Jibe Ho-Ho-Ho!
©2009 Latitude 38 Media, LLC
Dietmar Petutschnig, an experienced European sailor who’s sailed a third of the way around the world since completing last year’s Baja Ha-Ha, sent us this very illustrative photo of what happens to a boat’s boom when an electric mainsheet works against a stout preventer. Oops!
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC
Petutschnig, who did the Pacific Puddle Jump last spring, reports that his Las Vegas-based Lagoon 440 Carinthia is now in Auckland, New Zealand, for repairs. Wonder if he’s on Santa’s ‘Naughty’ or ‘Nice’ list . . .
Mystery Med Kit Found
Denis Neumann reports that, on November 24, while walking the beach in Half Moon Bay, he spotted a small, bright yellow canvas pouch. "It was about 2" x 4" x 5" with two zippers and two velcro straps. I took it home and found that it’s an emergency pack that was probably carried in a life raft or ditch bag. Attached to one of the zippers is an even smaller blue pack with ‘CPR Savers’ printed on the side. There are no other identifying marks.
"In the larger pack there are a number of emergency items, such as a folding scissors, needles, bandages, a magnifying glass, fish hooks, etc. About 50 items, all told. It’s obvious from the rusted and frozen state of the metal items that it was in the water for some time. Both bags were packed with sand, even though they were zipped shut.
"There’s a strong southerly current in this area, so was probably lost somewhere to the north. I’m wondering if any of your readers may recognize this. I hate to think how this came to be lost."
If you have any ideas of how this emergency kit came to wash up in Half Moon Bay, email us. We’ll pass on any info to Denis to ease his mind.
Cruisers to Help Enforce Fishing Regs
Like many longtime Mexico cruisers, Chuck Houlihan and Linda Edeiken of the Allied 39 Jacaranda get frustrated when they observe illegal fishing practices which greatly impact Mexico’s fragile marine ecosystem, especially since enforcement of existing laws is inadequate. But a new citizen-funded, citizen-manned vigilance patrol program called Observatorio Ciudadano (OC) encourages cruiser input. "It’s a small step," says Chuck, "but at least its a step in the right direction, and its working!"
Thanks to legislation passed last year, fishing with hookahs, gill nets, and longlines (in near-shore waters) are all now illegal in Mexico, and cruisers are now being encouraged to report law-breakers to authorities. In near-shore waters, such as the southern Sea of Cortez, the herding of fish by hookah divers is said to have decimated many reef areas. According to the conservation website SeaWatch.org, "It is estimated that 90% of the reef fish are eliminated by this means of fishing. Today, the fish count is at a dangerously low level and on the verge of collapse."
©2009 Latitude 38 Media, LLC
How can cruisers help? "The goal," according the SeaWatch, "is to get the cruising fleet in the Sea of Cortez and western mainland Mexico to help gather information on any hookah fishing and/or gill net and longline fishing on near shore reefs or rocky areas. Another important fishery being abused is the dorado fishery. Panga longliners are illegally taking fish reserved for sports fishing. Please report any of these pangas with surface longlines that you see. Pictures are very important."
Cruisers or vacationers may report violators via email, and their identity will remain confidential. The info gathered will be used to determine where there needs to be additional patrols, and to pressure government officials to enforce existing laws.
Reports should contain: 1) date and time; 2) your lat/long location; 3) location of observed illegal fishing; 4) type of illegal fishing; 5) type, color and Mexican ID number of vessel; 6) number of people onboard; 7) any specific identifying characteristics; 8) type of engine; 9) photos of vessel (critically important and can be submitted later when in WiFi range); 10) additional descriptive info.