here. You can also relax with a print magazine after picking one up at your favorite distributor.
Have you uploaded a photo of your September sailing to Sailagram yet?
Here Are a Couple of Fun Shoreside Events Coming Up This Weekend
Yes, summer has drawn to a close, but that doesn’t mean the salty fun has to stop. We’ve heard about a couple of fun shoreside events still ahead around the Bay this month.
“Yearly Sale of Cool Stuff” for Gently Used Water Equipment
Shoreline Lake in Mountain View has announced its “Yearly Sale of Cool Stuff” on September 28–29, from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. The sale will include items from both the Boathouse and American Bistro — a large selection of watersport gear, including vessels (and kitchen equipment), will be available for a fraction of the original price.
This unique and popular annual gear sale is open to the public and provides a great chance for locals to purchase gently used (usually less than a year old), well-maintained equipment for kids and adults. The main featured items for 2024, at this point, are kayaks, windsurfers, stand up paddle boards and related equipment. Along with buyers getting a bargain on normally very expensive gear and parts (and avoiding large shipping fees), this event also helps Shoreline Lake rotate out older equipment to ensure patrons taking classes and renting equipment have access to top-of-the-line gear and can focus on enjoying themselves.
Shoreline staff will be available to answer questions and assist buyers in getting exactly what they need. See more here.
If you’re interested in a piece of gear ahead of the sale, or the dates don’t work for you, to reserve or purchase your desired item(s) outside of the sale time frame, please contact the Boathouse manager at (650) 965-7474 or email [email protected].
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Sausalito Community Boating Center’s 3rd Annual Oyster Festival is on Saturday, September 28, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Dunphy Park, Sausalito. The festival runs in conjunction with the Sausalito Cruising Club’s KIDS DAY!! Admission is free, with a la carte food and beverage purchases available.
This festive event promises an unforgettable day filled with delectable oysters, lively music, and family-friendly activities. Whether you prefer your oysters fresh and briny or deliciously baked, there’s something to satisfy every palate. Don’t forget to order your side dishes! Enjoy a selection of beers and wines, perfect for pairing with your oyster feast.
Be Entertained: Live music, oyster- and maritime-themed games and crafts, Ecology Corner, and vendors will round out your shellfish-y experience. Bring the whole family, or bring a friend!
Bocce Tournament: Did you know that the surface of many bocce courts, including ours at Dunphy Park, is made from oyster shells? Get a team together and email [email protected] for details and registration.
This event is not only a celebration of one of our favorite delicacies but also a crucial fundraiser for the Sausalito Community Boating Center. Your participation helps us open this community resource, which will provide vital access to boating and maritime education for our community.
The Sausalito Community Boating Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable access to boating and maritime education. Through various programs and events, we aim to foster a love for the water and build a strong, inclusive boating community.
Our mission is to preserve a gathering place on Sausalito’s waterfront to engage and educate the public about our rich maritime history and small-craft heritage through affordable direct experience.
It is our vision that those we serve will leave educated and inspired!
Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy great food, great music, and a great cause. Bring your friends, family, and appetite to Dunphy Park for a day of celebration and community spirit!
Westwind Yacht Management — Washing, Waxing and Varnishing
Westwind Yacht Management: Premiere Yacht & Fleet services for the San Francisco Bay Area.