John and Nancy Powers of the Napa-based Tayana 48 Meridian are planning to give their daughters, Maddie (L), 8, and Sophie, 6, an education in the school of life. latitude/Andy
©2008 Latitude 38 Media, LLC Although the word ‘paradise’ is perhaps the most overused descriptor in the lexicon of travel writers, few places are more deserving of that moniker than the islands of French Polynesia. More »

The SF-based Beneteau 42 Cirque got off to a good start but, like others, struggled to maintain position in the light air. Seen here approaching Piedra Negra. latitude/Andy
©2008 Latitude 38 Media, LLC The annual Zihuatanejo SailFest drew to a close yesterday afternoon, just in time for some members of the 60-boat fleet to slip off and watch the Super Bowl. More »

These young scholars from the Nueva Creación School seem genuinely happy to be receiving a primary school education. Thanks to the generosity of the cruising community, they now learn within modern classrooms rather than in a crumbling wooden shack. More »

The 5th Annual San Francisco Ocean Film Festival, the first of its kind in North America, kicks off Friday at the Cowell Theater in the Fort Mason Center, and runs through the weekend. More »

Although SailFest’s focus is on fundraising and shoreside fun, fleet members also test their racing prowess. © sailfest 07 The biggest buzz within the Mexico cruising community this month is about the 7th annual Zihuatanejo SailFest, which is expected to draw a hundred foreign boats to this tranquil coastal town. More »

The youngest of all the Pirates for Pupils was Katie Millison of colony Emiliano Zapata, weapon at the ready. latitude/Richard
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC The crews of the 30 boats that participated in this year’s first ever three-day Pirates for Pupils Banderas Bay Blast for Charity couldn’t have hoped for better weather or sailing conditions. More »

If actual racing, as opposed to America’s Cup lawyering, is your passion, you should direct your attention to the Atlantic Ocean right now. While the nine-boat Barcelona around-the-world fleet is certainly worth following, by no means miss the efforts of singlehander Francis Joyon and his new 100-ft trimaran IDEC, who are going after the singlehanded around the world record set by Ellen MacArthur with the trimaran B&Q / Castrorama, as well as Franck Cammas and his crew on the 105-ft maxi trimaran Groupama III, who are going after the Jules Verne around-the-world record for crewed boats. More »