INEOS Britannia Defeats Italy and Jimmy Spithill Retires From Cup Racing
It was a dramatic day of many highs and lows in Port Vell, Barcelona, today as INEOS Britannia won the Louis Vuitton Cup, defeating Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 7-4. The British had complete control of the race for the most part as winds were remarkably consistent given the forecast. They will now go on to face Emirates Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup Match beginning October 12, in another best-of-13 series.
The breaking news of the day is that Luna Rossa co-helmsman and America’s Cup GOAT Jimmy Spithill announced he is retiring from Cup action to make way for the young guns in the sport.
We’ll have a full report in Monday’s ‘Lectronic, including interviews with Jimmy Spithill and Sir Ben Ainslie. In the meantime, here’s a snippet from the America’s Cup newsroom.
“Inches and hard yards were fought for in Barcelona today in a classic final race at the Louis Vuitton Cup, and when the dust settled from the on-water fireworks, it was INEOS Britannia that emerged as the top Challenger and secured their place in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match, where they will face the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, with racing beginning on October 12.
“It is over 60 years since Great Britain had a yacht compete for the America’s Cup trophy in the final Match, and what INEOS Britannia has achieved here, winning against the vastly experienced challenge of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, cannot be underestimated.”
Race/Cruise in the Zongo Yachting Cup While Sailing Down the California Coast
Are you headed down the West Coast, destination San Diego, for the start of the 30th Baja Ha-Ha? Are you looking to harbor-hop on your way down the coast and find cozy marinas with hot showers and cold cocktails? Are you hoping to find some of that magic camaraderie and community that happens when you drop anchor in a new port?
This year’s Zongo Yachting Cup might be your cup of tea.
“The Zongo Cup was my personal attempt at having as much fun as possible in a day — there are super-cool concerts and a destination race on the Central Coast,” said Paul Irving, the event’s founder and friend of Latitude 38. (Paul helped us out at this year’s Fall Crew Party, and he’s a key part of the Sausalito Boat Show, happening right now. Usually held in August, the 15th annual Zongo Yachting Cup has been moved to October with a very specific demographic in mind.
“I’m trying to expand the idea this year. It’s just been a little local race between Morro Bay Yacht Club and San Luis Yacht Club in Avila Beach, but we’re trying to attract the attention of all the cruisers headed south for the Baja Ha-Ha. By the time most people headed south get to Morro Bay, they’re usually pulling in for a hot shower and a cocktail.”
If your GPS has you pinned in Morro Bay on October 11, then you’re right on the starting line for the 15th annual Zongo Cup kickoff party. Racers can check in all day at Morro Bay Yacht Club, then catch the free concert on Friday night at Tidelands Park on Morro Bay’s waterfront. The Zongo All-Stars — an Afro-Latin dance band with a strong local following — will be playing from around 4 to 8 p.m. (Paul Irving plays trumpet in the band.)
On Saturday, October 12, the 20-mile race/cruise from Morro Bay to Avila Beach/Port San Luis starts at 11 a.m., concludes at 5 p.m., and finishes with the “really cool after-party,” according to Paul, at the Zongo Cup Reception Party at Point San Luis Lighthouse, which can only be accessed by boat. Drinks and live music will be on tap!
The Zongo Yachting Cup is actually a new iteration of a famed and famously difficult Morro Bay Yacht Club tradition. “Forever and ever and ever — in the late ’50s and early ’60s — MBYC had the Estero Cup, sailed in one shot from Morro Bay, all the way to San Simeon, down to Avila Beach and back to Morro Bay,” said Paul. “It was a long race and a grind. Boats limped back in at 4 a.m. As time marched on, participation was declining until there was nobody doing it. We wondered, ‘Do people just not like to sail anymore? Was it too grueling?’ So we just took the easiest leg of the Estero Cup.”
Paul put the cherry on top for this year’s specialized, catering-to-the-Ha-Ha-fleet Zongo Cup: “Come hang out with the good people of Morro Bay and have two rad parties.”
To register, go to www.bigbigslo.com/zongocup24.
Steering the Dream With Hydrovane
Hydrovane is your best crew member: an independent self-steering windvane and emergency rudder/steering system … ready to go!
Baja Ha-Ha Updates Part 2— More To Know Before You Go
When we gave you Part One of Baja Ha-Ha Updates — Things To Know Before You Go, there were 124 paid entries in this cruisers’ rally to Mexico. Now, a week later, that number is 128, with Josh and Natasha Grillo from San Diego, aboard the Beneteau Oceanis 45 Wilder, being the latest to join the fleet. Are they sailing with kids aboard? We don’t know, but according to the Grand Poobah’s updates, if they do, there’ll be a good number of junior sailors for them to connect with.
The Kids’ Ha-Ha?
It currently looks as though there will be 25 kids (under age 16) on the Ha-Ha. This would be an all-time record. One mom insists her 17- and 18-year-old are really kids, so maybe there will be 27 kids.
Kids have gotten a jump on the Ha-Ha fun, as it’s the Poobah’s understanding that Katie and David Levy of the Corona del Mar-based CSY Stargazer, along with daughters Emily, 12, and Harper, 9, have organized a FaceTime session every Monday night for the kids and families. How cool is that?
The Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue “A Team” will be at the Last Cheeseburger in Paradise Kick-Off Party on November 3
We’re talking about Douglas Samp, the SAR (Search and Rescue) manager for the entire Pacific. Also attending are Lauren Cefali, SAR program manager for District Eleven — which encompasses the states of California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, the coastal and offshore waters out over a thousand miles, and the offshore waters of Mexico and Central America down to South America — and hopefully, Captain Patrick Dill, who is the San Diego-based chief of incident management for District Eleven.
These great friends of the Ha-Ha really know their stuff. Samp, in fact, was on duty at the Alameda headquarters about 15 years ago when a Ha-Ha boat rapidly sank after colliding with a whale. Thanks to the preparation of the boat, the skill of Capt. Eugenie Russell and the boat’s crew, and the Coast Guard base and helicopter crew, a “textbook” rescue was effected.
These Coast Guard experts will be on hand to tell you which form of emergency communication they recommend, how soon you should contact them if there is a potential problem, what resources they have at their disposal, and how the various SAR communications systems work. They can also tell you how closely they work with the great folks in the Mexican navy. It’s our understanding that our SAR friends are putting together a handout listing what numbers to call if you have an emergency, be it a fire, sinking, medical issue, or UFO sighting.
For the last couple of years, the Mexican navy has been running the ports.
Being military, they are sometimes more strict than some former port captains were. For example, when getting ready to leave La Cruz for Ensenada in the next week, Doña de Mallorca was told that the navy would need to inspect Profligate before she leaves, to make sure she is safe. Mind you, this is for a domestic rather than international clearance. This has never been required before, and we’ve taken our boats to Mexico almost every year since 1981. In addition, the port captain is asking for a signed copy of some form that says we’ll be responsible if we damage anything. What form? So if you haven’t been to Mexico in a few years, be forewarned that things might be a little stickier at some ports.
Last Cheeseburger in Paradise and Costume Kick-Off Party.
People have asked if it’s possible for “outsiders” to attend the Last Cheeseburger in Paradise Costume and Kick-Off Party at the West Marine Store in San Diego on November 3, the day before the start of the Ha-Ha. Yes, everybody is welcome. Skippers and first mates of entered boats get in free. There is a $12 entry fee for all others. Lunch consists of salad, burgers, beans, pie and whipped cream! Limited amounts of wine and beer are free for those of age. Lunch is served until 3:00 p.m.
Apple iMessage via Satellite will not work offshore in Mexican waters.
Apple has a new deal where folks with an iPhone 14, or later, and IOS 18 can send iMessages via satellite, meaning you don’t need cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. But — and it’s a Kardashian-sized but — this only works in the United States and Canada, and only a few miles offshore. Several people have told the Assistant Poobah they plan to use this method of communication for offshore check-ins. It’s NOT going to work.
Signing up for the Baja Ha-Ha.
As we shared last week, the official deadline was September 4, two months before the start of the Ha-Ha. Because the Poobah hasn’t wanted to exclude anyone, in the past he’s allowed skippers to sign up as late as a day before the start. “But those were the good old days, when life was simple.”
Now, if anyone wants to sign up, they may have to start from, or stop in, Ensenada on the way.
“To check into the country with our agent in Bahia Santa Maria, all documents must be in by October 11. In some special circumstances, passport copies and the TIP may be submitted right up until the day we leave, with prior approval.”
For more information or to sign up for the 30th Baja Ha-Ha, go to baja-haha.com.
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Latitude 38’s Project 2025 for Youth Sailing
Like the YRA race and yacht club committees, Latitude 38 is moving full steam ahead on plans to support future sailing. This includes publishing our annual Sailing Calendar, which includes a directory of Northern California youth sailing programs. We’re reminding all youth program leaders to make sure to send us your 2025 youth program information as soon as it’s available. You can see the information we publish online here. We also fit in as many programs with as much information as possible in the print edition of our sailing calendar, distributed on December 30.
You know what’s annoying? When you don’t find your favorite youth program listed. We do our best to list everyone, but in our information-overloaded world it’s too easy to miss something. If you find your program is not listed, please send the information here. We do our best to include them all because, like you, we believe one of the best gifts you can offer a child is the opportunity to start sailing young.
More heads-up on 2025: If you’re a race chair, class president or otherwise involved in planning the 2025 racing season, make sure you get your schedule information in to Laura Munoz at the YRA here. If you’d like to promote your club, class or program with an ad in the calendar, like Treasure Island Sailing Center in the image above, email Nicki at Latitude 38 for rates and information. It’s a full-year calendar packed with information about racing, events, youth sailing and much more. You can flip through the whole 2024 calendar here.
Remember, we’re with you — more kids sailing is a good thing and a great project for 2025. Get us the information and we’ll do what we can to spread the word.
As it says on your rear view mirror, “Deadlines are closer than they appear.” The deadline is November 1, and the sooner you get us the information the better. If you don’t have all the information finalized, don’t wait — send us the basics with your contact information, and people will learn the rest from your website. Please send your information here.
We extend a big “Thank you!” to all the advertisers who made the 2024 calendar possible, and to those supporting the 2025 edition.
Short Sightings: Transpac ’25 Getting Ready, Cabo Race ’25 Canceled
The 2025 Transpac Starts Now
Is the bright blue Pacific calling you? The Transpacific Yacht Club has announced that entries are coming in, seminars are underway, and competitors looking to race the 2025 Transpac are gearing up for next summer’s race. The email said, “We are just nine months out from the first Transpac starts! If you’re thinking about entering this bucket list of a regatta from Los Angeles to Tahiti …” (we’re sure they meant Hawaii). You can plan a cruise to Tahiti the following season.
There are already 27 boats registered to race, including 2023 Transpac winner Dave Moore, returning with his Santa Cruz 52 Westerly, Greg Dorn with his new-to-him Transpac 52 Favonius, Roy Disney with his Andrews 70 Pyewacket and a growing list of others ready to make the run to Hawaii. Put your name on the list now.
DBW Offering Grants To Improve Recreational Boating Access
Attention Alameda, Sausalito, Richmond, Berkeley and other waterfront municipalities who want to grant their citizens improved access to the Bay. There are funds available to improve launch ramps, gangways, floats, parking, restrooms and other infrastructure to make launching and sailing easier. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on February 3, 2025. To learn more about how to apply for funds visit the DBW website.
Since 1988, Division of Boating and Waterways has awarded approximately $254 million from the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund for construction of recreational boating facilities throughout California.
Electrifying Announcement From the San Diego Yacht Club
Yacht clubs up and down the coast have been working hard to minimize their impact on the environment. The San Diego Yacht Club has taken delivery of two Vita Power, all-electric RIB boats, the Vita Seal and SeaDog. The SDYC Vita boats will support their year-round youth sail training programs, adult race management activities, and dockmaster duties around their marina.
In 2010, San Diego Yacht Club created a new waterfront facility with an emphasis on “green and sustainable elements,” and aspired to host “Green Regattas.” Along with generous solar power generation, SDYC Malin Burnham Sailing Center is a LEED Gold-certified facility. Jeff Johnson, SDYC’s waterfront manager, commented, “These boats fit so nicely with San Diego Yacht Club’s commitment to introducing ways to conduct our sport with minimum impact on the environment. To complement this now decade-old facility, we are proud to showcase the 100% electric Vita powerboats as a robust tool for our junior sailing program and regatta management activities. We are eager to pave the way for other yacht clubs to understand the benefits of 100% electric propulsion and minimize the carbon footprint of our day-to-day yacht club operations.”
2025 Newport Beach to Cabo Race Canceled
Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s biennial Newport to Cabo race, originally scheduled for March 2025, has been canceled due to a lack of available slips in Cabo and instability at the marina. The Newport Harbor Yacht Club is working with the marina to secure berths for the race to return in 2027.
Bay Area Resident Cyril Derreumaux To Kayak Across the Atlantic
After having successfully crossed the 2,800 miles of the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii in 2022, Cyril Derreumaux will take on the 3,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Martinique in December. The solo kayak from California to Hawaii took 91 days and 9 hours.
Farmers and Cities vs Fishermen — It’s the Smelt Who Are Losing
Not every sailor likes fishing, but many do like seafood. The Golden Gate Salmon Association is once again raising the alarm about California’s water management damaging fish stocks. California’s new water year began with the cancellation of the fall flow protection for Delta smelt, a once-common fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that’s now critically endangered. Despite wet-year conditions, state and federal agencies decided to suspend a key outflow action meant to improve smelt habitat. Environmentalists argue that this move could push the species closer to extinction. Read more here.
Vallejo Marina: Gateway to the Bay, Delta, and Napa River
40′ to 45′ foot slips are now available at $9.97/ft. www.ci.vallejo.ca.us