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I’m glad that you consider me “your man in Brittany.” I hope to honour that title and send you good, accurate and first-hand news from the sailing scene in this part of Europe.
Bismarck Dinius, who was charged with manslaughter in the 2006 death of Lynn Thornton, appeared in Lake County Superior Court November 29 to plead not guilty to the charges, and to request that Lake County prosecutors be removed from the case.
In Wednesday’s ‘Lectronic, we reported that the disabled San Francisco-based 47-ft motorsailer Darla Jean washed ashore at Fanning Atoll on December 2 after two and a half months of drifting across the Pacific.
"On the morning of December 2, the 47-ft San Francisco-based motorsailer Darla Jean wrecked on the reef on the southeast side of Fanning Atoll in the Central Pacific," report Robby and Lorraine Coleman, who have been there for several months aboard their Honolulu-based Angelman ketch Southern Cross.
Francis Joyon and his 97-ft Irens/Cabaret trimaran have slowed somewhat in pursuit of a new solo around the world record, but are still on a pace that is — incredibly — about 20% faster than Ellen MacArhtur’s current record.
Small Flying Patio Furniture and BreakThrough enjoyed Saturday’s mostly-clear, but cold, conditions. © 2007 Peter Lyons After the bleakest November in memory, midwinter racing got underway again this weekend with well-attended series in venues ranging from the South Bay all the way up to Vallejo.
Talk about ‘pucker factor’ – this monster is bigger than the storm that killed the crew of the northbound catamaran Cat Shot last December.
It wasn’t too many years ago that America’s Cup promoters were doing anything they could think of to make the contest for the Cup more appealing to the general public — that is, ready for prime time.
If actual racing, as opposed to America’s Cup lawyering, is your passion, you should direct your attention to the Atlantic Ocean right now.
Ooooommmmm, 15, ooooommmm, 20, ooooommmm 25? latitude/Richard
©2007 Latitude 38 Media, LLC Today’s Photo of the Day is of Eugenie "all the stories you’ve ever heard about me are true" Russell, Commodore of the Punta Mita Yacht & Surf Club, meditating on the number of boats that will participate in next weekend’s first-ever Banderas Bay Bash.
As you read this, the December issue of Latitude 38 is being delivered to marinas, yacht clubs, boatyards and chandleries all over the Bay Area — just in time for the weekend!
In the latest of a long line of legal squabbles that have tarnished the America’s Cup, Grant Dalton, head of Team New Zealand, has sent a letter to Alinghi owner Ernesto Bertarelli, demanding compensation for the postponement of the America’s Cup to after ’09.
Chalk up a point for Larry Ellison. The New York State Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the Golden Gate YC’s challenge for the 33rd America’s Cup is, in fact, valid – that is, GGYC, rather than the Spanish CNEV, will be the Challenger of Record.
"Man overboard!" "Man overboard again!" Despite light winds since the November 25th start, the 235 boats in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers fleet have already reported two crewmembers have gone overboard.
Although the breeze was light, competition was intense at yesterday’s Big Sail. © Chris Ray Although Cal Berkeley’s Golden Bears may be favored over the Stanford Cardinal in the so-called ‘Big Game’ this Saturday, both Stanford’s varsity and alumni sailors triumphed over Cal in yesterday’s J/105 match racing in the Central Bay.
Ouch! Just when they were probably thinking about getting out the docklines and fenders.
The 40-year-old ‘eco-cruise ship’ Explorer sank after hitting an iceberg in Antarctica. Chilean Air Force
©2007 Latitude 38 Media, LLC That’s what the brochures said, and that’s what the 100 passengers aboard the 250-ft ‘eco-cruise ship’ Explorer got.
Sailors from six cruising boats enjoy Thanksgiving together at Isla Isbella. © Greg Retkowski Just as extended families all over America travel long distances to be together for Thanksgiving, extended members of the cruising ‘family’-  who have already traveled long distances – also come together to celebrate this American holiday.
America’s Cup Management has announced that, because of the legal squabble with the BMW Oracle Challenge from the Golden Gate YC, the 33rd America’s Cup has been postponed from the original date of 2009 in Valencia.
If the off-the-water battles for the America’s Cup disgust you, there is an antidote, and it’s Frenchman Francis Joyon, who today started his assault on the solo around the world record of 71 days, 14 hours and 18 minutes.
Everything is shiny and new at the new Singlar Boatyard in Mazatlan. © Michael Latta "Last week I hauled my 22-ft Falmouth Channel Cutter Narwhal at Singlar’s big new boatyard facility next door to Marina Mazatlan," reports Mike Latta.
The 51-ft Pegasus was lookin’ good at last spring’s Master Mariner Regatta. © 2007 Mariah’s Eyes “In the 14 years since we started, we’ve introduced about 5,000 kids to San Francisco Bay and sailing,” explains Peter Hayes, founder of the Pegasus Project.
In recent weeks there have been reports in both the San Diego papers and CNN on some very violent attacks on American tourists in Mexico, mostly surfers in northern Baja, but also including some RV owners elsewhere in Mexico.
The oil spill on November 7 has left Bay Area residents (and politicians) asking some tough questions — How did it happen?
With the Central American cruising season now in full swing, current and future cruisers will be interested to note that a highly informative Yahoo Group website has been set up and is accepting new members.
Sailing