News From the Side Pocket of the Duffel Bag
More sunshine equals more sailing. Spring is here, so we’ve packed our duffel bag for sailing. In the side pocket we found some news, which we’ve pulled out here:
PSA (Public Service Announcement) — Is this your sunken vessel?
We received a call this week about the intended salvage of a vessel that sank during winter storms at Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay. The owners did not check in with the harbormaster, and to date, they have not been found. The plan is to raise the boat and prevent its being a hazard to navigation. But first, there’s one more attempt to locate the owner, with the following notice:
“The 40-ft (approx.) sailboat sunk at Pillar Point Harbor during the storm on 02/18/24–02/19/24 has been abandoned for more than 30 days, and will be raised, salvaged, scrapped, crushed or otherwise removed, thus retiring any related USCG vessel documentation, CA DMV CF number and HIN, as may apply. Any persons with any claim to this wreck may reply to (408) 401-7697 with a number to call you back. Salvage labor, fuel, boat and other equipment costs will be due.”
The International Ocean Film Festival April 12–14 (Rafael Theater April 4)
Sailing, ocean and film buffs will gather at The International Ocean Film Festival to be held at Fort Mason April 12–14. There will be an advance screening of two select films, Expedition Amana and Blue Whales: Return of the Giants, this Thursday, April 4, 7 p.m., at the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.
Long Beach Race Week Adds VX One
West Coast VX One class booster Trevor Tunnacliffe wrote in to say the 19-ft sportboat fleet is growing in the West and plans to have a one-design class at Ullman Long Beach Race Week, which also happens to be the Summer Sailstice weekend of June 21–23. Looking at the entry list, there are four VX Ones and a J/111 signed up, so right now the VX Ones are the largest class signed up for LBRW. A month later the VX One fleet plans to be racing in the Columbia Gorge One-Design Regatta.
Good News for the Working Waterfront?
The Wall Street Journal recently wrote a story, “How Gen Z Is Becoming the Toolbelt Generation,” saying more young workers are going into trades as disenchantment with the college track continues, and rising pay and new technologies improve the perception of the trades. In fact, enrollment at vocational schools is up 16%. This is good news for boatyards and small marine business owners who have been looking for the next-gen to take on these specialized jobs. A shortage in skilled labor and the vulnerability of white-collar jobs to AI and other technological innovations appear to be shifting the outlook for the trades. AI still doesn’t do fiberglass repair, and not everyone wants to spend their day at a computer screen.
Clipper Round the World Race
The Clipper Race is returning to the West Coast. At 40,000 miles it is the longest circumnavigation race and the only one that doesn’t circle the globe during the summer at the bottom of the globe. The fleet of 11 boats left Qingdao, China, on March 28 for their longest leg, taking them almost 5400 miles through the North Pacific to Seattle. Typically it’s the roughest leg of the race, as it’s early in the year to be heading north. They hope to finish the leg in under 30 days, so they should arrive in Seattle at the end of April. You can follow the fleet here.
Get Them While They’re Hot
The April issue of Latitude 38 can be found at West Marine in Sausalito, and most marine businesses in California. You can find the printed magazine at a friendly marine business near you by going to our “Find a Magazine” page. West Marine Sausalito does hide them way in the back near the restrooms to the right of the spools of line. It’s worth the walk. As Robert Goldberg commented in Monday’s ‘Lectronic Latitude, “Could not live without Latitude 38 as an S.F. Bay sailor!!!! Not fooling around! Every April 1, May 1, etc. is a very important day to look forward to!!! Thank you! Fair publishing winds and following readers, contributors and advertisers!”
Take a MWF sailing break by signing up for the three-times-weekly ‘Lectronic Latitude here.