September 21, 2001

Photos of the Day

September 21 – San Francisco Bay

Since we’re very busy with deadline, and
since everybody could use a little escape from the troubles of
the world, we’re running a mini photo feature on our favorite
little island in the Caribbean, St. Barth. Mostly known as a
very expensive and chic resort for the rich and famous, it’s
actually a wonderful place for the humble cruiser, too. For it’s
quite possible to enjoy all the fabulous natural attractions
while living on a small budget.

Dinghy dock at Gustavia, St. Barth’s only port

St. Jean anchorage

Daytime anchorage at Flamand’s Bay

Volvo Ocean Race

September 21 – Southampton, UK

With only eight entries, it’s not going to be the biggest Volvo
(ex-Whitbread) Around the World race ever, but it will be the
most competitive. Both the boats and the crews are extreme. The
event departs England on Sunday for Cape Town, South Africa.
Although there are officially no American entries this year,
Team Tyco might as well be, as the Bermuda company has
operations offices in the States and is run by Dennis Koslovsky,
who now owns Endeavour. Marin’s John Kostecki, of course,
is the skipper of illbruck, while Marin’s Mark Rudiger
– winning navigator last time on EF Language – is co-skipper
of Assa Abloy, and Dee Smith, also of Marin, is a honcho
on Grant Dalton’s Nautor entry. Historically the first leg has
been extremely important in this event, as whatever boat won
that leg also won the event – except for just one occasion.

YOTREPS

September 21 – 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

September 21 – 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 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.