Episode #173: Turkey Trot, Sweetheart, and Survival Off Costa Rica (Verbatim)

In this episode of Good Jibes, we bring you three stories from the Latitude 38 archives. Host John Arndt shares “Turkey Trot Offshore 2024” by Andy Schwenk, “Exploring Baja Surf on S/V Sweetheart” by Jeremy Snyder and Maddie Zug, and from June 1993, “Triumph of the Spirit — The Odyssey of Bill Forrest” by Latitude editor John ‘JR’ Riise.

Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• What does it take to survive falling overboard?
• Where to find the best surfing spots during the Baja Ha-Ha?
• The cardinal rule for single-handed sailors
• What is a “stripper ticket” and how is it useful for sailors?
• Resources for sailing to Mexico or across the Pacific

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast spots — follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling the Good Jibes!

Follow along and read the articles here: Turkey Trot Offshore 2024; Exploring Baja Surf on S/V Sweetheart; and Triumph of the Spirit — The Odyssey of Bill Forrest.

Check out the episode and show notes below for much more detail.

Show Notes

• Turkey Trot, Sweetheart, and Survival off Costa Rica (Latitude 38 Verbatim)
  • [0:22] Welcome to Good Jibes with Latitude 38
  • “Turkey Trot Offshore 2024” by Andy Schwenk — https://www.latitude38.com/issues/january-2025/#46
  • [1:17] To go or not to go? Boat delivery along the US West Coast
  • [2:45] Jimmy Buffett’s songs are about sailing downhill
  • [3:14] Enter the delivery skipper
  • [4:14] Black Friday approaches and a huge storm is brewing
  • [6:02] They didn’t have any turkeys small enough to fit in the oven
  • [8:18] They each took turns cooking their best dinner
  • [9:26] What is a “Stripper Ticket” and how is it useful?
  • [11:45] Are you thinking of sailing to Mexico or across the Pacific? Latitude 38 has a resource page called “Heading South” & the “First Timer’s Guide” to help you prepare 
  • “Exploring Baja Surf on S/V Sweetheart” by Jeremy Snyder & Maddie Zug — https://www.latitude38.com/issues/january-2025/#40
  • [13:04] The year of Surfing
  • [14:03] Searching for the best nearby break
  • [15:26] Tales of epic swells brought by past hurricanes
  • [17:51]  Loading five adults and three surfboards into a small inflatable dinghy
  • [19:47] The Baja Ha-Ha was more than just a sailing journey
  • [20:45] Get your own copy of Latitude 38 Sailing Magazine at Latitude38.com
  • “Triumph of the Spirit – The Odyssey of Bill Forrest” by JR — https://www.latitude38.com/magazine/archive/#1993
  • [21:43] The phone call that relatives of cruisers dread most, Bill’s body had been found
  • [23:34] The American embassy received a call from  from a man claiming to be Bill Forrest
  • [25:30] The cardinal rule of single-handed sailors: don’t fall off
  • [27:53] He’s still naked from swimming nine miles
  • [31:16] Bill would have to rescue himself
  • [34:07] Three bears came home to find a very strange Goldilocks in bed
  • [35:52] The angel Señora Laura Guevera Rojas took over the situation
  • [37:02] Bill was technically in Costa Rica illegally
  • [39:53] Bill’s son was livid about the lack of rescue effort
  • [41:00] The one time pollution and litter saved a life
  • [43:03] Advice from Bill to prevent others from experiencing what he did
  • [45:35] Make sure to follow Good Jibes with Latitude 38 on your favorite podcast spot and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
  • Theme Song: “Pineapple Dream” by SOLXIS