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Top Canadian Mechanic Said to Have Fled Mexico

Bob Buchanan, the Canadian owner of Total Yacht Works in Mazatlan, is reported to have fled Mexico. If you know anything about the circumstances, we’d like to hear from you. Buchanan was last seen in late December… latitude/richard
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC Buchanan, who started Total Yacht Works 14 years ago, and became the biggest distributor of Yanmar diesels between the United States and South America, enjoyed a stellar reputation in the cruising community as being among the best, if not the best, diesel mechanic in Mexico. More »

Rampant Outboard Motor Thefts

Some Alameda boat owners had an unwelcome holiday surprise: Thieves were back in action, stealing at least eight outboards and two boats from marinas and private property. Outboards like this have been disappearing from boats in Alameda’s dry-storage lots. More »
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To Stay or Go To Mexico

Fito Espinoza, Harbormaster at Marina Coral in Ensenada, one of the marinas most affected by AGACE’s impounding of more than 338 foreign owned boats, reports that there will be a meeting tonight in San Diego of SAT (Mexican IRS) officials and the mangers of at least seven Mexican marinas. More »
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The Latest Update on Impounded Boats

We realize that many of you are sick and tired of reading about this issue, but it is critically important to many North Americans whose boats are in Mexico. So we’ll share this detailed update as a preview of what will appear in the February edition of Latitude 38. More »

Cruisers Attacked in St. Lucia

Retired cruisers, Roger (62) and Margaret (60) Pratt were attacked on their yacht January 18 while moored at the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Up to three men apparently rowed up to the couple’s yacht, Magnetic Attraction, and attacked Mr. More »
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AGACE Puts yet Another Bullet in Mexico’s Foot

This just in. The owners of one boat impounded in Ensenada tells us that Mexican IRS (AGACE) has accepted at least one boat owner’s application to have their boat released. The AGACE agent told them it will take two weeks to get the official release letter. More »

More Brazen Smuggling Activity

On December 9 we reported that drug smugglers were taking increasingly brazen measures to import drugs to the US. Smuggler’s use of fast, open pangas (Mexican fishing boats) to motor up the West Coast is of great concern to California’s law enforcement authorities, and specifically the US Coast Guard, which is tasked with maritime surveillance and drug interdiction efforts. More »

New SF Boat Show Next Week

The first annual Progressive San Francisco Boat Show, brought to you by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, takes place January 23-26 at Pier 48 and AT&T Park’s McCovey Cove. Sailing on San Francisco Bay on a summer’s day. More »

Angel Island Ferry Service

The California Department of Parks and Recreation will be holding a public meeting tomorrow (January 16) to discuss the best options for providing ferry service to and from Angel Island State Park — a cherished San Francisco Bay landmark. More »

Share Your Alaska Eagle Memories

No boat we know of has done more to introduce would-be offshore sailors to the rigors of blue-water sailing. OCCSSS
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC We felt a bit sad after learning that the longtime flagship of the Orange Coast College School of Sailing and Seamanship, Alaska Eagle, had been sold, and will soon return to her Dutch roots. More »