April 25, 2001

Photo of the Day April 25 – Cuba If you think accidents only happen to amateur skippers of smaller sailboats, take a look at this photo by Devan Mullins of the Shannon 38 Points Beyond. The ketch pictured is a multi-million dollar Jongert, probably about 120 feet. She hung up on a reef just outside the Hemingway International Marina several miles to the east of Havana, Cuba. Entering the marina in any kind of blow from the north or northeast is dicey, and she’s not the first boat to go up. An inexperienced skipper and the possibility of the boat being underpowered were also raised as factors.

Photo Devan Mullins

---

Short Season

April 25 – Zihuatanejo, Mexico

“It’s mid-April, and most cruisers have left Zihuatanejo,”
report Brent and Susan Lowe of the Royal Passport 47 Akauahelo.
“Unlike last year when we rushed down to Z-town, this year
we decided to travel more slowly down the coast, anchoring just
about everywhere for a few days. We’re glad we did. But just like
everyone else, we wanted to spend at least two months in Z-town
– what a great place and what great people – which is why we’re
still here in the middle of April. But it’s very quiet. In January
there are usually more than 80 boats anchored in the bay, but
now there are only four – with a couple more over at Marina Ixtapa.

“With the big Mexican Holy Week celebrations
in full swing,” Brent and Susan continue, “Z-town has
truly returned to the Mexicans. But we few cruisers left are really
enjoying the tranquility. Rick’s Bar still has good entertainment
almost every night, and folks still gather on Tuesday and Friday
afternoons for Mexican Train Dominoes – the game that seemed to
have taken the cruising world by storm this year. Sunday nights
around the central basketball court are still a blast, as we listen
to local talent and ‘graze’ through the food tables. We will be
leaving in a week or so to follow the northbounders. There’s more
of a chance of southerlies at this time of year, so sailing north
might be easer. There are only two downsides we can see to staying
here this late in the season: 1) The SSB nets are harder to hear,
as the crowds have headed farther north. 2) With fewer masts to
chose from, we now get more than our share of roosting Boobie
birds . . . and our boat is starting to seem like the birds’ public
toilet.”

---

America’s Cup Jubilee

April 25 – Cowes, UK

As most of you probably already know, one of the great celebrations
in yachting, the 150th anniversary of the America’s Cup, will
be celebrated at Cowes, England, on August 19-25. Every winning
helmsman and/or skipper since 1970 is expected to attend. Check
out the list:

1970 – Bill Ficker – Intrepid
1974 – Ted Hood – Courageous
1977 – Ted Turner – Courageous
1980 – Dennis Conner – Freedom (and 1987- Stars &
Stripes, 1988 Stars &
Stripes)
1983 – John Bertrand – Australia II
1992 – Bill Koch and Buddy Melges – America3
1995 – Russell Coutts – Team New Zealand
2000 – Russell Coutts and Dean Barker – Team New Zealand

Briggs Cunningham, the winning skipper in
1958 on board Columbia, and Olin Stephens, who helmed Ranger
for some of the last America’s Cup race in 1937, will also be
present. A number of non-winners will also be on hand: Noel Robbins
(Australia), Iain Murray (Kookaburra), Francesco
de Angelis (Luna Rossa) and Paul Cayard (Il Moro
and AmericaOne), among those due to participate. It’s expected
that this very high end event will draw perhaps the largest collection
of great sailing yachts ever, to watch and participate in associated
events. Visit www.louisvuittoncup.com
for details.

Wedding Bells April 24 – Nuevo Vallarta Dick Markie, Harbormaster at Paradise Resort & Marina just outside of Puerto Vallarta, reports that he and his sweetheart Gina will be getting married this October. Photo Latitude/Richard

April 25 – The Pacific Ocean and Cyberspace

Who is out making passages in the Pacific
and what kind of weather are they having? Check out YOTREPS –
‘yacht reports’ – at http://www.bitwrangler.com/yotreps/

---

Weather Updates

April 25 – 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/.

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/stuff/southwest/swstmap.shtml.

Pacific Sea State

Seas are normal in the Pacific. But you
might check out the Pacific Ocean sea states at: http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.

For another view, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data/global.html.

We’re leaving you with a short edition today,
as we are furiously working away at completing the May issue,
which will hit the streets on Tuesday, May 1.