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Wed, April 29, 2020
Designer of Fast Yachts
Myron Spaulding’s Virtuoso Sailing Legacy
Who was the greatest San Francisco Bay racing sailor ever? In the opinion of Bay sailing legends the finest racing skipper in the early 20th Century was…
No Inter-Island Sailing
Course Correction for Cruisers in Hawaii
All State harbors are closed. No new boats. Inter-island travel is prohibited. One of our Waikiki YC neighbors scored a $5,000 fine for violating this.
Mon, April 27, 2020
Messages to the Neighbors
Hoisting the Signal Flags
"When you live in Sacramento like I do and miss sailing on San Francisco Bay with your buddies (like I do), what else was I supposed to do? I dug deep into my gear box…"
The Original Longboard
The Cult of the Cal 40
It’s the original longboard, a Southern California surfing machine that is capable of sustained 15-knot downwind speeds.
Sponsored Post
Westwind Boat Detailing
Washing, waxing, varnishing. Serving the entire Bay Area for more than 30 years. “I have never seen the teak look so good."
Commentary
Following the Rules, Until You Don’t
Today, New Zealand went from its “Level 4” lockdown — the highest, most strict tier — down to “Level 3.” More businesses will be allowed to open, and more activities will be allowed.
Fri, April 24, 2020
Pandemic Adjustments
R2AK Announcement and More Updates
"There are two ways to say this: R2AK and SEVENTY48 are canceled in 2020. R2AK and SEVENTY 2020 aren’t canceled, but you can’t cross the starting line until 2021."
Resourceful Sailor Series
Chafe Is Your Enemy
We’ve heard the mantra before, “Chafe is your enemy.” I thought this upon noticing the tow bridle for a friend’s inflatable dinghy was rubbing at its attachment points.
Sponsored Post
Passage Nautical Offers Virtual Tours
Passage Nautical offers live boating webinars, walk-through videos and podcasts. If you are in the market for a boat, the team at Passage Nautical can help you find it.
National Weather Service
Changing the Small Craft Advisory System
"In a move that could simplify and potentially reduce misunderstanding of urgent weather messages used by recreational boaters to make critical boating safety decisions, the National Weather Service (NWS) has proposed renaming 'Small Craft Advisory to 'Small Craft Warning'."
BIG DREAMS TINY BOAT
New Girl on the Block
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.
The Aloha State
Options for Cruisers in Hawaii
Fortunately, there are many other great spots to anchor or moor a cruising yacht while sailing in the oft-misunderstood cruising ground that makes up the Hawaiian Islands.
Wed, April 22, 2020
Creative Alternatives
Observing Earth Day and Opening Day on the Bay
This coming Sunday, April 26, was to have been Opening Day on the Bay. Amazingly, the parade is on — but not in the usual fashion. Instead, PICYA invites sailors to enter model boats in a virtual parade.
Lockdown Reading Material
Randall Reeves’ Figure 8 Voyage Book(s)
We asked Randall Reeves if he was going to write a book about the Figure 8 Voyage — or voyages. Reeves had been writing a blog since long before he departed on his singlehanded, round-the-bottom- and-top-of-the-world-in-one-season trips.
DIY Boat Projects
A Cal 20’s Mergers and Acquisitions
During the Saturday of February's Corinthian Yacht Club Midwinters race, Raccoon was hit hard, breaking the hull and deck joint and severely fracturing the hull.
On the Big Island
Transient Cruisers Lose Use of Radio Bay
Radio Bay, near Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, has been available as an anchorage and seawall mooring safe haven for cruising boats for decades.
Mon, April 20, 2020
Inland Cruising Rally
Delta Doo Dah Dozen Open for Business
By the time you read this, we will have opened registration for Delta Doo Dah Dozen. We're hopeful that the sailors who sign up for this inland rally will actually be able to cast off their docklines and cruise the Delta.
An Aussie in Berkeley: OCSC’s Trevor Steel
We're shining our Latitude 38 spotlight on local sailing instructors, the on-the-water community of folks who introduce newcomers to our lifetime sport. Trevor Steel is the head of instruction at Berkeley's Olympic Circle Sailing Center (OCSC).
They're Always Ready
Coast Guard Rescues Kayaker off Pacifica
On Friday, the Coast Guard came to the aid of an overturned kayak in Bay Area waters. The kayaker was rescued off the beach town of Pacifica, just south of San Francisco.
SIP with Latitude 38
$10 for 3 Months — Sign Up by April 24
Now offering a Shelter-in-Place special. Three months is just a ‘sip’ of Latitude 38. You can read Latitude 38 at home. The last day to sign up is April 24.
Fri, April 17, 2020
Keeping the Kids Entertained
Sailing in Place
The Broderick boys, Preston, Elljay and Tyler, 'Sailing in Place' (SIP). They enjoyed their day on the wild, windy, wavy driveway very much, although it appears the conditions dismasted their sturdy craft.
The Book That Got me Hooked on Cook
Arriving on Strange, Empty Shores in a Foreign Land
In November 1769, the HMS Endeavour, under the command of Captain James Cook, sailed into Maramaratotara Bay, New Zealand, to observe yet another rare astronomical event.
Sponsored Post
Satellite Phone Store
Satellite phones provide voice, SMS and data services anywhere on the Earth and you don't have to rely on cell phone networks.
The Season Begins May 15
Eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Outlook
"We are approximately a month from the start of the Eastern Pacific Ocean Tropical Cyclone Season." The season officially begins on May 15 and lasts through November 30. "So how active will the season be this year?"
SIP with Latitude 38
$10 for 3 Months — Sign Up by April 24
Now offering a Shelter-in-Place special. Three months is just a ‘sip’ of Latitude 38. You can read Latitude 38 at home. The last day to sign up is April 24.
Wed, April 15, 2020
The Maritime Icon of Dana Point
The Late Brig ‘Pilgrim’ in Happier Times
Here's an update on the sinking of the 'Pilgrim', the full-scale replica of the merchant brig made famous in Richard Henry Dana's Two Years Before the Mast.
The World Famous L38
Caption Contest(!)
Here's your April Caption Contest(!). Be sure to check out the May issue of Latitude 38 for the winner and top 10 entries.
While Sheltering in Place
Videos, Webinars, Quizzes and Schedule Updates
We can already see that we've turned the corner on sailing events. Now the announcements of SIP alternatives have outpaced the slowing trickle of cancellations.
ADAPTING
The Cruiser’s Mindset
Read why cruisers are more adaptable to changing conditions in Tim Henry's feature, The Cruisers Mindset, Adapting to Any Conditions.
Mon, April 13, 2020
Coping with COVID-19
Is San Francisco Bay Closed to Sailing?
There is no law restricting sailing on San Francisco Bay, though each county has issued guidelines supporting the governor's overall shelter-in-place directive.
Latitude in New Zealand
The Book that Got Me Hooked on Captain Cook
In 1768, Captain James Cook set sail aboard the 97-ft bark Endeavour, bound for the South Pacific. King George III dispatched the ship from Plymouth.
SIP with Latitude 38
$10 for 3 Months — Sign Up by April 24
Now offering a Shelter-in-Place special. Three months is just a ‘sip’ of Latitude 38. You can read Latitude 38 at home. The last day to sign up is April 24.
Fri, April 10, 2020
Sponsored Post
Westwind Boat Detailing
Washing, waxing, varnishing. Serving the entire Bay Area for more than 30 years. “Boat looks great. Please pass my thanks to those who did the work."
Good News from around the world
Keeping Creative (and Sane) in the Time of COVID
Greetings, Latitude Nation, from 37° South. Life here in New Zealand is probably similar to that in the rest of the world: The main attractions are your living room, Netflix and taking long, destination-less walks.
Postponing a Decision
A Message from the Race to Alaska Boss
"Over here at Races High Command we turn on every computer monitor and radio, set them all to news stations, and spin in circles until we find a station that is not reporting on COVID-19. We are still spinning," writes Daniel Evans, Race Boss of the Race to Alaska.
Wed, April 8, 2020
Schedule Adjustments
Pacific Cup (and More) Canceled!
Organizers for the Pacific Cup from San Francisco to Oahu have canceled the 2020 race and scheduled the next one to start the week of July 4, 2022.
Have Latitude Mailed to You
Shelter-in-Place Special: $10 for 3 Months
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.
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