November 15, 2000

Photos of the Day Doing Good and Having Fun November 15 – Bahia Santa Maria While at the Bahia Santa Maria Bay stop of the Ha-Ha, it occurred to the Grand Poobah that a fund-raiser for the poor kids of San Blas, Mexico, would be a cool thing. So he offered a 90-minute sail around the bay on ‘Profligate’ to anyone willing to pony up $20. The folks you see in the photo responded, thereby almost instantly raising $420. The money will be passed on to Norm Goldie, the long time cruisers’ friend in San Blas, for the most effective distribution. The second photo is of the crew of ‘Island Time’ – plus a lumpy guy in the foreground – during the charity sail. The ‘Island Timers’ were enthusiastic supporters of the charity event. The hills in the background are of the shelter at Bahia Santa Maria. Although you can’t see them, well over 100 boats are tucked in the right hand corner about the base of the hills. The hills are technically part of a long island that actually extends about 40 miles north and mostly consists of a very narrow band of beach. The skies were overcast during these photos, but within two hours the sun was bright and the skies were clear. The weather changes quickly like that in Mexico.

Photos Latitude 38/Richard

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Weather Updates

November 15 – Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

Tropical Weather

Once again it’s quiet in the tropics.

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.
Also check out http://facs.scripps.edu/surf/buoylist.html
(but note that the Java Applet is still not working with some
browsers on Macs – including your Webmistress’s Netscape Communicator!)

Pacific Ocean Weather

You can view the University of Hawaii Department of Meteorology
satellite picture by clicking
here.

Pacific Sea State

Seas are normal in the Pacific. But you might check 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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Cruising

The Baja Ha-Ha – No Reason to Eat Poorly November 15 – Cabo San Lucas Michelle Slade, one of the crew aboard ‘Profligate’ for the Ha-Ha, demonstrates that there’s no need to eat poorly while cruising. The boat’s post Second Leg meal consisted of freshly prepared coleslaw, ranch pototoes, seared yellowtail that had been caught just hours before, and lobster that had been purchased live from the locals. It was all topped off with a couple of nice California wines from Costco, the provisioner’s favorite. By the way, we’re sorry if anyone is getting a Ha-Ha overload, but it’s where we were for the last two weeks, so it’s most of what we’ve got. We’ll run through it before long.

Photo Latitude 38/ Richard

YOTREPS

November 15 – 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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Racing

Vendée Globe Singlehanded Around the World Race

November 15 – Canary Islands

The 23-boat Vendée Globe fleet is down around the Canary
Islands at an important gateway. The winds are all over the place
and blowing at anywhere from five to 30 knots. This is a time
and place where some boats may find the right conditions and break
away to major leads, while others may get left behind. In many
respects, it’s harder on the singlehanders than the rough stuff
in the Southern Ocean.

The current standings are as follows: 1. ‘Aquitaine Innovations’,
Yves Parlier, 2. ‘PRB’, Michel Desjoyeaux (+8 miles) 3. ‘Sill
Matines La Potagère’, Roland Jourdain (+ 34m) 4. ‘Kingfisher’,
Ellen MacArthur (+ 54m) 5. ‘Active Wear’, Marc Thiercelin (+ 56m)
6. ‘Sodebo Savourons la Vie’, Thomas Coville (+ 68m) 7. ‘EBP –
Esprit PME – Gartmore’, Josh Hall (+ 77m).

Race website: www.vendeeglobe.com.

America’s Cup 2003

November 15 – Switzerland

Even though Switzerland isn’t on any ocean, there has been
talk of the country fielding two challenges for the 2003 America’s
Cup in Auckland. Alas, the Watchout challenge has decided to throw
in the towel, having been able to raise only half their budget.
The other Swiss challenge is not expected to fold because it’s
headed by Ernesto Berterelli, a billionaire with no money problems.

For more news on the challengers, check out http://www.louisvuittoncup.com.

The Race

November 15 – Dartmouth, UK

Pete Goss’ much troubled ‘Team Phillips’ catamaran is reported
back at Dartmouth waiting for the next weather window to step
her second mast and begin sea trials for the third time. She had
been returned to Totnes and lifted out of the water to modify
her props and to have the bearings and bases replaced on her wishbone
masts. Check out the Team Philips Web site at http://www.teamphilips.com/

By the way, yesterday’s ‘Lectronic Latitude photo of Cam Lewis’
Team Adventure was a recreation of how Cam views the boat sailing
in his mind. ‘Team Adventure’ won’t actually leave Cherbourg for
sea trials for a few more days. But hey, a lot of folks didn’t
believe Cam would get this far. http://www.teamadventure.org.