March 8, 2001

Photos of the Day March 8 – French Polynesia We’re having computer problems today, so we’re limited to publishing some photographs of the South Pacific. These were taken several years ago by Stephen and Dorothy Darden, then of Tiburon, while on an Offshore Sailing Seminar with John Neal and Amanda Swan-Neal of Mahina Tiare. The Dardens subsequently had a Morelli & Melvin 52-ft catamaran built in New Zealand, during which time they became citizens. The cat was launched last year in time for sea trials. We’ll check up on them soon, but expect they’ll soon be heading out to the South Pacific. Polynesian guitars accompany a unique singing style among the women of Tubuai Island. Photos Courtesy Steve and Dorothy Darden

Telephone booths appear in isolated spots around Raivavae Island, and with a phone card you can call home. Climbing a pandanus tree on Tubuai Island ­ kids are the same the world over. The French government provides funds for a comfortable infrastructure on Raivavae Island, and the people take care of what they have.

MEXORC March 8 – Banderas Bay, Mexico Regatta PRO Mike Wathen took the accompanying photos from the MEXORC race committee boat. Look for more photos and a complete wrap-up in the April issue of Latitude 38. Overall winner Nitissima	Red boats ruled: Pendragon (left) and Sorcery (right)
Saeta, steered by Lowell North	Wasabi at the finish of the long distance race
Falcon (left) and Wasabi (right) on Day One	The starting line

March 8 – 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/

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Weather Updates

March 8 – 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.