April 26, 2001

By Grzegorz | April 26, 2001

Photo of the Day

April 26 – Banderas Bay

At the start of each Banderas Bay Regatta,
there’s a parade out the Nuevo Vallarta Channel. We on Profligate
always use this opportunity to set off a few out-of-date flares.
For the story and photos on this year’s Banderas Bay event, check
out the May 1 Latitude 38.

Photo Latitude

Congressional Cup

April 26 – Long Beach, CA

The Congressional Cup match racing series in underway in Long
Beach. Rich Roberts has this report:
“Peter Holmberg delivered a strong message Wednesday that
despite rumors to the contrary, all is well with Oracle
on two fronts – the America’s Cup training base at Ventura and
the 37th Congressional Cup 60 miles south. Holmberg, along with
Team New Zealand’s Bertrand Pacé, won all five of
his races on opening day to make an early move toward his third
win in four years in the match racing classic. Between fog banks
that blanketed the course during a Southern California heat wave,
the 40-year-old veteran from the U.S. Virgin Islands swept through
Britain’s Andy Green, Stars & Stripes’ Ken Read, Denmark’s
Jesper Radich, France’s Sebastien Destremau and Rod Davis, a U.S.
native who lives in New Zealand and sails for Italy’s Prada Challenge.

“I have to credit having [tactician]
John Cutler on board,” Holmberg said, referring to the New
Zealander who joined Oracle after sailing Dawn Riley’s
America True entry in the last America’s Cup. “Once
you have confidence in your tactician, I can concentrate fully
on driving.”

Concentration might have been a problem
considering tales of tribulation about the Oracle operation
that circulated around the world this week: the imminent departure
of designated skipper Chris Dickson; a fracas among crew members;
one of the boats, USA 61, falling off its cradle onto some
rocks. “There’s no truth [to it],” Holmberg said before
racing started. “Completely fabricated. Somebody’s trying
to make a National Enquirer thing in our sport. A little rumor’s
OK, but this one’s gone too far.” “

Racing continues Thursday in the double
round robin format followed by sailoffs on Sunday.

Pacific Sail Expo 2001 Wrap-Up

April 26 – Jack London Square, Oakland

The very first couple that walked up to
the Latitude 38 booth at Pacific Sail Expo at 11a.m. Wednesday
morning said they were ready with a five-day pass and we bet,
like us, they didn’t get to see and do all they wanted. Lot’s
to see, tons of fun and more sailors in one place than any event
in the West. Pacific Sail Expo 2001 was again a fantastic rendezvous
for sailors. Boat manufacturers put on their best display of
boats ever with more models and more boats than have been seen
in one place on the West Coast in 15 years. If you had serious
questions on gear and equipment you’d have been hard pressed
not to find what you were looking for at Pacific Sail Expo.

We got a chance to speak with Vendee Globe
heroine Ellen MacArthur, a visit with Rolex Yachtsman of the
Year and Star Gold medal winner, Mark Reynolds, a meeting with
French singlehand sailing legend J.P. Mouligne and a chat with
ubiquitous sailing personality Gary Jobson. Numerous other stellar
sailing personalities were in attendance and available in seminars
or exhibitor booths. When you collect all the boats, gear and
people involved in sailing in one place we realize why we like
our ‘sailing’ jobs so much. There wasn’t a boat there that we
didn’t want to ‘lose the docklines’ and jump aboard for a sail.

Photos Latitude

Photos Latitude

After being there for almost every open
hour of all five days we still can’t believe all the things we
didn’t get to see. We saw people spilling out of the seminar
tents for ‘standing room only’ presentations by many interesting
sailing speakers. The Grand Poobah put on a Saturday preview
of Baja Ha-Ha 2001 for
those interested in sailing South this fall. Asking who, in the
crowd, was going this year had about 90% in the packed seminar
tent raising their hands – it should be another great year for
the Ha-Ha. It was a constant challenge to decide which to visit
between all the seminars, people and boats.

After being blessed with almost perfect
weather for the first four years of the show the Fifth Anniversary
show was treated to record rainfall on Friday. While it cleared
the docks for awhile the somewhat flooded tents became packed
with hardy sailors who disregarded the weather and came anyway.
As some exhibitor in the tents commented ‘Friday gave new meaning
to the phrase ‘in-the-water boat show’. While Friday was wet
it didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of sailors or exhibitors.

The weather cleared for the weekend and
the docks were once again packed with sailors from all over the
West. Like Annapolis in the East, Pacific Sail Expo, has become
a show worth the trip. One boat dealer mentioned a prospect who
had flown in from Atlanta, GA for two days at the show. It was
great to see so many people from all over the West in attendance.
If you didn’t make it this year plan ahead for next, it’s already
on the calendar for April 17-21 2002.

YOTREPS

April 26 – 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 26 – 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.

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