Photo of the DayApril 2 - Nuevo Vallarta Last week we were at Paradise Marina with Profligate getting ready to cross over to Cabo San Lucas when these three lovely young French girls in bikinis strolled over and asked if they could pose on the bow of our cat. Hoping to somewhat mend the rapidly deteriorating relations between the French and Americans, we agreed - and came up with the photo of the day. By the way, if you're a young guy with a boat who likes young women, Spring Break - which actually spreads out over about a month - is the time to be in Mexico. The place is overrun with young ladies looking for a little adventure and romance. Photo Latitude/Richard |
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Some Kind of Sick April Fool's Joke?April 2 - Mexico City "I hope yesterday's 'Lectronic Latitude item about the Mexican government getting rid of the current checking in and out procedures is real and was not some kind of bad April Fool's joke," writes Ken Allison of Foster City. "If it is real, it would be the best news that I've heard in a long while. If it is a joke you are a @!*&*^$>#%&^$@!*&*^$ and shouldn't joke about such a serious subject." What we reported was no joke. We were in Cabo yesterday where Enrique Fernandez, general manager of Cabo Isle Marina, and someone who is very plugged into government issues as they relate to marinas and recreational boating, told us that their House of Representatives had passed a law that would require clearing into the country and out of the country, but not checking in beyond that while inside the country. Presumably there would be a cruising permit involved, but Fernandez said he had no idea how much it might cost. Further, he carefully noted that it still has to pass their Senate before it would become law, and he has no idea when that might happen. So while it's not a done deal, there is reason to be optimistic. We agree that if Mexico gets rid of internal check-ins, it will be great news and a very big deal. We don't think Mexico has appreciated how much their current time-consuming and expensive clearing procedures are hated by cruisers. |
Ellen's New BoatApril 2 - France British yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur's sponsor, Kingfisher plc, have announced their full support for the design and construction of a new 75-ft solo trimaran for a campaign of singlehanded record attempts in 2004 and 2005. Graphic Courtesy Offshore Challenges The new boat, which will fly the colors of B&Q, a Kingfisher company, is being designed by Nigel Irens. Based in France, the British naval architect has more than 20 years experience designing and racing multihulls. Construction will start at the end of April at the Boatspeed yard in Australia. The plan is to launch this winter, then conduct an extensive boat/sail testing program before a shake-down delivery to Europe next spring/early summer. A detailed program will be announced once construction has begun on www.teamkingfisher.com. MacArthur's program announced in January 2002 remains the same, including plans to enter the ORMA 60 trimaran racing circuit during 2005, with the key objective of the 2006 Route du Rhum race. Team Kingfisher has no immediate plans for another crewed Jules Verne attempt, but there is certainly an idea to have another go in a few years time. |
California Rain Eases Bashing PainApril 2 - Cabo San Lucas, BCS While folks here in Northern California may not be happy about this week's rain, it's a godsend for boats that just left Cabo doing the Baja Bash. The lows that bring rain to Northern California screw up the Pacific High, which ordinarily creates the strong northwesterlies that usually make a spring bash from Cabo to San Diego such a bitch. Thanks to the lows, it's been ultra mellow along the coast of Baja. Paul Biery and crew Wes left Cabo two days ago aboard Paul's Catana 431 New Focus and had smooth motoring all the way to Turtle Bay, which is over 400 miles. Profligate left Cabo yesterday at noon, and has seen no more than 1-ft waves. Furthermore, Doña de Mallorca reports it was warm enough to still be wearing her swimsuit. Last night was a little wild, however, as there was sheet lightning and thunder all around. But still no wind. |
Profligate on the hook at Cabo San Lucas yesterday morning. Note the overcast. There were only 12 boats on the hook or on mooring buoys. Photo Latitude/Richard Bashers headed north are in a race against time, as they try to get as far north - and hopefully at least across Vizcaino Bay to the Baja coast - before the lows move east and the high reestablishes itself. The problem with waiting for the next low is that they don't come so far south - or so often - this late in the spring. |
April Issue Best YetApril 2 - Mill Valley The April boat show issue of Latitude 38, our biggest of the year, has been distributed. We think it may be our best yet, so we hope you pick one up at one of the usual places and check it out. Of course we'll have plenty available at Pacific SAIL EXPO later this month too. If you need to order a copy by mail, go to www.latitude38.com/admin/subsform.htm. Our readers and distributors should be forewarned that the May issue will come out on Friday, May 2, and not on May 1.
Photo Latitude/Annie |
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YOTREPSApril 2 - The Pacific Ocean and Cyberspace Who is out making passages in the Pacific and what kind of weather are they having? The YOTREPS daily yacht tracking page has moved to www.bitwrangler.com/psn. |
Weather UpdatesApril 2 - Pacific Ocean San Francisco Bay WeatherTo see what the winds are like on the Bay and just outside the Gate right now, check out http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/wind. The National Weather Service site for San Francisco Bay is at www.wrh.noaa.gov/Monterey. California Coast WeatherLooking for current as well as recent wind and sea readings from 17 buoys and stations between Pt. Arena and the Mexican border? Here's the place - which has further links to weather buoys and stations all over the U.S.: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Southwest.shtml. Pacific Winds and PressureThe University of Hawaii Dept. of Meteorology page posts a daily map of the NE Pacific Ocean barometric pressure and winds. Pacific Sea StateCheck out the Pacific Ocean sea states
at: http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.
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