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Posts by Andy Turpin

Grants Available for Boating Nonprofits

September 21, 2016
These days there are so many worthwhile organizations seeking financial help that it could make your head spin. In recent years, West Marine has taken a creative approach to sorting out which groups it can and cannot support by instituting the BlueFuture Fund, which is accepting grant applications through October 1. More »

Militants Release Abducted Sailor

September 19, 2016
After being held captive for nearly a year by Philippine militants, Norwegian sailor and business manager Kjartan Sekkingstad was released Saturday, much to the relief of family and friends. The release was reportedly spurred by the Philippine government’s ongoing military operations against Sekkingstad’s Abu Sayyaf captors. More »

Tomorrow Is Coastal Cleanup Day

September 16, 2016
Volunteers clean up an East Bay wetland. It’s a great feeling to be part of this massive annual effort.  © Just as the sport of sailing requires harnessing the power of the wind, those who take part in it can’t help but become acutely aware of their natural surroundings. More »

Young Sailors Chime in

Last week we published a shout-out to young sailors in an effort to learn about their sailing habits, how they got started, and how we can do a better job of entertaining them in the pages of Latitude 38.  More »

Please, No More Expired Flares

September 12, 2016
About that expired-flare collection drive we announced recently. . . Enough already! You may recall we requested that recently expired marine flares of all types be dropped off at our Mill Valley offices, explaining that they would be used in Mexico by prospective boat captains during training classes.  More »

Shout Out to Young Sailors

September 9, 2016
Although they learned to sail in different countries, with different sailing conditions, the young crews of (left to right) Orkestern, Hydroquest and Ninita all had dreams of bluewater cruising, and worked hard to convert those fantasies to reality. More »

Wild Weekend of Rescues

September 7, 2016
Boating activities of all sorts increase on any holiday weekend, so we’d expect the tally of rescues to increase proportionally. But over the Labor Day Weekend, the range of potentially tragic incidents that occurred here in the Bay Area and elsewhere along the West Coast was a bit shocking — particularly on Saturday, September 3.  More »