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Latitude in New Zealand
Despite the slow, grinding boredom, fear and uncertainty, the world is still beautiful. We offer you some eye candy for your day.
A Quiet Time on the Coast
Harbor's quiet, crabbers are pulling and storing pots. Most are pulled. Everyone is safe distancing. The main bathrooms are closed.
Schedule Updates
The latest cancellation to drop into our inbox is the Master Mariners Regatta. "With so many competitive boats in the fleet, it is with heavy hearts the Board has decided to cancel the Regatta."
Adapting Race Prep
The last hundred days leading up to the Pacific Cup are usually a hive of activity as competitors are busy preparing their boats, getting inspected, and training.
Tough Questions
Here's a tough question from a reader: "Could Latitude 38 help clarify the guidelines for the stay-at-home order? The City of Alameda and their police department have no guidelines to follow."
Maritime Learning
As we shelter in place and catch up on our reading, studying, streaming and viewing, it occurs to us that it is like we are having a second winter season.
SIP with Latitude 38
Now offering a Shelter-in-Place special. Three months is just a ‘sip’ of Latitude 38. You can read at home while you sip on whatever you like.
cruising
Fito Espinosa, harbormaster at Marina Coral in Ensenada, sent us this update from Neil Shroyer of Marina de La Paz, president of the Mexico Marina Association, on the current situation in Mexican marinas: “Yesterday, Sunday the 29th, Mexico’s Maritime authority issued Directive #13 to all Port Captains in Mexico, informing them that they may not authorize the clearance or departure of passenger vessels for hire (Mexican- and foreign-flagged) that operate with Nautical Tourism permits (charter, tours, diving, sport fishing, whale watching, sunset cruises, etc.).
Sponsored Post
Washing, waxing, varnishing. Serving the entire Bay Area for more than 25 years. “Boat looks great. Please pass my thanks to those who did the work."
BOLO for a Stolen Boat
Richmond Yacht Club reports that a Boston Whaler and its trailer were taken by vehicle from the dry boat storage yard over the weekend, sometime between Friday evening and Sunday evening.
Adjustments and Alternatives
Normally in this slot we would post a look ahead to next month's racing calendar highlights. Instead, we'll continue with the updates we've been filing since that fateful Friday the 13th.
Get Latitude 38 at Home
Now offering a Shelter-in-Place special. Three months is just a ‘sip’ of Latitude 38. You can read at home while you sip on whatever you like.
Navigation
It is a mnemonic that, once known, is impossible to forget. It is the simple expression of an important navigational concept: Red, right, returning.
Schedule Updates
As far as the Coast Guard is concerned, as long as there are active shelter-in-home orders in place, marine event permits are nullified.
Latitude 38 Delivered to Your Home
Now offering a Shelter-in-Place special. Three months is just a ‘sip’ of Latitude 38. You can read at home while you sip on whatever you like.
Avoiding the Crowds
Unlike the traffic jams on the highways leading to beaches over the weekend, San Francisco Bay was remarkably uncrowded. Social distancing? No problem out here!
Schedule Changes Continue
"The IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021."
Latitude 38 Delivered First-Class
Now offering a Shelter-in-Place special. Three months is just a ‘sip’ of Latitude 38. You can read at home while you sip on whatever you like.
Chubby Girl
Wilbur Spaul achieved a significant milestone in his bid to sail the smallest boat to Hawaii: In February, he chainsawed the 8-ft Chubby Girl into pieces and tossed them into a dumpster.
Sponsored Post
Washing, waxing, varnishing. Serving the entire Bay Area for more than 25 years. “Boat looks great. Please pass my thanks to those who did the work."
Seeking Some Normalcy
Latitude Nation — We were going to publish some good news this morning, but unfortunately, it was canceled due to the ongoing pandemic.
Sunday Race without the Brunch
From the first horn of the start to the last gun of the finish, it was business as usual for the 22 boats that competed in Oakland Yacht Club’s Sunday Brunch Series on March 15.
Rewriting the Calendar
"The April 4th Wheeler Regatta has been canceled, and the 2020 Great Vallejo Race is officially postponed until October 10-11. We have yet to make a final decision on the April 18th Lightship…"
Fun 'Sailing' This Weekend
"During the virus crisis, we're joining forces with sailonline.org to hold a purely entertaining virtual regatta series starting on Sunday, March 22."
From the Bottom of the Planet
You step into a big metal tube, it shakes around — not unlike a ride at Disneyland — they open the door, and besides all the people speaking with accents, the place you've arrived is not all that different from where you started.
Preparation and Practice
BAMA conducted our 2020 Live Crew Overboard Training event Saturday as scheduled. We had five boats registered. Two dropped out due to weather or illness, but we still had three that showed up.
Pretty Much Everything
The new 'shelter in place' order affecting much of the Bay Area has prompted the Bay Area Multihull Association to cancel or postpone the Doublehanded Farallones Race.
Updates from the Islands
Island cruising destinations around the world are rapidly updating their customs and immigration procedures as the global pandemic unfolds.
Offshore Racing
A long and light PV Race has drawn to a close with the smallest boat in the fleet claiming overall victory after 1,000 miles of ocean racing from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta.
Falling Like Dominoes
News Flash: While we were preparing this update on Monday morning, we learned that the Pacific Sail & Power Boat Show, scheduled for April 16-19 in Richmond, has been canceled.
Sailing