According to a Wall Street Journal report yesterday, the U.S. has taken a bold step in combating Somali piracy. Earlier this month, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents entered Somali territory and, with cooperation from local government authorities, tracked down and arrested Mohammad Shibin, 50, a key player in the kidnapping saga of American cruisers Scott and Jean Adam of the Marina del Rey-based Davidson 58 Quest, and their guests Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle of Seattle. More »

Twenty years ago, Steve Schmidt, then of Saratoga, promised Bill Lee of Santa Cruz Yachts that he would never race the heavily ‘cruis-ified’ Santa Cruz 70 that he wanted Bill to build for him. More »

Sailors en route to or from the Hawaiian Islands have always had to keep a sharp eye out for shipping traffic, migrating whales and runaway containers, but they’ll soon have another — potentially more ominous — hazard to deal with. More »

Delta Doo Dah vets Erik and Brian Jones of the Berkeley-based Glastron Spirit 28 Sizzle were honored with US Sailing’s Hanson Rescue Medal last week for their role in rescuing two Bay sailors on July 19, 2009. More »

In late 2007 Harker rounded Cape Point, South Africa, thus returning to the Atlantic Ocean where he would complete his mostly solo circumnavigation. © Mike Harker We regret to report that Manhattan Beach-based solo circumnavigator Mike Harker passed away last Friday in St. More »

After a decade of planning, the much-anticipated renovation to the San Francisco Marina West — just behind St. Francis YC — is slated to begin on April 25 with the removal of the current docks. More »

Steve Schmidt drives Hotel California, Too, to a 7th out of 22 boats in class in the first of four Voiles de St. Barth races. latitude/Richard
©2011 Latitude 38 Media, LLC It sort of looks like . More »

No one was more surprised than us when, 25 minutes after posting Monday’s ‘Lectronic Latitude, all 50 spots on the Delta Doo Dah 3D entry list were filled — that’s two boats a minute, folks! More »

Thomas Coville’s Sodeb’O fell just short of Francis Joyon’s singlehanded ’round the world record last Thursday. Coville sailed 28,431 miles in his attempt, at an average speed of 19.42 knots. © 2011 Francois Van Mallenghen / Sodeb’O We’re not much on heroes of any sort, but the individual who comes closest to fitting that description for us is Frances Joyon, the soft-spoken, semi-reclusive, and universally-admired French soul sailor who has astounded sailing experts with his singlehanded around-the-world and transoceanic exploits, and who is the current owner of the singlehanded around-the-world record. More »

No one was more surprised than the staff of Latitude 38 when representatives of the International Feng Shui awards committee appeared at the magazines corporate offices in Mill Valley yesterday to present it’s most revered annual prize: the Ultimate Feng Shui award. More »