September 29, 2003

Do You Have a Dark Side Itching to Bust
Out?

September 29 – Two Harbors, Catalina Island

If that dark side includes being a pirate
or a wench, you don’t want to miss the 14th annual Buccaneer
Days in Two Harbors at Catalina on October 4. We’ve never been,
but we’re told that nobody is allowed ashore unless they are
dressed as a pirate or a wench. Once ashore, everybody can let
their inner fantasy child loose for one day – sort of like Fantasy
Fest at Key West – with the full support of everyone else. And,
locals tell us, it’s a “what happens on the island, stays
on the island” kind of deal.

While researching Buccaneer Days, we came
across www.imaginetree.com/ed/
– and didn’t know what we were getting into. It’s the memorial
site for Ed Luedke, Ph.D., 12/4/58-7/2/02, and it’s very inspiring.
When we get to Two Harbors, we’re going to spill a little rum
in tribute to Ed. Today’s Photos of the Day are from that Web
site and from Ed’s time at Buccaneer Days. He’s the big guy with
the dark hair and dark beard.

Photos Courtesy ImagineTree

Get Hooked Up at the Crew Party

September 29 – Alameda

Latitude 38’s
Mexico-Only Crew List Party is fast approaching – it’s early
this year, on Wednesday, October 1, from 6 to 9 pm. You pay $5
to get in (unless you’re on the crew list published in the October
issue or a Baja Ha-Ha skipper or first mate), receive a color-coded
name tag detailing your wishes for the Mexico cruising season,
buy a drink at the bar, grab some free munchies, and the merriment
begins.

Once again generously allowing all the
Mexico-bound celebrants to use their facilities to congregate
is the Encinal Yacht Club in Alameda. For complete info, a map
and directions, see www.latitude38.com/crewlist/CrewParty/CrewParty.html.

Magic Carpet
to Costa Rica and Panama

September 29 – Isla Parida, Panama

The accompanying photo comes from Dave
and Angie of the Seattle-based Magic Carpet Ride in Costa
Rica. “Since leaving Puntarenas, we’ve mostly been motoring.
We anchored off the ritzy Los Suenos, the new marina in southern
Costa Rica. The slips were too pricey for us, but the fuel was
reasonably priced, we could fill our water tanks, and the dock
staff was wonderful. The anchorage was quite rolly however, as
most have been in Costa Rica, because of a southwest swell.

“We spent five rolly days at Bahia
Drake, but it was worth it, as it was very isolated and much
to our liking. From there we made two day trips to Isla Canos
for diving and hiking. We spent several days in Golfito and can
report a new marina, King and Bardell, in addition to Banana
Bay Marina. While fueling, you can take on water and enjoy a
shower. Carlos is the head of the friendly staff. We anchored
off Land and Sea, and Tim and Katy, as always, were very helpful.
After buying our favorite rum in a duty free shop, we headed
to Panama.

Photo Courtesy Magic Carpet Ride

“We thought Bahia Drake was rolly,
but Puerto Armuelles proved we didn’t know what rolly was! We
got there just about dusk, which is squall time. We had to re-anchor
several times, then watched the depth drop to just two feet beneath
our keel. After a sleepless night, we headed on to Isla Parida,
which seemed like paradise – lots of anchorages and empty except
for an occasional fishing village. We traded a bottle of cooking
oil, some powdered milk, and some rice for three good sized lobsters,
a huge avocado, and some lemons. That brings us to the photo
of the Pacific Bumper that Angie caught just before dark. I think
all fish you catch tastes wonderful – even if barbecued by flashlight!”

Watch Your Wallet in Costa Rica!

September 29 – Golfito, Costa Rica

Matt and Judy Johnston of the San Francisco-based
Cabo Rico 38 Elsewhere moved from El Salvador, where they’d
been for 11 months, to Costa Rica. They had a great time, and
have left their boat in Golfito for the summer. They caution
folks to look out for pickpockets, as they had attempts on their
wallets in both San Jose and Puntarenas. “We survived with
only a small $25 loss because I don’t carry cards or any significant
amount of money in my wallet.” We’ll have their full report
in the November Changes.

Cabo Hotel Alert

September 29 – Cabo San Lucas, BCS

If you, your crew, or your fly-down friends
will be wanting a hotel in Cabo after the Ha-Ha, tell them not
to wait to book reservations. Some hotels are already full.

More Post-Marty Photos of La Paz

September 29 – La Paz, BCS

The accompanying photos were taken by Mike
and Joan Whalen of the Catalina 380 Esperanza, who were
very frightened by the 100+ knot winds, but came through in fine
shape at Marina Palmira. As we mentioned before, both Cabo and
La Paz got hit by 100-knot winds, but in both places where marinas
had big breakwaters there was no damage.

Photos Courtesy Esperanza

Marty Damaged the Mainland, Too

September 29 – San Carlos, Mexico

While the Marina San Carlos/Marina Real/Marina
Seca fleets on mainland Mexico did quite well, there was still
some damage. In the top photo, you see Richard and Dana Stubberfield’s
Islander Freeport 36 Magic Mist having been knocked off
her stand at Marina Real Dry Storage. In the photo below, you
see what happened to the mast. The photos were forwarded to us
by John and Susan Pazera of the Tayana 42 Compania.

YOTREPS

September 29 – The Pacific Ocean and Cyberspace

Who is out making passages in the Pacific
and what kind of weather are they having? The YOTREPS daily yacht
tracking page has moved to www.bitwrangler.com/psn.

Weather Updates

September 29 – Pacific
Ocean

San Francisco Bay Weather

Check out this guide to San Francisco Bay
Navigational Aids: http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/sfports.html.

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 is at 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/Maps/Southwest.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

The site for the Pacific Ocean sea states
has moved to http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/PacRegSSA.shtml.

For views of sea states anywhere in the world,
see http://www.oceanweather.com/data.