March 26, 2002

By Grzegorz | March 26, 2002

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Photos of the Day

March 26 – Micronesia

Today’s beauties are from Micronesia, and
were taken by the crew of the 75-ft motoryacht Starship during
a Millennium Expedition to examine the health and beauty of the
planet. Three of the shots were taken by Michael Poliza: 1) Starship
in the Rock Islands of Palau; 2) A chief gutting a green turtle
at Ngulu Atoll, Micronesia; and 3) A frangipani flower at Yap.
The fourth photo was taken by James Frankham and is of Ngadmau
Falls, Palau.

For more great photos, as well as details
of the expedition, visit www.ms-starship.com.

Forster Freed from Clutches of Transvestite!

March 25 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

It’s been a bad year for journalists, but
at least one got out of a dicey situation – at least a dicey
situation for a yachting photographer. Barry Pickthall reports:
“With typical precision timing, Swiss photographer
Daniel Forster was released from jail in Rio early today, just
in time to catch a flight to Miami to photograph the
Volvo Race fleet. Photographer Forster was freed from the clutches
of a transvestite with whom he had been forced to share
a cell – and other things – thanks to a worldwide thrash
for cash by his journalist chums. The greatest thanks go to Big
Bob Greiser of San Diego, who offered to loan $10,000 to the
campaign to get our man out. At a press conference today (see
photo below), a heavily disguised Barry Pickthall, left, praised
everyone who had sent messages of support and money. Mercifully
Daniel, right, looked none the worse for his two-week ordeal.
Indeed, if anything, he looked younger than when he went in.
This he says is due to the care and attention – not to mention
body lotions – lavished on him by his new found friend Christina.
Hello magazine, who have bought exclusive rights to this
gruesome story, have snapped up Daniel’s film and the full
extent of his time in jail will be revealed in next week’s
edition.”

Barr Pickthall (left) and Daniel Forster
Photo Courtesy Barry Pickthall

Let’s see, Barry got the ‘who’, the ‘where’,
and sort of the ‘when’ of the story, but not the ‘why’. For gawd’s
sake Barry, why did Forster have to spend two weeks in a Rio
slammer?

Mystery Spot Revealed

March 26 – Read on. . .

Chris McKesson of the Sausalito-based Sundance
correctly identified yesterday’s
‘mystery spot’. “I’m gonna say Yelapa – but that is
largely because of the Kettenburg in the frame, and the picture
of Profligate I looked at a few moments ago. It’s been
30 years since I’ve been to Yelapa, but I remember the cove as
being smaller.”

It is indeed Yelapa, Chris, and hardly
a thing has changed in 30 years. Remember the falls? Here’s a
shot of Wendy, who frequently crews aboard Profligate, meditating
near the trickling waters. Muy tranquilo, no?

Photo Latitude/Richard

Missing Sail, Missing Lead

March 26 – Atlantic Ocean

How important is having the correct sail
in an event like the Volvo Around the World Race? Well, event
leader illbruck was at the head of the pack for the last
two weeks in the Rio to Miami leg, but then tore their light
wind masthead genniker. In just one night, the previously untouchable
Kostecki and crew have lost 15 miles, as Assa Abloy have
pulled even with them. With just over 100 miles to the finish,
Kostecki and crew are praying for a change in wind speed or wind
direction – anything. If they don’t get it, it’s going to be
a glum crew in South Beach.

Orange
Continues to Lose Ground

March 26 – Southern Ocean

Bruno Peyron and the maxi cat Orange
are continuing to lose ground on the Jules Verne record, just
when they are supposed to be piling up 500 to 650 miles per day.
It’s all due to unusual weather; either too rough or too sloppy
to pour on the speed. And it doesn’t look to get much better
in the next day or two. But Peyron is no dummy, and realizes
that all he has to do to break the record is keep Orange
in one piece. So far, she seems to be holding up well.

YOTREPS

March 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

March 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/.
The National Weather Service site for San Francisco Bay has moved
to 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/stuff/southwest/swstmap.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 another view, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data/global.html.

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