"We may be geese, headed south for the winter, or the Ha-Ha may just be the first leg of a very, very long vacation," say Tom & Kelly Miller of the Alameda-based Panda 40 Stochastic.  More »

No, this image hasn’t been color-adjusted in Photoshop. The water in Tonga really is that blue, clear and inviting.  © Livia Gilstrap "I remember the sun rising over the peaks and the spicy floral smell of the island; the giddy feeling that we had actually sailed our home to the South Pacific." More »

After their budget-related 2013 hiatus, the Blue Angels and other aerial daredevils will be back this weekend. Pictured here, stunt planes and Navy jets share Bay Area skies during a practice run in 2008.  More »

Talk about an unlikely life raft. Who would have thought this plastic container could deliver a wayward sailor to safety.  U-Fin
©2014Latitude 38 Media, LLC One reason mariners should always keep a sharp lookout is that they never know what might cross their track — an oncoming vessel, dangerous debris, or a fisherman riding in a green plastic crate. More »

As hinted by our October cover, right now is prime time for southbound cruisers to enjoy tranquil Channel Islands anchorages. © 2014 Jane Roy As you turn your calendar today, we hope you’ll be reminded that the first of each month is usually Latitude 38 delivery day all over the Bay Area — and also the day that the entire issue is posted at our website for free downloading or online reading. More »

Mexican government sources confirmed over the weekend that the dead body of British sailor and scuba instructor Paul Whitehouse, 45, was found in the mangroves adjacent to La Paz Bay. This brings the tally of expat sailors killed by Hurricane Odile to three. More »

If you’re in the market for a new boat, or you may be in the near future, be sure to check out Boat Fest this weekend in Alameda.  Boat Fest
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC If you’re in the market for a new or high-quality used boat — or you simply like poking around different boat designs in order to help you move closer to a buying decision — consider attending the (free) Annual Boat Fest at Alameda’s Marina Village Yacht Harbor, which runs today through Sunday, from 11 a.m. More »

The powerful storm blew over many dry-stored boats in La Paz.  BajaInsider.com
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC As reported earlier, Hurricane Odile struck a devastating blow to Cabo San Lucas, although as far as we know, yachts in marinas there suffered only minimal damage. More »

This image from Puerto Escondido hints at the power of Odile. Note the tattered headsail. And this was after the storm’s force had diminished. © Shelly Ward With most communication out with Baja, it’s difficult to get an accurate picture of the destruction caused by Hurricane Odile, but the following should give a general idea. More »

When a regatta event includes Le Mans starts, you can bet that the focus is on fun. Nearly 40 two-person crews competed in the Port Opua Hobie Cat Challenge, in which modified shallow-draft Hobie 16s raced in a single-elimination match-racing format. More »