New Edition of Lat38

The latest issue is out and you should download it to your favorite device.  I am sure there will be more info on the impounding of over 300 boats for two months in Mexico over a $50 permit (that most of the boats had in their possession).  You can download it here.

Is this the year you buy your first sail boat?

When we purchased our Newport 30 a dozen years ago, we had no idea how much fun and pleasure she would bring into our lives.  Day sails, night sails, weekend trips and week long trips have been a ton of fun and the beauty of the SF bay has taken our hearts.  If you have been dreaming of buying a boat to get you on the water, this is your year.  The market is very soft for buyers.  Sellers are taking a bath on their former boats and it's very possible to pick a nice 30 footer for under $10k.  Islander, Catalina, Pearson, Rawson, and Cals are all boats that will take care of you on the water and be a joy to sail.  In my experience, 30 feet is a magic number for sail boats.  They can hold a bunch of gear, loads of friends and will get you where you are headed.  Start looking on Craigslist, check Latitude 38 and go to marinas and see if they have a board with classifieds for the marina.  There are a ton of online resources to help you along the way and checklists that will help you find that perfect for you boat.  Go look at the boats and once you find it, get a professional to survey and then take her for a sail.  If your funds are limited or you just are not ready to put down all that cash, get some partners involved.  We have six partners involved in our boat and we each pay $100 per month and sail her like crazy.  Here was my criteria for choosing our first boat:  30 feet, legal head, sleeps 4, diesel, 6'4" headroom, wheel steering, and ready to sail.  Our 1981 Newport had all these qualities and more: a dodger, good sails, and a spinnaker.  The point is, it takes about $6500 (can be more if she needs repairs) a year to take care of all the expenses (insurance, bottom cleaning, repairs and slip fees).  Even splitting that in half with one good friend, you are on your way to making a positive lifestyle choice that will change your life!  I looked at 2 other boats before we bought the "Addiction".  Many people can take 2 years to find their $10k boat.  I say that's 2 years 2 long!  Get one, make the adjustments/repairs you need and go sailing!!!  You will thank me later.

Our 1981 Newport 30 III during the Vallejo Race under full sail. Circa 2003.  We purchased her for $16k in 2000.  In the current boat market, we might get $10k if we were to sell her (we are not).

Abandoning the Boat - A Story of Survival

A cat off the Virgina coast has steering issues and more.  The expreienced crew cannot find a fix and has to jump in a helo for rescue.  Read the story here.

Why is the Mavericks Wave so Gnarly?

Weekend Update

So I made it up to the SF Boat Show on Saturday morning and was able to see the Beneteau Oceanis 41.  This is the boat I hope to sail to New Zealand and Australia in 2018.  I will be on a bit more modest budget and pick up something from the late 90's or early 2000's.  What a fantastic boat.  3 cabins, beautiful cockpit and lots of storage.  I hope to purchase the boat in 2016 so still a lot of other boats to look at and consider.

 Saturday night our event company (Too Much Fun Club) put together a fantastic event for a local company for 250 guests.  Great food, casino and I DJ'ed the party.  I had those folks rocking!  Being an event planner is fun and challenging.  Also being the DJ is awesome because I get to interact with the party goers.  And play their favorite songs.  It was a great night.

Sunday we had a special day on the water.  Saturday was the famous Three Bridge Fiasco on the bay.  350+ boats on the water and they have to hit the marks at all three of the main bridges on the bay (Richmond, Golden Gate and Bay).  However, they can go any direction they want.  Saturday there was zero wind on the bay and the racers struggled to make even one bridge.  Sunday was completely different.  There was a light breeze when we hit the end of the channel and we were doing under 3 knots.  As we hit the Angel Island area it piped up and were were doing 5 knots in about 12 knots of wind.  Then it started hitting the high teens and we were doing 7.  Took out an old friend Jere and Arnie and John rounded out the crew.  Kona was along for the ride as well.  The difference in the wind was due to the first appearance of fog in

the the new year!  It came in slow and made all the difference in our boat speed and fun!  Another great day on the bay!

Boat Show Weekend

McCovey Cove is the site of the first ever SF Boat Show.  It is so cool to check out the top boats and see what the designers have come up with.  Lots of vendors on hand as well as seminars on cruising and more.  Show opens at 10am on Saturday and Sunday.  Also next weekend is the Giants Fanfest and a chance to meet the players and see the clubhouse. Just sayin'.

Ride of the Year - Teahupoo, Tahiti

Here is a look at the ride that won Nathan Fletcher $50k in the 2012 Ride of the Year XXL contest.  He is in the line up today at Mav's.  Good luck out there today boyz!

Mavricks is On!

24 of the world's best big wave riders have assembeled in Half Moon Bay for the next edition of Mavericks Invitational.  A massive swell is heading for Cali from the right direction and will slam ashore Friday morning.  The report I saw said 60' waves.  These may prove to be tough to catch as when they get that big, they are moving too fast for a paddler.  We hope that will not be the case.  Several big wave riders have perished here, so the guys will have their work cut out for them.  The event is not accessable to the public as the area for viewing is small and fragile as well as too far away to really see the action.  If you are interested in watching it on the web, go 
here. Cowabunga!

Love to Soar

DeLorean Hovercraft Visits McCovey Cove

I have featured this car here before.  Hope to see this beauty on the bay with my own eyes sometime.

Cool Pics

 Had a great sail on my friends new to him Islander Freeport 41 ketch yesterday.  He has been working on her, getting her ready and yesterday was the first voyage since he purchased her 3 months ago.  The marina is near the Richmond Bridge and so we sailed in that area.  Wind was perfect at 12-14 from the north and what a smooth ride.  Looking forward to more good times aboard.

 

The easy way to open wine without a corkscrew!

Twice the speed of the wind - Flying Phantom

Pics of the Weekend

Would YOU sail this boat?

Bay of Biscay, southern France.

Trouble Brewing in Mexico

Mexico is an awesome place to go cruising on the west coast.  Beautiful anchorages, warm and friendly locals and abundant wildlife.  About a month ago, a new division of the Mexican IRS descended on a dozen marinas to make sure everyone had their paperwork in order.  If you did not, or you were not on your boat, or if they could not find the HIN numbers, your boat got impounded for up to four months.  Apparently, over 300 boat have been impounded.  To say that active boat owners who's only mistake was to not be on their boat during a random inspection are upset, would not begin to paint a true picture of the frustration these owners are experiencing.  They cannot legally leave the dock at this time.  Cruises to other parts of the world and in Mexico have had to be put on hold as the owners hope someone will intervene and change this outrageous policy.  I hope for Mexico and the owners of these boats, that they resolve this issue in short order.  Someone described Mexico as a country of whims.  This whim needs to be over ...and quickly before Mexico shoots themselves in the foot and ruins nautical tourism.

From Latitude 38:
 We're hoping and praying, for the sake of all cruisers in Mexico and potential cruisers to Mexico, as well as all the nautical tourism businesses — and the owners of impounded boats — that Mexico puts an end to this self-destructive insanity immediately. And furthermore, that they give assurances that similar episodes won't happen again. Mexico has steadily been making life easier and more attractive for cruisers, so let's hope this is an aberration, not the start of a really horrible phase.

Great Announcers!

We may need these guys for the America's Cup 2017!

CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos

Awesomeness

My Home - California

  Into The Atmosphere from Michael Shainblum on Vimeo.

Some of the locations are Mono Lake, Anza Borrego Desert, Alabama Hills, Trona Pinnacles, Big Sur, Mount Laguna, Santa Maria, Yosemite, Gaviota, The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, La Jolla Coves, Santa Ynez, the San Francisco Coast, and the Santa Barbara Mountains.
Directed and Filmed by Michael Shainblum.

Origin of the name: California

California was the name given to a mythical island populated only by beautiful Amazon warriors using gold tools and weapons in the popular early 16th-century romance novel Las Sergas de Esplandián (The Adventures of Esplandián) by Spanish author Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. This popular Spanish novel was printed in several editions with the earliest surviving edition published about 1510. The novel described the Island of California as being east of the Asian mainland, "very close to the side of the Terrestrial Paradise; and it is peopled by women, without any man among them, for they live in the manner of Amazons." The Island was ruled by Queen Calafia. When the Spanish started exploring the Pacific coast they applied this name on their maps to what is now called the Baja California Peninsula they originally thought was an island. Once the name was on the maps it stuck.

via Wikipedia

Bass Strait Kicks Some Ass in the Hobart

Pics of the Week

Deep Flight

Got a Hero3 from my bro-in-law so hope to post some hi-def vid in the future.  Skip to1:25 on the vid and go full screen.

Kona Boy - My sailing friend and jogging partner!

Turned 5 in July.  Joined me for over 70 sails last year.  He is always a pleasure to have on board.  Love you, Kona!