Current News
Who’s in Charge of a Vessel?
We always assumed that it was a captain’s decision whether to put to sea or not, particularly if bad weather is approaching. But that doesn’t seem to be the thinking of British Admiralty Registrar Robert Jervis Kay. More »
On Engine Air Filters
"When I changed the air filter on my Beta Marine 1505 air filter recently, I recalled the claims of other manufacturers that their engines didn’t need an air filter for marine applications," writes Jay Bietz, who sails his Westsail 32 Pygmalion out of Alameda. More »
Mexico Now Requiring Visas
Is it true that southbound cruisers now have to get Mexican visas before leaving the U.S.? The answer isn’t clear, but we’re investigating.
latitude/Andy
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC "Mexican law now states that anyone coming within 24 miles of shore must have a visa," reported Taylor Hill in the January 4 issue of San Diego’s boating newspaper The Log. More »
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC "Mexican law now states that anyone coming within 24 miles of shore must have a visa," reported Taylor Hill in the January 4 issue of San Diego’s boating newspaper The Log. More »
Save Cal Boating
Cal Boating is responsible for keeping the Delta’s water hyacinth problem under control. A delay in federal approval for this summer’s spraying caused the stuff to strangle many waterways. Just imagine what the Delta would look like if Parks and Rec got their hands on DBW’s funding. More »
The President Turns 90
At cocktail hour tonight, we invite you to join us in raising a glass to the so-called President of the Pacific Ocean, Merl Petersen, who turns 90 today.
The gallivanting skipper struck a pose aboard Viveka for our September 2007 feature on him. More »
Making Headlines for Making a Difference
Apart from occasional mentions of the America’s Cup superstars and around-the-world record-setters, sailors rarely garner the attention of mainstream media. But the Bay Area’s CBS-TV affiliate and several local radio stations made an exception last month when Captain Richard Gillette received a prestigious Jefferson Award for outstanding community service. More »
World ARC Begins
The 26-boat fleet in the 2012-13 World ARC set off from Rodney Bay, St. Lucia on Sunday on a 15-month circumnavigation. Not all of the entries will complete the 26,000-mile circuit, though, as a handful will be joining the fleet at their next stop in Panama’s San Blas Islands before transiting the Canal and heading for Oz — with stops at the Galapagos, Hiva Oa, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Niue, Vava’u, Fiji and Vanuatu along the way. More »
Laura Dekker Set to Finish
Sixteen-year-old Dutch sailor Laura Dekker is currently sailing from South Africa to St. Martin in the Netherland Antilles in the Caribbean on the last leg of a solo circumnavigation aboard her 38-ft Jeanneau Gin Fizz ketch Guppy. More »
Mexico News
Writing about violent crime along the Pacific Coast of Mexico is always tricky.
On the one hand, we firmly believe it’s our responsibility and obligation to report on serious crime, violent and otherwise, that occurs in areas that cruisers are likely to frequent. More »
Miracle Bottom Paint Revealed
In the January issue of Latitude 38 you’ll read about this writer’s final haulout in a four-year study on the effectiveness of the biocide Econea in bottom paint. Since the first haulout, we’ve been impressed with only one test paint — a water-based version — that consistently outperformed its fellow test paints and the copper-based control paint. More »
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