October 12, 2000

Photos of the Day

How to Cover More Area October 12 – Sea of Cortez It would have been impossible for anyone who has cruised Mexico during the last decade to have missed Tim ‘Padre Timo’ Tunks of the Islander 37 ‘Scallywag’. In additional to having been everywhere, Tim has often been an organizational force at events such as the old St. Paddy’s Day blowout at Melaque, Sea of Cortez Sailing Week at Caleta Partida, and the Crab Drags at Loreto. Tim was also the inspiration for the great prizes at the Baja Ha-Ha. Spending time in Mexico – particularly the Sea of Cortez – means spending a lot of time snorkeling. As the years passed by underwater, Tim started thinking of simple ways to help snorkelers cover more area while underwater. After various ideas, he came up with what he now calls DiveBoard, an odd but elegant looking device with no moving parts. The idea is that the diver hangs onto the DiveBoard while it gets pulled behind a dinghy. Because of the vertical and horizontal planes, the diver is able to control whether he/she goes up or down or to the right or left. Powered by the dinghy instead of fins, the diver gets to cover much more underwater territory. We’ve not used the device, but as soon as we get our cast off we’ll give it a go. For further details on the DiveBoard, visit diveboard.org. Tim will also be at the Ha-Ha Kick-Off Party in San Diego on October 29 to raffle off one or two. Nice job, Tim!

Padre Timo with an Early Prototype Finished Product Available Now Photos Courtesy ‘Scallywag’

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Weather Updates

October 12 – Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

Tropical Weather

It’s all quiet in both the Eastern Pacific/Mexican hurricane
region and the Atlantic/Caribbean hurricane region.

San Francisco Bay Weather

To see what the winds are like on the Bay 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 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 Eastern Pacific. Check out today’s sea
state 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 Junior Division of the Baja Ha-Ha

 October 12 – Baja Ha-Ha World Headquarters

Lauren the Devilette of Baja Ha-Ha, Inc., reports that 13 boys and nine girls are scheduled to be part of the Ha-Ha which starts on October 31. “In the teen group we’ve got one 19-year old female and one 19-year old male, two 16-year old males, three 14-year old males, and one 13-year old male. In the big kids’ group, there are 10 and 11-year old girls, eight and nine-year old boys, and a seven-year old boy and seven-year old girl. In the little kids’ group, there are three five-year old girls and one five-year old boy, one four-year old girl and two four-year old boys, and one six-month old baby girl. Not all boats that sign up for the Ha-Ha actually participate, so the number of kids may actually be a little smaller. But if you’re a kid who will be cruising Mexico with your parents, don’t fear, you’ll find other playmates. For example, the photo on the left is from last year’s Cruising Kids Surfing Championship at Tenacatita Bay last year. And no, you didn’t have to know how to surf to have lots of fun.

A few of this year’s Baja Boys and Girls: (clockwise from upper left) Quincy (5) and Kendall (8) of Chewbacca; David (16) and Alex (14) of Favonius; Kai (14) of Indara; and Haley (8) of See Life.

YOTREPS

October 12 – 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

Puerto Vallarta Race

October 12 – Marina del Rey

Early indications suggest that the Del Rey’s February race
to Puerto Vallarta could be a gangbuster. While only nine are
paid up entries so far, another 50 owners have requested entry
packs. No wonder, the Del Rey YC always does a great job, and
the PV Race precedes the popular MEXORC.

Among the headliners expected to participate are ‘Chance’, Robert
McNulty’s new R/P 78; ‘Neptune’s Car’, Paul La Marche’s new turbocharged
SC 70; ‘Merlin’s Reata’, the grand old Lee 68, now sailing for
Al Micallef of the California YC; ‘Grand Illusion’, Ed McDowell’s
SC 70 that has been walking off with TransPac and Vic-Maui honors
and much more in the last two years of a hot streak; Robert Saielli’s
SC 70 from San Diego. With any luck, Jake Wood will be back with
the Mull 82 ‘Sorcery’ and Howard Gordon will come down from Morro
Bay with the Jutson/Ayer 50 ‘Etranger’. In addition, there are
a whole host of SC 50/52s, SC and Olson 40s and the other usual
suspects. We also noted that a guy named Dennis Conner from San
Diego has expressed interest with his N/M 50 ‘Menace XXII’.

The Del Rey’s PV Race also includes a Performance Fleet and a
Cruising Fleet. In both of these, the 1,000-mile event is broken
up into three legs. The PF guys can fly chutes while the CF guys
can only fly gennakers. Allan Puckett has already paid up for
PF racing with his Farr 55 ‘Amazing Grace’, while four Del Rey
boats in the 40-foot range have already paid up for the CF class.

You know what sailing is like in California in February? Not very
good. You know what sailing is like in Mexico in February? Spectacular!
Visit www.dryc.org to figure
out how to bring some sunshine and fun into your February.

Entering Banderas Bay in the ’98 PV Race. Photo Latitude/Rob