Classic ‘Latitude 38’ Magazine Covers Are Works of Art

Since the earliest days, Latitude 38 has been looking out for sailors’ best interests. Check out one of the earliest issues from December 1977 — we’ve turned our Classic Covers into T-shirts so you can carry the wisdom from the past into your sailing present!

The editors were watching the wind and seas in December, noting, “One look from the Marin headlands confirmed suspicions that the seasons had changed. The South swell that is the result of storms of Mexico had been replaced by a North swell from the Aleutians. This north swell was a grumbler with awesome waves breaking for miles out to sea on both sides of the shipping channel.”

Right now we’re in the thick of the cold summertime winds gusting in the Bay — gotta stay sharp. But that issue of Latitude 38 had some good wisdom for us: “Winter is also the time sailors get lulled into a false sense of security around the dock. Lines are often secured casually on tranquil afternoons, only to break loose a few days later in a howling norther. Make sure your boat is secure for all weather conditions, not just those that prevail at the time you leave the dock. We don’t really like to write stuff like this, but we sure don’t want to write about mishaps a few months from now.”

All that fun summer sailing you’re doing is really the result of a lot of care and work behind the scenes in your off-season. Enjoy your summer sailing and stay safe out there. And while you’re at it, you can wear a piece of Latitude 38 history this summer. Visit our store, where we’ve got classic cover T-shirts, and be sure to send us a quick pic of yourself in your new Latitude 38 shirt!