Race Start - Sydney Hobart

Race begins at the 28:36 mark.

Worst Day in 55 Years of Sailing

The former owner and editor of Latitude 38, Richard Spindler, owns a huge 63' cat that sails mostly in Mexico these days. Here is his summery of his worst day ever: My worst day in 55 years of sailing? I think so. And it was supposed to be such a great day, with us on Profligate going up against Fred and Judy’s all-conquering Serendipity 43 Wings, Randy and Sally-Christine’s Wylie 65 Convergence, and about 20 other boats. To add insult to injury, the event was the Pirates for Pupils Spinnaker Run for Charity from Punta Mita to Paradise Marina, an event I started and have done countless times. It’s always a downwind sail in which, unlike the light-air upwind races, Profligate can shine. The morning started great, with the very young local kids putting on a dance performance for members of the fleet. Doña was in heaven, dancing and hugging all the little kids. But she wouldn’t be in heaven for long. As I motored Profligate upwind to raise the main, we were getting closer to the shore by the Punta Mita restaurants. We were having some issues with the lazy jacks, which meant it was taking longer to get the main up, which meant we kept getting closer to shore. But I know the area well, and judged that we were still in deep enough water. My judgment was proven wrong as Profligate slammed to an abrupt halt from about five knots when the starboard daggerboard crunched into one of the big rocks that are scattered around the otherwise sand bottom. While Profligate came to a complete stop, the 11 crewmembers didn’t. Some were tossed into bulkheads or knocked off their feet. But Doña, who had been leaning on the seagull striker, suffered the most. When Profligate stopped, she kept right on going. Right off the front of the boat. It wasn’t the most enjoyable swim of her life, as the current was pretty strong and she’s not the strongest swimmer. She never did get far from Profligate, still grinding her daggerboard on the rock, but it was easiest for a panga to fish her out of the water. Over the years we’ve seen a lot of very large “boat bites” during boat-bite contests in the Baja Ha-Ha. But when we got back to the condo that night, we discovered that Doña had the biggest boat bite we’ve ever seen. It’s a wicked-looking hematoma about the size of Rhode Island, right on her bum. And it was swollen. Striking the rock, and Doña’s going overboard, weren’t the end of our troubles. I’d invested a small fortune in some upgraded halyards and sheet stoppers that are a little bit different from the ones we had before. They are still a little confusing, too, so — and I still don’t know quite how — after we had the spinnaker up for a few minutes the spinny halyard slipped about 35 feet. We were shrimping! We tried to hoist the spinnaker back up, but that merely succeeded in getting the chute caught under both sides of the starboard hull. Merde! Not only was it the end of that old chute’s life, it took a lot of work on the part of the crew to retrieve it. Ultimately we got another chute up and had some decent sailing, but by this time Fred and Judy, and Randy and Sally-Christine, were so far ahead we couldn’t have seen them with the Hubble telescope. So we headed for the barn. Mind you, hitting the rock, Doña’s going overboard, and shrimping the chute were only the highlights of a day when pretty much everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Even the autopilot decided to stop working. Merde! Merde! Merde! When Doña was in the water, she was surrounded by bits of foam and fiberglass, the source of which could only be the bottom of Profligate‘s starboard daggerboard, now firmly embedded in the crash box. It’s likely going to need a haulout to get that daggerboard out, although we’ll try other methods. Hopefully it will be another 50 years before we have another day of sailing so awful.

Gnarly Wipeouts on Huge Waves

Bonehead Move of the Year!

Two sailors departed NJ recently on a 30 foot sailboat and got in trouble with the weather off Cape Hatteras. They lost their mast in a terrible storm and drifted north for 10 days. Out of food, out of water and ready to die when a tanker spotted them and made a rescue. Heading down the east coast to Florida this late in the season is not a wise idea. Not knowing there was a storm coming as they passed the most dangerous cape on the east coast was a bad mistake. Not having enough water is a terrible place to be. No emergency beacon either. These guys did not have a clue about what they were doing. They should have taken the intercoastal waterway and dodged the storm or gone into port had they known about it. They barely escaped disaster by sipping water out of their water packed bean cans. I hope this will be their last voyage! Glad they are safe. https://www.insider.com/two-men-pet-dog-rescued-missing-at-sea-days-2022-12

Top 25 sailing Blogs

Here is a list from the Adventure Junkies: Scuttlebutt, Sailing Anarchy, Sail World, Sailing World, Cruising World, Sailing Totem, Yachting Monthly, 48 North, Nauticed, Sailing Britican, XS Sailing, Rooster Sailing, First Class Sailing, 59 Degrees North, Yachtrubyrose, Sailing Europe, Danielis Yachting, Laser Sailing, Cream Puff, Dinghy Dreams, Live Free 2 Sail Fast, Bluefoot Travel, Coastapus, Escape Under Sail, Sailing To Win. Here is the original article with links to the blogs: https://www.theadventurejunkies.com/best-sailing-blogs/

A Voyage to the Line Islands on a Gun Boat

I featured this 4 part adventure a while ago but it is so good I have to run it again. John John Florence has been on top of the surfing game for a while now. He has fallen hard for sailing and wants to do an open ocean expedition. He and some buds take off for a one month odyssey. I really enjoyed rewatching this vid plus I love Gun boats!

The Big Waves at Nazare Explained

Here is a link to an article that explains why the waves are so big at this epic surf spot. https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/waves-nazare.htm

Why the 1979 Fastnet Race was so Deadly

A Sad Lesson

I have heard this story too many times: A husband and wife take off on an around the planet cruise of a lifetime. The husband has prepared the boat and is a knowledgeable sailor. In his haste, he neglects to tell his wife the basics of the boat. They are far from shore when he falls off the boat. His wife has no idea how to turn the boat around and save him. The boat sails away with a very sad, frantic and remorseful wife sailing into the sunset with no idea how to even save herself. Showing your partner the basics of the boat and how to rescue the skipper with man overboard drilss is so very important. Even on a day sail. You can read the details here: https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/this-yacht-will-never-sail-again/article_20d12be6-6ad4-11ed-8664-5fa24c0ed283.html

The Tale of a Dog by John Muir

I ran across a wonderful story by naturalist John Muir. During one of his trips to Alaska in the late 1800's, he came upon a dog that joined him in a boating adventure. Muir is an amzing story teller and this adventure is riviting. Here is a taste of the story: On our trip he soon proved himself a queer character--odd, concealed, independent, keeping invincibly quiet, and doing many little puzzling things that piqued my curiosity. As we sailed week after week through the long intricate channels and inlets among the innumerable islands and mountains of the coast, he spent most of the dull days in sluggish ease, motionless, and apparently as unobserving as if in deep sleep. But I discovered that somehow he always knew what was going on. When the Indians were about to shoot at ducks or seals, or when anything along the shore was exciting our attention, he would rest his chin on the edge of the canoe and calmly look out like a dreamy-eyed tourist. And when he heard us talking about making a landing, he immediately roused himself to see what sort of a place we were coming to, and made ready to jump overboard and swim ashore as soon as the canoe neared the beach. Then, with a vigorous shake to get rid of the brine in his hair, he ran into the woods to hunt small game. But though always the first out of the canoe, he was always the last to get into it. When we were ready to start he could never be found, and refused to come to our call. We soon found out, however, that though we could not see him at such times, he saw us, and from the cover of the briers and huckleberry bushes in the fringe of the woods was watching the canoe with wary eye. For as soon as we were fairly off he came trotting down the beach, plunged into the surf, and swam after us, knowing well that we would cease rowing and take him in. When the contrary little vagabond came alongside, he was lifted by the neck, held at arm's length a moment to drip, and dropped aboard. We tried to cure him of this trick by compelling him to swim a long way, as if we had a mind to abandon him; but this did no good; the longer the swim the better he seemed to like it. I hope you will read the entire story here https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/stickeen/the_story_of_a_dog.aspx

Out The Gate

On Sunday I took some neighbors out for a sail along with their dog. The temps here on the bay are in the 60's and very nice when you get in out of any wind. We hit Clipper Cove and took the dogs to the beach. They loved it. Back on board the champagne was flowing. We hit the point and there was a bit of wind. Once we got going the wind changed direction and we were in a perfect position to head out the gate without tacking. This does not happen very often. Soon it was 12-15kts and we were flying. We made all the way to Pt. Bonita for a look up and down the coast. Beautiful. I only get out this way once in a while as the tides and the wind have to alighn. Heading back we kept the sails up but needed to motor sail. We came back in after dark to a happy crew and happy dogs. A day for the record books for sure. I told my friends that this was the sail of the year! That is saying alot as I sail 120-140 days a year!

Baja Haha Bummer!

Made it down to San Diego on Friday. I had the whole weekend to find a boat for the Haha. I hit the police dock and no one is looking for crew. Next day, I rented a jet ski for a tour of the local anchorages. The Haha boats are over 3 miles away so the jet ski got me there quick. No takers after hitting a dozen boats. Headed to the kick off party on Sunday and still no one looking for crew. I was getting concerned. Finally, I hooked up with Akela at the last minute at the party. His crew had cold feet and created a spot for me. We took off Monday and things were going great. We passed Ensenada and a few hours later the water pump on the engine failed. No more engine. We decided our best option was to sail back to Ensanda 60 miles and look for parts. We made it in with a tow the last mile. We found the part in San Diego. We took a car there. Joel got the parts and I headed back to SF on the plane. Joel and I hit it off and are life long friends. This would have been my 7th Haha. Maybe next year! Good luck to the fleet! When we were driving up the coast winds were in the high 20's on Thursday.

Baja Haha here I come!

Heading out on Friday to San Diego and hope to join a boat for the 750 mile run to Cabo with 130 boats and 450 friendly folks. I arrive on Friday and begin knocking on hulls to find a ride. This will be my 7th Haha. The first leg is about 350 miles to Turtle Bay, asleepy fishing village in the middle of nowhere. We have a big beach party there. The next leg is about 250 miles to Santa Maria and another bash on a bluff overlooking the fleet. Then an overnight run to Cabo. More celebrations! One of the many highlights was 1000 dolphins around our boat in 2010. A few years later, I felt it was a perfect time for the green flash so I announced my thought over the radio to the fleet. Several cruisers doubted me and one said he had been looking for 40 years and not seen it. As the sun went down, a huge green flash occured. No one could believe it. Wish me a bon voyage!

The Duke!

Coming soon to streaming! Ambassador of Aloha. Surfer of the Century. Six-time medal winner over the course of a 20-year Olympic career in swimming and water polo. Credited with popularizing surfing the world over. Actor. Lifesaver (literally saved eight drowning men at one time in Newport Beach). Rider of (presumably) the longest wave in modern times (1 1/8 miles). Sheriff of Honolulu (for 13 straight elections). Continue reading here: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2022/03/historical-badass-duke-kahanamoku-ambassador-of-aloha/

Download The Mag - The West Coasts' Finest Sailing Mag

Go to latitude38.com for the free download. October is looking like a sailing month indeed. Our transmission got replaced and she is running well. The part came from Lithuania on Ebay and fit perfectly. Back on the water! This week is Fleet Week (Blue Angels) and I plan to take some folks out. Then we are off to Monterey for a week. Tex will join me for a harbor hop down the coast (Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz and Monterey) with day sails in between to each destination. Then at the end of October, I will fly down to San Diego and join the Baja Haha. I knock on hulls until I find a boat. On October 31, 140 boats and 500 friendly folk will depart for the 750 mile run down the Baja coast to Cabo San Lucas. Two stops along the way for some beach parties. This will be my 7th time on the Haha! I can't wait and will surley have some tall tales to tell. Bon voyage!

TedTalk - R2AK

Golden Globe Race

In September 2022, Kirsten Neuschäfer will line up at the start of the Golden Globe Race, a solo, unassisted, non-stop single-handed race around the world. This retro race is run on the anniversary of the first Golden Globe Race in 1968/9, which was won by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who became the first person to sail solo, non-stop around the world. Entrants are limited to sailing similar yachts and equipment to what was available to Sir Robin in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or the benefit of satellite-based navigation aids. In contrast to the current professional world of elite ocean racing, this edition travels back to a time known as the ‘Golden Age’ of solo sailing. The only woman entered in this edition of the race, Kirsten has been sailing dinghies since her childhood, and became a professional sailor in 2006. Undertaking many inter-continental sailboat deliveries, she has over 150,000 nautical miles of sailing experience. In 2015, she began working for Skip Novak on his Pelagic Expeditions to South Georgia, The Antarctic Peninsula, Patagonia and the Falklands. Kirsten has sailed several film crews down to capture the beauty of the Antarctic, taking the National Geographic series “Wild_Life Resurrection Island with Bertie Gregory” and the BBC series “Seven Worlds, One Planet” to remote South Georgia. When she was just 22, Kirsten cycled on her own from Europe, across the entire African continent, back home to South Africa. The trip brought trials and tribulations but was life-enriching in every sense, giving her the deepest appreciation of Africa and its people. The Golden Globe Race sets out from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France on September 4th, 2022, and follows a route down the Atlantic, eastwards around the Southern Ocean via the five Great Capes, and back to France – a distance of over 30,000 nautical miles. It will involve seven to nine months at sea. This is a race of attrition, luck, seamanship… and adventure! Small yachts in the Southern Ocean are extremely vulnerable, and it will require self reliance and tremendous strength of character and self belief to reach the finish. This short film tells the story of her extraordinary journey to the start line of the Golden Globe Race 2022.

Men Are So Simple

Boat won't start...can't figure out why.

R2AK - The Movie

As you may know I love the spirit of this race. It's a 750 mile dash up the "river" from Pt. Townsend to Ketchikan, AK. There are very few rules which is on purpose. The biggest being that there are no motors, only humum inovation to keep the boat moving when there is no wind. The race started back in 2015 so by now there is tons of footage to make a movie. The movie is currently making its rounds in the multiplexes but you can also rent it and stream it on the big screen thru airplay. Contact is: ian@r2akthemoviedotcom $20 If you are at all interested please rent it and enjoy. It is a great look at a very unique race thru the wilds of Canada and the Inside Passage. Winner gets $10k, second place: a beautiful set of steak knives!

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