Jud Baker, left, and John Davidson, right, survived in a dinghy without food or water for three days before their rescue last Saturday. Inset, Trinity in happier days. © Sunbelt Spirit Last Saturday, Canadians John Davidson, 65, and Jud Baker, 47, were rescued from their inflatable dinghy after Davidson’s 42-ft trimaran Trinity sank in rough weather about five miles off Costa Rica three days earlier. More »

After many hours of dedicated work, three of the little skiff’s builders take her for a victory lap around Aquatic Park. © Seth Muir In an era when many California schools have eliminated practical, hands-on ‘shop’ courses, the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association has been quietly offering boatbuilding courses to disadvantaged youth for the past five years, that teach marketable skills, build self-esteem, and sometimes give participants a whole new direction in life.  More »

"We have to agree that a shower of any kind is a special event while cruising," writes Emmy Newbould, who has been cruising with hubby Eric Willbur aboard their Brickyard Cove-based Dutchman 37 Nataraja since April ’09 and are currenty in New Zealand. More »

Despite an extensive search that lasted nearly eight hours, Bay Area sailor Casey Speed, 28, could not be found after he fell off his Sausalito-based Island Packet Kachina near Tiburon shortly before 8:30 p.m. More »

As we’ve been reporting for several months now, Aussies have been coming to California to buy expensive sailboats. There is no mystery as to the reason why. Thanks to the weaker American dollar and the stronger Aussie dollar, sailors from the Land Down Under believe they can buy a boat in the States, take a couple of years to cruise her home, and, upon selling the boat, recoup all their money. More »

Out of the gloom, Adagio seeks the solace of the sun. latitude/LaDonna
©2010 Latitude 38 Media, LLC San Francisco Bay is known for its fog — in summer or early fall. More »

‘Haully Green Giant’ takes Silent Sun to KKMI Sausalito’s wash down area. latitude/LaDonna
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC Since the fall of ’07, this writer and her husband’s boat has been part of a bottom paint study to test the efficacy of the biocide Econea, an eco-friendly product produced by Janssen Pharmaceutica and sold to different paint companies. More »

When it comes to cruiser fundraisers in Mexico, the Banderas Bay Blast / Pirates for Pupils is a modest one, in part because it’s so early in the season that a lot of boats still haven’t arrived. More »

And you thought it was cold at your marina lately! © Chris Maher Last week, when we ran a few photos of happy, barefoot cruisers celebrating Thanksgiving in the sunny latitudes of Mexico, we invited readers to send in snapshots of other on- or near-the-water Turkey Day celebrations. More »