April 2, 2003

Photo of the Day

April 2 – Nuevo Vallarta

Last week we were at Paradise Marina with
Profligate getting ready to cross over to Cabo San Lucas
when these three lovely young French girls in bikinis strolled
over and asked if they could pose on the bow of our cat. Hoping
to somewhat mend the rapidly deteriorating relations between
the French and Americans, we agreed – and came up with the photo
of the day. By the way, if you’re a young guy with a boat who
likes young women, Spring Break – which actually spreads out
over about a month – is the time to be in Mexico. The place is
overrun with young ladies looking for a little adventure and
romance.

Photo Latitude/Richard

Some Kind of Sick April Fool’s Joke?

April 2 – Mexico City

“I hope yesterday’s
‘Lectronic Latitude item about the Mexican government getting
rid of the current checking in and out procedures is real and
was not some kind of bad April Fool’s joke,” writes Ken
Allison of Foster City. “If it is real, it would be the
best news that I’ve heard in a long while. If it is a joke you
are a @!*&*^$>#%&^$@!*&*^$ and shouldn’t
joke about such a serious subject.”

What we reported was no joke. We were in
Cabo yesterday where Enrique Fernandez, general manager of Cabo
Isle Marina, and someone who is very plugged into government
issues as they relate to marinas and recreational boating, told
us that their House of Representatives had passed a law that
would require clearing into the country and out of the country,
but not checking in beyond that while inside the country. Presumably
there would be a cruising permit involved, but Fernandez said
he had no idea how much it might cost. Further, he carefully
noted that it still has to pass their Senate before it would
become law, and he has no idea when that might happen. So while
it’s not a done deal, there is reason to be optimistic.

We agree that if Mexico gets rid of internal
check-ins, it will be great news and a very big deal. We don’t
think Mexico has appreciated how much their current time-consuming
and expensive clearing procedures are hated by cruisers.

Ellen’s New Boat

April 2 – France

British yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur’s sponsor,
Kingfisher plc, have announced their full support for the design
and construction of a new 75-ft solo trimaran for a campaign
of singlehanded record attempts in 2004 and 2005.

Graphic Courtesy Offshore Challenges

The new boat, which will fly the colors
of B&Q, a Kingfisher company, is being designed by Nigel
Irens. Based in France, the British naval architect has more
than 20 years experience designing and racing multihulls. Construction
will start at the end of April at the Boatspeed yard in Australia.
The plan is to launch this winter, then conduct an extensive
boat/sail testing program before a shake-down delivery to Europe
next spring/early summer. A detailed program will be announced
once construction has begun on www.teamkingfisher.com.

MacArthur’s program announced in January
2002 remains the same, including plans to enter the ORMA 60 trimaran
racing circuit during 2005, with the key objective of the 2006
Route du Rhum race.

Team Kingfisher has no immediate plans
for another crewed Jules Verne attempt, but there is certainly
an idea to have another go in a few years time.

California Rain Eases Bashing Pain

April 2 – Cabo San Lucas, BCS

While folks here in Northern California
may not be happy about this week’s rain, it’s a godsend for boats
that just left Cabo doing the Baja Bash. The lows that bring
rain to Northern California screw up the Pacific High, which
ordinarily creates the strong northwesterlies that usually make
a spring bash from Cabo to San Diego such a bitch. Thanks to
the lows, it’s been ultra mellow along the coast of Baja.

Paul Biery and crew Wes left Cabo two days
ago aboard Paul’s Catana 431 New Focus and had smooth
motoring all the way to Turtle Bay, which is over 400 miles.
Profligate left Cabo yesterday at noon, and has seen no
more than 1-ft waves. Furthermore, Doña de Mallorca reports
it was warm enough to still be wearing her swimsuit. Last night
was a little wild, however, as there was sheet lightning and
thunder all around. But still no wind.

Profligate on the hook at Cabo San Lucas yesterday morning.
Note the overcast. There were only 12 boats on the hook or on
mooring buoys.
Photo Latitude/Richard

Bashers headed north are in a race against
time, as they try to get as far north – and hopefully at least
across Vizcaino Bay to the Baja coast – before the lows move
east and the high reestablishes itself. The problem with waiting
for the next low is that they don’t come so far south – or so
often – this late in the spring.

April Issue Best Yet

April 2 – Mill Valley

The April boat show issue of Latitude
38, our biggest of the year, has been distributed. We think
it may be our best yet, so we hope you pick one up at one of
the usual places and check it out. Of course we’ll have plenty
available at Pacific SAIL EXPO later this month too. If you need
to order a copy by mail, go to www.latitude38.com/admin/subsform.htm.

Our readers and distributors should be
forewarned that the May issue will come out on Friday, May 2,
and not on May 1.

Photo Latitude/Annie

YOTREPS

April 2 – The Pacific Ocean and Cyberspace

Who is out making passages in the Pacific
and what kind of weather are they having? The YOTREPS daily yacht
tracking page has moved to www.bitwrangler.com/psn.

Weather Updates

April 2 – Pacific
Ocean

San Francisco Bay Weather

To see what the winds are like on the Bay
and just outside the Gate right now, check out http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/wind.

The National Weather Service site for San
Francisco Bay is at www.wrh.noaa.gov/Monterey.

California Coast Weather

Looking for current as well as recent wind
and sea readings from 17 buoys and stations between Pt. Arena
and the Mexican border? Here’s the place – which has further
links to weather buoys and stations all over the U.S.: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Southwest.shtml.

Pacific Winds and Pressure

The University of Hawaii Dept. of Meteorology
page posts a daily
map of the NE Pacific Ocean barometric pressure and winds.

Pacific Sea State

Check out the Pacific Ocean sea states
at: http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.

For views of sea states anywhere in the world,
see http://www.oceanweather.com/data.