Latitude 38

VOLUME 389 November 2009 W E G O W H E R E T H E W I N D B LOWS

NOVEMBER 2009
VOLUME 389
 We know boaters have many choices when shopping for berthing,
and all of us here at Grand Marina want to Thank you for Giving
us the opportunity to provide you with the best service available
in the Bay Area year after year.
• Prime deep water concrete
slips in a variety of sizes DIRECTORY of
• Great Estuary location at the heart GRAND MARINA
of the beautiful Alameda Island TENANTS
• Complete bathroom and shower Bay Island Yachts............................ 8
facility, heated and tiled Blue Pelican Marine.................... 160
The Boat Yard at Grand Marina.... 13
• FREE pump out station open 24/7 Lee Sails...................................... 156
• Full Service Marine Center and Marine Lube................................ 163
haul out facility Pacific Crest Canvas...................... 51
• Free parking
Pacific Yacht Imports...................... 9
Rooster Sails................................. 61
510-865-1200
Leasing Office Open Daily
• Free WiFi on site! UK-Halsey Sailmakers................ 124 2099 Grand Street, Alameda, CA 94501
And much more… www.grandmarina.com

Page 2 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 ★
Happy
Holida
ys

Carbon Copy
from
at Pine all of us
We’ll b apple Sails.
e
Sat., D closed from
ec. 19,
Sun., J through
an. 3.
PHOTO: MARIAH’S EYES PHOTOGRAPHY (510) 864-1144

There are words to describe the design

of a good one-design sailboat and one
of the best words is “durable.”

The Express 37 is just such a boat.

Designed by Carl Schumacher in 1984,
the class still does a full season of races
each year, culminating in St. Francis
Yacht Club’s Rolex Big Boat Series.

This year’s season champion and

winner of the class in Big Boat Series
is Bill Bridge and Kame Richards’
Golden Moon.
Golden Moon placed first in class in the
2002 Big Boat Series and the 2004 Big
Boat Series as well. This year’s races
were won with the same Pineapple car-
bon genoa built in 2007 and a carbon
Pineapple Sails mainsail built for Big
Boat Series in 2005 (making 2009 its
fifth year).

Durable fleet, durable sails. Pineapple

Sails!
Golden Moon*

YOUR DEALER FOR: Musto foul weather gear, Dubarry footwear and Headfoil 2

Sails in need of repair may be dropped off at:

West Marine in Oakland, Alameda, or Richmond;
*Powered by Pineapples or Svendsen’s in Alameda.

Phone (510) 522-2200

Fax (510) 522-7700
www.pineapplesails.com
2526 Blanding Ave., Alameda, California 94501

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 3

 CONTENTS
subscriptions 6
calendar 8
letters 16
loose lips 70
sightings 72
samoan tsunami 84
ticket to ride 90
season champs pt. I 98
ha-ha profiles, pt. III 104
hurricanes 108
max ebb: floating some ideas 114
the racing sheet 118
world of chartering 128
changes in latitudes 136
classy classifieds 154
advertisers' index 164
brokerage 166

Cover: Dan Courter's dream came true when his

Antioch-based Catalina 30 Ross's Dream placed first in the
cruising division in the South Beach YC-hosted 2009 Catalina 30 Nationals.

Photo: Peter Lyons/www.lyonsimaging.com

Copyright 2009 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

Latitude 38 welcomes editorial contributions in the form of stories, anecdotes,

photographs – anything but poems, please; we gotta draw the line somewhere.
Articles with the best chance at publication must 1) pertain to a West Coast
or universal sailing audience, 2) be accompanied by a variety of pertinent,
in-focus digital images (preferable) or color or black and white prints with
identification of all boats, situations and people therein; and 3) be legible.
These days, we prefer to receive both text and photos electronically, but if
you send by mail, anything you want back must be accompanied by a self-
addressed, stamped envelope. Submissions not accompanied by an SASE
will not be returned. We also advise that you not send original photographs
or negatives unless we specifically request them; copies will work just fine.
Notification time varies with our workload, but generally runs four to six weeks.
Please don't contact us before then by phone or mail. Send all submissions to
editorial@latitude38.com, or mail to Latitude 38 editorial department, 15 Lo-
cust Ave., Mill Valley, CA 94941. For more specific information, request writers'
guidelines from the above address or see www.latitude38.com/writers.html.

Page 4  •  Latitude 38  •  November, 2009

NEW
! C L U B B E N E T EAU NEW
! BENETEAU 58
Fractional Sailing Club and Yacht Management The Jewel of
Join us in launching our exclusive and affordable the Beneteau
yachting program and take advantage of the HUGE Cruising Fleet
All the stops were pulled
tax savings still available for 2009! out in the design of the
This new program is unique in the charter new 58. Real mega-yacht
NEW design and comfort fea-
yacht ownership business and charter club AT
OU 4 tures. Unbelievable value.
membership sailing. RD 0
OCK Introductory price $730,000.
YOUR YACHT AS A BUSINESS Own a beauti- S
ful new BENETEAU and benefit from the liberal
and accessible tax advantages of charter yacht
placement. Exclusive use by a limited number
of qualified club members and skippered-only One of four interior layouts available.
charters guarantees that your boat is kept in
Paris Boat Show? We're traveling to see
pristine condition. Tax benefits are numerous and generous. the new 58 and other beautiful yachts at
FRACTIONAL SAILING CLUB Join an exclusive-use sailing club and 'own' a sailing the Paris Boat Show, December 4-13. Come
interest in a new fleet of Beneteau yachts. Book when you want to sail. Have all along! Trip reimbursed if you purchase a
new Beneteau from us before year end.
the benefits of owning a luxury yacht at fitness club fees.
Program Presentation and Q&A: S E L E C T L I S TINGS
Saturday, November 14, 2009, 1 p.m.
Passage Yachts, Brickyard Cove Marina, Pt. Richmond SAIL

Have all your program and tax questions answered Beneteau 473, '04........... 259,900
RSVP to (510) 236-2633 Hunter Legend 450, '98... 159,000
Tartan 4100, 2004 Beneteau First 45F5, '91 160,000
$330,000
Catalina 42 MkII, '97........ 160,000
ISLAND PACKET SMART BUYING PROGRAM Tartan 4100, '04............... 330,000
Cascade 41, '71................. 59,500
Earn monthly income while Beneteau First 40.7, '00.. 124,900
Beneteau 473, 2004
owning one of the best-built $259,000
Island Packet 40, '98....... 259,000
Beneteau 393, '03........... 139,500
boats in America.
C&C 37+/40, '89.............. 104,000
Receive monthly income equal to your monthly Beneteau 373, '06........... 153,500
loan payment for the first year of ownership Island Packet 370, '04..... 299,000
with our Smart Buying Leaseback Program. Catalina 42, 1997 Pearson 36, '85................. 69,000
$160,000
It's simple: Fantasia 35, '79................. 74,900

• Keep the boat at our dock for one year J/109, '03......................... 185,000

for us to show perspective clients and get Beneteau 323, '05............. 94,500

paid for doing it. Purchase a 2010 Island

Beneteau 373, 2006 POWER
Packet, or one of our demo models and $153,500
be part of this Smart Buying Program. Californian 42, '87............ 119,500
Sea Ray 340, '06............. 169,500
• In our popular Leaseback Program you're
Carver 32, '90.................... 39,000
enrolled in our monthly concierge service
Tiara 29, '98....................... 69,900
so your basic maintenance is handled. Pearson 36, 1985
If you have ever dreamed of owning an Island Packet, this program makes it a real- $69,000
ity. Call for details. This program can be combined with a long term business plan
Check out our blog: www.passageyachts.blogspot.com
that allows you to take advantage of substantial tax savings. See our full product listings at: www.passageyachts.com
Estero ~ 370 ~ SP Cruiser ~ 460 ~ 465 ~ 485

Pt. Richmond Two Alameda Office

Office Locations! Marina Village
1220 Brickyard Cove Rd 1070 Marina Village Pkwy
p: 510-236-2633 Suite 101
f: 510-234-0118 p: 510-864-3000
f: 510-337-0565
FOR THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE www.passageyachts.blogspot.com • www.passageyachts.com

BENETEAU ISLAND PACKET ALERION EXPRESS WAUQUIEZ

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Page 6  • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 7
 CALENDAR

Non-Race
Oct. 31 — Dress like a pirate on Halloween.
Oct. 31 — SailMail seminar by Steve Chamberlin and Eric
Steinberg at Richmond YC, 10 a.m. Free but RSVP required
to seminars@pacificcup.org or sign up at www.pacificcup.
org/seminars/sailmail.
Nov. 1 — Daylight Saving Time ends.
Nov. 1-29 — Free sailing at Pier 40 every Sunday courtesy
of BAADS. Info, (415) 281-0212 or www.baads.org.
Visit us online at www.bayislandyachts.com Nov. 2 — Howl at the full moon on a Monday night.
Nov. 4 — Club Nautique's Winter Wednesdays Seminar
BENETEAU OCEANIS 44 CATALINA 38 Series kicks off with 'Cruising Central America' by CN in-
SISTERSHIP structor Joe Brandt at Club Nautique in Alameda, 6-8 p.m.
Seminars run every other Wednesday at the same time and
location, and are free unless noted. 11/18: 'Cooking Aboard'
with Lynn Orloff Jones, author of Can to Pan Cookery ($15);
12/2: 'Decorative Knots' with West Marine Rigging's Ryan
Nelson. Info, (510) 865-4700 or www.clubnautique.net/win-
ter-wednesdays.
1996. Cruise ready. $139,000 1984. Inquire.
Nov. 4-25 — Wednesday Yachting Luncheon Series at St.
NONSUCH 30 ULTRA CAL 2-27 Francis YC, 12-2 p.m., $13.50. Enjoy lunch and a dynamic
speaker every Wednesday. All YCs' members welcome. More
info under the 'Events' tab at www.stfyc.com.
Nov. 5 — Downwind Marine's Cruisers' Seminar Series
continues with 'AIS: The Best Collision Avoidance System'
SISTERSHIP by Steven Gloor at Downwind Marine at 7:30 p.m., $3. More
seminars at the same time and location. 11/9: 'Pressure
Cooking for Cruisers' (Steve Ford); 11/10: 'Outfitting for
1984, $65,900 1975. Inquire.
Safety at Sea' (Bruce Brown); 11/11: 'Cruising on 12 Volts'
PEARSON 32 CATALINA 34 (Barry Kessler); 11/12: 'Outboard Motor Needs for Cruising
in Mexico' (Tom Teevin). Info, www.downwindmarine.com.
Nov. 7 — GPS for Mariners by USCGA Flotilla 17 on Yerba
Buena. $55. Info, FSO-PE@flotilla17.org or (415) 285-1100.
Nov. 7 — Free 12-Volt Charging Systems seminar at
Sausalito Marine Electrical Shop, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Space lim-
ited — contact info@sausalitomarine.com or (415) 332-9030.
1982. Very clean. $24,500 1988, $43,900 Nov. 7, 14, 21 — Sail aboard SF Maritime National Historic
Park's scow schooner Alma. Learn the Bay's history on this
NONSUCH 33 NEWPORT 33 3-hour voyage, leaving Hyde St. Pier at 1 p.m. $35 adult, $20
kids 6 & up. Info, www.nps.gov/safr.
Nov. 8 — Cal Sailing Club's free introductory sail at Berke-
ley Marina, 1-4 p.m. Info, www.cal-sailing.org.
Nov. 8 — Downwind Cruisers' Kick-Off Potluck BBQ at
Downwind Marine in San Diego, noon-4 p.m. Info, www.
downwindmarine.com.
1989, $111,900 1984, $29,900 Nov. 11 — Take a veteran sailing today.
Nov. 12 — Single sailors of all skill levels are invited to the
32' COLUMBIA 9.6 NONSUCH 22
Single Sailors Association monthly meeting at Ballena Bay YC,
SISTERSHIP SISTERSHIP
7:30 p.m. Featuring Jim Connolly's Moroccan Adventure pre-
sentation. Info, www.singlesailors.org or (510) 233-1064.
Nov. 14 — Boater's Blast at Sausalito West Marine, 10
a.m.-4 p.m. Get your hands on some of the newest gear for
your boat — demos, special pricing and seminars. Free BBQ!
Contact Mike Cole at (415) 332-0202 for details.
1979, $13,000 1987. Inquire. Nov. 14 — SF Maritime Park's Sea Music Concert Series
finale aboard Balclutha at Hyde St. Pier, 8-10 p.m. Featuring
(510) 814-0400 The Johnson Girls. $14 each. Info, (415) 561-6662, ext. 33.
and Nov. 14-15 — Victorian Christmas Celebration at Angel
In Gr na Fax (510) 814-8765
M i
a r Island's Civil War-era Camp Reynolds, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Demos,
2099 Grand Street, Alameda, CA 94501 kids' crafts, unique holiday gifts, sweets and drinks. Info,
www.angelisland.org.
www.bayislandyachts.com Nov. 16 — 'Autopilots, Vanes and Emergency Steering'
yachtsales@bayislandyachts.com seminar for the Singlehanded TransPac at Oakland YC in
Alameda, 7:30-10 p.m. Info, www.sfbaysss.org.
Nov. 21 — 'Hot Spots for Cruising in the Bay' presentation

Page 8 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 Exclusive West Coast Dealer for Tayana Yachts

TAYANA 54 DECK SALON AT OUR DOCKS

SELECT BROKERAGE
S
CK
R DO
OU
AT

2005 TAYANA 64 DECK SALON 2007 TAYANA 46 PILOTHOUSE 1984 TAYANA 42 AFT COCKPIT 2009 TAYANA 48 DECK SALON
Beautiful, fully equipped, 4 stateroom, Cruise in comfort in any climate with inside In great shape and ready to go! Recent New build at the factory ready to finish
3 head vessel. LeisureFurl main, electric steering. With only 12 hours on Yanmar upgrades include new Doyle sails, bow with your equipment choices.
winches, bow thruster. 100 hp dsl, she's virtually new. Over 1,000- thruster, rigging, Awlgrip LPU, AGM Two at this price.
mile range under power. $335,000 batteries and inverter. $145,000 $430,000
KS KS
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2007 TAYANA 48 DECK SALON 1997 TARTAN 4600 1988 FRASER 51 CUTTER 2005 TAYANA 48 CC
Calmate has a beautiful LPU navy hull Must see! Custom Kevlar reinforced Wingstar is a Canadian-built center Just back from Mexico in great shape
and is loaded with gear. Radar arch, davits, hull. Beautifully maintained with a cockpit cutter. Great shape and with everything you need for this
Leisurefurl boom, electric winches, full huge inventory of equipment and sails. ready to go again. year's Baja Ha-Ha.
canvas and up to date electronics. $525,000 $390,000 $229,000 $469,000

1973 BREWER 43 CC KETCH 1978 TARTAN 30 1969 COLUMBIA 43 SLOOP 1985 HANS CHRISTIAN 38
Custom center cockpit teak ketch prop- Clean, well taken care of example An oldie but a goodie. Sunflower is Proven bluewater cruiser in great shape
erly maintained by a meticulous owner. of this timeless S&S design. set for cruising with chartplotter, and ready for her next adventure.
$69,000 $11,500 radar, solar panels, davits and $109,000
Givens 6-man liferaft. $47,500

Pacific Yacht Imports We’re at Grand Marina

Dave Wolfe • Neil Weinberg
2051 Grand Street, Alameda, CA 94501 Tel (510) 865-2541 Fax (510) 865-2369
www.pacificyachtimports.net tayana@mindspring.com

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 9

 Attention
CALENDAR
Cruisers!
mexican
liability
insurance
online by Rod Witel at Berkeley YC, 6 p.m., $15 ($25 at door). Eve-
ning includes dinner, music and an update on The Pegasus
Project's 'No Child Left Ashore' initiative. Info, (510) 205-1069
or www.pegasusproject.org/celebration.
Nov. 26 — Work off the pumpkin pie with a daysail.
Dec. 5 — 33rd Annual Lighted Yacht Parade on the Oak-
land/Alameda Estuary. Starts at 5:30 p.m. Presented by
Encinal YC, Oakland YC and Marina Village Yacht Harbor,
this year's theme is 'Christmas Carols'. Find out more and
enter your boat at www.lightedyachtparade.com.
Now with six offices offering Dec. 5 — South Beach YC Lighted Boat Parade from Mc-
you local insurance service Covey Cove to the Ferry Building, 5-7 p.m. Chili and hot
buttered rum at the YC after. Info, www.southbeachyc.org.
and global insurance coverage. Dec. 5 — Petaluma YC Lighted Boat Parade, 5:30 p.m.
Info, (707) 753-1590 or www.petalumayachtclub.com.
SEATTLE Dec. 5 — Vallejo YC Harbor Lighted Boat Parade. Info,
(800) 823-2798 • (206) 281-8144 www.vyc.org or (707) 643-1254.
Fax (206) 281-8036 Dec. 5 — Stockton SC Lighted Boat Parade. Info, www.
stocktonsc.org.
NO. CALIFORNIA Dec. 5 — Santa Cruz YC Lighted Boat Parade in the south
(800) 853-6504 • (650) 373-0595 harbor, 5:30 p.m. Info, www.scyc.org/lbp.
Fax (650) 548-1585 Dec. 12 — Marina Bay Lighted Boat Parade, 6-8 p.m.
email: boomeins@aol.com Official Details, info@mbyachtharbor.com or (510) 236-1013.
Lic. # 0A99058 Sponsor Dec. 12 — Sausalito Lighted Yacht Parade along the wa-
terfront, 6 p.m. Info, www.syconline.org.
2009 Dec. 12 — Holiday celebration at Hyde St. Pier with live
L.A./ORANGE COUNTY BAJA music, activities and a visit from the Big Guy himself, 3-4:45
(800) 992-4443 • (949) 642-5174 HA-HA p.m. Tour historic vessels from 6-9 p.m. RSVP for tour. Kids
Fax (949) 642-0252 15 & under free, adults $5. Info, (415) 447-5000.
Lic. # 0D36887 Jan. 4-Mar. 26 — Full-Time Sailmaking & Rigging Course
SAN DIEGO at Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building in Port Hadlock,
(800) 639-0002 WA. Info, www.nwboatschool.org or (360) 385-4948.
Fax (619) 226-6410 Jan. 12-Feb. 2 — America's Boating Class by Marin Power
Lic. # 0A96346 & Sail Squadron in Novato on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7-9
p.m. Textbook, $40. Info, (415) 924-2712.
Racing
Oct. 31 — YRA-OYRA Jr Waterhouse. RYC, www.yra.org.
BRADENTON, FLORIDA Oct. 31— Red Rock Race. TYC, www.tyc.org.
(800) 914-9928 Oct. 31-Nov. 7 — 23rd Annual Pro Am Regatta on Virgin
Lic. # E051940 Gorda, hosted by Bitter End YC. Info, www.beyc.com.
New! November, 1979 — It Was Thirty Years Ago from a
PUERTO VALLARTA Sightings article titled 'Notice to Mariners Gets Style':
(949) 274-4111 If you read the Notices to Mariners that the Coast Guard
regularly puts out, you know it's pretty dry reading. It's all facts
We insure racers and cruisers all over and business or blank white space. It's for this reason that
the world with prompt, reliable service. we were rather shocked by the lyrical nature of some parts of
a recent Notice. In it was the following information, probably
www.marinersins.com written by some young recruit who hopes to be a novelist.
"In the early days of lighthouses — when fish, whale, sperm
and lard oils were used as illuminating fuels — it was impos-
sible to 'flash' these burning lamps. As a result, all lighthouses
Ask showed a fixed-light characteristic and it was impossible to
About Our positively identify a specific lighthouse from a distance when
New Racing there was more than one in the area. To resolve this ambi-
Sailboat guity, and provide some means of positive identification, two
Program! lighthouses, or 'twin lights', were built next to each other to
provide a two-light characteristic.
"One well-known twin light was located at Cape Ann, Mas-
sachusetts, where both light towers are still standing, although
only one is still in use. In some cases, three lighthouses were
It's a Mariner's Fact: built together to provide a 'triple light'. One of the most famous
Red sky at night sailor's delight. triple lights was at Nauset Beach on Cape Cod."
That little piece of information is certainly more satisfying
Red sky in morning sailors take warning. than the normal blank space, and we hope they keep up with
the reading goodies.

Page 10 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 San Francisco's yacht broker since 1969 ~ celebrating our 40th year!

YACHTS AT NH DE CITY
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UCE
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Cabo Rico 38, '81 $85,000 Hylas 42, '89 $159,900 32' Grand Banks, '80 $89,900
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Catalina 34, '94 $70,000 26' Tollycraft, '79 $16,500 36' Islander, '75 $38,500
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28' Bayliner 2855, '00 $44,500 Carver 30, '93 $59,900 35' Maxum, '02 $190,000

43' Gran Mariner, '77, $85,000 35' Niagara, '80 $58,500 46' Moody, '00 $399,000

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FAX (415) 567-6725 • email sales@citysf.com • website http://yachtworld.com/cityyachts

PLEASE VISIT our Fuel Dock at Gashouse Cove marina • Open 7 days a week • 9am to 5pm

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 11

 CRUISERS! CALENDAR
Head for Downwind Marine!
We have it All – Quality Products, Service and Info
Nov. 1 — Jack & Jill +1, the woman-skippered triplehanded
race on the Estuary. IYC, www.iyc.org.
CRUISER SEMINARS Nov. 7 — Fall Series #3. SSC, www.stocktonsc.org.
Meeting at Downwind Marine, 2804 Cañon St. Nov. 7-8 — Perry Cup for Mercs. MPYC, www.mpyc.org.
7:30 pm. $3/person Nov. 8 — NorCal #3 Appleton Youth Regatta for FJs. Info,
www.pcisa.org or call SFYC Youth office at (415) 435-9525.
Tues 11/3 Beyond Mexico: Prep for Cruising the South Pacific Nov. 8 — Lake Washington's annual Turkey Shoot Regatta.
Sam & Sally Peterson, Veteran Cruisers Info, www.lwsailing.org.
Nov. 14 — The Running of the Bulls (El Toros) at Moss
Thurs 11/5 AIS: The Best Collision Avoidance System –
Landing. Elkhorn YC, www.elkhornyc.com.
Steven Gloor, Veteran Cruiser Nov. 14 — Commodore's Cup. CPYC, (650) 347-6730.
Mon 11/9 Under Pressure! Pressure Cooking for Cruisers – Nov. 17 — The Big Sail: Stanford vs. Cal in J/105s. More
Captain Steve Ford fun than football! StFYC, www.stfyc.com.
Tues 11/10 Offshore Safety: Gear You Need and How to Use It – Nov. 17 — YRA Year-End Awards Party at Sausalito YC.
Bruce Brown, Switlik/Survival Technologies Info, www.yra.org.
Wed 11/11 Cruising on 12 Volt Batteries, Alternators, Nov. 27 — Wild Turkey Race. TYC, (415) 883-6339.
Dec. 5 — Fall Series #4. SSC, www.stocktonsc.org.
Inverters: Tips and Troubleshooting –
Jan. 18-22 — Key West Race Week by Nautica, the best
Barry Kessler, Xantrex & CEO of Altra Regulators regatta in the country. Info, www.premiere-racing.com.
Thurs 11/12 NOAA Weather Service for Mariners Midwinter Regattas
Ted Mackechnie, NOAA ISLAND YC — Estuary Midwinters: 11/8, 12/13, 1/10,
Fri 11/13 Outboard Motor Needs for Cruising in Mexico – 2/14, 3/14. John, (510) 521-2980 or iycracing@yahoo.com.
Tom Teevin, Aquarius Yacht Services BERKELEY YC — Midwinters: 11/14-15, 12/12-13, 1/9-
10, 2/13-14. Bobbi, (925) 939-9885.
COME CELEBRATE CRUISERS' WEEK! BERKELEY YC — Chowder Races: Sundays through March
except when it conflicts with above.
BEGINS WITH BBQ POTLUCK AT STORE CAL SAILING CLUB — Year-round Sunday morning dinghy
Sunday, November 8, 12-4 PM races, intraclub only, typically in Laser Bahias and JY15s.
Email Gary and Alistair at racing_chair@cal-sailing.org.
We bring sodas, burgers & hot dogs. CORINTHIAN YC — Midwinters: 1/16-17 & 2/20-21.
Donal Botkin, racing@cyc.org.
Cruisers bring salad, side dish or dessert to share. ENCINAL YC — Jack Frost Series: 11/14, 1/23, 2/27,
FOLLOWED BY WEEK-LONG PRODUCT REP 3/27. Matthew Dean, rearcommodore@encinal.org.
GOLDEN GATE YC — Seaweed Soup Series: 11/7, 12/5,
DEMOS & WEEK-LONG DISCOUNT PRICES 1/9, 2/6, 3/6. Mont, ggycracedeck@aol.com or (209) 481-
Monday-Saturday, November 9-14 5158.
OAKLAND YC — Sunday Brunch Series: TBA. John Tuma,
Morning buddy boat meetings this week (510) 522-6868 or j_tuma@comcast.net.
daily at 10 AM with coffee & doughnuts. 2009
406 EPIRB Testing, Thurs. Nov. 12
www.downwindmarine.com
LATITUDE / LADONNA

Boating is
already Fun –
We make it more
THE CRUISER'S CHANDLERY
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Open: M-F 8-5 • Sat. 8:30-5

(619) 224-2733 • TOLL FREE (866) 289-0242 Many yacht clubs' midwinter series start this month. Are you, your crew
2804 Cañon St., San Diego, CA • email: info@downwindmarine.com and your boat ready for some laid-back, light-air fun?
Cruisers' Net, Ch. 68, from 8:30 am weekdays: WHX369 REGATTAPRO — Winter One Design: 11/14, 12/12, 1/9,
Now part of a great family of marine stores with even 2/13. Jeff (415) 595-8364 or jzarwell@regattapro.com.
more service and resources for all your boating needs. RICHMOND YC — Small Boat Midwinters: 12/6, 1/3, 2/7,
3/7. Tony, amcastruccio@sbcglobal.net or (925) 426-0686.
SANTA CRUZ YC — Midwinters: 11/21, 12/19, 1/16,
2/20, 3/20. Info, (831) 425-0690.
SAUSALITO YC — Sunday Midwinters: 11/1, 12/6, 1/3,
2/7, 3/7. John Mount, race@syconline.org.
SEQUOIA YC — Winter Series: 11/7, 12/5, 1/16, 2/6,
2636 Shelter Island Dr. 2822 Cañon St.
3/13. Redwood Cup: 11/22, 12/20, 1/24, 2/28, 3/28. Alex
(619) 223-7159 (619) 225-9411
Huang, jpcfx@earthlink.net.

Page 12 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

The Boat Yard at Grand Marina
"Where Service Has Meaning"
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Located at Grand Marina • 2021 Alaska Packer Place, Alameda
www.boatyardgm.com

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 13

 CALENDAR
FAST IS FUN!
SOUTH BAY YRA — Midwinters: 11/7, 12/5, remaining
TBA. Jocelyn Swanson, regatta@cpyc.com
SOUTH BEACH YC — Island Fever Midwinters: 11/21.
12/19, 1/16, 2/20, 3/20. Info, www.southbeachyc.org.
TIBURON YC — Midwinters: 1/23, 2/13, 3/13. Ian Mat-
thew, ian.matthew@comcast.net or (415) 883-6339.
VALLEJO YC — Tiny Robbins Midwinters: 11/7, 12/5,
1/9, 2/13, March TBA. Info, (707) 643-1254.

Please send your calendar items by the 10th of the month

to calendar@latitude38.com. If you're totally old-school, mail
them to Latitude 38 (Attn: Calendar), 15 Locust Avenue, Mill
Valley, CA, 94941 or fax them to us at (415) 383-5816. But
please, no phone-ins! Calendar listings are for marine-related
events that either are free or don't cost much to attend. The
Perfect for Calendar is not meant to support commercial enterprises.
Pacific Cup!
At our docks November Weekend Tides
date/day time/ht. time/ht. time/ht. time/ht.
LOW HIGH LOW HIGH
10/31Sat 0351/1.6 1018/5.8 1645/0.3 2323/4.7
11/01Sun 0326/1.9 0946/6.0 1620/-0.2 2313/4.7
HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
11/07Sat 0349/4.6 0805/3.3 1403/5.9 2105/-0.6
11/08Sun 0449/4.8 0927/3.2 1511/5.5 2208/-0.3
LOW HIGH LOW HIGH
11/14Sat 0236/1.8 0908/6.4 1544/-0.5 2235/4.7
Special Deals on Inventory Boats! 11/15Sun 0320/2.2 0943/6.5 1626/-0.8 2330/4.8
Call for details. HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
11/21Sat 0333/4.5 0757/3.4 1329/5.3 2031/0.0
11/22Sun 0420/4.5 0904/3.4 1420/4.9 2119/0.3
Recent wins reveal 11/26Thu
11/27Fri
0649/5.2
0033/1.7
1320/1.7
0720/5.5
1906/3.8
1403/1.0 2021/3.9
SCORCHING SPEED!
11/28Sat
LOW
0118/2.0
HIGH
0752/5.8
LOW
1442/0.4
HIGH
2125/4.1
11/29Sun 0203/2.3 0827/6.1 1521/-0.3 2223/4.3
2009 Vallejo Race:
November Weekend Currents
Fastest elapsed time, FIRST in class
date/day slack max slack max
2009 Border Run, Newport to San Diego: 10/31Sat 0016 0248/2.8E 0616 0909/2.8F
First to finish monohull by one hour! 1205 1508/4.1E 1859 2155/3.3F
11/01Sun 0107 0232/2.7E 0552 0844/2.8F
In the Santa Cruz tradition – a downwind flyer. 1136 1447/4.6E 1838 2137/3.6F
11/07Sat 0141/3.6F 0521 0724/1.9E
Call for a test sail… and hold on tight! 1024 1318/2.1F 1554 1933/4.7E
2332
Dealers for Santa Cruz Yachts in California 11/08Sun 0241/3.5F 0617 0824/2.0E
1142 1425/2.0F 1704 2033/4.3E
Alameda 11/14Sat 0143/2.7E 0459 0755/3.1F
1045 1400/4.7E 1753 2059/3.8F
(510) 523-8600
11/15Sun 0008 0233/2.5E 0545 0837/3.0F
norman@sailcal.com 1124 1442/5.0E 1839 2147/4/0F
11/21Sat 0128/3.1F 0459 0658/1.6E
1016 1255/1.6F 1530 1901/3.9E
2307
11/22Sun 0214/2.9F 0545 0748/1.6E
Newport Beach 1117 1627/1.3F 1905 2223/3.1E
(949) 675-8035 2355
San Diego 11/26Thu 0212 0516/2.6F 0828 1115/2.9E
1519 1758/2.0F 2053 2326/2.4E
(619) 224-6200 11/27Fri 0257 0559/2.6F 0904 1202/3.5E
jeff@jk3yachts.com 1606 1854/2.4F 2157
11/28Sat 0020/2.3E 0341 0641/2.6F
0939 1248/4.0E 1650 1944/2.9F
2256
www.jk3yachts.com • www.sailcal.com 11/29Sun 0112/2.2E 0424 0722/2.6F
www.santacruzyachts.com 1015 1332/4.5E 1733 2032/3.3F
2352

Page 14 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 Your PERFORMANCE YACHT SPECIALISTS
ALAMEDA SEATTLE
1070 Marina Village Pkwy #108 SAIL NORTHWEST
Alameda, CA 94501 7001 Seaview Ave. NW #140
(510) 523-8500 Seattle, WA 98117
FAX (510) 522-0641 (206) 286-1004

Santa Cruz 52, Santa Cruz 52

2000 1999
Isis Renegade
The ultimate cruising Great boat, nicely
boat with shallow equipped and
draft. race ready.
Asking $520,000 Asking $595,000

D ING D
UCE LIST UCE
RED NEW RED

J/100, 2005, Reddie Freddie J/32, 2001, Independence J/109, 2004, Crazy Diamond
Now asking $112,000 This is an amazing amount of boat at 32-ft. Deal of the decade.
Come see her on our sales dock. Asking $125,000 Asking $185,000

J/40, 1986, China Cloud J/124, 2007, Fortuna Ericson 35 MkIII, Symmetry Olson 40, 1983, Elka
This boat is ready for the Baja Ha-Ha. Are you? For the joy of sailing, experience the J/124. Own a classic boat. Asking $79,000
Asking $159,000 Asking $298,000 Asking $49,000

77' Andrews, '03**..........................................Reduced! $799,000 35' 1D35, '01, Tabasco.................................Just Listed! $79,000
56' Andrews, '94, Charisma................................................ SOLD Back Cove 29, U CED 35' 1D35, Sweet Sensation..........................Just Listed! $69,000
52' Santa Cruz, '00, Isis............................. Just Listed! $520,000 2005, RED 35' 1D35, '99, Sensation...............................Just Listed! $64,000
52' Santa Cruz, '98, Hula...........................Just Listed! $575,000 Diamond Lil 35' 1D35, '01, Yeofy......................................Just Listed! $69,900
52' Santa Cruz, '99, Renegade..................Just Listed! $595,000 34' D-Class Catamaran, Rocket 88................................. $38,000
48' J/145, Hull #9, '03**.................................Reduced! $675,000 She's a beauty with 34' MJM 34z, '05**.........................................Reduced! $384,000
48' Kristen Steel Offshore, '01, Trinity**.........Reduced! $529,000 her new blue hull. 34' J/34, '85, The Zoo**...................................Reduced! $29,900
44' J/44, '90, Phoenix....................................Reduced! $219,000 Asking $159,000 34' Olson-Ericson, '89...................................Just Listed! $47,500
42' J/42, '03, Freedom........................................................ SOLD 33' J/100, '06**............................................................... $115,000
41' J/124, '07, Fortuna...................................Reduced! $298,000 33' J/100, Hull #5, '05, Reddie Freddie..........Reduced! $118,000
41' Bianca 414, 1980, Avion............................................... SOLD 37' J/37, Hull #30, '88......................................................... SOLD 32' J/32, Independence, '00........................Just Listed! $125,000
41' Passport, '90, 360**.................................Reduced! $239,000 36' J/36, '83**...................................................................... SOLD 30' J/92, '93, J Moto............................................................ SOLD
40' Advance, '85, Caribou**...........................Reduced! $139,500 35' J/109, '03..............................................Just Listed! $189,000 29' Back Cove, '05, Diamond Lil....................Reduced! $159,000
40' X-Yachts X119........................................Just Listed! $89,000 35' J/109, '04, Crazy Diamond.......................Reduced! $185,000 29' MJM 29z, '06**......................................Just Listed! $269,000
40' Olson 40, 1983, Elka................................................. $79,000 35' Ericson 35 Mk III, '84, Symmetry............................... $49,000 29' J/29, '85, Masthead**................................................. $28,000
40' J/40, '86, China Cloud.............................................. $159,000 35' J/105, Hull #497, '02, Breezy..................... Pending $117,000 28' Alerion Express, '06**........................... Just Listed! $110,000
40' J/120, '01, OuiB5.....................................Reduced! $199,000 35' J/105, Hull #298, '00, Chilaxn.................................. $114,000 27' Choate, '79, Allegro Con Brio....................Reduced! $13,900
39' Carroll Marine CM 1200, '95**................Just Listed! $82,500 35' J/105, Hull #347, '00, Bald Eagle.............Reduced! $109,000 27' Antrim 27, '98, Luna...................................Reduced! $29,900
39' Schumacher Custom, '96, Recidivist....................... $149,000 35' J/105, Hull #617, '04, formerly Chili Pepper**.......... $127,500 26' J/80, '01, Lay Down Sally.............................................. SOLD
38' Sydney, '00, Howl......................................................... SOLD 35' J/105, Hull #403............................................................ SOLD 22' Aquapro Raider 665, '04............................Reduced! $34,900
38' X-Yachts 382, '99, X-TC............................................... SOLD 35' J/105, '99, Life Is Good**........................................... $83,000
37' X-Yachts 372 Sport, '87................................................ SOLD 35' 1D35, '00, Sensation...............................Just Listed! $84,900 ** Indicates Seattle Boats

Dealers for these fine yachts:

www.sailcal.com
email: norman@sailcal.com

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 15

 LETTERS
Ullman Sails
⇑⇓"UMBRELLA? I DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' UMBRELLA!"
LAST CHANCE on In a recent 'Lectronic, you asked for sailor's stories about
the storm of October 12.
FALL SALE for 2009 I normally berth my boat at Basin 3 of Clipper Yacht
Harbor in Sausalito, but I decided to sail her over to South
Fall Sale ends November 30, 2009 Beach Harbor on Sunday and stay on her for the week of the
Oracle Open World Conference in downtown San Francisco.

15% OFF all big boat racing and cruising sails Staying on my boat would be much less expensive than stay-
ing in a hotel, would normally have been more comfortable,
and would allow me to attend all those late night 'meetings'
with single sail orders without having to drive home to Marin.

20% OFF all big boat racing and cruising sails After spending a pretty sleepless night aboard once the
storm hit, I got up in the morning to make the trek to the
with two or more sail orders showers at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday. In the pre- and post-wash-
ing, I took a 'shower'. While getting dressed below in my boat,
10% OFF small boat one design sails I watched the rain fly by horizontally. I wondered how the
heck I was going to get to my meeting at the Moscone Center
(Offer applies only to the Ullman Sails lofts listed below) still looking somewhat presentable. After all, I would have
to get out into the cockpit, lock up my boat, and take a very
wet two-block walk to the Muni station in front of AT&T Park.
Then I'd have to wait for the train and walk the three blocks
from the Montgomery Station to Moscone.
Then it hit me. Thirty minutes later, I walked into my meet-
ing completely dry and looking good — at least in my opinion
— while everyone else looked somewhat worse for wear. No
one suspected that my complete offshore foul weather gear
— boots, pants, and jacket — were stuffed in my backpack.
I even gave my umbrella — useless in the wind — to some
poor fellow who had no jacket and was already soaked to the
bone. "Don't you need it?" he asked me. "No," I replied, "I'm
a sailor."
Gary Ryan
i'liohale, Hanse 341
Sausalito

⇑⇓LUCK, PURE AND SIMPLE

My MacGregor 26D rode out the October 12 storm on her
trailer. A 60-ft tall oak tree broke off at the base and crashed
down around the
boat. The Mac was
covered in limbs, but
they were all small
and did no harm.
But a truck parked
PLEASE CONTACT A LOFT LISTED BELOW next to my boat was
FOR PRICING AND FALL DISCOUNT DEALS! badly damaged as a
DAVE HECTOR

result of being hit

Newport Beach Long Beach Santa Barbara by a 12-inch limb.
(714) 432-1860 (562) 598-9441 Ken Kieding It might have been
2710 S. Croddy Way 6400 Marina Drive #9 (805) 965-4538 fatal if it had hit my
Santa Ana, CA 92704 Long Beach, CA Gary Swenson
sailboat.
Dave Ullman 90803 (805) 644-9579
Bruce Cooper Bryan Dair Santa Cruz Dave Hector
Lucky for Dave, his MacGregor 26D got the
Steve Beck Steve Beck Brent Ruhne Mountain Ranch
branches and not the trunk.
Erik Shampain (562) 243-9710 Ruhne Racing
Marina del Rey/ Ventura (831) 295-8290 mobile ⇑⇓SOME RECORDS WE JUST DON'T NEED
King Harbor (805) 644-9579 San Francisco/ The September 28 ‘Lectronic report on the mishaps — strik-
Mike George 3639 E. Harbor Blvd. Sausalito ing a ship and being dismasted — that took place during
(310) 645-0196 #111 Robin Sodaro 16-year-old Aussie Jessica Watson’s shakedown for a solo
Steve Beck Ventura, CA 93001 466 Coloma St. circumnavigation attempt should be a warning. Years ago,
(562) 243-9710 Gary Swenson Sausalito, CA 94965
Deke Klatt (800) 883-7245 officials in the sport of soaring — gliders — realized that at-
(415) 332-4104 tempts to set records for the sake of records for time aloft was
intrinsically dangerous. As a result, duration records are no
Visit our website: longer recognized.
www.ullmansails.com I'm also reminded of the tragic fate of seven-year-old Jes-
sica Dubroff who, in '96, died while trying to be the youngest

Page 16 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 17
 LETTERS

person to pilot a plane across the United States. After her

death nobody much cared about being the youngest any-
more.
There are some records we just don’t need.
Jim Wallis
Axel Heyst, Custom Camper-Nicholson
Vallejo YC

Readers — For those who don't remember, Jessica Dubroff,

who was born in Contra Costa County and lived in Pescadero,
attempted — sort of — to become the first second-grader to pilot
an airplane across the United States. Despite the fact that it
was a totally bogus attempt — she was accompanied by both
her flight instructor and her father — the uncomprehending
child became an instant media celebrity. But as if to emphasize
both the bogosity of the attempt and the pressures brought on
by attempting such stunts in front of the media, the trio left
Cheyenne, Wyoming, not only in heavy rain and stormy condi-
tions, but with the flight instructor rather than Jessica at the
yoke. Minutes after taking off, the plane crashed, killing all
three aboard.
Aussie Jessica Watson started her non-stop solo circum-
navigation attempt via the Southern Ocean on October 18. We
wish the young lady well, but we're convinced she doesn't
have a clue what she's getting herself into. As for 15-year-old
Abby Sunderland of Marina del Rey, her family was most
recently trying to rush the purchase of an Open 40 they found
in Europe and hoped to ship to
Fort Lauderdale, where Abby
would presumably begin her at-
tempt. The problems are that it's
COURTESY ELLA'S PINK LADY

already late in the year to start

and make it around the Southern
Ocean during the southern hemi-
sphere summer and, even in the
best case scenario, young Abby
will have to start without having
spent much time getting to know
her boat. But when you're aiming
for a youth record, you can't wait
until next year.
For some reason, Jessica's de- It's just our opinion, but we
parture on October 18 some- think that, by attempting to cir-
how made mainstream media cumnavigate via the Southern
news all over the world. Ocean, both young women are
lacking in adult supervision. We don't believe either one has
a chance of making it as planned. We just hope some higher
power keeps them safe.

⇑⇓"FLEET WEEK WAS A PUBLIC RELATIONS DISASTER"

I'm among the throng of people who were disappointed
that the Blue Angels had to cancel their show at the last
minute. It's the second year in a row that weather modified
the schedule. Last year it was the parade.
I think the organizers should consider moving the event
one month earlier in the year, and start the Angels program
at 2 p.m.
The event communications were awful. Apparently nobody
bothered to tell the Coast Guard that the show was cancelled.
As such, all of us on boats had to wait for the 'crash zone'
to open. And, of course, there was the Coastie inflatable,
complete with a mounted machine gun, darting in and out
of traffic, with various crew members yelling at skippers of
recreational boats to relocate to some imaginary line. All the
boats that I saw were well behind the cutters, so I think these

Page 18 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 Not just Great Sails, but

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Winter discounts now in effect
Now is the time to buff up your sail
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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 19

 Glove It
LETTERS

Or guys were protecting some setback from the cutters, not the
'ditch zone'.

Leave It
Anyway, I found it to be a pathetic display of authority,
and in the end, it added to the considerable public relations
disaster for Fleet Week.
Peter Earnshaw
Kailani, Catalina 30
Sausalito

Peter — It's not as though Fleet Week is the only event or

activity that can be negatively impacted or even cancelled by
weather. The same happens with America's Cup races, World
Series baseball games, tennis and golf tournaments, KFOG
Kaboom fireworks shows, countless airplane flights, and af-
ternoon commutes. Nature rules.
It probably wouldn't be too hard to reschedule just the Blue
Angels for a month earlier in the year, but they are part of
the much larger and logistically complicated Fleet Week. We
imagine it would take years to change the dates, and even
then, there is no guarantee that the weather would cooperate.
We would characterize the cancelling of the Blue Angels as a
disappointment rather than a "public relations disaster."

⇑⇓CAUGHT IN THE ACT

While the Blue
Angels canceled
their Fleet Week
performance be-
cause of the fog,
they did make
one pass, and
Full-Finger 3/4-Finger I caught it with
my point n' shoot
STUART KIEHL

West Marine Sailing Gloves

camera. I even got
the Golden Gate
Not to put too fine a point on it, but your epidermis is no match Bridge and a sail-
boat in, too!
for even the softest, supplest yacht braid when a runaway sheet
Stuart Kiehl
or halyard goes zinging through your hands. If you’d prefer to In case you missed the Blue Angels this year, Santa Rosa
here's what they looked like on Saturday.
retain your full complement of skin cells, better get a glove on.
⇑⇓OURS IS BIGGER
Rather than turning their hands into hamburger, millions of sailors In the September 28 'Lectronic, you ran a photo of a circle
around the world rely on our West Marine Sailing Gloves. They’re raft-up in Alameda. They said if anyone had proof of a larger
tough, comfortable, effective and affordable. Amara synthetic one, they should send it to Latitude. Well, that's what I'm
leather palms won’t get stiff, crack or shrink. Elasticized mesh doing. The accompanying photo shows 30 — I think — boats
from the Corsair YC rafted up in a circle in Newport Harbor.
backs ensure a proper fit and drain in a jiffy. Contoured for We started
comfort, we also make them in sizes especially for women. this annu-
al event in
Great protection. Great value. No wonder our gloves are the ones
March of '07
more sailors choose than any others. with about
18 boats,
and have
DENISE NEPTUNE

nearly dou-
bled in size.
We e x p e c t
even more
next year.
Find West Marine Sailing Gloves at our We start
Alameda Sailing Superstore! on a Friday
The Corsair YC's star raft-up — which looks pretty
730 Buena Vista Ave. • 510-521-4865 circular to us — is getting bigger by the year.
by choosing
four 'corner
We have 17 stores in Northern California. boats' to anchor the raft-up. As new boats, they arrive are
tied to one of the anchors or a previously secured boat. In the
Log onto westmarine.com to find the store nearest you.
second photo you will see how it looks before we close the gap

Page 20 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 The Finest Sails Begin
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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 21

 Best Buys LETTERS

for with the last boat in. It looks like a big 'C'. We always leave

Your Eyes
about a boat’s width path for dinghies to enter the center of
the circle.
Everyone in the raft-up on Friday night takes their dinghy
to a local restaurant where all of us dine. By noon on Saturday,
the last boat is usually in place. We then have dinghy raft-
ups inside the circle, with cocktails and appetizers. Dinner
on Saturday night is often a progressive boat event. It's great
fun. If anyone feels a bit monkey-like, it's possible to walk
over all the boats in a complete circle. I've even done it.
In case anybody is wondering, yes, we do get permission
from the Orange County Sheriff's Department Marine Patrol
way in advance. It's truly a blast!
Denise Neptune
Corsair YC
Tahiti Readers — The last letter was from Stuart Kiehl, this one
with Compass was from Denise Neptune and the next is from Mark Haesloop.
Model 2677755 It's getting pretty nautical around here, isn't it?

⇑⇓STAR RAFT-UP TIPS

The Seattle YC does a 'star' raft-up every year or so. The
accompanying photo is of one such raft-up at Montague Har-
bor, Galiano Island, British Columbia. As you might imagine,
the strength of the wind can be a determining factor in the
success of such attempts.
You start a star raft-up by getting the four biggest boats
with the best ground tackle to take up positions at each of the
Raiatea four compass points.
Model 2677680 Once they drop their
hooks, they need to
back down hard to

Waterproof 7 x 50 Binoculars
get their hooks set
securely. Then help-
ers in dinghies take a
When it comes to choosing a pair of binoculars for marine
stern line from each
COURTESY SEATTLE YC

use, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the jillions of available boat to the boat op-
options. But if superb performance at an affordable price is posite of them. When
what you want, you can comfortably narrow your focus to one these four boats are
relatively secure in
binocular brand—West Marine’s Island Series binoculars.
their positions, the
Our complete line of marine binoculars combines truly superb other boats fill in the
optical performance with rugged, waterproof and fog-proof gaps and set stern
anchors. Once that's
construction at prices that make them exceptional values. But Seattle YC's star raft-up had four fewer done, the roving party
you don’t have to take our word for it. Practical Sailor maga- boats than the Corsair YC's — better luck
commences.
next year!
zine’s August 2006 issue rated our Tahiti “Excellent” and a The art to creating
“Best Buy.” Better yet, prove it to yourself by stopping by one a symmetrical star raft-up is to get the four key boats to posi-
tion themselves not too close together, but not too far apart
of our convenient store locations and seeing (and we mean either. One-and-a-half to two boat lengths apart seems about
that literally) the difference for yourself! right.
Mark Haesloop, crew
Perseverance, Valiant 42, Seattle YC
San Carlos

⇑⇓CONDOS AT ANDERSON'S? SAY IT ISN'T SO!

Is there any organized filibustering going on in Sausalito
to stop the development at the site of Anderson's Boat Yard?
Find West Marine Binoculars at our Why can't the Sausalito Planning Commission prevent the
Alameda Sailing Superstore! Anderson site from being re-zoned to allow for condos, as
730 Buena Vista Ave. • 510-521-4865 we've heard the owner of the property would like? Won't the
loss of Sausalito's biggest boatyard have a negative impact
We have 17 stores in Northern California. on the boating community?
Curious Mind
Log onto westmarine.com to find the store nearest you.
Sausalito

Page 22 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 2330 Shelter Island Dr. # 207, San Diego, CA 92106
Go to info@yachtfinders.biz
www.yachtfinders.biz (619) 224-2349
for all our 80+ listings!
Toll Free (866) 341-6189

48' HANS CHRISTIAN CC 48T, '88 $248,500 47' KETTENBURG MS, '58 $99,000 47' CATANA 472 CALIGO, '01 $699,000 45' TRITON PACIFICA, '74 $89,000
Annapurna was designed and constructed Fully restored and refurbished motorsailer. Experience unmatched performance! Owner The versatile cutter rig, wide decks and
as the Ultimate Bluewater Cruiser. Incredibly Seller will consider smaller vessel as trade-in will consider a trade for a home, townhome, or large fuel and water tankage make this a go-
well equipped for offshore cruising. or financing up to 50% of the sales price. condominium in San Diego County. anywhere boat. See her at our docks.

44' MASON, '90 $237,500 43' BENETEAU 432, '87 $124,990 42' HUNTER PASSAGE CC, '04 $159,999 40' ISLANDER PETERSON, '79 $72,000
A stunning example of this world cruiser, The swim platform makes dinghy and water This center cockpit yacht is in almost-new Refrigeration, inverter, AP, GPS and radar.
she's currently cruising the Pacific Northwest. entry easy, and, with all the lines led aft, she is shape and the engine has fewer than 60 Winches, standing rigging and headsail are
Showings arranged in the Seattle area. sailed effortlessly. Possible slip transfer. hours. Sellers are highly motivated. new. Desirable transferable Sausalito slip!

37' HUNTER LEGEND 37.5, '96 $84,900 30' NONSUCH ULTRA, '84 $49,900 29' ERICSON w/Electric Motor, '74 $22,000 25' SEAWARD w/Trailer, '97 $26,900
Clearly built for comfort as well as Biggest 30-footer afloat. The roomy interior The first electric motor conversion in San Loads of fun and easy to trailer. 25-inch
performance. Spacious cockpit, easy access and the easy-to-handle cat rig make it a Diego. Motors quietly with no fuel smells. shoal draft for gunkholing. Well equipped and
to the foredeck and great forward visibility. desirable family cruiser. Join the alternative power revolution! maintained by knowledgeable owner.

Ray Watson & Jeannette Sarrasin Mike Rickman & Shelly R. Ward
Toll free US/CAN: 1 (888) 716-7430 Toll free US/CAN: 1 (877) 245-9689
Phone & FAX: 011 52 (669) 913-3165 Phone & FAX: 011 52 (612) 123-1948
E-mail: Mazmarine@aol.com E-mail: LaPazYachts@aol.com
www.yachtworld.com/mazmarine

51’ MORGAN OUT ISLAND, 1981…$139,000 43’ BENETEAU OCEANIS 430, 1989…$115,000 41’ PEARSON RHODES BOUNTY, 1966…$39,000

41’ SEAWIND CUTTER SLOOP, 1977…$34,500 40’ ROBERT CC CUTTER SLOOP, 1980…$87,000 37’ ENDEAVOUR SLOOP, 1978…$60,000

36’ C&C MARK II, 1980…$44,900 35’ SPENCER MARK II SLOOP, 1983…$35,000 34’ HUNTER SLOOP, 1986…$28,500

MANY MORE LISTINGS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.MAZMARINE.COM

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 23
 LETTERS

Curious — There is a lot of misinformation going around with

regard to that property. As we've reported, sometime after the
first of the year it will become the KKMI Boatyard. There will
be no condos.

⇑⇓AND THIS IS HOW WE KNOW . . .

I understand there is some misinformation about whether
KKMI will opening up a service facility in Sausalito. The
answer is absolutely yes, we will be opening our facility in
Clipper Yacht Harbor, and no, there is no truth to the rumor
that Clipper, which owns the land, is planning to use the area
to build condos.
We've been working with Clipper for some time in the de-
velopment of their plans to expand and improve the quality/
quantity of the maritime services offered at their facility. The
first step in this process is the redevelopment of the former
boatyard facility to insure that it is fully compliant with all
environmental and occupational regulations. We've had ad-
vance meetings with the City of Sausalito Planning Depart-
ment, and will be submitting our construction plans shortly
so that we may get on the department's consent calendar.
Until we submit these plans, Clipper has made the deci-
sion to keep things as quiet as possible. Unfortunately, one
of the consequences of this silence has been the circulation of
rumors such as those about condos. Let me assure Latitude
readers that there is no foundation to any of these stories.
While it may seem crazy to be investing in the marine indus-
try at this difficult time in our economy, the commitment by
Clipper and KKMI is steadfast, and built upon our long-term
belief in our sport and the maritime industry.
Paul Kaplan
KKMI
Richmond

⇑⇓PAY TO PLAY RATES

If I were to crew on the Ha-Ha this year, what do you think
a fair contribution to the effort would be? If you have any
ideas, I'd really appreciate the information.
Eager To Crew
Oakland

E.T.C. — Financial arrangements are all over the map

depending on the skipper, boat, crew, the experience of the
skipper and crew, the level of friendship and so forth. At one
extreme, you have inexperienced skippers who pay crew to
mentor them. At the other, you have inexperienced crew paying
experienced skippers what are close to charter rates for the
learning experience.
Then there are special situations where, for example, a group
of five friends decide that, in return for one guy's agreeing to
take his boat, the other four will pay all the expenses, including
the considerable expense of having the boat delivered home.
So if someone told us they got paid $2,000 to crew on a
Ha-Ha boat, we wouldn't be surprised or think it a bad deal.
One the other hand, somebody could tell us they paid $2,000
to be on a Ha-Ha boat, and that could be a good deal, too.
The thing that skippers who accept money should realize
is that, at some point, they could be considered to be carrying
passengers-for-hire. In that case, there could be all kinds of
negative implications for insurance coverage and liability is-
sues. It's unlikely to come up unless someone gets hurt, but if
that happens, it could be a major problem. Some say it's best
not to have any agreement in writing. Or that if value is to be
contributed, it be done in the form or boat gear or food rather
than cash.

Page 24 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 25
 LETTERS

⇑⇓SUNDOWNER SYNDROME
We were in Venezuela some years ago, and took a trip inland
to see some waterfalls. When the sun set, the moon came up
at the same time. If I hadn't had a compass, I wouldn't have
known east from west. I wonder if anybody else has been in
that situation before.
Cal Chamberlain
Leeway, Buccaneer 240
Red Bluff

,%)352%&52, š
Cal — We're confused. After all, you couldn't have been
confusing the sun for the moon, and the moon has no effect
on the fact that the sun always sets in the west. What are we

"2/5'(4"!#+4(%&5.
missing?

⇑⇓MORE ON MEXICAN MEDICAL COVERAGE

/&3!),).' In last month's Changes, you wrote about a USA Today

article that reported how Americans who get an FM3 visa in
Mexico can become part of the IMSS — sort of Mexico's so-
cial security system — health system. As the article pointed
/VER out, for a maximum of about $300 a year — not a month!
)N5SE7ORLDWIDE — Americans who signed up can get treatment with no de-
ductible for everything from tests to surgery to medicines to
X-rays to dental and eyeglasses.
If I might add, two of the greatest things about the Mexico
IMSS Health Plan is that there is no limit on pre-existing
conditions and no age limit. So if you are a 75-year-old U.S.
citizen who's never paid a cent into the system, you can still
sign up for coverage as soon as you get your FM3 visa. I can't
think of any other ‘civilized’ country where you can enter,
h4HEBIGMAINONOUR become a legal resident for about $140, and get full medical
PRIORBOATA3ABRE
coverage for about $250 CN/year.
WASTOOMUCHFORMYWIFE+ATHY
For example, I tried to get a Canadian residency visa about
AND)TOHANDLESOWEHADA,EISURE&URL
BOOMINSTALLED4HEEASEOFHANDLINGOURMAIN
five years ago, but since I was over 55, it was nearly impossible
REIGNITEDOURLOVEOFSAILING)TELIMINATEDTHESTRESS — even though I had sponsors to run a small boatyard and
ASSOCIATEDWITHREEFINGANDDOUSINGTHEBIGMAIN boat restoration program. After 55, you need to have about $1
million U.S. before they even let you apply. They won't even
7ITHOURNEWCONFIDENCEWEBOUGHTABIGGERBOATANTICIPATING accept doctors or dentists who don't have the million!
RETIREMENTANDMORETIMEONTHEWATER"EINGABLETOFURLTHE The Mexican health insurance system is actually quite
MAINFROMTHECOCKPITKEEPSUSINCONTROLANDSAFE4HANKSTO amazing, as it takes only a month or so — and lots of paper-
OUR,EISURE&URLBOOMWEHAVECRUISEDTONEWPLACESANDMET work — to get an FM3 visa. If you apply at a Mexican Con-
NEWFRIENDSv sulate in the U.S., it can take about a week. But then you
%MMETT+ATHY(ARTY have to get registered at Migración in Mexico within 90 days
(INCKLEY3O7ESTER 2%'5,53 at the location of your choosing. Keep in mind that the FM3
has to be renewed each year at the same place you originally
For more information, call or visit registered. For a cruiser living in Mexico, or staying there for

Keefe Kaplan Maritime, Inc. at least a few months every winter, it's not a big issue.
I got my original FM3 at the Mexican Consulate in San
Francisco, and registered at Migración in Guaymas, where I
have to renew it. One can change the residence location, but
it requires a little paperwork to do it. You cannot, for instance,
register in Guaymas and then renew it next year in Puerto
Vallarta.
Point Richmond, CA • (510) 235-KKMI (5564) I have known many sailors and others who have had
extensive medical care in Mexico — including a friend from
Schoonmaker Point Marina in Sausalito who was treated
for colon cancer in La Paz. Once, when the local clinic was
closed, he even had a nurse come out to his boat and give
him his chemo treatment at anchor. You won't find that kind
of service in the United States.
I know a lot of Canadians who get medical treatment in
San Carlos, too, because if they leave Canada for more than
WWWFORESPARCOM
three consecutive months, their coverage in Canada lapses.
*534/.%/&/52
-!.902/$5#4,).%3 0Hs&AX They have to return home for something like six months
before it takes effect again. For many Canadians, this was a

Page 26 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

Get Pacific Cup Ready Now
Call for Winter Discounts
(sale ends 12/31/09)

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BETTER ENGINEERED SAILS

 LETTERS
SANTA ROSA
BOAT CENTER big issue, as they had to rush back from Mexico to Canada
when there was still snow on the ground! But now many of

If it's on a trailer, them just stay in Mexico and get treated there — they say
that in some ways the treatment in Mexico is as good as or
better than what they get back home in Canada.
bring it on up – John 'Woody' Skoriak
Sausalito

sail or power! Readers — Lots of Americans are getting discouraged be-

cause the standard of living in the States is going down while
the cost of health care continues to rise. As we've said many
times before, folks on fixed incomes who enjoy sailing can have
Ask a much richer and more abundant life in Mexico than in the
Boat Wus about our United States. And they can get a much bigger bang for the
in
Shrink- terizing and buck when it comes to health care, too. So yes, there's more to
Wrappin look forward to in life than watching television and shopping
g! at Wal-Mart.

⇑⇓MEDICAL CARE IN MEXICO SUPERIOR TO U.S.

Thank you for referencing the USA Today article about
Americans getting low-cost health insurance and medical
treatment in Mexico. In addition to the excellent care we have
gotten the few times we needed it, our daughter has gotten
fine treatment, too. She's lived in San Carlos for the past 16
years, during which time she gave birth to three children in
the States. Her fourth child was born in Hermosillo, Mexico.
Not only did she think her doctors and hospital in Mexico were
superior to the ones in the States, she got to stay in a suite,
which meant her husband could stay with her. Furthermore,
the Mexican hospital required her to stay in the hospital
longer than would have been allowed in the U.S. The cost of
our daughter's having a baby in Mexico was half of that in
Many of the expert technicians from Anderson's in the United States.
Sausalito have now joined the team of skilled SRBC Many doctors practicing in Mexico trained in the United
craftsmen that you've been trusting for more than States, although local medical training is excellent too. We
would never hesitate to seek medical care while cruising in
40 years. Call us today for all your boating needs: Mexico.
Dennis & Lynn Cannon
• Safe, secure and affordable dry storage Pura Vida, Catalina 400
• Engine and outdrive service/repair Scottsdale, Arizona

• Fiberglass, gelcoat and woodwork repair ⇑⇓ENVIRONMENTALIST INFIGHTING

There was an interesting article in an October issue of the
• Anti-fouling bottom painting San Francisco Chronicle that reported that all the detritus
• Electrical troubleshooting/repair from the hydraulic mining of the Gold Rush is finally being
flushed out of the Bay, leaving the water clearer than it's
• Aluminum & stainless steel fabrication: been in more than 100 years. Perhaps counterintuitively,
rails & fuel tanks some environmentalists don't want a clearer, more "natural"
Bay because it will have adverse affects on some wildlife and
waterlife.
Conveniently located: Just take the I have very strong feelings on the subject, but making sure
folks are aware of this potential controversy is more important
Santa Rosa Ave. exit off Hwy. 101 than my own take. Readers can find the article at www.sfgate.
com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/05/MN781A0F6Q.
A B O AT DTL.
OS
4185 Santa Rosa Ave. Eric Artman
S A N TA R

CE

Tiburon
Santa Rosa
NTER

Eric — We thought the article, by staff writer Kelly Zito,

(707) 586-7900 was one of the better ones we've read in the Chronicle lately.
It reported that hydraulic mining in the Sierra during the Gold
Rush created more sediment in Delta and Bay waters, and
that over the years nature adapted to the more murky water.
www.santarosaboatcenter.com But now that time has washed away most of the sediment to
nearly the original state of water clarity, the plants and wildlife

Page 28 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 ATTENTION
Anderson’s will stop hauling out boats on Monday,
November 16: Please call and reserve your space before then.

INVENTORY LIQUIDATION
and YARD SALE
Through the month of November, we will be liquidating our entire
supply of inventory. Everything must go! Please stop by the yard
to see the enormous savings on:
• Equipment and Stands • Paint and Supplies
• Parts and Tools: New and Used

REFERRALS Our top-notch

fabrication team
To our valued customers: We realize that many of you will now will
be relocating to
need to travel for your boating needs. Below is a list of yards we the
Santa Rosa Boat
highly recommend for you to continue receiving the same hon- Center.
See page 28.
est, high quality work that you’ve received from Anderson’s:
Sausalito Richmond
Bayside Boatworks (415) 332-5744 Bay Marine Boatworks (800) 900-6646
Spaulding Wooden Boat Center (415) 332-3721 Berkeley
Hirschfeld Marine (415) 332-3507 Berkeley Marine Center (510) 843-8195
List Marine (415) 332-5478 Alameda
JP Boatworks (415) 331-3277 Svendsen’s Boatworks (510) 522-2886
South Beach Riggers (415) 331-3400 Nelson’s Marine (510) 814-1858
Johnson Hicks (415) 331-3166 Boat Yard at Grand Marina (510) 521-6100
Marine Outboard (415) 332-8020 San Francisco
San Rafael San Francisco Boat Works (415) 626-3275
Westmore Marine (415) 454-0528

Lastly, it’s been our great pleasure working with you.

We are still in the process of identifying an appropri-
ate site for a new facility – stay tuned, more on that
later. In the meantime, the Anderson family thanks
you for the 41 years of business.

400 Harbor Drive • Sausalito, CA 94965

(415) 332-5432 • (800) 310-5432
Fax: (415) 332-8136
andersonsboat@pacbell.net
www.andersonsboatyard.net

ANDERSON'S BOAT YARD

 CRUISING CATS USA LETTERS
Sail with a HAPPY wife!
Our 15 models sail upright and heel-free – and fast!
that adapted to the murkier water are now endangered. As a
result, there is now a battle between environmentalists who are
NEW – in favor of the pre-1850s water clarity and environmentalists
From under who are in favor of the post-Gold Rush water clarity.
$150,000 Unlike you, we find it hard to pick which side to be on. The
one constant
in nature is
change, no
matter if it's
caused by

COURTESY UC BERKELEY
man or by
more natu-
ral occur-
rences such
GEMINI 105Mc as volcanic
eruptions,
• 34' x 14' x 18" (fits any regular size slip) – Sail at 8-to-12 knots! hurricanes
• Faster, roomier (but less expensive) than a 39' monohull sailboat and earth-
• Three cabins/one head, diesel engine, hard-top bimini quakes.
An example of hydraulic mining during the Gold Rush. With every
It's not clear to us whether the pre- or post-mining
change there
L A G O O N water clarity is more desirable.
are winners
and losers. Every time man chooses the winners, things seem
to get even more screwed up.

⇑⇓STURGEON, SPURGEON — SOMETHING LIKE THAT!

Some time ago, Latitude wrote an article about some of
the supposed remedies for sea sickness. I remember one of
them being a medication called Spurgeon. I may have the
spelling wrong.
We have the best, used '07 I first purchased some of this medication from a pharmacy
model in western U.S. in Mexico in ‘95, after hearing about it from other cruisers.
Fully equipped for cruising. It worked marvelously for me. I found that by taking a pill
LAGOON 380
Only $326,000! several hours before the approach of bad weather, I didn’t
get seasick.
• 38' x 20' x 3'8" – roomier and faster than a 47' monohull sailboat! I haven’t been cruising in 15 years, but am considering
• Owner's suite plus two guest cabins, twin diesel engines chartering in the Caribbean this winter. I would appreciate
Lagoon offers a full line of luxury sailing cats from 38' to 62' any information you might have on this drug. Also, what’s the
best choice these days for the prevention of seasickness?
Andy Buchan
NEW – Planet Earth
From under
$650,000 Andy — You’re referring to cinnarizine, a.k.a. Stugeron, an
anti-histaminic drug primarily used to control vomiting due to
motion sickness. While it’s available over-the-counter without a
prescription in many parts of the world, it’s not legally available
in the United States or Canada. The manufacturer simply didn't
want to pay for the extensive testing required in the U.S.
The drug acts by interfering with the signal transmission
between vestibular apparatus of the inner ear and the vomiting
center of the hypothalamus. The disparity of signal process-
ing between inner ear motion receptors and the visual senses
SALINA 48 is abolished, so that the confusion of the brain with regard to
whether the individual is moving or standing is reduced.
• 47'2" x 25'4" x 3'8" – roomier and faster than a 60' monohull! We’ve never used Stugeron ourselves, but know sailors
• Owner's suite plus 2 guest suites or 4-cabin/4-head layout who swear by it. We’ve also heard from a few who reported
• Huge salon, cockpit & aft sundeck – other sizes from 36' to 65' having mild to strong side effects, including hallucinations.
We’re certainly not in a position to recommend that anyone
use Stugeron, but if someone decides they want to try it, they
Call Toll Free • San Francisco Bay should first carefully investigate which drugs it can’t be used
(877) WE-R-CATS • Seattle in conjunction with — such as some types of anti-depressants
— and what dosages to take.
(877) 937-2287 • Hawaii Seasickness seems to be a very personal reaction, with
some people rarely, if ever, suffering from it, and others com-
w w w. C r u i s i n g C a t s U S A . c o m ing down with it on even the calmest days. When it comes

Page 30 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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Oakland Yacht Club
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Yacht Harbor.

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 31

 LETTERS

to supposed methods of prevention, the results seem to be

The best rope, equally personal. The things that some people swear by — be
it Bonine, ginger, wrist bands, looking at the horizon — don’t
line and debris work at all for others.
Where you charter in the Caribbean will also have a big effect
cutter there is! on whether you and the rest of your crew get seasick. If you
stay in the confines of the relatively flat waters of the British
Virgins, for example, you’ll be far less likely to toss your cookies
Two piece unit than if you try to sail upwind from St. Martin to Antigua.

For both power and sail ⇑⇓MMS ON AMAZON

I read with quiet dismay Doug Nash’s letter about how
Now available for his wife Sylvie died in front of him on their Dana Point-based
sail drive systems. Spindrift 43 Windcastle after taking MMS, the self-described
Miracle Medical Supplement. Just so everybody is aware,
Amazon sells this product on their website.
Allan Lim
Penang, Malaysia

Allan — Thanks for the heads-up. We wrote a 'review' for

the product, indicating that it appeared MMS was a potentially
747 Aquidneck Ave. deadly supplement. We referred everyone to Nash's letter in
Middletown, RI 02842 the October issue of Latitude 38.

401-847-7960 ⇑⇓SEA VIKING WILL END UP COSTING YOU MONEY

Fax: 401-849-0631 For some months, the tug Sea Viking has been anchored
sales@ab-marine.com about .75 miles from the Southampton Shoal light at ap-
www.ab-marine.com proximately 37˚ 53.114 N,122˚ 23.090 W. Although at times
it has shown an anchor light, it hasn't recently. Nor does
there seem to be anyone aboard. Although the tug is close to
the boundary of Anchorage #6, it’s not within any designated

Gori
anchorage.
I recently made an inquiry to the Coast Guard about the
tug, and separately sent them an ‘Abandoned Vessel’ report.

propeller
They responded by saying they were “aware of the tug Sea
Viking, and at this time there is no concern of pollution.” In
response to my report of an abandoned vessel, they wrote,
“vessel was not in our database but has since been added.”
The tug was originally anchored to the east of its current
position, and dragged anchor for some distance before being
re-anchored in its current position. Having unattended ves-
sels anchored upwind of a wildlife sanctuary such as Brooks
Island seems ill-advised. And for it to be legal, shouldn’t it at
least be showing an anchor light?
Perhaps someone has further information about the tug
that justifies the Coast Guard’s apparent lack of concern
3-Blade and/or action.
Mike Carnall
Cape Farewell, Westsail 32
Brickyard Cove

Mike — We talked to the Waterways Department of the Coast

• For shafts and saildrives Guard, and they are indeed concerned. In fact, a spokeswoman
• Both 2 & 3 blade available told us that they “desperately” want to get the tug moved to a
secure location before the onset of winter storms. One of their
• Lowest drag when sailing main concerns is that it might break loose and damage one of
the bases of a bridge or something else of value.
• The champions choice The 100-ft tug had previously been anchored in or near a
747 Aquidneck Ave. designated commercial vessel anchorage, and was therefore
Middletown, RI 02842 issued a ‘Captain of the Port Order’ to temporarily move to
401-847-7960 its current location. The problem seems to be that the tug is
CALL US TODAY! owned by a private individual who apparently doesn’t have
Fax: 401-849-0631
800-801-8922 sales@ab-marine.com
the funds to have it repaired or towed to a secure berth. Thus
the Coast Guard finds itself in the position that gives so many
www.ab-marine.com harbormasters fits — being responsible for someone else's

Page 32 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 Monitor Windvane Gets LETTERS
Highest Scores in
Customer Satisfaction in abandoned vessel. In this case, however, the vessel is very
large, and it's going to cost a lot of money to break it up or
the 2009 ARC Gear Test keep her in a berth. It's not right, but if you pay taxes, you're
no doubt going to end up helping to foot the bill.
(Yachting World, Sept. 2009)
⇑⇓THE SILLY THINGS WE SAY
The October issue Sightings reference to the Coast Guard
The Monitor scored as follows (out of max 5): having strange conversations with sailors — such as tell-
ing skippers of racing boats they need a support boat when
practicing for races — reminded me of a similar conversa-
tion I had last week. As I was in the process of launching my
singlehanded racing dinghy, a member of a Bay Area police
force that shall remain unnamed came up to me and said,
"Where's your CF number?"
Me: "The office manager at my local DMV office told me
that engineless dinghies used for racing don't need CF num-
bers."
Policeman: "But you're not racing."
• Monitor placed 4th on the Top Ten list Me: "Are you saying that if I'm sailing to the race area or
of ALL products surveyed. training before a race, I need a CF number for my boat, but
• Also rated BEST windvane in the don't need one if I'm actually racing?"
Policeman: "Yes. That’s what I’m saying."
2008 ARC Geat Test
Iain Woolard
San Francisco Bay

Readers — For the record, almost every sail-powered ves-

sel over eight feet in length that isn't documented by the Coast
Guard must be registered with the State of California. So El
Toros, which are eight feet, don't need to be registered while
Vanguards, which are 15 feet, do. This is not to say that lots of
dinghy sailors don't shine on the need to register their boats.
THE GREEN SOLUTION! The two exceptions to the 'over eight-foot rule' are boats
brought into California for racing purposes only, which get
The Monitor sailors exempted for tune-ups and races only, and sailboards, mean-
“…found the product hard ing "non-motorized surfboards propelled by a sail and with a
mast that the operator must hold upright."
to criticize, with excellent
performance.” ⇑⇓COAST GUARD DISCONNECT
Having just read the October Sightings item about the
curious behavior by the Coast Guard with regard to recre-
ational mariners, I'd like to point out that such behavior is
CALL US ABOUT OUR not limited to San Francisco Bay. On two occasions over the
BEST last several weeks, I have observed the Coast Guard cutter
Narwhal, stationed here in Newport Harbor, motor through
DISCOUNT the harbor sounding the five-toot danger signal. They were
apparently claiming right-of-way in the harbor.
EVER The second time they did this was right in the middle of
the start of a
Balboa YC beer
Official can race. The
Learn more by visiting our website. Sponsor Narwhal pro-
You’ll find over 5,000 2009 ceeded through
the harbor
windvane installation photos. BA JA sounding the
COURTESY USCG

Check out a sistership! HA-HA danger signal,

forcing numer-
ous sailboats to
www.
F A C T O R Y D I R E C T
alter course to
avoid them. It's
selfsteer.com When tied up with another cutter and flying all
not a big deal,
of course, but it
kinds of flags, the 'Narwhal' (right) has extremely blew our start.
432 South 1st St. • Pt. Richmond, CA 94804 restricted maneuverability.
On this same
Tel: 510 215-2010 • Fax: 510 215-5005 • Toll Free: 888 946-3826 occasion, there was an 80-ft day fishing charter boat just
email: scanmar@selfsteer.com behind the Narwhal. The fishing boat did what is the norm

Page 34 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 … c o !
the Mex i
e d n
Vot rina i
M a
t
Bes

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 35

 LETTERS

for large boats in Newport Harbor — they gave the sailboats

(888) 78-YACHT (619) 681-0633 (949) 650-7245 the right-of-way. A couple of times the fishing boat even came
Alameda San Diego Newport Beach to a dead stop. The Narwhal, on the other hand, continued
INVENTORY to blunder through the racing fleet, and continued to sound

BLOWOUT SALE!
the danger signal.
If an 80-ft fishing boat — and lots of other bigger private
boats — can maneuver and stay clear of right-of-way boats
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME DEALS ARE GOING FAST! in crowded Newport Harbor, I don't see why an 87-ft govern-
ment-owned boat can't obey the Rules of the Road as well.
Proudly Representing Come to think of it, the Catalina Flyer, which is a 90-ft power
catamaran, and is therefore probably at least twice as large as
the Narwhal, arrives in Newport from Catalina right around
start time of the Thursday night beer cans. Yet I can never
recall them sounding a danger signal or claiming right-of-way
under the 'tonnage rule.'
If the Narwhal had waited 15 minutes, they would have had
New Sailboats Brokerage Boats a wide open channel, since all the sailboats would have been
farther up the bay by then. The Balboa YC has been running
2010 Jeanneau 57 CALL 1975 Ferro Cement 56 $60,000
their Thursday night races for 40 years right in front of the
2010 Jeanneau 53 CALL 2008 Jeanneau 54DS $645,000 Narwhal's berth, so it's not as if the race came as a surprise
2009 Hunter 50 CC CALL 2005 Stevens 53 $889,000 to the Coasties. It didn't help the Coast Guard's reputation
2010 Hunter 50 CC CALL 2006 Beneteau 473 $289,000 that, when we came back down the bay toward the finish,
2010 Jeanneau 50DS CALL 2002 Hunter 466 $238,000 we could see the Narwhal tied up at a fuel dock. So she'd
2009 Hunter 49 CALL 2002 Hunter 466 $204,750 disrupted the racing fleet for a mission of going to the fuel
2010 Hunter 49 CALL 2006 Jeanneau 45 $329,500 dock.
2009 Hunter 45 DS CALL 2003 Jeanneau 45.2 $269,500 A number of us on the boat had a discussion about whether
the cutter, if not responding to an emergency, had a different
2010 Jeanneau 45DS CALL 1997 Beneteau 42.7 $179,000
status than
2009 Jeanneau 45DS SOLD! 2000 Hunter 42 $165,000
other power-
2008 Jeanneau 45DS SOLD! 1986 Cheoy Lee 41 $89,500 boats. Some
2009 Jeanneau 44i Prf. CALL 2008 Hunter 41 DS $228,500 claimed that
2009 Jeanneau 42DS CALL 2001 Hunter 410 $139,950 Coast Guard
2009 Hunter 41 DS SOLD! 2004 Hunter 386 LE $137,500 vessels al-
ways have
LATITUDE / RICHARD

2010 Jeanneau 39DS CALL 2004 Hunter 386 LE $136,900

2009 Jeanneau 39i CALL 1996 Hunter 375 $89,900 the right-
2008 Jeanneau 39i $237,725 1993 Hunter 375 $71,900 of-way, not
2010 Hunter 39 CALL 1991 Hunter 37 $69,950 just in emer-
gencies. But
2009 Hunter 38 CALL 1987 Catalina 36 $52,500
there have
2010 Hunter 36 CALL 1986 Freedom 36 $69,900
been bigger
2009 Hunter 36 SOLD! 2007 Hunter 36 $149,995 government
2010 Hunter 33 CALL 2007 Hunter 36 $149,500 Why the toots? There's plenty of room.
vessels in
2009 Hunter 33 SOLD! 2004 Hunter 36 $103,000 the bay than the Narwhal, and I've yet to hear them sound
2010 Jean. SunFast 3200 CALL 1992 Solaris 36 $89,990 the warning signal. Most courteous sailors will cut a large
2010 Hunter 31 CALL 1996 Bayliner 3485 $49,995 Coast Guard vessel some slack because of its size, but they
2008 Hunter 31 CALL 1984 LM Mtrsailer 30 $59,000 often have to change course and speed to avoid other boats.
2001 Hunter 290 $32,995 The question still hasn't been resolved: Is there some rule
that gives Coast Guard vessels special rights on the water
2%$5#%$


NEW! when not responding to an emergency? Or was the Narwhal's
captain either ignorant or arrogant?
Since I'm paranoid about the ability of civil servants to
punish citizens who call them on their shit, please withhold
my name.
Paranoid
@(5.4%2/.,9+ @*%!..%!5$3#!,,

Newport Beach

TRADE-IN! NEW! Paranoid — We spoke with Lt. Junior Grade Mark Whittaker,
who is the captain of the Narwhal. He notes that Rule 9 of the
Rules of the Road prohibits vessels under sail from restricting
the passage of a vessel which can only safely operate within
the limits of a channel. Just because the channel in Newport
@(5.4%2$3
+ @*%!..%!5I
Harbor isn't a registered restricted channel, such as those on

www.cruisingyachts.net San Francisco Bay, doesn't mean it's not restricted. Because
Narwhal's 6.5-ft draft restricted its ability to maneuver, Whit-
taker said that the beer can racers were obligated to stay clear

Page 36 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 M A R I N E H A R D W A R E

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 37

 LETTERS

of the cutter. In non-emergency situations, Coast Guard vessels

have no special navigation rights.
There are a lot of gray areas in the navigation rules, and

Gateway to the
this is one of them. As you note, there are many vessels larger
than Narwhal that navigate Newport Harbor but don't insist on
being given the right-of-way because of the restricted channel.
Bay & Delta 48-ft. But they could if they wanted to. As for the Narwhal pushing
BERTHS the issue despite knowing there is a beer can race on Thursday
nights, it probably wasn't the best public relations move.
NOW Those who race on San Francisco Bay have to give way
AVAILAB to other vessel traffic on a regular basis, and think nothing
LE of it. Personally, we believe that it adds yet another random
element to the competition that rewards superior strategy and
boathandling. On the Bay, we wouldn't say that the Narwhal
screwed up your start, but rather that you did by failing to
adapt well to yet another variable on the course.

⇑⇓THE LENGTH OF THE AVERAGE BASH

I was hoping that you'd know how much time I should set
aside to do a Baja Bash after the Ha-Ha. I’m crewing on a
boat down to Cabo, but have to look for another boat coming
back north. I have until the 16th off work, and if the Ha-Ha
awards party isn't until the night of the 7th, I probably only
have about a week at best. If I can't get more time off work, I
might have to fly home instead.

Shorter Days
Evan Halstead
Baja Bound

Are Here Evan — Obviously, this letter is now dated, but the 'How
long does it take to do a Bash?' question is such a common
one that we decided to respond to it here anyway. As much as
Use your boat more by we'd like to give an exact answer, there are too many serious
variables. The biggest are: 1) the weather; 2) the determination
keeping it closer to home! of the skipper to continue even if the weather gets a bit sloppy;
and 3) the speed and reliability of the boat.
It's roughly 750 miles from San Diego to Cabo, so if you want
to make it in a week, the boat you're on would need to average
• Competitive Rates! 4.5 knots or 100 miles a day the entire way. The problem is
that you have to maintain that speed 24 hours a day while
• Covered and Open Berths almost surely heading directly into the wind and seas. If you
were to encounter a front with 30 knots on the nose, it could
• Free Pumpout Stations set you back three or more days. You might also lose a day
stopping for fuel at Turtle Bay.
• Ferry Service to San Francisco While we know of boats that have done the Bash in less
than four days, we also know of others that have taken three
• Full Service Boat Yard and Chandlery weeks. Given the average Ha-Ha boat, and a skipper who was
intent on making it back to San Diego but not willing to bust
• Two Restaurants for Breakfast, Lunch, his boat, we think the average Bash would take between 7 to
Cocktails and Dinner 12 days.

• Great Restrooms and Showers ⇑⇓"I DON'T OWE TAX BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY IT"
We left California in May of '08 on an extended cruise. So
• Easy access to San Francisco far, we have traveled to Hawaii and the Marshall Islands, and
are currently in Kosrae, Micronesia. Our boat was registered
Bay and the Delta in California, but is now a U.S. Coast Guard-documented
vessel with a homeport of Florida. We are also legal residents
of Florida, and no longer have any ties with California.

(707) 648-4370
However, the Alameda County Tax Assessor requires us
to provide proof of a permanent berth outside of Alameda
County. We’ve provided receipts of ports we’ve visited and
Fax 707-648-4660 explained to them that we are a yacht in transit, and therefore
won’t have a permanent berth until we reach Florida several
42 Harbor Way, Vallejo, CA 94590 years from now. They refused to take our word for it, so they
www.ci.vallejo.ca.us put a lien on our vessel for unpaid personal property taxes.
We’ve written letters and tried to call the Alameda County

Page 38 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

Tired of being talked down to by your boatyard?
If you own a sailboat, chances are, you know a we‘ll give you one more 580

little bit about how your boat works. But, appar- thing you might not get else- Cutting Blvd

ently, not all boatyards think you do. At Bay where when you bring your
Marine Boatworks, we’re a full-service boatyard sailboat in for service — Point
Richmond
that’s different. From bottom painting to complex respect. So call our new
fiberglass repair work, you will find we can management team at Bay
handle all your sailboat maintenance and Marine today to see exactly
repair needs. Whether it’s time to what that feels like.
310 W. Cutting Blvd.
schedule a haul-out, or P t . R i c h m o n d , CA
you just need something
1-800-900-6646
from our chandlery,
The Sailor’s Boatyard
November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 39
 CONGRATULATIONS LETTERS
to all the racers, cruisers and sailors who
enjoyed a fabulous year with Panda Rigging.
OFFSHORE… Marine/Aircraft Division, but all we get is an answering ma-
chine that advises us to leave a number. Since we are full
time cruisers, we don’t have a phone number we can leave
with them.
Has anybody else run into this problem, and does anyone
know how to clear it up?
Ken & Katie Stuber
Sand Dollar, Bristol 32
New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Ken and Katie — Unfortunately, many Californians who

have gone cruising have run into similar problems. As we've
reported many times before, for some reason different county
assessors in this state are allowed to interpret the personal
property tax laws in different ways.
The result is that some boat owners get letters from their
assessor's office that make them happy. As you may have
read a couple of issues back, Steve May of the Gualala-based
Farrier 41 Endless Summer recently got a letter from his
INSHORE… county assessor telling him that he had a personal property
tax refund coming because he'd had his boat out of the county
and country for more than six months, and had the receipts
to prove it. Then there are boatowners from other California
counties, such as yourselves, who don't owe the tax, yet get a
letter from a tax assessor that makes them unhappy. Even if
your boat had been in Hong Kong all year, and you no longer
reside in the state, they'd still bill you for personal property tax
on your boat. And as you know all too well, they'll ultimately
put a lien on your boat and, for all intents and purposes, make
themselves unavailable for you to respond in defense. As we
recall, some cruisers from L.A. County were out cruising the far
reaches of the world for six years, and their county assessor
still insisted they owed six years worth of personal property
tax on their boat.
We're not sure what the solution is in your case, because
OVER THE HORIZON… it might be less expensive to pay the tax than fly home and
confront the Alameda County Assessor face to face. On the
other hand, you might collect your receipts from the Kosrae YC
— wink, wink — and send them to the Alameda County As-
sessor as proof that you now have a permanent slip for your
boat.
But let this be a lesson to everyone in California who plans
on going
cruising but
COURTESY SAND DOLLAR

doesn't want
to get stuck
with per-
sonal prop-
erty tax they
shouldn't
owe. Well in
advance of
leaving, de-
Ken and Katie thought they could sail away from the
We look forward to sailing and working long arm of the Alameda County tax assessor.
termine the
tax policy of
with you in 2010. the assessor in the county where you keep your boat. If he/
she is going to assess your boat even when it's on the other

Thanks from
side of the world, move your boat and get her on the rolls in
a county with a more friendly assessment policy. If your boat
is worth a chunk of money, you might want to have it owned
PANDA RIGGING by an LLC in a corporation-friendly state such as Delaware.
It only costs about $150 and can be done over the internet in
Alameda • (510) 913-8205 about two days. There is an annual LLC fee, but depending
pandarigging@gmail.com on the value of your boat, it could be substantially less than
the personal property tax would be. And if we're not mistaken,

Page 40 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 41
 LETTERS

when it comes time for somebody to buy your boat, they don't
have to pay sales or use tax, because all they are really buying
is the stock in the LLC.

⇑⇓HAS GLOBAL WARMING REVERSED COURSE?

Did you see the report from the National Snow and Ice
Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, that said there was more
sea ice at the end of this summer than there was at the end
of summer in '07 or '08? I'm just not sure I believe all the
claims about global warming.
Ted Lewis
Sacramento

Ted — That report reminds us of the old joke that statistics

are like prostitutes because you can do anything you want
with them. We did a little checking and found that at the start
of the winter refreeze this year, there was indeed more ice
than in either of the previous two years. But to put things in
perspective, the least ice ever was recorded in '07 and '08, so
we wouldn't be in a rush to buy a Hummer. It's apparently also
true that the last year or two have been cooler than previous
high years, but don't make too much out of that either.
It's our two cent's worth that man's understanding of the
world's climate is on par with what we knew about the work-
ings of the brain 100 years ago. That is to say, it's rudimentary
at best. So while we're not saying climate change might not
become a big problem, we're not ready to call for dykes to be
built around the shores of San Francisco Bay in order to prevent
flooding in low-lying areas — such at the Latitude 38 World
Headquarters.

⇑⇓ARE POT, COKE AND LSD LEGAL IN MEXICO?

I'm thinking about sailing to Mexico this winter, and have
heard that Mexico has legalized a lot of popular drugs. Is that
true?
Name Withheld By Request
Pepperland

N.W.B.R. — On August 21, Mexico “decriminalized” individu-
als being in possession of small amounts of certain drugs. The
limits are five grams of pot, half a gram of coke, 50 milligrams
of heroin, 40 milligrams of meth, and .015 milligrams of LSD.
Ingest all of the legal amounts at once, and you won't be in
Mexico anymore.
Before anybody heads off to Mexico with dreams of being
stoned all the time, they should remember that there would be
risks involved, not only from taking the drugs, but also from buy-
ing them. Histori-
cally, the cruising
world has been
very safe in Mex-
ico, but histori-
cally, the drug-
buying world in
Mexico has been
anything but. We
don’t know about
the rest of you,
but the last thing
we want to do in
You meet the nicest addicts buying meth.
Mexico is try to
score some pot from a guy — or group of guys — who are high
on meth and need money to buy more drugs for themselves.
How would Mexican authorities know if you are in posses-
sion of drugs, and whether the amounts are too great to be

Page 42 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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 License #0E32738
LETTERS
RIVERS
TWIN
MARINE INSURANCE legal? Simple. All Mexican law enforcement officers, without any
Agency, Inc. excuse or reasonable cause, may perform a revisión precautiva,
“Your Boat Insurance Specialists” or precautionary inspection, of your stuff and your body. This
means that anytime they want, they can inspect your wallet,
7 Marina Plaza • Antioch, CA 94509 purse, bag, clothes — and body orifices — looking for drugs,
At The Antioch Marina knives and guns.

⇑⇓PROACTIVE SWIVEL ACTION BY CATALINA

Insurance made simple, affordable and effective. For what it's worth, I just learned that Catalina Yacht An-
chorage, which is Catalina Yacht's proprietary dealership, is
now installing a one-ft length of chain between the anchor and
• Mexican Liability • Broad Navigational Areas the swivel on their boats. This is in response to the reported
failure of anchor swivels. The idea behind the one-ft length
• Shop Your Renewal & $ave ~ of chain is to eliminate the strain. It sounds like a good idea
to me.
Flexible Survey Requirements
Richard Drechsler
Last Resort, Catalina 470
• Liveaboards • Agreed Value Policies
Long Beach

⇑⇓OVER 100 YEARS OLD, AND STILL SAILING!

I was delighted by the photo of the 31-ft Vixen in the full
page ad for Pineapple Sails inside the front cover of the Sep-
tember Latitude. The accompanying text described how the
new owners had done a wonderful job of restoring the boat,
and had participated in Master Mariners Regattas with con-
siderable success.
But there is even more of a back story to Vixen that I'd
like to share with your readers. Vixen was built in the Frank
Stone Boatyard on Beach Road in Tiburon/Belvedere. Started
on February 23, 1904, she was finished on May 14, 1904.
Initially she was a 27-ft gaff-rigged sloop, but four feet were
added to her length in 1922.
Vixen has had a dozen different owners, gone from yacht
club to yacht club, and managed to accumulate many honors
along the way. For example, she was the winner of the San
Francisco to Vallejo to Bluff Point Race in '12 and was the
Get a quick quote today at: winner of Richmond YC's first YRA Season Championship in
'34.
www.BoatInsuranceOnly.com In the late '50s, Vixen began to disintegrate. At one point,
the bilge pump had to run continuously. At that time, she
(800) 259-5701 was owned by a group of casual day sailors that included my
colleague and mentor, Wladek Swiatecki, a physicist at the
University of California Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. During
Years of unbeatable experience to the period '61-'68, while I was getting my PhD under Wladek's
match your needs to the right product. guidance, he undertook rebuilding Vixen. In an epic labor of
love, he eventually replaced every single piece of wood, and
in the process converted her to a yawl rig. With a self tend-
Representing… ing jib, main and mizzen, it was easy to tack Vixen out of the
Estuary from her berth at Oakland's 5th Avenue Boatyard.
Wladek and his wife Uta often entertained visiting scientists
with a sail out the Estuary, followed by a quiet downwind drift
back to the slip.
A few years ago, it became clear that Vixen wasn't being
used much, and her upkeep and annual haulout had got-
ten too much for Wladek to do himself. He started to look
around for someone who would care for the boat as much
as he had over the years. The present owners, Steve and
Linda Kibler, fit that bill. And everyone who knows Vixen is
LLoyd’s delighted with her latest rebirth.
I have a lot more details and photos from the old days. If
any of Vixen's old friends would be interested in them, they
Worldwide Coverage can contact me at navigator.bill@gmail.com.
West Coast ¤ Mexico ¤ East Coast Bill Myers
Cirrus, Standfast 40
Caribbean ¤ Pacific ¤ Atlantic Kaneohe YC

Page 44 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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 Not Using Your Boat? LETTERS

STORE IT ⇑⇓FORGOT THE CAMERA OR DIDN'T WANT EVIDENCE?

Knowing that Profligate was having some repairs made
to her cockpit in San Diego, I decided that our group would
cover the always entertaining Buccaneer Day festivities at

Want to Sell Your Boat? Catalina on October 3. Unfortunately, our photographers

failed in their mission to
get some interesting pho-
tographs. Sorry. But from
what we could tell, it was
STORE IT a good crowd this year.
Yes, it was shoulder-to-
shoulder at the various
bars on Saturday night,
but everything was under
Want to Dry Out Your Boat? control for as long as we
were there. And we didn't

LATITUDE / RICHARD
hear of any problems
later.

STORE IT Just as we failed in the

photography department,
I also failed to make it
over to the seawall at
midnight to get a head
Leaving the Country? The kind of shot our photographer
was supposed to take.
count — if you know what
I mean — on the number
of couples there. More than a few sailors have met at Buc-
caneer Day. For instance, Greg King and Jennifer Sanders

STORE IT
of the Long Beach-based 65-ft schooner Coco Kai, who have
been out cruising for a couple of years now.
While Buccaneer Day itself was fun, the big action took
place on Sunday, as there was a gale warning in effect when
the hundreds of boats headed back toward the mainland.

Want to Save Money? Indeed, lots of boats turned back to Catalina after deciding
the trip back to the mainland would be too rough in those
conditions.
As for us, we were having a great sail back to the mainland.
But just five miles out from the island, Judy, my girlfriend,
STORE IT took a sip of Coke from a can that had a wasp inside. The
wasp stung her at the top of her throat. Her having previously
had an allergic reaction to bug venom, the wasp sting had
the potential to be serious. As a result, we brought out the
anaphylaxis kit, had Judy down some Benadryl, and moni-
tored her vitals. We also got the Two Harbors paramedics on
DRY STORAGE the line, and headed back to Two Harbors.
Having made so many passages to and from Catalina hop-
$4.00/ft ing there was more wind, this time I found it different. It was
blowing something over 30 knots, with legitimate eight- to
Power & Sail nine-ft swells. As such, transferring Judy to the lifeguard boat
wasn't a viable option. Those poor lifeguards got blasted by
waves until we made it into smoother water. I guess we did

CELEBRATING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY

the right thing, since Judy was still pretty stable when we
got back to Two Harbors. In fact, she declined the lifeguard's
offer to take her to the hospital in Avalon.
We ended up spending another night at Two Harbors. Given
NAPA VALLEY MARINA the rough weather in the channel, we weren't the only pirates
and wenches to turn back. As a result, the restaurant at Two
Harbors was much busier than it had been staffed for, so the
1200 Milton Road • Napa, CA 94559 service was a bit slow. But since we ended up having Mika as
(707) 252-8011 • Fax (707) 252-0851 our server, it was worth the wait.
We weren't the only ones to have excitement over the
www.napavalleymarina.com weekend. The sailboat Dream Weaver was dismasted a few
miles from the Isthmus and had to be brought back by Sea
Marina • Boatyard • Chandlery • Brokerage Tow. We also heard that the Coast Guard was looking for a
Dealers for Distributors for Brownell couple of kayakers who were reportedly trying to paddle from
Boat Stands the Isthmus to Redondo Beach. I don't know the resolution of

Page 46 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 47
 LETTERS
WHALE POINT
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A FAmily Owned & OperAted Business that case, but if the two survived, they should be committed
— against their will, if necessary. We also heard a call that a

FOr three GenerAtiOns 13-ft center console Carib inflatable was found drifting west
of Palos Verdes. Apparently the Coasties were already aware
Marine parts & accessories, pLUs a coMpLete hardware store of it, as they basically blew off the call.
Even more exciting was the case of a powerboat with five

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aboard that blew up near the West End of Catalina. The para-
medics who helped
us said everyone
wHALE POINT 2010 CALENdARS was safely rescued
by them and a Sher-
Clock & Barometer
iff's chopper.
You know how we
Southern California
sailors are — when
it blows over 20
Many styles available: Woodenboat, Sail, knots, we think the
Art of1
the
0Sea, Mariners Book of Days, Light- world is ending. I
%O F Book, 7 Seas calendar,
*Qty. ltd F
house Engagement had a friend aboard
3.75" face with Whale Point logo. Cruising World, A World of Boating, Bay The problem with wasps is that they can both
who has done a lot
NOw $4999 each Area Tide Calendar... sting and bite.
of sailing in Sydney
Harbor, and he told me they often didn't want to go out until
PORTABLE HEATER dEHuMIdIFIER it was blowing 25.
Bill Lilly
by Dri-Z-Air
Indoor safe Moontide, Lagoon 470
propane Removes moisture Newport Beach
heater. from interiors of
boats & prevents
⇑⇓IF IT SMELLS, IT'S PROBABLY B.S.
condensation.
For what it's worth in the long ongoing dispute between
Complete unit Alfred Eggert of the Long Beach-based Bayfield 32 Raven and
Now $995 local Santos Torres in El Salvador, I’ll put my support with
Mr Heater Torres.
Single refills
4,000-9,000 BTU: NOw $9999 I met both of them shortly after the legal settlement. I found
Now $199 Alfred to be a somewhat effusive character who, even in three
or four meetings, never told me the same story. In one, Tor-
FILTER 500 FGSS LELANd res had supposedly threatened him with a gun, but he never
by Racor Strobe Light mentioned the gun in other versions of the story. Sometimes
he said that Torres had broken his arm, other times he said
NOW that Torres had only hit him on the arm.
$19 99 When we first met, Eggert was introduced as someone who
knew how to beat all taxation by declaring himself a sovereign
Small and compact government. When I asked a few questions about how this
strobe light, fits in ones was possible, he mumbled vaguely, then quickly changed the
Filter Element
pocket, with 3-mile subject. He couldn't even explain how one goes about declar-
whale Pt $899 visibility, waterproof
Filter Unit: List $246.99 ing oneself a sovereign government. He reminded me of some
and last for 30 hours.
whale Pt $17999 D Cell Battery not included. talk show hosts.
Conversely, I later took my crew on a dinghy trip up the

FOuLwEATHER STEARNS
bay to the public market. It was a fair distance. When almost
back to our boat, but with a strong current against us, my
Cold Weather Gloves
GEAR by outboard crapped out. I was able to paddle us to where we
could grab the anchor chain of an unoccupied trimaran. While
Dutch Harbor we were fussing with the motor, a panga came out from shore
and asked if we needed assistance. The young man then gra-
ciously towed us to Someday. While thanking him, I learned
now 99
99 69 that he was Torres.
$49 - Having already met Eggert and deciding that he wasn't a
The affordable protection. NOW95 reliable source of information, I asked Torres about the prob-
Full suit includes jacket
and bib-pants.
$19 lems between Eggert and him. He mostly deferred, in effect
saying that they had a dispute over a bill and that tempers
had gotten out of hand. But he said he'd never touched Tor-
205 Cutting Blvd, Corner of 2nd, Richmond res. There was something about his mother's being involved,
but I can't remember in what way.
  sFAx 233-1989 Bill Nokes
-ON 3ATAM PMs3UNAM PMsWHALEPOINT ACEHARDWARECOM Someday, Gulfstar 41
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Page 48 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 49

 LETTERS
HOGIN SAILS Bill — As we've said all along, we don't think any of us will
ever really know what went on between Eggert and Torres. But
Bring your sails by our gut instinct is that neither is capable of giving an entirely
accurate account of what happened.

for a free evaluation. If Eggert doesn't always tell the same story, that's certainly
not in his favor. But it is consistent with his stateside character
reference describing him as a rather different kind of fellow with
some unusual but strongly held beliefs. As for Eggert's having
some unconventional ideas about taxes and governments,
isn't that pretty much the norm for a lot of singlehanders and
ex-pats?
It certainly was nice of Torres to give you and your dinghy
crew a tow to your boat, but that hardly seems a rational basis
on which to believe his account of the troubles. If Eggert's story
is to be believed at all, he and Torres had quite a bit more than
a minor dispute over a bill. As we recall, Torres was arrested
for threatening Eggert and given detention. Eggert was then
arrested and spent five days in jail for allegedly damaging
$3,000 worth of Torres's stuff. Torres was subsequently
sentenced to jail for allegedly threatening Eggert with a gun,
allegedly having previously killed a 17-year-old. Then Tor-
res' mother accused Eggert of demanding $10,000 from her,
and saying that if she didn't pay the extortion, he was going
to have Torres killed in jail. That landed Eggert in prison for
44 days. But after all that, a new judge decided that Torres
should face 14 to 17 years in jail for his armed threats, and
H New Cruising and Racing Sails that his mother should pay big fines for trying to extort Eggert.
If even 10% of all this was true, we'd do our best to steer clear
H Full Production/Service Loft of both Torres and Eggert.
H Repairs, Recuts, Roller-Furler Before being so certain of Torres' complete innocence, you
might want to ask yourself how it would be possible for Eggert,
Conversions a foreigner who can't tell the same story twice, to convince a
H Strontrack, ATN, Dutchman, Salvadoran judge that one of his countrymen had so badly
wronged a gringo. It doesn't pass the smell test to us.
Nauteek SC200
H Canvas Work ⇑⇓"I'M A 'LIVE AND LET LIVE' KIND OF GUY. REALLY!"
I’m not surprised by Chip Megeath’s response to my June
H Call for Expert Advice letter, in which I basically said that sailors, particularly older
sailors, are obsessed with safety. After all, most sailors I run
across are so terrified of going to sea and engrossed with all

510.523.4388 the latest safety stuff, that I can imagine them really being
rankled by my letter. Their knee-jerk response is to attack
those of us with differing views, and it seems par for the course
for them to call us things like "stupid” and “double dumb.”
I’m a 'live and let live' sort of a guy, and if someone wants
Providing the Bay Area with to have all the safety stuff imaginable, I say go for it. Never in
my letter did I suggest that people should go to sea without a
Quality Sails and Service liferaft. I merely stated that my partner Lisa and I have chosen
to go without one. But I do think something should be said
since 1978 about EPIRBs.
My philosophy goes something like this: We non-com-
mercial mariners sail the oceans not because we have to,
but because we choose to. I assume we do it for enjoyment,
Hogin Sail Makers although I suppose racers could do it for the glory. But as we're
1801-D Clement Ave. sailing for pleasure, I personally can't justify pressing a button
from the middle of some gigantic ocean and expecting that
Alameda, CA 94501 everybody should jump to my rescue from whatever country
— rich or poor — I'm near, no matter how many thousands
Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5pm of miles away. Those rescues often cost tens of thousands
Saturday by appointment only of dollars — perhaps much more — and generally endanger
the lives of far more people than just the two of us. How can
sales@hoginsails.com I justify this? Why should I think that everybody else except
service@hoginsails.com myself needs to be responsible for me? And why do people
seem to get so rankled when someone such as myself wants
www.hoginsails.com to take full responsibility for their own actions — i.e. going

Page 50 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 51
 YEAR END CLEARANCE! LETTERS

to sea in a small boat?

I like the Latitude editor's view that a good inflatable tender
and a satphone would be a good alternative to an EPIRB and
FOUR-STROKE a liferaft. It implies taking matters as much as possible into
one's own hands, having some control rather than simply
YAMAHA ENGINES drifting — especially if it included a simple sail rig — until
somebody rescues you.
The satphone is a big improvement on the EPIRB in the
• Best prices of the year!
sense that it at least affords the caller the opportunity to ex-
• Last of 2009 inventory plain what kind of help or assistance might be appropriate.
• Very quiet, light 4-strokes After all, it's one thing to be without a rudder, and another
being on the verge of slipping beneath the surface.
• Easy freshwater rinse hookup We carry two high-quality inflatable kayaks on our boat
• Best tender outboards available — in addition to being our dinghies, they double as our
liferafts. We also carry some excellent ditch bags, stocked with
3 Year Factory Warranty what we would need to stay alive for a fair amount of time.
Plus Y.E.S. Contract = We also carry a handheld VHF with lots of spare batteries.
3-Year Extended Service Contract! We figure that if we really did lose our boat, we’d do our best
to rescue ourselves, since the kayaks are at least as mobile as
liferafts. And we'd certainly be willing to try to hail any ship
or signal toward any ship's light that we saw. By the nature
of VHF, such a ship wouldn't have to travel too far to get us.
As such, it would be unlikely that our being rescued would
Where the professionals shop! endanger the lives of too many other folks or cost the poor
(510) 533-9290 taxpayers of some country an obscene amount of money.
And if that wasn't good enough to save our lives, hey, like I
www.outboardmotorshop.com said in my letter, we've all got to die sometime. And honestly,
333 Kennedy St., Oakland, CA 94606 • Fax 510-533-3374 the more I’ve thought about it, the more I think dying at sea
would be in the top part of my list of “best ways to go."
I’m sorry if what I say sounds callous, but I mean it from
the heart. It really deserves more philosophical thought than

2009 OUTBOARD CLEARANCE* a knee-jerk reaction such as in Mr. Megeath’s letter. I would
suggest that he, as well as anyone else who is interested in
delving into the philosophical side of this discussion, read
my book. Who knows, Mr. Megeath might even love it. Most
• Best prices of the year! people who read it do.
I agree with Mr. Megeath in one respect, anyway — I’m also
• Quiet, 4-stroke technology
grateful that I’m not on the TransPac Race Committee
• Unsurpassed fuel economy Andy Deering
• Transistorized pointless ignition Author of The Best Life Money Can’t Buy
Alaska
• Ideal for sailboats, small tenders
Andy — Like our most of our readers, we understand what
you're doing. Statements in your first letter such as, "I’m starting
to get the firm impression that the mainspring of most people’s
lives is to die in some nursing home after drooling on their
plastic pillows and pissing themselves for several years," were
deliberately provocative and made to call attention to you and
your book. And now that Mr. Megeath has obliged your request
to be verbally punched in the nose, you respond with a second
letter in which you've suddenly become Mr. Semi-Reasonable,
Mr. Live and Let Live. Did you just graduate from the University
© 2009 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner's manual. of Al Sharpton or something?
5-year warranty standard on all new Honda outboard engines purchased. As for your apparent assumption that Chip Megeath is some
Check with participating dealers for complete details.
kind of wimp who lives in fear, you don't know how silly that
*All makes and models. Limited to inventory in stock. 2010 models arriving soon. is. After all, his R/P 45 Criminal Mischief is, in the parlance
of youth, one sick boat. In the last TransPac, for example, this
45-footer had three 300-mile days in a row, followed by a 298-
mile day. Had you been aboard for a run down the Molokai
Channel, we suspect that your white shorts would have turned
Where the professionals shop! brown. We're talking about surfing in excess of 20 knots for
(510) 533-9290 long periods, where human skills, technology and untamed
nature intersect for high risk and high adventure. And like all
www.outboardmotorshop.com top athlete-adventurers, from football players to race car driv-
333 Kennedy St., Oakland, CA 94606 • Fax 510-533-3374 ers to downhill racers, Megeath insisted on outfitting his boat

Page 52 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 53

 AIS Made Easy! LETTERS
Latest, most cost-effective
collision-avoidance solution
with state-of-the-art safety gear.
You claim that you don't want to expose other people to the
AIS (Automatic Identification System) receivers risk and expense of searching for and rescuing you if your boat
enable AIS-capable chart plotters and navigation sinks. But what century are you living in? Ever since COSPAS-
SARSAT — part of the greater Global Maritime Distress Safety
software to see other vessels. AIS transponders System — was founded in '82 by the United States, Russia,
allow other vessels to see you. France and Canada, the use of EPIRBs and satellites has re-
sulted in 24,798 lives being saved in 6,766 distress situations.
And the newer EPIRBs have GPS which, because they "take
EAGLE (WXX1234)
the 'search' out of 'search and rescue'" — have made rescue
MMSI: 312345678 attempts easier and more successful all the time.
Reported via AIS at 13:45 The fact is that by not having an EPIRB, you have chosen
Towing Vessel
Underway with engine at 4:30 kn
to opt out of a tremendously efficient and effective worldwide
346°M / 1.77 NM from boat SAR system that's been in place for more than a quarter of a
47°44.296'N 122°27.312'W century. As such, you have the potential to make the lives of
rescuers more difficult and a rescue effort more expensive.
If someone sets off an EPIRB because their boat is sinking,
rescue authorities quickly learn the boat is in trouble, and
even without the GPS feature on the EPIRB, have a very good
idea where to find the distressed mariners. And except for the
Southern Ocean, there are few places on earth where a ship
would have to travel more than a few hours out of its way
to rescue a mariner in distress. And trust us, the captains,
crews and owners of such vessels are more than happy to
save lives.
Navigation software displaying AIS targets Indeed, the real problem for rescue folks and the taxpayers
who have to support their services, are mariners such as you,
who, presumably out of ignorance, decide not to be part of the
system. Suppose your boat quickly sinks, giving you time to
Milltech Marine offers complete, low-cost AIS only put out a single mayday over the VHF before you have to
solutions. Visit our web site for information on: jump into your inflatable kayaks. And suppose just one other
boat manages to hear your call, but not get your position. Hav-
 AIS Receivers - featuring the Comar AIS-MULTI ing decided to ignore 20th century technology, you've presented
 AIS Transponders - including Class B AIS rescue folks with a monumental — and expensive — problem.
 Navigation Software By not having your GPS position, they are confronted with the
 Antennas, cables and other accessories task of trying to find your sorry ass — pardon the emphasis
— over 1,000 square miles of ocean. Is there any way you could
have made their job harder, their task any more expensive? If
you don't want to cough up the $700 for an EPIRB for the sake
of your wife, yourself and your family and friends, do it for the
Order any product sake of the folks who might have to rescue you and those who
online and use would have to foot the expense.
coupon code If EPIRBs are so great, why did we, in the last issue, say
that if we could only afford to have either an EPIRB or a sat-
“LAT38” to get free phone, we'd go with the satphone? It's because the satphone
shipping in the U.S. is more versatile. If we needed to call the Coast Guard in an
emergency, we could do it with the satphone and give them our
GPS position, too. But we could also use the satphone for other
emergency purposes — such as health advice in the case of a
For more information contact: heart attack or major injury — and for a host of non-emergency
purposes — such as calling friends to tell them not to report us
overdue if our passage takes longer than anticipated, to order
boat parts, to make reservations in marinas, to hear the voices
of our kids, and so forth.
We have tremendous respect for the capability of inflat-
able kayaks, such as you use for liferafts. In '56, Dr. Hannes
Lindemann made his famous 72-day trip across the Atlantic
aboard his stock Klepper Classic two-seater. But we're also
realists about the shortcomings of kayaks in the wrong envi-
ronments.
The name Victoria Seay may not mean anything to you, but
on December 1 of '05, she and two other female athletes from
(866) 606-6143 Vancouver set out on a 15-mile kayak trip from Isla Carmen to
www.MilltechMarine.com the Baja mainland. Then a Norther came up, and before long
Seay became separated from the other two women, who later

Page 54 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 55

 LETTERS
North
times seven.
When performance counts the choice is clear.
made it to shore. Despite being so close to land, and Seay's
being in voice contact for 12 hours with two large rescue boats
searching a very small area of water for her, they couldn't find
her. Her body was found the next day. To our mind, kayaks
are not suitable rough weather or cold water substitutes for
liferafts. And we will note that had Seay had an EPIRB, she
Call your nearest North Sails representative. would almost certainly be alive today.

Sausalito ⇑⇓MEAN WHAT YOU SAY AND SAY WHAT YOU MEAN
I contacted the publisher of Latitude via email to inform
415-339-3000 him of a growing concern about the budget crisis in Cali-
fornia, and how it might affect the drawbridges of Alameda

San Rafael - Sail Care County. My first mistake was in assuming that the publisher
would want to contact me to have an intelligent conversa-

415-453-2142 tion and get a more detailed explanation of just what was
going on. My second mistake was using the word "closed" in
regard to the drawbridges. I figured that I would be able to
Channel Islands explain the USCG 33 CFR 117.181 drawbridge regulations
to the publisher. But instead of contacting me, the publisher
805-984-8100 decided that he had all the information he needed, and pub-
lished my letter. I read his editorial response, and refused to

Marina Del Rey become part of the immature 'slam festival' just for the fun
of the readership.
310-827-8888 Then Skip Edge, the Public Works Inspector in Alameda,
decided to, without contacting me, join in on the bashing

Long Beach
party. Had Mr. Edge decided to speak with me directly, he
would have learned that, not only am I the shop steward with
21 years of proud county service, but I spent every one of those
562-795-5488 years as a bridge tender. I don't need him to tell me what the
Coast Guard regulations are with regard to bridges.

Costa Mesa - Sail Care Because of the lack of desire on both the part of the
publisher of Latitude and Mr. Edge to find out a little more
949-645-4660 information before trashing me, I have found myself in the
unfortunate position whereby I must explain to my co-workers
that I really do have a good understanding of the situation,
San Diego and that I really do care about their jobs. The thought that
my actions had something to do with fearing a reduction of
619-224-2424 the dues collected by the union, as suggested by Mr. Edge,
never even crossed my mind. But I thank him for asking.
I must also, to the best of my ability, regain the trust,
loyalty and respect of my workers after both of you carelessly
did what you could to destroy it. Yes, I feel that you have
personally disrespected me, and would like to officially inform
both of you that I will no longer tolerate direct personal at-
tacks from either one of you. If you want to correspond with
me in a mature, intelligent and direct manner, I invite you
C to do so.
A Furthermore, I will do everything in my power to ensure
L that any information I give to anyone from here on out is
I F true and accurate to the minutest detail — regardless of the
O import. I have learned that you cannot assume anything.
R For your information, Mr. Publisher, the bridge tenders
N of Alameda County are required to perform a wide variety of
I A preventative maintenance that requires heavy lifting, hard-
hats, eye protection, double hearing protection and a full
body harness for safety, and requires that they reach many
remote areas of the bridges. Not many elderly people I know
would be able to do such work, or would be willing to work
in this environment with solvents and grease in tight places
while upside down in dark and dirty crawl spaces. A little
more effort on your part to communicate with me would have
made your ridiculous suggestion that bridge tenders could
www.northsails.com be replaced by retired mariners who would volunteer to do
it. We bridge tenders must also be intimately familiar with
the normal and emergency electrical drive systems in order

Page 56 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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Cocktail: /koktayl/ n. The desired

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 57
 LETTERS

to provide flawless service to the boating community during

any unforeseen breakdowns.
Thank you for your attention, no matter how this situation
may end up.
Dave Kelly
Shop Steward, Local 342
Alameda

Dave — We're sorry if our inherent journalistic curiosity

caused you to get into hot water with your co-workers, because
we have no doubt that you're a nice guy, a good worker and
truly care about your fellow union members. Nonetheless, most
of the your injuries were self-inflicted.
We're also afraid that your current letter doesn't accurately
characterize the situation. You say you assumed that your
initial email to Latitude would cause the publisher of this
magazine to contact you to have an intelligent "conversation." If
you really wanted to have a conversation with us, wouldn't you
have included your phone number? As it was, you ended your
letter with, "We need to call all of our representatives who will
be going back to Sacramento . . ." You then listed the telephone
numbers of State Senator Lori Hancock, State Senator Ellen
Corbett, Assembly Member May Hayashi, Assembly Member
Alberto Torrico, and State Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny.
Frankly, your email came across as very intimidating — sup-
port our union with calls to these legislators or the bridges will
be closed on you mariners.
As for your having mistakenly used the word "closed"
because it wasn't really what you meant to convey, that also
strains credulity. After all, this is what you wrote: "Without
this money, no traffic signals will be repaired, no roads will be
repaired, flood control will be shut down and, most important
to local boaters, all of the Oakland/Alameda Estuary draw
bridges will permanently be shut down and all personnel laid
off. They will not open for vessels at all." How could your letter
have been any more threatening to mariners?
To strain credence to the breaking point, you — a bridge
tender for 21 years and a shop steward — made the claim
that you didn't know how much bridge tenders get paid. We
understand that as a bridge tender, debating isn't your field
of expertise, but trust us, in a situation like this, you've got to
respond by either providing the information we requested or
telling us that it's none of our damn business. The problem with
the latter option in that we the taxpayers are your bosses, and
that we have every right know what we're paying for the ser-
vices you provide. This is particularly true in these challenging
economic times, when cities, counties, states and the federal
government are all going bankrupt, and drastic cuts are going
to have to be made.
It's an unfortunate fact of the current economic situation,
but lots of government jobs have been lost, and lots more are
going to have to go. Either that, or government workers — like
many workers is the private sector — will have to agree to give
up some of their pay to keep as many of their co-workers as
possible employed. Why government and union workers aren't
as willing to share the pain as employees in the private sector
are has always puzzled us.
As a taxpayer who cares deeply about the terrible financial
straits all our levels of government are in, and what it means
for the future generations who are going to get stuck with all
the bills, we're interested in looking everywhere to see where
efficiencies could save lots of money. That's why we suggested
that it might be possible for retired mariners, in teams of two,
to operate the bridges on a volunteer basis. You listed all the
hazards that bridge tenders face in keeping the bridges main-

Page 58 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 59
 LETTERS

tained. But as any experienced offshore sailor could tell you,

what bridge tenders face in terms of nasty chemicals and hard-
to-reach places is nothing — in fact, absolutely nothing — com-
pared to what sailors commonly have to face while making
offshore passages. And unlike boats, bridges don't get tossed
around by strong winds and high seas when the work has to
be done. We're not saying this to slight bridge tenders, but just
to make a statement of fact about the mechanical challenges
regularly faced by offshore sailors. In any event, we weren't
talking about retired mariners doing the maintenance on such
bridges, but just the opening and closing of them. After all, isn't
this done by pushing a button or pulling a lever? Bridge tenders
don't actually have to lift the bridge by hand, do they?
Please understand that our questions and editorial re-
sponses are not personal attacks on you. As a member of the
Fourth Estate, some of our responsibilities are to be nosy as hell
and try to make sure that taxpayers are getting their money's
worth.

NEW SLIPS ⇑⇓HURRICANES, PIRATES AND FUEL PRICES, OH MY

COMING SOON I'll be sailing from Guaymas, Mexico, to the Panama Canal
Limited Availability in November of this year, and expect to take two months to
RESERVE reach the Canal, including a week or so in Costa Rica. I have
TODAY! a few questions about my route. First, can you suggest any
interesting ports that I should stop at? I have all the large ones
plotted, but you may have a few to suggest that are small,
inexpensive and interesting. Second, are there places that I
should avoid because of known piracy or other factors such
erm
Long-T as very high mooring or fuel prices?
Great D e a ls I'm then going to sail south from the Canal, and was told
Lease
s•
1 5 Year to avoid Colombia. What information do you have on ports
• Up to in Venezuela and the Lesser Antilles? And last, I will need to
r ic it y
• e le c t s
put the boat up on the hard out of the hurricane zone, and
a c il it ie therefore need to know of a place south of Venezuela.
• d e li f em
g sy t s By the way, I did the Ha-Ha last year and had a really fun
Official ig h t in
• f ir e f a l
Sponsor d is p o s experience.
• wa s t e Roger Behnken
dock
2009 • fuel y Jolly Roger, Bombay 44
s e c u r it
BAJA • 2 4 /7 Berkeley
HA-HA • w i- f i
Roger — Thanks for the kind words about the Ha-Ha. As
for places to stop between Guaymas and the Canal, they are
well known, as you'll pretty much just be following the coast.
You'll get the latest and best info from cruisers headed in the
other direction. Because of problems that a number of cruisers
have had with officials, the one place you may want to avoid is
Puerto Madero, Mexico. Two very interesting places that often
get passed over are the Gulf of Fonseca and the islands off the
northwest coast of Panama. But if you have only two months,
you're not going to have a lot of time.
There are a few exceptions, but don't expect to find cheap
berthing anywhere in the Third World. In the case of U.S.-style
marinas, expect the berthing to be higher than most places in
the States. Once again, cruisers coming the other way can give
you the latest on the least expensive berthing and mooring op-
tions, as well as the best places to anchor.
Similarly, don't expect to find cheap fuel anywhere — until
you get to Venezuela, where it's dirt cheap because they have
so much of it.
To our knowledge, there have been very few, if any, recent
pirate attacks on recreational boats off either coast of Central
America. It's even been very safe ashore as long as you exercise
normal precautions. Costa Rica, however, is considered to be
one of the bag-snatching capitals of the universe. No matter
where you are, carefully guard your backpack and money

Page 60 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 61

 LETTERS

when around places like bus terminals and when on trains

and buses.
You confuse us when you say you're going to sail south of the
Canal, but then seem to suggest that you'll be doing it on your
way to Venezuela and the Lesser Antilles. If you sail south of
Panama, you'll hit the Pacific Coast of Colombia on your way to
Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Colombia is not only remote, it's
home to lots of drug smuggling activity and therefore is largely
lawless. Be on your guard if you cruise that coast. Although Eric
Baicy and Sherrell Watson of the Seattle-based Pacific Seacraft
31 Sarana were the victims of a violent attack in November of
'08 at Punta Pedernales, Ecuador, most of that country, and
particularly the Bahia de Caraquez area, is considered to be
quite safe.
If, on the other hand, you're talking about the Caribbean
coast of Colombia, you shouldn't have any problems when sail-
ing between the San Blas Islands and Cartagena. However, the
coast between these islands and Cartagena has been lawless

Your Complete for many years, so don't push your luck. A few years ago there
were a number of violent attacks on cruisers when anchored
on the coast of Colombia between Cartagena and Cabo Velo.

Rigging Headquarters! This being the case, you'll want to get the latest updates on
that stretch of coast from the very active cruising community
at Club Nautico in Cartagena. We assume you're aware that
Installation • Lifelines • Running Rigging the passage from Cartagena to Cabo Velo is, between mid-De-
cember and June, one of the nastiest in the world of cruising.
Standing Rigging • Dock & Anchor Lines And it's not much better the rest of the year.
Lots of cruisers still go to Venezuela, but violent incidents
have been on the rise, particularly in the more dangerous

F rom outfitting traditional cruisers to fine-tuning eastern part of the country. Once again, check in with the local
coconut telegraph to get the most recent information.
cutting-edge racers, let West Marine’s experienced There is no convenient place to put a boat on the hard for
staff design the ultimate package to optimize the hurricane season south of Venezuela, because you'd have to
fight the current all the way down to Guyana. Fortunately, there
performance and look of your boat. Custom rigging is is no reason to go so far south to get out of the hurricane zone.
available through any West Marine store location. We'd start by looking into marinas in the Puerto La Cruz area
of Venezuela or at the Chaguaramus area of Trinidad. While
Trinidad is north of Venezuela, it's still south of the hurricane
zone, as evidenced by the countless number of boats that spend
the summer on the hard there.
Your biggest personal safety concerns should be about
criminals ashore, not on the water. Nonetheless, always be
vigilant along the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela.

⇑⇓THE BEST THING ABOUT CHINA CAMP

I just read LaDonna Bubak's September issue article on
China Camp, and agree that it's a great place to spend a
weekend. My wife and I have spent a number of thoroughly
Contact us for all of your Rigging Needs! enjoyable nights there.
However, I think she missed one of the greatest features

888-447-RIGG about anchoring at China Camp. The tide keeps you pointed
either east-west or west-east the whole time except for the
or visit our Onsite Rigging Locations in: short periods of slack current. This means that you're either
pointed directly into or away from the big wakes created by
Alameda, CA San Diego, CA Seattle, WA the ships that transit San Pablo Bay. Combined with minimal
side-to-side rolling in the early morning, this gives you a bet-
730 Buena Vista Ave. 1250 Rosecrans St. 1275 Westlake Ave. N
ter night's sleep. At least we find this so.
(510) 521-4865 (619) 255-8844 (206) 926-0356 Contrast this to Paradise Cove on the lee side of the Tiburon
Peninsula. When anchored there, we always seem to be
Annapolis, MD Rock Hill, SC Ft. Lauderdale, FL beam-to the wakes from ferries and large ships. Plus, there
113 Hillsmere Dr. 860 Marine Dr. 2300 S. Federal Hwy. are always the fishermen who seem to enjoy racing through
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kick out of watching the indignant crew of anchored boats
westmarine.com/rigging 'prairie dog' from their companionways to curse them. China
Camp has been far more restful for us.

Page 62 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 63
 LETTERS
❖ Enjoy ❖

THANKSGIVING China Camp also makes a great halfway stop for us South
and all your holidays at: Bay boaters who are making our way to or from the Delta.
Edwin & Margaret Hoogerbeets
Cipriana, Bavaria 38
Brisbane

⇑⇓THE HOBIE CAT WHISPERER

I'm back on Cozumel, Mexico, for about 10 days. I'd recently
taken the auto ferry to the mainland and rode my motorcycle
down the coast to snorkel in cenotes, which are sinkholes filled
with groundwater. The first one I visited was El Eden, a beauti-
ful pool in limestone, with channels and caves connecting it
to other pools. The fresh water is incredibly clear, with about
200 feet of visibility. El Eden supposedly is home to eels and
turtles, but all I saw were small tropical freshwater fish.
After an hour of snorkeling, I continued south to Dos Ojos
cenote, which is the subject of an IMAX movie, Hidden World.
I got there too late to dive, so I ventured on to Tulum. I found
a hotel for $30/night, and had dinner with two gringos who
live there. One, a really nice guy, is a dive master and tour
guide. He retired from the British Navy about five years ago
and settled in Tulum. The other guy was a 31-year-old vaga-
bond who makes his living singing and playing guitar.
The next day I got up at 7 a.m. and walked a mile to the
beach at Tulum. The English dive master gave me directions
to the 'local's road' to the beach that passes Tulum Park. As
I walked from the road across the beach through the coconut
trees, I was startled to hear a soft voice crying, “Save me! Save
me!” I cautiously walked toward the sound and saw the hulls
of a Hobie 18 resting on poles. The cat had a torn tramp and
no mast or rigging. Her hulls weren't in bad shape, but she'd
nonetheless been abandoned.
Miss Hobie went on to tell me that about a month before,
she'd been sailing in 30 knots of wind when the idiot driving
Join our wait list. Prime slips do her steered her into an accidental gibe. She couldn't help but
become available. Register on our pitch-pole, which caused her to turn turtle. She told me that
she was towed upside down to the beach, which damaged
free wait list to save your spot now! her mast, and was then stripped and abandoned. I gently
tapped her hull for soft spots, and softly rubbed my hand
over a repair from a prior accident. I told her that I couldn't
save her. She appreciated my concern, and understood that
WELCOME! I would've helped if I could have.
You may wonder why a Hobie Cat would cry out to me
Fortman Marina welcomes for help. I've have owned and raced Hobies for 30 years, and
I think she could feel my simpatico spirit. I can think of no
David Lee and other explanation.
Cruising World Pacific David Hammer
Weaverville
to our onsite brokerage office.
David — A boat calling out to a sailor is not uncommon. In
(510) 764-1734 fact, wood boats, particularly yawls, are known to be among
the most loquacious. Indeed, they are known as the sirens of
www.fabulousyachts.com sailboats.
We don't wonder why the cat would cry out to you in help,
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⇑⇓GENTLEMEN AND CATS DON'T SAIL TO WEATHER
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based Hallberg-Rassy 46 Merry Rowe's. But now I'm looking
(510) 522-9080 to get into a catamaran, and wanted to know your thoughts
— having done the Baja Bash numerous times — on the up-
For directions and rates go to: wind abilities of your cat.
Dave Rowe
www.fortman.com San Diego

Page 64 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 65

 LETTERS
BLUE WATER
YACHT INSURANCE Dave — Let us preface our remarks with the wisdom of Bruno
Peyron, who set the around-the-world course record with his
120-ft catamaran Orange II: "When sailing a catamaran, I'd
rather reach for 200 miles than sail upwind for 100 miles." As
Blue Water Yacht Insurance for us, we'd rather reach 400 miles than beat 100 miles in rough
covers more active cruising conditions.
boats than any other marine The deal is,
if you're sailing
agency in the Western in relatively flat

COURTESY ORANGE II
Hemisphere, and is the water, such as
leading innovator of on San Fran-
cisco Bay or
insurance products for
Banderas Bay,
the offshore sailor. cats are great
fun sailing up-
wind. They may
not point as high
Bruno didn't like sailing upwind on the 120-ft cat
as weatherly
'Orange II'.
Our Insurance monohulls, but
it's a very fast and pretty smooth point of sail. Sailing upwind
Programs Provide: in a decent ocean swell is an entirely different story. Not only
are lots of cats prone to bombs under their bridgedecks, but if
• Crew of two anywhere they pick up any speed, they start leaping over the waves and,
as a result, slam into the next wave. It can be very nasty.
• Worldwide Navigation In the case of Profligate, she has an unusual amount of
• Hawaii bridgedeck clearance, so she doesn't suffer from 'bombs'. On the
other hand, both bows tend to pound rather violently. It's stupid
• Caribbean for us not to slow her down or fall off in such conditions.
When it comes to the Baja Bash, there are two reasons that
• South Pacific it's always a delivery under power for Profligate: 1) The coast
of Baja is cold as heck during the spring and summer, so who
• Mexico wants to sail upwind day and night in that stuff? 2) What's
• Charter Boats the point of beating up the boat, the sails and crew by slam-
ming to weather for 750 miles? We'd put as much wear on the
• Multihulls expensive main doing one Bash as we would doing 10 Ha-Ha's.
By motoring 30° off the wind and slowing down when it gets
• Liveaboards rough, it's a much more pleasant and less expensive trip.
As for the issue of pointing ability, cruising cats have a lot
• Racing Boats of great things going for them, but pointing ability isn't one of
them. We've had a lot of owners tell us how high their cats
can point, but having done dozens of races in Mexico and the
Caribbean against different kinds of cats — including many
with daggerboards — we've yet to see one that could tack in
Quality Rated Insurance Companies much less than 105 degrees and maintain good speed. Any
Boats aged 1 to 40 years • "Agreed Value" decent monohull will outpoint a cruising cat by a significant
"All Risks" • "New for Old" replacement partial losses margin.
Hulls valued $50,000 to $2,500,000 ⇑⇓A LITTLE MOUSING CAN SAVE YOUR BOAT
I worked in the sea urchin diving business for many years.
Worldwide Health Insurance Urchin divers anchor and re-anchor many times a day when
International and USA health insurance plans working. Being divers, we were able to check and recheck
at affordable prices. our ground tackle as we worked the bottom. We also often
anchored close to the surf break or rocks, or both, because
that’s where the urchins live. As such, we needed to know
Call Toll Free that our anchor gear was very robust and that it got well set
on the bottom.
(866) 463-0167 Knowing this, the only type of swivel I use is the Ameri-
Fax: (866) 795-3707 can-made eye-to-eye galvanized steel type with no cotter pins
sales@bluewaterinsurance.com and few moving parts. I attach the swivel with well moused
shackles. I like to use big swivels. Because the swivel is one
Quote requests of the weakest components in ground tackle, it seems silly not
to. In my opinion, if your bow roller won't accommodate such
Visit our website
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www.bluewaterinsurance.com your bow roller is too small. After all, if you anchor in rocks
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Page 66 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 A Better Choice for Your Swan?
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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 67

 LETTERS

ver sto
re
vive and anchor gear is tremendous. Strange things can happen
R eco Re Re under such loads, as I can tell you.
It was 1978, and it was my first day on the job as a com-
mercial sea urchin diver. This was back when the sea urchin
PROFESSIONAL DESIGN business was just getting started. I went out with some of
SERVICES INCLUDE CUSTOM the top commercial abalone divers on a custom 30-ft Radon
carpeting powered by twin Volvo diesels with outdrives, then one of the
newest and nicest commercial diveboats.
cushions We left Pillar Point Harbor and dropped the hook near the
designer fabrics now famous Mavericks surf spot. The tide was high but falling,
draperies and in a couple hours we had bagged a pretty decent load.
linens As the tide began ebbing rapidly, it became alarmingly
upholstery clear that we would have to curtail diving and leave our spot
ASAP. The surf began to break right behind the transom of
the boat. This wasn’t a jumbo size Mavericks wave, because
WINTER SPECIAL generally speaking we stopped diving when the swells got to

20% OFF be higher than seven feet. But even moderate surf is no place
to park a 10,000-lb boat.
Foam & Fabric Deborah Wright With the tide falling fast, we divers boarded quickly and
Good thru 11/30/09 510.908.3939 the tender coiled the hoses rapidly. But before we could get
under way, a large wave broke almost amidships. Thankfully
the anchor was still holding, because we were right against
the reef. If we had been any closer to the reef, we would have
Make your dreams come true… been on it, and the surf was breaking under the boat.
As the skipper pulled the slack out of the anchor rode by
2900 Main Street #67, Alameda, CA 94501 hand, the Radon rose to every wave. The lead diver gently
www.wrightwaydesigns.com motored the bow directly over the anchor, and momentarily
shifted into neutral. As long as the engines didn't quit, we
were out of danger. We moved away from the rocky reef and
out to sea as the skipper pulled the anchor onboard. I watched
intently, as this was all new and exciting to me. I’d never seen
Stainless Steel Boating a wave break under a boat before and I certainly had never
seen a boat anchored so close to rocks and breakers.
Hardware at But when the anchor hit the foredeck, the skipper and
I stared in shocked disbelief! The shackle pin fell from the
AFFORDABLE PRICES! shackle, leaving the anchor no longer connected to the chain.
The anchor lay by itself on the deck, the shackle in another
Now a stocking distributor of the spot, and the pin in yet another. We'd been unbelievably lucky
that it had all separated when the anchor hit the deck and
HYDRO BUBBLE ANCHOR not while we three divers were in the water and the boat was
backed up to the reef. Had it happened then, it would have
been a gnarly mix of breakers, divers, and hundreds of feet
of floating hose, with spinning propellers churning up the
whole mess as the skipper tried to extricate his pride and joy
from the rocks. We were darn lucky that day that we didn’t
lose the boat and no one got hurt.
The skipper had risked his $100,000 boat and our safety
on the lack of ten cents worth of wire mousing.
It’s 30-plus years later and I’m still seeing boats sporting
weak but attractive looking swivels and shackles without
Wheels mousing. I get the impression that some boaters don’t know
that work! what mousing is, why they need it, or how much strain an-
Flip-It Wheels choring can put on a swivel.
John Dervin
Perfect for Baja Ha-Ha Sausalito

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• SS Anchors from • SS Shackles, Sailboat letters. So if yours hasn't appeared, don't give up hope.
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include your name, your boat's name, hailing port, and, if
possible, a way to contact you for clarifications.
DaNard Marine Products By far the best way to send letters is to email them to
Oxnard, CA
richard@latitude38.com. You can also mail them to 15 Locust,
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Page 68 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 69

 LOOSE LIPS

Eight bells.
We're sorry to report that noted yacht designer W.I.B. Crealock
died on September 26 at his home in Carlsbad after breaking
his hip in a fall. He was 89.
William Ion Belton Crealock was born in Westcliff-on-Sea
— just east of London — on August 23, 1920. The son of a
government railway bridge designer, Crealock grew up in India.
Having studied naval architecture at Glasgow University, he got
his start in design at a shipyard in Glasgow during WWII.
But in 1952, Bill got itchy feet. He and three friends pooled
their resources to buy the old cutter Content, which carried them
on some epic adventures — including chatting up some Guyanese
cannibals the day after a 'feast' — which are documented in his
book Vagabonding Under Sail.
In his second book, Cloud of Islands, Crealock detailed his
voyage to the South Pacific as crew aboard the ketch Arthur
Rogers. He later crewed on the 105-ft schooner Gloria Maris on
a scientific circumnavigation of the Pacific — which eventually
brought him to California, where he quickly earned a reputation
as a world-class yacht designer.
'Gentleman Bill' designed for such varied boatbuilders as
Clipper Marine, Cabo Rico, Willard, Pacific Seacraft and Kendall.
The latter hired Crealock in the late '60s to work up plans for a
fiberglass version of Billy Atkin's 32-ft Eric — a boat he opined
the company might sell a dozen of. In fact, the company went
out of business after just two years, but they sold the molds to
a husband-wife team, who hired Crealock to redesign the boat's
deck and interior. The result was the iconic Westsail 32.
In the '70s, Clipper Marine committed to produce Crealock's
ideal two-person cruising boat. The company had begun tooling
for the 37-footer — but had not laid up a hull — when they went
bankrupt. Cruising Consultants picked up the molds and sold
18 Crealock 37s before they, too, went out of business in 1978.
Pacific Seacraft bought the molds in 1980, and had built 263
when the design was inducted into the American Sailboat Hall
of Fame in 2002.
The Crealock 37 holds a special place in the hearts of Latitude
Editor LaDonna Bubak and her husband Rob Tryon. They have
owned and cruised hull #24 for more than a decade. Shortly after
buying Silent Sun, the pair were fortunate to meet Bill Crealock
and his wife Lynne at a rendezvous.
"He really earned his nickname of 'Gentleman Bill'," Rob said.
"He sat and talked with me about the specifics of the boat's de-
sign for most of the evening. I think folks were a little irritated
that I was 'hogging' him but I didn't care. It was a truly amazing
night." Rob claims it didn't even bother him when, in the next
day's regatta, a boat driven by Crealock himself soundly beat
Silent Sun across the finish line. "It feels pretty good to come in
second to the designer of your boat."
W.I.B. Crealock will make his final voyage aboard Irving John-
son at 2 p.m. on November 8, when his ashes will be scattered
at sea. The public is invited to watch from Pt. Fermin Park in
San Pedro.

Lost in translation.
The grounding of a classic Atkins-designed Ingrid ketch in
Richardson Bay last month inspired some long-time sailors to
swap tales about other Ingrids they had known — over 100 of
these stout 38-footers were built during the '70s and '80s.
We overheard a lot of good stories, but our favorite anecdote
was this: Not long after an Ingrid owners' website was set up
a few years back, the webmaster was contacted by a German
woman who was eager to become a member. "Do you own an
Ingrid?" he asked. "No," she said, "but my name is Ingrid and
I'm a 38D!"

Page 70 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 71

SIGHTINGS

surviving the storm preventing wrecks

On October 13, Northern California got spanked by what was On October 12, Governor Arnold
a combination of a very early winter storm and the remnants of a Schwarzenegger signed California As-
Japanese typhoon. The results were record one-day amounts of rain sembly Bill 166, not only increasing the
for October, winds to 67 knots, and seas outside the Gate to 14 feet. fines for illegally abandoning your boat
Wind cut power to more than 200,000 homes, downed countless trees but also developing a free program to
and ripped boats from help you surrender your derelict before
their moorings. it becomes a hazard to navigation or the
According to Dave environment. Assemblymember Ted Lieu
Gissendaner, owner of (D-Torrance) has pushed the plan for two
Dave’s Diving in Sau- years, but the first incarnation of the bill
salito, at least four was vetoed by the governor last year. Lieu,
boats broke free of their who is running for Attorney General in
moorings in Richardson this fall’s election, reports that he and
Bay during the storm. his staff worked with the governor’s of-
“The county puts us on
stand-by the day before
a storm hits,” said ‘Diver
Dave’. “We go out at
the height of the storm Rumored to be the first Ingrid ever built,
and rescue what we can ‘Ingrid’ didn’t make it through the storm
safely.” Dave, with help unscathed. The newly signed AB 166 could
‘Diver Dave’ was able to tow this boat off the rocks of from local diver T im prevent such dilapidated boats from piling
Strawberry Point in Richardson Bay. Sell, pulled one boat off up on shore during storms.
the rocks at Strawberry Point, but was unable to free the other three
boats. Dave reports that either his company is hired to salvage wrecked
boats or the county destroys them.
The storm had been so well-predicted — thanks to satellite imagery,
we actually watched it advance on the West Coast from its birthplace
near Siberia — that we wondered if anyone had been crazy enough
to leave port in the days before the storm hit. Turns out John Dour
was our man.
Dour’s shoreside contact, Trevor Steel, alerted us on October 15
that his friend was overdue in San Diego. Dour, 45, had sailed under
the Gate on October 9 aboard his Ericson 27 Maria on his first off-
shore trip and had not been heard from since. “I’d been in touch with
Coast Guard Search and Rescue,” says Steel, “and, on Thursday, we
decided that John should be considered overdue.” The Coast Guard
put out a call for mariners to keep a sharp eye for Maria but had not
begun searching.
At 6:30 p.m. that night, Steel’s phone rang — it was Dour. He was
sailing in light winds about 20 miles off Pt. Loma and all was well.
Dour’s story is fascinating. An out-of-work carpenter, he moved
from Biloxi to the Bay for the sole purpose of buying a boat and teach-
ing himself to sail. “I’d been reading the online version of Latitude for
years,” Dour told us. “In fact, I found my boat in Latitude!”
Over the last 18 months, Dour lived aboard near Benicia, worked
when he could, refitted his boat, and sailed as often as possible. “My
good buddy Trevor told me that if I could sail on San Pablo Bay, I
could sail anywhere,” Dour laughed. “Fuckin’ liar!”
When Maria sailed under the Gate, the NOAA forecast was calling
for light winds until early the following week, when a storm was pre-
dicted to hit the coast no farther south than Monterey. Knowing he’d
be south of Monterey by then, Dour struck out. “The wind was so light,
I motored most of the way to Pt. Conception,” he recalls. “I was about
120 miles west of San Nicholas Island at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.
That’s when the storm hit. That’s when my life began to suck!”
In the building winds and seas, Dour struck everything off the
deck — including sails — except his kayak, which he lashed to the
windward side of the boat to protect his portlights. He then fashioned
a sea anchor out of an old Danforth, some chain and rode he’d picked
up at a swap meet, and a blown-out jib. “I’d just thrown it off the bow
when I saw a shark’s fin,” he said. “It was five feet off the bow and I
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Page 72 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 SIGHTINGS

with ab 166 storm — cont’d

fice to help them realize that the bill will thought, ‘Shit, the sharks are circling already!’ Turns out it was just
actually save the state money in the long a mola (sunfish).” Dour then rigged his lee cloth and settled in for a
run. “It allows more abandoned vessels to wild ride. “I was really wishing I’d brought more than a 12-pack!”
be taken care of using the same existing About 19 hours later, the winds had eased, though the seas were
resources,” said Lieu. still heavy and confused. “I might as well have been inside a Maytag
The Coast Guard reports that as washer,” he laughed. Dour plotted his position and found that he’d
many boats were abandoned in the first drifted 23 miles north, averaging a little over a knot of drift per hour
quarter of this year as in all of 2008. “As — not too shabby for his first time lying ahull to a sea anchor. Unable
the economy worsens, more and more to retrieve the set-up due to the sea state, Dour was forced to cut it
people are abandoning their boats, which loose to get back underway.
are luxury items,” said Sara Aminzadeh The trip into port took longer than he would have liked — confused
of San Francisco Baykeeper. “There are seas and light winds combined with a severely depleted gas supply
floating junk yards out there.” meant slow going. To add insult to injury, he found that the entire
continued in middle column of next sightings page continued on outside column of next sightings page

PHOTOS TIM SELL

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 73

 SIGHTINGS

storm — cont’d ab 166

contents of his water tank had emptied into his bilge. “I had four big Under AB 166, boaters who illegally
bottles of water for emergency,” Dour noted, “but I’m still not sure abandon their boats will face a minimum
what happened to the tank. The storm was one thing, but the lack of fine of $1,000 — double the previous
French roast in the morning was another entirely.” minimum fine — to a maximum of $3,000.
As Maria cleared San Nicholas Island, the fog rolled it. “I was lis- Eighty percent of any monies collected will
tening for the horn of the tanker that was going to run over me,” said go straight into the Abandoned Watercraft
Dour. “It was like being inside the game Battleship.” The fog finally Abatement Fund. Unfortunately, tracking
lifted and the breeze filled in. By 6:30 p.m., Dour was close enough down recalcitrant boat owners can be
to shore to get a cell phone signal — that’s when he called Steel. tough — getting them to actually cough
But Dour’s adventure wasn’t quite over. As he approached San Diego up the cash can be nearly impossible.
around 11 p.m., he contacted the Police Dock for a space assignment. When boats wash ashore or sink and
“They told me they couldn’t check me in that night and that I’d have the owners don’t step up to pay a salvor,
to stand off till morning,” he recalls. “I’d just spent seven days battling local governments are forced to foot the
continued on outside column of next sightings page bill to remove the wrecks. This is far more
CAROL BAGGERLY

Page 74 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 SIGHTINGS

— cont’d storm — cont’d

labor intensive — and costly — than sim- the storm from hell and they’re telling me I can’t come in. I thought,
ply destroying a boat that’s still afloat. ‘Fuck that!’ I’m from the Bay — I know how to sneak into a slip!”
The new law, which will go into effect When we spoke to Dour the morning of October 16, he was well-
in January, works to prevent these high- rested and securely — and legally — tied up at the Police Dock, where
dollar salvage missions by encouraging he planned to spend a couple weeks. He says he’ll spend a couple
boat owners who can no longer afford more in the A-9 anchorage before making his way south. “I’m in no
to maintain or moor their deteriorating hurry,” he said. “I’m just happy to be wearing shorts.”
vessels to surrender them to a local con- — ladonna
tractor to be destroyed. The contractor
will then bill the Abatement Fund. riding on rapid transit
The program will be reassessed in
2014, but we suspect it will be embraced If you’ve been on the Bay over the past few weeks, you might have
by boaters and harbormasters alike. caught a fleeting glimpse of red streaking across the water — it was
— ladonna probably Rapid Transit, the brand new Antrim 49 that was splashed
in early October.
The product of a second collaboration between designer Jim Ant-
rim and Cree Partridge’s Berkeley Marine Center — the first was the
Sa-loot! Johnny Dour was commended by Barran family’s 40-ft XL — Rapid Transit is a no-holds-barred, cant-
the Coasties for his heavy weather strategy. ing-keel offshore machine. It comes in about two tons lighter than a
An unemployed carpenter, he hopes to find TP 52 while carrying similar sail area, and features twin rudders with
work in San Diego. If he doesn’t, he’ll head a single centerline daggerboard for upwind work.
south for the winter aboard ‘Maria’. The unique hull shape features a parabolic entry that evolves into a
flat, chined forefoot which, in turn, gradually develops into low-dead-
rise, dish-like sections aft with topsides chines that begin just forward
of the the daggerboard. Rapid Transit is definitely an outside-the-box
concept. Built on plugs, the boat is primarily vacuum-bagged e-glass,
carbon fiber and epoxy over a PVC-foam core with G-10 reinforcement
in components like the daggerboard trunk and transom.
While it was originally intended to be ready for this summer’s Trans-
Pac, Rapid Transit was delayed so the hydraulics that cant the keel
through a 50° arc in 15 seconds could benefit from more engineering
work. An engineer by trade, Jim Partridge — the boat’s owner, as well
as Cree’s Southern California-based brother — designed the hydraulic
system and its redundant dual rams. From the get-go, a key principle
was to keep the mechanism as simple as possible. Although modern
canting-keel boats typically feature elaborate computers to control
the hydraulics, Rapid Transit’s controls are little more than a pair
of port/starboard buttons mounted on the cockpit sides underneath
the helmsman.
“Everyone we talked to said to not bother with the electronic con-
trols,” says Cree. “The dual rams are a safety belt and suspenders.”
The keel fin itself is the de rigueur fabricated steel box section with
carbon fiber composite fairings attached to a five-ft steel axle. The
axle runs from the main bulkhead back to the sealed, athwarships
structural box containing the rams and the welded tang that connects
them to the axle.
The twin rudders are set in cassettes attached to the transom. A
third, centerline cassette is integrally molded with the boat’s composite
tiller, and serves as the emergency rudder mount. Carbon tie-rods
and stainless ball joints connect the centerline cassettes with the
outboard ones.
Perhaps the most unusual aspect of the build is that the carbon
mast tube was built on site at Berkeley Marine Center in an ingenious
rig shop, the product of a collaboration between Cree and the boat’s
rigger, Jay Butler. A pair of 45-ft high-cube shipping containers were
butted up against each other with the inside ends removed. Then a
system of hydraulics created a taut mandrel of cables around which
carbon fiber was wrapped and cured.
Another rather unique feature of Rapid Transit — at least in a boat
of this size and type — is its boom geometry and ‘soft’ vang arrange-
ment. The gooseneck is located only about a foot from the top of the
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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 75

 SIGHTINGS

rapid transit — cont’d clipper cove

cabin — much like on an “open” class boat — to reduce the loads Clipper Cove on Treasure Island was
transmitted to the mast tube. As the outboard end of the boom rides once one of the more popular Bay Area
higher than the inboard end — picture a properly set gaff but at deck dumping grounds for abandoned boats.
level — the geometry makes a typical boomvang all but useless. When Stuck in a bureaucratic limbo for years
Rapid Transit sails at deeper angles, a line that functions as both a after the Navy left, no one could say with
vang and preventer is run through a block attached to a pad eye on authority who had jurisdiction over the
the rail to control the twist in the square-top main. cove. Various agencies would occasion-
The sails — which include the aggressively square-topped main, ally show spurts of enforcement, but they
small-overlap jibs and asymmetrical kites set on a nine-ft deck- were typically short-lived.
mounted prod — were designed and built by Harry Pattison of El- Consequently, some of the Bay’s less
liott/Pattison Sails in Newport Beach. responsible — and less savory — boaters
Auxiliary power is provided by a 40-hp outboard mounted in a took advantage of the situation by leav-
well with a trap door that fits flush to the hull when not in use — a
system that’s both light and really short on drag. A diesel generator
provides power for the keel hydraulics and instruments.
Early test sails have been encouraging. With a gaggle of people
aboard during sea trials last month, the boat hit 20 knots under kite
in 15-18 knots of breeze. While there are still little bugs to be worked
out and some finish work to be done as of this writing, the whole
thing is a pretty sweet package. Sadly, Rapid Transit probably won’t
be gracing the Bay for much longer — by the time you read this, she’ll
be on her way south for the San Diego YC’s Hot Rum Series.
—rob

lessons learned sailing over the top

Since the Around the Americas expedition set sail from Seattle on
May 31, thousands of armchair voyagers, extreme adventure addicts
and school children have been following its progress. Led by renowned
circumnavigator Mark Schrader, a specially selected team of scien-
tists and adventurers have sailed the 64-ft steel cutter Ocean Watch
roughly halfway around their intended route, which is to take them
across the top of North America, via the fabled Northwest Passage,
then south around Cape Horn before returning home again.
As noted previously in these pages, the expedition's primary goal is
to elevate public awareness of the dire challenges facing our planet's
fragile ocean ecosystems, and to inspire citizens of North, Central
and South America to take actions that
will help bring about positive changes.
Late last month we checked in with
the expedition’s official scribe, Cruising
World magazine Editor-at-Large Herb Mc-
Cormick, to get his impressions thus far.
“I didn't have any preconceived notions
about climate change or anything along
those lines when we took off,” explains
Herb. But the things he’s seen in the far
DAVID THORESON

north, and the rugged characters he’s met

there, have brought him and his team
members to the sobering realization that
drastic changes are happening rapidly in
the northern latitudes. “The sea ice is go-
ing away. And I've come to grasp, at least
Skipper Mark Schrader. a little, the breadth and scope of the at-
tendant ramifications — which are epic.”
In his daily postings at www.aroundtheamericas.org, Herb tells of
the team’s visit with scientist and ornithologist George Divoky, who
has been returning to the same barren patch of earth each sum-
mer for the last 33 years: Cooper Island. Over the decades, Divoky’s
desolate world has changed substantially. Each year the Arctic snow
melts away a bit earlier, affecting the migratory patterns of birds and
upsetting an age-old equilibrium between species. While he used to
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Page 76 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 SIGHTINGS

is cleaned up around the americas — cont’d

ing derelicts to sink, dumping the boats’ sleep soundly in a simple tent, he now takes shelter in a stout wooden
holding tanks (if they had any in the first shack with three shotguns always at the ready, as hungry polar bears
place) and storing their boats there. Sail- now patrol his rugged outpost scouring the landscape for anything
ors wanting to simply anchor overnight edible.
were forced farther and farther away from “I met and talked with guys like Divoky, and with related scien-
the protection — and convenience — of tists and ice experts,” recalls Herb, “as well as with many Eskimo
the tree-lined shore. And God help you if and Inuit subsistence hunters and whalers, whose way of life has
you anchored on top of a wreck! changed dramatically in the last 20 years. I don’t know why it’s hap-
As late as this June, 24 boats were pening. I’m a sailor, not a scientist. But the anecdotal evidence from
more or less permanently anchored in the scores of folks we've talked to is overwhelming. And as a sailor,
Clipper Cove. Treasure Island Develop- there's something else irrefutable going on. For decades, sailing the
continued in middle column of next sightings page continued on outside column of next sightings page

Clockwise from top left — Builder Cree Partridge sorts the hydraulic pack-
age on the new Antrim 49 ‘Rapid Transit’ ; ‘RT’ canted at the dock, showing
her dual rudder system; the boat’s centerline daggerboard; sailmakers Harry
Pattison and Skip Elliott with Cree and Jim Partridge, rigger Jay Butler and
designer Jim Antrim; Pattison lightin’ her up on the Bay; the canted keel.

TOP PHOTOS: LATITUDE / ROB; BOTTOM PHOTOS: LATITUDE / JOHN A.

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 77

 SIGHTINGS

around the americas — cont’d clipper cove

Northwest Passage was a rare thing indeed. Now, in the last three ment Administration Director Mirian
years, every boat that's attempted the trip has made it — every single Saez — who was granted authority over
boat! Waters that were once impassable no longer are. It's as simple the cove by the State Lands Commission
as that. So something serious is going on.” — spoke with us then about her plan
Now bound for Puerto Rico, then Rio de Janeiro, the Ocean Watch to implement a permitting process for
crew will continue its practice of hosting dockside tours and educa- anchoring in the cove. She asked for our
tional presentations at every port of call. Meanwhile, students and readers’ input, and she got it.
teachers all over the Americas can take advantage of the team’s “We received about 30 rational re-
thoughtfully produced curricular materials (free on the website) sponses, including one from your pub-
which are designed to inspire young scholars to explore the ocean lisher,” reports Saez. “It looks like the
sciences. plan will be that boaters can come in for
This ambitious sail around the Americas may not solve any prob- the weekend without getting a permit. If
lems on its own, but by drawing attention to the frail health of our you want to stay more than 72 hours or
oceans, it’s sending a clear signal that the status quo is unsustain- so, you need to notify us.”
able. Though not all the details have been
— andy hammered out, Saez says it seems likely

It was ‘all hands on deck’ every

time ice made an appearance.
PHOTOS DAVID THORESON

Our old pal Herb McCormick’s

regular reports from ‘Ocean Watch’
make for thrilling reading.

Page 78 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 SIGHTINGS

— cont’d fifty and counting for the pac cup

that stays will be limited to three weeks With just under eight months to go before the final entry deadline,
at a time (with approval), no more than nearly 50 boats have already signed up for the 2010 Pacific Cup — just
three times a year. (The final rules will be nine short of the total number that sailed the race in ‘08!
clearly posted at the marina and beach.) “It’s really outperforming what we thought we were going to get,
Saez notes the free ‘permit’ will be eas- given the current economic climate” said Pacific Cup YC Commodore
ily obtained over the internet. “The last Michael Moradzadeh. “I’m really taken with the caliber of both sailors
thing we want to do is make this a hassle and the boats they’re bringing.”
for responsible boaters.” There’s already an SC 70, plus a couple SC 50s signed up — and a
No date has been set for implementa- we’re told there are a few more poised to enter. There are also rumors
tion, but Saez hopes to have everything that a couple of West Coast TP 52 owners are planning to go, and
settled in the next month or so. In the that all it will take is one to get the rest to sign on the dotted line.
meantime, she’s worked to clean up the Philippe Kahn and his turboed Open 50 Pegasus OP-50 will also be
cove and has ejected all but seven boats. back, having set a doublehanded record in this year’s TransPac
“Clipper Cove is wide open and ready for It’s not often that you get a chance to sail against the overall winner
responsible boaters to use it,” she says. — with the same crew — from the previous edition of a Hawaii race.
— ladonna Joby Easton’s overall winner, the Cascade 36 Rain Drop, is entered, and
Easton will be teaming up again with his ‘08 navigator, Bill Huseby.
Easton and Huseby will likely have their hands full with what is,
at this point, the scratch boat: Alan Brierty’s year-old R/P IRC 63
Limit. Brierty — who recently retired from his construction and mining
company — hails from Western Australia but sails his boat primarily
around Sydney and Auckland, New Zealand. He’ll be bringing up his
crew of Aussies and Kiwis — led by Kiwi Rodney Keenan — from the
antipodes for a crack at the Pacific Cup.
We were a bit surprised when we saw the boat listed on the entries
page because, while Keenan said the boat has “a nice interior,” Limit
is a full-race IRC boat and program. We wondered why he was coming
all this way for the ‘Fun Race to Hawaii’.
“Everyone I know who’s done it, raves about it,” Keenan said. “The
timing works out nicely because we’ll do some summer racing in New
Zealand at the Bay of Islands Race Week, then ship the boat. After the
finish, we’ll have enough time to get back to Hamilton Island with a
couple stops in the South Pacific along the way.”
Limit is scheduled to arrive in Ensenada in mid-February, and while
Pac Cup is the biggie on the boat’s West Coast swing, it’s not the only
thing in the works — Brierty is tentatively planning to include the
Cabo Race, the Stone Cup and the Coastal Cup in the schedule.
“Cost-wise, it’s not out of the ballpark,” Keenan said. “Dockwise is
giving great deals — we’re only paying about 60% of what we would have
three years ago. The Australian dollar is relatively strong to the U.S.
dollar and we’re already in the process of locking in hotel rates.”
Of course, while the race attracts a huge share of grand prix boats,
sleds, pocket sleds, fabulous fifties and other ultralights, it wouldn’t
get so many entries if it weren’t attractive to owners of other types of
boats. Terri Watson, Kimmi Harrison and their Mason 33 Delphinus are
Aid to navigation — As a last resort, the crew of a perfect example. Both grew up in sailing families, and are veterans
‘Ocean Watch’ can simply plot their course on the
of extended offshore passages — Harrison sailed a clipper route pas-
boat’s giant spinnaker.
sage from La Paz to Port Townsend aboard a Baba 30, while Watson
has a Canadian Yachting Association Advanced Offshore Instructor
certificate and sailed a seven-week trip in the Sea of Cortez, mapping
small-boat anchorages from a 19-ft open Drascombe Lugger. Both
spent years running programs for the National Outdoor Leadership
School — teaching expeditionary and technical skills like rock climb-
ing and mountaineering. Watson also racked up over 10,000 hours
in the air during a 26-year career as a commercial pilot, beginning
Sa-loot! JohnMaria’. with a stint as an Army aviation intelligence officer.
“The Pacific Cup was one of those races that arrived in our con-
sciousness right at the time when we needed something that would
focus our cruising desires and extensive preparations on a clear date,
plan, and destination,” said Watson, now executive director of the
Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association. “We’d decided to depart
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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 79

 SIGHTINGS

pacific cup — cont’d jessica watson

in November of ‘08 when the economy went south and my flying job On October 18, embattled 16-year-
evaporated. Then I was offered my current job, and we opted to sit tight old Jessica Watson set sail from Sydney,
until we were more financially prepared to leave. Having spent years Australia, aboard her bubble gum-pink
working sailing and sea kayaking contracts in Baja with an outdoor S&S 34, Ella’s Pink Lady, on her quest to
program, we weren’t really sure whether heading back down there as become the youngest person to sail non-
cruisers was really our first stop, unassisted around this blue marble
choice, but we hadn’t really we call home.
come up with an alternate Watson left the Sunshine Coast on
plan, and hadn’t prepared September 8 on a 10-day shakedown
for the big jump to the cruise to Sydney, and on her first night
South Pacific yet. We were out sailed smack into a 738-ft coal carrier.
still chewing on options The collision damaged the hull and dis-
when we went to Strictly masted the boat while Watson hunkered
Sail in April and happened below. In just over a month, Pink Lady
COURTESY DELPHINUS

upon the seminar.

“As soon as the tone of the
race — serious, but pitched
with a strong emphasis on
helping each boat succeed
with coaching, a safety-first
priority, and solid prepara-
tion — we were onboard.
Terri Watson and Kimmi Harrison. In fact, I think it was after
Michael Moradzadeh’s introduction that I leaned over to Kimmi and
said, ‘We’re doing this race.’ I think it took her another hour to jump
in. We signed up at the end of the day, and haven’t looked back. The
more we learn, the more we like.”
While they both bring competitive backgrounds to the chart table
and are already trying to figure out how to get some weight out of
Delphinus in preparation for the race, they harbor no illusions for the
prospect of a podium finish. They’ll be flirting with the race’s upper
PHRF limit on their stout little liveaboard.
“We were kind of hoping for a ‘Race Your House Award’,” Harrison
said. “Entering the Pacific Cup with a PHRF rating in the high 170s
is like driving your Toyota 4x4 in a stock car race — you’ll make it
around the track, but you’re not going to beat anyone. Our goal for
the race is to make it to Kaneohe YC prior to the Awards Party night,
so that no one — like Michael Moradzadeh — ribs us.”
Their dream is to keep going after Hawaii and enter the 2011
Around Australia Race and Rally. The only problem is that their
aprés-race plans are still up in the air. Watson says she loves, and
is totally committed to, her work. “In a perfect world, we’d love to
combine dreams and reality, and find a way to just keep going, to
just keep sailing, and to use those travels of two average women on
a small boat to highlight the role that protecting key habitat areas of
the world’s oceans plays,” Watson said.
Given her vocational context, Watson has posited a possibly unique
vision of the Pac Cup. “This sail touches 5 of the 14 U.S. National
Marine Sanctuaries,” Watson said. “These are places of critical habitat
— the breeding grounds, meeting grounds, and feeding grounds of huge
numbers of protected and endangered species. As sailors, we often
think of the ocean as a water surface upon which we travel. And yet, as
citizens of the earth, we’re just coming to realize that the conservation
issues affecting 75% of our globe’s surface — from plastics pollution
to fisheries sustainability — are about what lies beneath the sailing
world, and will dramatically affect our future as a species.”
Watson and Harrison aren’t alone in their environmental focus.
For the first time ever — and the first time we’ve ever heard for any
race — Pac Cup organizers are offering racers the chance to purchase
carbon offsets.
The race’s first seminar-plus-party, focusing on long lead-time
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Page 80 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 SIGHTINGS

— she left pacific cup — cont’d

was repaired and ready to go. preparations, drew a big crowd to the Berkeley YC on October 10, and
But in that month and a half, Watson Moradzadeh reported that many were first-time Pac Cuppers. Guest
and her family were roundly criticized speakers like Bill Lee, Ralf Morgan and Kame Richards held court on
for their assertion that Jess would not topics like boat and crew selection, rigging, and sail selection. Next
be deterred — especially after officials up is a Safety at Sea Seminar on February 6, followed by another
investigating the accident placed the bulk preparation seminar later that month.
of the blame in Watson’s bunk. There’s still time to enter, but don’t wait long. Space at idyllic
Though many feel the teen is too Kaneohe YC is limited, and entries will cap out somewhere in the 70s.
young and inexperienced to fully under- We’re guessing that, as in ‘08, there will be a waiting list, and that
stand just what is awaiting her, Watson everyone on it will get to go. A sailing writer once described it as “like
says she’s determined to see the journey crashing a college class.” But there are no guarantees, and if the early
through. Follow her adventure at www. numbers are any indication, we wouldn’t count on room for all.
youngestround.blogspot.com. For more about the race, check out www.pacificcup.org
— ladonna —rob

Philippe Kahn is one of almost 50

racers already entered for the 2010
LATITUDE / JR

Pac Cup, with his ultra-quick turboed

Open 50 ‘Pegasus OP 50’.

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 81

 SIGHTINGS

nude in the middle of the city at the copa,

Our anchorage at Aquatic Park in San Francisco is prime cut: We The Regatta Copa Mexico/32nd
have a killer view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, a protected MEXORC, which follows the San Diego
downtown beach on which to land the dinghy, and a choice of either to Puerto Vallarta Race in late Febru-
the colorful curiosities of Fisherman’s Wharf or the vista-rich lawns ary, is offering some massive incentives
of Fort Mason, both within a quarter-mile stroll. There are even quite to attract racers and help celebrate the
a few resident harbor seals, who follow our dinghy so closely it might country’s bicentennial. Entries received
be alarming if they didn’t look so much like my dog. before December 31 will receive:
San Francisco tastes like salsa after a month on gruel. Though it’s • Seven nights for six people at the four-
only our first waypoint on our big journey from Seattle to New York star Marival Resort, with food and drinks
via the Panama Canal, we, like many others hailing from the Pacific included — valued at more than $5,000.
Northwest, have gotten a bit caught up in the fabulousness of the • Free slips for the week before, the
City, its free festivals, cheap markets, excellent public transportation, week of, and the week after MEXORC at
and plentiful anchorages. Not to mention the rail-dipping sailing and the new Marina Riviera Nayarit, La Cruz
California sun! — valued at more than $300.
In mid-August, we left our entry-level jobs in Seattle and sent our • Refunded entry fees for one design
continued on outside column of next sightings page fleets with a minimum of six paid entries
PHOTOS COURTESY VELELLA

Page 82 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 SIGHTINGS

copa mexico nude — cont’d

as of December 31. beloved pup to live with my parents while we cruise. After waiting out
There will be championship class nine days of cold fronts and strong southerlies in the protection of
trophies for one design fleets of seven or Washington’s Neah Bay — a dry town, by the way — we battled our
more boats, plus coverage on ESPN and way down the beautiful, though hostile, Northwest coast. Our trek
Fox Sports in the U.S. and Mexico. was filled with fog, nasty bar crossings, and relentless southerlies. I
Mexican Airlines will offer special tried very hard to convince my partner, Prescott Harvey, to stop cruis-
MEXORC discounts, and entry fees in- ing and live with me forever in Newport, OR. And now that we’re in
clude the Las Caletas Race dinner and the sunny San Francisco Bay, it’s hard to imagine ever gearing up and
“Rhythm of the Night” show for skipper tying everything down to leave yet again.
and crew, plus lots of other parties during Of course, what our utopian anchorage does not have is an outlet
the week. Enter before December 31 and to plug ourselves into, so we swing free on the hook, reliant solely
the entry fee is only $625. After that, it on our large solar panels for power. There are a surprising number
goes up to $750. Check out www.mexorc. of things on Velella, our Westwind 35, that need electrical current to
com for more info, and www.sdyc.org/pv function — things I never really considered while living on land. The
for more on the Puerto Vallarta Race. electric bilge pump is a good thing to keep on, of course refrigeration
—rob draws a lot, the anchor light adds a few watts, and we find it pretty
important to have charged phones and computers. Even having run-
ning water takes the energy of an electric pump to create pressure.
Unfortunately, drawing water and drawing hot water are two differ-
ent systems, a fact that I’m embarrassed to admit I somehow had no
Meghan, 26, learned to love showering notion of until shortly after we arrived.
in the cockpit of ‘Velella’. Prescott, 27, One of the things I loved most about our boat during the year we
needed little convincing. lived aboard in Seattle was the incredibly hot water. It wasn’t luke-
warmish water that we pretend is hot — it was scaldingly, luxuriously
hot. I was anticipating my first hot shower at anchor when Prescott
burst my bubble. “Um, Meg? That hot water heater is on the AC circuit
— didn’t you know that?” The news was like a bucket of ice water.
However, we do have one power-free, alfresco option: the solar
shower. A very simple, very black, five-gallon bag that heats up in
the sun . . . supposedly. I was a bit skeptical because I was not into
the idea of a tepid shower, especially on a blustery San Francisco
Bay day. I couldn’t believe that the sun could heat up that bag of
water as hot as I wanted it. Prescott volunteered to be the guinea
pig. He looked like he was having quite the time — no goose bumps
or squeals — and I had to admit that lavender-scented Dr. Bronner’s
soap smelled delightful mixed with the salt air.
Then I got impatient and demanded a turn.
Should I wear a swimsuit? We are in the middle
of the City, after all. I made sure my bathrobe was
close because, boy, that wind was brisk. Prescott
was dressed and moving around the cockpit, pin-
ning towels around the cockpit’s circumference to
create a privacy fence for my shower. No one on
the docks or the beach could see me as the solar
shower bag swung from the end of the boom and
I stretched out on the warm, sunny teak for my
first bath in far too long. I thought it would be
cold and camplike — instead, it was decadent and
heavenly. My hair tingled and squeaked, my skin
woke up, and my head cleared as the steaming
bag of water rained down on me in the sun. My
bathrobe was left in the shade of the dodger and,
as I toweled off my hair in the wind, I felt like a
character in a book.
We rowed into shore feeling less like the va-
grant hippie sailors we were beginning to resemble
and more like pressed and clean yachties skipping
around the Bay. It’s taking me some time to get
used to not having life’s luxuries — and sometimes it’s a real pain in
the ass — but my shower was an enormous accomplishment. I look
forward to repeating the ritual in many anchorages along this beauti-
ful coast as we follow the sun south for the winter.
— meghan cleary

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 83

SAMOAN TSUNAMI

W hen cruisers in Pago Pago Harbor

on the south side of American Samoa
The first surge lifted boats onto the main wharf,
such as the sloop 'La Joya' on its side above.
loose. "I'd just gone below when I heard
heavy creaking and groaning," said Jody
were awakened around 6:45 a.m. on The Polynesian cat (left) wound up a few hun- Lemmon, 28, aboard the Long Beach-
dred feet inland. 'Biscayne Bay' (far right) after
September 29 by a strange vibration, based Mason 43 Banyan. "I jumped on
she broke free from the dock.
many assumed the prop-wake from a deck and all I could see was water rush-
large ship was the cause. But as soon wharf to compare notes with their fel- ing out and huge dripping pilings next
as they popped their heads out of their low cruisers. "The mood was easy and to my head."
companionways and saw telephone friendly," reported Wayne Hodgins from Dock neighbor Hodgins had a diffi-
poles dancing on shore, they knew the the Victoria, B.C.-based 50-ft cutter cult time processing what was going on.
truth. What they didn't know was that Learnativity. "Someone casually joked "The cacophony of sights and sounds
the 8.3-magnitude earthquake centered that we should watch out for any big — boats smashing, docklines snapping
120 miles to the south had triggered a wave we see. No such wave ever mate- and rigging straining — were overlaid
tsunami that would ultimately leave 186 rialized — what happened was much by an ominous sucking noise as all the
people dead — including one of their worse." water around my boat suddenly drained
own. About 15 minutes after the lightpoles away."
The temblor brought crews onto the stopped their gyrations, all hell broke Then the sucking stopped.
 — ??
— SURVIVOR STORIES

WAYNE HODGINS
"The water came flooding back in flood were the crew of the Fremantle, containers," they passed Joan Olszewski
at an even more alarming rate," noted Australia-based Irwin 52 Biscayne Bay. aboard the Florida-based Freedom 39
Kirk McGeorge, who is cruising with his Garry, Lisa and Jake Cross, along with Mainly. She was frantic. "Joan shouted
wife Catherine and their 5-year-old son crewmember Chris Deller, had been on that her husband, Dan, had been
Stuart aboard their USVI-based Hylas the dock when the first surge hit. They washed off the dock as they were trying
47 Gallivanter. "The next thing we knew, had just enough time to help rescue to get away," said Kirk.
we were floating directly above the dock Hodgins's dog, Ruby, before sprinting Wayne Hodgins witnessed the event: "I
and bearing down on Emily — crew from from the onslaught. "I watched helplessly watched in horror as Dan was swept off
Banyan who'd been caught ashore — as as they climbed onto the base of a light- his feet by the torrent of water while he
she clung to a lightpole. Just as we put pole, wrapped their arms around each tried to untie his docklines. Joan man-
the engine in gear, the surge sucked us other and hung on as the water rushed aged to control the boat but we couldn't
back into the basin." past them," recalled Hodgins. They, too, see Dan in all the flotsam."
While Emily, who survived her ordeal lived to tell an exciting tale. As those ashore either hung on for
unscathed, must have felt utterly alone As the McGeorge family accelerated their lives or ran for higher ground,
as she hugged that pole, she wasn't. Gallivanter through a "floating debris the boats in the harbor — manned and
Also up to their chins in the swirling field of docks, drums, boats and shipping otherwise — started making their way
SAMOAN TSUNAMI

toward the middle of the bay as the first

surge slowed.
"When I think about tsunamis, I envi-
sion this giant wall of water, a monster
wave," Hodgins explained. "There was
no wave. The bay simply emptied like

CHRIS DELLER
someone had pulled the stopper out of
a really big bathtub, and then equally
as fast put it back in and filled it from a
giant valve below."
As the current slackened, errant boats
bumped around the harbor while several 'Biscayne Bay's crew may have survived, but the Irwin 52 was a total loss.
cruising yachts searched in vain for any
sign of their lost comrade. "The water be-
came eerily calm and smooth," reported
Hodgins. The millions of gallons of water
that had rushed into the bay were now
eager to make an exit. "This was the first
sign of a wave," he continued. "The water
rushed back from its momentary travels
ashore and formed a low, wide wave that
headed right toward me. I pointed my
bow into it and rode it out."
Some cruisers had more exciting rides
than others. Singlehander Steve Brasa's
Pearson 35 Tulak was washed right down
NICK JAFFE

Main Street, taking out utility poles on

its way. The first surge left the boat high
and dry — as well as dismasted — about
100 yards from the water.
Michael Traum and his father, Gerald, A Red Cross volunteer takes a moment during clean-up efforts on Samoa.
on the Cape Mendocino-based NorSea
31 Eva also reported riding the surge
ashore: "We didn't think to let out our
anchor chain when the harbor emptied.
AMANDA SWAN NEAL / MAHINA EXPEDITIONS

We watched through the portholes as our

boat was washed up onto the highway.
We were swept down the road, past float-
ing cars and, somehow, carried back over
the guard rail and into the harbor." Un-
fortunately, Eva's trailing anchor caught
between the guard rail and a lightpole. As
soon as the harbor had emptied again,
Michael and Gerald leaped over the side
and headed for the hills.
Like a bowl of water tilted from one
side to the other, the sea continued to
rush in and out of the bay several more
times before settling down. "After about
three hours, we felt it was finally safe Heading for the hills in Apia. 'Tulak' landed 100 yards from water.
enough to return to the dock," recalled air horns went off." The shallow depth to hear the sirens. "I watched from Aggie
Kirk McGeorge. Others quickly followed of the harbor entrance dissuaded the Grey's hotel as the harbor waters receded
suit, and set to work doing what cruisers Neals from attempting to leave by boat. several times." There was little damage.
do best: helping those in need. "We followed the moving mass of people, But Jaffe had more to worry about
cars and trucks up the hill until the 'all than just his boat: His parents were stay-

I n Apia Harbor on neighboring

Western Samoa, John Neal and Amanda
clear' signal was issued."
Aussie singlehander Nick Jaffe was
sound asleep aboard his Contessa 26
ing at a sea-level resort on the south end
of the island, which was devastated by
the tsunami. They were found, bruised
Swan Neal, who run Mahina Expeditions Constellation when the quake rumbled and battered but alive. Sadly, the death
aboard their Friday Harbor, WA-based him awake. "I jumped out of my bunk toll on Samoa topped out at 143, ac-
Hallberg-Rassy 46 Mahina Tiare III, had with well-practiced speed," he said. "I counting for 77% of the total tsunami-
arrived the day before. "We were on our stood in the cockpit and watched every- related fatalities.
morning run when the street started one else in the marina doing the same." There, too, cruisers did everything
shaking," John reported. "We ran back Not expecting a tsunami, Jaffe and the
to the marina and, minutes later, the other cruisers at the dock were surprised

Page 86 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 — ??
— SURVIVOR STORIES

AMANDA SWAN NEAL / MAHINA EXPEDITIONS

NICK JAFFE
Lending a helping hand. The landscape was a tossed salad of debris.

KIMBALL CORSON

NICK JAFFE
'La Joya' (left) and another casualty laid to rest on the wharf. Cruisers brought what supplies they could to remote Niuatoputapu.
KIMBALL CORSON

KIMBALL CORSON
DICK MADSEN

Riding the wave. The newest 'Gallivanter' crewmember, Lucky.

they could to help. But after being told 300 of the island's 1,000 residents were the third was heavily damaged.
by the Red Cross that they had too left homeless after coastal villages were "Little Constellation raised some funds
many volunteers, Jaffe and a number destroyed. This came after the island online," Jaffe said, "and with the help
of other cruisers set their humanitar- had suffered a crippling blow when its of a Canadian Red Cross volunteer, we
ian sights on the tiny Tongan island of ferry/supply ship — and a number of its managed to stock up as best we could
Niuatoputapu. At just 500 feet high, the residents — were lost at sea in August. — 80 lbs of rice, flour, lavalavas, boxes
six-square-mile island midway between No supply ship had visited the island in of nails, tarps, noodles and crackers."
Samoa and Tonga's Vava'u chain — and almost five months. George and Kathleen Hill on the Pt.
the nearest speck of land to the epicenter "Niuatoputapu is so small, all shores Townsend, WA-based Lapworth 43 Ka-
of the quake — was devastated by the showed the effects of what the locals lalau delivered flour, rice, sugar, butane,
tsunami, which made its way nearly a call a 'boiling wave of water' that never tools and tarps. "We even gave a ride to
third of a mile inland. All nine Tongan ca- seemed to stop," noted Jaffe. Two a British woman who owned a modest
sualties occurred on Niuatoputapu, and cruising boats rode the wave with no resort on the island," they said.
problems, but two of the island's three As a dozen or so cruising yachts
villages were literally washed away and filtered in and out of the anchorage in

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 87

SAMOAN TSUNAMI

the coming weeks, they all ei- AZ-based Fair Weather Mariner 39
ther brought supplies or worked Altaira reports that Tulak was suc-
ashore — or, more commonly, cessfully relaunched — sans mast
both. "As we worked to clear the — on October 16.)
silt and debris from the com-
munity hall, some of the village
children joined us," recalled the
Hills. "Their laughter and high JOAN OLSZEWSKI
J ust how does one recover in
the face of such devastation? The
spirits helped to keep us from answer is that one doesn't, but
feeling overwhelmed." many do. Joan Olszewski was sur-
Indeed, in all the affected rounded and supported by friends
areas, locals and cruisers pulled and family after the crippling loss of
together to make sense of the her husband. On October 8, Joan
garbage heaps their villages and her sons returned Dan "to the
had become. "The local people sea that was his passion." A short
have continued to astound me with Dan Olszewski, 69, of the Freedom 39 'Mainly' time later, she sold the boat that had
their genuine kindness and generosity," was one of 34 fatalities on American Samoa taken the couple halfway around the
— and the only cruiser lost in the tsunami.
Wayne Hodgins said of the residents of world, and returned home.
Pago Pago. "In spite of great loss of life Steve Brasa locked the now-grounded In times of great tragedy, human
all over the island, we've had a steady Tulak before leaving to check on friends. nature reveals itself. We may witness
stream of people bringing us cases of When he returned 15 minutes later, the greed and violence, but much more of-
bottled drinking water, boxed lunches group had broken the lock and were tak- ten we see generosity, selflessness and
and cooked dinners." ing what they pleased. Friends helped love. With any luck, the people of Samoa,
Of course, as happens in every trag- him offload the most valuable items, American Samoa and Niuatoputapu will
edy, there are those who would rather then left the rest to the looters. (Happily, be left with the memory of a cruising
take than give. Several reports from Pago Kimball Corson of the Lake Pleasant, community that gave as much as they
Pago described a roving band of young received.
men looting stores, vehicles and boats. — latitude/ladonna

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 89

 THE LATITUDE 38 INTERVIEW

Damien McCullough
& Deborah Ream
While in St. Barth last winter, we bumped into Damien McCullough and Deborah Ream of the Newport Beach-based
Celestial 50 Ticket to Ride. The last time we'd seen them had been three years earlier, at the end of the ‘05 Ha-Ha. We
thought readers would be interested in what the couple have been doing since the end of the Ha-Ha, especially because,
when they continued on from Mexico, they headed to the Western Caribbean instead of to the South Pacific.

38: How did the two of you come to go cruising? many interesting places to see and things to do. Both Damien
Damien: A series of events suggested that it was the right and I love new places and new people, so we check out every
thing to do. I’d been a casual sailor out of Newport Beach for 25 cove and every inland destination that comes our way.
years, having done daysails, beer can races, trips to Catalina 38: Give us an overview of where you’ve been in the last
and the Channel Islands, and some charters in the Caribbean. three years.
And on New Year’s Day in ‘98, I’d bought my Chinese-built Ce- Damien: After the ‘05 Ha-Ha, we cruised Mexico until June
lestial 50 Ticket to Ride in San Rafael. Although I was a licensed of ‘06. In July, we continued down to Guatemala and the sel-
captain, I certainly wasn’t the biggest or best sailor in town. dom-visited but very cool 700-sq-mile Gulf of Fonseca, the coast
What really got the ball rolling was some problems I had with of which is shared by El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.
the City of Newport Beach. I had a house on the bluff above While at Isla El Tigre, Honduras, one of the 15 or so islands in
Mariner’s Mile that I wanted to remodel. The city turned down the Gulf, we explored what had been a submarine training base
four of my proposals before finally approving one that would for the Germans during World War II! It was easy to imagine
have been $150,000 more expensive and 1,400 feet square what it had been like back then, as history seemed to ooze out
smaller than what I originally proposed. Disgusted, I said to of the walls. And no matter were we went, we met interesting
heck with the remodel and put the house on the market. This people. For instance, while at San Lorenzo, the only Hondu-
was in ‘05, near the height of the real estate frenzy, so the ran port on the west coast, we met a 16-year-old kid who was
house sold for the full asking price in just seven hours. supervising the construction of a 5,500-sq-ft house. “My dad
That got me wondering if I could sell my business, too. It’s says it’s going to be my inheritance,” he explained.
a long story, but having escaped a religious cult kind of situ- Getting back to answering your question, we transited the
ation, I’ve been on my own since I was 16. I got into the sheet Canal in December of ‘06, and spent Christmas in the San Blas
metal business as a kid to survive, and eventually built my Islands. We did Panama’s Bocas de Toro for New Year’s, then
company into a firm that made things like $3,400 post-9/11 continued on to Isla San Andreas, Isla Providencia, Honduras,
cockpit doors for commercial jets. But to tell you the truth, I the Rio Dulce, Belize, and Mexico’s Yucatan and Isla Mujeres.
always hated that business, so I put it on the market. It sold Then we backtracked to Belize, the Rio Dulce and Le Ceiba,
for the full asking price also, but it took three weeks. Honduras. After a lengthy haulout at La Ceiba, we sailed to
A financial planner once told me that one of the most impor- Roatan for Thanksgiving, and continued on to Grand Cayman
tant things in life was to know when you have enough money and Jamaica. In December of ‘07, we flew to Boston to experi-
to be happy. Having sold the house and business, it seemed ence some snow. We got over that in 10 minutes!
I'd reached that point, and that going cruising would be a In ‘08, we sailed from Jamaica to Casa de Campo in the
good thing to do. I was 45 at the time and Deborah was in her Dominican Republic, then Puerto Rico and the U.S. and
30s. British Virgins. We backtracked to Puerto Rico for the June-
38: Deborah, what did you do before taking off? through-November hurricane season, then sailed to St. Barth
Deborah: I worked in architecture and construction. I, for Christmas — which is where we met up with you.
along with my ex-husband, designed and did lots of hands-on 38: Some folks circumnavigate in three years or less, so your
construction of three spec homes. pace must have allowed you to see pretty much everything.
Damien: To tell you the truth, when Deborah and I look
back, we wish we’d spent even more time at some places.
"A financial planner once told me that Deborah: For example, we only took a month to visit all
the islands on the Pacific Coast between the northwest part of
one of the most important things in life is Panama and the Panama Canal. And we really enjoyed those
to know when you have enough money islands. In fact, each time we came to one, we thought how
to be happy. I'd reached that point." neat it would be to buy one.
38: What places have you liked the most?
Damien: The Perlas Islands on the Pacific coast of Panama,
38: The two of you have been out for three years since you the San Blas Islands on the Caribbean side of Panama, and
started with the Ha-Ha. Do either of you miss working? Puerto Rico.
Damien: Nope! 38: Safety is always a major concern for potential and new
Deborah: Not at all. There's always plenty to do on the boat. cruisers. Tell us about the killings while you were hauled out
Besides, I’m more of adventurer than a worker, and there are so at La Ceiba, Honduras.

Page 90 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

LATITUDE / RICHARD

Damien: The way we understand it, it was all about some Colombians later sent the man’s widow a letter saying that
Colombian drug smugglers settling a rather old score with some she and her businesses — which also included a little hotel
Honduran fishermen. Apparently, much of the La Ceiba fish- — wouldn’t be harmed.
ing fleet had been purchased 15 years ago with the proceeds But that was actually just a side issue to the main one. Ev-
of a load of Colombian drugs that had somehow ended up in ery couple of mornings over the next few weeks, those of us in
the possession of the fishermen. Having only had junky old the boatyard would hear shots ring out. It was the Colombians
fishing boats before, these Hondurans were suddenly living in killing the Honduran fishermen who they suspected had taken
compounds and fishing from nice 70-ft fishing boats. their drugs or drug money. At the sound of gunshots, everyone
We were working on our hauled-out boat when we learned working in the yard would stop for a minute or so, then resume
that the Colombians had killed a stubborn German fellow who working. Pretty soon an ambulance would show up and take
owned the small marina next door to the boatyard we were in. the body or bodies away. The Colombians had warned these
The man had long been a thorn in the smugglers' side, as he’d Hondurans that they were going to be killed the minute they
fire his guns in the air whenever a drug boat came by. The left their compounds, and they weren’t kidding. It was all about

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 91

 the latitude interview:
settling an old debt and had nothing to do with anybody else. times. It’s nothing major, just a lot of little things. Deborah and
38: Did either of you fear for your safety while you were I also like to keep our boat in bristol condition, so if there's
there? something like a little leak, we’ll tear the whole boat apart to
Deborah: No, never. It was a private matter between the two find and fix it.
groups. But I’ll tell you one thing that really irritates me: having to fix
38: How about safety concerns during the rest of your three something that’s broken right out of the box. We carry replace-
years of cruising? ment parts for everything on the boat. If I pull out a replacement
Damien: The only time I ever got nervous was in Jamaica water pump, for example, and the thing leaks because it was
when a guy told me that he wanted my money. But even though assembled wrong, it drives me nuts. Too many companies have
he was much bigger than me, he backed off when I told him the attitude that if their product is bad, they’ll just send you
‘no’. a replacement. They don’t seem to appreciate how much time,
We never felt threatened anywhere in Central America, al- hassle and expense that can cause their customers.
though while at Suchitoto, El Salvador — a beautiful mountain 38: A lot of cruisers don’t carry any insurance, figuring
town that's that country’s answer to Antigua, Guatemala — we that the boat is one thing they could afford to lose. How about
saw bullet holes in many of the buildings, and the banks had you?
“No Guns Allowed” stickers on the doors. It seemed as though Damien: That’s not our philosophy. We’ve had no problem
the civil war in El Salvador was just on a lunch break. getting insurance, even though there are just the two of us
Deborah: Speaking as a woman, I’ve felt comfortable about aboard. Once in the Caribbean Sea, we could even get insur-
my personal safety the whole time we’ve been out cruising. ance during the hurricane season. It was only $400 more if we
Damien: Of course, we don’t walk down dark alleys at 4 stayed in the hurricane zone ‘box’, as long as we gave them a
a.m. plan of what we’d do if a hurricane approached.
38: Tell us about your boat. Insurance was also less expensive in the Caribbean. We paid
Damien: Our Celestial 50, which was built in Xiamen, China, $4,800 a year when we left the States. It was only $3,800 when
has been phenomenal — fast, comfortable and dry. we were based out of Puerto Rico.
38: She’s extensively outfitted, isn’t she? 38: You guys came to really love Puerto Rico, didn’t you?
Damien: We like our goodies and creature comforts, so yes, Damien: We did! While pounding our way against the
she’s got most everything. Among the less common stuff we have tradewinds and tradewind seas to the Eastern Caribbean, we
is a washer/dryer, a trash compactor, an ice machine and satel- took a break at Ponce, which is on the south coast of Puerto
lite television. Cruisers spend so much money getting laundry Rico. We fell in love with the city and the people. Ponce has a
done that the washer/dryer really does make sense. It’s hard great town square, amazingly beautiful architecture, and lots
to get rid of garbage in Central America and other places, so of gourmet restaurants. Plus, you get twice the value for your
the trash compactor came in very handy. When you cruise in money as any other place in the Caribbean. It’s a great place to
the tropics, it’s crazy not to have an ice machine. And thanks provision — they have a Costco, a Wal-Mart and other big box
to the gyro antenna and DirectTV out of Puerto Rico, we get stores with the same variety and prices on food as in Southern
HBO, CNN and everything else while underway for $80/month. California.
Well, $80 a month and the $7,500 for the dish. But we liked Ponce has many familiar restaurants such as Ruby Tues-
being able to watch movies during hurricane season. days and Chili's, but you can get great dinners for $5, $10 or
While we do have an engine-driven freezer, most of our $20. The local food is the least expensive, of course, but it’s
power is 110-volt that comes through a Freedom 30 3,000- delicious. And on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays, they have
watt inverter. Our energy needs are far too great for just solar an event called the Ruta de le Chion — or Pig Route. Everyone
and wind, so we run the genset three to four hours a day. The drives to a place in the mountains about 20 minutes out of town,
upside is that we can put a whole side of beef in our freezer and where a bunch of restaurants roast six to eight whole pigs on
a spit, and serve the pork with all kinds of street food. It’s to
die for! It’s an all-day Latin kind of event, where generations of
"We like our goodies and creature comforts. families participate in big groups. And the scenery on the way
up to the little town is spectacular, with bamboo, palms, and
We have a washer/dryer, trash compactor, a lush mix of greens at the lower elevations, then pine trees
ice machine and satellite TV." higher up. It’s sort of like a little ski town in the mountains of
Colorado — but you’re in the tropics.
38: Puerto Rico has a reputation for being a dangerous place.
not worry that it will thaw. The downside is that we can’t just Did you find it to be that way.
put our boat on a mooring and leave her for a couple weeks. Damien: (laughing) No. There are problems with drug gangs
For the record, the charger-inverter combo didn’t work out and stuff, but only in San Juan. In Ponce and the other places
too well. I think it’s better to have two chargers and two invert- we’ve been in Puerto Rico, everyone was happy, and there was
ers — everything separate. And a third inverter for computers no fighting or crime. If I left my wallet on a table in a restaurant,
and other electronics. it would still be there when I came back.
38: You often hear the comment that cruising is fixing stuff Let me give you an example of how nice the people are in
in exotic places. How true has that been for you? Ponce. We were at the Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club, about to
Damien: At times, it's been very true. fly back to the States a half-hour later, when we overheard the
Deborah: I’ve been involved in the construction of houses girls in the office talking about a haul-out program the club has
and buildings from the foundations up, and I can tell you that when a hurricane approaches. If threatened by such a storm,
it’s harder to work on a boat. the club hauls out boats 24 hours a day until they’re all out.
38: What do spend most of your time on? We asked what we had to do to become a member of the club
Damien: The old genset, now replaced, took a lot of time and part of the program. We were told that it would cost us
and effort. I also had to install our Spectra watermaker four $1,000, plus $69 a month, to become non-resident members.

Page 92 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 damien & deborah
It sounded great — until the bomb dropped. It turned out cause they were going to charge us a 10% duty on it! There’s
that we’d also need the references of five current yacht club more. We like to scuba dive so we have tanks and a compressor.
members. We didn’t know any. But a guy who overheard our We paid $200 for permits to use moorings at dive sites in the
conversation said, “Let me give you a tour of the club before BVIs. Nonetheless, operators of commercial dive boats tried
you have to leave.” By the time our tour was over, he said that
we’d be members when we returned. The guy actually had to
do a lot of work for us, including getting a lawyer to change "Officials in the BVIs asked a lot of
the by-laws of the club! But when we got back, we were indeed
members, just as he’d promised. As a result, we got a 70-ft questions about our food. They were going
concrete slip for $325/month, and are still members. to charge us a 10% duty on it!"
The other thing about Ponce is that there is never a shortage
of sailing breeze, and there are lots of great nearby destinations,
such as Caja de Muertos, aka Coffin Island. There is also a to push us off or had hissy fits before our 90 minutes at the
place called Gilligan’s Island, where you sail through a cut in moorings was up. We even had trouble at famous Foxy’s on
the reef, then have to sail through yet another cut. But once Jost van Dyke! When we asked if we could order a couple of
there, it’s an exceedingly well-protected anchorage, the water Pusser’s Painkillers — which require a little bit of mixing — the
is crystal clear, and it’s like one big community of sailors. bartender looked at us and said, “Well, I’d have to make those
It was also so easy to make friends around Ponce, both in up, wouldn’t I?” He then turned his back on us and resumed
and out of the club. Total strangers would come up and ask watching television.
what they could do to help us. Did we need a ride somewhere? After all the wonderful experiences we’d had with everybody
Did we want to borrow their car? One couple immediately on both coasts of Central America and all the way east to Puerto
invited us to their farm for a meal, then gave us lots of their Rico, everything had suddenly changed. People seemed to be
home-grown vegetables. bitter, angry and miserable. They had a “Give us your money,
Here’s another case. There was a retired cop from Canada fuck you very much,” attitude. “Honey,” I said to Deborah,
who had a 45-ft catamaran at Ponce. A depression came “we’re not in Central America or Puerto Rico anymore.”
through while he was gone, and blew his cat against a pier 38: A lot of new cruisers will be reading this interview. Any
in such a way that it became stuck. The next thing we knew, tips for them on anchoring?
some Puerto Ricans came by with a powerboat and skillfully Damien: We’ve anchored over 500 times, and have yet to
pulled his cat to safety. Not only did the cop never get a bill have a problem. We normally use a 65-lb CQR, and unless we’re
for his boat being saved, he was never able to learn who had expecting weather, use 4-to-1 scope. We haven’t dragged yet,
done it for him. He said that, knowing Puerto Ricans, it didn’t but we do back down at 2,500 rpm to make sure the anchor
surprise him. He also told us that when he was a cop on patrol is properly set. If you don’t back down at 2,500 rpm, there is
in Ontario, Canada, there would be fights on the square every no way you can know if your anchor is set or not.
night. He told us that, in his experience, people in Puerto Rico 38: Cockroaches and, to a lesser extent, mice can be prob-
didn’t fight or argue like that — with the exception of the drug lems on boats in the tropics. How did you fare with them on
people in San Juan. Ticket to Ride?
When people mention Puerto Ricans, we think of very happy, Deborah: We keep boxes off our boat, so we haven’t had any
helpful and friendly people. cockroaches or mice. We did, however, get one little lizard.
38: What was the weather like at Ponce during hurricane 38: Any good tips for losing weight while cruising?
season — hot and humid with lots of squalls? Damien: Yeah, haul your boat for three months at La Ceiba,
Damien: We thought it was absolutely fine. It blew 10 to 15 Honduras. It’s as hot as Panama, so I lost 45 lbs in 90 days.
knots every day, which was nicer than the 25 to 30 knots it 38: Where do you get your weather information?
blows in the middle of winter. Because the Ponce area has such Damien: Before taking off, we check buoyweather.com,
great people to go with the terrific sailing, snorkeling, surfing windguru.com, NOAA via the SSB and stuff like that. But we
and marina facilities, it’s almost certain that at some point in got caught in the worst weather we’ve had — 35 to 45 knots
our lives we’ll get a primary or second home there. and 15- to 20-ft confused seas on our way from Providencia
38: Did you ever have any problems with theft during your to Guanaja — because we’d become too dependent on those
cruising? reports. None of them had forecast two fronts near the Viveros
Damien: The only time was at Vieques, in the so-called Cays. We and two other boats got caught in the thick of it at
Spanish Virgins, a place we really liked. But all they took was sunset and got really hammered. A guy in a big Beneteau lashed
the gas tank from our dinghy. It’s the only thing we’ve had himself to the helm, but still got knocked loose. We took water
stolen in all the places we’ve been. And we often anchored in in the cockpit and had flying fish in the main. From then on, I
places where ours was the only boat. But we’d always lock her became diligent about doing my own weather forecasts. I’d still
up — you don’t want to tempt people. We’d always lock up the check the reports on the nets, but I’d also do my own forecasts
dinghy when ashore, too, and lock the outboard when in the based on the raw data from NOAA.
davits. Thieves really want outboards. 38: Deborah, some women don’t seem to enjoy the actual
38: Where have you been that you didn’t like? sailing as much as their boyfriends or husbands. What about
Damien: The U.S. and British Virgins came as a giant shock. you?
I bought a cell phone in the U.S. Virgins, and after being on Deborah: Oh no, I enjoy sailing as much as if not more than
it for 10 minutes, was told that I was already out of minutes. Damien. I love to drive!
When I asked how that could be possible, a man gave me all Damien: She’s a better driver than I am under spinnaker.
kinds of shuck and jive about why he couldn’t help me because 38: Deborah, do you have any advice for women who are
I wouldn’t help him. It was ridiculous! When we checked in at thinking about going cruising?
the British Virgins, the officials asked a lot of questions about Deborah: If a woman thinks she might like cruising, she
our food. When we asked why they cared, they said it was be- should try it. Why not? I have to admit that I got frightened

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 93

 the latitude interview:
the first time we got out of sight of land — which was on the up for comfort and ease of handling. If you’re living on your
first leg of the Ha-Ha. But I soon lost that fear. When you start boat full-time, creature comforts become very important. So is
out, you always think of worst-case scenarios, but you get over making your boat easy for two people to handle. We’re sorry,
for instance, that we didn’t go with in-boom furling. Sometimes
we don’t bother to put the main up just because it’s such an
effort to drop it. That wouldn’t happen with an in-boom furling
system.
38: Have you had any medical problems, and if so, what
kind of treatment did you get?
Deborah: We both got sick in the Gulf of Fonseca, but re-
covered without any special treatment after a few days.
Damien: I’d also had head, neck and shoulder pain for years,
something I attribute to car accidents. While in Costa Rica,

COURTESY TICKET TO RIDE

my arm locked up one night and I couldn’t move it. I thought
I might be having a stroke. So after putting the boat in the El
Sueno Marina, I walked into a beautiful new hospital and said
that I wanted some X-rays and an MRI. They said fine, an MRI
would cost $570 — a savings of $3,630 over what it would have
cost in the States. By the time I filled out the information sheet
on my medical history, they were ready for me. Three hours
later, I was consulting with a neurologist. His fee was just $25.
He explained that my discs were shot, so I was growing bone
Deborah says it's important to be in good shape physically, especially spurs that were pinching my spinal cord.
if you want to join in such activities as kayaking, swimming, diving and I would have had that doctor do the surgery in Costa Rica,
climbing the Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala. but we’d just met this cruising family, the father of which owned
it. I do think it helps if a woman is athletically inclined. For the patent on artificial discs. He told me that if I wanted the
example, I love kayaking, swimming and diving.
I think it’s also important to women that the boat be set

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Page 94 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 damien & deborah
best surgeon in the world to do the procedure, it would either you get to the eastern part of Puerto Rico, you can again have
be a guy in Germany or a guy in Santa Monica. When I called whatever you can afford, and it’s easy to become spoiled. Some-
the surgeon's office in Santa Monica, he was operating on the times having the freedom to buy what you want is a burden,
king of Thailand. Anyway, I saw him on a Tuesday and had the because then you don’t see the genuine smiles and the happy
surgery two days later. That kept me home for six weeks. ‘what can we do for you’ attitudes that come naturally to some
38: Are you on a tight budget?
Damien: Thanks to having sold both my home and busi-
ness at the height of the market, and still owning a painting "When I called the surgeon's office, he
company in Southern California, no. In fact, we spend quite a
bit of money on expensive things such as marinas, rental cars, was operating on the king of Thailand."
fine dining, hotels and tourist stuff. We want to see it all and
do it all. To give you an idea about the cost of marinas in the
Third World, Los Suenos Marina in Costa Rica was $2,700 a people.
month, as was Flamenco Marine in Panama. Rental cars and 38: Do you ever think about getting another boat?
meals in nice restaurants are also expensive in the Third World. Damien: I didn’t until I got to St. Barth, where I contracted
And I can’t tell you how many $350 meals the two of us enjoyed ‘10-ft envy’. I’ve always liked the Tayana 64, but there would
while here on St. Barth. And tourist stuff can be expensive just be trade-offs going to another boat. And if we switched boats,
about anywhere. But we also do things like ride the chicken it wouldn’t be because Ticket to Ride wasn’t capable.
buses for shits and grins, and have enjoyed many $5 dinners
with locals. Update: There are always crazy twists and turns in cruising
The way you live and how much money you spend depends plans. Having been interested in a slightly longer and heavier
on where you are. For example, in Central America, you take boat ever since they’d bashed eastward into the Caribbean
what you’re offered — because that’s all they have. We’ve been trades, Damien and Deborah had very casually had Ticket to
to many little tiendas that had less to sell than we carried in Ride on the market for two years. Much to their surprise, a
our galley. So you live like the locals do. And believe me, there very serious buyer came to see and survey their boat in Anti-
is something to be said for living as simply as that. But once gua in April. A month later they turned the boat over to him.
He brought only one suitcase with him, as he insisted that
everything — right down to the towels — stay with the boat.

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 95

 the latitude interview
Everything but the alcohol. Damien gave had been built in Texas in the ‘90s, but
that away to friends in Puerto Rico, “mak- the boat hadn’t been launched until ‘07.
ing them very happy.” Among the things they like about the boat
Once the couple sold their boat, they is that her 59-ft mast and 5’9” draft mean
spent a month traveling from Florida to she’s suitable for the East Coast’s ICW, and
the Northeast looking at replacement that her interior is all teak inside instead
boats. “It was an annoying interruption to of just teak veneer. “She’s very much like
our cruising,” says Damien. Having long our old boat, just bigger and heavier.”
been attracted to the Tayana 64 from a If the deal goes through, the couple
distance, they checked it out, but decided will take delivery of the boat in North
they didn’t like either of the layouts of- Carolina, as the state caps the taxes on
fered. When they came across a Gulfstar all boat transactions at $600. “We could

COURTESY TICKET TO RIDE

Sailmaster 62, they fell in love. “It was do it in a way where there would be no
like our old boat on steroids.” Alas, the sales or use tax due, but we’re happy to
first 62 they looked at, as well as several pay $600 just to show that we’ve legally
sisterships, had too many small issues paid tax on the boat. It also means that we
for a couple as exacting as Damien and can return to Florida six months later and
Deborah. “And,” Damien said, “even if we not be subject to any sales or use tax."
fixed them, we’d still have a 30-year-old But rather than Florida, the couple
boat.” have their eyes on the Bahamas and Ca-
Having lived in hotels for three months ribbean for this winter. They are as eager
while thinking the Gulfstar 62 was go- For Damien and Deborah, it doesn't get much bet- to return to Saba as to Puerto Rico. “Right
ing to be 'the one', the couple eventually ter than a post-hike cool-down in Costa Rica. after we saw you, we sailed to Saba and
moved into an apartment in the Newport area. “It’s been nice did 16 dives. The anchorage is rolly and tough, but we fell in
to see everyone again, but we’ve been in depression mode, love with the people and the island.” And the couple still haven’t
anxious to get cruising again.” been south of Antigua. But they’ve got much bigger cruising
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Page 96 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 97

SEASON CHAMPIONS, PART I

I t's that time of year for one of our

favorite series of features — the Season
Champions articles, where we profile
winners from the Bay's handicap, one
design, dinghy and shorthanded fleets.
In these five pages, you'll have a chance
to meet some of the division winners
from this year's handicap racing. We've
got winners from the YRA's Handicap
Divisions Association (HDA), Offshore
Yacht Racing Association (OYRA) and the
wildly-popular Party Circuit (PC). New
this year is a profile of the new kid on the
block — the SF Bay IRC fleet — which in
only its second organized year is gaining
traction with committed, returning own-
PETER LYONS/WWW.LYONSIMAGING.COM

ers and an expanding schedule.

As of we go to press, the OYRA sched-
ule had yet to wrap up, but the winners
in the divisions we've profiled will not
be affected by the season's final race,
the, Jr. Waterhouse on October 31. The
second and third spots could possibly
change, so make sure to check out www.
yra.org to check the notes.
You can look forward to profiles of
winners in the One Design Classes Asso-
ciation (ODCA) and the Bay's one-design
fleets who organize their own rodeos.
In January, we'll visit with the winners
in the Wooden Boat Racing Association
Big flood, big breeze and big fleets — the best of the Bay — at the YRA's Second-Half Opener.
(WBRA), the Bay Area Multihull Asso-
ciation (BAMA), Singlehanded Sailing a crew list with contact numbers. These of boats on the line was nearly the same,
Society (SSS), plus a few of the larger requirements will continue next year as if not higher.
dinghy classes. part of the Coast Guard's permit require- Once again, the HDA fleets started
ments. In addition, all OYRA boats will with the ODCA boats, and this year the

Y RA Chariman Pat Broderick

checked in with a report on the Party
be required to have a 406 EPIRB/PLB
onboard for 2010. The cost of 406 equip-
ment has come down to the point where
SF Bay 30’s took advantage of this by
sailing a couple of two-race days in this
series. For some reason, this multi-race
Circuit and OYRA seasons plus a more it makes sense, especially since VHF day seemed more popular with the boats
general "State of the Association" assess- contact between boats and race commit- with younger crews. Input on this concept
ment of the Yacht Racing Association: tees on shore can be spotty. from Race Committees and sailors would
"Overall I'm very happy with the 2009 Since many boats planning on either be appreciated. It did seem to add some
YRA Season. Our numbers were down, the Pacific Cup or Singlehanded Trans- additional challenge to the series.
but only slightly, and given the nation's Pac sail OYRA races as warm-ups, OYRA HDA boats also compete in the Party
economy I think we did okay. Of course has been talking with the Pacific Cup YC Circuit, and it's apparent that this is a
I'd always like to see more boats partici- about setting up a first half schedule with very popular and well-attended format.
pating in YRA racing since I think it offers that in mind. In addition to the traditional All first and second place finishers of
the most sailing for the buck on SF Bay. OYRA trophies, there will be "Pac Cup
Once again the "winner" was the Party Participant" trophies for boats headed for MORE . . .
Circuit with almost 300 boats sailing the Hawaii. Now's the time to begin prepping PC MULTIHULLS — 1) Shadow, Formula
Vallejo Opener in May and a good turnout for the 2010 OYRA series. 40, Peter Stoneberg; 2) Roshambo, F-31, Dar-
for the Second-Half Opener and Season- HDA sailed 6 race days, with the op- ren Doud; 3) Triple Play, n/a, Richard Keller. (9
Closer weekends. The format — longer tion of sailing either a longer "distance" boats)
"destination" races on Saturday and race or two shorter buoy races." PC EXPRESS 27 — 1) Wile E Coyote, Dan
Pruzan; 2) Freaks ona Leash, Scott Parker; 3)
shorter "going home" races on Sunday HDA President George Ellison picks
Ergo, Chris Gage. (6 boats)
seems to be popular and working well. up that charter's story: PC J/105 — 1) Ultimatum, Musto Gunnan; 2)
OYRA struggled a little early in the "This year 37 boats competed in the Nirvana, Peter Heilbrun. (2 boats)
season due to uncertainties about Coast handicap division “Long Course” races, in PC SF 198 + — 1) Can O' Whoopass, Rich-
Guard requirements due to several inci- three divisions. Of these, Division G and ard vonEhrenkrook; 2) Sagitta, Walter George; 3)
dents in non-YRA races, but went on to Division K put half of their boats on the Sugar Magnolia, Ward Fulcher. (6 boats)
a very successful season. Two new re- line for each race, and the SF Bay 30’s PC F — 1) Raven, CM 1200, Mark Thomas;
quirements were a "call-back" to the race put nearly all boats on the line for every 2) Sapphire, Synergy 1000, Dave Rasmussen; 3)
committee during check-ins to ensure that race. Although we saw some depletion of Javelin, SC 37, N. Davant/P. Nolan. (9 boats)
PC M — 1) Gypsy Lady, Cal 34-1, Val Clay-
OYRA boats could transmit on VHF and numbers in every fleet, the actual number
ton; 2) Mission Impossible, Merit 25, Dave Ham-
ilton; 3) Boondoggle, Ranger Fun 23 ODR, Kris
Page 98 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009
 — HDA, PARTY CIRCUIT, OYRA & IRC

HDA-K
the HDA and ODCA Fleets on site for the Party Circuit weekends to Green Buffalo
came together at Golden post results shortly after boats finished. Cal 40
Gate Yacht Club on Sat- "Everyone who raced is invited to the
urday, October 17 for the YRA Awards Party November 17 at the
Champion of Champions Sausalito YC. We'll have an interesting
and Yankee Cup races to speaker, Erik Simonson and Peter Lyons
determine the top HDA are putting together a great slide show
and One Design boats. of summer racing, and of course all the
What was most impres- dozens and dozens of awards will be
sive to me was that a scan presented. Information will be posted on
of the results of the three the YRA website at: www.yra.org."
races indicated that less SF Bay-IRC director John Siegel
than a minute separated checked in with a recap of the IRC sea-
the top half of the fleet son:
on corrected time. This "IRC racing is alive and well on the
reinforces my feeling that Bay. The SF Bay IRC Owners Association
we have to be the lucki- completed its second Bay Series with the
est sailors in the world; Rolex Big Boat Series. Twelve boats raced
we get tough competition the six event, 24-race series. The fleet
and great friendships, on faced some challenges from the outset
the most beautiful sail- related to unfavorable delivery conditions
ing venue in the world. for boats from out of the area, a random Jim Quanci
Introduce non-sailors; and collision and dropped rig midway through Richmond YC
encourage your sailing the season. Jim Quanci's Cal 40 Green Buffalo is
friends to experience it." Dan Woolery and his crew from his Pt. one of the most consistently-raced boats
Broderick also wanted Richmond-based King 40 Soozal collected on the Bay, so we were surprised that
to say the following: both the season perpetual trophy and a this was the boat's first full HDA season.
"Thanks to all the vol- beautiful, Carl Ruhne-crafted half model Since buying the boat five years ago
unteer race committees of the boat at the awards ceremony in Quanci's raced the last two Pac Cups,
that came out and spent a day or more mid-October. Gerry Sheridan and myself three OYRA seasons, and most of the
of their time helping YRA sailors race. left with half models of Tupelo Honey and short-handed races, including the '09
Without them, sailboat racing on the Bay Scorpio respectively. LongPac. 
wouldn't exist. I'd especially like to thank The association is currently developing "Before getting married and having
the Golden Gate YC and St. Francis YC its schedule for 2010. For more informa- kids, I had crewed on a few boats that
for the generous use of their race decks tion on IRC racing on the Bay and detailed won their HDA division, so I knew how it
for our ocean and Cityfront races; without scoring for 2009, go to: www.sfbay-irc. felt," Quanci — who works for Autodesk
the efforts of the Vallejo, Encinal, and org." in business development — said with a
Corinthian YCs, the Party Circuit would smile. "This was a mid-life crisis trying
not be the success it has become.
"I'd also like to thank YRA Executive
Director Laura Paul for organizing over

O ur apologies to those division
winners who don't appear here, but we
to re-capture some of my youth.
"Though the Buffalo only needs eight
to be competitive, we always had 10 to
800 race permits, hundreds of calls and just didn't have the space to profile all 12," he said. "Having fun was the first
emails about PHRF certificates and sail- the Handicap winners. We based our priority. Races will be forgotten in a few
ing instructions, many meetings with the choices of the four Party Circuit Divi- years – friends are forever."
Coast Guard, participating out on the wa- sions, three HDA divisions, two OYRA Quanci's core group included Ian
ter on multiple race committees, and being divisions and IRC, largely on the number Matthew on main trim, Jeff Drust on jib,
of total races sailed within the divisions Jeffrey Gould and Andre Charkowicz in
CHAMPIONS plus a few "wild cards." the pit, Pat Lakner and George Scott on
Jensen. (9 boats) We hope you enjoy meeting these the mast, floater Wayne Gesing, Heinz
PC D — 1) Shameless, Newport 30, George ardent racers as much as we have, and Baumann on point – and Quanci's wife
Ellison; 2) Stink Eye, Laser 28, Jonathon Gutoff; want to leave you with a parting thought: Mary Lovely in the pit and at the helm. 
3) Centurion's Ghost, Tartan 10, Martin Sances/ The folks you'll see here sail in a wide "We started the season with a crew
Eric Hensley. (7 boats) range of boats, in a wide variety of ven-
PC SINGLE/DOUBLE ­— 1) Dazzler, Wyliecat
that had very little racing experience,
ues both inside and outside the Bay; and almost no experience with a chute,"
30, Thomas Patterson; 2) Nancy, Wyliecat 30,
they hail from a variety of yacht clubs all Quanci said. "We could tell we'd 'made
Pat Broderick/Michael Andrews; 3) Windsome
Wench, Newport 30, Robbie Gabriel. (7 boats)
connected to the Bay, from deep in the it.' In the second to last race of the sea-
OYRA PHRO 1A — 1) Delicate Balance, An- South Bay, to the farthest-east reaches son, rounding Point Blunt in 28 knots of
drews 56, Doug Storkovich; 2) Cal Maritime, 1D of its navigable adjoining waters. To our wind, going 13-knots through the water,
48, Charlie Arms-Cartee; 3) Cinnabar, Schum- minds, it shows that anyone can do it and gybing without a hitch, while other
acher 52, Tom Condy. (7 boats) with a little dedication of the most enjoy- boats were crashing and burning —  a
OYRA PHRO 2A — 1) Always Friday, Antrim able kind. If you're not already doing it, classic Bay racing moment."
27, John Liebenberg; 2) Eurydice II, Ross 930, what are you waiting for? 2) Azure, Cal 40, Rodney Pimentel; 3) Mer Tran-
George Biery; 3) Ohana, Beneteau 45f5, Dean — latitude/rg quille, Jeanneau 34.2, Larry Moraes. (15 boats)
Hocking. (9 boats)
OYRA SHS — NOT YET DECIDED November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 99
SEASON CHAMPIONS, PART I

HDA G HDA-D (SF-30) Party Circuit-H

Mintaka 4 Encore Head Rush
Farr 38 mod. Wylie Gemini 30 Antrim 27

Gerry Brown Andy Hall Charlie Watt

Berkeley YC Encinal YC Sequoia YC
To say that Gerry Brown has a long Just by looking at her, you'd never After a few years doing the Bay's
history in the Bay's racing scene is an guess that Andy Hall's bright-finished, shorthanded ocean races on his C&C 37,
understatement. cold-molded Wylie Gemini Encore was Charlie Watt traded it in for an Antrim 27
The former YRA chairman and HDA derelict when he bought her from Stan- — Head Rush — at the beginning of the
president has been racing here con- ford University back in 1999. year because he was ready to try some
stantly for the last 46 years. "I spent way too much money on the buoy racing.
In that time, the retired computer boat in bringing it back, but, it's the best "I took a break from sailing for family
programmer has amassed an enviable boat I've ever owned," Hall said. "To go commitments," Watt said. "Having sailed
record that includes six Pearson Triton racing with my friends and do well is a dinghies when I was younger, I wanted
fleet championships, eight Newport 30 dream come true." something with something with lots of
Fleet titles and eight HDA season wins. He makes a compelling case to back planing potential and decided to go the
Armed with only his modified Farr the claim about the Encore being the best sportboat route."
38 Mintaka 4 and a core crew that's boat he's ever owned. If Head Rush's season is any indica-
been sailing with him for years, Brown "The last downwind leg on the last tion, it was a good choice.
scored four bullets during the six-race, long course series was pretty special," "We were just out seeing what we
one throwout season to take the highly- Hall said. "I saw over 14 knots on the could do," said the Peninsula-based
competitive HDA G division. knot meter, we were pulling away and mortgage broker. The result? Not only
"Sometimes I think my crew is an never crashed." did he and his core crew Arne Vanden-
unfair advantage," Brown said, in his Hall jumped into Bay Area racing in broucke and Pieter Versavel win Party
standard response to our queries (he's 1973 with a Ranger 26, before stepping Circuit H, but they were also runners-up
graced these pages quite a bit over the up to a Newport 30, an Express 37 and in the highly-competitive HDA G.
years). "We make very few mistakes and an extant partnership in a Moore 24. Although Head Rush scored high
have very consistent boat speed." With the help of his longtime crew finishes all throughout the season, Watt
That consistency isn't limited only to — bowman Ron de Blasi and pit man said winning the Summer Sailstice per-
Mintaka 4's boat speed; a look at Brown's Arnie Quan (both have sailed with Hall petual trophy was the high point.
core crew and the number of years for five years), navigator John 'Inspec- "All the divisions were scored together
they've sailed with him tell a more com- tor Gadget' Hayward (six), trimmer and for the overall trophy — that was a cool
plete story: Tom Ranweiler (28 years), tactician Chris Penn (seven), and trim- one," he said. "That's when we thought,
Bruno Carnovale (27 years), Henry Melin mer Barry Dauphinee (30-plus years) 'yeah . . . we can beat these guys.'"
(26 years), Joe 'Rocky' Rockmore (21 — Hall sailed Encore to the HDA D (SF Although he keeps the boat at Trea-
years), Dave DiFalco (8 years) and Bob 30) title. sure Island Sailing Center during the
Gardner (6 years). When he's not working at the chemi- summer, he said he's looking forward to
Brown's win in the HDA G wasn't his cal company he's worked at for 49 years sailing closer to home for the winter.
only good result; he also finished second and bought from his father, Hall enjoys "I enjoyed sailing on the Central Bay
in Party Circuit H, trading finish orders Encore even when he's not sailing her. out of TISC," he said, "but you don't re-
with the new kid on the block — Charlie "I keep the boat behind my house in ally have a club to come back to. I love
Watt's Antrim 27 Head Rush. Ballena Bay and get to enjoy it's cold- sailing out of Sequoia YC and all the
molded beauty every day." camaraderie afterwards."
2) Head Rush, Antrim 27, Charlie Watt; 3) Pe- 2) Topgallant, Tartan 10, Jim Lindsey; 3) George 2) Mintaka 4, Farr 38 Mod., Gerry Brown; 3) Jet
tard, Farr 36 m., K. Buck/A. Newell. (14 boats) Ellison, Schumacher 30, George Ellison. (5 boats) Stream, JS 9000, Dan Alvarez. (16 boats)

Page 100 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 — HDA, PARTY CIRCUIT, OYRA & IRC

Party Circuit-G Party Circuit-J Party Circuit K

Jarlen Mon Desir Arcadia
J/35 Jeanneau 35 Modernized Santana 27

WWW.NORCALSAILING.COM
Robert Bloom Jerry Nassoiy Gordie Nash
Sausalito YC Stockton SC Richmond YC/Cal YC
In his earlier days, 'Dr. Bob' Bloom "I was really honored to be part of the Since launching her in 2006, Gordie
spent the better part of 15 years sailing Yankee Cup," said Party Circuit-J winner Nash has sailed his modernized Santana
an every-other-weekend program, but Jerry Nassoiy of the YRA's season-ending 27 Arcadia to wins all over the Bay, in-
now, the semi-retired radiologist finds Champion of Champions regatta. "There cluding this year's Party Circuit-K divi-
the Party Circuit to be exactly what he were some fantastic sailors involved; sion. Although it was the boat's first YRA
wants at this time in his life for him and hopefully it wasn't my last." season, you'd never tell by the impressive
the J/35 Jarlen he's owned since buying Nassoiy sailed his Jeanneau 35 Mon six-point total she accrued in the six-
it new in 1990. Desir to a one-point win in the division, a race, one throwout series, sailed against
"It's limited number of races, not full success he was quick to attribute to his her arch nemeses — Wyliecat 30s.
on season," he said. "Having one week- regular crew, 70 percent of whom have "Just trying to keep up with the
end at a time is an advantage. The cost sailed with him since he bought the boat Wyliecat 30's is a big challenge," Nash
savings is an advantage, and I enjoy new five years ago. said. "We are only as good as our best
racing and having a place to wind up in, "The crew did a great job," he said. competition, and they give us a lot to
and go to after the race, plus the social "Over time, the crew has grown and got- 'sail-up-to'."
aspect. I enjoy doing it often, but not so ten better and that's the key to success As for any winning secrets Nash said
often it takes over your life." more than anything." it's the crew work of a lot of Nash family
Bloom sails under the burgee of the Nassoiy's regulars consisted of Mari- members — Jocelyn, Ruth, Chris and
Sausalito YC with a crew — all of which, anne Armand, Dave Betts, Greg Lonie, Nick — plus a whole host of "honorary
even the fill-ins, have sailed with him for Paul Konig. Nashes."
years — that includes helmsman Bob "We had a couple really good guys to Nash has been sailing on the Bay for
Berqtholdt, Jeff Dunnavant, Gautier fill in like John Dahle, who sailed with over 50 years starting at Richmond YC
DeMarcy, Patty Johnson, Theresa Reese, us the last two races of the season and as a junior El Toro sailor — a boat he
Tim Meaney, Jeannette Daroosh, John had a pivotal role as tactician." still sails regularly — but Arcadia is his
Rook, John Claude, Alicia Yballa, Chris The 2-1 in those final two races gave first keelboat, and the Sausalito-based
Stewart and Mike Mannix. Mon Desir the season trophy. boatbuilder basically rebuilt her to the
"I feel fortunate and privileged to have "Most of the regulars weren't there for point where she looks like anything but
shared the fun and excitement with such Yankee Cup, and it showed," he said. a Santana 27.
skillful, able and worthy individuals," Although Nassoiy now lives in Napa, "Arcadia is one of the first fiberglass
Bloom said. the broker for Cruising Yachts in Alam- boat re-cycle or re-build boat projects,"
Jarlen's crew has what it takes; they're eda is a native "Stocktonian," and still Nash said. "My idea is that these older
still racing when others are surviving. flies the Stockton Sailing Club burgee as boats are still good, but can be modern-
"Our best race was the second day of he did for the ten years he raced a Cal ized to make them appealing, fast and
second-half opener when it was blowing 27 prior to stepping up to Mon Desir. fun to sail. By changing the hull, keel
25 to 30 knots and we sailed a near-per- "One of my favorite mentors was the and rudder, adding a new, modern rig
fect race," Bloom said. "Boathandling is late Jim Warfield," Nassoiy said. "He and cockpit, these older boats can be
key in those conditions and our tactics was an absolute wizard of sailing and transformed, and will perform well for a
and helming were great." wonderful guy. lot less money. We've now proved that."
2) Bodacious, Farr 40 1T, John Clauser/Bobbi 2) Baleineau, Olson 34, Charles Brochard; 3) 2) Silkye, Wyliecat 30, Steve Seal/John Skinner;
Tosse; 3) Jeannette, Frers 40 1T, Henry King. (15 Spirit-of-Elvis, Santana 35, Martin Cunningham/ 3) Uno, Wyliecat 30, Steve Wonner. (12 boats)
boats) Lewis Lanier. (12 boats)

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 101

SEASON CHAMPIONS, PART I

OYRA- PHRO 1 OYRA PHRO 2B IRC

Eclipse Nancy Soozal
Express 37 Wyliecat 30 King 40

Mark Dowdy Pat Broderick/Michael Andrews Dan Woolery

San Francisco YC Sausalito YC/Encinal YC Richmond YC
Mark Dowdy has a long history of Up until two years ago, Pat Broderick Dan Woolery's King 40 Soozal started
racing both in and outside the Bay. He's and Michael Andrews had sailed against her career off with a bang, winning her
owned his Express 37 Eclipse since the each other for years in the Santana 22 division at the boat's first event — Acura
mid-'90s and in that time has garnered fleet; this year they joined forces aboard Key West Race Week — in January.
five Express 37 Season Championships Broderick's Wyliecat 30 Nancy. Since then Soozal has notched division
and five class wins at the Rolex Big Boat Broderick — a retired English profes- victories both offshore — in the 800-mile
Series in addition to sailing countless sor and department chair from Santa Pineapple Cup —  and inshore.
ocean and coastal races. Rosa — and Andrews — a container yard After finishing third at the Stone Cup,
"I've always loved sailing outside," manager and security officer in Oakland the season's first counter, Soozal reeled
Dowdy said. "The boat is fantastic in the who hails from Alameda — sailed many off overall wins at the Sausalito YC's IRC
ocean in a lot of conditions. We've sailed of the events this year doublehanded. Regatta, the Aldo Alessio Regatta, San
out in the Gulf of the Farallones so many For crewed races, they were able to draw Francisco YC IRC Regatta and Rolex Big
years, that if we don't have at least some on a talented pool of other sailors like Boat Series.
of the tactics down by now, we ought to Gordie Nash — who will join the two on "I believe I can say this on behalf
give it up!" next year's Pac Cup — Al Germain, Chris of all of the crew who sailed on Soozal
The rest of Eclipse's seasoned, core Hanson and Wayne Best. about our performance this past year
crew, some of whom have sailed with him "I've owned the Wyliecat for a little culminating in the IRC nationals: against
for almost 20 years, are Craig Paige, Ja- over two years now and am finally figur- the boats that sailed against us on the
son Bright, Dave Parker, and a relatively ing out how to sail it fairly well," Brod- East Coast in the Grand Prix events and
newer cast including Dowdy's brother- erick said. "But there's more learning to against the IRC boats we raced against
in-law Jon Kiser, Jerry Tong, Chris Fogle, be done. On the Drake's Bay Race, we here on the West Coast, we had a very
Jamal Berkeley and Sonny Lopez. played the flood just right and got up satisfying year, a fairy tale year of re-
"We have a fun and relaxed time," there way ahead of the other boats, then maining on top in the 40-foot range,"
Dowdy said. "They're a great bunch!" lost by less than a minute on the way Woolery said.
But the ocean racing isn't the only home the next day. It proved we needed Woolery's consistent crew included
sailing Dowdy does; he and Bright co- to pay attention to the competition." Olympian Robbie Haines on tactics,
own and campaign a pair of 505s. But paying attention to the competi- plus project manager Scott Easom, Pete
"I'm continually humbled in the 505 tion is something he's been doing in the McCormick, Matt Siddens, Chris Lewis,
class," Dowdy said. "Those guys are great roles he's held during his 37 years of Gary Sadamori, Hogan Beatie, Rob
sailors; getting back into a dinghy has racing on the Bay. He's been the SSS Moore and Greg Felton.
definitely sharpened my skills — includ- commodore, ODCA president, US Sailing Woolery has owned his San Leandro-
ing my swimming skills!" race officer and he's currently the YRA based, fresh-ingredient food processing
Both Dowdy — a sales executive for Chairman. company that makes everything from
IBM Global Services — and Eclipse are "I think participating from the man- pasta salad to salsa and fruit cups
based in the City, but sail under the bur- agement side of racing is important and — Will's Fresh Foods — for over thirty
gee of San Francisco YC, where Dowdy's really helps one become a better racer years. He sails under the burgee of Rich-
been a member since he was a kid. on the water." mond YC.
2) X-Dream, X-119, Steen Moller; 3) Rhum 2) Trial Run, Passport 40, Jack Bieda/Charles 2) Tupelo Honey, Elan 40, Gerry Sheridan; 3)
Boogie, Quest 33, Wayne Lamprey. (12 boats) Johnson/Kathy Pickup; 3) Mimicat, Hinckley 38, Scorpio, Wylie 42, John Siegel. (12 boats)
Robert Long. (9 boats)

Page 102 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 103
 BAJA HA-HA PROFILES, PT III

W haaat? More Ha-Ha profiles?

Yup. And, believe it or not there are a
few more potential entrants waiting for the event is that each year it
the Rally Committee to show up in San launches a new batch of sailors
Diego so they can join the fleet at the into the challenging yet fulfilling
last minute. At this writing, however, the lifestyle of cruising.
entry roster has already grown to 193 Here then, is our final install-
— 10 more than the all-time high. ment of mini-profiles of the Ha-Ha
Why so many in this, of all, years? Class of 2009:
While we haven't done a scientific study
of fleet members' motivations, we as- Andalucia — Irwin 37
sume the majority of entrants have been Steve & Edie Hollen
planning and preparing for this cruise so Alamitos Bay
long that nothing — including a crappy Noteworthy: During last year's
economy or the threat of late season hur- event, the Hollens suffered the
ricanes — is going to stop them. We'll bet Ha-Ha's first dismasting, but got
there's also a sizable group who've signed home safely and put Andalucia
up with the attitude: "I'm not making any back together again.
money and the gloom-and-doom head-
lines are driving me bonkers. But, hey, Sea Siren — Hunter 356
my boat's paid for and I can live cheap Dave Fisher, Monterey
in Mexico, so why stay home and sulk? Quote: "I sail for fun!" Appar-
Screw it! Let's do the Ha-Ha!" ently so. He did the Ha-Ha last
If, by chance, you're new to the maga- year on the same boat.
zine and have no idea what we're talking
about, let us clarify that the Baja Ha-Ha Fly Aweigh — Catalina 440
is a 760-mile rally from San Diego to Allan & Allison Gabel
Cabo San Lucas, at the southern tip of Channel Islands
the Baja Peninsula, with two R&R stops Noteworthy: They say the
along the way. During the past decade most interesting thing about
and a half it's grown from humble roots their entering the rally is that
to being the second largest cruising rally they are actually doing it "despite
in the world. the odds and the ridiculousness
As many participants have told us of the whole idea."
over the years, the greatest thing about
Pacific Mystic —
Gypsy Wind — Vagabond 47 Cooper Seabird 37
The Chernoff family, Vancouver, BC Eric & Valerie Wagoner
After hearing about the rally a few months ago, Seattle, WA
Harvey and Kim (aka dad and mom) sprang into action, Quote: "The most in-
bought this boat and shanghaied their kids — Nikita, teresting thing about
16, Kiya, 14, and Noah, 7 — to come along as crew. "It this boat is its amazing resil- If you see a red-headed cartoon character
takes more then ience to our operating it." breathing down on you, fear not. It's just Rudy
one to create Heessels' Beneteau First 36s7 'Wind Child'.
harmony," says Broken Compass Westerly — Cal 2-30
Kim. — Hudson 41 Randy Knapp, Santa Cruz
No doubt the Chad & Bret van Roden Noteworthy: If we understand his ap-
couple's quick Newport Beach plication forms correctly, Randy is deliv-
embrace of the Noteworthy: After more than ering this boat — which he thoroughly
Rally's concept a year of preparation, these refurbished — to her new owner in La
was fueled by twin brothers are headed to the Paz.
memories of a Eastern Seaboard.
the time they Set Me Free — Beneteau 423
crewed aboard Serendipity III Joe Pfiefle, Redondo Beach
a 50-ft junk — Hunter Passage 42 Noteworthy: Although this is only
from Vancou- John & Paulette Lym Joe's second boat, he's been sailing since
ver to Fiji in '91 Lahaina, HI 1972.
(pre-kids). Noteworthy: After becom-
After they ing disabled, John thought Surfseaker — Islander 36
rally the family he would have to abandon his Dwight & Jennifer Witherspoon
plans to saun- long-held Ha-Ha ambitions. Newport Beach
ter up into the But after recruiting Gordon Quote: "Our boat has been our home
Sea of Cortez, Clay to skipper, the plan is now and also our playground for the last
As you can tell from this vinage photo, the
then explore the back on. nineteen years."
Chernoffs are well practiced at family play.
mainland at a
slow pace, hopefully reaching Zihuatanejo by March.
Beyond that, plans are wide open.
 — HEADIN' SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Ohana — Gulfstar 47
The Lyon Family, Kona, HI
Tom and Nicole were among the last entrants to sign up this have chartered boats often, but had
year, not because they're indecisive, but because they just bought never owned a boat until they decided
the boat three months ago. After leaning toward a big cat during to go cruising with their kids, Danielle,
their two-year 11, and Harrison, 9.
search for an
ideal boat, they Freedom Won — Islander 36
finally settled John Melton, Alameda
on this super- Noteworthy: Last winter John lost 75
roomy, heavy lbs on a crash diet. He's now feeling more
displacement fit than he has in years.
cruiser. "She's
a perfect fam- Windshadow — Ericson 35
ily boat," says Jim Parker & Gary Himes
Tom. Richmond
As Nicole Noteworthy: This 39-year-old boat has
explains," Our now been fitted with an electric motor.
last Ha-Ha was
in '02 aboard Eros — 103-ft McMeek schooner
Profligate with Bill & Grace Bodle, Pt. Richmond
After completing a highly accelerated upgrade of their Occupations: commercial dock own-
me 4 months
1979 cruiser, Nicole and Tom are ready for some fun ers
pregnant with
Max (now 6)." Since then, daughter Mckenzie, 4, has joined the Add'l Crew: TBA
crew roster. Quote: "I can't think of a good reason
Another thing that makes this entry special is that both Tom not to sign up."
and crewman Cris Byles did the first Ha-Ha in '94 on Steve Ford's Cruise Plans: Cruising and chartering
Cal-34 Comfortably Numb. Julie Adams rounds out this year's along the West Coast of the Americas.
crew. Noteworthy: This is the inaugural
After the Rally the couple will continue exploring Mexico and cruise for this 1939 classic, after endur-
beyond with their kids, on an open-ended itinerary. ing an 18-year, stem-to-stern refit.

Capricorn Cat — Custom 45-ft cat

Marishanna — Wylie 39 Wayne Hendryx & Carol Baggerly
John Freeman, Richmond Brisbane
Quote: "This boat is fast, beauti- Occupations: Wayne, electrical con-
ful, unforgiving, and I've sailed her tractor (ret.); Carol, teacher (ret.)
over 10,000 miles without smashing Add'l Crew: John, Katy and Haley
her up or sinking her."
Exit Strategy — Amel Maramu 48
Besame Mucho — Beneteau 36s7 Dave Benjamin & Jean Harrison
Dan & Lyn Hannegan Alameda
Dana Point "Our entry was spontaneous," explains
Ubuntu — Kelly-Peterson 44 Quote: "Can we take the time off to do Dave, "like many things in our lives. We
Stephen Dear & Arleen Lindstedt this? No! Then let's go." originally planned to leave next year. But
San Francisco who wants to sit in Alameda during an El
Noteworthy: According to Ubuntu, Bluzzz — Swan 42
a traditional African philosophy, there Stephen Coleman & Mary Ferro
exists a common bond between us all Sausalito
and it is through this bond, through Quote: "Not quite retired, but getting
our interaction with our fellow human closer every day!"
beings, that we discover our own human
qualities. Tynamara — Spencer 53
The Dixon family
Knop Kierrie — Pacific Seacraft 37 West Port, OR
Gerrit Boonstra & Monika Majewska Quote: Jerry and Wynne explain that
Alameda they moved to Seattle with a five-year
Quote: The first time Gerrit and plan to make some money. Now, exactly
Monika ever stepped aboard a sailboat 20 years and three kids later, they are
was during a Tradewinds Sailing Club finally leaving the Northwest to explore
Jean and Dave would rather bake under the Mexican
class two years ago. They bought this Mexican waters with their kids, Zack, 16, sun than get rain-soaked in Alameda.
boat last spring. Dylan, 14, and Danielle, 10.
Nino winter?"
Moontide — Lagoon 470 cat Whatcha Gonna Do — Fountaine Their post-rally plans are undetermined,
Bill Lilly, Long Beach Pajot Bahia 46 but they're in no hurry to head home, espe-
Quote: "We may be the last to the The Mitgang family, San Francisco cially since they've both figured out how to
party, but will make up for it en route." Noteworthy: Michael and Barbara run their businesses from 'out there'. Dave
owns a sail loft and Jean is a management
consultant. That's a pretty slick trick!
BAJA HA-HA PROFILES, PT III
A nd that's the last of them! If you're
sick and tired of hearing about all these
lucky sailors heading off to have grand
adventures while you're stuck in the rat
race alternately staring at your computer
monitor and the tail lights of the car in
front of you, perhaps it's time to start
making your own getaway plan. Next
year's event dates will be October 24 to
November 6.
If you'd like to be on the starting line,
we suggest you begin learning about the
issues involved with sailing south of the
border by reading our free, download-
able First Timer's Guide to Mexico. (For
this, and a wealth of other event info, see
www.baja-haha.com.) If you don't have
your own boat and would like to crew,
sign up online for the Latitude Crew List
at www.latitude38.com.
A brand new feature of the rally's web-
site is the Ha-Ha Forum, where you can
post related questions and get responses
from a wide variety of Ha-Ha veterans.
Riise (John is a Latitude contributing As you read this, the largest-ever Ha-Ha fleet is Throwing off the docklines for a cruise
editor, and former managing editor.) barreling toward Cabo San Lucas — for many, to Ol' Mexico is a dream that many
the first phase of a long-term cruise. would-be voyagers never attain. But it
Quote: "Once more, with feeling!"
Cruise Plans: Mexico, Central America ous Ha-Has (three with previous owners), needn't be. Where there's a will, there's
and perhaps the South Pacific. this boat definitely knows the way to a way.
Noteworthy: Having done four previ- Cabo. — latitude/andy

the USA!
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www.marinadelapaz.com 888-684-3743
Apdo. Postal 290, La Paz, 23000, Baja California Sur, Mexico shadetre@gulftel.com

Page 106 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 107
A SHORT HISTORY OF

T here was a certain urgency when

we wrote the following article. It was
October 18, and monster Hurricane Rick hurricane. And to put Rick in historical Vance started at 11.30°N, far off the
was churning the waters off the coast of context, there have been nine Category coast of Costa Rica, and died at 19.40°N,
mainland Mexico with near record 155- 5 hurricanes off Mexico in the last 20 about 500 miles southwest of Cabo. No
knot winds, but was expected to swing years. Interestingly enough, they often damage ashore; would not have affected
to the north and northeast, and perhaps came in groups. There were three in ‘94, the Ha-Ha; no Cat 5s.
hit Cabo and/or La Paz with Category 1 two in ‘97, three in ‘02, and one in ‘06. • 1991: Nov. 7-12, Cat 2 Hurricane
or 2 force winds. In addition, it was just Nora, which started to form about 800
eight days before the slated start of the
Baja Ha-Ha, and we knew that some
participants — such as ourselves — were
H ere’s our year-by-year analysis:
• 1989: Sept. 25-Oct. 5, Hurricane
miles southeast of Cabo, and lost most
of her strength about 500 miles south
of Cabo. No landfall; would have come
concerned. Raymond — which started at 15.90°N, within about 300 miles of the Ha-Ha
As such, we thought it was an ex- far offshore of the Mexico-Guatemala finish with 25 to 30 knots of wind; no
cellent time to do some Cat 5s.
research on late-season • 1992: Oct. 25-30, Tropi-
hurricanes off the coast of cal Storm Zeke, started at
Mexico over the last 20 years 12.60°N, which is far off the
and share what we learned coast of Guatemala, and died
with you. The information about 400 miles southwest
should be as helpful in fu- of Cabo. No damage to land;
ture years as it is this year. would not have affected the
We hope you find the data Ha-Ha; no Cat 5s.
to be as informative and • 1993: Oct. 2-6, mild
fascinating as we did. Tropical Storm Norma, start-
ed about 600 miles off the

A s far as most mari-

ners are concer ned, we
coast of Acapulco, and died
about 750 miles southwest
of Cabo. No damage to land;
think the primary issues are would not have crossed the
as follows: How late in the Ha-Ha path; no Cat 5s.
year the last tropical storm • 1994: Oct. 8-15, Hur-
or hurricane started; how ricane Rosa, which started
far south the storm start- about 600 miles west of Aca-
ed, giving an idea of how pulco and made landfall with
much warning mariners had Cat 1 force between P.V. and
to either batten down the Mazatlan. Extensive dam-
hatches or flee north; how age ashore; would not have
far north the storms made crossed the Ha-Ha path;
it with 35 knots of wind; three Cat 5s in 94!
and, of particular interest to • 1995: Sept. 16-26, Cat
Ha-Ha entries, if any of the 4 Hurricane Juliette started
storms would have threat- well offshore of Acapulco and
ened the Ha-Ha course. died about 600 miles west-
For the record, we have southwest of Cabo. No dam-
ALL IMAGES COURTESY NOAA/NASA

relied on data from the age to land; would not have

Unisys hurricane page at affected the Ha-Ha; no Cat
weather.unisys.com/hur- 5s. Hurricane season ended
ricane, a site that every very early in ‘95.
Mexico-bound cruiser might • 1996: Sept. 30-Oct. 4,
want to visit. Cat 1 Hurricane Her nan
First, a word on Rick. As started well offshore, south-
long as he doesn’t hit land west of the Guatemalan
and cause destruction — border and made landfall
we’re keeping all our fingers near Manzanillo with Cat 1
and toes crossed for those winds. Damage to land along
with lives and/or property in his path Monster Cat 5 Hurricane 'Kenna' wreaked havoc 200-mile stretch of coast; would not have
— you have to marvel at this creation on the mainland in 2002 but wouldn't have af- affected the Ha-Ha; no Cat 5s. Another
fected the Baja Ha-Ha.
of nature. Rick is not just a Category 5 early end to hurricane season.
hurricane — meaning a hurricane with border — made landfall along the Middle • 1997: Nov. 7-10, Cat 2 Hurricane
over 136 knots of wind — but a Category Reach of Baja’s Pacific coast with tropical Rick — yes, another one, giving that
5 with winds over 160 knots. Only Linda, storm force winds. The damage ashore name a bad reputation — started at 9°N
in September '97, was stronger. To give was minor; a month too early to affect the and came ashore south of Acapulco with
some perspective, Rick has almost six Ha-Ha; no Cat 5 storms that year.
times the force of a minimum-strength • 1990: Oct. 21-31, Cat 1 Hurricane

Page 108 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 MEXICAN HURRICANES

Sergio remind us that mid-November

hurricanes are possible off the south
no Cat 5s. coast of mainland Mexico, mild Tropical
• 2002: Oct. 22-26, Cat 5 Hurricane Storm Rosa had stirred nearly the same
Kenna, started far offshore of Guate- waters Nov. 8-12. But again, no effect
mala, but made landfall at San Blas. on land; no effect on the Ha-Ha. A short
Tremendous damage ashore. Some time before Sergio and Rosa, Oct. 21-26,
waves broke on the malecón at P.V., Cat 2 Hurricane Paul formed about 700
and there was slight flooding at a couple miles south of Cabo. By the time it was
waterfront restaurants at Punta Mita. within 300 miles of Cabo, it had lost
Boats at Paradise Marina had 50 knots strength, then turned west and crossed
of wind, but no damage. In three ways the Sea of Cortez to make landfall north
Kenna is similar to Rick: 1) third week of Mazatlan. No damage ashore; would
in October, 2) Category 5 storm, and 3) not have crossed the Ha-Ha path; one
followed coast then made turn to the Cat 5.
north and northeast. No threat to the • 2007: Oct. 15-23, Tropical Storm
Ha-Ha; three Cat 5s. Kiko started about 800 miles south of
• 2003: Oct. 20-26, Cat 1 Hurricane Cabo, went east, went northwest, then
Patricia started off the coast of Guate- died about 500 miles southwest of Cabo.
Hurricane 'Rick' screaming up the Mexican No damage to land; no threat to the Ha-
coast in prime Cat 5 form on October 18.
Ha; no Cat 5s.
Cat 2 winds. Extensive damage ashore; • 2008: Nov. 2-5, mild Tropical Storm
wouldn’t have come within 750 miles Polo formed way down by Clipperton
of the Ha-Ha; but get this, in ‘97 there Atoll. No damage to land; no threat to
were four Cat 5 storms and four Cat 4 the Ha-Ha. On Oct. 8-18, Tropical Storm
storms. Odile, which started off El Salvador,
• 1998: Oct. 16-20, Hurricane Mad- swept mainland coast of Mexico to about
eline started at 17.80°, which is about Manzanillo. Rain damage; no threat to
500 miles west of Manzanillo, curved the Ha-Ha; no Cat 5s.
in and followed the coast from P.V. to • 2009: Oct. 15 and expected to last
Mazatlan with 75 knot winds, and fizzled until Oct. 27, Cat 5 Hurricane Rick
in the middle of the Sea of Cortez about started 350 miles west of El Salvador
halfway between Cabo and Mazatlan. and, as we write this, will possibly hit
No damage; would not have affected the southern Baja with Cat 1 force winds.
Ha-Ha; no Cat 5s. Damage to southern Baja could be ex-
• 1999: Oct. 8-11, mild Tropical Storm tensive, although Cabo has previously
Irwin started about 100 miles west of withstood direct hits from 100-knot hur-
Manzanillo and ended about 500 miles ricanes before. Wind and waves expected
west of Manzanillo. No damage to land; to reach 30 feet will no doubt make a
would not have affected the Ha-Ha; no 'Rick' was visibly weaker just 24 hours later but
Cat 5s. was still predicted to hit Baja.
• 2000: Nov. 3-8, Tropical Storm Rosamala and died about 500 miles to the
started offshore of the border between west of Acapulco. No damage to land; no
El Salvador and Guatemala, and made effect on the Ha-Ha; no Cat 5s.
landfall with lots of rain south of Aca- • 2004: Oct. 11-13, mild Tropical
pulco. Rain damage to land; no effect on Storm Lester, started 300 miles west
the Ha-Ha; no Cat 5s. of Guatemalan border, fizzled out near
• 2001: Oct. 31-Nov. 3, Cat 1 Hurricane
Acapulco. Rain damage ashore; no effect
Octave, so far out in the Pacific it’s not
on the Ha-Ha; no Cat 5s.
worth considering, as was Narda, a Cat 1 • 2005: Sept. 28-Oct. 3, Cat 2 Hur-
ricane Otis, start-
ed well offshore
Of particular interest to Ha-Ha entries, of Acapulco, died
slightly offshore of
would any of these late-season starms have Bahia Santa Maria.
threatened the Baja Ha-Ha course? No damage to land;
more than a month
earlier than the Ha-
hurricane a few days before. Previous to Ha fleet would have come through; no
these was Tropical Storm Manuel in the Cat 5s. On October 20, 'Rick' crumpled into a Tropical
middle of October, which started south • 2006: Nov. 14-20, Cat 2 Hurricane Storm that would only dampen Baja.
of Acapulco and headed far offshore. No Sergio started about 300 miles southwest mess of the multimillion dollar Bisbee
damage to land; no threat to the Ha-Ha; of Acapulco and died about 700 miles Fishing Tournament slated to start out
west of Acapulco. No effect on land; of Cabo on October 21. Will not affect the
no effect on the Ha-Ha. Not only does Ha-Ha; one Cat 5 to date.

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 109

A SHORT HISTORY OF

W hat conclusions can we draw

from this historical data? First, that it can’t ever happen, just that the closest
70º, which is conducive to the water's
cooling. But the biggest chillers of all
late October tropical storms and hur- has been Nora — if the Ha-Ha had been are the northwesterly winds that bring
ricanes aren’t the least bit unusual. In around in ‘91. It’s also very encouraging cold air down from the North Pacific. We
the years ‘90, ‘91, ‘92, ‘97, ‘00, ‘02, ‘06, to see how much warning — five days to note that there will be 20-knot winds
‘07, and ‘08, there were tropical storms a week — the Ha-Ha fleet would almost blowing down the coast of Baja for the
or hurricanes during or after the third certainly have in the event a storm de- next several days, and again toward the
week of October. Five of them occurred in veloped. weekend and the beginning of next week.
November. While some of the November What finishes off hurricane season? All of these things will contribute to the
storms threatened or made landfall on Cooler water, which is kryptonite for closure of the ‘09 hurricane season.
the mainland, the closest to approach hurricanes. Fortunately, there are a
Baja was Nora in ‘91, and she didn’t
even get within 250 miles of Cabo with
25-knot winds.

O ctober 20 update:
If weather conditions warrant As we write this update, there are have
An interesting aspect to all of these been major changes with Rick. Thank-
late season storms is how far south it, the Grand Poobah will fully, he has plummeted in strength to
they formed. For anyone north of Puerto delay the start of any leg. just 55 knots, and will most likely pass a
Vallarta, there were at least five days little to the south of Cabo. The Cape has
of warning, and for anyone at Cabo or withstood a number of much stronger
anywhere on Baja, there was almost couple of things that are promoting the storms in the past. La Paz will almost
a week of warning. For boats on Baja, cooling right now. One is shorter days. surely be spared any significant winds.
that’s a long time to flee north to cooler As you may have noticed, the days are Rick is swinging so much to the east that
waters. getting shorter all the time. Another is it may hit mainland Mexico anywhere
With regard to the Ha-Ha, there has cooler nights. Bob Smith of the 44-ft from San Blas to Altata with mild tropical
not been a tropical storm or hurricane custom cat Pantera tells us that evening force winds. But the biggest threat now
in the last 20 years that would have temperatures in La Paz have dropped to is probably excessive rain, as six to 10
affected or even threatened the event. inches are expected to fall.
Make no mistake, this doesn’t mean that — latitude/richard

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Page 110 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 BAJA HA-HA XVI
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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 113
MAX EBB

"M ax!" hailed a voice from down

the dock. "Can you help me here for a
Floating with decks awash is better than not
floating at all. After hitting a whale on the
way home from Hawaii in '06, 'Mureadritta's
second?" sole too. And maybe in the lockers under XL' eventually went down because it had no
It was one of my dock neighbors. the berths, if I need them. I'll also have added foam. It wouldn't have taken much to
make it unsinkable.
I didn't recognize him, although he closed cell foam berth cushions tied in
seemed to know me. But at least I rec- place. Yeah, I'll give up some storage
ognized his boat, a light displacement space, but I want to be able to sleep at
mini ocean racer down on the section of night when the autopilot is steering."
the dock with the shorter berths. I asked
what he needed.
"Could you hold one end of this tape
measure for me?" he asked. "It'll just take
A s he spoke he was attempting to
tension his end of the tape on the other
a minute. side of the boat so he could measure
"Sure, no problem," I said, leaving the hull girth at the next station near
my dock cart full of cruising gear on the the middle of the boat. But there was a
main walkway. problem.
"Just hold the end of this tape mea- "Keel's in the way," he muttered. "I
sure up against the rail of my boat," he can't get the measurement I need at the
instructed, showing me which part of the midship station."
end of the tape was the zero reference. "Can't you just take it on either side
"I need to measure the girth at several of the keel and then use the average?" I
sections. The distance along the hull, asked.
going under the boat from rail to rail." "No, it's not linear. "I'm using Simp-
He proceeded to unreel the fiberglass son's Rule to calculate the total surface
tape measure and passed it under the area of the hull."
bow of his boat as he walked around to "Simpson's Rule?" I asked. "Never
the finger on the opposite side. Then he heard of it."
pulled the tape tight on his side. "It's a way of finding an area when you
"Are you holding the end of the tape at only have a few measurement points. I
the bottom of the toe rail?" he asked. was planning to take five points total.
"Roger," I confirmed. One at each end of the hull, and then
"Got it!" he said after recording the at the one-quarter, midships and three-
measurement. "Now move aft, so you're quarters points along the boat. To get the
even with the next chalk mark on the area, the Simpson's Rule formula says to owner was an architecture student, pre-
dock." add up the first measurement, plus four paring his boat for a singlehanded race to
"What's all this for, anyway?" I asked times the second measurement, plus Hawaii next summer. The guy described
as I dutifully moved my end of the tape two times the third, plus four times the his problem with the keel obstructing the
to the new lo- fourth, plus the midships measurement station.
cation, which last. All mul- "Don't be such a total math wimp,"
was near amid- Simpson's 1-4-2-4-1 Rule tiplied by one- Lee scolded. "There's not an engineer
ships. third the dis- in, like, the galaxy who'd have trouble
Area = (S/3)(G1+4G2+2G3+4G4+G5)
"Flotation," tance between regressing a polynomial through any
he explained. Repeat the middle 2-4 pattern as needed the measure- points you want, with or without equal
"I need to know if there are more measurement stations ment stations. spacing. Just solve a few simultaneous
the displace- It's the 1-4-2- equations and you're there."
ment of my 4-1 rule." "Or I can just plot the points and draw
hull, flooded up
Simpson's 1-3-3-1 Rule "Where'd you a curve though them," he said. "Then I
to deck level, so Area = (3S/8)(G1+3G2+3G4+G4) come up with can cut out the paper and weigh it to get
I can figure out that?" the area under the curve."
how much foam "Got it from "You architecture types are all the
S = distance between measurement stations
I have to add to a book on same when it comes to math," Lee
G= girth measurements
make the boat boat design," sighed. "But if you want quick and dirty,
unsinkable. he said. "The and you think it would be cool to drag out
The hull has a foam core, and I know method is fast and accurate, but the Simpson's Rule, use the 1-3-3-1 version
the thickness, so if I measure the surface spacing has to be equal." of it. That way you only need to, like,
area then I can calculate the volume and measure the girths at the one-third and
that tells me how much buoyancy the
flooded hull will provide."
"Can you really add enough foam to
"N o way!," said a female voice
overtaking from astern. It was Lee Helm,
two-thirds points, plus at the ends."
"Okay, I'll re-measure to get the new
longitudinal station locations. Those
do that?" I asked. "Won't it take up the naval architecture grad student. one-third and two-thirds points should
whole cabin?" "Just who we need." I said before even be safely forward and aft of the keel."
"I'll find out, but I’m thinking just a introducing her to my dock neighbor. "Max, this is what we call 'classic'
couple of blocks in the forepeak, and a But the introduction turned out to naval architecture," Lee confided as the
few more to fill up the cockpit lockers. be unnecessary — they knew each other singlehander stretched the tape measure
There's a lot of space under the cockpit from school. Lee explained that the boat along one of the dock fingers. "It used to

Page 114 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 — FLOATING SOME IDEAS

kept having bad dreams about hitting a

big log or a stray shipping container. Or
even a whale — I hear there's been a lot
of that lately. So as long as I know that,
whatever happens, the wreckage will still
float, I'll sleep better and race harder."

O ur little work party had attracted

the attention of another sailor, this one
the owner of a fast trimaran berthed on
the end tie.
"I don't need no stinking flotation
in my boat," he gloated. But then he
quickly acknowledged the significant
capsize risk in a multihull as small and
as fast as his, apparently to head off the
usual 'capsize vs. sink' debate. "My last
boat, however, was a monohull with lead
ballast like yours," he continued. "For
offshore races, I installed foam for the
same reason."
"How much foam did it need?"

COURTESY MUREADRITTA'S XL
"I calculated 25.3 cubic feet, so that's
what I put in," he said. "I'm a physicist,
you know, so it was easy for me to cal-
culate precisely."
"Did it get in the way?" asked the
singlehander.
"Surprisingly, hardly at all," he an-
swered. "I had two big foam blocks, cut
from those 9" x 18" dock flotation bil-
lets, stacked under the foredeck. They
be all about finding the areas, volumes, hull is actually fairly thick and buoyant, were held up against the underside of
centers and moments of inertia of odd with a foam core, but I want to know the deck by webbing. We actually had
surfaces and volumes. Hate to think exactly how much buoyancy I can count enough room to still sleep in the V-berth
what it must've been like when they had on from the hull with the deck not quite underneath them . . . sort of."
to do it all on a slide rule." awash." "Sort of?" I asked.
"Maybe a good rule of thumb" I sug- "Well, my girlfriend was crewing for

"S o I multiply my readings by

one, three, three, and one at the four
gested, "would be to add at least enough
foam to hold up just the ballast. The rest
of the boat, if it's cored, should be able
me, and we stayed on the boat at the
overnight destinations. She called the
foam flotation 'chastity blocks' because
measurement points, right?" he asked. to stay afloat, right?" there was only enough clearance for one
"And then multiply by the spacing over "That all depends on the hull thick- layer of people, if you know what I mean,
three, just like for the 1-4-2-4-1 rule?" ness and the amount of coring," said and I think you do."
"Wrong! You have three intervals and Lee. "He's doing it right, measuring the The multihull sailor stayed around to
you're multiplying the measurement by hull surface area up to the rail. But, help us measure, and also to share more
a total of eight. So instead of a one-third like, do you know what the thickness is of his experiences with foam flotation in
multiplier, for this version of Simpson everywhere?" his previous small monohulls.
it's three-eighths. The proof is left as an "I saved the plug I cut out for the "The other thing that worked out
exercise." knotmeter," he said, "and was able to get nicely," he recalled, "is that the foam in
Lee helped him mark the new mea- some big calipers around the hull with the cockpit lockers actually made them
surement locations on the dock with the cockpit hatches open. Thickness more convenient to use."
chalk, although she also reminded him seems to be constant, probably because "How so?"
that if he was going to Hawaii single- they only used one thickness of core "Instead of all the gear being way
handed he should also be able to use material." down at the bottom, the foam filled up
a tape measure by himself. Then with "Better crank in a generous safety the lower three-quarters of the locker
a big carpenter's square we located the factor if you really want to make sure the volume and the gear was on top. I didn't
stations on the rail of the boat. The mea- deck is above the waterline," I suggested. have to reach way down to the bottom
suring went fast. "Waves will be washing over it anyway. of the locker to find anything. I still get
"Are you planning to add enough flo- You're still bringing a raft, I hope." seasick remembering what that used to
tation to keep the deck out of the water?" "The rules require a raft regardless of be like."
Lee asked when she noticed the uncut installed flotation," he confirmed. "This
blocks of foam stacked up on the dock.
"That's the plan" he answered. "The
project is a sleeping aid as much as any-
thing else. During my qualifying sail, I W e were almost done with the

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 115

MAX EBB

require 5,375 gallons of water to put

measurement at the two-thirds station out the fire. The physicist calls the fire
when another sailor came over to see department and tells them to bring 5,375
what was going on. gallons of water, and the fire is put out
"You know," he observed, "if you pull with no water left over."
the tape tight, you won't really get the "What would the mathematician do?"
sectional girth. The tape will run along I asked the math professor.
a great circle instead of following the "You know, I never heard this joke,
imaginary section line." but I think I know the answer. The
"True, but this is all plus-or-minus mathematician would think about it for
10 or 20 percent," I said. a while, do a long theoretical derivation,
"Oh no," corrected the physicist. "We and finally conclude 'this fire can be put
can get to within one or two percent if out with water'."
we're careful. Of course we'll also have "And then walk away without calling
to correct for the taper angle of the hull, anybody," Lee added.
and add in the bow and stern rakes." 'Chastity blocks' — Flotation on a 24-ft boat
The new arrival turned out to be a
mathematics professor and a friend of
the physicist.
leaves the forepeak mostly usable, but some-
what limited.
ment, tells them to bring 7,000 gallons
"W ell, my dock cart is double-
parked," I said. " I'll leave you to work out
"Isn't there an old joke about an engi- of water just to make sure, and they put the numbers. Good luck on your race."
neer, a physicist and a mathematician?" out the fire with a little water left over." "I'll be getting on with my projects
I asked. "Now I remember it," said the physi- too," said the physicist. "But there's one
"For sure," said Lee. "And I think I cist. "The physicist sees the house on more thing you have to remember in
know that one. This house is, like, on fire, and takes some time to calculate it order to survive a collision at sea. And
fire. An engineer sees it, does a quick more accurately, taking more variables don't ask me how I know."
mental calculation and estimates it will into account. Calculating that it would "Yeah?" asked the singlehander.
take 5,000 gallons of water to put the fire "Sleep with your feet forward."
out. So the engineer calls the fire depart- — max ebb

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 117
 THE RACING

Well, it looks like we got November rain in October; thankfully it honored the
racing schedule — by and large refraining from weekend visits. Beer can
seasons were mostly wrapped up already, and the weekend seasons were
coming to a close. The results of the latter make up the meat of this month's
Racing Sheet. We begin with a look at a strong Yankee Cup, then tack for
a look at the Big TEAM Regatta. Following that, we look at one of the Bay's
most evolved match racing regattas, the Belvedere Cup. Then it was on to the
Finn Pre-Gold Cup, Jessica Cup, Vallejo 1-2 and J/24 Nationals. Finally,
the Race Notes make a strong return this month, with lots of little tidbits
about sailing in waters both near and far. If this won't take your mind back
to warmer days, then we guess you're out of luck, so huddle-up!

YRA Yankee Cup and Champion of Sailing in their first Yankee Cup/
Champions Regatta Champion of Champions in about 20
For the winners of the ODCA, HDA years, the Topgallant gang is obviously
and Party Circuit divisions, October not slowing down, a fact that Lindsey at-
17 represented a chance to settle who tributes in part to their choice of boat.
was the top dog at the Island YC-hosted "It's a marvelous boat," Lindsey said.
Yankee Cup, the YRA's Champion of "There's enough room, and it's a comfy
Champions regatta. boat to sail, especially when you're in
Fittingly, it was the Tartan 10 Top- your 70s."

PETER LYONS/WWW.LYONSIMAGING.COM
gallant owned by a five-strong group of With two bullets and a second, Ralf
super septuagenarians that emerged Morgan and Deborah Clark's Alerion
victorious in the 15-boat, combined HDA Express 28 Ditzy topped the seven-boat
and Party Circuit division. Hailing from ODCA division, which, ironically, and
Marin County and the San Francisco YC by necessity, was sailing on handicaps.
to a man, Peter Brown, Carl Flemming, Morgan and Clark usually sail double-
Phil Fleischman, Harry Humphrey and handed in their ODCA races, but since
helmsman Jim Lindsey qualified by they were using the kite for this event,
virtue of their runner-up finish in the the duo enlisted the help of longtime
season standings for the HDA D (SF friend Buzz Blackett to join them.
30) fleet. Humphrey and Fleischman "It was a really great feeling having
couldn't make the event so John Mara, Buzz back on board," Morgan said. "We've
Bill Claussen and Bill Reilly substituted, known and sailed with each other for at
and it turned out to be a winning com- least 25 years. When I owned my Express
bination. 27, we used to swap parts and sail on
"We like to say that it's me and five each other's boats." stances in the morning before the breeze
tacticians aboard," Lindsey said. "We just That good vibe translated into good came up, but they kept things moving
could not miss a shift; we wandered into results, as the trio put together a 1-1-2 along."
these wonderful shifts every time I looked to win handily.
"We just pushed the boat as YANKEE CUP/CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
hard as we knew how, made (10/17-18, 3r, 0t)
sure we had good starts and HDA/PC — 1) Topgallant, Tartan 10, Peter
clean roundings, and the rest Brown/Carl Flemming/Phil Fleischman/Harry Hum-
just took care of itself," said phrey/Jim Lindsey, 8 points; 2) Jarlen, J/35, Robert
COURTESY TOPGALLANT

Morgan, who qualified for the Bloom, 9; 3) Head Rush, Antrim 27, Charlie Watt,
10. (15 boats)
regatta by virtue of his and
ODCA — 1) Ditzy, Alerion Express 28, Ralf
Clark's undefeated season Morgan/Deborah Clark, 4 points; 2) Meliki, San-
in their ODCA division. "The tana 22, Tom Montoya, 9; 3) Goose, Catalina 30,
numbers don't tell the whole D. Michael Kastrop, 9. (7 boats)
story. The Alerion fleet is pretty Complete results: www.yra.org
strong, and we just had a great
year." Big TEAM Regatta
Although it helped the race Teams from Mechanics Bank, Almar
Harry Humphrey, Phil Fleischman, Jim Lindsey, Carl Flemming and
committee to get all three races Marine, Hanson Bridgett, Northrop
Pete Brown put 'Topgallant' in the money at the Yankee Cup.
in, the consensus was that the Grumman, Wells Fargo and not one,
up." 10 a.m. start may have been a bit opti- but two teams from PG&E showed up
The Topgallant crew eked out a one- mistic, as everyone had to sit through at OCSC on October 2 for the Big TEAM
point win after finishing with a pair of a half-hour postponement, waiting for Regatta. Each company donated $5,000
bullets that came in the wake of a sixth the breeze to fill in. But both Lindsey per team to the Treasure Island Sailing
in the opening race. and Morgan were impressed with the Center and got to race for bragging rights
"We went home thinking we'd done regatta. on Friday.
pretty well" Lindsey said. "But it wasn't "I thought the event was really good," With $35,000 raised in total, the event
until we saw the scores that we realized Morgan said. "The race committee did a is the result of a partnership by OCSC
we'd won." good job; they had pretty difficult circum- and Group Experiential Learning, with
Page 118 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009
 SHEET

Beale Street from ours, and I'm guess-

ing they aren't hurting so bad that they
can't afford the entry fee. A cross-street
rivalry would be a great addition to the
regatta!"
Bechtel, take note!

Belvedere Cup
Match Racing is one of the fastest-
growing disciplines on the Bay's racing
scene, with new events and converts
emerging from the significantly larg-
er fleet racing arena over the past few
years. The San Francisco YC's Belvedere
Cup isn't one of the new ones, but over
that time it, has evolved into one of the
most prominent.
Held October 10-11, the event drew
seven boats that were treated to sun and
enough breeze — it ranged from about
8 to 15 knots — that allowed PRO Jeff
Zarwell to complete two round robins.
"Jeff did a great job and the weather
gods were on our side," said chairman
and chief umpire Tom Roberts. "Judging
from the racer's comments, they had a
great time. The sailors love match racing
because they get to develop their tactical
abilities more than they do in fleet rac-
ing."
When both boats ended up with 10-2
records, John Horsch's Rhymenocerous
won the event on a countback by virtue
of winning its head-to-head match with
Bruce Stone's Arbitrage in the second
round robin.
Rodney Pimentel's 'Azure' rolls downwind at the YC won every race, but our boat came "We were definitely battling it out for
Yankee Cup, followed by Jim Quanci's 'Green Buf- within 7 seconds of them in one race, and sure," Horsch said. "We're glad the tie
falo' and Andy Hall's 'Encore'. 'Azure' will be off the about 15 in another — behind a silver broke our way."
water for a couple years; the outgoing Encinal YC Adam Spiegel's Jam Session ended
medalist! 
Commodore is going cruising — on a cat. up in third, with a 7-5 record followed
"For the past three years I've been
99% of the work being done by an amaz- trying to get Bechtel to enter the event, by Phil Laby and Rich Pipkin's Racer X,
ing team of volunteers led by Lacey Todd but I don't have any contacts there," he which finished with a 6-6 record and
of the Treasure Island Sailing Center. added. "Their head office is right across Kevin Mullen's Cuchullain at 5-7.
The proceeds will help Treasure Island Well, we plumb ran out of room to run the results of the eight-boat Wyliecat 30 Worlds. But we can tell
provide scholarships for 140 kids to at- you that Steve Wonner's Uno, which always seems to show up in our results, took the title.
tend a week-long sailing summer camp in
2010. Treasure Island Sailing Center is a
non-profit organization whose purpose is
to improve our community and the sport
of sailing by providing access, facilities,
and sailing instruction to people of all
socioeconomic backgrounds, skill levels,
PETER LYONS/WWW.LYONSIMAGING.COM

and physical abilities.

Santana 22 sailor, Delta Dooh-Dah'er
and PG&E team member Jan Grygier
checked in with a report:
"We had a wonderful time," Grygier
said. "It was a really well-run regatta,
the best yet, and I've been at three so far. 
Waddaya know, a Wells Fargo-sponsored
team that, by a convoluted and last-
minute sequence of events, consisted of
Olympic silver medalist Will Baylis and a
few other serious sailors from St. Francis
October, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page XXX
 THE RACING
SERGEI ZAVARIN/WWW.ULTIMATE-YACHTSHOTS.SMUGMUG.COM

ERIK SIMONSON/WWW.H2OSHOTS.COM
ERIK SIMONSON/WWW.H2OSHOTS.COM

ERIK SIMONSON/WWW.H2OSHOTS.COM
ERIK SIMONSON/WWW.H2OSHOTS.COM

Clockwise from top-left — flags fly at the Belvedere Cup, San Francisco YC's match racing regatta for J/105s; Islander 36s steamroll downwind on the Cityfront
during their nationals; Vallejo 1 overall winner Dylan Benjamin and his better half (and Vallejo 2 co-skipper) Roshe Ravan; David Hodges and Scott Parker on
'Timber Wolf' swept both overall and elapsed honors in the Vallejo 2; it's chaos on the Cityfront as the Jessica Cup fleets converge; is the 'Credit' crew looking
for cues about the competition's plans for a spinnaker set?; full-on concentration at the 16-boat Finn Pre-Gold Cup on a dreary Circle.
"It was really fun sailing," Horsch pline is limited to its near-cousin team Steichen and Mike Kennedy.
said. "The records are deceiving. Most of racing, in which he competed while an "We had a good debrief on Saturday,
the races were at a high level, and really undergrad at Cal, and a one-year Soling and Liz Baylis did a three-hour class-
competitive. It's not very often that ordi- campaign for the '96 Olympic trials. At room seminar the week before, which
nary schmoes like us get to match race this event, he had Harrison Turner and was really helpful for everyone," he said.
at high level, at a well-organized event; Shawn Bennett calling tactics for him, "Basically everyone knew what they were
the umpiring and race management one on each day, and was also joined by doing when the flags went up."
were great." Kevin Sullivan — in his first appearance Ahh, the flags . . . One of the most
Horsch's background in the disci- on the boat — Courtney Smith, David challenging aspects about match racing,

Page 120 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 SHEET

SUE ESTEY

is that to do it right, you've got to have ting and reading the rule book is very officials, and infrastructure like chase
umpires — experienced and knowledge- static — out on the umpire boat it's very boats, it's easy to understand why match
able umpires. The Belvedere Cup had dynamic. We had four good prospects; racing isn't the most popular discipline
some of the most experienced on the some want to umpire and others are in the sport, but Roberts said San Fran-
West Coast including Roberts, Santa racers who are trying to learn what the cisco YC is dedicated to it.
Barbara's Glenn Oliver and Newport umps are doing so they can play to um- "It's always competitor-initiated," he
Beach's Kym Licka. But just having the pires in their own regattas. Any match explained. "We'll expand the event to
best doesn't mean much if they can't racer should go out on an umpire boat meet the demand as necessary."
pass on their knowledge to others, and and see what the umps are looking at Another problem with staging match
to this end Roberts had trainees shadow and how they play their game — to see racing events — that the Belvedere Cup
the pros during the event. how rights and limitations change so gets around — is that of boat damage,
"They develop a working understand- rapidly." and the fact that its usually done to bor-
ing of the rules," Roberts explained. "Sit- With all the requirements for skilled rowed boats. According to Roberts, be-

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 121

THE RACING
cause the owners sail their own boats,
there was only one contact, and it was
relatively minor.
"They're sailing their own damage de-
posits," he said, laughing.
The regatta also enjoys the distinction
of being a qualifier for the Ficker Cup,
the Long Beach YC's ISAF Grade 3 match
racing event in Catalina 37's, that's in
turn a qualifier for the only men's Grade
1 event in the United States, the club's

OnEDITION
Congressional Cup.
"As long as we can put it together,
we'd love to go," said Horsch, who with
wife Rachel, a former all-American sailor
at Cal, has two young children at home.
"It'd be pretty neat because Bill Ficker is We'd hoped to have a report from Bay Area sail-
a Cal alumnus." ors Shana Bagley and Quannon Au for you this
month, but as of press time, 'California' had yet
to finish Race Two of Leg 1 in the Clipper Race;
Finn Pre-Gold Cup
keep an eye on www.clipperroundtheworld.com
It's got to be tough to be Ed Wright; for news about their adventure.
the Briton is one of the world's top Finn
sailors, yet on his Olympic squad, he's and Robert Rogers' Sunda won the Mar-
got a guy named Ben Ainslie ahead of coni division.
him! At the 16-boat Finn Pre-Gold Cup,
hosted by St. Francis YC on the Circle JESSICA CUP St.FYC (10/17-18, 3r, 0t)
October 16-18, Wright showed what FARALLON CLIPPER — 1) VIP, Don Taylor, 3
kind of skills he's accrued in his pursuit points; 2) Echo, Jack Coulter, 8; 3) Credit, Bill Bel- finish in breeze that had built to the
of Ainslie's spot on the British Olympic mont, 9. (4 boats) mid-teens.
GAFFERS — 1) Brigadoon, Terry Klaus, 4 As the breeze built, the second race
Squad. He counted nothing lower than
points; 2) Makani Kai, Ken Inouye, 8; 3) Yankee,
a second — and only one of those — to started just before two p.m. and featured
John McNeill, 9. (4 boats)
finish with only nine points to runner- LAPWORTH 36 — 1) Leda, David James, 3; 2) a mad dash to a mark just up the Seawall
up Philip Toth's 38 over the nine-race, Papoose, Allen Edwards, 6; 3) Olé, John Hamilton, in front of St. Francis YC, then a run to
one-throwout regatta. 9. (3 boats) Blossom and a beat back to the finish
MARCONI 2 — 1) Sunda, Robert Rogers, 3; — accelerated by a building ebb.
FINN PRE-GOLD CUP (10/16-18, 9r, 1t) 2) Flotsam, Michael Tosse, 8; 3) Chorus, Bradley Tom and David Newton's Captain
1) Ed Wright, 9 points; 2) Philip Toth, 38; 3) Asztalos, 9. (5 boats) Hooke took the title, scoring a 1-2 to
Andrew Kern, 39. (16 boats) Complete results at: www.stfyc.org the 3-1 of Richard Shoenhair and Greg
Complete results at: www.stfyc.org Gilliom's Windwalker. The forecast ma-
Islander 36 Nationals terialized, but not until three hours after
Jessica Cup The threat of gale-force breeze couldn't the last race had been completed.
Sixteen of some of the Bay's sweetest keep seven Islander 36s from showing up
boats showed up October 17-18 for St. for the Golden Gate YC-hosted Islander ISLANDER 36 NATS. GGYC (10/3, 2r, 0t) — 1)
Francis YC's Jessica Cup — the 'other' 36 Nationals on October 3. Captain Hooke, Tom & David Newton, 3 points; 2)
Master Mariners event. The winners The first race started at noon in eight Windwalker, Rich Shoenhair, 4; Cassiopeia, Kit
in the two-day, three-race series were knots of breeze off Golden Gate YC, Wiegman, 6. (7 boats)
Don Taylor's VIP in the Farallon Clip- rounding Blackaller, and a leeward mark Complete results at : www.stfyc.org
per division,and Terry Klaus' Brigadoon near the start/finish line — where there
among the gaffers, while David James' was some rubbin' going on — before Vallejo 1-2
Leda was tops among the Lapworth 36s, heading back up to Blackaller, down The Singlehanded Sailing Society's
to Fort Mason and back upwind to the Vallejo 1-2 drew 63 boats on October

THE BOX SCORES

Ah, the twilight of the Box Scores. include the name of the boat, the type and anne Fairbairn, 10. (6 boats)
Beer Can Series are over and done with length of boat, and the first and last names NON-SPIN — 1) Gammon, Tartan 10, Bar-
and Midwinters have yet to begin. So this of the owner(s). So please do your best to bara Kavanagh, 5 points; 2) Ohana, Beneteau 45,
month, we've included some of the results Marika Edler, 6; 3) Ka-Nina, Catalina 34, Erin Sty-
get us that info, and we'll do our best to
pulkoski, 10. (8 boats)
form the weekend series throughout the get that info into Latitude 38, and 'Lectronic SANTANA 22 — 1) Tackful, Cathy Stierhoff,
Bay that we didn't have room to run in the Latitude. 3 points; 2) Inshallah, Shirley Bates, 8; 3) Kelly
rest of these pages. We don't have the time Shawn, Leah Pepe, 9. (5 boats)
or manpower to chase down all the results. SAUSALITO YC WOMAN SKIPPER REGATTA #3 Complete results at: www.syconline.org
Please post them on your club's website or (10/4, 3r,1t)
send them directly to the Racing Editor at SPINNAKER — 1) Shenanigans, Express 27, JOE LOGAN REGATTA (MERCURY) StFYC
Bernadette O'Connell, 7 points; 2) Donkey Jenny, (10/17-18, 4r, 0t)
rob@latitude38.com.
J/105, Shannon Bonds, 9; 3) Roxanne, J/105, Rox- 1) Fast Break, Randy & Lauren Smith, 10
Our format, lo these many years, is to

Page 122 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 SHEET
peia, Islander 36, Kit Wiegman. (11 boats)
CLASS 4 (PHRF>155) — 1) Tchoupitoulas;
On the way back on Sunday, Benja- 2) Tinker; 3) Emerald. (9 boats)
min and his better half, and doublehand- NON-SPINNAKER — 1) Mystic, Newport
33, Roger Wise; 2) Even Keel, Catalina 320,
ed crewmember Roshie Ravan, suffered
Mike Meloy; 3) Windwalker, Islander 36, Richard
from the malaise 'small ULDBs-don't Shoenhair. (9 boats)
go-to-windward-in-medium-breeze.' EXPRESS 27 — 1) Dianne; 2) Great White;
"I had a really good crew," Benjamin 3) Moxie. (5 boats)
said, "and we were last. Maybe not DFL, SPORTBOAT — 1) Moonshine; 2) Break-
but not far from it." away; 3) JetStream, JS 9000, Dan Alvarez. (8
David Hodges' Farr 38 Timber Wolf boats)
took the win with Scott Parker aboard, WYLIECAT 30 — 1) Uno, Steve Wonner; 2)
correcting out overall and finishing first Life Is Good, Andy Hall; 3) Nancy, Pat Broderick.
(5 boats)
on elapsed time for the return trip.
"Coming back we had 19-22 knots VALLEJO 2 (10-11)
apparent with 20° shifts," Hodges said. OVERALL — 1) Timber Wolf, David Hodges/
"The current was light so we spent more Scott Parker; 2) JetStream, Dan Alvarez/Mark
time focusing on wind. Unlike the way Hadfield; 3) Uno, Steve Wonner/Bren Meyer; 4)
up, where we had only 3 to 10 knots of Coyote, Steve Hill/Adam n/a; 5) Peregrine Fal-
OnEDITION

breeze and sun, Sunday was foggy and con, Bill Gardner/David Ross; 6) True North, Bal-
cold." tic 42 DP, Jeff Dunnavant/Alicia Yballa; 7) Life is
Dan Alvarez and his JS 9000 Jet Good, Andy Hall/Chris Penn; 8) Nancy, Pat Brod-
erick/Michael Andrews; 9) Outsider, Azzura 310,
Stream was the overall winner for the
Greg Nelsen/Andrew Hura; 10) Cassiopeia, Kit
weekend, and wrapped up the double- Wiegman/Shelly Richards. (53 boats)
handed season title, while Greg Nelsen's CLASS 1 — 1) Peregrine Falcon; 2) Triple
Azzura 310 Outsider had already run Play, Richard Keller/Greg Hill. (2 boats)
away with the singlehanded title. We'll CLASS 2 — 1) Timber Wolf ; 2) Coyote;
10-11 for a singlehanded reach/run to have more on those two boats and their 3) 007, J/105, Bruce Blackie/Bruce Lindsay. (9
Vallejo on Saturday and a doublehanded sailors in the January issue of Latitude boats)
return on Sunday. 38, in our Season Champions profiles. CLASS 3 — 1) Cassiopeia; 2) Vent Vitesse,
Designed to encourage doublehanders J/30, Tony Castruccio/Konstantin Andreyev; 3) Ar-
to try singlehanding on Saturday, and cadia, Gordie Nash/Ruth Suzuki. (8 boats)
VALLEJO 1-2 SSS (10/10-11)
CLASS 4 — 1) Emerald, Peter Jones/ n/a;
the hard-core singlehanders to share the VALLEJO 1 (10/10) 2) Tchoupitoulas, Stephen Buckingham/ n/a; 3)
boat on Sunday, the event marks the end OVERALL — 1) Moonshine, Dogpatch 26, Chelonia, Santana 22, Ed Ruszel/Melissa Trace.
of the SSS's '09 season. Dylan Benjamin; 2) Tchoupitoulas, Santana 22, (7 boats)
SSS's Max Crittenden reported that Stephen Buckingham; 3) Arcadia, Modernized EXPRESS 27 — 1) Moxie, Jason Crowson/
Saturday favored the ultralights. Mark Santana 27, Gordie Nash; 4) Dianne, Express Jen Kilday; 2) Great White, Rachel Fogel/JP
27, Steve Katzman; 5) Great White, Express 27,
Howe's Farr 36 OD War Pony took Sirey; 3) Dianne, Steve Katzman, Jerien Westfall.
Rachel Fogel; 6) Moxie, Express 27, Jason Crow- (6 boats)
elapsed-time honors, while Dylan Benja- son; 7) Tinker, Wilderness 21, Matthew Beal; 8)
min's Dogpatch 26 Moonshine corrected NON-SPINNAKER — 1) True North; 2) Oha-
Breakaway, Ultimate 20, Ben Wolfe; 9) Emerald, na, Beneteau 45f5, Steve Hocking/Marika Edler;
out for his first SSS win. Yankee 30-2, Peter Jones; 10) Wetsu, Express 3) Robin, C&C 35, George Mann/Ryan Bechler.
"I actually didn't have good first part 27, Phil Krasner. (60 boats) (6 boats)
of the race," Benjamin said. "The Express CLASS 1 (MULTIHULL) — 1) Peregrine SPORTBOAT — 1) JetStream; 2) Outsider;
27s got past me early on. After we passed Falcon, F-27, Bill Gardner; 2) Triple Play, F-31, 3) www.skiffsailingfoundation.org, 11 Metre
The Brothers I was on a beam reach Richard Keller. (2 boats) OD, Rufus & Rick Sjoberg. (10 boats)
with the pole on the forestay, and I was CLASS 2 (PHRF<105) — 1) Timber Wolf, WYLIECAT 30 — 1) Uno; 2) Life Is Good; 3)
Farr 38, David Hodges; 2) Culebra, Olson 34,
thinking, 'Maybe I'll get lifted around Pt. Nancy. (5 boat)
Paul Nielsen; 3) Coyote, Beneteau 42, Steve Hill.
Pinole.' I just kept the boat going fast (11 boats)
— the conditions were good for Moon- COMBINED 1-2
CLASS 3 (PHRF 105-155) — 1) Arcadia; 2) OVERALL — 1) JetStream; 2) Arcadia; 3)
shine — and got lucky with the shift." Stink Eye, Laser 28, Jonathan Gutoff; 3) Cassio- Timber Wolf; 4) Tchoupitoulas; 5) Uno; 6) Out-

points; 2) Tiger, John Ravizza & Chris Boome/ terson; 3) Lucky Duck, Wylie 34, Paul McCarthy. Bella, Catalina 42 Mk. II, Jack Verducci, 11.75; 3)
Steve Taft, 12; 3) Stars, Jim & Kathy Bradley, 13. (6boats) Ada Helen 2, Catalina 42 Mk. II, Joe Pratt, 12.5. (5
(10 boats) NON-SPIN — 1) Muzzy, Santana 22, Dan boats)
Complete results at: www.stfyc.org Lockwood; 2) Melilani, J/105, Richard Butts; 3) NON-SPIN — 1) Sparky, Catalina 25, Paul
Iowa, Hunter 380, Rick Dalton. (4 boats) Zell, 9.5 points; 2) Hot Ice, C&C 110, Mike Had-
SOUTH BAY CHAMPIONSHIPS SEQUOIA YC OVERALL TROPHY: Coyote Pt. YC dock, 9.75; 3) Complete Abandon, Catalina 38,
(10/17) Complete results: www.sequoiayc.org George Suppes,11.25. (3 boats)
— 1) Smokin' J, J/29, Stan Phillips; 2) Made Complete results at: sbyra.home.comcast.net/~sbyra/
Easy, Beneteau 42, Jim Peterson; 3) Primordial SEQUOIA YC SINGLEHANDED SERIES
Sloop, Express 37, Henry Kleinberg. (7 boats) 1) Lucky Duck; 2) Melilani; 3) Iowa. (14 OKTOBERFEST BERKELEY YC (10/17)
Complete results: www.sequoiayc.org boats) 1) Flying Tiger, Moore 24, Vaughn Seifers;
Complete results: www.sequoiayc.org 2) Stewball, Express 37, Bob Harford; 3) Jazzy,
BARTH MEMORIAL REGATTA: SEQUOIA YC vs. 1D35, Bob Turnbull; 4) Furrari, Wylie Wabbit,
COYOTE PT. YC (9/19-20) SBYRA SUMMER SERIES (7r, 2t) Ethan Peterson; 5) Starkite, Catalina 30, Laurie
SPINNAKER — 1) Paradigm, J/32, Luther SPINNAKER — 1) Sweet Grapes, Ericson Miller. (22 boats)
Izmirian; 2) Made Easy, Beneteau 42, Jim Pe- 36 RH, Allan Orr/Mark Green, 9 points; 2) Vita e Complete results at: www.berkeleyyc.org

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 123

THE RACING

sider; 7) Dianne; 8) Great White; 9) Moxie; 10)

Life Is Good. (63 boats) Western Regionals the weekend before
CLASS 1 — 1) Peregrine Falcon; 2) Triple — slipped into the fourth spot on the

PETER LYONS/WWW.LYONSIMAGING.COM
Play. (2 boats) final day while Tony Parker's Bangor
CLASS 2 — 1) Timber Wolf ; 2) Coyote; 3)
Packet ended up in fifth with the top local
Culebra, Olson 34, Paul Nielsen/Larry n/a. (11
boats) boat, Michael Whitfield's TMC Racing in
CLASS 3 — 1) Cassiopeia; 2) Vent Vitesse; sixth.
3) Arcadia. (11 boats)
CLASS 4 — 1) Tchoupitoulas; 2) Emerald; Race Notes
3) Chelonia. (9 boats) Well-known Australian skipper An-
EXPRESS 27 — 1) Moxie; 2) Dianne; 3) drew Short, 48, died when his PriceWa-
Great White. (6 boats) terhouseCoopers (formerly Shockwave 5)
NON-SPINNAKER — 1) Mystic, Roger Wise/ foundered on the rocks off Flinders Islet.
Zach Davis; 2) True North; 3) Robin. (9 boats)
Navigator Sally Gordon, 47, was also
SPORTBOAT — 1) JetStream; 2) Outsider;
3) Breakaway, John Wolf/Simon Dvorak. (10 lost when the R/P 80's boom swept the
boats) two overboard early on the morning of
WYLIECAT 30 — 1) Uno; 2) Life Is Good; 3) October 10 as they attempted to round
Nancy. (5 boats) the islet during its 92-mile namesake
Complete results at: www.sfbaysss.org Renee Linde sails 'Escapade' at the Sausalito race. One other sailor was knocked over-
YC's Woman Skipper Regatta. The results for board by the boom, but was successfully
J/24 Nationals this 20-boat event are in the Box Scores. rescued, along with the remaining 15
Scoring nothing lower than a fourth, on Sunday to close out the regatta with crew, which included Short's two teen-
San Diego's Chris Snow sailed Bogus to a six total bullets. Mark Hillman's WIP aged sons.
convincing win at the '09 J/24 Nationals took second while Pat Toole's 3 Big Dogs The race is a prelude to the Rolex
hosted by San Francisco YC September moved up to third. Keith Wittemore's Sydney Hobart, which Short and Gordon
25-27. Snow's 15-point total was less Tundra Rose — winner of the class' had both sailed 15 times. The Sydney
than half that of the second and third Morning Herald reported that Short
place boats. Snow finished with a 1-1 wasn't wearing a life jacket, although

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Page 124 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009
 SHEET

investigations are still pending. will be repre-

The paper also reported that, hours senting the
before leaving on the race, Short had conference.
hand-delivered a letter from multiple For news
Volvo Ocean Race Navigator Andrew and results on
Cape to youngest-circumnavigator these events,
hopeful Jessica Watson, warning of the check out:
dangers of the sea. www.icsa.

DAN NERNEY/ROLEX
Cal Maritime's Sean Kelly dominated org.
the College Men's Singlehanded Pacific Redwood
Coast Championship sailed in Laser City's Molly
Full Rigs at Richmond YC, September O'Bryan Van-
26-27. On the first day, a light, shifty demoer joined
breeze made for challenging conditions. Olympic gold
Kelly was consistent with two bullets, medalist Anna
and never finished out of the top four to Tunnicliffe,
lead the 19-boat fleet by 11 points. L i z B o w e r From left — Anna Tunnicliffe, Debbie Capozzi, Redwood City's Molly O'Bryan Van-
Sunday proved to be his conditions. and Qingdao demoer, and Liz Bower topped a competitive field at the RWIKC in New York.
With the breeze building to a steady 12 Olympian Debbie Capozzi to win US Cronin, who finished second and third,
to 14 knots, he posted four more bullets Sailing's 2009 Rolex International respectively. One of the world's longest-
and finished the regatta 35 points ahead Women's Keelboat Championship. running women's sailing regattas, the 13th
of runner-up Harrison Hatton from They topped a 35-team fleet that biennial event was hosted by Rochester YC
Stanford. Both qualified to compete in included many impressive names like on Lake Ontario, October 7-10.
the ICSA Singlehanded Nationals in 1985/2001 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Thomas Ruyant sailed his Finot-
Corpus Christi November 6-8. Year Cory Sertl and Olympian Carol Conq designed Prototype Mini, Faber
On the women's side, Stanford's France, across the finish line of the sec-
Eliza Richartz, and USC's Kelsey Rupp ond leg of the Charente Maritime-Bahia

We put you on a silver platter.

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 125

THE RACING

Transat 6.50 on October 22. Finishing

in Salavador de Bahia after 18d, 20h, He'll be targeting the race's brilliant
16m, Ruyant was the likely overall win- stroke of creating a cost-conscious Eco-
ner of the two-leg race as we went to 60 class of older-generation Open 60s
press, having covered the 3100-mile run that will circumnavigate without the
from Funchal, Madeira, at an average use of fossil fuels. Learn more at www.
speed of 6.92 knots. oceanracing.org.
After finishing the 1,100-mile leg from Bruce Schwab, the formerly Alameda-
Charente-Maritime to Funchal some 3h, based rigger who went on to become the
35s behind Bertrand Delesne's Entre- first American to complete the Vendée
prendre Durablement, Ruyant was 43 Globe, announced early last month that
miles ahead of Delesne by the time he OceanPlanet — the Tom Wylie-designed
got to Rio. So it looks like Ruyant is the Open 60 that carried him around the
overall winner of the Transat 6.50, with world — had sold.
a time of 24d, 23h, 38m at an average "If you haven't already heard, Ocean-
speed of 7.14 knots. Planet has passed into the hands of a
Just as this issue went to press, two- new owner," Schwab writes. "My last trip
time circumnavigator Brad Van Liew on OP was taking her from Robinhood
announced he was taking another stab Marine Center to Portland Yacht Services
Thomas Ruyant celebrating a first in leg two and
at the VELUX 5 Oceans. Van Liew won with the owner's rep on a beautiful sunny
probable overall win in the Mini TransAt.
Class II in the event in 2002-03 aboard Maine day. The bottom needed cleaning,
Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America when media — the trials and tribulations of the sails were tired, yet somehow OP lit-
it was known as the Around Alone. sailing alone in the Southern Ocean. erally flew along as though she knew it
Van Liew first came to prominence Since 2003, he'd dedicated his life to the was a special trip for me. Hopefully she'll
in the '98-'99 race due in large part to South Carolina Maritime Foundation in be well taken care of, although I am not
the ground he broke in communicat- his adopted hometown. sure of the owner's plans or capabilities.
ing to the world at large — especially Good luck old girl, you've been good to me!
the ever-elusive mainstream American "Stay tuned for upcoming changes to

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Page 126 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009
 SHEET

www.bruceschwab.com to reflect my new

projects . . . including helping others to
sail fast, advanced training, preparation,
and rigging. Most importantly, I am now
providing custom LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron
Phosphate, or LFP) battery solutions for
marine applications.
"The OceanPlanet News Archives
will remain for those — such as myself
— who like to look back now and then
on a great adventure!"
It's time now for a few mea culpas.
First up, in last month's feature on San
Francisco YC's Great Schooner Race,
we omitted the name of a crewmem-
ber from Marconi winner, Bob Vespa's
Scorpio. We always like to get every It's official, and presumably bittersweet; the boat that carried the first American to finish the
crewmember's name in our write-ups, Vendée Globe, 'OceanPlanet' has been sold by the formerly Alameda-based Bruce Schwab.
and we certainly don't want to leave out Blame it on learning to read with Gary said "no problem." His only concern
the helmsmen! In this case it was Doug phonics, or simply a love of vowels, but was that people might be confused when
Finley, who shared the helming duties in last month's write-up of the Rolex seeing the correct spelling in the for-sale
aboard Scorpio with Mark Lindlaw. Big Boat Series, we added a letter to ad for the boat — thinking about a 1D35
Finley brought his 25 years as a pilot in the name of the 1D35 division winner. program? — you'll find Diablita listed
the Panama Canal, not to mention be- Diablita is the correct spelling of Gary in Latitude 38's Classy Classifieds,
ing aboard the 64-ft cutter Cloud Nine, Boell's two-time RBBS winning boat. which appear not only in the magazine,
which transited the Northwest Passage but also online at: www.latitude38.com/
in 2007. Sorry Doug! classyads.html.

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 127

WORLD

We'll depart from our usual format this month to give you an insightful
overview of the Caribbean's Antilles Islands, and miscellaneous
Charter Notes.

Sailing in the History's Wake: hands — and national allegiances

The Islands of the Eastern Caribbean — time and time again, with the
As the gloom of winter arrives, our Spanish, French, Dutch and Brit-
daydreams lead us to sun-kissed beach- ish being the major players.
es and blue lagoons where the warm We'll attempt to give you a
trade winds brush over us like a lover's quickie overview of the Eastern
gentle caress. Caribbean's major charter venues
But why travel to such places only here, touching on a few of our fa-
in your dreams? This winter, with the vorite historic footnotes along the
economy still on its knees, yacht charter way.
firms, hotels and airlines are all anxious First, though, we should note
for your business, and they're often will- that bareboat charter bases can
ing to make attractive deals to get it. be found throughout the island
With that food for thought we'll follow chain, all offering both late-model
a familiar autumn theme this month, multihulls and monohulls. For the
and take an island-by-island tour of the right price, you could also arrange
world's most popular yacht chartering for a luxury crewed charter to pick
region, the Eastern Caribbean. From the you up virtually anywhere within
Virgin Islands to Grenada, a 500-mile the string of islands. But you'll find
chain of verdant isles are laid out along the most popular crewed yacht
an ancient volcanic ridge, which serve as bases at the BVI, St. Maarten and
an idyllic destination for island-hopping Antigua.
sailors. And the easterly trade winds Given enough time, most sail-
serve up 12 to 20 knots of breeze nearly ors would be elated to sail the
every day of the year. entire island chain, but within a
There's more to the region's magic, typical one-week or 10-day char-
LATITUDE / ANDY

though, than breathtaking landscapes ter, you'll want to focus on one

and ideal sailing conditions. Subtle of a half-dozen venues: The U.S.
— and not-so-subtle — reminders of and/or British Virgins (possibly
each island's history can be seen in also taking in the so-called Span-
architecture and cuisine, as well as in ish Virgins off Puerto Rico), the
the cultural traditions of local residents. Northern Leewards, Antigua and her charterers, yet their many delights en-
And what a remarkable history it is! Dur- neighbors, the Northern Windwards, courage well-traveled sailors to come
ing the Colonial Era, European nations the Grenadines, or Grenada and her back again and again.
fought continuously over the patchwork neighbors. Each cluster of islands has In the USVI, St. John is our favorite,
of islands that cartographers call the its strong points to consider, just as each as it is mostly a national park, and is
Antilles. As a result, some isles changed individual island has it's own unique fringed by spectacular beaches and
A relic of a bygone era, the vintage Tortola sloop
'personality'. many tranquil anchorages. Two of our
'Esperanza' now lies permanently beneath the The Virgin Islands — Offering shel- favorite historic sites are there too:
coco palms on a BVI beach. tered sailing among dozens of islands the well-preserved Annaberg Planta-
and cays which lie in tion, which lies a short walk from the
close proximity to one Leinster Bay anchorage, and the Reef
another, plus well-de- Bay Trail, which takes hikers through
veloped — although a lush primeval rain forest to the ruins
not overdeveloped of a steam-powered sugar mill. You'll
— shoreside infra- see ancient Taino Indian rock carvings
structure, the Virgin — petroglyphs — en route. (Taxi to the
Islands archipelago trailhead off Centerline Road or go with
understandably sees a Park Service tour and return to Cruz
more chartering ac- Bay by boat.)
tivity than anywhere In the British Virgins our favorite
else in the Caribbean sites lie beneath the surface. Although
Basin. it's never been proven, it's commonly as-
As we often write sumed that the Norman Island Treasure
LATITUDE / ANDY

in these pages, the Caves were the inspiration for Robert

Virgins — especially Louis Stevenson's T reasure Island.
the British Virgins Whether true or not, it's great fun to
— are the obvious snorkel through these coral encrusted
choice for first-time caves — especially with kids. Even more

Page 128 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 OF CHARTERING

again and jump back into the

here and now, a half day's sail
to the charming island of St.
Barth will fill the bill. Vacation
home to celebrities in search of
anonymity, Parisian sophisti-
cates, as well as mere mortals,
this tiny, well-scrubbed French
island was originally the only
Swedish colony in the Carib-
bean. While the inner harbor of
the main town, Gustavia, was
once a haven for pirates and
smugglers, it now attracts some
of the most splendid yachts in
the world during the winter
months.
Antigua — Formerly a Brit-
ish colony, Antigua has been
a Caribbean maritime center
since the 1700s, when the
British and French fought
ferociously for dominance of
the Eastern Caribbean isles.
Today, as most sailors know,
the island is the winter charter
base of choice for many of the
world's most spectacular luxury
crewed yachts, and is also home
to several bareboat bases. The
world-famous Antigua Sailing
Week (held in late April) is the
Caribbean's largest annual re-
Spread: This colorful modern development at sino gambling and duty free shopping, gatta. It began over 43 years ago when
the BVI's Soper's Hole anchorage captures the island provides a contrast to some local charter yacht operators decided
the flavor of classic Colonial-era architecture. of its sleepier neighbors. The formerly they needed a forum for end-of-season
Inset: Kids love to play for hours in warm Carib-
British islands of St. Kitts and Nevis lie revelry before sailing off to do summer
bean waters.
only a day's sail away and, while they
exciting, however, is scuba diving on are slowly developing, you would never St. Maarten
the wreck of the Rhone, a Royal Mail use the word 'bustling' to describe them.
Steamer which sank off Salt Island in a Both still have vast agricultural tracts
horrendous 1867 hurricane. Many parts surrounding lofty volcanic peaks, and
of the iron ship are still well preserved, shore-based tourism is largely confined Virgin Islands
but the main attraction is the abun- to a handful of renovated plantations.
dant sea life that's made its home here.
St. Kitts
Although their partially protected an- & Nevis
Brilliantly colored corals, sea fans and chorages can be a bit rolly, they are well
sponges are encrusted all over the ruins, worth a visit, as walking their ancient Antigua
and a kaleidoscopic array of fish swarm streets makes you feel as though you've
around and through its iron chambers, traveled back in time to an era when life Guadeloupe
seemingly undeterred by divers. Since a was slow and simple.
section of the wreck lies in only 30 feet of
Dominica
It's well worth taking a taxi tour of Islands of the
water, snorkelers can, at least, get close either island, but our favorite historic Eastern
enough to enjoy part of the scene. The site here is the massive Fort Brimstone, Martinique
Caribbean
wreck was used to film Peter Benchley's which earned the moniker Gibraltar of
The Deep. the West Indies centuries ago. In the old St. Lucia
The Northern Leewards — The 90-mile days, its weather-worn battlements af-
Anegada Passage separates the Virgins forded 360° protection, while today they
St. Vincent
from the Northern Leewards, where the introduce visitors to a 70-mile view that
French/Dutch island of St. Martin/St. includes St. Maarten, St. Barth, Saba,
Maarten is the largest charter base. Statia, Nevis and Montserrat. Grenadines
Bustling with shore-based tourism, ca- When it's time to quicken the pace
Grenada
WORLD

has few services. To our way of thinking,

however, its isolation is a huge incentive
to go there. White sand beaches skirted
by brilliant turquoise water stretch for
miles without bearing a single footprint,
and the snorkeling is superb. Today,
these two neighboring islands are united
as the nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
The centerpiece of Antigua's histori-
cal legacy is the painstakingly restored
English naval station called Nelson's
Dockyard. Built within a natural hur-
ricane hole, it was an ideal base for the
West Indies Squadron, within which
Nelson served as a young officer. Today,
the workshops, barracks and officers'
quarters of old have been converted to

ROD ECK
restaurants, hotels and shops without
sacrificing their inherent charm. The
history buffs within your crew may never
charters in the Med or New England. In the fall, before the peak season begins, bare- want to leave.
According to the Antigua Tourist boats can tie up along the quay at Gustavia. But The Southern Leewards & Northern
in mid-winter, megayachts rule the roost. Windwards — Forty miles south of
Board, the island has a beautiful beach
for every day of the year. While that might cially if you include a couple of days at Antigua lies the large French island of
be a slight exaggeration, it is certainly an it's sister island, Barbuda. Although it's Guadeloupe. Together with Martinique,
island with enough protected anchorages only 40 miles distant, few sailors visit St. Barth and St. Martin, these islands
and shoreside attractions to keep char- that minimally developed isle, as the comprise the French West Indies, which
terers happy for a week or two — espe- approach is peppered with reefs and it is a department (or state) of France,

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Latitude 38
Page 130 • • November, 2009

XXXTBJMUNNDPN
 OF CHARTERING

whose residents have all the rights of brisk winds and bouncy sea conditions,
other French citizens. As such, these in contrast to the flat-water sailing in
islands have a steady inflow of French the lees. Directly south of Guadeloupe is
nationals, and their general character is Dominica — an anomaly of the colonial
quite different from that of their formerly era, as it is a former British colony sand-
British and Spanish neighbors. wiched between two French islands.
Large and mountainous, Guadeloupe The poorest and least-developed
is the first of five tall islands that are island nation in the lower Caribbean,
much more lush, and consequently Dominica is not without its attractions.
much more abundant in agriculture, Hiking through the massive Central For-
than their northern cousins. Guade- est Reserve is a nice contrast to those
loupe, for example, has an extensive sunbaked days on the water. And while
rain forest with towering waterfalls and there you'll want to visit the Carib Indian
jungle-like vegetation. Fine creole cuisine Reservation, the last in the Caribbean,
on Guadeloupe and Martinique is a high- where evidence of centuries-old tradi-

LATITUDE / ANDY
light, and provisioning is better — and tions still remains, such as thatch-roofed
more fun — than almost anywhere else huts and dugout canoes.
in the island chain. Another booming open-water sail will
History buffs will enjoy seeing the take you to Martinique (the northern-
colonial-era relics at Guadeloupe's Fort most island of the Windward Antilles). Al-
Fleur d'Epée and the ancient Arawak While it's nice to have a GPS along, most navi- though the bustling city of Fort de France
Indian rock carvings at the Parc Arche- gation throughout the Eastern Caribbean can might be a bit too busy for your tastes,
be safely done by line-of-sight.
ologique des Roches Gravées, but you'll there are a number of coastal anchorages
also want to leave time to snorkel or dive called the Iles des Saintes, where fishing and fishing villages well worth visiting.
at the Cousteau Underwater Park at is still the main livelihood and casual For the culturally curious, we have two
Pigeon Island, which lies just offshore. waterside eateries abound. suggested stops. First, the Centre d'Art
And you must spend at least one night The stretches of open-water sailing Musée Paul Gauguin at Carbet, which
at the charming cluster of tiny islands between these central islands can yield houses works and mementos from the

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 131

WORLD

St. Lucia probably has the most

volatile history of any Eastern Caribbean
island. The ferocious Carib Indians kept
European navies at bay for more than
100 years before finally succumbing.
The British and French then began a
protracted struggle to control it through
14 exchanges of power that lasted until
the end of the Napoleonic wars, when the
Brits permanently planted their colors on
St. Lucian soil. It's well worth taking a
taxi tour through the inland countryside
with its vast agricultural tracts. While
you're at it, stop at Fort Charlotte atop
lofty Morne Fortune. Even if you're not

LATITUDE / ANDY
interested in the 18th century artifacts
there, you'll love the panoramic view
from the ancient battlements, which
includes the toothlike Pitons mountain
range to the south.
artist's stay here prior to his emigration On most Caribbean islands, traditional boat- Grenada and The Grenadines — We've
to French Polynesia. And second, St. building is a forgotten art. But craftsmen at always thought the naming of this south-
Pierre's Musée Volcanologique which Carriacou still revere the old ways. ern stretch of islands could have been
commemorates the catastrophic 1902 Guadeloupe, most Americans charter better thought out. After all, the northern
eruption of Mt. Pelee here, which killed out of St. Lucia when visiting this part of nation within this archipelago is officially
all but a single survivor. the Caribbean. Large bareboat fleets are called St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Although there are huge French based at both Marigot Bay and Rodney — a mouthful — and the southern
charter fleets on both Martinique and Bay. group is lumped under the title Grenada

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Page 132 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009
 OF CHARTERING

— although that's also the name of the 'spice island', as rich fragrances, such as
principal island in the group. But what that of nutmeg, are often carried on the
do we know? In any case, it's a wonderful breeze.
region that features short hops between As if near-perfect sailing conditions
anchorages, charming little waterside weren't enough, the islands of the East-
towns and a laid-back pace of living. A ern Caribbean hold a wealth of fascinat-
nice loop tour of the Grenadines can be ing connections to antiquity which can
done in a week from charter bases in St. add immeasurably to the richness of a
Vincent — the large, verdant island at the vacation under sail.
area's northern end. But with 10 days to — latitude/aet
burn you could do a one-directional trip
from Grenada to St. Vincent, hitting a va- Charter Notes
riety of cozy anchorages and snorkeling After announcing our World of Char-
spots along the way. Among our favorite tering photo contest last month, we
stopovers here are idyllic Port Elizabeth received a bunch of pretty cool photos.

KENT BENEDICT
on Bequia's Admiralty Bay, the tiny Palm But we want more before picking the
Island Beach Club, the Tobago Cays and winners!
Carriacou, where a few old-timers still We know that hundreds, if not thou-
build hand-hewn boats on the beach. sands, of you take charter vacations as
Grenada took a horrible beating from often as they can afford to. And we have
Hurricane Ivan five years ago, but it's re- to believe you all take along cameras.
silient population wasted no time in pick- "Are we having fun yet?" With clear water, hot So don't be shy, show us your best im-
ing up the pieces and rebuilding their sun and steady trade winds, it's hard not to ages. Naturally, we'd like to see shots of
infrastructure. And the tropical flora is have a great time. action under sail, or eye-popping nauti-
now as prolific as ever. Grenada's capital, Fredrick offer commanding views of the cal scenes. But you're also welcome to
St. Georges, has long had a reputation harbor below. submit images depicting any aspect of a
as the prettiest town in the Southern A taxi tour through Grenada's interior sailing vacation, including underwater
Caribbean. Both Fort George and Fort will reveal why it has long been called the scenes, sights ashore, anchorages, beach

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 133

WORLD OF CHARTERING
Polarizing filters can help reduce glare,
but don't try using old filters from your
film camera on your new digital. New
electronic cameras require specifically
designed filters.
If you browse through a National
Geographic you'll notice that many of the
most impressive shots have very warm
lighting, with highly defined highlights
and shadows. That's because pros often
shoot in the early morning or close to
twilight, when colors are the richest.
When out on the water you'll eliminate
the chance of blurred images by choosing

ZAC TURPIN
'shutter priority' and assigning a shutter
speed of 1000 or higher.
Another tip that's especially useful in
the tropics, is to become familiar with
bars, your goofy kids, whatever. Attack of the killer seagulls? No just a bread your camera's fill flash settings, which
Because we know you're probably as crumb feeding frenzy off the aft deck. But it's can brighten faces beneath hat brims
over-extended these days as we are, we'll quite a contrast to a static sunset shot. without looking artificial, and also light
extend the submission deadline to Janu- that you really don't have any, perhaps a subject in the foreground (i.e. your
ary 1. Email up to five high resolution we can offer a few tips. Over the years sweetheart), while accurately recording
JPGs to andy@latitude38.com, and you'll we have, after all, shot about a zillion the ambient light in the background
have a chance to get your shots pub- frames. (such as a sunset). Experiment and have
lished in these pages and also receive Since most sailing vacations are taken fun. Fooling around with photography
some much-coveted Latitude swag. in bright, sunny places — and more often can be an added pleasure when vaca-
On the other hand, if our plea for than not in the tropics — getting evenly tioning in geographically dramatic and
stunning photos makes you realize balanced photos can be a challenge. culturally rich places.

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Page 134 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 135

 CHANGES
With reports this month from Azure II on the start of a second family
W
cruise, this time on a cat; from Java on the joys of cruising and travelling
in South America; from Scarlett O'Hara on Robinson Crusoe Island in Fiji;
from Toucan Tango on sailing up the Red Sea; from Solace on onboard
surgery in Tonga; from the Vava'u Regatta in Tonga; from Moonduster on
the problem with bananas in the South Pacific; from Reba on a reunion in
Maine with friends from the South Pacific; and Cruise Notes.

Azure II — Leopard 47 Cat picked up mooring balls, and checked

The Pimentel Family out four different spots around St. Lu-
Starting Our Second Cruise cia. Each outing has been a learning
(Alameda) experience. It turns out that I’m not an
It’s been almost 11 years since we excellent driver quite yet. I thought I
returned from the cruise on our first was in neutral once, but was actually
boat, the Jeanneau 36 fast approaching another boat in the
Azure. We had a blast anchorage. Sure scared that guy!
in Mexico, then crossed “R.J. and Leo have not only been hav-
the Pacific in what we ing a blast snorkeling, jumping off the
think was one of the boat and swinging from ropes hanging
first of ficial Puddle from palms, but they’ve become essential
Jumps. We enjoyed ex- to the operation of the boat. Leo was born
citing times in French to climb the mast to zip up the sail cover.
Polynesia, Tonga, Fiji R.J. is getting muscles from grinding
and New Zealand. We the winches, and is great at steering the
returned home from boat. They both handle lines when we
that experience with take a mooring.
R u t h a n d R . J . the best reminder of “Right now it is early morning in
aboard 'Azure' in our good times — R.J., Marigot Bay, St. Lucia. Rodney is mak-
New Zealand. who was born in New ing the local bread — which is kind of
Zealand. He was joined two years later like scones — on the BBQ, Leo is awake
by brother Leo. They are now 11 and 9 and ready to go, and R.J. is still sleep-
respectively. ing. Except for the tropical birds, the soft
We’ve been planning a second cruise slapping of the water, and Leo slurping
since we got back from the first, and now his Apple Jacks, it’s quiet.
the timing is finally right. After read- “The weather has been hot and humid
ing about catamarans in Latitude and with occasional rain, but we've been
chartering one in the BVIs, we became keeping cool by swimming all the time.
convinced that they are the way to go Assuming all goes well with the rest of
on a family cruise. So we found an ‘01 the test sail, we’ll be hauling the cat out
Leopard 47 that we thought we might at Rodney Bay for a survey. If that comes Java — Crowther 48
want to buy, and in August flew down out fine, we'll buy the cat and begin our Evan Dill and Donna Boyer
to St. Lucia to check her out during the cruise in November or December.” South America Is Worth Visiting!
course of a 10-day test cruise. Here’s my Well, we went ahead and bought the (The World Is My Homeport)
midway report: cat, so Azure II will be our home for South America is not high on the list
“We’ve had Island Spirits III — which approximately the next two years. For of destinations for cruisers, but having
we hope will soon become Azure II — for friends who know our Cal 40 Azure, we’re been here since February, Donna and I
five days now, and we think the cat is still keeping her on the Bay. think it should be. It's an especially good
awesome! We’ve sailed her downwind, Rodney and I have already quit our place for economy cruisers and for those
reaching and upwind. We’ve anchored, jobs, and are now busy getting home who like to use their boat as a base for
Although they still have their Cal 40, Rodney schooling squared away, renting out our exploring inland.
and Jane decided that two hulls of a Leopard 47 house, and so forth. We’ll start our new We're currently at Bahia de Caraquez,
are better than one for a family cruise. adventure on Thanksgiving in St. Lucia, Ecuador, where I'm paying workers $10 a
and be up around St. John in the day — not an hour — to paint the inside
AZURE II

U.S. Virgins for Christmas. We'll and outside of my boat, which I've hauled
wing the rest of the winter from on the beach for free. Large fixed price
there. meals at local restaurants are $2. And
We want to let other families when we travelled inland to various other
with kids know that we’ll be cruis- South American countries, we spent an
ing the Caribbean this winter and average of just $400 a month.
the Mediterranean next summer We've loved every minute of our time
with our boys, and that R.J. and in South America, and always felt safe
Leo would love to connect with — even in Colombia. The locals may not
other cruising kids. We can be always be super-friendly, but nobody
reached at familyazure@gmail. was ever threatening.
com.
— jane 10/02/09
 IN LATITUDES

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY JAVA

track. By the time we rigged a couple
of halyards as temporary forestays and
got everything settled, we'd been at it for
five hours. Having to sail the remainder
of the way to Ecuador
with a staysail instead
of a genoa added sev-
eral more days to our
passage.
We found a lot to
like once we got to
Bahia de Caraquez,
as the air and water
temperatures were
war m, the holding
ground was good, and
the prices were low.
Furthermore, in five
months of having the Machu Picchu, one
boat on a mooring, we of South America's
had no problems with top attractions.
theft — despite the fact that we were
travelling inland almost the entire time.
Puerto Amistad, which is located on the
river, was most welcoming and the costs
were reasonable. You can anchor for free
and pay a $5/day fee that includes use
of the dinghy dock, hot showers and
wi-fi, or you can pay $270/month for a
mooring.
The holding ground off Puerto Amis-
tad is good — much better than, for
example, at Cartagena, Colombia. Dur-
ing our stay there with friends aboard
Southern Belle, a small squall came
through and 13 boats dragged in the first
half hour! Cartagena is also a lot hotter
Spread; 'Java' on the beach at Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador, for a budget facelift. Inset left; The Puerto and more humid, which makes it a less
Amistad YC in the foreground with the boats anchored in Bahia de Caraquez in the background. pleasant place to do boat maintenance.
Inset above; Evan and Donna mess with optical illusions on an Argentinian saltflat. Puerto Lucia is the 'other marina' in
We began our South American ad- we had a steady 15 knots of wind on the Ecuador, but there aren't as many boats
venture by sailing from Golfito, Costa beam and a sea that seemed as smooth there because it's much more expensive
Rica, to Ecuador. The 15 days it took us, as glass. The moon shone over our and not as cruiser-friendly. It is, how-
thanks to a combination of light wind shoulders, illuminating the sea in front ever, the best place to do a traditional
and opposing current, made it my slow- of us, and the phosphorescence from haulout. Those needing to just haul for a
est passage to date. For five nights in a Java's rudders left twin contrails be- quick bottom job often do it on the sand
row we had no wind at all, so we simply hind. Sheila, my Aussie autopilot, drove Although this photo, with 'Java' in the back-
turned on the 'night light' and went to the boat at a silent 8-10 knots, leaving ground, was taken at Ollie's Point, Costa Rica,
sleep. Donna and me with nothing much more there is good surf in Ecuador, too.
Although our trip was a slow one, it to do than wonder at the JAVA

was filled with the natural delights of brilliant stars overhead.

cruising. For example, we saw lots of Having never experienced
dolphins, turtles and seabirds. But the anything like it, Donna
most exciting incident was when we in- not only stood her watch,
advertently hooked a sailfish. I ultimately but part of mine, too!
had to get into the water and swim the It's not always peaceful
wild creature around the boat in order when you're cruising, of
to resuscitate it. We were rewarded for course. For example, one
our efforts twice. First, we got to watch it morning at 6 a.m. we lost
swim slowly down into the azure depths. our forestay. Had Java
Second, a short time later we landed a not been cutter rigged,
large dorado that fed us for days. the mast would have come
Our sailing highlight was the night down. Nonetheless, the
genoa also pulled out of
the ProFurl roller furling
 CHANGES

here at Bahia or while careened against

the yacht club wall for $10 a day. — such as a week-long, four-wheel drive
We don’t know about marinas in Peru trip with a French couple through the
because not many boats go down there. spectacular Andes mountains in Argen-
The problem is that tina. This travel style also allowed us to
the wind and wa- take a few days off if we felt we'd been
ter are on the nose, on too many buses in too many days.
making it like a Baja Buses, however, are the way to go in
Bash. Besides, the South America. They come in all styles,
water is cold. from luxurious with full reclining seats,
The only draw- pillows, blankets, hot meals and wine, to
back with Ecuador the exciting local 'chicken buses' packed
is that it supposedly to the gills with people, kids, babies
limits the person, not — and yes, chickens! Drivers of these
the boat, to a non-re- buses seem to think they are trying to
newable three-month qualify for gran prix while trying to ne-
visa. Some cruisers gotiate steep mountain roads, which are
have found ways to often muddy, slippery and dotted with
The long trip to Pata- get around it, how- potholes. It was sometimes scary, and
gonia was worth it.
ever. In addition, the always an adventure.
rules about visas seem to change all the We flew only twice — a bus trip to
time, so you just have to come down and Patagonia and back is too long. The only
take your chances. For what it's worth, two countries we didn't visit were Brazil
we arrived in February, and we’ll still be and Bolivia, and that was just because
here for a couple more months. we didn't want to pay the $135 "recipro-
One of the pleasant things about Ba- cal" fee they charge Americans.
hia — and most of South America — is So if you're looking to get off the worn
that it's so inexpensive. For instance, a path, what are you waiting for? Machu
plato grande set price meal is never more Picchu, Iguazu Falls, the glaciers of Pata-
than $2 in this friendly fishing town. gonia, the wine country of Chile — there
Buses and shared taxis are cheap, too. is so much to see. South America is a
For those who want to surf or paraglide, huge continent ripe for adventure.
Canoa, just across the Chone River, is — evan 10/15/09
the place. You can get there by either
public panga or an 80-cent bus ride. Scarlett O'Hara — Serendipity 43
As for our inland travels, we spent five John and Renee Prentice
months backpacking, following in the Robinson Crusoe Island
footsteps of so many young international (San Diego)
viajeros. Hostels and food were generally If you're coming to the South Pacific Pacific. The dancers all have day jobs
very cheap — $7/person for a simple this year and want to add another des- at the resort, but once the show begins,
room, and $3 to $4 per meal. Most of tination to the list of places that really they are transformed into magnificent
the spectacular scenery was free, so we welcome cruisers, don't forget Likuri performers. Their dance style is more
didn't do many packaged tours. Island in Fiji. Also known as Robinson Polynesian — meaning more hula-like
We travelled in a very serendipitous Crusoe Island or RCI, it's owned by three — than some of the more traditional
style, which allowed us the freedom to Australians who really love cruisers. In and modest dance styles we've seen else-
take whatever specials came our way fact, they so like having boats anchored where in Fiji. There are 16 dancers in all,
Evan and Donna admire the chute-type water- off their island that they go out of their and they all have beautiful bodies. Rico,
fall at Petrohue, Chile, which leads to beautiful way to be cruiser-friendly. The first time a very handsome Fijian, is the leader of
Todos Los Santos. we visited this season, we planned to the troupe.
stay for three days. We The show is so good that it draws
COURTESY JAVA

ended up staying for many guests from the five-star resorts

three weeks! in the area. RCI buses these people to a
RCI is what they call landing, where they are brought down
a 'back-packer', which river in medium-sized aluminum skiffs,
means they pr ovide then landed on the beach. For $50, these
cheap accommodations guests get a great dinner and show, a
that attract lots of young kava ceremony, some beach time, and all
people. These are very the transportation included. We cruisers
popular in Fiji. What get to use the facilities and enjoy the din-
distinguishes RCI from ner for only about $5 each! The dinners
all the others is that it are delicious, too, as the Aussies also
has the best show. And own the best meat market we've found in
we're not talking the the South Pacific. It's located in nearby
best show in Fiji, but the
best show in the entire
 IN LATITUDES

ALL HPTOS COURTESY SCARLETT O'HARA

with them, and to weather, when they
tried to pull out a win by taking us up.
But they failed! Despite all our cruising
gear and only having a crew of two, Scar-
lett is still pretty fast.
The winners of the
race were identified by
pulling names out of a
hat — just like in the
America's Cup — so a
great time was had by
all. Next year’s weekend
should be about two
weeks after the Musket
Cove Regatta. We rec-
ommend that all Puddle
Jumpers put RCI on A nice sunset at
their list of places to RCI, Fiji.
visit.
After a quick trip back to Southern
California, we'll come back to Scarlett
in Fiji to spend tropical cyclone season
with our fingers crossed. We've booked a
slip at Vuda Point Marina for the entire
season in case we need a place to hide
from a tropical cyclone, but we hope to
spend most of the season cruising Fiji.
After that, we may do a second season
in Fiji, or we may continue on to Darwin
to join the Indonesia Rally. And if we get
that far, we'll almost be committed to a
circumnavigation.
— renee 9/24/09

Toucan Tango — Catana 47

Marvin and Ruth Stark
Up the Red Sea To The Med
(Rancho Cordova)
Top right inset; John and Renee of 'Scarlett the France-based Ovni 45.5 Sea Lance; [Continued from last month.]
O'Hara'. Other photos: Scenes from the first Alain, Patricia, Geean, Maxime and Continuing up the Red Sea, we cleared
Annual Kiuri Island Cruise Race/Fun Day. Arthur Guillebert of the France-based into Sudan at the old city of Suakin and
Nadi, close to the international airport. Lagoon 470 Tangara; David Van Ryswye anchored in the bay. As advised, we
RCI is such a great place that on and Tony and Mynda Manfield of the contacted Mohammed, he of the white
September 26 we joined the crews of 11 New Zealand-based 45-ft custom cat flowing robe. As promised, we were soon
other boats for the First Annual Likuri Lady Nada; Richard Holliday of the New checked in and had water and whatever
Island Cruise Wreck Race/Fun Day. Zealand-based H-28 Sea Dove; Steve and It's hard to fathom, but human slaves were
Quite a title, no? Among the activities Liz Coleman of the Oz-based Oceanic traded in this ancient and crumbling structure
were a dinghy parade, an island survivor 46 Liberte; and us, with our San Diego at Suakin until the late 1940s.
contest, a rum hunt and a sailboat race. based Serendipity 43 Scar-
The following folks participated: Rick lett O'Hara. TERRENCE OF ARABIA
Walker and Robin Willstein of the Tam- The race started just
pa-based Voyager 430 cat Endangered outside Likuri Pass, and
Species; Ilene Byron and Ken Larner of was a one-hour reach, at
the U.K.-based 51-ft aluminum schooner which time the race com-
Silver Ruffian; James and Lisa Stewart mittee called time. After we
of the New Zealand-based Peterson 46 all recorded our GPS posi-
Bama Breeze; Rod and Viv Smith of the tions, we raced back to RCI.
New Zealand-based Sandy Jones 46 It was a perfect day for the
Innovation; Ken and Cathy Simmons cats, as it blew 15 knots on
of the New Zealand-based 60-ft wood the beam. Reaching is not
motorsailor Fair Isle; Boyd Smith of the Scarlett's strongest point of
New Zealand-based Beneteau Young at sail, but we made a race of
Heart; Dailier and Chantal Beaucheng of it against the six crew on
the 46-ft Innovation. We
were sailing boat-for-boat
 CHANGES

else we needed at a reasonable price.

Suakin has the distinction of being One evening we watched a long camel
the last working slave trading city in train of 30 camels and 30 riders slowly
the world, with slaves sold there until moving to the north in the distance.
the late '40s. Built ages ago of sand- We were told that Sudanese do not like
stone and seashells, camel meat, but the Egyptians do.
it's crumbling into We checked into Egypt at Port Ghalib,
ruins. The nearby a very upscale purpose-built marina
village, like all of resort. Surrounded by sand and more
Sudan, is very, very sand, it's in the middle of nowhere, at
poor. To give you an least two hours by car to the nearest
idea, the village has city. Several of us cruisers got together
no paved streets or to rent a mini bus and go to the city for
running water, and provisioning. It was a long and dull trip,
there was electric- and the produce wasn't of very good
ity only part of the quality.
time. Donkeys and Sailing in the northern part of the
camels are the pri- Red Sea was often tough work, as we
mary mode of trans- had to tack over and over again. We had
portation. Nonethe- to sail 50 miles to make 30 miles in the
Red Sea corals are less, we bought local direction that we wanted to go. But we're
among the most fan- bread and delicious patient, and with our Catana 44 had
tastic in the world. produce at the local done the entire Baja Bash under sail.
outdoor markets. Hurghada, our next Egyptian port,
The Red Sea is full of reefs, so mari- is the windsurfing capital of Egypt. The
ners have to pay close attention. Shortly winds here are strange, as they die off
after entering the Sea, we were sailing in the afternoon, then come up full blast
at 10 knots in a strong breeze when I in the wee hours of the morning. It's not
casually glanced off to the side — to see a lot of fun to be sailing along peacefully
that we were passing within 100 yards in the middle of the night, then sud-
of a rock as big as a two-story house! denly have to put a couple of reefs in
I quickly checked the chart, and sure the sails and start smashing and bash-
enough, there was a dot on the chart. ing to windward. Our overnight sail to
Just a simple dot. From then on, I was Hurghada started with moderate 18-20
careful to check the dots closely. knots on the nose. The wind eased off in
While in the Red Sea, we anchored the afternoon and most of the night, but
behind offshore reefs on many occa- quickly blew up to 32 knots at 4 a.m.
sions. Some of these reefs were above But Mother Nature made up for it on the nose. It was for us. We made this
water, some of them were submerged. the next afternoon. Just when I thought passage in three days, but it took a lot
While at the aptly named Dolphin Reef, we would have to spend another tough of tacking and having to sail 30 miles
we anchored for several days and swam night at sea, the wind slowly veered to to make 20 miles good. We motored all
with the dolphins. the west, and instead of having to make night and into the third day, then spent
We approached all reefs and other an- two or three more tacks, we were able the rest of the day having officials ad-
chorages in the Red Sea with great care. I to sail directly toward the marina at 9 measure our boat and paying the official
stood high on the bow while Ruth drove. knots, allowing us to make it in before and unofficial fees.
Some of the anchorages were spectacu- dark. That's the kind of sailing we like! Having gotten very little sleep in two
lar, remote bays surrounded by sand. Hurghada turned out to be our favor- days, I wasn't in a very good mood when
Friend or foe? The many reefs in the Red Sea go ite marina in Egypt. It's modern, not too officials showed up at 1 a.m. to demand
both ways. They can offer great protection and expensive, and was located adjacent to even more money. They'd left only an
pleasure, but they can eat your boat for lunch. a city with good shopping. We left our hour before after I'd paid all the official
cat there for a week fees. But yes, I ultimately handed over
FROD FRICK

while we toured As- another $80, for which I got no receipt.

wan, Luxor and the At that point we'd paid a total of $570,
Nile. The touring plus $20 for the pilot and a boat shirt.
was expensive, so We were up at 5:30 a.m. the next
fortunately it was a morning, as instructed. Our pilot showed
once-in-a-lifetime up an hour later, and began to shout,
thing. "Full power! Full power!" Our canal
The 200-mile trip transit was uneventful, but we were
from Hurghada Ma- dazzled by the really big ships carrying
rina up the Straits cars, petroleum, LPG, and container
of Ghubal to Suez after container. The canal is only wide
and the canal is of- enough for one ship at a time, so it's one-
ten a tough passage
with strong winds
 IN LATITUDES

DARYL SPENCER
squeezing money from tourists for eons,
so they are good at it. The average tour-
ist doesn’t have a chance. You can steel
yourself for the experience, but you'll
still be no match. Bargain like mad and
you'll still end up
paying twice the go-
ing price for locals.
Beware of anyone
who comes up to
you, says hello, and
asks where you are
from. They'll want
money for being
your 'guide'. You
cannot walk past
a shop without
someone trying
their damnedest
to get you inside. S e e t h e py r a m i d s
along the Nile.
And there are no
fixed prices, just what the traffic will
bear. Speaking of traffic, if you bargain
hard for a taxi ride and then encounter
heavy traffic, you'll be asked to pay more
— even if you're going to a tourist site
and the driver knew there was going to
be traffic.
Nonetheless, the Red Sea is home to
many huge, first-class seaside resorts,
with marinas, dive boats, windsurfing,
swimming pools, non-stop discos and
endless food. Many of the really big
resorts are dedicated to Russians, who
seem to wear fewer clothes than other
nationalities. I walked into one really
gaudy resort that occupied miles of wa-
In Sudan, the transportation contrast was stark. Only 4% of the land in Egypt — ba- terfront, only to find that everyone there
Ashore, a mule and a dusty cart. Out in the Red sically the Nile Valley and a few oases spoke Russian. Even the signs and all
Sea, a luxurious catamaran. — is inhabited and cultivated. The rest the menus were in Russian.
way heading north in the morning, and is desert, and that's a whole lot of desert. If we ever visit Egypt in our lifetimes,
one-way south in the afternoon. Small But the Nile vies with the Amazon for the it will be too soon! Fortunately, our cruis-
sailboats such as ours travel along with title of the longest river in the world. It's ing in Turkey has been as good as it was
the huge ships. The official speed in the estimated to be 4,160 miles long, and bad in Egypt. I can't wait to tell you about
canal is 8.5 knots. Most sailboats only has no tributaries in Egypt. The river As far as Marvin and Ruth are concerned,
make five knots, so we move aside while runs the entire 960 miles from the border one visit per lifetime is more than enough for
the ships slide by. with Sudan to the Med. The Nile sustains crowded, chaotic and crooked Cairo.
We stopped for a few days at Ismailia, the entire country, as

DARYL SPENCER
which is midway up the canal, and it supplies the life-giv-
took a side trip to Cairo/Giza to see the ing water for the en-
Pyramids and the Museum. We take no tire valley. Both sides
pleasure in saying it, but most of Egypt of the river are lined
is a dump, and Cairo is no exception. about a mile deep with
Like all visitors, we got ripped off at every farms and orchards.
turn. Any local will be served tea at a Beyond that is desert
sidewalk cafe for about 50 cents. But if and more desert! In
you're a tourist, that same tea will cost other words, Egypt
you $5. Don't even get me started! is a two-mile wide,
The trip the rest of the way up the 960-mile long strip of
Suez Canal to Port Said consisted of green, surrounded by
more motoring past sand dunes and desert.
being passed at close quarters by huge Nonetheless, there
container ships. are tourists every-
where in Egypt. The
Egyptians have been
CHANGES

all the wonderful aspects of cruising in

Turkey, from the low cost and beauty to loss of the boat was a reminder of how
the terrific people. quickly our lives can take a nasty turn.
— marvin 9/01/09 We cruised around the two main is-
lands of Samoa and enjoyed the dramatic
Solace — Hylas 47 scenery. We then had a short passage
Paul and Gina Rae to Niuatoputapu — often referred to as
Onboard Surgery and Such 'New Potatoes' — which is an island in
(New Zealand) the Niua group of Tonga. This island is
After leaving Bora Bora, we enjoyed still the Pacific paradise that was written
a vigorous passage to Suwarrow Atoll in about in years past. The setting is idyllic
the Northern Cooks. There we enjoyed and the friendly islanders shared their
the fabulous hospital- lifestyle with us. It was hard to leave, but
ity of John, the Park the weather encouraged us.
Ranger. What a won- We later had a 30-hour passage
der ful steward and — again in rigorous conditions — to
tour guide! Suwarrow Neiafu, Vava'u, Tonga. Our plan is to
has more life, above enjoy these islands until we can find a
and below the surface, weather window for the 1,100-mile pas-
than of any of the is- sage to New Zealand, our home.
lands we've been to so But on the day we arrived in Neiafu,
far. As such, we think the salon of Solace was turned into an
it's a 'must see' for operating theatre. You see, Willam of
those cruising across Eagle Wing had dropped a hatch on his
the Pacific. finger, all but severing the top of his fin-
Apia from the air. ger through the nail down to the knuckle.
After several weeks,
we departed for Apia, Independent Sa- So his finger needed medical attention.
moa. Once again it was a mixed bag of a Fortunately, Betsy, a doctor from Wash-
passage, as we had one day of motoring ington, was aboard the nearby Qayak,
and two days of 'reinforced trades' — in- and agreed to help. She was assisted by
cluding sustained winds of 30 knots. We Paul, who is an operating room nurse.
decided to skip Pago Pago in American Thanks to the two of them, it looks as
Samoa, as the cruisers ahead of us re- through William's finger will be saved.
ported that the harbor was very dirty. William was fortunate that Betsy and
We ended up flying to Pago Pago later, Paul were here, as the accident hap-
and saw that we would not have wanted pened on a Sunday, and everything in
to bring our boat there. But as it's an Tonga closes for the Day of Rest — in-
American Territory, it was a great place cluding medical services. regatta.
to provision with American products. — gina 09/15/09 — ben & lisa newton, Waking Dream
Our stay in Independent Samoa was — baker hardin, Liten Up
marred only by watching the sailing ves- First Annual — jason angress, Fale Vaka Lobo
sel Camille go up on a reef and slowly be Regatta Vava'u — james barbour, dinghy James I Am
damaged beyond repair. She was eventu- We on the organizing committee are
ally stripped, then her hull cut into three pleased to report that the First An- Moonduster — S&S 47
pieces and dragged into deep water. The nual Regatta Vava'u was a smashing Wayne Meretsky and Neria
It was an unusual surgery because it took place success, with over 56 boats actively Carbon and Bananas
in a sailboat salon and because the nurse, a participating and over 300 people at- (Alameda)
male, wore a Ha-Ha T-shirt as a scrub. tending the Full Moon Party. The event, My S&S 47 Moonduster became a
held September 3-8, was a whole new boat after I removed the skeg-
fundraiser with proceeds hung barn door rudder in New Zealand
going to four local chari- and replaced it with a carbon fiber bal-
ties: Vava'u Library, Vava'u anced spade rudder. The refit went over
Library's School Scholarship budget, of course, but at least they got
Fund, Hunga's Kindy Fund, it done on time. While getting the boat
and Vava'u's Laboratory Ser- worked on, I noticed that New Zealand
vices. But many participants has a much different approach to capi-
came away winners, too, as talism from the U.S., and although it
250 prizes were awarded to can be difficult at times, I find it much
registered participants. And more to my liking than the current ver-
they were great prizes, too, sion in the States. So, I will likely apply
including liters of motor oil, for residency in New Zealand when Neria
packs of toilet paper, and and I return in December.
Humpback Whale Swimming But right now we're at Ha’apai in
and Kart Safaris! We're al-
ready working on next year's
 IN LATITUDES

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY DIETMAR PETUTSCHNIG

were. Just so we could remember what
it was like to have responsibilities — or,
God forbid, jobs — yesterday Neria and
I polished some stainless steel, disas-
sembled, cleaned and lubricated a
winch, greased the windlass, pretended
to fix the sail track gate on the mast, and
dealt with some long-standing electrical
Come BBQ time, this little guy didn't get cold feet.
noise problems that have plagued the
SSB. This morning we woke up with a
sense of satisfaction that we’re hoping
will last for a few weeks.”
— wayne 09/01/09

Reba — Celestial 48
Steve and Jaime Sidells
It's Such A Small Cruising World
(Incline Village)
How small the world of cruising is
continues to amaze us. The Nutt family's
60-ft steel ketch was from Edgecomb,
Maine. Lani and Richard Straman's 86-
ft Fife schooner Astor was from Newport
Beach. And our Reba was from Northern
California. And in 2000, the crews from
the three boats met and became good
friends in French Polynesia and other
island groups across the Pacific. As time
passed, we lost contact with Danza.
This fall Jaime and I had the pleasure
of sailing the coast of Maine aboard As-
tor, guests of the Stramans. Latitude
readers may remember the June issue
of Latitude, in which it was reported that
Astor took first in class and the Concours
awards at 2009 Antigua Race Week.
But after some sleuthing and good
Three photographs depicts various good times at eating — some soup several days ago luck, we managed to cross paths with
at the first-ever regatta in Vava'u, Tonga. You can — hadn't worked out. After about four Danza, which had completed a cir -
bet it won't be the last. spoons of it, my stomach sent me a clear cumnavigation and returned to Maine.
the Kingdom of Tonga, where we have a warning signal, so I waited. But now it's So after nine years, the Stramans and
much more serious problem. Bananas. two days later, and I ate some boiled Sidells got to meet up again with David
Buying a stalk of them seemed like a pasta with tomato — it tasted delicious! Nutt, Judy Sandick and their son David,
good idea at the time. It always does. Enjoying my new-found hunger, Wayne who are living near Boothbay Harbor,
But now we’ve got a sink full of ripe ba- was set to work again — at 3 a.m., no Maine. We learned that they completed
nanas. Plus two loaves of banana bread. less — to prepare more complex carbo- The Newport Beach-based 'Astor' in magnifi-
And a pan of banana muffins. Neria says hydrates for me. Boiled potatoes and cent flight enroute to winning class honors at
she’s had it “up to here” with bananas, butter — mmmmm! It may seem that this year's Antigua Classic Regatta.
but they aren’t coming out her ears yet. I'm currently fixated on food,
I checked. If nature is so perfect, why and that would be a fair as- MOONSHADOW
do all the bananas — about 30 of them sessment. All I can say is
— on a stalk ripen within 24 hours of that it is great to be hungry
each other? Fortunately, the ocean is again."
impossibly large, so the addition of 30 Right now we're anchored
ripe bananas won’t even make a ripple. off the sand spit that sepa-
For a while there on our passage up rates the islands of Uonuku-
from New Zealand, it seemed as though hihifo and Uonukuhahake.
Neria might never eat anything again. For ease, we refer to them as
From her log: HiHi and HaHa, the Happy
"Great things have occurred. After Islands. The cows that wan-
four days sustained only by nibbles on dered across the sand spit
dry crackers and sips of water, I have just last year seem to have
finally eaten a meal. My previous attempt disappeared, but they’ve
been replaced by pigs — pigs
nearly as large as the cows
 CHANGES

their circumnavigation four years ago,

that David is doing boat repair, Judy is nifer Sanders, and her daughter, Coco,
a physician at a local hospital, three of have been out cruising the Pacific aboard
their children are going through college, Jennifer’s 65-ft Long Beach-based
and son David had just graduated from schooner Cocokai for a couple of years
Dartmouth. now. “Life aboard is still great. We’re in
One of the last western Fiji right now, and will be on
times our three boats the hard for about six weeks. If anybody
had been together wants to follow us on our website, they
w a s i n Va n u a t u , can't, because we're probably the only
where Jaime and I ones out here who don't have ours up
decided that we could yet."
not continue on to “I encourage cruisers not to miss the
the Solomon Islands. 9th Annual Zihua Sail Fest fund-raiser
Since Danza was go- February 2-7 for the education of disad-
ing to continue on vantaged children in Zihuatanejo,” writes
that way, we asked Pamela Bendall of the Port Hardy, British
them if they would try Columbia-based Kristen 46 Precious
to look up Mark Philip Metal. “While the tone of the event is
for us. Who is Mark lighthearted and filled with games, pa-
'Astor's' beautiful Philip? rades, races and much more, the goal is
woodwork.
While crossing the very serious — to raise lots of money to
equator in the Eastern Pacific during the educate Zihua’s poorest children so they
'00 Puddle Jump, Jaime and I threw a have a fighting chance in life. Last year
bottle into the ocean. Over a period of 16 we raised 640,000 pesos, including the
months and two days, it traveled 5,000 matching grant from the Bellack Foun-
miles across the Pacific, where it was dation of San Diego and cruiser/donor
found on Makira Island by Philip! Dur- Pete Boyce of the Tiburon-based Sabre
ing our most recent meeting, the crew of 40 Edelweiss III. Further bolstered by a
Danza was surprised to learn that Philip $20,000 U.S. grant from Rotary Inter-
and I have been in contact ever since. national, material donations from the
Thanks to all the lobster traps and city and state, and the volunteer labor of
rocks, sailing in Maine is like sailing an dozens and dozens of parents, Sail Fest
obstacle course. But the experience is now supports 600 bright-eyed children
fabulous, especially when lobsters from in nine schools. Your having a great time
the traps end up on our plates. As for us at Sail Fest can truly change the life of a
and Reba, we look forward to continu- Mexican child. If you want to volunteer
ing sailing the unobstructed waters of to help out, or can’t make it and want to
Banderas Bay this winter. write a check, visit www.zihuasailfest. Fest will be held April 9-10. We'll have
— steve 09/18/09 com for details." workshops, seminars, music, fantastic
Latitude 38 highly recommends con- food, games — and on Sunday we have
Cruise Notes: tributions and participation in the Sail a fun sailboat race for all types and sizes
“I just realized that it’s Jen's and my Fest Event. of boats. There will be no cost other than
fourth anniversary of meeting at Buc- “I’ve a few corrections and an addition for the food and beverages.”
caneer Day at Two Harbors, Catalina,” for Latitude's calendar of events in Mexi- Patsy Verhoeven of the Portland- and
writes Greg King of Long Beach. He, Jen- co,” writes Rick Cromwell, Commodore of La Paz-based Gulfstar 50 Talion wants
For a couple who hooked up at Buccaneer Day Club Cruceros de La Paz. “Our club will everyone to know that Sea of Cortez
at Catalina, Greg King and Jennifer Sanders be hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for Sailing Week will be held April 15-22
have had an unusually long relationship. cruisers at Marina Palmira. We provide next year, putting it right between Bay
the turkey and dressing, the Fest in La Paz and Loreto Fest in Puerto
LAWRENCE LANGCOWEE

rest is potluck. Last year we Escondido. “We started the first two Sea
fed 265 people, including a of Cortez Sailing Weeks on April Fool’s
bunch of Ha-Ha folks, and Day, and Tax Day is sort of like April’s
welcome everyone again this Fool’s Day, so it all makes sense,” she
year. As for the big Subasta says. Sea of Cortez Sailing Week features
fundraiser on December 6, fun races from La Paz to Caleta Partida,
through mutual agreement, Caleta Partida to Isla San Francisco, Isla
it will now be run by the San Francisco to Caleta Partida, and
Fundación de los Ninos de Caleta Partida back to La Paz, so yeah,
La Paz. While our club will no it’s for folks who really love to sail. There
longer host the event, we re- will also be three lay days for socializing
main sponsors, and many of at the islands.
our members will help make The Hidden Port YC of Puerto Escon-
it run smoothly. Lastly, our
annual Club Cruceros Bay
 IN LATITUDES

LATITUDE/NICK
Turkish freighter Gulser Ana rescued the
two French crew from Fred and Sophy
Tassigny’s St. Barth-based Venezia 42
Courtship. In a rather unusual series
of events several hundred miles from
Bermuda, the cat’s steering had been
crippled by a surfac-
ing whale, and the
ship was only able to
rescue the crew by
T-boning and dismast-
ing the cat. Fast for-
ward to August 26 of
this year, with Gulser
Ana headed to India
with a cargo of 39,000
tons of phosphates.
Somehow the big ship
grounded two miles The 'Gulser Ana'
meeting her fate off
off Faux Cape, Mada-
Madagascar.
gascar. She ultimately
broke in two, leaking fuel, phosphates
and other nasty stuff into the ocean. All
23 crew — 21 Turks and two Indonesians
— were rescued.
That still leaves us bedeviled by the
question of whatever happened to Court-
ship? If you go to YouTube and type in
Gulser Ana, you’ll see a video of the ship
intentionally ramming the cat. But even
after being dismasted, the cat appeared
to be in no danger of sinking. We’ve got
to believe that she rode the Gulf Stream
across the Atlantic to Ireland. Anybody
hear anything?
“Anyone know what’s happened to Liz
Clark of the Santa Barbara-based Cal 40
Swell?” asks Kevin Quinn. “Her blog on
Participating in one of the cruiser fund-raising Harbor. I was changing out the propane Wet Sand seems to have vanished. I hope
events from Zihau to Loreto is a great way to tank for a full one, with wrenches in she’s well.”
help the wonderful kids of Mexico. hand, when I heard — and felt — a very It just so happens that we met up with
dido, which hosts the Loreto Fest, has large explosion behind me. It was closer Liz in Santa Barbara in early October,
yet to post the dates of next spring’s than almost anything I experienced and can report that four years into her
event. But, it’s usually the last weekend while in Iraq and Afghanistan. I turned sailing-surfing safari, she’s doing great,
of April or the first weekend of May. As around to see — about 100 yards away thank you. And she’s been very busy.
such, next April and early May are going — burning debris flying through the The October issue of Surfer magazine
to be packed with events for cruisers in air, and an enormous cloud of smoke. Having been very busy with personal projects,
the Sea of Cortez. You don't want to miss After the smoke dissipated, we saw some Liz Clark is dying to get back to 'Swell' and the
it, because it's perhaps the best time of Sheriff’s deputies walking around near cruising life.
year in the Sea. the site of the explosion. LATITUDE/RICHARD
It sounded like war, but fortunately It turns out that some
wasn’t as destructive. “We — meaning Navy flares had washed
my wife LaShandra and children Ke- ashore, and a bomb
turah, 13, and John Jr., 12 — survived squad had been flown
the October 12 storm unscathed after over to the island to
hiding in the lee of China Cove at San detonate them. The fact
Cruz Island,” writes John Fluro of the that I was working on
San Francisco-based Hylas 47 Alias. my propane tanks at the
Alas, our anchor windlass failed the time was just luck.”
next day, so it was very difficult to pull Changes readers
up our 60-lb CQR on an all-chain rode. with good memories
We left Santa Cruz Island for Catalina, will recall that, in the
where we picked up a mooring in Cat February ‘09 issue, we
wrote about how in the
fall of ‘08, the 600-ft
CHANGES

LATITUDE/ANNIE
has a fine article on her adventures
to date called Crossing Oceans, and back to Swell as soon as I can,” Liz told
there’s a Patagonia ad in the same issue us. “I still love French Polynesia and
that features a photo of Clark surfing the whole cruising lifestyle. And I enjoy
Teahupo’o, Tahiti, which is as danger- singlehanding in particular, because
ous a break as there is on this planet. when you’re alone, you have lots of time
In addition, Liz wrote an article called to work on yourself, and you can also
Blue Mountains Constantly Walking for act on impulse. Travelling alone means
the October issue of the much-respected you get to meet more people and be more
Surfer’s Journal. The really big news, open to opportunities.”
however, is that Patagonia invited Liz to As we gave Liz a goodbye hug, we were
join a two-week surf legends trip aboard reminded of how physically small she is.
a converted trading vessel in Indonesia. Yet she’s come so far and done so much.
“If you include the entire crew, it was 15 She’s a real inspiration herself.
guys and me,” she laughs. “But I had Capt. Eric B. Forsyth, a former fighter
the privilege of being able to ride waves pilot in the Royal Air Force, arrived in
with iconic surfers such as Gerry Lopez, San Francisco Bay right around our No-
Wayne Lynch and Chris, Dan and Keith vember issue deadline with his Westsail
Malloy. The great people and great waves Liz Clark of 'Swell' is featured in the current is- 42 Fiona, so we haven't had a chance to
made it a fabulous experience. Gerry is sues of both 'The Surfer's Journal' and 'Surfer' interview him yet. But wow, what a sail-
60 and Wayne is 58, but thanks to doing magazine. ing resume! He and his wife Edith came
lots of yoga, they are still tremendous my surfing.” out to California in ‘74 to have a look at
surfers. The engine would come on at If that’s not busy enough, a publisher the first Westsail 42 hull in Costa Mesa.
4 a.m. each morning to get to the first contacted Liz about doing a book, so They liked what they saw, and bought a
break of the day, then we’d hit three or she’s been holed up in Santa Barbara hull and deck, figuring that Eric could
four other spots a day. The guys were not working on that. “But I’m dying to get complete the boat in four years. It took
only inspirations, they were kind enough eight years to complete the job, but he’s
to help me make some adjustments in subsequently sailed her 240,000 ocean-

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Page 146 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 IN LATITUDES

COURTESY/FLASHGIRL
miles, visiting just about every corner self,” reports Warwick
of the globe. In fact, he was awarded ‘Commodore’ Tompkins
the Blue Water Medal by the Cruising of the Mill Valley-based
Club of America in ‘00. Forsyth arrived Wylie 38+ Flashgirl.
in San Francisco on October 17, having “Serge did some original
just completed the Northwest Passage. thinking in the design
Edith, a physician with a busy medical and construction phase,
practice, accompanied Eric on summer then underwent hellish
cruises in the early years, but passed privation while sailing
away of ovarian cancer in ‘90. But she's around the globe. Based
responsible for Fiona's name. on his book 500 Days
"We’d sold our beloved 35-ft Dutch Around The World, I
boat Iona a couple of years before," Eric think he must also own
explains, "a boat we’d cruised in the the world record for the
Caribbean with our then three-year- number of times hav-
old son. Both Iona and Fiona have the ing run aground. It’s
old-fashioned long keel of the genuine also amazing that, despite having gone Commodore Tompkins with Serge Testa at the
ocean cruiser, so when Edith first saw through several cyclones, his little boat Brisbane Museum with 'Acrohc Australis', the
the Westsail 42 hull, she was surprised. never capsized. Acrohc Australis, which smallest boat to circumnavigate, in back.
'My God,' she exclaimed, 'another f--king is the smallest to have ever circumnavi- or questions. He’s a pleasant and soft-
Iona!' And that’s where Fiona's name gate, is on display at the Brisbane Mu- spoken fellow, but very difficult to draw
came from!" seum, which is where I met Serge and out.”
“While returning to my boat in Aus- got an autographed copy of his book. He What Tompkins neglected to mention
tralia recently, I met Serge Testa who, later visited my Flashgirl, and surprised is that Testa, who lived in Berkeley with
among other things, circumnavigated me by essentially having no comments his wife Robin until just recently, did
with the 11-ft, 10-inch cutter Acrohc a second circumnavigation with a 60-
Australis that he designed and built him- footer he designed and built.

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 147

CHANGES

LATITUDE/NICK
As for Tompkins, he and Paul Slivka
— the latter who sailed from the Bay eight more years," writes Jack, who had
Area to Australia with his family aboard already done all but about 5,000 miles of
their Piver 30 tri Harmony in ‘77 and a circumnavigation. "I dread the thought
never came back — were slated to de- of singlehanding my 30-year-old plywood
liver the Freedom 39 Mainly to a more boat through the Panama Canal, so I'm
saleable location than American Samoa. hoping that, by the time I've seen all I
You might remember that Dan and Joan want to see of Europe, the Northwest
Olszewski of the East Coast had been Passage will still be ice-free. But right
cruising the boat for more than 20 years now, my plan is to head up the Rhine
when Dan was swept away and killed by River and down the Danube River next
the tsunami that hit Pago Pago on Sep- fall in order to do the winter of '10-'11 in
tember 29. Unable to bear the thought Turkey. Eventually I'll get flushed back
of keeping the boat without Dan on her, into the Atlantic — unless, of course, I
Joan ordered Mainly sold as quickly as make a left turn at the Red Sea. At the
possible. Almost immediately — and moment, I'm in northern Europe, so
certainly before Commodore and Slivka I'm wearing socks and have an electric
could deliver her anywhere — the boat heater buzzing in the companionway. I
was sold. If we're not mistaken, it was as had some trepidations on venturing out
the result of a notice in 'Lectronic. So now Cruise your ocean going sailboat on the Danube of the warmer climes to cool Europe, the
Commodore is back to his original plan, River. You have to take your mast down, but land of very high prices, but so far it's
which is to cruise that area of the world there's no law against it. been a positive experience beyond my
some more with Flashgirl. He'll soon be Van Ommen of the Gig Harbor, Wash- wildest expectations."
joined by his wife, Nancy. ington-based Naja 30 Fleetwood. For the record, although one per-
It's characteristic of many singlehand- "The goal I've set for myself is to son was allowed to swim through the
ers, who are big on self-sufficiency, that complete my solo circumnavigation by Panama Canal — where were the crocs?
they'd think doing the Northwest Passage my 80th birthday, which gives me only — nobody is allowed to singlehand any
would be less dangerous than transiting boat through the Panama Canal. All
the Panama Canal. For instance, Jack boats are required to have a skipper, four

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The Cruiser's Home in Mexico
Page 148 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009
 IN LATITUDES

DAVE HAMILTON
line-handlers, and an Advisor. on October 12 caused
Another characteristic of singlehand- the anchor line to break
ers, is that they don’t like to be told what at the swivel. He swam
to do. So it doesn’t surprise us that out to his boat, but got
Glenn Tieman of the Ventura-based 38- there too late to deploy
ft traditional Polynesian cat Manu Rere another anchor. Ky-Mani
would have nothing to do with Samoa ended up below the bluff
after officials in Apia told him that he'd where the Palladium
have to put his boat in a marina. “As Resort is located and
soon as I heard the news,” writes the where Stephan works
man who once cruised the Pacific and as a bartender. It's only
Asia for 10 years aboard a 26-ft cat, "I a short distance from
sailed right back out to sea. I ended up Burro's, the fine surf
at Wallis Island, and was there the when spot Stephan has been
the tsunami hit Samoa. I'm now in Fu- anchoring off for a long
nafuti, Tuvalu.” time. The combination of
One of the great gigs for young surfer- the waves and the rocks made short work Having sailed 'Profligate' by the intrepid 'Ky-
sailors has been to buy a small sailboat, of the Coronado 25 and, before long, Mani' many times, it's a shame to see her help-
park her along the surf break-rich north there was nothing left. As for Stefan, he's less and dying on the beach.
coast of Banderas Bay, liveaboard, then temporarily ashore while looking for a tober 12 storm?” Arjan Bok of the San
get a job ashore. That's exactly what $3,000 replacement boat. Francisco-based Lidgard 43 RotKat
young Stephan Ries has been doing for If you want to see a dramatic video asked rhetorically. “We'd left San Fran-
seven years with his Coronado 25 Ky- of a guy riding his boat onto the beach, cisco a couple of days before to head to
Mani. But anchoring out permanently go to youtube.com and type in 'ky-mani Southern California to get ready for the
has its risks, too, as you can see from the lost'. It's dramatic. Ha-Ha. It seemed as though we’d have
accompanying photo. Ries says that his “You wanted stories about the Oc- no problem getting to the Santa Barbara
10-kg Bruce didn't drag, but rather the area before the storm would reach us.
shock loading during stormy conditions Unfortunately, the forecasts were off

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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 149

CHANGES

LATITUDE/RICHARD
by about 12 hours. By the time we got
to Point Arguello, it was blowing in the be celebrating its 60th anniversary from
mid-20s from the southeast with steep November 6-8. It’s expected to be a party
and nasty 4 to 6-ft waves on our nose. for the ages, and we've heard that all the
We sailed for quite a while, but were only rooms on the island have been reserved
making 4 to 5 knots headway towards because so many old friends of Marius
Santa Cruz island. With RotKat starting Stakelborough, the bar's only owner, will
to act more and more like a submarine, be flying in from around the world. Mar-
at 9 a.m. I proposed to the crew that we ius, one of the gentlemen and characters
turn downwind and head back up to of the Caribbean, was born on the tiny
Morro Bay. There were no arguments island in '23. He can tell a million stories
about that. We got to Morro Bay by 3 of 'the old days'. Jimmy Buffett, Marius’
p.m., at which point we discovered that good friend for more than 30 years and
the Ha-Ha burgees are really only good a part-time resident of the island, will
for downwind, for the 30+ knots of appar- be among the many musicians playing.
ent wind had blown some of the rubbery We’d have given just about anything to
lettering off our burgee. We — as well as celebrate with Marius, but alas, the dates
other Ha-Ha boats Sea Bear and Music conflict with the Ha-Ha. Nonetheless, we
at the yacht club docks, and Willful Sim- At age 86, Marius still looks great and still draws should have some coverage next month,
plicity on a nearby mooring — rode out the ladies. Just don't let him catch you bringing as JuJu Chantenuff of San Francisco, a
gusts in the harbor without any problem. a four-legged dog into Le Select. rogue of the first order and a long time
As soon as the wind resumes blowing is in your favor. habitué of St. Barth, has invited Heather
in the right direction, we’ll continue on Le Select, perhaps the most famous Corsaro, last year’s commodore of the
down to Catalina.” sailor’s bar in the Caribbean, and indis- Punta Mita Yacht & Surf Club, to cover
It’s hard to give up miles made to putably the social hub of chic St. Barth, the festivities for us.
windward, but if you’re cruising as op- despite being bare-bones and retro, will With the northern hemisphere win-
posed to racing, it's often the smart thing ter upon us, the rally time of year is
to do. Especially when the normal wind fast approaching. The Atlantic Rally for

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Page 150 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 IN LATITUDES

LATITUDE/RICHARD
Cruisers (ARC), the granddaddy of all But they've got them, too.
cruising rallies, will depart Las Palmas Anybody for a rally to El
in the Canaries on November 22 with a Salvador? Bill Yeargan
full fleet of 225 entries. Their destination and Jean Strain of the
will be 2,700-mile distant St. Lucia. The Honolulu-based Irwin 37
ARC course is one of the great cruising Mita Kuuluu report that
routes in the world, as it's a warm, down- the El Salvador Ministry
wind passage in the trades. Every sailor of Tourism and the owner
should do it once in their lives. There are of Hotel Bahia del Sol
about a dozen entries from the United have authorized them to
States, but to our knowledge none from develop a cruisers' rally to
the West Coast. If we're wrong, please El Salvador. "Our idea is
speak up! something like the Puddle
Also in November is the 20th Carib- Jump, in that it would
bean 1500, from Hampton, Virginia, to be free and cruisers could start and Forget Applebee's, thought by locals to be the
the British Virgins. There are 63 boats travel on their own schedule — as long top restaurant in La Paz. Eat at Rancho Viejo,
entered, the average length of which is as they arrive in El Salvador by April where the food is cheap and delicious.
47.5 feet, about five feet longer than the 30. The objective of this rally is to help travel inland." The event hopes to have
average Ha-Ha boat. Almost all of the cruisers unearth the less-traveled but their website up soon.
entries are from the East Coast, although spectacular destination of El Salvador, If you avoid marinas and bars and
there are four from Canada, two from and have a lot of fun at the same time. restaurants, cruising in Mexico can be
the U.K., and one each from Japan, The rally destination of Bahia del Sol very cheap. But not as cheap as a month
Germany and New Zealand. offers a low-key, relaxing atmosphere ago. Thanks to the U.S. government
There are also various other rallies where like-minded cruisers can meet printing money as fast as the presses
across the Atlantic. We rarely hear about and safely leave their boats while they can be run, the dollar has been slipping
the French and German ones because against almost every major currency
most of us don't speak the language. in the world. So if you're going to New

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Latitude 38 • Page 151

CHANGES

LATITUDE/NICK
Zealand or especially Australia, your
greenbacks are going to buy 10 to 20% mas celebrations every-
less than a month ago. In Mexico, the where there is a group
exchange rate has dropped from about of cruisers.
13.5 to 12.5 in just the last month. And please don't for-
For those of you doing the Ha-Ha, get the Banderas Bay
there are lots of great post-event options. Blast December 2-4,
One of them is the La Paz area, and to let which will feature the
you know how welcome you are, the city annual reopening of
and state tourism departments, as well the ultra-exclusive and
as Marina de La Paz, Marina Palmira, super -snobby Punta
Marina Costa Baja, Club Cantamar and Mita Yacht & Surf Club,
Coral Marina Estates are inviting you a costume party aboard
to Papa's & Beer Beach Club for a beach Profligate on the hook
party on November 19. While the event is at Punta Mita, rock 'n
open to everyone, it's free to the first 50 roll and dancing at Phi-
participants from the Ha-Ha. The water lo's in La Cruz, a water balloon catching Yes, it's juvenile to try to catch waterballoons
in the La Paz area often stays warm until contest, and three days of 'everybody's a from the top of the La Cruz YC, but it's a Ban-
the first or even middle of December, so winner' fun-racing between Nuevo Val- deras Bay Blast, too.
if you're not going to hit it in the spring, larta, La Cruz and Punta Mita. We do rived — and none too soon. We want
don't miss it in the fall. You want to keep have to warn you that new Commodore all of you out there to know that we'd
your eye out for Northers, of course, but Lisa Zittel has been working out over the love to see your names and photos in
they usually pass through quickly. And summer to make sure that she gives all Latitude. It's easy, just email a couple
when in La Paz, don't miss at least one new members of the Punta Mita Y&S the of your best high-res photos to richard@
meal at Rancho Viejo. spanking they deserve. But remember, latitude38.com, making sure to include
Marine and other businesses in the no paddling, no yacht club T-shirt. the Who, What, Where, and When. Short
Mazatlan and Banderas Bay areas also The '09-'10 cruising season has ar- and simple is best, but please, complete
having the welcome mat out for you. names, hailing ports and boats types.
There will be Thanksgiving and Christ- Have a great season!!!

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Page 152 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 Think ahead for the upcoming
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November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 153

 s y
Cla C LASSIFIEDS
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Here’s What To Do: Personal Ads BUSINESS Ads DEADLINE

Write your ad. Indicate category. Remember is ALWAYS the
price and contact info. We make final placement 1-40 Words......... $40 $70 for 40 Words Max
determination. 41-80 Words....... $65 • All promotional advertising • 18th at 5 pm
Count the words. Anything with a space 81-120 Words..... $90 1 boat per broker per issue for ad to appear in the next issue.
before and after counts as one word. We will Photo.................. $30 Logo OK, but no photos/reversals
spell-check, abbreviate, edit, as necessary. Due to our short lead time,
• Personal Advertising Only • No extra bold type • Max: 12 pt font deadlines are very strict and
Mail your ad with check or money order, No business or promo ads except Artwork subject to editor approval.
deliver to our office; OR, for the best – and Non-Profit, Job Op, Business Op Biz ads will not appear on website. include weekends & holidays.
most exposure – of your classified ad…
‘Trying to Locate’ Ads are for those searching for Sorry, but…
Submit your ad safely online lost boats/people – not shopping – and cost • No ads accepted by phone
with Visa, MasterCard or AmEx at: $10 for 20 words max • No ads without payments
www.latitude38.com FREE Online Ads are for a private party selling • No billing arrangements
Ad will be posted online within two business days, a boat for less than $1,000 – or gear totalling under $1,000. • No verification of receipt
appear in the next issue of the magazine, and re- (One per person; must list prices in ad.) • We reserve the right to refuse
main online until the following issue is released. All ads will be set to fit Latitude 38 standard • Re-Run Ads: Same price, same deadline poor quality photos or illegible ads.

Latitude 38 15 Locust Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941 Questions? (415) 383-8200, ext 104 • class@latitude38.com

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Page 154 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 25 TO 28 FEET 27-FT CATALINA, 1985. Oakland Marina.
$18,500. Loaded. Universal diesel, ped-
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but no spinnaker, new front hatch Lexan.
(510) 593-8697 or ssnick@gmail.com.

25-FT CORONADO, 1968. Berkeley. CAL 2-29, 1977. Alameda. $6,900. In

$6,500. Cozy, clean, comfortable fun Bay nice condition with spacious interior and
boat: New standing rigging, new mainsail, wheel steering. Recent Ballenger mast,
stereo, marine radio, 2 furling jibs, Honda rigging, chainplates, mainsail, lazyjacks,
8hp outboard. Good beginner sail boat. Harken furler and interior cushions. Far-
(510) 843-7745 or (510) 387-2051. rymann diesel has flywheel/transmission
issues. 5hp Nissan mounted on transom.
25-FT MACGREGOR, 1985. Manzanilla, Great slip in Alameda. (510) 593-8697 or
25-FT BAYFIELD, 1986. San Diego, CA. ssnick@gmail.com.
Mexico. $3,500 asking. South of the bor- $14,500. Stout trailerable pocket cruiser. 30-FT S29.2A, 1979. South Beach, SF.
der, Manzanillo, Mexico. Sloop in good Sleeps 4, enclosed head, diesel, 5’10” $21,500. The S29.2A 30-ft is a very well
condition with two-axle trailer, Honda 30-FT CATALINA, 1979. Rio Vista.
headroom. All systems upgraded or re- $9800/obo. New roller furling, lifelines maintained sloop-rigged, fin keel, skeg
7.5hp outboard and many extras. (707) placed with new 2008-09. Ready to go! rudder. Upgrades include, 30hp Yanmar
433-2547 or Henson@sonic.net. 1994, Atomic 4, dodger, tiller; last MK I hull
Photos available. Fun, safe, gorgeous #1545. Great Bay/Delta boat. (559) 284- 3YM30G, dual fuel tanks: 26 & 13gal,
little ship! tomacado@verizon.net or (951) 2144 or rdunne@ddmattorneys.com. dripless packing gland, exhaust water lift,
699-5909. three blade prop, cutlass bearing, Raycor
J/29, 1985. Seattle, WA. $23,000. Abraca- fuel filter, North Sail main, North Sail 110
dabra. Excellent race history. Completely jib, replaced all rigging, Raymarine radar
refurbished in 2003. B&G instruments, 12 mile, main sail cover, life lines, water
rod rigging, faired hull, hydraulic back- pressure pump. Email for full upgrade list
stay. Too many trick items to list. (253) and pics: dperillat@sbcglobal.net.
288-0117, (206) 571-1676 or stevemil@
grahamus.com.

25-FT CATALINA, 1986. Delta. $5,495.

Poptop cabin roof, outboard, roller furl-
ing jib, sleeps 2+, daysails 6+, galley, 27-FT SANTA CRUZ, 1973. Santa Cruz.
head. Clean and ready to go. High thrust $12,500. California Zephyr, SC 27 hull #
outboard also available. More pictures at 3 is fast and fun! Lighter than later boats,
website. Make us an offer! www.deltadrift- carbon fiber spinnaker pole, aluminum
er.com. (916) 777-5510, (408) 279-4435 spinnaker pole, 4 kites, 3 jibs, main (all
or mail@deltadrifter.com. Santa Cruz sails), new bottom paint 3 1 - F T W Y L I E , M O O N S H A D OW .
August 2009, new gel cell, Honda 2hp 4 $16,000/obo. One of Tom Wylie’s best
27-FT ANTRIM, 1999. Richmond YC. stroke (only 27 pounds!), trailer and more. custom-designed yachts for SF Bay and
$38,500. Always Friday, hull 15, has an 31-FT CAPE GEORGE CUTTER, 1992.
http://santacruz27.wordpress.com. Call Port Townsend, WA. This CG is one of the ocean racing. A winner, remains com-
excellent SF Bay racing record (National (831) 457-0398 . petitive today. Yanmar diesel, 9 Barient
champion in 2004 and 2007, and multiple- finest examples of a yard-completed Cape
George 31 in existence. Launched in 1992, winches, stainless rod rigging, Barient
winner of MORA in OYRA). Main features: backstay adjuster, Quick Vang boomvang,
Carbon mast, lightly used carbon sails, carefully maintained, well equipped for ex-
tended cruising. Interior layout features large sail inventory, Martex prop. Sleeps 6.
Nexus instruments with integrated GPS,
and a trailer. Has two built-in marine bat-
29 TO 31 FEET laminated Port Orford cedar beams, trim Hauled 10/08, new bottom paint. Excellent
with teak cabinets. Double berth forward, condition. Race ready. (415) 435-1006 or
teries that are charged with a solar panel. (415) 377-6688.
If sold in Bay Area, I will bring new owner enclosed head with shower, settee-berths
up to speed on A27 go-fast tricks. (925) amidships, overhead skylight. Aft galley to
443-4659 or jwliebe@pacbell.net. starboard, nav station to port. Cockpit has
two large cockpit lockers, 1 propane locker
and 1 lazarette locker. New engine, radar, 32 TO 35 FEET
Trinka dinghy, running backstays, down-
INTERNET FRAUD. Recently, we’ve been wind pole, windlass, AGM batteries, Force 32-FT PEARSON RACER/CRUISER.
getting another tidal wave of reports of 10 stove, BBQ, boom gallows, windvane, 1979. Alameda. $23,00 or reasonable of-
Internet scams, so we feel compelled to SSB, VHF, new thru-hulls/seacocks, etc. fer. Easily singlehanded Bill Shaw sloop.
warn you once again about this unfortu- See more at www.capegeorgecutters. Featured in August 2007 Practical Sailor.
nate aspect of human nature. If somebody 30-FT J/92, Dana Point. $57,000. Sail- com/brokerage/Infinity.html. (360) 385- 1250 hours on original M-15 Universal
wants to buy your boat sight unseen, and ing Magazine’s ‘Boat of the Year’. High 3412 or cgmw@olympus.net. diesel. Gear (vintage ‘95): Autopilot, digital
suggests sending you a cashier’s check performance racer/cruiser, overnight depth finder and gauge, Harken furler,
for more than the asking price, trust your accommodations for 4, spectacular sail- 31-FT PACIFIC SEACRAFT MARIAH. Navtek backstay adjuster, Hall Spars
instincts. It is too good to be true. Usu- ing, Quantum sails, carbon sprit, Yanmar 1979. Redwood City. $49,500. Bulletproof QuikVang, Furuno radar, 25-watt marine
ally they want you to cash the check and inboard, blue hull. Never raced, dry sailed world cruiser. 3-cylinder Yanmar diesel radio. New: 19-gallon aluminum fuel tank
return the remainder to them for shipping in fresh water. randallwinchell@cox.net or installed 2008. Recent standing rigging. and electric fuel pump (2002), 2 batteries
costs. Then, much later, the bank informs (949) 874-3957. Gorgeous teak interior. 2 burner stove (2006). Documentation: all original manu-
you that the check was no good. We with oven. Isotherm refrigerator. Sept 2009 als, ‘95 survey, maintenance, diving, haul
recommend that you don’t even respond haul-out and survey. http://sites.google. records since my ‘95 purchase. (510)
to the initial email inquiry. For more info com/site/pacificseacraftmariah. (510) 502- 525-2754.
on these cons, see: www.craigslist.com/ 8901 or nicholas.clinton@gmail.com.
about/scams.html Brave New World.

WOODRUM MARINE
Specializing in custom interior
CARPENTRY
Mobile cabinet shop
Contact Lon Woodrum at:
EAST BAY SAIL & COVER CLEANING
mildew, rust, grunge, sail repair
cabinetry, tables, cabinets, countertops,
cabinsoles. For power or sail.
415-420-5970 (510) 523-9011
www.woodrummarine.com
VOLPAR, Inc. MARINE SURVEYS by Captain Alan Hugenot
(408) 986-0848 • (800) 258-4545 Naval Architect • Yacht Delivery Skipper
Parts / Service • Penta Only Accredited Marine Surveyor (SAMS)
10am-7pm PST every day including Sat-Sun Bay or Delta • No Travel Charges • MC / VISA / AmEx
email: Volpar@Volpar.com alan@captainhugenot.com • (415) 531-6172

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 155

 engines • parts • service
We Ship
Anywhere
1-800-326-5135 (415) 453-1001
33-FT ALAJUELA, 1979. Ventura. 1D35, 1999. Richmond. $79,500. Two time
$38,000. Alajuela Yacht Corp 33 Cutter Rolex 1D35 Big Boat Winner, Diablita is
r FAX: (415) 453-8460
us fo (bigger than most 35’s). Excellent offshore in turn key condition. Always drysailed,
Call nearest ler www.helmutsmarine.com cruiser. Great condition, ready to sail. competitive inventory and practice sails,
your enta dea 5
619 Canal Street Repowered with Perkins Perama M35. with trailer. This one design thoroughbred
P 3 San Rafael, CA 94901
Volvo -326-51
Asking price reduced to $38,000. (714) is only 6500lbs, and is ready for anything.
1-800 732-9882 or jablonce@bp.com. Professionally maintained by KKMI. (510)
237-7600 or (510) 289-6422 or gboell@
34-FT SAN JUAN, 1984. $39,000. Fast innovaflavors.com.
AUTHORIZED POWER CENtER comfortable, blue water cruiser, excellent
condition. 6’ headroom, galley, sleeps six,
rod rigging. Roller furling headsail, 150%

1,000 Used Sails

genoa, main, working jib, in good condi-
tion. 3GMD Yanmar, Achilles dinghy, large
bimini. Price reduced. (510) 420-8956 or

Listed at nino@access-print.com.

minneysyachtsurplus.com
35-FT YORKTOWN, 1976. St. John, U.S.
We Buy Good Used Sails Virgin Islands. $45,000. Just completed
4 year circumnavigation. Baja Ha-Ha
and Marine Equipment 2005 and Puddle Jump 2006 Vet. Many
upgrades and ready to go. Why get beat

MINNEY’S YACHT SURPLUS up sailing down the Caribbean, buy one

that is already there! Find photos and
1500 Newport Bl., Costa Mesa, CA 34-FT TIFFANY JAYNE, 1982. Richmond.
$41,000. Sails like a dream. Very beautiful
equipment listing at: http://sandpiper38.
blogspot.com. (340) 514-0778 or email
949-548-4192 • minneys@aol.com and fast. Best sailboat of this size on SF
Bay. Like a big Alerion. Perfect for SF Bay
sandpiper_38@hotmail.com.

and coastal. 5600lbs. Low hour Yanmar.

“We keep boating affordable!” Excellent condition. One owner. (510) 525-
0279 or rpackard@berkeley.edu.

J/35, 1986. Vallejo. $42,900. Nice condi-

Quality CRUISING Sails for Less! tion. The boat has an excellent racing
record and a great sail inventory. It has
much new gear including some cruising
inventory. (530) 622-8761 or oakline30@
now MAINSAILS yahoo.com.

10F%
MIZZENS 35-FT J/109, 2004. Sausalito. $185,000.
Fast, fun, mint condition racer/cruiser
STAYSAILS
O F HEADSAILS
singlehand or with crew. 1st 2008 J/109
Division, 1st 2009 J-Fest Division, 3rd
SPINNAKERS PHRF (72 rating). Quantum Kevlar racing
and Dacron cruising sails (2 mains, 2 jibs),
SAILCOVERS 2 asymmetric spinnakers, new rigging,
STRONGTRACK Spectra lines. B&G instruments, VHF
radio, GPS, Yanmar diesel, 29 hp, excel-
lent condition. Doubles as performance
(510) 523-3337 • leesailsnc@yahoo.com cruiser with roller furling, all rigging led aft,
2021 Alaska Packer Pl. • Grand Marina • Alameda, CA 94501 CAL 34, 1977. Alameda. $21,900. Beauti- sleeps 6+ with full galley, head, shower,
ful sailing clean well maintained Cal 34. hot/cold water, fridge. Ready to race one-
SAILMAKER TO THE WORLD Strong diesel, lots of newer gear. This is
a lot of boat for under $22,000! Call Jay
design, Pac Cup, PHRF or cruise oceans
SF Bay and Delta in comfort, style and
for more info and photos. (209) 617-1384 performance. Must sell. (415) 717-3664
or jay.sousa@sbcglobal.net. or ahoys@earthlink.net.

Mathiesen Marine
For All Of Your Electrical & Electronic Needs
Professional installations by an
ABYC Certified Master Technician
Repair,
Electrical system troubleshooting Restoration &
& repair to ABYC standards New Construction
Fred Andersen Boat & Woodworks (510) 522-2705
Electronics, PC & Mac based Navigation
Systems Integration, Radar, Autopilots SMALL AD, SMALL PRICES • RIGGING ONLY
Corrosion Issues, Inverters, Battery Banks Standing and running rigging, life lines, furling gear, winches, line, windlasses,
-Fully Insured- travelers, wire and terminals, blocks, vangs, and much more.
~ ~ ~ Problem solving and discount mail order are our specialties ~ ~ ~
(510) 350-6622 www.MathiesenMarine.com www.riggingonly.com • (508) 992-0434 • email: sail@riggingonly.com

Page 156 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 32-FT WESTSAIL, 1973. Santa Cruz. 38-FT DOWNEAST CUTTER, 1980. Bay
$30,000. Beta Marine 37hp diesel, 300hrs. Area. $50,000. Nice one, 56hp Yanmar.
New aluminum fuel tanks. New sails, Lots of cruising gear, new standing rig-
covers. Monitor. Frigoboat fridge. Force ging, stove, windlass, and other gear. Lots
10 diesel heater. 400ah batt. Inverter, of ground tackle and chain. Call for full
charger. SL555 windlass. 300’ 3/8 chain. details. (707) 788-6109 or scneptune@
45#CQR. 406 EPIRB. Lavac head. Groco prodigy.net.
thru hulls. (907) 399-7733 or silathielke@
gmail.com. 36-FT PEARSON 365 KETCH, 1977.
Marina Village Yacht Harbor, Alameda.
35-FT HALLBERG-RASSY, 1972. Moss 36-FT PEARSON 365 KETCH, 1980. $53,000/obo. Beautiful liveaboard. 40hp
Landing, CA. $55,000. This is a nice Tonga/NZ/Fiji/Australia. $75,000. Com- Westerbeke diesel. 3 new sails. 2005-
center-cockpit bluewater cruiser. 30k in plete renovation and outfit for bluewater Standing rigging, refrigeration, entertain-
the last few years. Rebuilt Volvo MD30A. cruising. Owner lives aboard and cares ment and electronic systems. Rigid bottom
New Ullman sails with Furlex on jib. New for her like a baby. Structural upgrades, inflatable. Much more! (925) 457-4957 or
rigging. Comnav autopilot, Raymarine new electrical system, oversized equip- sailonchap@yahoo.com.
plotter, radar, Interphase Outlook and ment. Tweaked for fast ocean passages.
more. (831) 595-2467 or olinjordan@ Pacific crossing - 21 days. Hard dodger,
yahoo.com. Lighthouse windlass, watermaker, below
decks pilot w/spare, Iridium, SSB w/Pac-
32-FT COLUMBIA 5.5 METER, 1965. tor, 2005 UK Sails, new rigging, tons more.
Berkeley. $4,300. New traveler and main On the way to NZ, but delivery available
sheet. Custom teak/holly hatch covers. elsewhere in the SW Pacific. Details on
Main, spinnaker, 150 and working jib. website. www.getlostonpurpose.com/
Honda 7.5 hp four stroke outboard. With cruisingboatforsale. Email dwsorrell@
slip at Berkeley Marina. (925) 366-0089. yahoo.com.
35-FT SANTANA, 1982. Tiburon. $18,000. 36-FT ISLANDER FREEPORT, 1979. 36-FT ISLANDER, 1974. Delta Area,
Great boat for SF bay, handles high winds San Pedro. $50,000. Plan B model in Stockton. $19,900. Runs and sails great!
well. Very good shape. Many upgrades to good condition with Capehorn self steer- Has 50hp Perkins engine. Recent im-
32-FT BRISTOL YAWL, 1978. La Paz, rigging, includes hard rigging and extra ing, davits, inflatable and outboard. Well provements include new: mainsail, elec-
Baja, Mexico. $$29,900. Seaworthy Ted sails for racing. Engine runs great, over- maintained Perkins 4-108, always starts trical wiring, gauges, stainless port lights,
Hood design is rock solid and bone dry. hauled in 2001. (415) 846-3589 or (415) instantly and drive train in good condi- dodger, headliner, refrigerator and toilet.
Nearly all systems upgraded for our Or- 897-6311 or Goodots@aol.com. tion. (530) 721-1305 or gadams4292@ Recently polished fuel tanks. Sleeps 5.
egon to Sea of Cortez cruise 2008-2009. yahoo.com. Still needs more improvements. (408)
Documented and clean, but wife says go 375-9222.
bigger. Could be yours. See us in La Paz.
www.yachtworld.com/boats/1978/Bristol- 36-FT ISLANDER, 1975. $40,000. Re-
Yawl-2050788/La-Paz%2C-BCS/Mexico. cently surveyed, very good condition,
(541) 660-8914 or irie@clearwire.net. wheel steering, roller furling jib, Perkins
diesel. Contact Butch at Tradewinds Sail-
33-FT STEEL SAIL, 2006. Lowrie, San ing School and Club. (510) 232-7999.
Rafael. $56,000. Custom steel sloop.
28hp Beta diesel, MaxProp, Hogin full
batten main, Monitor vane, Raytheon
radar/GPS, stainless galley, extensive 32-FT ERICSON 32-200, 1989. South
ground tackle, Lavac head. Lines plan Beach Marina, San Francisco. $30,000. 37-FT ENDEAVOUR, 1981. Wilmington,
and pics on request. (707) 895-2813 or Good condition. Roller furling jib, genoa CA. $42,000. Excellent liveaboard with
derwinski@pacific.net. and mainsail in very good condition. 2 beautiful teak interior. Private owner’s
staterooms, galley, 15HP Universal die- cabin with double berth, huge salon, hang-
sel-low hours, knotmeter, depth and new ing lockers and drawers galore. 6’4” head
mechanical compass. Great boat for SF room, new upholstery, canvas and cos-
Bay. (415) 309-0249 or kpr1@mac.com. metics in recent years. Easy to sail. (562)
706-4334 or sailfast6@verizon.net. KETTENBURG 38, 1956. Berkeley,
Wilmington. “Nice boat!”, “Beautiful boat!”,
39-FT YORKTOWN, CENTER COCKPIT. “Gorgeous boat!” heard many times from
1980. Marina Bay, Richmond. $26,000. other boaters during every sail. Enjoy
36 TO 39 FEET Full bed aft cabin, V-berth, CNG gas character, admiration, and fantastic sail-
stove/oven, microwave, refrigerator, ing while sustaining the heritage. Details
36-FT PEARSON, 1985. South Beach freezer, ice maker, TV, DVD, VHF, radar, at: www.sailk38.com. (916) 847-9064 or
33-FT O.L., 1984. Bay Area. $14,500/ Harbor, SF. $67,500. A great Bay boat with GPS, depth finder, 50hp diesel, electric steve@paradigmpilgrim.com.
obo. Beautiful flush-deck gem in excel- deep fin keel. Beautiful, comfortable and windlass, electric head, separate shower.
lent condition. Roughly 40 were built in excellent sailing boat. Original Yanmar has Great liveaboard. (209) 743-6275 or vik@ 39-FT COLUMBIA, 1971. West Palm
Denmark and Tamara is the only one in less than 400 hrs. Interior is near perfect inreach.com. Beach, FL. $30,000. Deep draft 7’, tall
the Bay Area. Rigged for singlehanding. condition. Roller furler on jib, Dutchman on rig, wind gen. Westerbeke, propane, (AC,
All lines led aft, powerful double spreader, main and all lines led aft makes for easy 36-FT BENETEAU FIRST 36.7, 2005. 6.5gen. needs work). Dual diesel tanks,
keel-stepped rig, new running backs, singlehandling. Have original bill of sale Port Angeles, WA. $150,000. Deluxe, well dual battery bank, Anderson 46 winches,
new running rigging, Yanmar engine and and owner’s manual! Will consider part- maintained 36.7 for sale in Washington, brand new Sta-Lok rigging and genny,
Saildrive w/folding prop works great, ST nership with right party. This is a great boat just up the coast. See pics and specs at: extra sails including storm, new head,
4000 autopilot, Windpilot windvane, main in wonderful condition. (925) 286-8738 or beneteau367forsale.com (360) 452-1110 great storage, 7’ headroom, very roomy
w/2 reefs, working jib, 120, 130, storm Bobgthomas@earthlink.net. or (360) 460-1014 or bill@cpifiber.com. for liveaboard. (954) 325-0118.
jib, asymmetrical spinnaker. See photos
at: http://tinyurl.com/ylav3v7. Call (415)
845-6309 .

STARBOARD YACHT DELIVERIES VOLVO PENTA

Over 50,000 sea miles • Pacific, Caribbean, Atlantic Specialist Dealer Since 1980
USCG Master 100 GT STCW • Power & Sail ESKELUND MARINE • (510) 523-7670
Rick Whiting • (415) 740-2924 • captain_rick@sbcglobal.net 1913 Clement Ave • Alameda Marina • Bldg 13 at Pier 2
e where? Mexico • Caribbean • South Pacific MARINE CARPENTRY SERVICES
Going Som
Stop by our office and take a bundle of Latitude 38 along with you.
• 40 Years Experience Of Old World Craftsmanship •
Any woodwork repaired or replaced, interior or exterior.
We promise you’ll be a hero for sharing them with other cruisers! Specialist in dryrot repair. Contact: stonehenge5@netzero.net
Latitude 38 • 15 Locust Ave • Mill Valley, CA • (415) 383-8200 • Open M-F 9-5 (510) 521-2237 - hm/office • (510) 205-2802 - cell

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 157

 37-FT CREALOCK, 1980. Monterey.
$65,000. Cutter. Ballenger tabernacled
FASHION COMES ASHORE mast. New Yanmar w/saildrive, radar,
RFECT
THE PEAY GIFT!
GPS, easy access to all systems, 70gal
This holiday season make a splash with diesel, 3 watertight bulkheads. Not in
HOLID our weatherproof Totes, Duffels and yacht condition, needs finish work. Great
CoolerBags made from real sailcloth. little sailing ship. Price firm. ddatpbio@
These durable, yet stylish, bags can be gmail.com.
personalized with embroidery making
them the perfect gift for those on the go. 36-FT CATALINA MKII, 2001. Sausalito
It’s the one holiday gift they'll use Yacht Harbor. $100,000/obo. Fresh-water
beauty. Moved from Tahoe this June. 185
all year round!
hours on Universal 35hp diesel, Raytheon
electronic package, poleless Pineapple
800.639.1754 cruising spinnaker, blue cockpit dodger,
www.sailorbags.com 10 CD stereo system w/external speak-
90 Victor Heights Parkway, Victor, NY 14564 ers, propane external grill (never used),
completely furnished galley including
microwave oven, large refrigerated ice 36-FT CATALINA, 1985. Berkeley.
box and dry food locker. (650) 400-6898 $55,000. Turn-key tall-rig, meticulously
or dfoley@ewingfoley.com. maintained by 2nd owner. Perfect as a
liveaboard cruiser (transferrable Berkeley

MARINE ENGINE CO. 36-FT SABRE, 1998. Berkeley. $155,000.

Professionally maintained sloop. Shallow
draft wing keel ideal for cruising. Blue
slip). New Pineapple sails (2004), 25hp
Universal diesel (overhauled 2007),
new 40gal fuel tank, 300gal freshwater,
hull and topsides painted 12/06. Standing DGPS, Furuno radar, Danforth anchors,
rigging replaced 2/07. New autopilot 5/07. new dodger, more great extras! Email
licensed dealer for above New mainsail 7/08. Furling jib and lightly hzornetzer@gmail.com.
Perkins • Yanmar • Atomic 4 • Volvo used asymmetrical spinnaker. (925) 766-
2205 or dan@deltaexcavating.net. 36-FT BENETEAU 361, 2002. SF Marina
West Basin. $118,000. Bristol, loaded,
CALL NOW FOR LOW ENGINE QUOTES custom, all electronics, recent haul-out
and bottom paint + coveted SF Marina
Berth. Will consider lease or non-equity
• Engine Sales, Service and Parts partnership. (415) 771-0741 or Bob@
• Engine Repowering and Rebuilding TandlerSF.com.

• Complete Marine Engine Service

(415) 332-0455 38-FT MORGAN CC, 1993. San Diego,

CA. $75,000. Waterfront living at its best.
There is no other option out there that

Ryan's Marine
allows oceanfront property at this type of
price in San Diego. Morgan is an excellent
sailboat and there are 5 currently for sale
38-FT BLUEWATER INGRID, 1977. Fort-
Specializing in Marine Electrical Services across the country. The prices range from
93k to 130k. This boat was listed for 110k man Marina, Alameda, CA. $20,000/obo.
for Your Boat and is now listed for $75,000, well below Beautiful potential! Project boat. Sound
hull, gorgeous teak interior, needs a lov-
the market rate. Take advantage of this for
ing hand. Moved ashore and need to find
• Electrical system installations from inverters to sale by owner/no broker offer today. Addi-
someone to take care of her. Write for
tionally this boat is located at Humphrey’s
electronics packages by the Bay, which has live concerts from pictures and information. donaldhardy@
yahoo.com.
• Troubleshooting of existing systems May - October for your viewing, listening
and entertainment pleasure. www.hum-
• Dealer for the complete Balmar product line phreysconcerts.com. (619) 243-6269 or
jdarrochdesign@yahoo.com. 40 TO 50 FEET
• Head and holding tank installations
36-FT TRISBAL, 1981. Sausalito Yacht 45-FT ROBERTS MAURITIUS, 1985.
(510) 385-3842 Harbor. $69,000. Ta Mana (aluminum hull,
built in France) is a proven, comfortable
Alameda. $35,000. 7 sails including storm
trysail and drifter. Hydraulic steering.
Ryan Schofield email: world cruiser, loaded and in excellent Solidly built, 1/4” steel below gunwales.
condition with a recent haulout and bottom John Deere 67hp diesel, 400gals diesel,
Owner since 1997 rssailor@yahoo.com paint. A turn key Pacific Cup boat ready to 150gals water. Radar, Dickenson stove,
go 2010. AIS, SSB, weatherfax, navigation Avon 6 person liferaft. Mexico veteran
computer, solar panel, windvane, Rayma- and long term liveaboard, solid condition,
rine electronics, dodger, Yanmar 3GM30F, needs interior and running rigging rebuild,
Save Your Aft! 3 blade folding prop. Sails in good to
excellent condition. For details and
minor repairs. Owner going overseas,
wishes to find good home for great ves-
pictures please check the website www. sel that generated many fond memories.
Using one of our 1400+ patterns or your getawayonthebay.com. (415) 272-5789 or steve_horne@solfocus.com or (650)
own pattern, let our craftsmen create a skipper@getawayonthebay.com. 455-1985.
comfortable, durable, and stylish set of
all-weather cushions for your cockpit.
Find your custom, closed cell foam COMPLETE MARINE WOODWORK
cushions at www.bottomsiders.com! Design / Restoration • Expert European Craftsmanship • Interior / Exterior
Repairs / Maintenance • Marine Windows & Frame Replacement
Wood & Dry Rot Repairs • Varnish Work • Marine Painting
References Available • Reasonable Rates • Call (415) 331-6718
rew? Latitude 38 Crew List A Boat to
BottomSiders Call Toll Free: (800) 438-0633 Need C Crew on?
Visit our website and sign up as Skipper or Crew • It’s Free
2305 Bay Avenue cushions@bottomsiders.com Find out about our next Crew Party: Wed. Sept. 9 at Encinal Yacht Club
Hoquiam, WA 98550 Fax: 360-533-4474 More info: www.latitude38.com/crewlist/Crew.html or call (415) 383-8200

Page 158 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

CAL 2-46, 1981. San Rafael. $89,500. 45-FT WAUQUIEZ CENTURION, 1992.
Baja Ha-Ha ‘08 vet. It can go again, $155,000. High quality, fast, performance
but I can’t. Must sell. 2 complete state- world cruiser. Safely go anywhere. Pas-
rooms sleeps 5. 40 gal/day watermaker. sages with 200 mpd made good. We
Touchscreen GPS/radar, 272gal diesel, cruised the Caribbean and Pacific and
200gal water. Dutchman main. Roller jib. now she must be sold. Solid FRP hull,
Excellent condition. (415) 299-1087 or masthead sloop, removable cutter stay,
millerpi@comcast.net. Harken furling, full-batten main, Windpilot
servo-vane, swimstep transom, Lofrans
electric windlass, dual-refrigeration, new
47-FT TED BREWER-DESIGNED. Balmar alternator/digital charger, 1000w 47-FT PERRY, 1979. Channel Islands
center cockpit ketch, 1977. Sausalito, CA. inverter, Icom SSB and VHF, Furuno radar, Harbor, Oxnard, CA. $159,000. Center-
$75,000. Bluewater cruiser commissioned lots more. Photo and inventory available. cockpit cutter. Loaded and really cruise
in Sausalito and constructed in Taiwan Discount for quick closing. For more info: ready for Mexico again or beyond, just add
of thick hand-laid fiberglass, this yacht (808) 826-6050 or tunes@aloha.net. your personals and provisions! Bob Perry
shows no blisters. All standing rigging pedigree, excellent under sail or power,
recently replaced along with new spruce bullet-proof construction, beautiful teak
bowsprit, heavy duty windlass with twin interior, professional captain/owner main-
anchors and rollers, rebuilt winches, tained. Reduced from $199,000. (619)
48-FT CELESTIAL, 1986. Spacious, brass fittings and ports, autopilot, modern 818-5878 or richvanorsdal@gmail.com.
well-built center-cockpit ketch. Fantastic electronics (radar, GPS chart plotter, depth
boat. Excellent condition. Many special sounder), teak throughout the entire ship,
features. Fully cruise ready. Great value. teak/marble head and bath, infinite stor-
Beginning January, visit Reba in Puerto
Vallarta. See Reba overview, details and
age area, modern diesel, huge master 51 FEET & OVER
berth, full galley, CNG stove, etc. Topside
contact info at: www.celestial48.com. brightwork needs attention. Mechanical
(775) 832-7979. and electronics are tip-top and reflected 45-FT BENETEAU 45F5, 1991. Ventura,
in extensive maintenance records. Sails CA. $125,000. Racer/cruiser, PHRF-63,
41-FT C&C, 1984. Alameda. $79,500. beautifully. Berthed in Sausalito. Priced to with 3 cabins, 2 heads, beautiful wood
Performance cruiser/racer. A classy, sell. (408) 483-9550 or (650) 938-3169 or interior. Price lowered for quick sale.
quality boat that sails beautifully and danmck@sonic.net. Recent upgrades: New MaxProp 2008,
will make any owner proud. Please go fridge, inverter/charger, anchor, windlass.
to website for details and photos. www. 44-FT BENETEAU 445, 1993. St. Thomas, (559) 696-9653 or (559) 261-9295 or email
gatecrasheryacht.info. (510) 410-3003 or US Virgin Islands. $129,000. Cruising rkrause@rjk-law.com.
jacquelinedevore@msn.com. ready performance cruiser/liveaboard
located in the Virgin Islands. Watermaker, 42-FT HYLAS, 1987. Marina Real, San
Carlos, MX. $129,500. Fully equipped, 52-FT SANTA CRUZ, 1993. Long Beach,
wind generator, solar, davits, AGM batter- CA. $419,000. Racing or cruising. Trans-
ies, newer engine, navigation electronics, Frers design, for extensive bluewater
cruising. Will reimburse up to $2,500 travel Pac vet w/proper yacht interior. Tall carbon
dinghy. http://ansano.com/4sale. (340) rig (new), carbon deck and bulkheads.
344-6262 or gil@ansano.com. expenses to buyer. Full specs, pictures
at website. Ready for immediate cruising 2008/09 carbon Ullman sails. Five asym-
in the Sea of Cortez and far, far beyond. meterical spinnakers. All offshore USAF
45-FT HARDIN VOYAGER, 1978. Long required gear for cat 1. Cruising gear
Beach. $55,500. Classic Bill Hardin sloop- www.sailblogs.com/member/svangelfish.
(206) 629-4138 or svangelfish@hotmail. includes roller furling, electric winches, hot
rigged ocean cruiser back from cruise to and cold presure water and dodger. Ready
Panama, Caribbean and East Coast. Wait- com.
for any offshore event or a weekend at the
ing for her next adventure. All sails roller island. (562) 424-8816 or (562) 212-9739
45-FT SPARKMAN & STEPHENS. Sea- furled. Fiberglass, Isuzu C240, 200 gals
farer yawl, San Francisco. $96,000/obo. wtdconst@aol.com.
fuel/water. (480) 215-8224 or pilot435@
Yacht Soltura. Built in Holland of solid hotmail.com.
fiberglass. Sea-kindly and easily handled
by two people. The amazing thing about
this classic boat is you can’t walk away MULTIHULLS
without taking another look. Contact
Jerry. (415) 435-3513 or gsrumsey@
yahoo.com.

45-FT EXPLORER, 1978. San Rafael, CA. 47-FT CUSTOM FIBERGLASS CUTTER.
$109,000. Beautiful, lovingly maintained, 2004. Coos Bay, OR. $499,000. Price
center cockpit sloop/cutter. Constant reduced. Blue water high latitude cruising
upgrades past 15 years. Good performer, sailboat, two helms, one enclosed, sleeps
bright interior with 2 staterooms/heads. 40-FT PETERSON TWO-TONNER. six, premium equipment, electronics,
Yanmar 62 hp, LPU, radar. Haul and 1980. San Diego, CA. $58,000/obo. This 85HP diesel, 4.2KW generator, workshop,
survey 2008. (415) 265-4418 or david@ performance racer/cruiser sailed from 200+ fuel and water, refrigeration, washing
winchmate.com. San Diego to France in 2005 where she machine, insulated. See pictures at: www. 34-FT PROUT, 1990. Grenada. $116,000.
was totally refit: new Yanmar engine, hull/ hyssop.com/boat. (541) 888-5688. Prout Event, Caribbean, cruise the world
41-FT MORGAN CLASSIC MODEL, deck/mast paint job, bottom fairing, new affordably. Custom hard dodger, stainless
1991. San Carlos, Mexico. $98,000. Primo head, rigging verification, new MaxProp, 40-FT HUNTER LEGEND, 1986. La Paz, arch, master bedroom. 700 amp battery
condition. Equipped and ready to cruise. etc. After several regattas in France, and MX. $76,000/obo. Multiple upgrades bank, fully solar supported. Huge inven-
Center cockpit, great liveaboard, must see months cruising the Caribbean, she was since 2006 include: radar, chart plotter, tory of spares and tools. Low engine
to appreciate roominess. Recent survey. sailed back to San Diego where upgrades SSB, refrigeration, propane conversion, hours. Call (473) 536-5307 or email
See blog for equipment list and current continued: new refrigeration, new water StackPack, solar, and more. Cruising weebray@gmail.com.
photos. http://sailboatvagari.blogspot. heater, bottom job/deck paint, March Mexico past two seasons and ready to go
com. (520) 825-7551 or stanstrebig@ 2009. Race in SoCal (PHRF 69) then again. Contact for details. (530) 957-2810
gmail.com. cruise the islands in style. (619) 467-6369 or gregondetente@gmail.com.
or bruno.bomati@gmail.com.

August Enterprises N.E. MARINE TITLE

Coast Guard documentation • Title/lien searches • Transfers • Mortgage filing • Escrow services
Marine Surveying and Consulting Local closing facility for brokers or private transactions
Serving the Bay Area since 1995 30 years experience of doing it right the first time
510-889-8850 1150 Ballena Blvd, Alameda, CA • (510) 521-4925
OFFSHORE PASSAGEMAKING INSTRUCTION IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
PROFESSIONAL DELIVERY CAPTAINS
John & Amanda Neal are dedicated to providing hands-on,
San Diego based, USCG Master 100 GT. Sail and power. ASA-certified
documented instruction aboard their Hallberg-Rassy 46 Mahina Tiare III,
drawing on their combined 502,000 miles and 66 years of experience. instructional deliveries. Panama Canal and Hawaii crossing experienced.
www.mahina.com • (360) 378-6131 (619) 913-7834 • davidhbrotherton@yahoo.com

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 159

 COMPUTER ABOARD?
45-FT FOUNTAINE PAJOT, 1988. San
Carlos, Mx. $210,000 USD. Twin 28 hp
diesels, 3 state rooms w/full size beds,
1 tool room, 2 heads, separate shower,
CAPN &
CAPN & Digital
Digital Charts
Charts 2 GPS’s, AIS, radar, 2 VHF radios, Ham
radio, refrigerator and freezer, propane
AIS
AIS WiFi Cellular
WiFi Cellular Amps
Amps stove and barbecue, 6hp diesel generator
SatPhones: Iridium
SatPhones: Iridium && Globalstar
Globalstar w/160 amp alternator and 24 GPH water-
maker, 2 solar panels and wind generator,
HF SSB
HF SSB Radio
Radio & & Pactor
Pactor Modems
Modems 160 gallons fuel, 100 gallons fresh water,
electric windlass, 180 feet 3/8 chain, salt 48-FT CROWTHER CATAMARAN, 1991.
Wireless E-mail water wash down, diesel heater, new alu-
minum dinghy w/15hp outboard, life raft,
$279,000. Java, Cutter-rigged, built in Aus-
tralia 1991. Proven bluewater cruiser built

SEATECH SYSTEMS
TM
TM
US flagged. Located in Sea of Cortez (no for speed under sail. Sleeps 8 comfort-
sales taxes). ‘06 Ha-Ha vet. Priced to sell. ably. New paint top to bottom. New mast,
(209) 743-6275 or vik@inreach.com. boom, oversized rigging 2005. Equipped
800.444.2581
800.444.2581 281.334.1174
281.334.1174 for the tropics around the world with large
info@sea-tech.com
info@sea-tech.com www.sea-tech.com
www.sea-tech.com awning/watercatcher. Solar, wind genera-
tor, HF radio, new VHF radio, sea anchor,
Callfor
Call
Call forInfo
for Infoon
Info onSeaTech
on SeaTechPackages
SeaTech Packagesand
Packages and CAPN
and CAPN Demo
CAPN Demo Disk
Demo Disk
Disk drogue, 4 anchors. High bridgedeck clear-
ance insures no pounding. Retractable
centerboards for upwind performance.
Solid handrails for safety. Free delivery.
For specs and pictures email Evan Dill.
revandill@yahoo.com.

42-FT CROSS, 1982. Morro Bay. $80,000.

Trimaran ketch with high quality interior,
three double berths. Professionally built
POWER & HOUSEBOATS
and fully equipped. Well protected center
cockpit. Perkins 4-108 with MaxProp. 53-FT HATTERAS, 1970. Berkeley.
2009 (805) 541-4417 or (805) 704-8613 or $119,000. Flybridge motor yacht, twin
gabarker@sbcglobal.net. Cummins VT8370M turbo diesels, new
dishwasher, Entec Generator Model M4,
47-FT CATANA, 2001. Puerto Vallarta. 12’ Alliance dinghy, Mercury 25hp. Must
$699,000. 472 Catana Caligo 2001, al- see to appreciate, liveaboard status
ready in paradise. Price reduced on this possible. (510) 725-9942 or tcparfitt@
fast, luxurious, easily sailed catamaran. yahoo.com.
One hull for owners, other hull pampers
guests. Full amenities, see on www.
Yachtworld.com or contact owner. S/V
Moon and Stars. May consider real estate
trade. cat47moon@yahoo.com.

65-FT WOOD CLASSIC, 1939. Heavy

built ex-trawler. Will consider any reason-
able offer. GMC 12V-71, 21-kw generator.
Full electronics. Lots of equipment. Ready
to go. Would make great conversion. More
Makela Boatworks 55-FT CATANA 531, Newport Beach.
$549,000. Cruise the world in comfort,
pics/details. (707) 964-5423 or ancona@
mcn.org.
Family owned since 1948 speed and safety. Excellent condition,
many spares, sprit, 2004 Yanmars with 28-FT PROTECTOR, 2001. Lake Tahoe.
sd40s, 8.5kw, 55-gph watermaker, stall Beautiful center console Protector, 99%
Wooden Boat Building • Repair and Restoration shower, 5 electric winches, good sail fresh water use. Two 225-hp Yamahas,
inventory, many upgrades. 3 autopilots, under 400 hours. Teak sole. Rear seat,
19280 South Harbor Drive • Fort Bragg, CA 95437 SSB, radar, Inmarsat mini-M, MicroCom- GPS/chart plotter, VHF. Excellent condi-
tion and very fast. (530) 583-4000, (530)
(707) 964-3963 mander controls, 12’ Caribe with 25
hp, solar array, Profurl electric jib furler, 518-8500 or GD@DorlandProperties.
email: howard@makelaboatworks.com • www.Makelaboatworks.com computer with world charts, new Sealand com.
electric heads, inverter, much, much more.
High quality. Prime Newport Beach moor- 50-FT DEFEVER OFFSHORE TRAWLER.
ing available. (949) 295-4116 or (949) 675- 1971.Sausalito $165,000. Two personali-
0617 or jerrywoods37@hotmail.com. ties - robust offshore trawler capable of
going anywhere. Cozy, comfortable live-
aboard home (owners now live aboard).
All info online at: www.synjyn.com. (415)
331-3387 or (415) 717-2314 or chuck@
synjyn.com.

PARTS
YANMAR • UNIVERSAL • WESTERBEKE MULTIHULL YACHT DESIGNER • MARINE SURVEYOR
PERKINS • ISUZU • PATHFINDER • ATOMIC 4
John R. Marples, CMS • Certified, National Association of Marine Surveyors
SERVICE Multihull Design Specialist • Pleasure and Commercial
DIESEL ENGINES Design office for Jim Brown Searunner, Seaclipper & Constant Camber Multihulls
www.searunner.com • (707) 343-1378 • marplesmarine@comcast.net
MULTIHULL DELIVERIES
Barbara Campbell 30+ years & 150,000 miles on multihulls • Safe, swift, dependable
worldwide deliveries by USCG licensed ASA instructor Capt. Ralph Drahos
351 EMBARCADERO
OAKLAND, CA 94606 (510) 465-1093 (831) 334-6028 • Owners welcome
Learn multihull sailing and your boat’s systems with a professional

Page 160 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 THE BEST LOOKING CATALINA 38. WEST MARINE RU285 DINGHY. San
South Beach Boat Harbor. 1/3 partnership Jose. With wheels, covers, pump. All in
to replace partner. $350/month/share, great shape. Nissan 5hp 4-stroke out-
$17,500 equity. Cover equal share of board, only 5 hours run time. Life vests,
maintenance and ongoing expenses. Par- jackets, cushions, heaters, dehumidifiers,
ticipate in upgrades. For photos: lyonsim- barbecue, 10-gal jerry cans. All priced 1/2
aging.smugmug.com/gallery/4918015_ of West Marine list. (408) 227-0517 or
WyrL6#293728261_CUjLE. (408) 404- living@pacbell.net.
8966 or glenn.terry@sun.com.

38-FT CUSTOM FLOATING HOME, PLAN YOUR MEXICAN GETAWAY NOW. NON-PROFIT
1980. Docktown Marina, Redwood City. at the brand-new, gorgeous Cielo Y Mar
$225,000. Ready to move in. Charming 2 condos. Located in Punta Mita, 35 minutes MARIN POWER & SAIL SQUADRON.
bedroom/1 bath 1200 square foot floating from Puerto Vallarta, available to rent from 50 years offering tuition-free safe boat-
home/houseboat on 2 stories. Energy- private owner. On the beach, 10 feet from ing classes. The next America’s Boating
efficient heat: radiant heat panels and the water, they offer spectacular views of Classes start up in January 2010. Text-
propane. Sunny greatroom and kitchen ocean and mountains, the biggest infinity book $40. For registration and information,
upstairs with beamed and planked ceil- pool in the area, an endless beach, great call (415) 924-2712.
ing. Two roomy bedrooms with 8’ closets surf breaks, great fishing, tremendous
and tongue-and-groove planked ceilings views of whales, bird life and the islands. CG AUX BOATING CLASSES. Santa
and doors. Full bath with pedestal sink. 35-FT J/109, 2004 Belvedere, CA. While uncrowded and tranquil, just a five- Cruz Harbor. Boating, Sailing, and Navi-
Washer and dryer/linen closet, coat/stor- J/109 sailboat partnership. Mint condition minute walk to several waterfront restau- gation classes begin January and run
age closet. michelestpierre@hotmail.com J/109. Active SF racer/cruiser. 1st in SF rants. Choose from a spacious, beautifully 14 weeks. Registration on Wednesday,
or (415) 871-8988. Bay J/109 Division, 3rd in 2008 PHRF. furnished one or three-bedroom unit, or an January 6 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the
Also, great family cruiser, sleeps 6+, full amazing two-story penthouse with lovely Harbor. Email for information and/or ques-
34-FT MAINSHIP, 1983. Established part- kitchen, for Delta, Bay or coast. Interested shade trellis on the top floor. See details: tions. Presented by US COAST GUARD
nership seeks 3rd and perhaps 4th part- parties only: (415) 717-3664, (415) 819- www.puntamitabeachfrontcondos.com. AUXILIARY. http://a1130610.uscgaux.
ner. A sailor’s power boat. Single 200 hp 4589 or ahoys@earthlink.net. To reserve, call: Dona de Mallorca (415) info. Email wscgaux@gmail.com.
turbo diesel, semi-displacement hull. Very 599-5012.
economical to run. Excellent condition
and upkeep. Includes 12-ft RBI with 15 SAILING THE SEA OF CORTEZ IN LA PAZ. PROPERTY SALE/RENT
horse outboard. Hydraulic stern thruster, We have a Herreshoff 28 and a Mac-
Lectrosan head, Espar heater, genset, all Gregor 26 for charter. All proceeds go to
chain and electric windlass anchoring sys- the charities we have supported for 20
tem, fully enclosed flybridge, great music years here in La Paz. www.sailing-baja.
system. Summers in Delta, otherwise at com. (011-52) 612-123-5440 or info@
S. Beach or Sausalito. 3rd partner buy-in hacienda-sol.com.
is $20,000; with 4th, $15,000. We are very
selective about partners! (415) 250-8335
or jdietz17@gmail.com. ISLANDER 36, 1977 PARTNERSHIP.
Oakland Yacht Club Marina, Alameda.
WANTED
43.5-FT LABELLE TRAWLER. Sausalito. 1/4 or 1/2 share, easy to handle Bay sailer
and cruiser, active class association, $300 RENT A LIVEABOARD in. Alameda/
Outstanding view berth. Volvo diesels, 500 Oakland Area. I want to rent a boat/ HAWAIIAN OCEANFRONT: RENT/BUY/.
hours, 7.5 Onan. Roomy glass-enclosed per month for 1/4 share plus buy-in. (510)
654-3903. houseboat to live on. One person - local Partnership. Oahu’s north shore. 3br/
sundeck. Full canvas. Large custom gal- teacher. A few months! Call Armen. (510) 2bath totally remodelled home, 32 feet
ley. Master with walkaround queen, tub + 695-1406. from water. Unique, secluded enclave
comfortable guest stateroom with large offering expansive sandy beaches, wa-
bed, head. Excellent workmanship/con- SHIPMATE 214 GALLEY STOVE. ter sports, historic towns, small harbor
dition. Will sacrifice. May finance, rent or Genuine Shipmate Galley Stove of 214 nearby. Rent to Latitude 38 readers starts
trade. (415) 331-5251. or similar model suitable for coal burning at $185/night. Some conditions apply.
wanted for a pre-1st World War 53-ft gaff May trade California property for your
SOUTH OF THE BORDER sailing cutter. Contact Esther. (818) 307-
0655 or shipmate214@gmail.com.
Hawaiian dream. (415) 999-5626.

PARTNERSHIPS
BERTHS & SLIPS
CATALINA 30 SHARE Sausalito.
$270/month. Start November - get 3 free GEAR 50-FT PRIME SLIP, PIER 39, SF.
months (March, Apr, May). Best slip with $46,000. F-Dock, Slip 11, east side.
parking. 5 min. to Bay, 30 to Angel Island. 74-FT MAST Designed. for catamaran. Protected from wind. Close to gangway,
Walk to bars/restaurants. Upgrades: Best offer. (415) 269-5165 . showers and marina office. Covered
Diesel, wheel, furling, MaxProp, new parking across street with special rates
cushions, performance mast and spread- 30-FT OA MAST. Alameda. $400. for owners. (559) 355-6572 or scorch@
ers. Pressure water. Non-equity. 6 days Aluminum. 30’ by 5.5” oval cross section, tempest-edge.com.
max/month for 1 year. (415) 332-5442 or heavy wall, internal halyards, good shape.
Leeloves2sail@hotmail.com. CHARTER DIRECT & SAVE $$$$. Own-
ers time available for discount charter. Complete with 8-ft boom, spreaders and BERTH AVAILABLE San Francisco.
Beautiful Moorings 4600 cat, Hope, wire. Located Aeolian Yacht Club. (Sails 36-ft berth at Pier 39. Very close in. Rental
BENETEAU 393-SAUSALITO BERTHED. available). (510) 830-7982 . by month or annually. (415) 474-2474.
$500. Clean, well maintained fast cruiser. featured in Latitude 38. Based in beautiful
Upgraded interior, winches, prop, die- Belize. Book direct and save big bucks.
dpetty@thoratec.com. DELTA ANCHOR San Ramon. $175. 36-FT SLIP AT PIER 39. San Francisco.
sel, full electronics, classic main, fully New 35# Lewmar galvanized manga- $9,000. Great opportunity to own a C-
equipped. Qtr usage non-equity; may nese-steel Delta anchor, $175; 85 feet, Dock slip at Pier 39. Great location, use
consider 1/8 or equity arrangement or new Acco G4 high test galvanized an- of amenities, including laundry, showers,
sale. www.marigotgroup.com/strider. chor chain, $2.95/foot. abradley2000@ parking, and more. Secure. Slip C-14. Call
(415) 331-4900 or (415) 332-4401 or yahoo.com. Mark for more details. (415) 726-4033 or
393@marigotgroup.com. markr@gcx.com.

BLUE PELICAN MARINE

boat bottom scrubbing & more . . . A sailor’s consignment store located at Grand Marina, Alameda
Sails • Winches • Instruments • Blocks • Sailing Books
Charts • Outboards • Rigging • Hardware • Safety Gear • More
415 331 7215 william@gotzinc.com (510) 769-4858 • www.bluepelicanmarine.com
For the best – and most exposure – of your classified ad… YOGA FOR SAILORS ON THE SAN RAFAEL WATERFRONT
submit your ad safely online at: www.latitude38.com . Classes on Wednesdays (flow) & Thursdays (gentle),
Your ad will be posted online within two business days, 6:30-8:00 pm. $15 drop-in or 8 classes for $88.
y
Class Idea! appear in the next issue of the magazine,
and remain online until the following issue is released.
(415) 785-4530 or (510) 333-8846
yogaforu2009@gmail.com

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 161

 40-FT SLIP AVAILABLE FOR RENT.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Pardee Marine, LLC Pier 39, San Francisco. Middle of D dock
with great views of Coit Tower and the
For all your electrical and electronics needs Bay! Great marina facilities including SHOP SPACE 500-1000 SQ. FT. Sau-
salito. to share, possible buy out. Good
laundry, showers, security and friendly
staff. Reduced parking rates. $360/month. location. (415) 332-2500 .
~ Electrical Systems Call (425) 643-0614.
~ Instruments and Radios 36-FT SLIP AT PIER 39 FOR SALE.
~ Navigation and Radar San Francisco. $7,000/obo. Motivated
seller of a C-Dock slip at Pier 39, San
~ Problem Troubleshooting Francisco. Great location, use of ameni-
ties, parking, and more. Call Myra for more
~ Free Estimates details. (415) 495-7130.

Mike Pardee FOR SALE: WELDING BUSINESS.

Brinnon, WA. $595,000. Welding business
(510) 282-7282 in 4,200 s/f building with 3-phase power on
9+ acres on the Olympic Peninsula near
2 saltwater marinas, which provide partial
client base. Comfortable 2 bedroom, 2
bath home with oak floors, vaulted T&G

ED LOCK, RAMSAY & WHITIN JOBS WANTED

ceiling, large kitchen with Corian counters,
auxiliary generator and cedar deck plus
W GMarine Surveyors oversize 2-car garage with ample storage
and an upstairs guest room with bath.
PLAN B WORLD WIDE DELIVERIES. Business, home and acreage. Owner
58 year old USCG Master with motor financing possible. (360) 796-4163 or
Vessel surveys, and sail experience. 25 years in Pacific. broweld@olypen.com.
Ecuador to British Columbia with 14 years
consulting, deliveries. in Hawaii. 6 years Caribbean. Panama
phone: 011-507-6528-6355. (360) 823-
Serving the
7996, (360) 606-6202 or svplanb4@
aol.com.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Bay Area
F/T SALES POSITION in. Marine Elec-
since 1980 DO YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR.
tronics. Must have a minimum of two
marine-based business? San Francisco
Bay Area (EB, NB, and SF). Young, en- years in the marine industry, retail sales
www.norcalmarinesurveyors.com ergetic, motivated AND experienced, I am experience, car, and the ability to work
with customers. Send resume via email
looking to gain employment in the sailing
(415) 505-3494 and marine industry. Can work in offices
or boat yards, or at sea, with experience
or mail. Johnson Hicks, 333 Lake Ave.,
Santa Cruz, CA 95062, Att: Joe Donatini.
in all. Contact me! byron.shirley@gmail. Email Donatini@comcast.net.
com or (310) 600-2851.

MARINE OUTBOARD COMPANY

Johnson Tohatsu
Evinrude Mariner
Mercury Honda
Nissan Yamaha
(415) 332-8020
Our certified technicians have repaired, rebuilt, repowered and serviced
outboards and boats since 1990 for less than anywhere else in the Bay
Area. How? Less overhead… All repairs and parts come with a 1-year
warranty; 3-year warranty on new Nissan engines.
35 Libertyship Way • Sausalito, CA 94965

orthern
Californ
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Latitude 38 distributor
on December 30.
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Page 162 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009
 Thanks Latitude!
Another Advertising
Success Story…

Bill Kinstler has been sailing the Bay and providing Bay Area
sailors with marine financing for over 20 years. And Bill says
he could never have done it 'a-loan'. He's been a consistent
Latitude 38 advertiser since the beginning and says Latitude 38
ranks as his all-time top business generator.

We appreciate the support, since, without his help, we couldn't

have brought you the fun, frolic and mischief all these years.
Fortunately, the pages of Latitude feature many fine business-
Bill Kinstler of es which have not only made Latitude possible, but also have
Dimen Marine.
made sailing possible for many of you.
Dimen Marine
Financial Services So thanks to you too, Bill!
(866) 486-2628
dimenmarine@pacbell.net www.latitude38.com

Starboard!

Duck that Barge! Trim that Sail!

Did/does the person you've tried to learn to sail with

have a Square Mouth?
Learn with Afterguard – the 'no yelling' Sailing Academy
Great Prices • Great Instruction • ASA Certifications
(510) 535-1954 office • www.afterguard.net

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 163

 Vessel Electric DIESEL FUEL
Mobile marine navigation installations
and expansions of existing systems
FILTERING
Purify Diesel Fuel & Flush Tanks
• Class A, Class B AIS systems and digital TVs
Process scrubs, polishes, removes algae, dirt, sludge, rust, water, and
• Raymarine® warranty dealer and certified installer
foreign particles from diesel fuel. Includes internal tank washdown.
• NMEA-certified Marine Electronics Installer • Insured Save your injectors, costly engine repair and down time.
Milltech Marine AIS Since 1989. Fully insured. Your berth or boat yard.

Brian Theobald • (415) 424-2204 (510) 521-6797 Fax: (510) 521-3309

vesselelectric@yahoo.com www.dieselfuelfilterings.com

CLASSIC FANTAIL MOTOR LAUNCH

State Farm®
Providing Insurance and Financial Services

Call Us For A FREE Quote Today

Jon Jones, CLU ChFC LUTCF
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Agent Lic. #0540977
29-ft launch, Coast Guard certified for 18 passengers plus
captain (no crew required). Built in 1993 of fiberglass, teak
(650) 583-3927
and brass. 35hp Isuzu diesel, trailer. 333 El Camino Real, Suite A • So. San Francisco, CA 94080-5923
Currently working in SF Bay with business available! $65,000.
Serious inquiries call (415) 781-3950 for details. jon.jones.b8c4@statefarm.com

ADVERTISERS' INDEX
AB Marine..............................32 Beta Marine Engines............117 Conch Charters....................132 Farallone Yacht Sales...............7 Jon Jones - State Farm
Afterguard Sailing Assn........163 Blue Pelican ........................160 Costa Baja Resort & Marina....89 Flying Cloud Yachts..............170 Insurance..........................164

Albatross Yacht Charters.......134 Blue Water Yacht Insurance....66 Cover Craft............................63 Footloose Yacht Charters......133 KKMI - Brokerage.................167
Almar Marinas.......................49 Bluewater Network..............166 Coyote Point Marina...............25 Forespar................................26 KKMI - Full Service
Boatyard............................172
Anacortes Yacht Charters.....134 Bo’sun Supplies....................153 Cruising Cats USA..................30 Fortman Marina.....................64
Kissinger Canvas....................71
Anderson’s Boat Yard.............29 The Boat Yard at Grand Marina Cruising Yachts......................36 GC Marine & Rigging...........165
...........................................13 KKMI - Brokerage.................167
Annapolis Performance Danard Marine Products.........68 Garhauer Marine...................37
Sailing...............................125 Boatsmith Marine Carpentry KKMI - Full Service
Department of Boating & Gentry’s Kona Marina..........135 Boatyard............................172
Aqua Marine........................117 and Boatbuilding.................59 Waterways...........................41 Gianola Canvas Products.....126
Boatswain's Locker.................67 Landfall Navigation................65
BVI Yacht Charters................130 Desolation Sound Yacht Gill........................................33 The Landing School . .............63
Bahia del Sol / Bottom Siders.......................158 Charters............................134
Golden State Diesel Marine..160 Lee Sails..............................156
El Salvador Rally................147 Brisbane Marina.....................61 DeWitt Studio.......................153
Grand Marina..........................2 List Marine Enterprises...........94
Bair Island Marina..................58 Burg, Randall, Yacht & Ship..170 Diesel Fuel Filtering..............164
Hanse North America.............63 Loch Lomond Marina...........116
Baja Ha-Ha Beach Party.......107 C & C Marine Services..........107 Dimen Marine Financing......165
Hansen Rigging....................103 Lunasea Lighting....................57
Baja Ha-Ha Sponsors................. CPT Autopilots.....................165 The Dinghy Doctor...............151
........................ 111, 112, 113 Helms Yacht & Ship Brokers..166 Makela Boatworks................160
CYOA Yacht Charters...........132 Downwind Marine..................12
Barillas Marina....................148 Helmut’s Marine Service.......156 Marina Bay Yacht Harbor........45
Cal Marine Electronics............43 Doyle Sails.............................27
Bay Island Yachts......................8 Heritage Marine Insurance...110 Marina de la Paz..................106
Call of the Sea.......................61 E Paint...................................70
Bay Marine Boatworks............39 Hidden Harbor Marina...........59 Marina El Cid.......................148
City Yachts.............................11 Easom Rigging.......................67
Bay Marine Diesel................135 Hogin Sails............................50 Marina Ixtapa......................152
Classic Fantail Motor Elliott/Pattison Sailmakers....126
Bellhaven Yacht Sales & Launch..............................164 Hood Sails.............................21 Marina Nuevo Vallarta...........60
Emery Cove Yacht Harbor.......55
Charters............................134 Clipper Yacht Harbor............153 Hotwire Enterprises..............153 Marina Puesta Del Sol..........150
Emeryville Marina................146
Berkeley Marina...................127 Club Nautique.......................59 Hydrovane.............................53 Marina Real.........................150
Equipment Parts Sales..........135
Berkeley Marine Center..........47 Coast Marine.......................117 Johnson-Hicks........................51 Marina Riviera Nayarit...........71
Essex Credit Corp...................97

Page 164  • Latitude 38 • November, 2009

 GC Marine & Rigging
Boat Loans Stop by our new location now at
Bay Marine Boatworks in Richmond.

Racers and
Marine Financial Cruisers Welcome
Custom Rigging Projects
Services Running and Standing Rigging
"A better way to get a boat loan." Northern Call us to ask about
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Loans Starting at $25,000 - Brand new on-site swaging machine.
Bill Kinstler Specials - Custom fiberglass and carbon fiber
Fixed Rates projects.
New and Used (866) 486-2628
gilles@gcmarine.net 415-533-2915
Liveaboard dimenmarine@pacbell.net
310 W. Cutting Blvd., Richmond

– cont'd
Marina Village.......................31 North Direct Sails.................110 Quantum Pacific.....................19 South Beach Harbor...............42 West Marine - Rigging............62
Marine Engine Company......158 North Sails - Gear..................55 R-Parts.................................165 South Beach Riggers...............43 Westwind Precision Details.....43
Marine Lube........................163 North Sails - San Francisco.....56 Raiatea Carenage Services...149 Starbuck Canvas....................69 Whale Point Marine Supply.....48
Marine Outboard Company 162 North Sails - SF Service........153 Richardson Bay Marina.........124 Svendsen’s Boat Works...........17 White, Chris, Designs...........163
Mariner’s General Insurance 10 Open Sailing / Open 5.70....103 Rooster Sails..........................61 Svendsen’s Marine.................70 Wright Way Designs...............68
Maritime Institute...................97 Opequimar Marine Center...151 Ryan’s Marine......................158 Swedish Marine.....................53 Yacht Carver 350.................166
Marotta Yachts............. 168-169 Outboard Motor Shop............52 Sail California..................14, 15 TMM/Tortola Marine Mgmt...130 Yachtfinders/Windseakers.......23
Mathiesen Marine................156 Owl Harbor...........................69 The Sail Warehouse.............163 Tradewinds Sailing ...............67
r
Remembe
Mazatlan Marine Center / Oyster Cove Marina...............88 Sailor Bags...........................158 Trident Funding........................6 to tell 'em
La Paz Yachts.......................23
Oyster Point Marina...............97 Sal’s Inflatable Services..........94 Twin Rivers Marine Insurance 44 Lasetinttu de
McDermot Costa Insurance....65 you!
Pacific Crest Canvas...............51 San Francisco Boat Works.....103 UK-Halsey Sails....................124
McGinnis Insurance................71
Pacific Yacht Imports.................9 Santa Rosa Boat Center..........28 Ullman Sails...........................16
Milltech Marine, Inc................54
Panda Rigging........................40 Sausalito Marine Electrical Vallejo Marina.......................38
Minney’s Yacht Surplus.........156 Shop/Artisan Marine...........55
Paradise Village.....................35 Velas de Loreto / El Don.......107
Modern Sailing School & Scanmar International............34
Pardee Marine.....................162 Ventura Harbor Boatyard.....117
Club...................................65
Schoonmaker Point Marina....95
Passage Yachts.........................5 Vesper Marine........................96
The Moorings.......................131
Seashine................................57
Peter Crane Yacht Sales........166 Vessel Electric.......................164
Napa Valley Marina...............46
Seatech................................160
Pier 39 Marina.......................57 Voyager Marine.....................69
Napa Valley Marina Yachts...170
Shadetree Fabric Shelter......106
Pineapple Sails.........................3 Weatherguy.com..................135
New Found Metals.................51
Smartdodger..........................53
Punta Mita Beachfront Wedlock, Ramsay & Whiting
Norpac Yachts......................171
Condos.............................135 Society of Accredited Marine Marine Surveyors..............162
North Beach Marine Canvas...43 Surveyors/SAMS . ...............96
Pusser’s Rum............................4 West Marine........ 18, 20, 22, 24

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 165

 M U L T I H U L L S

GEMINI 105M
Loaded with all of the
extras. Ultra clean.
Ready to be enjoyed. Tax Deduction

PDQ 32
Bright, light, airy,
fun to sail, great
liveaboard. Alameda
berth available.

USE MY YACHT FOR ONE YEAR

Carver 350 Mariner Diesel
www.dalley.webs.com

CORSAIR SPRINT 750 31’ CORSAIR, 2003

2 starting at $54,900. $119,000.
Corsair F-27s from $39,900. Also new 28R $69,000.

Dealer for Seawind Catamarans and Corsair Trimarans

314 Tideway Dr., Alameda, CA 94501
www.helmsyacht.com You pay $12,000
YACHT SALES INC. (510) 865-2511 dock fees and expenses Local contact:
to ship Annapolis, MD to SF Lynda Beth (415) 250-0095

Latitude 38 eBooks
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Available at in the pages of
www.latitude38.com Latitude 38
Page 166  •  Latitude 38  •  November, 2009
 List with us!
Ask us about our
Maritime Protection
((510) 236-6633 • fax: (510) 231-2355 Program to find out what

yachtsales@kkmi.com • www. kkmi.com a warranty can do for

the sale of your yacht!
530 W. Cutting Blvd., Pt. Richmond, CA 94804

D
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RED

Nelson Marek Custom Herreshoff‘Mobjack’Ketch (1989) This classic wooden Sydney 36 CR (2006) w/fractional rig, 4 swept-back
A 92-ft aluminum world cruiser. ketch took more than 8 years to complete. Exceptionally spreaders, non-overlapping head sail, high aspect ratio
Recently repowered. Immaculate well maintained w/a very comfortable and appointed & very long waterline. Competitive IRC racer. Fitted w/all
throughout and in perfect condition. interior layout, she has excellent sailing characteris- factory options incl. electric winches, ideal for short-
$2,850,000 tics for cruising in all weather conditions. $160,000 handed sailing. Consider trade such as ‘picnic’ style
powerboat. Encore’s fast, fun & easy to sail. $279,000

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Beneteau First 40.7 (2001) DeVries 86’ Motor Vessel (1949/1999) Sutton Steel Pilothouse LRC 63 (1976)
White Dove won the 2008 ‘Elegant’, ‘Exceptional’, ‘Exquisite’ are just a Ready-to-go global cruiser just completed
West Coast IRC Championship few words that easily characterize this vessel. $100,000 maintenance/upgrade service. Twin
and is in top condition. MV Far Niente clearly defines the term 185hp Perkins for economy and dual gensets.
Asking $160,000 ‘Classic Motor Yacht’. Asking $1,950,000 Three cabins + crew’s quarters. Asking $339,000

Little Harbor 51 (1996) Jarvis Newman 36 (1978) Swan 43 (1977)

A very comfortable Ted Hood designed pilot- Classic flybridge “lobster boat” of Maine build Designed by S&S and with the Nautor Swan
house with full stand-up headroom and 360° quality. Single engine (160 hrs), queen V-berth pedigree for engineering and construction, this
visibility. Set up for shorthanded sailing and with enclosed head. Excellent condition, one-owner center cockpit yacht is exceptionally
superbly maintained by an experienced owner. well maintained and lightly used. maintained, fully outfitted and ready to go offshore
Asking $669,000 Asking $139,000. cruising. It is a ‘Must See’. Asking $149,000

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Swan 45 (2003) Swan 371 (1981) Swan 40 (1996)

Race or cruise. Rancho Deluxe won her class A Ron Holland design which is very well Frers design, exceptionally well maintained,
in the TransPac and was second twice in the equipped with newer electronics, sails 2-cabin performance cruiser. Awlgrip Flag Blue
Big Boat Series. This boat has all the gear to go and has been well maintained. hull, comprehensive sail inventory, and full in-slip
cruising and is in perfect condition. $625,000 Asking $95,000 cover. Asking $309,000

November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 167

 Marotta Yachts
Join us in welcoming Phil Howe – adding 30+ years of

See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com

ING
LIST
NEW

41' SCEPTRE RAISED CABINTOP CUTTER, 1985 43' HANS CHRISTIAN, 1978 38' HUNTER, 2006 Very well equipped (upgraded 40 hp
Professionally maintained local boat shows VERY nicely inside and Classic offered for sale by original owner. New teak decks (this diesel, full electronics, offshore dodger, heavy-duty sails includ-
out. Leisure Furl in-boom system w/Hood main, Harken roller was a $40,000 job alone!), Awlgripped hull, updated interior, ing in-mast furling main, electric windlass, etc.) and in great
furler and 105% Hood jib, updated electronics, more. $195,000 optional larger diesel and Telstar performance keel. $179,000 condition. Transferable Sausalito Yacht Harbor slip. $161,000

See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com

UCED
RED

45' HUNTER 450, 1998 38' HANS CHRISTIAN, 1984 48' C&C LANDFALL PILOTHOUSE CUTTER, 1980
All the amenities with two spacious staterooms, two heads, Great shape and extensively updated, epoxy barrier coated bot- Spacious raised salon performance cruiser that's competitively
and HUGE comfortable salon. Transferable Sausalito Yacht tom, stunning professionally maintained brightwork, low time on priced and lying in a transferable Sausalito slip.
Harbor slip. $159,000 Yanmar diesel, heavy duty offshore dodger, much more. $134,900 $129,500

See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com

G
LISTIN
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50' GULFSTAR KETCH 1977 46' SEA STAR KETCH, 1981 Vessel refit after circumnavi- 37' HUNTER 376, 1999
Extensively refit for a cruise that was never taken – gation and ready to go again! Replaced teak decks and rigging Very spacious, light and airy, this vessel shows as new; must see
new sails, rigging, electronics, stainless steel ports, including chainplates, extensively refurbished interior. Sturdy to appreciate. Out-of-country owners motivated; offers encour-
hatches, refinished interior, etc., etc., etc. $124,000 cruiser ready to take you any place you want to go. $115,000 aged. Sausalito Yacht Harbor slip can be arranged. $97,000

See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com

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RED NEW

38' HANS CHRISTIAN, 1979 34' JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 34.2, 1999 34' SUNSET SLOOP, 1967
Shows well inside and out with the Burmese teak interior in Professionally maintained, extensively updated. New sails, Harken This full keeled jewel was built like a piano by Al Silva shortly
particular showing beautifully. Hull recently buffed and waxed. roller furler, canvas and isinglass, electronics, batteries. Yanmar after he left Stone Boat Yard. Fully restored; everything's done
Teak decks in fine shape as well. $94,000 diesel serviced annually, bottom just painted, much more. $77,000 to showboat standards. $69,500

at 100 Bay Street • Sausalito • California since 1946

of Sausalito
experience and knowledge to the Marotta team!
Brokers of Fine
Sail and Motor
Yachts
See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com

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38' INGRID, 1984 41' MORGAN OUT ISLAND, 1979 34' HANS CHRISTIAN CUTTER, 1978
Clean, never cruised one owner example with low time on diesel Center cockpit ketch. Never cruised and fresh water kept, Robert Perry-designed classic cutter. Capable offshore boat: full keel,
engine (only 155 hours), custom finished interior, much more. she shows much newer than actual age. Note all new stainless high ballast-to-weight ratio, deep cockpit and big rudder placed far
$69,500 steel ports. $69,000 aft. Great shape, transferable Sausalito YH slip. $69,000

See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com

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30' NONSUCH ULTRA, 1987 34' VINDO, 1983 Vindo is listed in Ferenc Mate's The 35' BABA, 1979 Traditional double-ender with a recently
Professionally maintained, the interior is flawless and the World's Best Sailboats, and this lovely example of Swedish revarnished interior. She also sails well and will make a perfect
exterior comes close. Transferable Sausalito Yacht Harbor slip craftsmanship shows why: the mahogany joinery below is cruising yacht for someone who wishes to sail places with grace
that has a great views. A nice, must-see packageated. $59,000 exquisite. Transferable Sausalito Yacht Harbor slip. $59,000 and style. Transferable Sausalito Yacht Harbor slip. $59,000

See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com

ING
LIST
NEW

40' CHALLENGER KETCH, 1973 34' CT CUTTER, 1976 36' ISLANDER, 1978
Recently Awlgripped in beautiful Flag Blue, incredibly Charming Robert Perry-designed double-ender with lines like Hans Extensively refit over the past five years – engine rebuilt, new
spacious below with 6'5" headroom. Christians but for tens of thousands less. Extensive refit in 2000: sails, roller furler, electronics, etc., etc., etc. – and shows very
$55,900 hull LPU'd, rebuilt diesel, updated electronics, new mast. $39,000 nicely, transferable Sausalito Yacht Harbor slip. $32,000

See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com See at: www.marottayachts.com

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30' LANCER, 1980 32' TARGA, 1978 30' TARTAN, 1978

Refit stem to stern, unquestionably $50,000 worth of improvements over the last six years – new Classic S&S design has been extensively refit over
the nicest boat on the market. engine, sail drive, sails, standing rigging, thru-hull sea cocks, the years with $30,000 spent in 2000 alone.
$28,500 fuel tanks, prop, electronics, dinghy & outboard. $26,900 Transferable Sausalito Yacht Harbor slip. $22,500

(415) 331-6200 • info@marottayachts.com

 Sail · BROKERS · Power
6400 Marina Drive www.yachtworld.com /fcyachts  Phone (562) 594-9716
Long Beach, CA 90803 flyingcloud@verizon.net Fax (562) 594-0710
s R R
oom FFE UCE
D FFE
ater EO EO
3 st MAK RED MAK

54' IRWIN CUTTER, '88 $220,000 47' GILS CATAMARAN, '02 $395,000 44' GULFSTAR CC SLOOP $94,500 44' HARDIN KETCH, '78 $119,000
ER D D D
E OFF UCE UCE UCE
MAK RED RED RED

HANS CHRISTIAN 43T ketch $165,000 43' SPINDRIFT PH CTR, '81 $79,900 48' MARINER, '81 $145,000 40' CATALINA 400 MkII, '02 $179,000

UCE
D ble
ICE aila
N RED 2 av

37' CF/CHOATE SLOOP, '75 $35,000 57' BOWMAN, '78 $199,000 NEW GEMINI 105Mc, '09 $162,500 42' CATALINAS '89 & '93
APPROX. 100 listings on our Web site: www.flyingcloudyachts.com

Randall Burg Richmond

Marina del Rey
(510) 232-1490
(310) 574-9449
A Very Special Listing From
Yacht and Ship, Inc.
info@rbyachts.com Newport Beach (877) 297-3831 Napa Valley Marina Yachts
www.rbyachts.com San Diego (858) 208-8888

◆ BANG FOR THE BUCK ◆ 56' FOUNTAINE PAJOT MARQUISES

2001 • $695,000

45' EXPLORER, 1978. Robustly built. Spacious 78' GAFF RIGGED SCHOONER, 1971. New
below and well maintained. Yanmar diesel. Excel- Cummins 300 hp dsl, teak hull, well maintained.
lent condition. Great value at $109,000. Trade for property? Asking $350,000.

YOUR SHOPPING LIST: START HERE

SIZE TYPE LOCATION PRICE
80' Cooper Queenship motor yacht, '91 Delta $695,000
60' Custom Houseboat, '78 Sausalito $295,000
50' WILLIAM CRUISING KETCH, 1975, new electronics RICHMOND $145,000
Most spectacular salon of any yacht in its class. Large galley complete
57' Northern Marine Trawler, '04 Anacortes $1,650,000 with bar and built-in seats; wrap-around dinette accommodates 10.
53' Bluewater, '80 Sacramento $109,500
50' GULFSTAR CC, '79 SAN RAFAEL $124,000 Impressive navigation center with all the latest electronics.
49' GRAND BANKS ALASKAN DANA POINT $269,000
48' Defever Tri-Cabin, '80 Emeryville $185,000 Entire starboard hull dedicated to the captain's stateroom. Two large
47' BENETEAU 473, 3-stateroom, '06 SAN DIEGO $299,000 staterooms with their own private heads to port. More than 1,000 sq. ft. of
47' VAGABOND, excellent liveaboard, '81 ALAMEDA $145,000
46' HUNTER 460, '00 SAN PEDRO $217,500 deck space. Low hours on twin Yanmar 75hp direct drive diesel engines.
45' MORGAN by CATALINA center cockpit, '92 SAN DIEGO $159,000
43' PETERSON SERENDIPITY, '81 SANTA CRUZ $76,500 This yacht is in immaculate condition and is priced to sell.
43' grand mariner, excellent liveaboard, '70 OAKLAND $57,000
42' Marine Trader Trawler Delta inquire
42' nova sundeck trawler, 'Bristol', '87 stockton $137,500
41' HUNTER, '04 san diego $150,000
41' HUNTER AC, standard interior, '04 SAN DIEGO $165,000
36'
35'
31'
hunter 386, '04
fuji ketch, excellent cruiser, '76
HUNTER, '00
SAN RAFAEL
sausalito
MARINA DEL REY
$149,000
$44,900
$52,900
NAPA VALLEY MARINA YACHTS
24' SKAGIT ORCA COMMERCIAL, new diesel, '00 RICHMOND $60,000

$50,000,000 in pre-owned boats (707) 732-6101 • (707) 252-8011

Page 170 • Latitude 38 • November, 2009
 NORPAC VIVA OBAMA! HHH LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!
WE HAVE BUYERS: LIST YOUR BOAT HERE now!

YACHTS FOR MORE

SEE OUR

norpacyachts.com
1150 Brickyard Cove Rd., B9, Pt. Richmond, CA 94801
(510) 232-7200 • FAX (510) 232-7202 35' COLUMBIA SLOOP. Very nice and highly desirable
email: info@norpacyachts.com WEBSITE "10.7" design. Dsl, full galley, shower, wheel, dodger, bimini,
radar, AP, teak and Holly sole & MORE! Cruise equipped
and well maintained and upgraded. Asking $30,950
NCE
ERFORMA
P

41' CHB Trawler Long Range Cruiser. Great cruiser 40' X-YACHTS X-119 SLOOP. Famous 39' FREYA, STRONG STEEL DOUBLE-ENDED
for North or South, up the Delta or just live aboard. Danish builder, Racer-Cruiser one design by Neils CRUISER. Diesel, dink and outboard. New paint, 30' BRISTOL 29.9 Sloop. Capable & well loved pocket cruiser
Bow thruster, diesel, radar, etc. Aft stateroom, 2 Jeppesen. Loaded with gear, radar, New Volvo solar, furling, RADAR, AP, cruise equipped, comfort- in beautiful shape. Furling, dsl, glass, radar (new in '08), dodger,
heads, 2 staterooms, flybridge, full amenities and Penta diesel in 2000 and MORE! Proven ocean win- able, well appointed. A world-class cruiser and full cover, lavish teak below & tastefully accented above. Unusually
the rest…and MORE! Asking $54,950 ner in Melbourne-Osaka Race. Asking $109,000 MORE! Asking $48,950 nice boat promising years of fun & adventure. Ask $23,950

Visit us at BEAUTIFUL & FRIENDLY Brickyard Cove Marina

SAIL 62' TRUMPY Classic 1946 Ocean 34' CLASSIC LAKE UNION DREAMBOAT, 1928.
100' MEGA SLOOP Custom Offshore Perfor- Cruising Yacht. Gorgeous interior and Dsl, full aft canopy, enclosure and much
mance Cruiser. Comfort & luxury, spacious, super comfortable layout. Exterior refin- more!............A BARGAIN @ 17,500 Asking
sleeps 17, loaded and near new. Great ish/restore due. Economical twin 4-71s ++.
32' BOWPICKER, aluminum. Commercial
charter potential!!!...... Asking 975,000 OFFERS ENCOURAGED........ Asking 149,500 (herring) license............................ 49,000
50' TRUMPY TRAWLER, Long range, great 32' ARIES. Ocean cruising sloop. Highly respected
40' TRIMARAN by Piver. Ketch, dsl, fast, nice,
clean. Insures as F/G........... Asking 33,900 layout, 671 N-Series diesel. Needs TLC. A 32' GRAND BANKS Trawler. Classic '70. double-ender by Tom Gilmer. Glass, beautiful TEAK
38' INGRID Ketch by Atkins. Great extra STOUT great boat!......................... 44,950/offers Dsl, dual helms, full electronics, TEAK appointments. Extra nice and loaded for cruising:
24' BENETEAU FIRST 23.5 w/many up- BLUE WATER CRUISER. Glass double-ender, refit 49' CLASSIC 1928 STEPHENS Raised decks, economical + MORE!....Try 11,000 RADAR, furling, self-tailing winches, vane, dodger,
grades: New rig by Easom, new Honda 9.9, new & upgraded, vane, diesel, furling, RADAR & Deck Express Cruiser. Twin 671 dsls,much 27' Farallon Pilothouse, '86. F/G, twin dinghy, diesel. Ready to cruise. Asking $36,950
North 100% jib on furler & MORE! (Trailer avail. MORE!............................... Asking 51,950 recent prof. upgrading, fire damaged aft 5L V8s, fast and seaworthy. Just
cockpit. Great opportuniity...24,950/offers detailed and very nice.......... Asking 51,950
@ negotiable extra). Super fun weekender/racer. 38' CLASSIC English Ketch by Reg Freeman.
Breathtaking beauty........... Asking 124,950 45' STEPHENS 1929 classic. Beautiful
EXCELLENT CONDITION! Asking $13,950 Gatsby-era motoryacht waiting to trans-
26' PACEMAKER, cabin cruise /V8, nice!...8,500
37' GULFSTAR Center Cockpit Slp. Dsl, dodger, 26' CLASSIC JENSEN cabin cruiser w/near new
port you back to the days of yacht-
aft S/R & MORE. This VESSEL MUSTS BE SOLD Volvo dsl. Very nice boat ...A STEAL @ 4,950
ing in the grand style................ Try 75,000
NOW! REPO!...... Ask: 29,950/Make Offers
43' CLASSIC CALLIS 1923 Custom Express 24' COUNTER-STERN Traditional Yacht
34' DUFOUR SLOOP. A worthy blue water per- Crusier. All TEAK, famous and an exquisite
formance cruiser needing reasonable detailing, Tender/Launch with Cuddy. Copper bottom.
head turner....................... Asking 695,000 A BEAUTY. Yanmar diesel........12,950/obo
but a good quality boat with lots of 'goodies' 43' MATTHEWS, '65, diesel. A gem!
& way under-priced! Full galley, head, shower, Loaded and beautiful............ Asking 69,450 22' ALUMINUM PLEASURE TUG. Bufflehead
spinn., wheel, nav station, major headroom & live/cruise. Loaded............ Asking 108,250 58' ALDEN BOOTHBAY MOTORSAILER center
42' GRAND BANKS Twl. Aft cabin, F/B, Onan,
lots more! This boat could show you the world 19' CHRIS CRAFT CONCEPT 119 Bowrider cockpit ketch. Dsl, genset, air/heat, new upholstery,
twin dsls, radar. Excellent.............. 121,000
33' CLASSIC LAKE UNION Dreamboat by & she's a bargain at............ Asking 24,950 much recent refitting & refinishing. Loaded w/cruise
41' CHRIS CRAFT Const. Twins, aft S/R, Runabout, '93. With canvas, inboard 40 mph
Blanchard. Yanmar 75 hp turbo diesel. Graceful and 33+' ROYAL HUISMAN ALUMINUM Cutter by bridge up and more. A good cruiser or low hours, dry-stored inside. Good looking gear, AP, radar ++. Great comfortable bluewater
Alan Gurney: World class builder and designer.
lovely with artistry throughout. Classic yachting and a Yanmar diesel, new standing rig, nav station,
liveaboard.......................... 13,950/offers fiberglass fun machine.....A BARGAIN @ 3,950 cruising w/excellent layout & more! Ask $268,950
great deal of pleasurre awaits you. Asking $24,950 liferaft & MORE!................. Asking 38,500
30' STEEL SPRAY Replica by Bruce Roberts.
CED! Classic Cruiser This is a NEW BOAT, never launched. Joshua SEE!
REDU Slocum's famous Spray design w/diesel,
spars, sails & more! Exterior looks ready
A MUST
to launch. Interior started, but not finished.
AHOY BARGAIN HUNTERS!!! This looks like
a good one...................Asking only 14,900
30' SAGITTA Sloop. F/G, diesel, fine Danish
double-ender........Reduced.... Asking 11,950
65' CLASSIC '31 MOTORYACHT BY WHEELER. 16' 30' CATALINA Slp. Dsl, wheel, nice... 22,000
beam, recent 40k hull refurb. She's ready for you to finish 29' pearson triton. Diesel, much refitting
recently done, some left to do, very nice
restoration. 3 dbl strms, pilothouse, twins, 3 heads, huge salon, pocket cruiser...................... 15,950/offers 60' LIDGARD Cold-molded New Zealand performance cruis- 35' PRIVATEER BERMUDA KETCH
crew's quarters, more. Trades considered. Asking $29,950 er. Built for Southern Ocean & Roaring 40s. We rarely see high- Lovely Gillmer design in glass w/diesel, furling, full galley,
29' CAL Sloop. Spinnaker, 3 jibs, main, fresh
rebuild A-4 inboard, sleeps 6, AP, head, galley endurance cruising vessels such as this in our waters. A 'GO DO wheel, marine head and shower, ship's table/settee.
with oven, settee ++. Just a really nice boat. IT' world beater at bargain price. Big dsl, 4 strms, beautiful Great accommodations. Many upgrades and MUCH MORE!
REDUCED: THIS IS WAY TOO CHEAP inter., +. Built to go to sea & stay there. Asking $122,000 Cruise/live in style and comfort. Asking $33,950
FOR THIS GREAT BOAT…Asking 5,950
28' Herreshoff H-28 ketch with brand
new Yanmar diesel. Very nice condition and uise
a bargain at.......................... Asking 8,950
dy to cr
27' CAL 2-27 Sloop. Extra nice. Inboard. rea
Good starter boat...........REDUCED TO 4,750
32' WESTSAIL. Double-ended bluewater cruiser.
POWER
Cruise/live ready. Diesel, vane, great sail inventory.
Mexico veteran. Self-tailing winches, dodger. Excep- 130' CAMCRAFT Passenger Ship. Certified
for 33 passengers overnight. Booked for
tional boat. Strong, seaworthy and FUN! BAJA HA-HA the season. Virtual turnkey: Money and
anyone? Asking $48,500 opportunity, working PNW.......... 2,200,000
100' Steel HIGH ENDURANCE Adven- ced!
UE ture/Charter Ship in Panama. Turn- redu
UNIQ key operation. A great opportunity!
MOTIVATED!.................. Asking 1,500,000 39' SANTANA by Gary Mull & W.D. Schock. Great designer 49' CUSTOM Cold-Molded Ketch by Reliant. Beautiful Hankerson
62' ELCO 1929 CLASSIC Twin diesel, & builder. Exceptional cond. Perfectly set up for cruising. design. Powerful and seaworthy blue water cruiser in great shape.
beautiful yachting in the classic Gatsby Strong, seaworthy & comfortable. Wheel, dodger, radar, VHF, Built '91. Yanmar diesel, furling, self-tailers, aux. genset, full galley,
style................................ Asking 129,500 GPS, AP, depth, spinnaker, etc. VERY NICE! Asking $55,500 full electonics and MORE! MUST BE SEEN. Asking $124,750

48' DUTCH CANAL BARGE by DeVries.

STEEL. Unique cruising liveaboard for Bay and Delta.
Call (510) 232-7200 or FREE (877) 444-5087
Comfort and character. Diesel, tub, galley, fireplace,
salon, convertible aft enclosure, beautiful decor, plus
or Call Glenn Direct at (415) 637-1181
MORE! Make offers. Asking $219,000 For Information & Inspection Appointments
November, 2009 • Latitude 38 • Page 171