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Posts by Andy Turpin

Big Fun on Banderas Bay

March 19, 2014
Can anybody play? Yeah, pretty much. The long-established Banderas Bay Regatta is fun for boats of all shapes and sizes. That’s Miss Kitty in the foreground, sailed to a third in class by Randy Hough and crewman Norm who note that their ages (62 and 65) add up to a higher number than their handicap. More »

When Do Cruisers Become Racers?

March 17, 2014
It’s a fact that most cruising sailors never race. That’s partly because they feel they’d be ‘sailing their house’, which is too heavily laden to be competitive, and partly because many of them have little or no previous racing experience.  More »

Sailing Close-to-Home Islands

Hmm, forested island, verdant hills behind. . . Where is it? New Zealand, the Caribbean, French Polynesia? No, try closer to home. latitude/Andy
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC One of the perks of being sailing journalists is that we occasionally get to go sailing through island chains in far-flung places. More »

Pre-Departure Puddle Jump Fiesta

March 14, 2014
This week, the Vallarta YC is abuzz with excitement about the 22nd annual Banderas Bay Regatta, which it hosts as a not-too-serious competition for cruising sailors. Last Friday cruisers were also the focus of the club’s activities. More »

Schmooze, Network and Sail

March 12, 2014
In real-life situations, ‘survivors’ are rarely this cheerful, but thanks to Sal, it’s become an annual tradition to sample an authentic raft’s ‘cozy’ interior. latitude/Archives
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC If you’ve ever lamented that you couldn’t find reliable crew for racing or daysailing, or if you’re an eager sailor who doesn’t own a boat but loves to get out on the water, then listen up because we’ve got a great solution for both scenarios.  More »

Ellison’s Grand Plan for AC 35

March 10, 2014
The previous incarnation of AC45 fleet racing was a huge international success. But this time, Ellison hopes to stage races in 10 different countries, which would be even better. We just hope they include fleet racing, which was by far the most thrilling part for spectators last time around. More »

Panama Jumpers Soon to Head West

March 5, 2014
There will be no shortage of crew aboard the Hughes 58 cat Li’l Explorers. Mom and Dad (in dark blue) will have these five youngsters along, plus a baby. But wait ’til you hear what they had to go through before they could begin their cruising dreams. More »

Capitola-In-The-Sea

March 3, 2014
You didn’t want to be transiting the Santa Cruz Harbor entrance this weekend. © Skip Allan A deep low pressure just off the Central California coast has been generating big waves, some as high as 25 feet. More »