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From Racing to Cruising: News Bites Ahead of a Sunny Weekend

Ocean Racing

Earlier this week we were preparing a story about the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild’s departure for their record attempt to capture the Jules Verne Trophy. Last Friday, the 13th, the team had left their base in Lorient to head for Brest in order to get as close as possible to Ushant and the start line. But the date appears to have left its mark and the weather didn’t cooperate. Although a weather window did indeed open, it did not include a good forecast for the South Atlantic and the passage time at the Cape of Good Hope. Thus the decision was made to wait for a better sequence that meets their expectations and the potential of the maxi-mulithull.

“To my mind, it’s a fairly average weather window as it doesn’t have all the ingredients in the South Atlantic to secure a very good time to Cape Agulhas,” the team’s weather router Marcel van Triest stated on Saturday.

Two days ago, on Wednesday, the boat turned around and sailed back to Lorient, where the team will remain vigilant and on their toes as they continue to monitor any evolution in the weather conditions.

Gitana 17 trimaran
Maxi Edmond de Rothschild: the first-launched and now most evolved of this new breed of foiling maxi-trimarans, is waiting its opportunity to set a new record in the Jules Verne Trophy.
© 2023 Pilpre Arnaud

Casual Cruising

Well, this isn’t really news, but more of a shout-out to cruising and cruisers.

Longtime sailors and Latitude 38 fans Laura and Rich Brazil, from Petaluma but currently in Barra de Navidad aboard their 1987 Nauticat 43, Tally Ho, dropped us a line to let us know how difficult their lives are right now. Ahem… not.

“Decisions, decisions. Do we sail five hours south to beautiful Manzinillo and anchor out in front of the picturesque Las Hadas resort (Google it), or, cozy Tally Ho into Carrizal Cove, with its bath-water snorkeling amongst its vibrant coral reefs?

“Hmmm, we could sail three hours north and get lost in the laziness of Tenacatita, with happy cruisers and clocks that don’t tick.

“And yet, maybe we’ll stay put in the Barra de Navidad Marina, complete with tennis courts, palm-tree-lined, multi-tiered pool, complete with water slides?

“Hmmm, decisions, decisions.

“If you’re thinking of buying a boat, think no more. Go! Before it’s too late.

“Sorry, no pictures. That would be mean.”

Laura and Rich Brazil
Laura and Rich Brazil have been alternating their time between Petaluma and cruising in Mexico for years. We have to admit, they look pretty happy!
© 2023 Rich Brazil

Psst… don’t tell them; we found a photo of Tally Ho!

Cruising in Mexico
Tally Ho cruising in the beautiful Mexico waters.
© 2023 Richard Spindler

Want to join them? Go shopping in Latitude‘s Classy Classifieds and find your own adventure vessel.

 

Sailing

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