Golden Tickets Return To Surprise Latitude 38 Readers

What a great way to start the year! Two of our readers have found the elusive Golden Ticket in their copies of Latitude 38 sailing magazine. Brian Natov from Davis, CA, picked up his copy at Newsbeat in Davis, and Jamie Rosman from Nevada collected his Latitude 38 and Golden Ticket from the Pacific Mariners Yacht Club in Marina del Rey. Both lucky winners are receiving a new Latitude 38 hat. We’re waiting to hear back from Jamie about his sailing life, but the photo he sent us (at the bottom of this page) shows him aboard a boat. That’s a great start! Brian’s photo wasn’t taken aboard a boat, but the flags in the background do set up a boaty kind of vibe. Here’s what Brian tells us about himself.

“Growing up in the City, I’ve been on plenty of boats in the Bay over the years. Unfortunately for me … that never turns out well. We once rented a yacht, just tied up at Pier 39 one night for our 10th wedding anniversary. What a disaster that was! I once did a week on the Peter- and Darcy-crewed 62-ft cat, the Sea Leopard in the BVI, (only because it was given to us for free). I would never choose to go on a boat, especially in the ocean. I blow chunks on boats. Regardless, my bride and I took all four kids. What a terrific blast that was! But I wore a patch on my neck the entire time and even got sick on that big cat. Me and boats just never really got along. BUT.…”

“I’ve loved to raft/kayak/canoe my entire life — since scouting. Even as a kid, when I would save up and go in on a raft with my brother — we’d buy it from that big raft place on Market Street in the City, way down near Gough or something. That’s been gone for decades.

“Our latest marine adventures take place on a two-man inflatable kayak from Saturn [inflatable kayaks, boats, rafts, SUP boards, etc.]. Ours is christened the Santa Maria in memory of a dear friend.”

“It has nice seating for two. My lovely bride and I tend to frequent the rivers and lakes near and far from us in the Sierra. And now we’re buying a trailer so the kayak will come with us everywhere. Ahoy!

“And even though I’m not a mariner per se, there is a definite kinship reading L38 [Latitude 38 magazine]. I love to read the letters especially — and hear of the trials, lessons, feats and triumphs. Thanks for bringing it!”

Thanks to Brian for sharing his story. We think he’s a brave soul for having tried to overcome his propensity to “blow chunks” — trying a sailboat twice, and now kayaking.… Some people we know can even feel seasick on a surfboard if they’re not busy getting waves!

We’re keeping an eye out for Jamie’s sailing story. In the meantime, here’s the photo he sent us.

Any guesses what kind of boat Jamie is on? Apart from a sailboat that is. We’ll have to wait and see what he says.