Latitude 38 July Issue Out Now
If the first weekend of summer sailing on the solstice (the Sailstice) didn’t get you ready to sail more, the July issue, the 4th of July, the Pacific Cup and the welcoming arms of the Delta should help you discover ample reasons to spend more time on your boat.
This issue includes the second installment of Jonathan Livingston’s balls-to-the-wall account of a doublehanded Pacific Cup race and shakedown to Hawaii; a story on why anchors are a central feature of the sailing life and why Clipper Cove is the perfect place to use them; Andy Schwenk’s definitive guide on who stands to win the Pacific Cup; Andy Newell’s Duxbury Lightship MOB; a four-page spread on the 2026 Master Mariners Regatta; and more on sailors doing what they love. Here’s a preview.
An Epic E27 Shakedown to Hawaii — Part 2
A thousand miles from land and any other meaningful obstacle, Gary Clifford and I were racing an invisible opponent called “the Squall Lord,” who, as far as I could tell, had both a cruel sense of humor and an advanced degree in personal humiliation. The scoreboard — yes, we had a scoreboard — was scrawled in grease pencil on the cockpit bulkhead. On one side: the Squall Lord. On the other hand, our noble, questionably managed vessel, Light’n Up. At that moment, we were ahead, which felt less like victory and more like a clerical error.
Who’s on First?
Did we win? Are we winning? These comments almost guarantee this individual is competing in a sailboat regatta. The Pacific Cup was first sailed to Hawaii in 1980, envisioned as “The Fun Race to Hawaii.” It has easily lived up to this founding motto. The Pacific Cup (Pac Cup) has been held in every even-numbered year since, except for COVID-2020. It has provided folks from around the world an alternative to the legendary Transpac. Pac Cup is about 175 miles longer than Transpac, via the great circle route. Generally, it is more about precise navigation than straight-line, hair-on-fire boat speed.
MOB Rescue In Duxbury Lightship Race
At around 12:45 p.m., Ahi was hit by a large wave, which broke over the boat. Before Ahi had righted herself, another larger wave broke over our starboard side, washing this writer completely overboard. The crew reports that Ahi rolled 90 degrees or more. Nearly everything at the top of the mast was lost or damaged.
I don’t remember seeing the wave before it hit, but once it did, I remember being amid the water before I actually hit the water.
Plus this month’s regular columns:
Letters: A story of a death-defying sail to Half Moon Bay in a 26-ft Thunderbird 44 years ago; letters on allegedly sexist writing; West Marine bankruptcy; the fire on Santa Rosa Island; the shallow end of the pool at San Francisco Marina; and stacks more readers’ letters.
Sightings: A Treasure of an Anchorage; A Shakespearean America’s Cup; The Story of Snipe; and more.
Max Ebb: “Hot tub Hydro”
Racing Sheet: July’s edition of the racing sheet highlights an escape into the warm Delta waters via the 2026 Delta Ditch Run, a West Coast legend’s win in the Spinnaker Cup, and some J/105 and Express 37 drama at the EYC One Design. We then visit Santa Cruz and the I-14 fleet’s continued revival and the Farallones for a singlehanded race, and highlight two Bay Area yacht club teams who will be representing the West Coast in Northern Germany via the Sailing League. We hope you enjoy the July 2026 Racing Sheet. Sail fast!
Changes in Latitudes: It’s Pacific Puddle Jump time! This month we have reports from Kehaulani’s “relentless and magical” trip to the Marquesas; Aisling’s post-Baja Ha-Ha adventures; Hemisphere Dancer’s Pacific crossing; and even some PPJ-related Cruise Notes.
Plus, see all the latest in sailboats and sailboat gear for sale in Classy Classifieds.
Our drivers caught up with locals while delivering the July issue to Bay Area locations yesterday.
Pick up your copy from your nearest distributor.