Hostages Robert Hall, John Ridsdel and Kjartan Sekkingstad, who were kidnapped from Ocean View Marina in the Philippines on September 21, are seen in a video just released by an unknown terrorist group. More »

There’s been longtime speculation within the sailing community that completion of the new "third lane" of the Panama Canal may lead to faster small-vessel transits between the Pacific and the Caribbean. More »

After sailing in the recent J/70 North American Championship in San Diego, top Bay Area sailor and boatbuilder Campbell Rivers was dealt a cruel and unfair blow that will likely change his life forever. More »

Escapade spent some time in a yard near Toulon earlier this summer so that Catana could get the right fit on the new daggerboards. Escapade
©2015Latitude 38 Media, LLC "The season is pretty short here in the Med, and, like the Wanderer told us, once the wind patterns change, the season can end very quickly," write Greg Dorland and Debbie Macrorie of the Lake Tahoe-based Catana 52 cat Escapade. More »

Remember our recent story (September Sightings, p.74) about the Coast Guard capturing a self-propelled semi-submersible on July 17, somewhere off the coast of Mexico, that was filled with bales of cocaine? More »

The grounding of a bright yellow Catalina 27 at Ocean Beach, was a minor news story Monday, but it serves as a painful reminder to all who plan to sail south this fall or winter to head several miles out past the Golden Gate before hanging a left.  More »

A photo of a photo of Big O doing one of the Dickenson Bay races in the mid-1990s. It’s amazing how just one photo can unleash a torrent of spectacularly great memories. More »

Our old Flying Scud may be more than 50 years old, but we think the Philip Rhodes design still looks great. In this photo she’s seen at the anchorage off Stearns Wharf with the Santa Barbara Riviera in the background.  More »

Crossing the Pacific, garbage wasn’t the only thing Stay Gold picked up. Presumably, this flying fish was returned to the sea. Stay Gold
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC After the two long and demanding passages that they endured while crossing from Victoria, BC, to San Francisco and then on to Hawaii as volunteer researchers for The Ocean Cleanup project, we’re impressed that Canadian sailors Jason Frechette, Nicole Belleau and Wayana Emanuelle are preparing to set sail again after just three weeks in the Hawaiian Islands. More »

As you might imagine, there are always plenty of pirates and wenches at the KIck-off Costume Parties. That’s West Marine’s Captain Ron in the background — he lives for this! © 2015 Fin Beven With just a month to go to the start of the 22nd Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers’ Rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas — with stops at Turtle Bay and Bahia Santa Maria — there has been some confusion as to the location of the Kick-Off Party. More »