November’s Latitude 38 Is on the Docks Tomorrow!

Happy Halloween, and welcome to the November Latitude 38. We have another great issue, packed with stories of sailors local and around the globe, and all your favorite regular columns. We know we’re teasing, but check out the preview below, then set your alarm to go get your copy first thing tomorrow!

Around the World in 29 Months

Holly Williams is a surgeon. She’s also a sailor, but since her med school days at UCSF in the late ’80s, it seemed as if she would have to choose: her career or her sailing. Her career as a surgeon in San Francisco meant that her dream of sailing around the world would have to wait until she retired.

Now it’s November 2022. At the time of our interview, it had been only a month since Williams crossed the finish line of the 2019-2020 edition of the Clipper Round the World Race, two years delayed. She’s still not retired, and she has managed to sail around the world. This is her adventure.

A Voyage to the Antipode

As I write this, X-Wing is made fast to a mooring ball at the lovely Paradise Resort on Taveuni Island in Fiji. And 10,819 nautical miles away in any direction — the exact opposite point on Earth from me right now — is the small town of Bourem, in the East African country of Mali. If you’re reading this in California, the exact other side of the Earth from you right now is the western Indian Ocean, somewhere southeast of Madagascar.

Musket Cove Regatta

If you’re Pacific-bound in 2023, you should know that each September a huge fleet of racing yachts and cruising sailboats congregates on the picturesque Fijian island of Malolo for a whole array of events: sailing regattas, Hobie Cat races, SUP challenges, a fun run, and beach cleanups. Some crews participate actively in each category; others just come to watch, cheer the teams, and party in the evening — everybody’s welcome at the Musket Cove Yacht Club.

This year, 96 yachts arrived from all over the world for the event, including 13 from the United States. The modest entry fee of 110 FJD (~$50 US)/ person covers the entry at the regattas, a welcome dinner, a buffet on the last day, and free drinks in between — a good reason why the regatta is also known as the biggest party in the South Pacific.

Also in the November issue:

• Letters: I’m, Like, Totally Over It; Yes, That Probably Did Happen; Do Not Mess With My Paper Charts; and many more.
• Sightings: Ronnie Simpson’s Global Solo Challenge; More Government Regs Coming to Marinas; Hokahey Away to SoCal; and other stories.
• Max Ebb: A Hot Night at Anchor.
• Changes in Latitudes: Cool Change‘s once-in-a-lifetime Tonga cruising experience; Aldabra‘s delayed-by-COVID puddle jump to the South Seas; the third installment of Taliesin Rose‘s cruisers’ guide to off-the-beaten-track post-Ha-Ha destinations; and a tasty selection of Cruise Notes.
• Racing Sheet: This month we cover SBYC’s Red Bra Regatta, the Express 37 Nationals at BYC, the Mercury PCCs at LAYC, StFYC’s Jessica Cup, SCYC’s Jack and Jill, and the El Toro Stampede at RYC. We take a look at the Vanguard 15 Fleet Champs on Tomales Bay, the Perpetual Cup on South Lake Tahoe, and RYC’s Totally Dinghy. Race Notes includes a correction to the Rolex Big Boat Series and more. Among other Box Scores are more 2022 Beer Can results.
• Loose Lips: Check out the October Caption Contest(!) winner and top 10 comments.
• The sailboat owners and buyers’ bible, Classy Classifieds.

If you’ve subscribed to Latitude 38, you should receive your issue shortly. If you haven’t subscribed you’re missing out, but you can still pick up your copy from your favorite distributor.