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Photos of the DayAugust 1 - Santa Barbara The Wanderer and Doña de Mallorca are in Santa Barbara, getting ready to do Friday's 86-mile Santa Barbara to King Harbor (Redondo Beach) Race. De Mallorca reports that on the way south along the normally windy California coast, there was never more than eight knots of wind, and the seas were flat -- perfect northbound weather. As she and the two delivery crew rounded Point Conception, they were chased down by the Coast Guard in an orange inflatable, which had been hiding pirate-like at the Cojo Anchorage just around Government Point. Since Profligate had passed an inspection just a year ago, the woman officer in charge conducted a quick spot check, noting a minor deficiency in flares. (We shouldn't have set off so many to celebrate the start of Banderas Bay Regatta.) After the inspection was done and upon learning that Profligate is Latitude's boat, the officer noted that she was a "big fan". That makes us proud.  Heidi of the US Coast Guard Santa Barbara YC officials report 120 sign-ups for the King Harbor Race, and hope to get a few more late entries to surpass last year's total of 128 boats. The wild card is how many of the boats that completed the TransPac in mid-July will be able to make it back in time. Incidentally, last year's overall winner was Northern Californian Paul Martson with an Antrim 27. Although we don't know for sure, we wouldn't be surprised if he showed up to defend his title.  The Santa Barbara Muni Harbor has over 1,000 slips, but there is so much demand for them that they've stopped keeping a waiting list. Some people have been on the list for 25 years. Maybe it has something to do with nice toilet facilities!  An active and working harbor, Santa Barbara is very popular with fishermen, sailors, old geezers on the breakwater, young lovers, joggers, tourists, surfers and just about everyone else. These folks know nothing about racing, but enjoy the spectacle - except when the gun goes off and shocks the daylights out of them!  The breakwater is spectator-friendly for watching the races.  Santa Barbara Yacht Club is right on the beach and the Wet Wednesday fleet races right in front of the club. |
Wet Wednesday Beer Can Races are a big deal for the Santa Barbara YC, and attract a large and excellent fleet. Check out the photos of the aggressive starts. Some of the King Harbor boats use the Wednesday night race as a King Harbor tune-up.  The middle-sized boats battle for room at the start.   It's even more competitive with the J/24s and other small boats. One of them was Greg Dorland of Lake Tahoe, seen here with his lady friend Debbie, who for 23 years has run the well-known Christie Hill Restaurant in Tahoe.  Dorland sailed his Melges 32, which has tremendous sail area for her weight, to second in division. "We might have won if you'd come along," he joked. "We got badly overpowered at the weather mark."  Greg Dorland's Melges 32 with her chute up.  Finish line fun! Photos Latitude/Richard Anyway, it's both King Harbor and Fiesta in Santa Barbara, so it's party time everywhere. Wish you were here. |
TransPac FacesAugust 1 - Honolulu TransPac faces in the crowd. For more pictures, as well as the full story, check out our feature coverage in the August issue that hits the docks today!  Tres Amigos. From left: John Bennett, Jon 'Hippie' Shampain and Ian Vickers were the only gringos aboard the Acapulco-based J/125 Jeito.  Bill Lee,'The Wizard', laughs about a shirt someone gave him, from the SC 50 'Dolphin Dance' in the '96 PacCup. Calvin is saying: "We got the idea from some guy in Santa Cruz." Hobbes adds, "He said he was sailing to Hawaii on a sled."  Kimo Worthington, who now lives in North Carolina, sailed on Pendragon 4 with three other Whitbread/Volvo vets. "This was a tea party compared to the round-the-world stuff," he claimed.  John Wylie, skipper of Tabasco, and TPYC Commodore Brad Avery. Showing incredible enthusiasm and stamina, Avery greeted every boat as they docked on TransPac Row, regardless of the hour. |
 Antrim 27 sailors Barry and Sue Senescu ("Rattle and Hum") sailed on Horizon. They also found time to write a funny screenplay called 'TransPac Reloaded', in which Neo, Morpheus and the gang discover offshore sailing.  Zale Rudiger enjoys the view from father Mark's tall shoulders -- or maybe it was nap time?  The Garnier clan aboard Reinrag2. They had another fun and victorious trip: "We got all our fighting out of the way years ago," joked skipper Tom Garnier.  Hogan Beatie, Pyewacket crewmember, and his lovely fianceé Mariah. |
AUGUST ISSUE HITS THE DOCKSAugust 1 - Northern California The August issue of Latitude 38 comes out today. Check it out for complete TransPac coverage, circumnavigation, Alaska cruising, broaching, Boat of the Month Ranger 33, Max, great photos, good stories and all the usual juicy bits. Then get out there and enjoy your weekend! |
YOTREPSAugust 1 - 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 UpdatesAugust 1 - Pacific Ocean San Francisco Bay WeatherCheck out this guide to San Francisco Bay Navigational Aids: http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/sfports.html. To 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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