October-2026 Latitude 38 by Latitude 38 Media, LLC

VOLUME 592 October 2026

W e G o W here T he W ind B lows

GRAND MARINA

FALL INTO COMFORT AT GRAND MARINA

OCTOBER IS ONE OF THE BEST TIMES TO BE ON THE BAY— warm afternoons, calm waters, and stunning sunsets await at Grand Marina. Whether you’re heading out for a weekend cruise or simply relaxing dockside, Grand Marina offers the perfect blend of comfort, convenience in the heart of beautiful Alameda. At Grand Marina, your boat deserves more than just a slip, it deserves a home port designed around the boating lifestyle.

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F Prime deep water double-fingered

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weekend or any day getaway. F Complete bathroom and shower facility, heated and tiled. F Free pump-out station open 24/7. F Full-service Marine Center and haul-out facility. F Free parking. F Free on-site WiFi. And much more...

Directory of Grand Marina Tenants

Blue Pelican Marine Boat Yard at Grand Marina, The Marchal Sailmakers MarineLube New Era Yachts Pacific Crest Canvas Alameda Canvas and Coverings Alameda Marine Metal Fabrication Atomic Tuna Yachts BAE Boats Mike Elias Boatworks Mosely’s Café UK-Halsey Sailmakers

Page 3 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 3

CONTENTS g!

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Page 4 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

calendar 13 letters 18 loose lips

sightings 34 2026 rolex big boat series

cruisers disconnect

a fleet becomes family

liveaboard misconceptions

max ebb — dragging the ass

racing sheet

world of charter

changes in latitudes

classy classifieds

advertisers index

Cover: Victor Wild's Fox to weather of Michael Firmin's Zeus kept the edge in the Rolex Big Boat Series to win ORC A.

10% OFF

l by Hau /26 1 3 10/

between the sheets

| oﬀice@baymaritime.com

Photo: Daniel Forster/ Rolex

Copyright 2026 Latitude 38 Media, LLC Since 1977 Send us your story. Latitude 38 welcomes editorial contributions in the form of stories, anecdotes, photographs — anything but poems, please; we gotta draw the line somewhere. What helps you get published? Read our writer's guidelines here: www.latitude38.com/writers-guidelines. Have writer's block? Go sailing — you're sure to come home with a story.

The Finest Sails Begin with the Best Sailcloth Our patented woven Vectran® sailcloth performs like the laminates with the durability of Dacron®, especially in roller furling applications. In fact, Vectran® is lighter, lower stretch, and retains its shape over a longer life than any sailcloth we've ever offered to cruising sailors. That's because Hood Vectran® is woven, not laminated to Mylar® film. And you can be sure that each sail we roll out is built by hand, with the same care and craftsmanship that has been the Hood hallmark for 50 years. To discuss your sailcloth needs – whether our state-of-the-art Vectran® or our soft, tight-weave Dacron® – give us a call today.

New Sails Sail Repairs: any brand Furling Cover Replacements Pickup and Delivery Outbound 46 with Hood Vektron Full Batten Mainsail, 140% Genoa, and Solent Jib

HOOD SAILMAKERS 465 Coloma Street, Sausalito, CA 94965 Call Robin Sodaro (415) 332-4104 hoodsails@aol.com Page 5 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 5

Yacht Sales Since 1977

BETWEEN THE SHEETS

Point Richmond • Los Angeles • San Diego • Seattle 1220 Brickyard Cove Rd. #101, Point Richmond (510) 965-3159 • marinesc.com

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he seashore is that thin line between the water and the land. On the water side, there’s a lot of sailing activity, and right now, one lone swimmer is swimming about three miles offshore from Oregon to Mexico. We have a short update on Cat Breed’s epic, summer swimming adventure in Sightings. We also have a short story in Sightings about the other side of that thin line, where people wrestle over what to do with the small scraps of land that give everyone access to the water. Voters in Sausalito will be voting on Measure X to shape the future of what remains of their working waterfront. Outside of swimming and land-use debates, we get back to sailing and all that’s going on with West Coast sailors on the Bay, along the coast, and across the world’s oceans. The Rolex Big Boat Series leads the features before we jump into Starlink and cruising, the life of the J/24’s extended family, and the hard truths about living aboard. It’s pretty good most of the time. Max Ebb gets really technical this month as Lee Helm’s sailing guests Rose Wood and Doug Fur get into the physics of wet and dry transoms. Pardon moi, but have you circumnavigated on a charter around Martinique? Art Hartinger has and shares his experience in World of Chartering. Changes in Latitudes will change your attitude, and perhaps convince you that our lives on the dry side of that thin shoreline would be better spent on the wet side. On an official note, we apologize for an error in the September issue. We wrote that our cover photo was taken by Shelli Bohrer. The photo of Island Yacht Club's Santana 22 on the Estuary was in fact taken by Ruth Motter. Shelli is the person on the cabintop. Our apologies to both Ruth and Shelli for the error. And now, we hope you enjoy this issue and enjoy some time on the Bay, along the coast, or out at sea.

Latitude 38 we go where the wind blows

Sailing & Powerboat Club / School • Now Open! Partnering with Marine Servicenter 1220 Brickyard Cove Rd. #101, Richmond, CA

New Jeanneau Sailboats wanted for Immediate Charter Placement Highest revenue split for owners anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area Professional vessel management reduces costs & complexity for boat owners Owner use privileges thanks to flexible program options on your terms

Huge tax incentives Including up to 100% first-year depreciation deduction

(415) 873-1650 fleet@groupnautique.org • groupnautique.org Page 6 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

Publisher/Editor..................... John Arndt................... john@latitude38.com............. ext. 108 Racing Editor......................... Fritz Baldauf ............... fritz@latitude38.com.............. ext. 107 Calendar Editor..................... Christine Weaver ....... chris@latitude38.com............ ext. 103 'Lectronic Latitude Editor....... Monica Grant.............. monica@latitude38.com........ ext. 105 Contributing Editors: Donna Andre, Tim Henry, Lisa Hotchkiss, Paul Kamen, John Riise, John Skoriak, Richard Spindler, Ross Tibbits Production Manager.............. Soren Hemmila........... soren@latitude38.com........... ext. 102 Sales Manager...................... Maddy Garcia............. maddy@latitude38.com......... ext. 109 Bookkeeping.......................... Penny Clayton............ penny@latitude38.com.......... ext. 101 Distribution: Sue Weaver, Bob Bodnar, Jon Borges, Jeremy Haydock Founded 1976. Published from 1977-2016 by Richard Spindler.

www.latitude38.com • (415) 383-8200

New mailing address: 2100 4th Street #338 San Rafael, CA 94901

RUBICON YACHTS

Ready to sell? We’re here to help.

QUALITY YACHTS • BROKERS YOU CAN TRUST! YACHT SALES & ACQUISITION SPECIALISTS

EMERY COVE • ALAMEDA • SAN RAFAEL CALL US FOR A FREE MARKET ANALYSIS 3300 POWELL ST., EMERYVILLE (510) 601-5010 • 1150 BALLENA BLVD., SUITE 121, ALAMEDA (510) 838-1800 25 THIRD ST., SAN RAFAEL (415) 453-4770

W W W. R U B I C O N YAC H TS .C O M

RR UU BB II CC OO NN YY AA CC HH TTSS E M E R Y C O V E • A L A M E D A • S A N R A F A E L

(3) 42' AquaLodge Houseboats 2020 - $115,000 ea. Mark Miner (415) 290-1347

54’ JEANNEAU 54, 2016 $499,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

51’ MORGAN OUT ISLAND 51 KETCH $199,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

52’ TAYANA AFT COCKPIT, 1983 $119,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

47’ BENETEAU 473, 2005 $149,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

43’ HANS CHRISTIAN CHRISTINA, 1988 $115,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

41’ HUNTER DECK SALON, 2007 $130,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

37’ BENETEAU OCEANIS, 2013 $119,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

36’ CATALINA SLOOP, 2000 $69,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

36’ CATALINA MKII, 1996 $54,900 San Rafael (415) 453-4770

Thoughtfully designed and beautifully finished inside and out, the Aqua Lodge features fiberglass pontoons, a wood-beamed lofted ceiling, a fully appointed galley, and a full bath with residential-sized fixtures. The main salon is open and bright, while the master stateroom features a panoramic water view and a private deck. With the cost of34’ building on the waterfront ever increasing,34’ theJEANNEAU Aqua Lodge isSUN an affordable alternative. 35’ BENETEAU OCEANIS 35 JEANNEAU 349, 2021 ODYSSEY 349, 2021 We currently have$161,000 three (3) identical Floating Cottages available at$189,000 $115,000. each. These are new houseboats that have never been used. With $175,000 the acquisition of all three oneEmery could start a unique Air B&B type business in a niceEmery location. Emery Cove (510) 601-5010 Cove (510) 601-5010 Cove (510) 601-5010 NOTE: There is no propulsion included. An outboard engine could be installed on the bracket but, these boats are not equipped with any propulsion. They would need to be towed or trucked to their destination.

RUBICON YACHTS

EMERY COVE  3300 POWELL STREET, SUITE 105  EMERYVILLE, CA 94608  (510) 601-5010  1150  (510)601-5010 BALLENA SUITE ALAMEDA, 94501 838-1800 ALAMEDA EMERY COVE • 3300 POWELLBLVD., ST, #105 • 121, EMERYVILLE, CA CA 94608 • (510)  25 THIRD  (415) STREET SAN•RAFAEL, CACA94901 453-4770 SAN RAFAEL ALAMEDA • 1150 BALLENA BLVD., SUITE 121 ALAMEDA, 94501 • (510) 838-1800

SAN RAFAEL • 25 THIRD STREET • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • (415) 453-4770

W W W. R U B I C O N YAC H TS .C O M

RR UU BB II CC OO NN YY AA CC HH TTSS E M E R Y C O V E • A L A M E D A • S A N R A F A E L

(3) 42' AquaLodge Houseboats 2020 - $115,000 ea. Mark Miner (415) 290-1347

50’ BENETEAU 50, 2001 $179,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

49’ BENETEAU OCEANIS, 2008 $199,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

49’ CHUCK BURNS 49 SCHOONER, 2007 $147,500 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

40’ PACIFIC SEACRAFT, 1999 $279,000 Alameda (510) 838-1800

38’ HUNTER 386 LE, 2004 $96,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

38’ ISLAND PACKET 380, 2000 $182,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

36’ X YACHTS X 362 SPORT $99,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

35’ BENETEAU OCEANIS, 2015 $149,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

35’ BENETEAU 361, 2001 $69,000 San Rafael (415) 453-4770

Thoughtfully designed and beautifully finished inside and out, the Aqua Lodge features fiberglass pontoons, a wood-beamed lofted ceiling, a fully appointed galley, and a full bath with residential-sized fixtures. The main salon is open and bright, while the master stateroom features a panoramic water view and a private deck. With the cost of building on the waterfront ever increasing, the Aqua Lodge is an affordable alternative. ISLAND PACKET 320, 1998 32’ DRAGONFLY 32, 2016 28’ ALERION EXPRESS, 2003 We currently have$229,000 three (3) identical Floating Cottages32’ available at $115,000. each. These are new houseboats that have never been used. With $86,500 $69,000 the acquisition of all three one could start a (510) unique838-1800 Air B&B type business in a niceEmery location. Alameda Alameda (510) 838-1800 Cove (510) 601-5010 NOTE: There is no propulsion included. An outboard engine could be installed on the bracket but, these boats are not equipped with any propulsion. They would need to be towed or trucked to their destination.

RUBICON YACHTS

SAN RAFAEL • 25 THIRD STREET • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • (415) 453-4770

W W W. R U B I C O N YAC H TS .C O M

RR UU B I C O N Y A C H TT SS E M E R Y C O V E • A L A M E D A • S A N R A F A E L

FEATURED (3) 42' AquaLodge Houseboats 2020CRUISING - $115,000YACHTS ea. Mark Miner (415) 290-1347

54’ MASON 54, 1989 $469,000 San Rafael (415) 453-4770

52’ ISLAND PACKET 485 CUTTER, 2003 $365,000 Emery Cove (510) 601-5010

Thoughtfully designed and beautifully finished inside and out, the Aqua Lodge features fiberglass pontoons, a wood-beamed lofted ceiling, a fully appointed galley, and a full bath with residential-sized fixtures. The main salon is open and bright, while the master stateroom features a panoramic water view and a private deck. With the cost of building on the waterfront ever increasing, the Aqua Lodge is an affordable alternative. 40’arePACIFIC SEACRAFT CUTTER HANS KETCH 1977at $115,000. each. These We43’ currently haveCHRISTIAN three (3) identical FloatingRIGGED, Cottages available new houseboats that have never been used. With $175,000 the acquisition of all three one could start a unique Air B&B type business in a$279,000 nice location. NOTE: There is no propulsion included. An outboard engine could be installed on the bracket but, these boats are not equipped with any Emery Cove (510) 601-5010 Alameda (510) 838-1800 propulsion. They would need to be towed or trucked to their destination.

RUBICON YACHTS

EMERY COVE  3300 POWELL STREET, SUITE 105  EMERYVILLE, CA 94608  (510) 601-5010 EMERY COVE • 3300 POWELLBLVD., ST, #105 • 121, EMERYVILLE, CA CA 94608 • (510)  1150  (510)601-5010 BALLENA SUITE ALAMEDA, 94501 838-1800 ALAMEDA ALAMEDA • 1150 BALLENA BLVD., SUITE 121 • ALAMEDA, CA 94501 • (510) 838-1800 SAN RAFAEL  25 THIRD STREET  SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901  (415) 453-4770

SAN RAFAEL • 25 THIRD STREET • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • (415) 453-4770

W W W. R U B I C O N YAC H TS .C O M

RR UU B I C O N Y A C H TT SS E M E R Y C O V E • A L A M E D A • S A N R A F A E L

FEATURED2020 CRUISING CATAMARANS (3) 42' AquaLodge Houseboats - $115,000 ea. Mark Miner (415) 290-1347

58’ LEOPARD 5800 CATAMARAN, 2015

47' VISIONA CATAMARAN, 1989

$995,000

$349,000 44' ST. FRANCIS 44 CATAMARAN, 2000 $280,000

Thoughtfully designed and beautifully finished inside and out, the Aqua Lodge features fiberglass pontoons, a wood-beamed lofted ceiling, a fully appointed galley, and a full bath with residential-sized fixtures. The main salon is open and bright, while the master stateroom features a panoramic water view and a private deck. With the cost of building on the waterfront ever increasing, the Aqua Lodge is an affordable alternative. We currently have three (3) identical Floating Cottages available at $115,000. each. These are new houseboats that have never been used. With the acquisition of all three one could start a unique Air B&B type business in a nice location. NOTE: There is no propulsion included. An outboard engine could be installed on the bracket but, these boats are not equipped with any 38’orSEAWIND CATAMARAN, 2009 $335,000 40’ LAGOON CATAMARAN,propulsion. 2020 They would $489,000 need to be towed trucked to their1160 destination.

RUBICON YACHTS

SAN RAFAEL • 25 THIRD STREET • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • (415) 453-4770

W W W. R U B I C O N YAC H TS .C O M

RR UU B I C O N Y A C H TT SS E M E R Y C O V E • A L A M E D A • S A N R A F A E L

FEATURED (3) 42' AquaLodge Houseboats 2020CLASSIC - $115,000YACHTS ea. Mark Miner (415) 290-1347

LEGACY. 1956 K. Aage Nielson 50’ Yawl Point Richmond $139,000

NIKE. 1937 PHILLIP RHODES 38 CUTTER $250,000 SF Marina West Basin Head Dock slip

STROMA OF MEY. 1936 BRITISH 38' KETCH $250,000 Reginald Freeman design, built Essex England

MARMETTA. 1948 PHILLIP RHODES 42 CUSTOM $57,000

Thoughtfully designed and beautifully finished inside and out, the Aqua Lodge features fiberglass pontoons, a wood-beamed lofted ceiling, a fully appointed galley, and a full bath with residential-sized fixtures. The main salon is open and bright, while the master stateroom features a panoramic water view and a private deck. With the cost of building on the waterfront ever increasing, the Aqua Lodge is an affordable alternative. We currently have three (3) identical Floating Cottages available at $115,000. each. These are new houseboats that have never been used. With WILETIE.1927 SCHOCK 42 STAYSAIL HINCKLEY 41 business in a nice location. HOKU LE’A. the acquisition of all three oneRADIANT.1955 could start a unique Air B&B type SCHOONER OWENS CUTTER 1970 CLASSIC KETCH 37' NOTE: There$229,000 is no propulsion included. An outboard engine could$82,000 be installed on the bracket but, these boats are not equipped with any $49,700 propulsion. They would need to be towed or trucked to their destination.

RUBICON YACHTS

SAN RAFAEL • 25 THIRD STREET • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • (415) 453-4770

CALENDAR Non-Race Oct. 1-3 — Buccaneer Days, Two Harbors, Santa Catalina Island. Info, www.visitcatalinaisland.com. Oct. 3 — Sea Chantey Sing, Maritime Museum, S.F., 6-9 p.m. Free. Info, www.nps.gov/safr/planyourvisit/calendar.htm. Oct. 3 — Santa Monica Bay Blue Waters Boating Festival, Burton Chase Park, Marina del Rey, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Info, www.bit.ly/bluewatersboatingfestival. Oct. 3-4 — Advanced First Aid/CPR for Mariners, Spaulding Marine Center, Sausalito, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $435. Info, www.maritimemedicalguides.org. Oct. 3-31 — Small Boat Sailing, South Beach Harbor, San Francisco, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, weather permitting. Free, but preregister. BAADS, www.baads.org/sailing. Oct. 4 — Open House/Free Sail, Cal Sailing Club, Berkeley Marina, 1-3 p.m. CSC, www.cal-sailing.org. Oct. 4-12 — Fleet Week, San Francisco. Ship tours, 10/8, 10/10-12. Parade of Ships, 10/9, 11 a.m.-noon. Air Show (starring the Blue Angels), 10/9-11, noon-4 p.m. Fleet Fest, Fisherman's Wharf, 10/10-11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Live music, K9 heroes, more. Free. Info, https://fleetweeksf.org. Oct. 4-25 — Keelboat Sailing, South Beach Harbor, San Francisco, noon-5 p.m. Sundays, weather permitting. Free, but preregister. BAADS, www.baads.org/sailing. Oct. 6 — Maritime Submersibles and Robotics Showcase and Panel Presentation, South Beach YC, S.F., 5:30-8 p.m. Vessels, vendors. S.F. Blue Tech, https://sfbluetech.com. Oct. 8 — Single Sailors Association Mixer, Encinal YC, Alameda, 5-9 p.m. Info, www.singlesailors.org. Oct. 15-18 — Annapolis Sailboat Show, City Dock, MD. Info, www.annapolisboatshows.com. Oct. 17 — PICYA Management Conference, Discovery Bay YC, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Speakers, continental breakfast, lunch. Info, www.picya.org. Oct. 22 — Sailing Set Her Free, the Jocelyn Nash Story film screening, Rafael Film Center, San Rafael, 7 p.m. Plus conversation with filmmaker Oleg Harencar. $15-$26.75. Info, https://cinema.cafilm.org/film/sailing-set-her-free. Oct. 25 — Full Hunter Moon on a Sunday. Oct. 30 — Baja Ha-Ha/Cruisers' Welcome, San Diego. Downwind Marine, https://sandiegomarine.com. Oct. 31 — Halloween. Nov. 1 — Fall back one hour for Standard Time, 2 a.m. Nov. 1 — Baja Ha-Ha check-in, meeting & costume party, West Marine, San Diego. Info, www.baja-haha.com. Nov. 2 — Baja Ha-Ha Kick-Off Parade, Shelter Island, San Diego, 9:45 a.m. Info, www.baja-haha.com. Nov. 2-14 — Baja Ha-Ha XXXII, San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, with stops in Turtle Bay and Bahía Santa Maria. Grateful Dead theme. Info, www.baja-haha.com. Nov. 7-8 — Sea Glass & Ocean Art Festival, Grove Event Center, Santa Cruz, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5 entry. Info, https:// sites.google.com/view/santacruzseaglass-oceanartfest/home. Nov. 11 — Veteran's Day.

2002 PACIFIC SEACRAFT 40

SCREAMIN DEAL $149,000

1977 37' FISHER PH

PRICE REDUCED TO $48,000

Racing Sept. 30-Oct. 4 — Women's Match Racing World Championship. StFYC, www.stfyc.com. Oct. 2-4 — Express 27 & Olson 25 Nationals. SFYC, www.sfyc.org. October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 13

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Oct. 2-4 — Ultimate 20 North Americans & Express 37 Nationals. RYC, www.richmondyc.org. Oct. 2-4 — Wylie Wabbit Nationals on Tomales Bay. InvYC, www.invernessyachtclub.com. Oct. 3 — Offshore Series RC Choice. YRA, www.yra.org. Oct. 3 — Oktoberfest. OYC, www.oaklandyachtclub.net. Oct. 3 — Fall One Design. EYC, www.encinal.org. Oct. 3 — Barth Regatta. CPYC/SeqYC, www.sequoiayc.org. Oct. 3 — San Diego to San Diego International Yacht Race (ex-Little Ensenada). SWYC, www.southwesternyc.org. Oct. 3, Nov. 7 — Marin YC Midwinter Series. Ellen, (415) 509-6863 or ellenpclark@comcast.net. Oct. 3, Nov. 7 — Fall Races. SSC, www.stocktonsc.org. Oct. 3, Nov. 14 — Chowder Cup Series Races #4 & #5. ElkYC, www.elkhornyachtclub.org. Oct. 3-4 — Sea Otter Youth Regatta in Monterey. MPYC, www.mpyc.org. Oct. 4 — Fall Classic Boat. SYC, www.sausalitoyachtclub.org. Oct. 4 — Regata Todos Santos, Ensenada. Club Náutico Baja, https://clubnauticobaja.mx. Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov. 1, 8 — Chowder Races. BYC, www.berkeleyyc.org. Oct. 4, 18 — PHRF Fall. MPYC, www.mpyc.org. Oct. 4-9 — Hobie Wave NAs on Lake Mohave, NV. HCANA, www.regattanetwork.com/event/30620. Oct. 9-11 — PICYA Lipton Cup, hosted this year by Corinthian YC, Tiburon. CYC, https://race.cyc.org/lipton26. Oct. 9-11 — Linda Elias Memorial Women's One-Design Challenge in Long Beach. LBYC, www.lbyc.org. Oct. 9-12 — US Youth Championship in Long Beach. ABYC, www.abyc.org. Oct. 10 — Totally Dinghy. RYC, www.richmondyc.org. Oct. 10 — Kettenburg & Classic Yacht Regatta in San Diego. SDYC, www.sdyc.org. Oct. 10, 17, 31 — Bender Cup Series on Tomales Bay. InvYC, www.invernessyachtclub.org. Oct. 10 — Santana 22 Team Races. SCYC, www.scyc.org. Oct. 10-11 — Vallejo 1-2. Singlehanded to VYC; doublehanded VYC-RYC. SSS, www.sfbaysss.org. Oct. 11 — El Toro Stampede. RYC, www.richmondyc.org. Oct. 16-18 — U.S. Match Racing Championship/Prince of Wales Bowl in San Diego. SDYC, www.sdyc.org. Oct. 17 — Women's Championship Series #3, Cityfront to Point Bonita. YRA, www.yra.org. Oct. 17 — Jessica Cup for classic wooden boats. StFYC, www.stfyc.com. Oct. 17 — Champion of Champions. BVBC, www.bvbc.org. Oct. 17 — Redwood Cup #1. SeqYC, www.sequoiayc.org. Oct. 17 — Auxiliary Cup. SFYC, www.sfyc.org. Oct. 17 — Fall One Design #3. SCYC, www.scyc.org. Oct. 17, Nov. 14 — Saturday Series for Mercurys, Harbor 20s, Columbia 5.5s & Snipes. EYC, www.encinal.org. Oct. 17-18 — Fall Invitational for Alerion 28, Folkboat, Knarr, Mercury & Moore 24 classes. StFYC, www.stfyc.com. Oct. 18 — Round the Island Race. SFYC, www.sfyc.org. Oct. 18 — Jill & Jack + 1 triplehanded women skippers' race on the Estuary. IYC, www.iyc.org. Oct. 18, Nov 15 — Ad Hoc Sunday. CPYC, www.cpyc.com. Oct. 23-25 — 5O5 PCCs. StFYC, www.stfyc.com. Oct. 23-25 — SC27 Nationals. RYC, www.richmondyc.org.

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Lind Marine is proud to announce it has launched an entire NEW FLEET of marina and homeowner dredging equipment. Providing services throughout the San Francisco Bay and Delta, and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, since 1906.

Lind Marine Added Capabilities  Fleet of 4 new dump scows designed to fit in all marinas and homeowner docks  New electric clam shell dredge, ABS loadline, designed to dig out slips up to 90’ long  Pile driving, dock repair, seawall repair and installation  In house permitting department  Survey boat with brand new state of the art single beam system  Small and large vessel salvage  Full service shipyard

Please call 707-762-7251 for all dredging inquiries or email us at: chris@lindmarine.com LIND MARINE SHIPYARD | 1250 Nimitz Avenue, Vallejo, CA 94592 | www.lindmarine.com Page 15 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 15

CALENDAR

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Page 16 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

Oct. 23-25 — International Masters Regatta. SDYC, www. sdyc.org. Oct. 24 — Fall Shorteez. CPYC, www.cpyc.com. Oct. 24 — Red Rock Regatta. TYC, www.tyc.org. Oct. 24 — Pumpkin Roundup. HMBYC, www.hmbyc.org. Oct. 24 — Mix & Match/Jack & Jill in Santa Cruz. Doublehanded, Family or Foursome. SCYC, www.scyc.org. Oct. 24 — Women's Invitational in Moss Landing. ElkYC, www.elkhornyachtclub.org. Oct. 24-25 — Great Pumpkin Regatta. Buoy racing & Halloween party on Saturday; pursuit race on Sunday. Theme: Angels & Demons. RYC, www.richmondyc.org. Oct. 24-25 — Fall Dinghy for 29er, c420, i420, RS Feva & Tera and ILCA classes. StFYC, www.stfyc.com. Oct. 24-25 — Women's 2v2 Team Racing. SFYC, www. sfyc.org. Oct. 24-25 — Mercury PCCs. LAYC, www.layc.org. Oct. 25 — Fall SCORE #3. SCYC, www.scyc.org. Oct. 25 — Kelp Cup/Champion of Champions. MPYC, www.mpyc.org. Oct. 30-Nov. 1 — San Diego Lipton Cup. SDYC, www. sdyc.org. Oct. 31 — Die Hard Regatta. HMBYC, www.hmbyc.org. Oct. 31-Nov. 1 — BAYS High School NorCal Regatta. EYC, www.encinal.org. Nov. 1 — Chili Midwinter Series Race #1. SYC, www. sausalitoyachtclub.org. Nov. 1 — Día de los Dinghies Regatta. ElkYC, www. elkhornyachtclub.org. Nov. 1 — Crew's Revenge. MPYC, www.mpyc.org. Nov. 7 — Seaweed Soup Cup #1. GGYC, www.ggyc.org. Nov. 7 — Jack Frost #1. EYC, www.encinal.org. Nov. 7 — Commodore's Cup. CPYC, www.cpyc.com. Nov. 7 — Winter Series #1. SeqYC, www.sequoiayc.org. Nov. 7 — Hot Rum #1. SDYC, www.sdyc.org. Nov. 14 — Island Fever Midwinters #1. SBYC, www. southbeachyachtclub.org. Nov. 14 — RegattaPRO Winter One Design #1. SYC, www. sausalitoyachtclub.org. Nov. 14 — Frost Bite #1. BenYC, www.beniciayachtclub.org. Nov. 14 — Drumstick Race on Tomales Bay. InvYC, www. invernessyachtclub.org. Nov. 14-15 — Berkeley Midwinters (separate Saturday and Sunday series). BYC, www.berkeleyyc.org. Nov. 14-15 — BAYS/Jr. Olympics. SCYC, www.scyc.org. Nov. 15 — Doublehanded Midwinter #1. YRA, www.yra.org. Nov. 15 — Island Days #1. IYC, www.iyc.org. Remaining Beer Can Series BAY VIEW BC — Fall Monday Night Madness: 10/5 (makeup). Nick, (510) 459-1337 or www.bvbc.org. CAL SAILING CLUB — Year-round Sunday morning dinghy races, intraclub only. Info, www.cal-sailing.org. COYOTE POINT YC — Sunset Sail: Wednesdays through 10/7. John, (650) 703-5621 or www.cpyc.com. KONOCTI BAY SC — OSIRs (Old Salts in Retirement) every Wednesday, year round. Info, www.kbsail.org. LAKE WASHINGTON SC — Thursdays through 10/1. Mark, owing78@yahoo.com or www.lwsailing.org. MONTEREY PENINSULA YC — Wednesday Sunset Series

CALENDAR through 10/7 (rabbit starts). Mark, (831) 236-5191, www. mpyc.org or race.mpyc@gmail.com. RICHMOND YC — Wednesdays through 9/30. Rolf, (510) 300-7462 or www.richmondyc.org. SANTA CRUZ YC — Tuesdays & Wednesdays through 10/28. Friday Eve Dinghy, 10/2, 10/16, 10/30. Info, www. scyc.org. VALLEJO YC — Wednesdays through 9/30. Mark, (916) 835-2613, www.vyc.org or www.jibeset.net. Please send your calendar items by the 10th of the month to calendar@latitude38.com. Please, no phone-ins! Calendar listings are for marine-related events that are free or don't cost much to attend. The Calendar is not meant to support commercial enterprises.

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October Weekend Tides

Predictions for Station 9414290, San Francisco (Golden Gate) date/day 10/03Sat 10/04Sun 10/10Sat 10/11Sun 10/17Sat 10/18Sun 10/24Sat 10/25Sun 10/31Sat 11/01Sun

time/ht. HIGH 0711/4.4 LOW 0034/-0.1 LOW 0519/1.2 HIGH 0040/5.1 HIGH 0648/4.3 0747/4.4 LOW 0409/1.3 0444/1.6 HIGH 0535/4.7 0540/4.8

time/ht. LOW 1112/3.5 HIGH 0816/4.7 HIGH 1150/6.1 LOW 0554/1.7 LOW 1056/3.7 1225/3.5 HIGH 1039/5.9 1107/6.2 LOW 0950/3.4 1024/3.2

time/ht. HIGH 1711/5.8 LOW 1248/3.3 LOW 1803/0.1 HIGH 1218/6.1 HIGH 1610/4.9 1721/4.8 LOW 1655/0.2 1734/-0.3 HIGH 1544/5.8 1559/5.4

October Weekend Currents

time/ht. HIGH 1832/5.6 LOW 1843/-0.1 LOW 2338/0.6 HIGH 2331/5.0 LOW 2256/-0.4 2304/-0.1

NOAA Predictions for .88 NM NE of the Golden Gate Bridge date/day slack max slack max 10/03Sat 0043 0443/2.0F 0837 1021/0.6E 1227 1540/1.8F 1836 2135/1.6E 10/04Sun 0210 0601/2.2F 0940 1140/0.7E 1352 1656/1.8F 2000 2301/1.6E 10/10Sat 0119 0354/1.7E 0655 1010/3.0F 1320 1609/2.2E 1945 2252/2.7F 10/11Sun 0212 0438/1.5E 0733 1043/2.8F 1352 1639/2.1E 2026 2340/2.6F 10/17Sat 0020 0451/1.9F 0825 1011/0.5E 1216 1501/1.2F 1807 2101/1.0E 10/18Sun 0126 0551/1.9F 0919 1114/0.6E 1322 1606/1.1F 1924 2211/0.9E 10/24Sat 0008 0232/1.3E 0525 0853/2.7F 1203 1446/2.0E 1823 2135/2.3F 10/25Sun 0055 0319/1.4E 0603 0929/2.8F 1230 1518/2.2E 1900 2219/2.5F 10/31Sat 0306/2.4F 0708 0858/0.8E 1110 1418/2.0F 1707 2012/1.9E 11/01Sun 0030 0317/2.4F 0708 0906/0.8E 1128 1425/1.8F 1723 2023/1.7E Source: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov

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October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 17

LETTERS

FRANK SCHULENBURG

all who are sailing the Pacific Coast of Mexico

⇑⇓ ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT: SAUSALITO'S MEASURE X — THE ARTS, INDUSTRIAL & MARITIME PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE Measure X is a legislative change that removes the authority from the local electorate and empowers zoning changes to be made by the council. There is some fear the council will continue to approve high-density housing in areas zoned for maritime and industrial. What could possibly go wrong? Paul Dines Schooner Freda B Sausalito

A slice of Sausalito's famously boat-filled waterfront, where marinas and maritime businesses coexist along Richardson Bay. How best to preserve — and revitalize — that waterfront is at the heart of the debate over Measure X.

Paul — I assume you've read the text of Measure X. It doesn't zone the Marinship for housing, and it keeps the regular democratic zoning change process applicable to all of Sausalito. What it changes is that a boat shop wanting a taller building for a crane or a fisherman wanting to sell their catch on shore no longer needs a citywide election to do so. Those proposals would go through the same public process everything else in Sausalito goes through: environmental review, design review, the Planning Commission, public hearings and a council of representatives that we elect. Forty years of the current rule has produced almost no new maritime or maker space, so "what could go wrong" is the further decline of Marinship. I'm hopeful we can gently nudge Marinship to start thriving as a working waterfront again. To be clear, I have no stake in this other than being a Sausalito resident and sailor. And I care about the state of the Marinship. Joris van Mens Joris — Thanks for your thoughtful reply, but it's a rather selective reading of the measure. It's my understanding that it's a legislative change that removes the authority from the electorate to the town council for changes in zoning. The contention that further decline is inevitable, and no new maker spaces have been created, is to rely on the appearance of the underinvested in the Arquez yard. Clipper has done a fine job with their property, and others in the waterfront have too. Don't forget the Marinship goes from Schoonmaker all the way to the north end of Gate 5 Road. Go look around. Paul Dines Page 18 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

LETTERS Readers — We think there is an important distinction to be made in the debate over Measure X, which would not automatically rezone the Marinship for housing. It would, however, change who has the final say over future zoning changes. We don't think Joris's characterization that Measure X simply — or solely — loosens restrictions for maritime businesses is accurate, as the measure would eliminate a procedural protection that has had a real impact on the city's recent housingrezoning effort. Under Sausalito's longstanding Ordinance 1022, certain changes to zoning and development standards in the city's commercial and industrial districts require voter approval. Measure X would eliminate that requirement outside the Downtown Historic District, allowing future changes to be made by the City Council through the standard public review process, including planning, permitting and environmental review under applicable state and local laws.

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That potential change is significant in California's current political and demographic climate, as cities are under pressure to meet State Housing Element Law mandates. The law requires cities to plan for housing at all income levels. In November 2025, Sausalito voters passed Measure J as part of the city's effort to comply with its state-mandated housing allocation of 724 units. Approved by roughly 75% of voters, Measure J created housing overlay zones on 12 commercial sites, several of them in the Marinship. Ordinance 1022 required those zoning changes to go before voters. The overwhelming approval of Measure J also demonstrates that leaving the final decision with the electorate does not automatically protect Marinship land from conversion to other uses. (We're not prepared to analyze what this vox populi might indicate about the city's overall attitude toward its working waterfront, but voter approval is clearly no guarantee of its preservation.) Measure X would also make substantial changes intended

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LETTERS in part to encourage investment in the Marinship, including greater allowable building coverage, floor-area ratios, heights and additional permitted uses — though these changes could be a double-edged sword. Maritime businesses genuinely needing bigger shops or infrastructure would have more freedom to pursue such projects, which could in turn encourage investment and development in the Marinship. But "more development" and "preservation of the working waterfront" aren't necessarily the same thing. Expanding what can be built and what uses are allowed could also increase pressure on traditional maritime and industrial businesses from competing — and potentially more profitable — "highest and best" uses. Though Latitude 38 will always be a staunch supporter of the working waterfront, we began this response without a strong position on Measure X, because … we simply didn't know. We hadn't yet done the research or talked with readers or the community. Of course small-business owners should have more freedom to invest in and improve their businesses, but that freedom can be provided without undoing broader zoning protections. Write a better-tailored measure that grants this flexibility while preserving the working waterfront. Vote no on X.

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⇑⇓ THE VERDICT FROM THE COMMUNITY: VOTE NO ON MEASURE X This measure calls for up to 10 million square feet of building along Sausalito's waterfront, much of which is on sensitive landfill in flood zones — an affected area from Gate 5 Road to the Spinnaker. It removes the protections for the arts, industry and maritime uses under current law. If housing is built, density bonus laws can kick in, making the buildings even larger. Measure X takes away the citizens' right to vote on certain zoning changes and vests that authority in three people on the City Council. Measure X also excuses developers from contributing their share to infrastructure costs. Think about congestion, traffic and view impairment this construction will cause. It will drastically change Sausalito. Vote NO on X. Sandra Bushmaker Former Sausalito Mayor and City Councilmember ⇑⇓ X MARKS THE PLOT Sausalito is a special place with a unique waterfront culture of maritime craftsmen, artists and fabricators. But it is at a crossroads. A group of developers, real estate and land-use attorneys, along with their sponsors, have

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created the Measure X ballot initiative. The measure would allow far greater development in our waterfront and industrial zones, increasing development density by up to 900% through greater height and lot-coverage allowances. A boatyard could be eligible to be replaced by a four-story building. This could translate to nearly 10 million new square feet of development in the Marinship alone, not including other waterfront zones.

The art and industry of Sausalito's Marinship: Valhalla Signworks sits next to Richardson Bay Boatworks & Ways.

The Marinship could use more investment, such as the new three-story artist studio approved at Varda Landing, the expansion of dock slips at Clipper Harbor, and the new Fjord cold-plunge sauna, all of which were approved under current zoning. But the proposed gutting of current zoning rules and uses will surely drive out fabricators, makers and marine techs, as they would have to compete with financial institutions, restaurants, hotels and other non-water-based uses. Sausalito has nearly 2,500 boats and 450 floating homes. The Marinship maritime/industrial ecosystem thrives by servicing and maintaining those vessels, as well as vessels from across the Bay, including from cities such as Alameda that have lost their working waterfronts. New technologies are also being incubated at our waterfront, including unmanned underwater vessels, drones, AI and space innovation. The scale of development allowed by Measure X is far beyond what the Marinship, much of it former mudflat filled more than 80 years ago, was ever intended to support. Yet low-impact maritime, light-industrial and artist uses have thrived there. We need change, but that change should come from a community-focused process — not the two-year secret process that is Measure X. Measure X deserves a NO vote! John DiRe Sausalito ⇑⇓ IN SUPPORT OF PELICAN HARBOR I extend my warmest greetings from France, where I have been following with great concern the recent developments surrounding Pelican Harbor in Sausalito. As both a medical doctor and an international sailboat racer, I deeply appreciate the vital role that recreational boating plays in our lives and the profound respect we must uphold for our marine environments. Sausalito is not just a picturesque destination; it is a treasure that draws visitors from around the world. The beauty of its waterfront and the vibrancy of its community are assets that contribute significantly to

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October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 21

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LETTERS tourism and the local economy. I am, however, troubled by the recent attempt to transfer ownership and management of the marina, which goes against the will of the city's residents. Such actions could lead to a degradation of our beloved waterfront, jeopardizing not only the charm of Sausalito but also the livelihoods that depend on it. I urge you to consider the various requests for a public hearing by your planning commission regarding the modification of the conditional use permit for Pelican Harbor. This is an opportunity for the community to voice its concerns and aspirations for the future of this cherished area. The tidal lands belong to all the people of your beautiful state, and it is imperative that their voices are heard. As I prepare for my visit to California in the future, I am reminded of the importance of protecting the treasures we hold dear. History teaches us that swift action is essential in safeguarding what matters most; otherwise, we may find ourselves facing challenges far greater than we can imagine. Let us come together to ensure that Sausalito remains a jewel and a sanctuary for all who cherish its waters. Tan Raffray

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LATITUDE / TIM HENRY

New picture

We take a pause from these particular Letters threads and travel across the Bay, from Sausalito to Point Isabel, as seen after a magnificent day of sailing (windsurfing) in late August.

⇑⇓ BETTER REPRESENTATION FOR TAXATION This is Don Abercrombie, the former rigger at Farallone Yacht Sales in Alameda. I am contacting you in regard to the topic of county tax assessor's adding sales tax annually on top of the personal property tax assessment. Latitude 38 readers bring this topic up on occasion, but it is an ongoing issue for many boaters. I believe it truly needs to be addressed at the State Board of Equalization level. This past election cycle, I noticed numerous candidates running for a position on the Board of Equalization for my district. I contacted Board of Equalization candidate Nelson Esparza, and he quickly understood my ongoing issue(s) with the Marin County tax assessor; he has also met others on the campaign trail who have similar issues as myself. I was thinking Latitude 38 might consider publishing an article that describes personal property tax assessment issues and the Board of Equalization candidates currently running who wish to tackle the ongoing problems boaters (and others) have. Don Abercrombie Unleashed, Sabre 386 Marin

LETTERS

WOODY SKORIAK

⇑⇓ "SAUSALITO WATERFRONT ROYALTY" REMEMBER SAILBOAT NIRVANA I knew Billy Martinelli from surfing around Half Moon Bay in the later 1960s. I moved to Larkspur in '68, and in the winter of '70-'71, a friend and I bought Papio, a small, old wooden cutter sloop in Sausalito from the road manager of the band Seatrain. It took a lot of work before we sailed it to San Diego in '72. I avidly read WoodenBoat and then Latitude when it started, learning that Billy was a respected boat carpenter in Marin. Though I vicariously followed his career over the decades, we didn't cross paths again. It was wonderful to catch up with this celebration. Though I'll be 80 in a few months, I never thought Billy was older than me. Merritt Edmunds United Kingdom

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Billy Martinelli's 'Gas Light' and Jeff Hawkins' 'Jakatan' in the San Francisco YC's Great Schooner Race in 2010. The 72-ft 'Gas Light' is a modern example of an 1874 S.F. Bay scow schooner.

Merritt was commenting on the August 26 'LL with the same name as this letter. Here's an excerpt from that story, written by John "Woody" Skoriak: Marina O'Neil, co-owner of Sausalito charter schooner Freda B, coined a wonderful term for a group of sailors who congregated in Sausalito during the 1970s and 1980s, and made the waterfront a veritable "Camelot for sailors." Marina calls this eclectic group "Sausalito Waterfront Royalty." The vessels these folks sailed, restored, rebuilt — and sometimes even built themselves — were legendary. Among them the pilot schooner Wander Bird [Elbe No. 5], restored by Harold Sommer; the schooner Spike Africa, built by Bob Sloane; Sterling Hayden's Wanderer; David Crosby's Mayan; the schooner Fair Sarae [Eros]; and dozens of other sailboats, large and small, together comprised an enviable collection of boats and characters on the Sausalito waterfront. One of the central figures in that waterfront renaissance was young surfer, shipwright and sailor Billy Martinelli, who helped restore Wander Bird, as well as David Crosby's schooner Mayan [still active on the Bay] and many other boats on the waterfront. He then went on to build his own charter schooner, Gas Light.

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MARCHALSAILMAKERS.COM October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 23

LETTERS

LETTERS ⇑⇓ IS THE ALAMEDA MARINA DEVELOPMENT A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR SAUSALITO? (YES, IT IS) I was both a wet slip and dry storage renter, as well as a patron of Svendsen's boat yard and many of the marine businesses at Alameda Marina for 20 years. I really miss the good times I had — the friendships and experiences — of the vibrant maritime community that once was. Recently, I went to see how things were going at the development. I went by the harbormaster's office to inquire about the dry storage yard and the crane. She said the crane didn't work, as there was no power run to it, and there were no plans to do that, or dredge the slipway to accommodate dry storage boats. It was very quiet — just a person walking their dog and no boating activity at all. Such is progress. Patrick Kohlman Joyicity, Davidson Quarter Ton Brickyard Cove

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What a charming-looking waterfront! (Note the "rig shop" on the corner of the building on the right.) If only today's development of Alameda Marina in any way resembled this vision submitted to the City Council eight years ago.

⇑⇓ AT LEAST THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO TURN PART OF IT INTO A BREWERY The loss of Alameda Marina was devastating to mariners up and down the West Coast and a blow to local sales tax revenues. The token attempts to establish a maritime core are laughable. The one hoist is at the most shallow point in the complex and has never worked. Two-thirds of the former DOER building sits on state tidelands and is historically significant both as a machine shop for liberty ship shafts and as a historic crane. It was set to become a taproom bar, but continues to sit empty since DOER and others were forced out. I really hope the Marinship will persist. Liz Taylor ⇑⇓ FACTS City Council members usually do not own or spend their money on the areas they vote on. Too often, ego and efforts to get money that is not earned drive these decisions. This is fact, not just fluff. I have visited, worked in and supported the marine areas in question, and greed will always take over in places like these. California is also the worst state in the country for mixed-use planning — it's just self-interest rather than a vision of livelihoods and enjoyment. Paul McKuskie Latitude Nation

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⇑⇓ NO REASON TO GO, AND IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COAST For over four years, I had a sailboat in dry storage — it was used almost weekly and I did business in Alameda at restaurants and other shops. Since moving the sailboat to Richmond, I've had no reason to go to Alameda. John

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Sadly, this dilemma is happening to waterfronts up and down the coast. Learn more about what's happening in your area to help prevent this. Get involved. Paul Galvez

E SA C N A R

Alameda is all about property tax dollars. Look what they have done to the NAS. Can the island community really support all of the people (and traffic) this expansion brings? Chuck Wetteroth Remember how the developer sold the concept that the existing "wall" of buildings that blocked views of the Estuary would come down and new vistas would attract the public to the waterfront? Ha! Matt ⇑⇓ NOT THE POINT OF THE ARTICLE, BUT FYI Look closely at the photo of the electrical panel: It would appear there is a bonded neutral at the bottom mid to right of the photo. The bonding (green) wire is connected to the AC neutral (white) wire.

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Gas • Diesel • Electric

It looks like we might need to talk about safe marine electronics in a future issue of Latitude 38.

This wiring configuration [above] is not allowed on boats; homes, yes, boats, no! The incorrect wiring exposes the crew to dangerous levels of electrical current being leaked into the water and would electrocute someone swimming near the boat. You will be hearing more and more of ELCI and 30-milliamp breaker trips in the near future as compliance is nearing. Roger Nunez Reliable Marine Electronics, Alameda Roger was commenting on the September 7 'Lectronic: Happy Labor Day! Sharing Appreciation for the Maritime Trades. The story was a celebration of the working waterfront, but Roger Nunez had some insights about safe wiring.

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LETTERS

ERIK SIMONSON

⇑⇓ A BRIGHT AND SUNSHINY DAY AT THE JAZZ CUP Great article, Brandon Mercer, and wonderful to see Living Happy recognized. There is an equally remarkable story behind its fifth-place finish.

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David Stellato underwent surgery on September 9 and was unable to race the following weekend, but he remained deeply involved and continued preparing the boat and crew, worked with interim skipper Adam Paul by text and in person, and exchanged strategy and conditions with Adam late into Friday night. David may not have been aboard, but he was very much a part of this victory. Adam did an extraordinary job stepping in as skipper, while Brian Bauman delivered what Amy described as an MVP performance. Both made significant accommodations to be there because, as Amy beautifully put it, "David is worth sailing for." This accomplishment was not created in a single race. It reflects the talented and loyal team David has built through years of guidance, training, patience and grace — and the culture of friendship and mutual support aboard Living Happy. Congratulations to David, Amy, Adam, Brian and the entire Living Happy crew for finishing fifth overall and winning the Jazz Cup Interclub Trophy again. What a tremendous team effort — and a wonderful way to keep the Cup in Benicia! Stephen Dale Stephen was commenting on the September 14 'LL with the same name as this letter. ⇑⇓ DIRECT FROM MERLE I was on Viveka with Merle Peterson in the 1995 Mount Gay Race in Barbados. Thirty years have passed and I had an urge to review my old footage of the race and found that dearest Merle, skipper for 57 years, had passed away one year ago in August 2025. I am going to get my movies digitalized and loaded onto YouTube as soon as I can. I then found out that Sir Keith Mills is the new owner, and that Viveka was a mere two miles away from my home on the Isle of Wight. I was devastated! I will catch up, as I would love to see her again. My stories, direct from Merle, must be told. Pat Othen

Page 26 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

LETTERSSAUSALITO

LETTERS Pat was commenting on the February 2022 'Lectronic Latitude: Classic Schooner 'Viveka' Continues to Turn Heads in Europe.

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⇑⇓ NEW HOPE FOR LORD JIM? I have been following this beautiful ship ever since seeing her hauled out in Richmond way back in the '80s, if my now aged brain recalls correctly. She was quite a sight to see, and it's quite easy to understand how so many have fallen in love with her! Having been around wood boats for the last 74 years in S.F. Bay and the Delta, I am thrilled and extremely hopeful that she has survived and may be at home on the water again! Fingers, toes and everything else crossed for luck! David Gaines

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⇑⇓ LIVING, AND SAILING, THE RIGHT WAY What does one consider to be "quality time?" Productivity is also dependent on personal values. For me, at 70, I define quality time as time spent actively living. Sitting in a chair pushing buttons — whether you're virtually experiencing Bali, gambling online, or trying to make money — just doesn't cut it. In the end, the dude or dude-ess with the most money or toys is still dead, without having done a Baja Ha-Ha or Farallones race, brought a boat up to Astoria from Bodega, soloed back from Stockton, or just sailed from the Estuary to Angel Island for a picnic. Richard vonEhrenkrook Can O'Whoopass, Cal 20 Corinthian Yacht Club Richard was commenting on the August 19 'Lectronic Latitude: Are Tech and Productivity Apps Eliminating Free Time To Go Sailing? ⇑⇓ SANTA BARBARA MOVES AHEAD WITH PAID MOORINGS AT SEASONAL ANCHORAGE I think this is a good idea. When I was in Santa Barbara a few years ago, I had a difficult time anchoring because the seasonal anchorage was overcrowded with liveaboards and derelict boats. Making a

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LETTERS Reliable Power Management Solutions paid mooring field makes the destination more accessible to visitors and cruisers. Liveaboards and full-time residents should keep their boats in the year-round anchorage, which remains free, and visitors should have access to convenient moorings that can be paid for. Warren

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Warren was commenting on the September 2 'Lectronic with the same name as this letter. After a few years of debate, the Seasonal Anchorage located nearest to Stearns Wharf — where boats could anchor for free from April through October — will be converted to a paid mooring field this fall. (Work had begun, and notice to boats had been served, in June, but environmental surveys found eelgrass in the proposed mooring field.) Once installed, the moorings will cost $30 a night, $200 a week or $500 a month.

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Santa Barbara is one of the West Coast's premier cruising destinations. The coveted and closest spot to drop the hook is the Seasonal Anchorage, which sits just to the right of Stearns Wharf, above.

⇑⇓ I STAYED AT THE SEASONAL ANCHORAGE ONCE. IT WAS A LOT OF WORK! That's too bad. Money marches on. My small experience with passing through Southern California revealed that cost-conscious cruisers heading south to Mexico might try to skip as much of it as possible. They don't seem to want them there, anyway. My data shows the two nights I spent in Santa Barbara in October 2023 were where the new mooring field will be. I had a list of shore chores I was able to take care of, including Trader Joe's, gasoline, propane, and a specialty fastener store purchased for an outboard repair, among others. While I anchored for free and enjoyed it, I did spend money in the community. I was also insured. My dinghy is an inflatable kayak, but they did not allow kayaks at the dinghy dock and warned of confiscation, regardless of its purpose. I did speak with the Harbor Patrol about this, and they were responsive and cordial. They suggested I could use the ladder at Stearns Wharf, which I did. Talk about dangerous and thrilling! I didn't mind, but was surprised that with all the regulations, and that they would suggest the ladder was acceptable. Leaving my PFD in the kayak, climbing 10 to 20 (?) feet up the ladder with my tie line and my propane tank, and later returning with my groceries, popping over the railing, coming and going, and surprising the tourists while doing

LETTERS

LETTERS so. A great adventure, but not for everyone!

Joshua Wheeler Sampaguita, 1985 Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 West Coast

⇑⇓ A FEW QUICK REACTIONS Not taking any position on what's "right" here, but moorings would be less damaging than random anchoring. Philip Delano Philip — That was my thought. It's OK to anchor in eelgrass, or did they somehow mark that area? Bryan Karcher I really wish they would put in a few larger boat moorings — 40-ft is on the smaller side for cruising boats. Randy Sysol I would definitely pay $30 a night. Happy to do so. Dan Knox Hey, $500 a month for rent in Santa Barbara is a screaming deal! One-bedroom apartments are $2,800 and up. Elizabethe Branstetter Cheaper than Catalina!

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⇑⇓ THOUGH MORE EXPENSIVE, LET'S FACE IT, MOORINGS ARE BETTER Having anchored off Santa Barbara many times over the 60 years I've been sailing the coast, I'd love to see real moorings in that area. First, a mooring is typically much heavier than an anchor and doesn't rely on chain scope to hold; screw moorings don't have any scope at all. The chain from a traditional anchor rips up the seabed every time the wind direction changes. Moorings don't do that. Obviously, this would be a much better solution for reducing seabed damage. Second, moorings can be placed much closer together than anchored boats, because the boats swing in a smaller area. Third, the city would maintain the moorings. When a southerly storm arrives, as they do each winter, that area is a massive lee shore, and poorly anchored boats often get washed ashore. Finally, Santa Barbara is one of the best cruising

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STEERING THE DREAM October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 29

SV AVOCET

LETTERS

Though the Seasonal Anchorage will soon cost money, it's still free to drop anchor farther down the beach, away from the city, at Fools Anchorage, which is open year-round. But the Santa Barbara coast during a winter storm is no joke.

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destinations on the California Coast, quite like Santa Cruz. The city is a great place to visit, with plenty of fun things to do ashore. But the harbor simply isn't large enough to support cruises to the destination. A field of transient moorings would be a boon to sailors. Beau Vrolyk Schooner Mayan Santa Cruz Beau — I agree. The last time I was there, the seasonal anchorage was so full of liveaboards and derelict boats that visitors had a hard time anchoring. Permanent boats shouldn't be in a seasonal cruisers' anchorage. I welcome them all having to move to the (free) year-round anchorage, and visitors can pay for a safe and easy mooring. Warren Holybee ⇑⇓ GETTING INTO THE NITTY GRITTY OF THE UNIQUE CONDITIONS IN SANTA BARBARA I hope at least they just put one mooring ball, so that boats can still swing with the wind and align to the swell. Otherwise it will be a rough time out there! Joe Seraphin Joe — Santa Barbara is a funny anchorage. The swell often comes from a direction significantly different from the wind. This is particularly true in the afternoons when the offshore north breeze can come up quite powerfully while the swell is still from the SW. There isn't a real "cure" for this, as the two forces are unaligned and from different directions quite often. Another consideration is: Will the moorings be strong enough to hold the boat in a serious southerly blow? I pulled up our anchor and headed over to the north side of Santa Cruz Island to get away from the extremely dangerous lee shore that a winter storm creates in Santa Barbara. By the time we got the anchor up, the wind was 35 knots, and the waves were eight feet high. In those conditions, a lot of boats will have trouble staying on a mooring. Beau Vrolyk

LETTERS JOIN THE CREW

LETTERS Beau — Agreed on all points. There is, however, a way to side-bridle your boat to the swell, if there is just one anchor point. But with fore and aft moorings, you are SOL. Joe Seraphin Joe — Well, I've often used a long line to extend the stern anchor line of a two-anchor mooring, allowing my boat to be bow into the wind. It works just fine. But the real problem with Santa Barbara is when the wind is from the west-northwest, which is typical, and the swell is from the south, also typical when there is a tropical storm or hurricane off Mexico. Then the boat wants to lie in the trough, and it's hard to get her stern to move upwind. Beau Vrolyk ⇑⇓ FINALLY, PROGRESS ON CLEANING UP THE OAKLAND ESTUARY A few weeks ago [in early July], there were 38 illegal anchor-outs in the cove offshore of the Jack London Aquatic Center. Now there are none. This is entirely the result of the enforcement activity of the Oakland Police Department marine patrol unit headed by Officer Ryan Smith. This is a clear testament that when the OPD marine unit is provided adequate staffing by the city administration, they can get the job done.

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BROCK DE LAPPE

Washing, Waxing, Varnishing

Has progress been made in cleaning up wrecked vessels on the Oakland Estuary? The process has long been defined by a two-steps-forward, 20-stepsback pace — though over a dozen boats were removed this summer.

Receiving the $3.16 million grant from the NOAA marine debris-removal program provides Oakland with a unique opportunity to clear the Estuary of sunken wrecks. Every effort should be made to use these funds as efficiently as possible. It is unclear why the state Water Board capped their permit for the removal of only 16 wrecks. I am aware that there are agencies appealing this ruling. Hopefully, sanity will prevail. Brock de Lappe Former Oakland Harbormaster Brock was commenting on the July 22 'LL with the same name as this letter. ⇑⇓ SIMPLIFY THE AGENCIES AND THE PROCESSES It may be more cost-effective to remove them all now and fight with the State Water Board in court later if they are

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Adjacent to South Beach Harbor and Oracle Park October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 31

LETTERS

DENISON YACHT SALES

⇑⇓ CLASSY LOVE I enjoyed the August 10 piece on the 25- to 28-ft sweet spot in the Classy Classifieds. It was good timing on my end because I just placed an ad for a boat in exactly that range — a 2008 Schock Harbor 25 out of South Beach Harbor. There's a footnote to these that might amuse you. When Schock launched the Harbor 25, the standard engine was a two-cylinder four-stroke Yamaha gas inboard on a Saildrive 330. Every current spec sheet for the model says Yanmar diesel, because they switched on later hulls, and the timing lines up with the EPA emissions standards for gasoline sterndrive and inboard marine engines that took effect for the 2010 model year. So the early boats are gas, and pretty much everyone who sees one assumes it's been repowered. Mine is one of them still on its original drivetrain.

The user-friendly, ambiguously powered Schock Harbor 25.

Schock didn't build many Harbor 25s and you almost never see one on the Bay, which is part of why I'm sorry to be selling her. She's a good boat for this water. Half her weight is lead, so the afternoon westerly is fun rather than frightening, and the self-tacking jib means you can shorttack up the Cityfront on your own without thinking about it. Anyway, enjoyed the piece, and thanks for the magazine. Matt Barcus ⇑⇓ THANKS FOR THE COVER GIRL SHOT! We put this month's magazine [the September issue] in all the gift bags at Women's Sailing Seminar, for which I am an organizer and the MC. Being on the cover shows how interconnected the community is — and I'm grateful. I do want to recognize the photographer of this particular Page 32 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

RUTH MOTTER / LATITUDE

The current situation is immeasurably improved over the disastrous situation of just a few weeks ago [in June and July]. Thank you to all of the agencies, individuals and contractor firms who have made, and continue to make, this transformation possible. Imagine what could be! Mark Yolton

shot. Her name is Ruth Motter. She has been the treasurer of IYC for the past three years, as well as a racer on Catch the Wind, a Santana 22, and part of the IYC race committee. Ruth is on holiday, but I double checked with Eileen and we confirm that Ruth is the photographer. Could you add a correction next month? Shelli Bohrer The September cover. Island Yacht Club

⇑⇓ DEAR LATITUDE 38 I was cleaning out my closet and found my trove of clipped L38 articles from my days of faithfully reading every issue from ~ 1992-2008. I enjoyed going through them one more time, and rather than just recycle them, I thought you might like seeing one reader's collection.

DAN PODELL

dumb enough to fight a cleanup effort. To me, the best solution for all of this is one agency to handle permits for the whole process. The way interagency bickering works costs a lot of money, and nothing gets done. This should be a simple process: Tag and remove. Joe Maciorowski

If you're a devotee of print journalism, and Latitude 38 in particular, then chances are you have stacks of old issues somewhere. In addition to being highly recyclable, old issues of Latitude are also good for safely packing dishes, starting fires, etc.

Perhaps some will give you ideas for new or updated articles for your fine magazine. I always found L38 to be informative, entertaining and a real service to Bay Area (and beyond) sailors. Thanks. Dan Podell Santa Rosa

Have a comment? Email us at editorial@latitude38.com

LOOSE LIPS W

e assure you, no sailboats or sailors were harmed in the making of September's Caption Contest(!). Fortunately, the sailboat carried on and was clear of the cruise ship. The question is, were they oblivious, or perhaps caught off guard? Either way, we hope they don't do this again! Winner and top 10 below.

Be Cool Warm LATITUDE 38 STORE

while staying

LATITUDE / JOHN

Winner: "Relax, I learned how to do this at railroad crossings." — Steve Hajnal.

Top 10 (in no particular order): "Ship’s Communications Officer: VTC, we’re gonna need a cleanup on aisle two, please." — Timothy B. McCormick. "Don’t worry … We have the right of way!" — taneyhillart. "Ship: Seven horn blasts. Sailboat crew to each other: WHAT?!? I can't hear you for some reason." — crackvtec. "Come aboard … We’re expecting you …" — Patrik Hendrickson. "This is the captain speaking. For those of you on the starboard side of the ship, if you look out, you will see a dumb ass." — Mark Caplin. "Where did that fender go?" — fidoville. "We're gonna need a bigger sail." — Schelleen Scott Rathkopf. "Should have re-upped my BoatUS coverage." — Ted Pollak. "The view from the port-side rail was beautiful and uncluttered, as the sailboat crew discussed where to go for dinner. One minute later, nobody was hungry." — Richard vonEhrenkrook. "Hey, captain, my rule book says we are a sailing vessel underway on starboard tack and we have the right way over powered vessels. Hold your course!" — Mark.

ailors, with their built-in sense of order, service and discipline, should really be running the world." — Nicholas Monsarrat. Page 33 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

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SIGHTINGS sailing with swim california each night. Heather and crew had to search for suitable spots along the Big Sur coast, often relying on fishermen who know the coast well. (Don't expect a cruiser's guide to the Big Sur coast coming out any time soon.) In one small anchorage, Catalyst anchored next to a solo commercial fisherman who catches rockfish and keeps them alive in tanks for shipment to Japan. The angler was amazed to find someone swimming down the coast, but it turned out the fisherman's daughter was also a swimmer who was following Cat's voyage. Heather remarked on how different and more alive the coast felt traveling at this much slower speed. Schools of fish were abundant, including tuna, which Heather hadn't noticed on previous passages. While waters around Fort Bragg

SWIM CALIFORNIA

Most cats don't like to swim, but Cat Breed is a different kind of cat. On July 1, she began her effort to become the first person to swim the entire 900-mile California coast, from the Oregon border to the Mexican border. As of this writing in late September, Breed's Swim California venture is at Point Conception and turning the corner into SoCal. It is a monumental undertaking requiring an enormous amount of planning and logistics, including support crew and vessels. Documenting an unbroken swim requires precise tracking of Cat's daily starting and stopping points. An essential component of the venture is the Beneteau 52 mothership Catalyst, aboard which Cat and the support crew sleep each night. Matthew Sessions was the skipper of Catalyst for the run from Oregon to San Francisco Bay. Once they arrived here, Bay Area sailor HeathCat Breed is well on her way to becomRichard stepped ing the first person to swim the length of er aboard as skipper for California. the leg from the Bay to Point Conception. We spoke with Heather after she arrived back in Sausalito to get a better understanding of the swim. "The feat is impossible to comprehend from shore," Heather told us. "Cat is not only swimming 10 miles a day in the open ocean. She is repeating these long swims day after day with incredible perseverance." Heather confirmed that they did see sharks along the way. Cat would swim between Catalyst and an inflatable, and when the crew did see sharks, they'd head toward them, which would generally scare them away. If they were too close, Cat could quickly exit the water on the sailboat's swim platform. You have to be a vigilant watch captain! Most days, Cat swam about three miles offshore starting in the early morning, then stopped when the breeze picked up midday, according to Heather. Cat was swimming for about five hours each day at 1.5 to 2 miles per hour. Sailors familiar with California coastal sailing know that once you push off from Monterey Bay or even the Bay itself, most boats won't stop until they're safely in Morro Bay or even around Point Conception, in the relative protection of the Santa Barbara Channel. As you sail south along the Big Sur coast, you see an almost solid vertical wall of California coastline to the east. Because Cat needed to resume swimming from the exact spot she stopped the day before, Catalyst needed to anchor Page 34 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

Swim, Cat, swim! Clockwise from left: Cat Breed, somewhere along California's 900mile coast, sometime this summer; captain Heather Richard with Breed in the water, escorted by a dinghy; the Swim California mothership, the Beneteau 52 'Catalyst'; Breed's track as of late September.

SIGHTINGS swim california — continued thousands of offshore miles and RYA Yachtmaster credentials. The onboard media crew is producing videos documenting the swim and sea life along the California coast. Beyond the swim itself, Swim California is highlighting environmental issues and conservation efforts in California, while raising money for Sea Dreamers, a nonprofit working to connect more women and girls with the ocean. "This isn't just about swimming," Breed says on the Swim California website. "It's about listening, learning, and sharing the stories of the people and places that depend on a healthy ocean." Breed expects to reach the Mexican border later this fall. Follow her progress at www.SwimCalifornia.com. — latitude / john Clockwise from right: Cheers to a successful passage. Second from right is "Commodore" Warwick Tompkins; Jonathan "Bird" Livingston, the author of this Sightings, is third from right; the Commodore is greeted on Oahu; Jonathan Livingston in Hawaii.

PHOTOS COURTESY SWIM CALIFORNIA

have lost enormous areas of kelp amid an explosion in the purple sea urchin population, Heather reported that the Big Sur coast was dense with kelp forests. Throughout her sailing career, Heather has delivered boats and sailed and raced up and down the coast many times, generally focused on making a safe, fast passage. Her experience includes skippering Matthew Turner, running day charters on the Bay, and racing her own boat to Hawaii and the South Pacific. The Swim California trip, by contrast, is a safe, slow, wildlife-filled passage that has inspired her to do more small-boat adventure camping and close-to-thewater voyaging. Catalyst's crew includes Maisie Bristow and Heather Hitchcock from England, both 23, each with many

October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 35

SIGHTINGS the working waterfront of tomorrow, here today printing boats. But it's not just sailing. Working waterfronts are also home to a growing blue-tech economy spanning autonomous vessels, aquaculture, energy, ocean exploration, underwater robotics and wave power. In Sausalito's Marinship, Universal Sonar Mount builds systems for deploying sonar and other equipment beneath vessels; across the Bay in Alameda, companies such as Navier and Saildrone are developing electric foiling boats and autonomous vessels. Saildrone founder and CEO Richard Jenkins is a sailor and former world land-speed sailing record holder who founded the Alameda company in 2012. What began with autonomous, wind- and solar-powered sailing vessels collecting ocean and weather data has expanded into fisheries research, ocean mapping and maritime intelligence,

LATITUDE ARCHIVES

ALAMEDA MARINA

This isn't your grandfather's working waterfront, and this isn't simply an exercise in maritime nostalgia. Today's working waterfront isn't about freezing an old-fashioned maritime economy in amber. It's where some of the technologies shaping the maritime economy of tomorrow are being built. As the conversation about revitalizing Sausalito's industrial marine-trade zone has grown, we asked ourselves what's happening on working waterfronts around the world. The answer is pretty thrilling, and some of it is already local. New Zealand's Core Builders Composites built the wings and foils that helped win the 2013 America's Cup on San Francisco Bay, and now builds boats and wings for SailGP. French yards are building 100-ft foiling Ultim trimarans capable of sailing around the world in about 40 days. Meanwhile, in stodgy old places like Maine, innovators are 3D-

Main spread: 'Matthew Turner' was built in Sausalito largely through volunteer labor, bringing one of the nation's newest tall ships to life on the city's waterfront. Inset, left: Early visions for the redeveloped Alameda Marina promised a vibrant waterfront, but the reality looks little like this rendering. Today, there are no shoreside amenities for boats and sailors. Inset, right: Elsewhere in Alameda, DOER builds deep-ocean research vessels not far from Saildrone's operations.

Page 36 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

SIGHTINGS waterfront — continued

DOER

including defense work. At the Port of Los Angeles, the nonprofit AltaSea has transformed former cargo facilities into a 35-acre campus where ocean-focused businesses, researchers and educators can develop and test new technologies. Through partnerships such as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography's StartBlue accelerator, the campus supports emerging companies working on wave power and underwater infrastructure, weather intelligence and autonomous systems, while providing education and workforce training. Around the Bay, DOER builds deep-ocean exploration vehicles; Bedrock maps the seafloor with autonomous underwater vehicles; Reefgen develops underwater robotics for marine restoration; CalWave is developing technology to generate electricity from ocean waves; and Wildtype is

growing seafood from cells. Sofar Ocean uses a network of ocean sensors to provide maritime intelligence; Terranova is lifting land, like the Marinship, out of flood zones. DOER had to move from Alameda Marina but continues to build leading-edge ocean exploration submersibles in Alameda. Clipper Yacht Harbor in Sausalito has installed the Bay Area's first dockside EV charging station for the growing number of electric boats on the waterfront. Some of those advances were on display — and available for demo rides — at last month's Sausalito Boat Show, where exhibitors included Saildrone, Vita Power, Sea Watts, RAD Propulsion, ARC and others. Before becoming Safe Harbor Sausalito/Richmond, KKMI was known for investing in environmentally sound boatyard practices; its Point Richmond yard became the first Bay Area boatyard to earn Clean Marine certification. Berkeley Marine Center has installed the Bay Area's first fuel-cell auxiliary system in a sailboat and converted numerous sailboats from diesel to electric auxiliary propulsion. Hundreds of volunteers contributed labor, skills and money to build the tall ship Matthew Turner, embodying the kind of community that can grow around a working waterfront. While it looks traditional on the outside, Matthew Turner broke the mold with a modern auxiliary power system using a BAE regenerative power plant. (Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Latitude booth to say hello!) Working waterfronts also accumulate something less visible: generations of skills and knowledge passed among the people who build, repair and operate boats and develop the technologies around them. Many lament the lack of handson skills in younger generations, but those skills have to be learned somewhere — and working waterfronts are one place that happens. Imagine finishing job training at Spaulding Marine Center and walking into a Marinship where a 100-ft carbon foiling multihull is being built; an autonomous deep-sea submersible is taking shape; new aquaculture and oyster-restoration technologies are being developed; commercial fishing boats are coming and going; boats are being 3D printed; and an electric foiling ferry is hauled out for repair. And amid all that new technology, there might still be a classic wooden boat like Yankee, launched by Stone Boatyard in 1906. You might bump into a recent Cal Poly Maritime graduate who just raced the Pacific Cup aboard Oaxaca. To us, that sounds much more thrilling than walking down a waterfront with more retail, breweries and coffee shops. Those kinds of businesses might add activity/amenities to the district, but would they help sustain the arts, industry and maritime trades that make the Marinship a working waterfront? The Marin working waterfront needs change to reach its potential, but we believe Measure X is the wrong initiative to achieve it. A no vote now is not a vote against change; it's a vote to protect the working waterfront we already have while making room for something better. — latitude / john October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 37

SIGHTINGS the sea scouts' summer cruise My name is Penelope, and I'm the boatswain of Sea Scout Ship Viking, the 2026 Sea Scout National Flagship. Sea Scouts is a youth program of Scouting America that teaches teens and young adults aged 14 to 21 sailing and boating skills, as well as important leadership and safety. We meet multiple times a week throughout the year to work on our boats, sail, practice for our seasonal regattas, and work on advancement, which is where the older scouts will help teach the newer scouts essential skills and the requirements of each Sea Scout rank. But the highlight of our program is our annual long cruise every summer. A few weeks ago, Viking, along with our brother ship Corsair, set out on our summer cruise — a sailing trip up the Delta. We started at our base in Aquatic Park in San Francisco and cruised for two weeks up to Stockton and back, stopping at marinas, islands and harbors along the way.

One of these stops is St. Francis Yacht Club's Tinsley Island, where they generously let us stay every summer. While there, we practice small-boat sailing, swim in the pool to cool off and practice lifesaving and swimming requirements, and cook and enjoy meals together. Another favorite stop is Korth's Pirates Lair Marina, where the crew gets the chance to take a break from long days of sailing to swim, pick blackberries, and do advancement. Near the end of the first week, Viking meets up with Corsair at Power Squadron Island, where we do our yearly capsize drill. This year we capsized both Viking and Conquest, a 26-ft whaleboat with a centerboard. (We rigged Conquest to sail for the first time this year so it can take the place of Corsair while it's undergoing repairs.) We do the capsize drill to help teach the scouts what to do in an emergency situation — however unlikely. The Delta is an ideal place to practice, as the shallow, calm water allows

ALL PHOTOS S.F. SEA SCOUTS

Scenes from Sea Scout Ship 'Viking's annual summer cruise, which took the crew from San Francisco Bay into the Delta for sailing, swimming, training and plenty of time just messing around on boats.

Page 38 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

SIGHTINGS sea scouts — continued us to set anchor and conduct the drill calmly and safely, and have lots of fun. We also anchor out on our boats for a night so that the crew can practice setting an anchor and standing anchor watches. It's like one big sleepover! After Power Squadron Island, we take a short cruise over to Stockton, where we enjoy "Liberty," a free day where we do things like watch movies in an air-conditioned theater, go ice skating, and get ice cream with friends. On the way back, we stopped at the Benicia Marina, where we had the opportunity to crew on boats owned by members of the Benicia Yacht Club and participate in their Thursday night races. The yacht club generously hosts us for dinner and organizes each scout onto boats. It is really an amazing experience for our scouts to practice racing and to get experience on different boats. We left Benicia early the next morning to catch the tide and sailed into the Corinthian Yacht Club early that

evening. There, a few scouts, myself included, got the opportunity to join CYC's Friday night race. The next day we sailed back to San Francisco, where we spent the day cleaning and organizing our gear and boats before saying goodbye and heading home. Summer Cruise is the highlight of our ships' year. It is really the best place for our scouts to practice their sailing skills, teamwork and leadership, and bond as crewmembers and friends. This year we took six boats, nearly 40 crewmembers and over a dozen volunteer adult leaders. Each year takes a lot of work and dedication by everyone involved, and this year was no exception, with boats needing repair right up until the day we cast off. But it is always so much fun and I'm already looking forward to next year. We're also starting a Cub Scout pack for kids in grades K-5, and we have a junior program for kids in grades 6-8. You can learn more about the San Francisco Sea Scouts here: www.bit.ly/4iFzmvv — penelope kershaw

GOOGLE EARTH

rib-shattering pac cup return Aloha! As part of the shorthanded delivery crew to return Freedom from Kaneohe, Oahu, back to S.F. after the Pacific Cup, I was looking forward to a couple of weeks at sea to recharge my batteries that our workaday world seems to draw down so quickly. But it was not to be. We departed Kaneohe a day early to get some distance from the approaching Hurricane Fausto. Reefed and beating our way north with confused seas, we were already soaking wet within a few hours, necessitating the installation of foulies a bit earlier than we had hoped for. I had only been below for a few minutes when I was thrown across the cabin, my ribs impacting the bulkhead handhold. The initial pain lessened after a few moments, but I knew I would have to pay some attention to it. Back on deck, the pain increased substantially over time and later still, when trying to lie down to rest, I could not get comfortable and had to sit back up. The pain spasms were also starting to inhibit my breathing. After another hour of this, we made the decision to turn back. We alerted the Coast Guard of our status and Kaneohe YC to confirm a slip. As I was stable, we continued our way back. Throughout the 4-5 hours it took us to return to Kaneohe, they contacted us multiple times to check on my status. It was close to midnight when we arrived back at Kaneohe Yacht Club, yet there were several folks who assisted us at docking and at getting me off the boat and into the ambulance that arrived a few minutes later. Castle Hospital in Kailua diagnosed me with severely bruised ribs and a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) from the blow, which both inhibited my breathing and precluded me from flying for at least seven days. Freedom re-departed Kaneohe for the slog home early that next morning without me, as the doctors at Castle continued on outside column of next sightings page October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 39

SIGHTINGS good jibes — continued

determined if my pneumo was stable or getting worse. It was stable. There are worse places in the world to recuperate than Oahu, but nevertheless, pain medicine and moving slow became the order of the day. Ten days after the event, I was back home on the mainland and off the pain meds, but still sore and moving a bit slow.

200 sailors have joined us to share their stories, and the podcast has had almost 250,000 downloads. Sure, we've had to tack and jibe a few times and weather a couple of storms — like when no one has recorded an interview and we're all scratching our heads about how we're going to produce the next episode — but overall, things have gone pretty well. Thank you, readers and listeners! Over the past five years, we've heard from sailors with an extraordinary range of expertise and experience. We've hosted people who've made careers out of sailing, both aboard and ashore. America's Cup Hall of Famer Bill Trenkle talked about his career with Dennis Conner; Olympic medalist Pam Healy shared her experiences in competitive sailing; and Olympic and ocean racer Katie Pettibone told us about the best and gnarliest moments of a career that includes two Olympic campaigns, three America's Cups and being among the first women to race in the Whitbread and Worrell 1000. Down-to-earth "head guy" Dan Augustine talked about doing the dirty work of keeping the Bay clean. We've also chatted with sailors who get out on the water

PAC CUP

rib-shattering — continued

The Worth 40 sloop 'Freedom' was just a few hours out of Oahu on its return crossing when John Temoyan was thrown across the cabin. He suffered a collapsed lung and severely bruised ribs, forcing 'Freedom' to return to Hawaii.

My deepest thanks go to everyone who pitched in and helped in one way or another. I am sure that there are more of you than I realize, but here we go: The USCG who, as always, handled everything in a professional and confident manner. The Kaneohe Yacht Club who, even at midnight, sent out a launch to help guide us on the long motor into Kaneohe Bay, as well as assisting upon arrival. Everyone at Castle Hospital in Kailua, who were beyond caring and professional. And finally, most importantly, my shipmates on Freedom — Jib Martens and Chris Dorsey, who took great care of me on board and without complaint, doubled back to get me onto the dock and to the hospital, and set off again once they knew I was in good hands. Finer shipmates don't exist anywhere! Massive mahalos to all of you! — john temoyan

five years of good jibes The idea for our Good Jibes podcast, which was launched five years ago on August 25, 2021, grew out of our many conversations with West Coast sailors and the remarkable range of ways they experience life on the water. Long story short, we needed a podcast! Former Latituder Nicki Bennett and future Good Jibes host Ryan Foland were the spark plugs that made it happen. Nicki had an idea, and Ryan connected us with the resources and organization we needed to get the show off the dock. This August, we published our 255th episode! More than Page 40 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

A few Good Jibes guests from the past five years, clockwise from top left: Stan Honey; Josh Kali, Lin Pardey; Sharon Green; Elliot Aron; Kimball Livingston.

SIGHTINGS sailing into port alone

just for the fun of it. Bay Area sailor Beau Vrolyk shared sailing lessons and stories from aboard his legendary schooner Mayan. Sailing parents Stephen and Kristen Van Dyck talked about cruising the Pacific with their kids; Bill and Suzette Lewis about retiring to cruise the world; archivist Jennifer Keil about documenting family sailing history; and Global Solo Challenge sailor Cole Brauer about learning to sail around the world — solo! The list of great people and stories is long — five years long, in fact. We've chatted with guests famous, infamous, known, unknown and many shades in between. We even caught up with sailing coach John Vandemoer about the college admissions scandal and his book Rigged Justice. We thank them all for sharing their stories. Thank you to our Good Jibes hosts John, Moe, Ryan, Nicki, Ross and Monica. And a BIG thank you to our producer Max Branstetter of MaxPodcasting, and our SoCal correspondent and podcast coach Ryan Foland. Without these two, we might have crashed before we left the dock! — latitude

The wind freshened, and the Spray rounded Deer Island light at the rate of 7 knots. Passing it, she squared away direct for Gloucester to procure there some fishermen's stores. Waves dancing joyously across Massachusetts Bay met her coming out of the harbor to dash them into myriads of sparkling gems that hung about her at every surge. The day was perfect, the sunlight clear and strong. Every particle of water thrown into the air became a gem, and the Spray, bounding ahead, snatched necklace after necklace from the sea, and as often threw them away. We have all seen miniature rainbows about a ship's prow, but the Spray flung out a bow of her own that day, such as I had never seen before. Her good angel had embarked on the voyage; I so read it in the sea. Bold Nahant was soon abeam, then Marblehead was put astern. Other vessels were outward bound, but none of them passed the Spray flying along on her course. I heard the clanking of the dismal bell on Norman's Woe as we went by; and the reef where the schooner Hesperus struck I passed close aboard. The "bones" of a wreck tossed up lay bleaching on the shore abreast. The wind still freshening, I settled the throat of the mainsail to ease the sloop's helm, but I could hardly hold her before it with the whole mainsail set. A schooner ahead of me lowered all sail and ran into port under bare poles, the wind being fair. As the Spray brushed by the stranger, I saw that some of his sails were gone, and much broken canvas hung in his rigging, from the effects of a squall. I made for the cove, a lovely branch of Gloucester's fine harbor, again to look the Spray over and again to weigh the voyage, and my feelings, and all that. The bay was featherwhite as my little vessel tore in, smothered in foam. It was my first experience of coming into port alone, with a craft of any size, and in among shipping. Old fishermen ran down to the wharf for which the Spray was heading, apparently intent upon braining herself there. I hardly know how a calamity was averted, but with my heart in my mouth, almost, I let go the wheel, stepped quickly forward, and downed the jib. The sloop naturally rounded in the wind, and just ranging ahead, laid her cheek against a mooring-pile at the windward corner of the wharf, so quietly, after all, that she would not have broken an egg. Very leisurely, I passed a rope around the post, and she was moored. Then a cheer went up from the little crowd on the wharf. "You couldn't a' done it better," cried an old skipper, "if you weighed a ton!" Now, my weight was rather less than the fifteenth part of a ton, but I said nothing, only putting on a look of careless indifference to say for me, "Oh, that's nothing," for some of the ablest sailors in the world were looking at me, and my wish was not to appear green, for I had a mind to stay in Gloucester several days. Had I uttered a word, it surely would have betrayed me, for I was still quite nervous and short of breath. — captain joshua slocum Sailing Alone Around the World

GOOD JIBES ARCHIVES

the good jibes — continued

October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 41

SIGHTINGS veterans and newbies sign up As of this writing, 77 boats and their crews are signed up for this year's Baja Ha-Ha — the 32nd iteration of the annual cruisers rally. This year's sailors are an interesting bunch. Some are veterans of multiple Ha-Ha's, and for others, it's their first time. Here's a selection of the boats and crews heading south next month. Raven — Tartan 412 (W) James & Siobhan Watson Portland / Bend, OR Having sailed since his early 20s, one of James's earliest memories is flipping a homemade Sailfish in the Great South Bay with his parents. He's owned a few boats, including some Bolger designs that he built himself. The biggest was a Tiki 26 that he sailed on Long Island Sound. James estimates his longest passage to date is a 1,500mile sail to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. After the HaHa the couple plans on sailing around the Sea of Cortez,

then heading over to Mazatlán and maybe Puerto Vallarta. James adds, "Like many others, I dream about the South Pacific and beyond." Hula Girl — Santa Cruz 52 Sandy & Thomas Buus Woodinville / Everett, WA Sandy and Thomas Buus have sailed together since their marriage in 1987 and have owned eight boats, beginning with a home-built 12-footer. Born in Denmark, Thomas is a real-life Viking. His nicknames are "Tommy Tune-up," because he can build and repair anything, and "The Barefoot Captain Chunks." "When you meet him, you can figure out why," Sandy adds. Their boat slogans are "Sail fast, live slow," and "Fast is fun!" They also enjoy cribbage and hiking. "Our boat is named after the Jimmy Buffett song Hula Girl at Heart." "After the Ha-Ha we will be hanging out in the Sea of

BAJA HA-HA

Clockwise from top left: Greg Espinoza from 'Whisper's Echo'; Annie and Lee from 'She Rocks'; Sandy and Thomas from 'Hula Girl'; Brian, Mark and Mackenzie from 'Silver Linings'; Siobhan and James from 'Raven'. Bottom left, from left: Bill, Sharon, Tamar and Chad from 'Tookish'.

Page 42 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

SIGHTINGS for baja ha-ha XXXII Cortez, and eventually heading out to explore the South Pacific. Our long-term plans are to buy a boat with a shallower draft and sail throughout Europe, specifically Denmark." They will sail to Mexico with Dale Beech and Edith Duttlinger. She Rocks — Beneteau 473 Lee & Annie Simmons Ethel, WA This will be Lee and Annie's first Ha-Ha and longest sail. "Our longest passage so far was only a week," they tell us. She Rocks, which they bought seven months ago, is their third sailboat. "We had our first sailboat in the San Juan Islands, which means we mostly motored." After the Ha-Ha they plan to stay in Mexico for six months or more. Annie's sailing hero is Johnny "Captain Sparrow" Depp. Her favorite movies include the Planet of the Apes series, The Fifth Element, and Gorillas in the Mist. Lee's favorite cuisine

is Chinese, which is hard to come by in Mexico. Fortunately for Annie, she favors Mexican. The start of the Baja Ha-Ha coincides with Lee and Annie's 35th wedding anniversary. Whisper's Echo — Tayana 37 (W) Greg Espinoza Bodega Bay / Santa Rosa (2021) Greg, 62, is a surgical RN. His crew will be Thomas Walsh, 61, retired from government work; and one other to be determined later. Greg started sailing seriously in 2018, when he took his Basic Keelboat class at Tradewinds in Richmond. "Then I really started learning by sailing on San Francisco Bay," he adds. Whisper's Echo is his second boat. "The first was a sweet little Catalina 22 that our neighbor at Lake Tahoe gave us when we moved to San Francisco Bay." He also has a 1985 classic Perry-designed cutter-rigged sloop that he's owned for around four years. Greg's first Ha-Ha experience was in 2021 as crew. "I wanted to do it again but with my own boat. It took me five years, but here I am." He's not sure of his plans after the Ha-Ha, but he says, "My dream sailing destination is where there is warm, clear water and surf. I want to see the places that people can't fly to and where there are no resorts." And as for his favorite foods: "I'm a big fan of all cuisines, but I absolutely refuse to eat anything bigger than my head." Tookish — Manta 42 Tamar & Chad VanOrmer Juneau, AK Tamar and Chad VanOrmer learned to sail in Southeast Alaska and have been sailing for seven years. Tookish is their third sailboat and became their full-time home in August 2025 after their daughter left for college and they sold their possessions in search of warmer latitudes. Their earlier Catalina 30 carried the family and their cat through the Inside Passage from Anacortes to Juneau. Now they cruise the Salish Sea aboard a Manta 42 catamaran. They are keeping their post-Ha-Ha plans open-ended. Silver Linings — Jeanneau SO 45 Mark & Robin LaFevers Channel Islands Harbor, CA Mark and Robin LaFevers are veteran Ha-Ha participants, returning for a fifth southbound rally aboard Silver Linings. Based at Channel Islands Harbor, they combine cruising with hiking and diving and have equipped the boat with a large RIB, onboard dive compressor, hard dodger and bimini, and 750 watts of solar. Mark began sailing in 2016 and has completed offshore Saildrone retrievals and a 4,000-mile Tahiti-to-California delivery. Their longer-range plans include the Caribbean and South Pacific. — richard spindler, retired grand poobah October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 43

THE 2026 ROLEX ALL PHOTOS ROLEX / DANIEL FORSTER

erhaps the annual highlight of sailboat racing on San Francisco Bay is the St. Francis Yacht Club's (StFYC) Rolex Big Boat Series (RBBS) in September every year. The 2026 edition featured 81 different boats and more than 700 sailors racing on San Francisco Bay, across eight different divisions. Racing took place from September 17 through 20, and the regatta saw a variety of conditions, excellent seamanship, tight racing and several wild parties. The eight fleets were the classic yachts making their triumphant return after a one-year hiatus, three one-designs (J/105, Express 37 and J/88) and four ORC fleets. Of note, the regatta saw a much higher ORC turnout than it had in recent years, with the event also serving as the 2026 ORC North American Championship. This year's regatta featured several new twists, with the ORC boats sailing in an ocean race (on different courses depending on the ORC fleet) on day one of racing, and the one-designs sailing several more races than in previous years. J/105 – Winner: Niuhi, Randy Hecht, SFYC The J/105 fleet has consistently been the largest fleet at RBBS, one-design or other, over the past few decades. The 2026 RBBS was no different in that it drew 30 J/105s to the starting line. With the size and competitiveness of the J/105 fleet, the winner is normally awarded one of the Rolexes up for grabs at the event, but that was not the case this year as the two Rolexes went to the ORC A and ORC C fleets. This likely had something to do with the fact that the regatta served as the ORC North Americans. What was new for the fleet was the number of races: Instead of the seven races that had been the norm in recent years, the J/105 class (and all of the other one-design classes) raced 10 races across four days — three each on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and one Bay Tour race on Sunday to wrap up the regatta. The fleet was as competitive as ever, as shown by the fact that across the 10 races, seven different boats won. With that many boats capable of a bullet, and even more capable of a top-three finish, the winner was decided by consistency. Page 44 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

Randy Hecht's Niuhi program ultimately won the J/105 fleet. It has been one of the gold-standard J/105 programs in the Bay Area and across the continent over the past few years. Niuhi previously won RBBS in 2022, and has won three of the past four J/105 North American Championships (and will be looking to make that four of five in Seattle this month). The Niuhi team included Hecht on the helm, with Sydney 2000 Olympian Russ Silvestri as tactician, and a crew of Ethan Doyle, Maggie Bacon, Dave Janinis and Laura Levy. "The highlight of this RBBS to me was being able to sail the series in relatively mild currents, with big wind shifts and wind velocity corridors that, when combined, provided lots of passing lanes and a wide effective race course," Hecht says of the regatta. "It was also great getting to watch the power and speed of the largest ORC boats as they did their thing. "Our success was the result of the core of our team having sailed together for the last 10 years," Hecht continues. "We had multiple races in this regatta where we got behind early, but just kept working the opportunities and would get ourselves back into the race. For all 10 races, we only passed by one boat after rounding the first weather mark — a remarkable accomplishment. Team Niuhi has a lot of experience with no throwout regattas, as we have won three straight North American titles, all of which were 10-race no-throwout regattas. The key is not beating yourself with something that puts up a really big score — like being over the line early on a U Flag start."

Niuhi didn't start the regatta in their usual fine form. In race one, they initially sailed to the wrong windward mark (as did a significant portion of the J/105 fleet). Despite that, they were able to finish seventh in race one of the event. After a bullet in race two, they finished 11th in a tricky race. On Friday, Hecht and team didn't win any races, but found their consistency with two fourths and a fifth. Going into Saturday's racing, it appeared that Tim Russell's Ne*Ne (SFYC) program was on track to win the regatta for the first time after years of secondplace finishes. Ne*Ne held a 10-point lead over Niuhi, but with no drops, they couldn't afford any mistakes. In race seven of the event, Ne*Ne finished ninth and Niuhi 10th. The final two races of Saturday saw Hecht and team take control of the event with a fourth-place finish in race eight and a bullet in race nine. Meanwhile, Russell and team finished 11th and 10th in the same races, giving Niuhi a five-point lead going into the Bay Tour on Sunday, meaning a top-five would guarantee first no matter what Russell and team did. Sunday's Bay Tour saw Ne*Ne jump out to an early lead, with Niuhi in the upper-mid fleet. Hecht and his team were able to fight back into the top five, and ultimately finish second behind Ne*Ne. Niuhi finished with 49 points, while Russell and his team were second with 53. "The biggest challenge of the event was our last-day race with only a fivepoint lead on Ne*Ne," Hecht says. "They got off to a fast start and took the lead early and never looked back, while we had a poor start and had to work up

'Niuhi', winner of the J/105 fleet, raced upwind along the Marin shoreline.

BIG BOAT SERIES AT STFYC

The massive J/105 fleet makes its way back into the Bay from Point Diablo.

through the fleet. The last upwind leg was to Diablo, and while we reached the Golden Gate Bridge in second, we had boats close behind on the Sausalito side and boats coming close from the Cityfront side. And to make matters more stressful, there were big wind holes on our Sausalito side. In the end we managed to retain our position and finish second to win the regatta, but there was a lot of drama." Third place went to Beast of Burden (StFYC), skippered by Harrison Turner, with 67 points. The podium was rounded out by Phillip Laby's Godot 2.0 (SSS) with 70 points and Ian Charles' Maverick (StFYC) with 72. Express 37 – Winner: Loca Motion, Mark Chaffey, MPYC The Express 37 fleet, while not as large as the J/105 fleet, has also been a staple at RBBS for decades. Eight of the Carl Schumacher-designed boats competed in the 2026 RBBS, with tight racing across the 10 races. Four of the boats competing in the event won a race, and each of the top three Express 37s won multiple races in the event. The eventual winner of the regatta was the same boat that won this class in 2024 and 2025: Mark Chaffey's Loca Motion program from the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club. The Loca Motion team was a large one (as is generally the case with the massive Express 37s): Chaffey sailed with Heidi Hall, Vince Schweitzer, Liam

Chaffey, Jessica Brownlow, John Hopper, Chris Lademan, Robert Jones, Dave Anderson, Ken Bodiley, Tom Pauling and Mike Brien. "With nine races completed, we were leading Golden Moon for the regatta by only three points, so we could only allow one boat between us in the 10th and final race," Chaffey tells Latitude. "On the last beat to Point Diablo we had several misadventures, and we not only lost our lead on Golden Moon but were passed by Spindrift V and Mudshark, potentially knocking us out of first place for the whole regatta and distressing us considerably. We stayed farther right approaching the Golden Gate Bridge and experienced the 'miracle at the North Tower' as stronger ebb current from Raccoon Strait boosted us right back into the race only several boat lengths behind Golden Moon and ahead of the rest of the fleet. We managed to pull into first place on the run to the finish to win the day by half a boat length and the regatta by four points. Definitely the high point of the whole regatta! "Our success was due to flawless crew work and having good boat speed that gave Ken Bodiley, our tactician, what he needed to work his magic," Chaffey continues. "The complexities of racing in the currents and winds of San Francisco Bay really challenge the tactician, but also provide opportunities for big gains if you make the right call. Boat preparation is also very

important. With the Express 37 fleet as close as it is, even minor problems that slow you down or cause distractions lose you many boat lengths. "We normally sail on Monterey Bay, where the winds tend to be lighter and the racing less competitive," Chaffey says in closing. "Coming up to the Big Boat Series requires us to up our game considerably, as we are one-design racing against very well-prepared and practiced competitors that have the opportunity to test their performance all season. Racing all day in the typical big breeze and waves creates a real physical challenge for the crew. The Express 37 Fleet is the longest-running one-design class in the Rolex Big Boat Series, and the fleet in San Francisco Bay is still very active. A new generation of owners are finding the boats very affordable but also durable and fully capable of competing across the range from ocean races such as the Pac Cup to highly competitive buoy races such as the Rolex Big Boat Series. There is nothing like one design for showing you where you stand in the fleet!" The Rolex Big Boat Series means dramatic helicopter shots of spinnakers billowing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.

THE 2026 ROLEX The ORC A podium was rounded out by Patrick Nichols' Rogers 46 Natural Nine (SWYC), finishing with a net total of 20 points. The final two boats racing in ORC A were Chip Merlin's Bill Lee 68 and West Coast darling Merlin (StFYC) and another local boat, the RP56 Vasara (StFYC).

ORC A winner 'FOX' reaches around the Point Bonita buoy.

J/88 – Winner: Ravenette, Brice Dunwoodie, StFYC The eight-boat J/88 fleet was ultimately won by a familiar face, but in very competitive fashion. Brice Dunwoodie's Ravenette (StFYC) program has been the standard in the Bay Area's J/88 fleet over recent years. While Dunwoodie and team were ultimately victorious, it wasn't easy. The StFYC program finished with a total of 19 points, just three ahead of secondplace Speedwell (RYC), skippered by Tom Thayer. Speedwell and Ravenette both won four races throughout the regatta, and came on particularly strong at the end, winning three of the final four races to secure the regatta win. Speedwell finished second, and Steven Gordon's Inconceivable (SBYC), who won the other two races, rounded out the podium with 29 points, despite a DNF in the final race of the regatta. ORC A – Winner: FOX (TP52), Victor Wild, SDYC/NYYC The ORC A winner, Victor Wild's TP52 FOX, is no stranger to taking home a timepiece at RBBS. Wild has won on three different TP52s in the past 10 years. The current edition of FOX was built in 2020, and has spent the past few years competing in and winning everything on the East Coast and in the Great Lakes. FOX finished the event with eight points from six races, including four bullets. Wild and team finished second in the ocean race on Thursday as well as in the first race of the day on Saturday. Page 46 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

They edged out last year's ORC A winner Zeus, Michael Firmin's Australian Infiniti 52, by three points. "It would mean a lot [to win on San Francisco Bay]," Wild said through a team press release after the regatta. "It is not easy to get. The competition is tremendous here, the conditions on the Bay are challenging, and Rolex has laid out a wonderful format to sail in. [The regatta was] excellent. They have brought in very competitive boats, the yacht club has done an incredible job, and it has been a lot of fun. We haven't won them all — but we sure tried. And a very big thank-you to the entire team and staff at St. Francis Yacht Club. They have done an incredible job putting this event together and looking after all of us. It has been a wonderful regatta."

ORC B – Winner: Velvet Hammer (J/125), James Nichols, RYC The ORC B division was the secondlargest of the ORC classes, with eight boats competing, all of whom were sailing under the burgees of Northern Californian yacht clubs. Of note, the fleet featured the most seasoned sailor competing in this year's RBBS: Hypatia's (StFYC) skipper Ray Lotto, who helmed the event at 90 years young. While Hypatia ultimately finished sixth, the division was won in dominant fashion by James NIchols' J/125 Velvet Hammer, sailing out of Richmond Yacht Club. Nichols and team nearly recorded a picket fence, winning the first five races of the event, and finishing second in the final race with the class victory already all but secure. "At only 42 feet, the Velvet Hammer was the little engine that could in a class dominated by 50-ft boats on the start line," Nichols tells Latitude of the regatta win. "We were pesky on the beats and slippery on the runs. Our dedicated crew of James Nichols, Will Paxton, Andy McCormick, James Hippy Clappier, Ben Mercer, Casey Gray, Jeane Rodgers, Dale Scoggins, Hawkeye King and Michael Blunt hit the

ORC B winner 'Velvet Hammer', a J/125 racing out of Richmond YC.

BIG BOAT SERIES AT STFYC start line on Thursday firing on all cylinders after a full weekend of drills the weekend before. Most importantly, this team of veteran racers and old friends had a complete blast the entire way, and I would like to say they won the party at the end! Can't wait for the next go-around!" ORC C – Winner: Skeleton Key (J/111), Peter Wagner, StFYC/SFYC/NYYC The second Rolex up for grabs was won by a program that is no stranger to collecting watches at RBBS. Peter Wagner and his J/111 program Skeleton Key matched the scoreline that Velvet Hammer put down exactly: winning the first five races of the event and finishing second on Sunday's race with the regatta well in hand. Wagner was joined by Cori Schillaci, John Hayes, Nick Gibbens, Dave Lyons, Chris Williams, Seadon Wijsen, Keith Love and Ernesto Perez aboard the J/111. This is Wagner's secondstraight year taking home a Rolex, though he's doing it in a different division this year (he won the ORC B division and a watch in the 2025 RBBS). "We were able to stay consistent and get the boat going in the right direction in these classic Big Boat Series conditions," Wagner said of the regatta, per the StFYC/RBBS press release. "Winning is always a really big deal. It's a culmination of a lot of effort — over 10 years now for this program. This title and the Rolex is a great way to cap it off."

In second place behind Skeleton Key was a San Francisco Bay regular racer: David Halliwill's J/120 Peregrine (SFYC), finishing with a net total of 19 points. The podium was rounded out by another J/111, John Arens' Reverie (CYC), who won the ORC division at the Phyllis Kleinman Swiftsure Regatta, which serves as the warmup event for RBBS (covered in this month's Racing Sheet). ORC D – Winner: Feather (J/100), Zach Berkowitz, StFYC The ORC D fleet was won in the most dominant fashion by a familiar face in the RBBS Winners' Circle: Zach Berkowitz and his team aboard his J/100 Feather. Berkowitz, an I-14 world champion, has a stacked crew that features 1984 Olympic silver medalist Chris Steinfeld as trimmer and 2028 Olympic hopeful Hoel Menard as tactician. The Feather team, despite being one of the smaller boats in the ORC D fleet, won all six races of the event. It is the third-straight year that Berkowitz and team have won RBBS, as they won ORC C in 2024 and 2025. "We maintained the same core crew," Berkowitz said of the win. "I brought on a new bow guy in Matt Skael, and the rest of the team was Ethan Berkowitz, Chris Steinfeld, Hoel Menard and Trevor Foss. I haven't sailed much this year. I didn't race at all this summer. Hoel has been racing quite a bit and has been getting better by the day. It's great

Zach Berkowitz's 'Feather' has won the RBBS for three years in a row, and features a crew of former and hopefully future Olympians.

to have him keep me honest. The dynamic Chris Steinfeld and I have downwind in terms of sheeting is constant communication of 'up a little bit' or 'burn it down;' it's just constant communication. It seems to work very well." As is implied by the "Big" in Rolex Big Boat Series, the event is entirely a keelboat event. With that said, Berkowitz credits the collective dinghy background of his team as a major key to their success. "Everyone on the boat came up through the ranks of dinghies. Hoel and Matt sailed I-14s. Their understanding of the finesse of it all and the importance of certain things really helped. Interestingly enough, yesterday we didn't jibe once. Our maneuvers keep getting better and better. Matt was new to the boat this year; we practiced one day and that was it. We had a few windy jibes. I told him 'you have to go after this.' He said, 'On a J/105 we put two people on the bow for jibes.' So, we put two people on it, and the kite came around faster. It was nice to have new eyes on the boat." Another key that Berkowitz highlighted in Feather's win is his relationship with Scott Easom of Easom Racing & Rigging, and a plethora of mentors who make up much of the royalty of Bay Area sailing. "Boat management is helped by working with Scott Easom," Berkowitz tells Latitude. "He had one of these J/100s. I'm not just a customer, I'm a friend. He cares about what goes on in the boat. We changed our rake a bit, we got a heavier jib, we tweaked the shrouds a bit; we're constantly tweaking. In order to stay on top you have to stay ahead of the game. Scott has really helped me do that. He called me after each day of racing to see what was going on. He's a little older than I am and he's one of those guys along with Kenny Keith, Paul Cayard, Steve Jettesen [and] John Bertrand who really helped me and who have a lot of wisdom. "I think the technique between Chris and myself is huge," Berkowitz continues. "It's no different than sailing a 470. The teamwork between the helmsman and the trimmer is very important. Constant communication with Hoel on the main upwind. Our maneuvers were great. At this point we've been sailing long enough together that everyone knows what to do and does their October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 47

THE 2026 ROLEX BIG BOAT SERIES AT STFYC would be fun to do a pursuit-style start," Berkowitz says. "It would be a fun race. I don't think the big guys would like it. At the end of the day, it would be fun for us little guys in a J/100." Most of the winners of the RBBS.

job well. I have Trevor Foss in the pit, who's incredibly consistent and has a great attitude in the boat. I've sailed for eons with my brother Ethan. It's a combination of staying on top of the game, looking around at the boats. The J/100 is a nice platform… While we don't sail much, we manage the development very well, no different than the I-14, which is a development boat. I enjoy this thing." In closing, Berkowitz threw out an idea of something he'd like to see in RBBS in the future, drawing on what makes events like the Three Bridge Fiasco so popular and fun: "I think it brisbane-hh-04-23

brisbane-hh-06-23 brisbane-hh-09-24 brisbane-hh-01-23 brisbane-hh-08-23 brisbane-hh-07-23 brisbane-hh-07-22 BrisbaneMrna-Hh 08-21-mp BrisbaneMrna-Hh 05-22-nb BrisbaneMrna-Hh 03-22-nb BrisbaneMrna-Hh 01-22-mp

Classics – Winner: Fairwyn, Richard Leland, Chico YC The classics division made a return to RBBS after a one-year absence, with their biggest turnout in several years: six beautiful old wooden yachts. The wooden beauties sailed one race each day, with handicapped scoring. The courses were primarily reaching courses starting and finishing off the StFYC race deck, to the delight of onlookers at the club. The winning classic yacht was Richard Leland's Fairwyn, sailing under the burgee of Chico Yacht Club. Fairwyn won the final three races of the event after finishing second in race one. Second place in the classics went to Ocean

Queen V, which was sailed by a team of youth sailors from the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation. The youngsters won the first race of the event, and finished second in the final three, for a total of seven points. The podium was rounded out by Kennett Wadsworth's Wiletie (PSPYC), which finished with 14 points. The other three boats competing were Mark Sanders' Hurrica V (The Club at Westpoint), Andy Flick's Aida (PSPYC), and Terry Klaus's Brigadoon (StFYC). The 700-plus sailors on 81 boats had an amazing event that continues the tradition started by Bob "RC" Keefe and the St. Francis Yacht Club back in 1964. The event is a jewel in San Francisco Bay's magnificent sailing crown, achieved by the countless hours of volunteers and organizers who make it happen. Everyone looks forward to 2027, when new boats, ideas, classes, winners and rivalries will be on the Bay for the next Rolex Big Boat Series. — latitude/fritz

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THE DISCONNECTION OF ALL PHOTOS CHRIS FRATINI

or some time now, cell coverage has kept coastal navigators connected with phone and internet, right up until the signal runs out a few miles offshore. But, until relatively recently, offshore sailing remained a disconnected affair. That came with real risks, gladly accepted by those who sailed far not only for adventure, but for refuge in that sanctuary where crew and boat worked with skill and presence toward new and distant shores. In our third year of cruising the Pacific, we've come to wonder what satellite internet is doing to that sanctuary — to the cruising community, and to the people we visit in some of the most isolated corners of our world. Chris (author) and Tami Fratini connect on shore.

The idea that new technology comes with unpredictable side effects is nothing new. Our boat used to be a floating island, a place to step away from it all and reconnect with our own values: the farther from shore, the better. In recent years, satellite internet, with Starlink as the sole provider in this arena, has built a bridge for the noise of everyday life to reach us wherever we go. It's also given many people the confidence to turn cruising dreams into reality: Couples mid-career are heading out with kids and pets in tow, and young couples with little sailing experience, filled with curiosity and hope, are spending their savings and youthful energy fixing up old boats and pointing them at the horizon. Some of that confidence comes from how much easier the mechanics of sailing have become. GPS solved the 500-year-old question of "Where exactly am I?" No more solving the riddles of celestial navigation, a fine and worthwhile art in its own right, but one with Page 50 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

a steep learning curve. SSB, SailMail, satellite phones and EPIRBs used to be the price of entry for offshore weather and communication, and their foreignsounding names kept plenty of wouldbe sailors at arm's length. Dedication to the skill of sailing offshore, and a robust inner call to adventure, were must-haves. Internet on board was really the last piece of technology in this incremental process, the final hurdle holding many people back from taking the leap. Apps like Navionics have since turned the fine art of navigation into something you can learn in an afternoon, producing follow-the-dots routes, ETA included, to the most remote corners of the planet in minutes. In short, tech and omnipresent connectivity have replaced hard-earned seamanship as the backbone of a new generation of sailors. Meanwhile, wise to the nuances lurking behind the easy button, the old salts are uneasy. None of this is a complaint; it's context. Tania Aebi on Varuna and Robin Lee Graham on Dove circumnavigated the globe as teenagers with a fraction of today's tools, so we're not convinced technology was ever the real bottleneck. What it's done, mostly, is remove the friction: more boats, more people, more often, in places that used to see almost none. Cruising from Canada to the South Pacific, we've met many of these newer sailors in person over the past few years. People who, almost on a whim, left the trappings of land life behind and put themselves through a crash course in everything boats, and put their all into a new life at sea. Many look and sound in over their heads, but aren't deterred. We admire their grit and their curiosity, and the hordes of mentors just a few clicks away mean they learn faster and with fewer bruises than we ever did. What we notice, though, isn't really about skill level. That's the shift we keep circling back to when we talk with fellow cruisers: a palpable change in the culture of this community, developed over just the past few years. We spend nearly all our time at anchor in remote places, and we've watched Starlink adoption take off like wildfire — from a few boats with dishes in 2023, to many, to most, to essentially everyone, within a very short span.

It's not unlike the arrival of screens in all of our pockets on land. The benefits there were obvious and immediate; the side effects took years to surface, and we're still unsure of exactly what they are. Dr. Jonathan Haidt, in The Anxious Generation, draws a direct line between screen time and declining mental well-being in young people, pointing to alienation, detachment and less physical activity as consequences; other researchers point elsewhere for the cause. Although we have our own opinions, as we all do, we want to share and acknowledge our observations. What we can say is that something similar, if quieter, seems to be happening in anchorages: a subtle, unmistakable change in attitude, visible among cruisers in anchorages, among the people on the islands we visit, and — we'll admit it — on board our own boat too. A few weeks ago, during a sundowner in Hakatea Bay on Ua Pou, the conversation aboard Akaroa II turned to exactly this. John and Maureen have been cruising for more than 30 years. John told a story from when their kids were still aboard: "The kids would meet everyone at any anchorage way before Maureen and I did. As soon as we dropped anchor, they'd hop into the dinghy and go knock on everyone's hull asking if there were any kids on board." He and Maureen feel that's largely disappeared in the past few years. We've rarely experienced it ourselves, even in anchorages crowded with other boats. After hearing John's story, I shared my own experience from a few weeks earlier in Anaho Bay, on the north side of Nuku Hiva, where we'd recently spent nearly three weeks. There's no road to Anaho — everything arrives by Tami and crew member Jeff tending to business on passage to the Marquesas.

CONNECTED CRUISERS

When remote anchorages are connected to the world, cruisers appear less likely to connect locally.

boat from the neighboring village, or on foot or horseback over the ridge, and the 20 permanent residents are often outnumbered by the people anchored offshore. Juliette, who runs a tiny bed and breakfast there, told me how much she used to enjoy getting to know the handful of sailors who visited. Lately, she said, the boats have multiplied, but, "[P]eople seldom come to shore. When they do, they rarely take the time to get to know us." It leaves her feeling less safe, not more connected. In that same bay, we spent evenings with an archaeological expedition from Tahiti, cataloging historical sites on an island that became part of a UNESCO World Heritage designation in 2024. Their local guide, Moe Tai, grew up in the village; he knows the island and its people well. We spent many evenings with him and his colleagues sharing a cold beverage, playing guitar around the fire, and sharing stories. Almost every day, he would thank us for coming to shore and taking the time to connect with the locals. I took this as a gesture of sharing our humanity, something I feel we are becoming more and more reticent about, and a reminder that the effort is usually welcomed far more than we assume. Reflecting on all of this, it's not hard to conclude that a new trend is rising:

Cruisers are virtually connected to the world at large, more than ever before, but are less inclined to connect with the people actually around them. Internet, screens, the whole mess are part of what Dr. Lisa Strohman calls "socially acceptable addictions," which makes them infinitely more insidious. We hold no moral high ground on the topic: A slick rectangular dish adorns our railings, and we're grateful most days for what it gives us. I also have just enough hypocrisy to berate it, just as often as I recognize it as a commodity diabolically easy to misuse and abuse. Convenience and safety are real, undeniable gains; nobody's arguing otherwise. But it's worth asking: Do the cheerful, colorful weather visualizations dull our sense of the fury that the skies and oceans are still capable of dishing out? Do easy, confident answers to genuinely hard questions — navigational, meteorological or otherwise — change how we relate to uncertainty itself? How does that same ease change the way we relate to each other? And will the knocks on the hull keep fading until they stop altogether?

We've sat on deck plenty of evenings watching people we would never have met if it weren't for the gift of traveling by sailboat: Kids of every age playing together on a beach, teenagers dancing to a boombox on a dock until late, whole villages simply out, together, talking. The entertainment comes from each other, not from screens. Set next to the glazed look of someone doomscrolling or watching the latest political circus, the difference is stark. Something worth protecting is at stake here, and it's easier to lose than we'd like to think. The Fratinis' Caliber 40 'Kehaulani' under sail. Inset: Starlink, located by the solar panel on the transom.

October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 51

THE DISCONNECTION

Left: Kids playing on a beach, teenagers dancing on a dock until late, whole villages simply out, together, talking — all used to be the norm. Right: Though anchored next door, the distance between cruisers is increasing.

Internet access at sea has real benefits, and we're not pretending otherwise. But camaraderie at anchor has genuinely suffered, and it shouldn't become one more casualty of convenience. Those connections survive only if we keep showing up for them in person — with each other, and with the people on the islands we pass through, who are worthy of our time and eager for our humble inquiry. Wouldn't you rather hear about island life from

someone who actually lives there, over a cold drink, than from a screen? Perfect accuracy was never really the point. Human connection was. Don't let that be the price of convenience. As a result of our observations, our commitment is to notice out loud, share our thoughts, and use our unique perspective to shine yet another light on what we encounter. The other is to truly make an effort to make personal connections.

Fortunately, we are from a generation where it was the norm, but good habits are easy to forget. It may involve infringing on some personal spaces, maybe violating some Western perception of privacy. For any offense taken, we apologize in advance, as we keep trying to engage with our fellow earthlings and share ourselves as we navigate this amazing human experience. — chris fratini Alameda: (510) 521-1327 San Diego: (619) 681-0633 Marina del Rey: (310) 821-8300

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October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 53

HOW A ONE-DESIGN FLEET ALL PHOTOS RICHMOND YACHT CLUB EXCEPT WHERE NOTED

henever Randall Rasicot called out a maneuver, I would jump. "Vang!" "Starboard twing to lifeline!" Even now, hearing the skipper who taught me how to race, I automatically leap into action. "An inch to the right!" "Watch the doorjamb!" Today, we aren't sailing. The crew from J/24 Flight is moving a giant wooden sculpture, 8 feet across and weighing as much as a piano, through the threshold of Rasicot's new house. It's one of three times this summer that the J/24 fleet has helped each other move. "With the J/24s, it's kind of insane. We've all become family. We go to each other's birthdays, each other's weddings, everybody's helping each other move," says Jasper Van Vliet, skipper of Evil Octopus. "That has very little to do with sailing sometimes." Emmy Duckworth raced Thistles for years, but here in the Bay Area? "I started sailing with J/24s, and within a day it was like I'd been there the entire time." "For me, it's always been about the fleet," Ellie Tubman says. "Sailing is more about being with people and chatting on the boat and figuring out

something together. It's teamwork at the end of the day." Carrying a heavy dresser up a flight of stairs and playing real-life Tetris around a tight corner with your tactician may not be how most crews practice for a regatta. This land-based teamwork with San Francisco Bay J/24 Fleet 17 sets it apart as something far beyond just a one-design class. It's just an extension of what crew means. When Tenacious Cuttlefish helm Will Pochereva and Evil Octopus's bow Bri Biller planned their move to a new house this summer, one group text to the fleet brought instant results. A sentence, and the mention of pizza and beer was enough. Crews from six boats including Rasicot, who doesn't even own a J/24 anymore, appeared at 9 a.m. ready to lift heavy objects. Everyone pitches in when work is needed, whether it's fixing an outboard the night before a regatta, helping prep boats for travel regattas, or just scrubbing someone else's hull. "There was a boat that came back an hour after ours, and we all were just putting everybody else's boat away, because that's what we do," Jasper adds. "We just took care of everybody." Being part of a one-design fleet has a lot to do with it. On J/24s, every single

piece of equipment, from the weight of the motor to the length of the lifeline lashings, is specified in the fleet rules, so boats are essentially identical. That means everyone knows everyone else's boat, and crew swapping is standard. As Jasper recalls, "I was docking and Rosanne was stepping off another boat, and she started de-rigging my boat. She hadn't been on my boat, but she's like, 'Yeah, that's just what we do.'"

he fleet's closeness grew during the pandemic. We were all confined to our homes, and began doing game nights on Zoom. It's amazing how you can actually play Clue remotely. Postlockdown, that evolved into Tuesday game nights, hosted at various homes, with the host providing the main course, and the rest of the boats and crews bringing salads, wine, beer, dessert and sides. Going to one another's homes and meeting partners and spouses meant extending relationships beyond just where you sit on the rail during a race. "Anyone, all different ages, all different backgrounds, everyone finds their little spot within the group, and you can just be yourself," Tubman says.

LEFT: RANDALL RASICOT • CENTER: BRANDON MERCER

Below left to right: Skipper Rosanne Scholl helps move the sculpture; You don't need a boat to have fun with your crew. Game nights are just as good; The fun is in getting close enough to shoot water pistols.

Page 54 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

WILL POCHEREVA, J/24 'TENACIOUS CUTTLEFISH' CO-SKIPPER

BECAME A FAMILY

At a 2025 post-Jazz Cup raft-up in Benicia.

Robin Van Vliet concurs. "We really don't care if you're male or female or non-gendered or non-binary or trans or queer. It doesn't matter. It's like, can you sail? Are you a cool person? Awesome. Welcome." Robin, then sailing as skipper of Little Wing, got my son James through Spanish class. When he crewed for her, they would only speak Spanish to James, forcing him to practice before his finals. He earned his California State Seal of Biliteracy and is now finishing his master's degree, with a job waiting as a junior engineer for ARC Team USA in the America's Cup. As one of three female skippers, Rosanne Scholl of Flight was a strong role model for my daughter Addison. Addison eventually became co-skipper with me and Will, helping lead us to be 2025 season champions, and driving for our Three Bridge Fiasco secondplace fleet finish in January. She's now at Cal Poly Maritime pursuing a career

on the water. Yeah, I'm proud of my kids, but I'm also so proud of my fleet. We will take you out on a Wednesday night to show you the ropes, help you buy a boat, and teach you how to race it. But we'll also show up with chicken soup if you're sick, be on-call tutors for your kids' calculus class, and show up with a bottle of Scotch for your retirement party. The J/24 isn't the only fleet with this type of community, but it's been doing it consistently for a very long time. Latitude 38 has called it, "a fun and approachable

fleet." The boat design may be from the 1970s, and the balsa core hulls may have some soft spots, but the community around it is vibrant. Robin put it best: "Welcoming, is our default setting." — brandon mercer Look! It's a J/24 sailor.

HOW A ONE-DESIGN FLEET BECAME A FAMILY BUILDING FLEET COMMUNITY • Regular off-season clinics to teach people the boat and racing, rotating positions so people learn new roles. • Sharing the helm. One tradition is the OPBYC (Other People's Boats Yacht Club) Regatta, where owners don't drive and the marks are inflatable ducks. • Regular non-sailing events like game nights and potlucks. • Sharing equipment, sails, sweat equity, and boatwork skills to make ownership more manageable. • An active Slack community where people share updates, ask questions, and plan regattas.

Sharing equipment, sails, sweat equity, and boatwork skills makes ownership more manageable.

ROXANNE FAIRBAIRN

'Little Wing' doubled as a classroom for Spanish lessons.

The J/24 family is close on and off the water.

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Page 57 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 57

SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ALL PHOTOS KIRRA DAVISON

f you're scrolling any type of social media these days, I'm sure you've seen a bunch of reels/TikToks/etc. of some cute young couple or individual selling everything to move aboard a boat. While this is nothing new, the influx of social media clips has been overwhelming, at least my algorithm, often showing people who are completely new to the world of sailing. (Nothing wrong with this, by the way; everyone's gotta start somewhere.) However, it's easy to be swayed by some aesthetically pleasing video with trending audio. Boat life can be extremely rewarding and a great lifestyle, but as with anything in life, it's probably a good idea to have an understanding of what you're getting yourself into. So, as someone who's been living aboard sailboats under 40 ft full-time for the past eight years, I put together my top takeaways and want to bust some common misconceptions of landlubbers. Disclaimer: I'm obviously very biased as I've only lived aboard sailboats under 40 ft, in California. Other parts of the world are going to be much different, as well as other types of boats and personal situations, but as a liveaboard in Southern California who has bounced around the state, I have years of experience pertaining to this specific context. No. 1: It's Cheaper — OK, there are definitely circumstances in which boat life can be substantially cheaper than living in a house on land. For example, let's say you live in an expensive city in California, like Los Angeles or San Francisco. With housing costs in places like this being astronomical, the thought of purchasing a boat under $100k and living on it for five to Those beautiful sunsets come with a price.

10 years does sound much cheaper. However, some folks new to the sailing world might not grasp just how much maintenance a boat requires, especially while living aboard. Also, the maintenance largely depends on the vessel you purchase. Let's say, for argument's sake, a 30-year-old 40-ft boat is selling for $50k-$80k. Chances are it's going to need A LOT of work to be livable and in functioning shape. Most older boats are going to need updated electrical work, plumbing, rigging, mechanical and in some cases structural work in order to just be a comfortable living space. Another factor is marina space. In crowded, sought-after cities, marina space is going to be hard to obtain. Lots of marinas have long waitlists for "liveaboard" slips. If you're lucky enough to score one, you still need to make sure your vessel passes the approval of the marina, and that you can afford the slip fee every month. Some marinas are a lot more expensive than others, especially the nicer, more updated ones, so you're still going to have a monthly cost that resembles rent. There is, of course, the mooring-ball option (much cheaper), but these are harder to find in some areas than others. The cheapest option is living "on the hook" or on one's own anchor, but you have to do your research to find out where you're allowed to anchor for extended periods of time. I know that here in Southern California, there are very limited options, but it's largely frowned upon by harbor patrol and increasingly harder to do. No. 2: It Must Be So Relaxing to Always Wake Up on the Water — Eighty percent of the time, yes. If you love the ocean and constantly being surrounded by bodies of water, then yes, you're going to be pretty happy living on the water. Living on a boat means that you're constantly at the mercy of Mother Nature, so weather plays a vital role in determining your stress levels. This is why so many sailors are obsessed with weather: It basically controls your life when you commit to living on the water. If you can live aboard a

boat in a location that has pretty mild weather, you're going to be much happier. I personally have had many sleepless nights on anchor worrying about the worst-case scenarios, and have found gray hairs that I blame entirely on boat life. All in all, it's the price you pay to witness and experience the most serene of sunsets from your boat, and if you can learn to love Mother Nature in all of her fierceness, then it will be worth it. No. 3: You Have To Be a Minimalist — I love hearing this one because I assume that people are mainly concerned with personal belongings like clothes, shoes, jewelry, decorations, etc. Yes, you definitely need to downsize those things because most affordable boats are not going to have walkin closets or enough storage to house a plethora of belongings like that. I've been in boats that were strictly floating houses, their owners never taking them out of the slip to sail or motor.

Be a minimalist, but carry lots of tools and spares.

In my experience, those people can utilize the storage spaces in their vessels for clothes, shoes, etc. BUT, if you want to be able to use your boat to sail or cruise, then you need to factor in that a majority of the storage space aboard is going to be taken up by spare parts, tools (soooo many tools), spare food, engine oil, fenders, lifejackets, spare sails, sailing gear, first-aid kits, paddle boards and whatever else is needed for life afloat. If you plan to do a lot of the work yourself (because let's face it, hiring anyone in the marine trades is not cheap), then most of

LIVING ABOARD A SAILBOAT FULL TIME

Nathan Lamb and Kirra Davison have been full-time liveaboards for the past eight years.

your personal belongings are going to become tools, spares and hardware. As a 29-year-old woman living aboard boats for the past eight years, I own WAY more tools and hardware than clothes and shoes. Before boat life, I was a fashionista. Now, most days I find myself in hooded sun-protective shirts and stained jeans. So, yes, you should probably downsize your wardrobe, but start building your toolbox. No. 4: You Must Have So Much Freedom! — I wish I could answer yes to this one. It's easy to imagine why people think this, because most people associate boat life with the idea of not being "tied down." But the reality is that most liveaboards are going to spend some extended period of time being "tied down" because of working a non-remote job, family, health problems, boat repairs or just needing to be in one place for a while. While many people out there are sharing all of their beautiful trips, it might seem as if they get to do that all of the time. But remember, these are the highlights, and are not representative of the majority of time spent aboard. Living aboard does not always equal "freedom." No. 5: You Have a Shower Onboard, Right? — I wish I could film the reactions on people's faces when I tell them I've been living without a shower for eight years (until recently). Then, I

elaborate and tell them that I use the marina facilities when I'm at a marina, and a cockpit shower/ocean-water dip when not at the marina. In many cases, liveaboard boats don't have functional or efficient indoor showers onboard. You see, most boats under 40 ft that were built before the 2000s have what is called a "wet head," meaning there's a shower fitting installed in the "head" (or bathroom for landlubbers) that is not in an enclosed stall. Therefore, using the shower means getting the entire space wet, and if the boat's bulkheads are made with any type of wood, this is a breeding ground for mold, and eventually, dry rot. If you are one of the lucky individuals who has a boat with a separate fiberglass shower stall, then you are excluded from this, and I envy you. My husband and I have always owned boats that have "wet heads" because we were drawn to other aspects of the boat than just the shower. After all the years The tea-kettle shower might not be for the faint of living aboard, we've had to get of heart.

creative with other means of getting clean, and some of the methods have not been for the faint of heart. (I'm talking about your tea-kettle shower.) So what I'm saying is, if you want to live aboard an affordable boat, then you have to be a bit salty and accept that you might not always have an ondemand hot-water shower. No. 6: Where Do You Go to the Bathroom? — I hate how much I talk about toilets. If you'd told me 10 years ago that I'd know everything about marine toilets and the world of marine plumbing, I probably would've thought you were a weirdo. But lo and behold, here I am, a walking marinetoilet aficionado. Before living aboard boats, I did not realize just how much we owe to the modern age of household plumbing. Sure, it probably has a bunch of flaws too, but there is nothing quite like the privilege of being able to flush away the contents of a toilet bowl without ever having to think about it again. Living aboard a boat presents you with a couple of options, and none of them are great. Most marina dwellers use the bathroom facilities so they can get away with not having to deal with their own sh*t. This is a great option if you never plan to leave a marina and have great control over your bladder/bowels. The rest of us have to eventually come face to face with the marine toilet and its inherently flawed system. I'm not gonna do a deep-dive into this so I'll keep it simple. At some point, whether you have a composting head or electric-flush marine head, there is no way to magically flush it away, and you will have to quite literally deal with your sh*t. Marine head hoses always get clogged, there is no way to have a completely "odorless" head (no matter how clean it is or how hard you try). So, if this sounds like your worst nightmare, then boat life might not be very fun for you. No. 7: You Must Be Such a Good Sailor! — Honestly, I've met people who have lived aboard sailboats and never sailed a day in their life. Ironically, my husband and I started out like that, but that's a story for another time. October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 59

SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Above: Kirra and Nathan's current boat home, the 1989 Island Packet 38 'Pelican'. Right: All in all, boat life is worth the discomforts.

Sometimes I think if I didn't live aboard a boat that we were constantly fixing up, then we might sail much more. In the beginning years, we spent the majority of our time just learning how to fix things so that we could have a comfortable home to live in. After we fixed the things, we'd go sailing. Then something else would break and we'd be in the slip for another couple of weeks fixing more things. Basically, for every thing we'd fix, another three would need fixing. When you're new to sailing and learning how to live aboard your boat the ignorance is actually bliss, because the more you learn about the various systems on board, the more hesitant you become to put your home in dangerous situations. Sailing your home is actually quite insane if you think about it, especially when the conditions pipe up and you have to worry about the fact that literally everything you own and love is contained in this fiberglass shell, piercing through the ocean waves, with the wind pushing it farther and farther. In fact, if I were concerned with becoming a really good sailor, it might be wiser to sail a boat that I didn't live on, so I could push myself to the limits without the fear of losing everything. What has made my husband and me decent sailors is the confidence that we can fix and work on any system on the boat if it were to break. This has taken years and years, countless expensive mistakes and literal blood, sweat and tears. As for the actual sailing skills, I feel that we will always be learning how to be better sailors. Even as USCG-certified captains, we still have so much to learn about the incredible phenomenon that is sailing. If becoming a skilled sailor is your aim, then maybe don't live aboard the boat you sail on so you can focus more on just sailing. Page 60 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

No. 8: It Must Be Cramped With Two People Living Aboard — If you thought you really knew your partner, think again. My now-husband Nathan and I moved aboard our first boat at 21 and 22. We weren't yet married but had been living together in a two-bedroom apartment. That first boat was only 27 feet and not set up to live on. Nathan could barely stand up straight throughout the boat, and our setup inside was the equivalent of camping. We did surprisingly well that first year, having only one near mental breakdown. But we remained supportive of each other and learned how to coexist in a really small space. The next few years we owned a couple different boats, the biggest being 34 feet, and we found that the extra living space did help us out in feeling more comfortable. I could see this living situation being a nightmare for some couples, and I think the key is that both individuals need to have the common desire to live aboard. I've known many instances where one person tries to sell the romantic idea of moving aboard to their hesitant significant other. Sometimes that other person falls in love with the lifestyle, but both people have to really want it for it to work in the long term. Of course Nathan and I have discussed living on land again, but we both really value the goal of going "cruising" while living aboard. So being up-front and transparent about what really matters to you from the beginning is crucial in order to make it work. No. 9: Is It Lonely? — Probably one of my favorite things about living on boats is that you get to meet such

a diverse group of people. We've met seasoned salts who have the most insane sea stories and walk around as if they've seen Davy Jones himself. We've also met people who are just like us. The boating/sailing community is not a generalized stereotype, but a huge array of people spanning all corners of the globe, coming from many different backgrounds. In areas where boating is more accessible and affordable, there are usually big communities of liveaboard sailors who love to lend a hand, or share a word of advice or a drink at sunset. Honestly, you can make it as lonely or sociable as you want; the lifestyle itself doesn't dictate that. There are plenty of boat hermits too, but all in all, boat life boasts vibrant communities all around the world. Many marinas host events and meetups and endeavor to provide some sense of community for their tenants.

his list is just the top thoughts that come immediately to mind for me. I would love to know your input and if this was helpful, or at least entertaining, to anyone. Thanks so much for reading my informed rambles. — kirra davison Ed. Note: Kirra Davison and her husband Nathan Lamb have been living aboard sailboats full time for the past eight years. They are both USCG captains and are currently living aboard in Southern California working on their fourth and largest boat, a 1989 Island Packet 38 named Pelican. While living aboard and updating their boat, they are hoping to cast off the lines and hopefully sail farther south within the next year or so.

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MAX EBB — ALL IMAGES MAX EBB

eave the fenders where they are, please," the instructor ordered. I had already started to untie one of them, so the command was surprising. "I just thought we should look shipshape when we pass the yacht club," I replied. For years, every time one of the boats from the University Sailing Club passed in view of the yacht club windows, I couldn't help thinking how leaving the fenders hanging and dragging gave the wrong impression of that student-run organization. But it seemed to be the Sailing Club's M.O. "It's our 'poor person's knotmeter,'" the instructor explained. "The sound tells the new students how fast we're going. And we do a lot of docking practice under sail, so it makes sense to leave them set." When there are two volunteer instructors on a sailboat, there will be at least three different versions of how to teach. Instructor number one was Flo Field, a colleague of Lee Helm in the naval architecture department, and an expert in computational hydrodynamics. Lee Helm, also a grad student in the department, was instructor number two. "No, let's pull the fenders in," Lee argued. "I don't want to mask the sound

Pressure Coefficient

The pressure field acting on the back half of a moving submerged sphere can stand in for the flow around a blunt stern or a submerged transom. Ignore the blue line for laminar flow. In the usual range of sailboat speeds and sizes, the boundary layer will always go turbulent after the first few feet of bow, so the orange line is more applicable. But don't confuse a thin turbulent boundary layer with separated flow at the stern.

transitional flow turbulent flow

of the Doppler shift." How did I get myself in the middle of this argument, on a University Sailing Club boat? My two boatbuilder friends from back East, Doug Furr and Rose Wood, were visiting the Bay Area. Sailing on the Bay is a required part of my usual hospitality for out-of-town guests, but as fate would have it, my boat was on the hard that week. Lee, however, had an answer for that. "Have them sign up for a free lesson at the Sailing Club!" she recommended. "It's like, our club's latest promotion. Only available to visitors from, like, faraway places, and new arrivals to the City. Get a personal keelboat lesson absolutely free!" "But if it's to promote membership," I questioned, "why only for out-of-town visitors? If they're only here for a visit, they won't be good membership prospects." "'Cause, though it's labor-intensive, word of mouth is a great way to promote the club!" Lee emphasized. "And the visitors are always here because they need to interact with locals, so if we show the visitors a good time on the water, the word spreads fast to the locals. Every little bit helps." We tacked a few times in light air to clear the breakwater, with both instructors emphasizing the importance of keeping boat speed up during close maneuvers. Doug and Rose stayed under cover, not letting on that they had been sailors all their lives. Meanwhile, Flo had deferred to Lee on the fender issue, mainly because our guests were more connected to Lee than to Flo. So I got back to bringing the fenders aboard. Taking a few seconds to note to our "students" that the last person to set the fenders had done it properly, tying to the lifeline stanchions at deck level instead of to the lifeline wires. "Is this your first time at the tiller?" Flo asked. "You're doing really well for a novice!" Not wanting to blow her cover, Rose deliberately steered a little too deep, letting the jib telltales stall.

"Can you really tell by the Doppler shift how fast we're going?" I quizzed Lee after we had settled down on port tack in the open Bay. "How fast are we going now?" I asked as I took out my phone to check speed with my GPS app. "I'll estimate, like, four-and-a-half knots," she said after a short hesitation. "It's the bubbles. The bubbles in the bow wave are moving toward my ears, the foam in the stern wave is moving away, so the frequency is a little higher in front and a little lower astern." "And you can tell the difference?" I asked. "We're not moving fast enough for the difference to be very big." "Not consciously," she admitted, "but I think it's internalized as a quality of the mix of sounds. Also remember that power is proportional to speed cubed, so a small speed difference makes a much bigger difference in the rate of energy dissipation to the water. Once you know your boat and calibrate your eyes and ears, it's natural to be able to guess the speed with, like, surprising accuracy." Just then, as if to make the point, a small airplane flew over us at a moderately low altitude, and Lee did not need to offer any more explanations to our geeky ship's company about the Doppler shift. "Four-point-four knots," I announced when my phone's GPS app had stabilized. "The point-one is probably adverse current," Lee added. "But the sound I like best," noted Flo, "is the sound of the bubbles behind a fully aerated transom, with a rooster tail. When the boat is finally going fast enough to break the suction on the stern from the turbulent water." "You know, that's something I've always wondered about," said Doug. "When the transom is dry, there's just air pressure pushing on it. When the transom is wet, usually because the stern wave has raised the water level back there, the pressure has to be at least a little more than atmospheric. So why does everybody say that the boat goes faster when the transom is dry? Isn't it really just the opposite?" "For attached flow, I think you're right," said the hydrodynamicist. "The flow at the back of the boat is turbulent,

DRAGGING THE ASS but not necessarily separated." "You mean like a canoe stern with a long run?" suggested the boat builder. "Or a stern overhang with very flat aft rocker?" "For sure," said Lee. "But with a fat or full or round stern on a heavy boat, the flow separates early and there can be, like, a lot of suction." "Separated flow can definitely reduce the pressure on the transom," Flo added. "The separated water is accelerated forward, a lot of it now moving with the boat, and momentum conservation pulls the boat back. Also pulls the boat down, if the water is bubbling up behind, say, a wide, shallow transom that's not going fast enough to aerate." "And don't forget the sides and bottom of the hull near the stern," Lee added. "The low pressure on those surfaces can also pull aft and down. Even though, like, as the speed increases, the turbulence in the boundary layer might help keep the flow on the boat's hindquarters attached, and reduce the suction drag a little." Our guests looked a little confused. "Don't mistake turbulence in the Keep the transom above the water at low speeds. But when the boat is going fast enough for the transom to dry out, a dry transom prevents the momentum transferred to the turbulent water in the stern from pulling the boat aft and down.

The best wake sounds come from the foam in the wake after the water separates cleanly from the bottom corner of the transom.

boundary layer for detached flow," Lee tried to clarify. "Boundary layer turbulence is on a small scale, like, inches or fractions of inches, depending on Reynolds number. Detached flow is on a large scale, on the order of feet and the width of the stern." "So what's the takeaway from all this?" asked Rose. "Is it slow when the transom is partly underwater? I raced to Hawaii one year on a double-ender with an 'apple-cheek' round stern, and it was noisy! When we pushed the boat with the big spinnaker, it was enough to keep us awake. Like trying to sleep next to a waterfall…" She stopped suddenly when she remembered that she was pretending to be a novice sailor, to qualify for the free daysail courtesy of the University club. "I thought you were steering too well to be a beginner," Flo teased. "But I think the answer is fairly simple: If you're going fast enough, and if the flow is separated, then a dry transom is better than a wet transom or wet stern. If you are in the attached-flow speed regime, the transom should be out of the water." Lee had been searching for something on her phone during this last exchange, and finally found it.

"Here's a graph of the pressure field around a submerged sphere moving through the water," she said as she passed her phone around the cockpit. "It's not a boat hull, but the back half of a submerged sphere is not a bad standin for those 'apple-cheek' round sterns. The graph shows pressure as a function of distance from 'bow' to 'stern' of the moving sphere. The pressure is, like, pretty low aft of midships." "You're ignoring the wave effects!" Flo protested. "And also, if the pressure gets low near the surface, the transom will dry out and we're back up to ambient air pressure." "Right, we need more data to get a better picture, but the point is, if the transom can dry out, you want it dry. If you're not going fast enough for that, you want to keep the transom clear of the water." "Is there a formula for that critical speed?" asked Doug. "It's based on the 'depth Froude number,'" said Lee. "V over square root of HG, where V is boat speed, H is transom depth and G is gravitational acceleration." "Froude number?" Rose asked. "The Froude number is a way of comparing boat speed to the speed of the waves the boat makes." "Is that part of the 'hull speed' formula?" Doug asked. October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 65

MAX EBB "If you use knots and feet, and the waterline length instead of transom depth, then, like, yes, you get socalled 'hull speed' at a Froude number of 1.34. It's the speed of a deep-water wave having a wavelength equal to the LWL of the boat. But that's only quasi-non-dimensional. If you use feet per second, feet and seconds, or any consistent units to make it truly nondimensional, then hull speed is when the Froude number equals 0.4." "What's the required Froude number to keep the transom dry?" I asked. "Opinions vary," admitted Lee. "Saunders, in Hydrodynamics of Ship Design, says when the depth Froude number is 4 or above. Example: If the transom bottom corner is half a foot underwater with the boat at rest, the transom could dry out when V divided by the ratio of speed over the square root of the quantity 0.5 times 32.2 equals 4. That works out to 16 feet per second or 9.5 knots." "Sounds high to me," said Flo. "I've

seen data that puts it at more like 2.5." "Maybe because Saunders was writing in 1957," Lee speculated. "Small craft were heavier back then, so the stern waves were higher, adding more extra depth compared to the at-rest condition. More modern sources put it

"I just thought we should look shipshape when we pass the yacht club." at, like, 2.5, which is the rule of thumb that I use. That makes it only 5.9 knots. We should talk one of our undergraduates," she said to Flo," into making this a senior research project." "The thing to remember about the Froude number," Lee continued, "is that it's not linear with the square

root in the formula. A boat and a scale model moving at the same Froude number, based on length, will make similar wave patterns. But if the model is one-quarter full scale, it has to go as fast as full scale. You have to increase size by, like, a factor of four in order to double hull speed." With my guests outed as experienced sailors, the instructors had no one to teach. We played "guess the speed" for a while, and set the big spinnaker when the sea breeze came up. We all had the pleasure of hearing the hiss of the foam behind a dry transom and watching our rooster tail where the wake cavity collapsed well astern. "You mean it blows like this every day?" Doug noted with envy. I nodded. "Back East we have to wait for a storm," he said. "I can send you some good membership prospects." Which made the sail a success. — max ebb

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THE RACING While early Fall is always highlighted by the Rolex Big Boat Series, there's so much other great racing around the West Coast. We kick off this month's Racing Sheet with the beautiful classic yacht's at the Belvedere Classic, and then our attention to the Drake's Bay Race. Next, we cover the Phyllis Kleinman Swiftsure Regatta — the RBBS test event. We wrap things up with a great Knarr turnout in Ballena Bay, and some beautiful Mercury racing down the coast. Belvedere Classic Regatta and Great SF Schooner Race: 17 Years of Competition and Camaraderie Yawls, gaff-rigged schooners and Marconi sloops lined up for a noon horn near Point Knox on Saturday, August 22, with steady 12- to 16-knot breeze and a touch of ebb moving in. This year's Belvedere Classic Regatta and Great S.F. Schooner Race hosted by San Francisco Yacht Club set a new participation record since its 2008 inaugural, drawing 26 registrants — including first-timers Kookaburra, Summer's Moon, Sea Witch, Random, Chance, Kodiak, Fairwyn, Ocean Queen V, Hurrica, Lydia, and Sir Edmund. This being a pursuit race, contenders remained tightly bunched at the start and into the first leg. Race committee says close conditions prevailed again when half the fleet finished within the middle 10 minutes of the finish spread. The course was fast: 18 boats lapping in under two hours (a new record) and the two Bird boats completing things within three seconds of each other. First to finish overall, and first in Classic Yacht 2, was the San Francisco Sea Scout crew. Whaleboat Viking was steered by Penelope Kershaw, "A promising young racer who is making a name for herself," notes skipper

MARTHA BLANCHFIELD

Good times and beautiful boats.

Page 68 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

Mike O'Callaghan. "On the course, we picked the favored end of the line and tacked once for 12. We made time by sailing close to the south side of Alcatraz and avoided some ebb and sailed a shorter distance. We decided to stay on port far enough west to avoid some of the northerly sweep of the ebb from the South Bay, while also avoiding most of the Alcatraz wind shadow." O'Callaghan had a hunch this decision may have given Viking distance on the Birds and other boats that tacked at 8. "We took the south side of Alcatraz (Little Alcatraz buoy) close and fetched 12, then finished. Light ebb and moderate breeze favored us, plus executing only three tacks helped." Grinning, he adds, "This may be the first time I have sailed her with a relatively clean bottom and recently applied bottom paint." In Classic Yacht 1, Jim Borger and Neja crew prevailed with the Dasher/ Lapworth 32 breezing into a first spot yet again. A surprised Borger was delighted to learn they had won their class, "We thought we had barely eked out a second to Sir Edmund, having passed the Hummingbird (Bird boat) in the last 100 yards." Having experienced various bummers leading up to race day, such as missing the Friday skippers' meeting, being on the water and able to only decipher which boat was in what class in the SIs, succumbing to loss of electrical (Windex and speedo), and a mid-race observation that Viking, Fairwyn, and Kookaburra were very far ahead, skipper says he was glad he decided early to race strategy where he'd "sail how sailors of old sailed." This method was applied first with a decision on whether to start with the #1 heavy, or go

with the #2. "We chose the #1 heavy, which was the right decision for the first three legs, even with Hana right behind us the whole way." Farther up the course, Neja caught Lydia at Blossom Rock, but being to weather of her on a reach to #8, Borger was not sure if they could break the overlap. "About 300 yards from the mark we gave her a luff to break the overlap. I think we surprised them. As they turned to weather, we broke the overlap and turned for the mark." Borger suspects Lydia was experiencing steering problems and had to drop out ("I hope we did not cause her failure," he says). Attention then fell to the IOD, Fjaer, which was closing on them. Fortunately, "Alcatraz handed us Neja's weather sweet spot: upwind, greater than 18 knots. Even overpowered with the #1 heavy, we held on. Colin Trevor, Bruce Rider and Nadee Gunasana did a great job that day." The third race category for the Belvedere Classic is the "Spirit of Tradition." Vessels designed on or after January 1, 1975, whose rudders are separated from the trailing edge of the keel, and whose design embodies an appreciation of classic yacht or traditional workboat shapes and aesthetics, are welcome to compete. Taking a breather from his ocean pursuits, racer Andy Schwenk opted to play inside the Bay with the woodies, taking his lady Sir Edmund out for a sail. This fun earned him a first for the day. Sailing to a second was the Barry and Sylvia Stompe duo of Iolani, trailed by the Bryan Kemnitzer, Nancy Barron, Chris Kelly and Jim Colletto clan on Summer's Moon. A San Francisco Yacht Club vessel, Summer's Moon is a Morris 29 traditionalstyle cruising sailboat built by Morris Yachts. The Great Schooner Race is for the grandes dames on S.F. Bay, open to sailing vessels with two or more masts, the foremast equal to or smaller than the mainmast. A lighter turnout resulted this year: First to finish was Andy Flick of Aida, second place Lindsey Klaus at the helm of Brigadoon; Gold

MARTHA BLANCHFIELD

SHEET

A Bird takes flight in the Belvedere Classic.

Star with Jim Cullen earned third and Sean Reynolds of Roxy took fourth. This year, organizers paid honor to the Klaus family and Brigadoon for participation in every occurrence of the Great Schooner Race, all 17 of them. — martha blanchfield SFYC BELVEDERE CLASSIC REGATTA & GREAT S.F. SCHOONER RACE, 8/22 CLASSIC YACHT 1 — 1) Neja, Dasher 32, Jim Borger; 2) Hana, Farallone Clipper, Brian Boyd; 3) Fjaer, IOD, Richard & Mark Pearce. (7 boats) CLASSIC YACHT 2 — 1) Viking, 30-ft Sailing Whaleboat, Mike O'Callaghan; 2) Fairwyn, 42-ft S&S Yawl, Richard Leland; 3) Kookaburra, Bird, Dennis Brewer/Joe Sallady. (10 boats) SCHOONER — 1) Aida, Gaff, Andy Flick; 2) Brigadoon, Herreshoff, Terry & Lindsey Klaus; 3) Gold Star, 47-ft Schooner, Jim Cullen. (4 boats) SPIRIT OF TRADITION — 1) Sir Edmund, Marconi Schooner, Andy Schwenk; 2) Iolani, Hughes 48, Barry & Sylvia Stompe; 3) Summer's Moon, Morris 29, Bryan Kemnitzer. (5 boats) Full results at www.sfyc.org

run from shore, and that continues to this day. The 2026 Drake's Bay race had 13 SSS boats and 15 YRA boats signed up. The forecasts were on the high side, with winds in the 20s on Saturday, so that the PRO called SSS commodore Jim Quanci and me on Friday night to make sure we thought the conditions were safe enough. Spicy but within guidelines was the call. Most of the SSS competitors did not like the forecast and stayed home, with only four starting and two finishing. We had low teens on the starting line in San Francisco Bay, and the wind and seas gradually built as the fleet got farther out and the day progressed. Ahi reefed a little before the Duxbury Reef mark, roughly halfway to Drake's Bay.

We saw 18-22 with 6- to 8-foot seas for the rest of the trip. The first multihull finished just after 1400, and most of the rest of us finished between 1500 and 1700. It was nice to be able to anchor in daylight, but Drake's Bay did not offer much shelter from the wind, and we saw gusty 20s overnight, with a high gust of 30. The crews did not spend much time on deck! Once anchored, crews got to making dinner. While windy, it was an uneventful night. When I got up around 0700 it was overcast, but we could see all of Drake's Bay. By the time we pulled up the anchor at around 0900 the fog had settled; we had to use the GPS to find the start buoy. We started on time in a light southeasterly of 4 to 5 knots. Some boats tried to go out in search

An eerie fog during the Drake's Bay Race.

ANDY NEWELL

Drake's Bay 2026: Uphill Both Ways in the Fog Since 2014, the annual Drake's Bay Race has been a joint venture between SSS and YRA. Prior to 2018, Corinthian Yacht Club would start the race on the Bay and send a committee boat to meet us in Drake's Bay. In 2019, the Inverness Yacht Club took over the Drake's Bay finish and Sunday starts, October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 69

ANDY NEWELL

FELIX WEIDLING

THE RACING

On the way out under the Golden Gate Bridge toward Drake's Bay.

J/105s fight their way toward shore in the flood at the Phyllis Kleinman Swiftsure Regatta, traditionally the warmup for Rolex Big Boat Series.

of breeze, but it did not materialize. On Ahi we chased what wind we had and headed down the rhumb line to Duxbury. It was very challenging conditions with light wind and no horizon, but at least the seas were relatively flat. This continued until about 1400, when we were approaching the Duxbury buoy. The wind completely died and the swell picked up a bit, so we were slatting uncomfortably. We struggled to keep moving at all, and at 1450 did the math about finishing before the deadline, gave up, and started the motor. It was still very foggy with very little wind until we rounded Point Bonita a little after 1700, and the Golden Gate Bridge was invisible. We finally saw the bridge deck once we passed below it. I was really glad it was still light, as that would have been nerve-racking at night. Once we got on the Bay, we found out where the wind had been hiding all day and saw 28 knots in Hurricane Gulch. Thankfully we had put all the sails away hours earlier. Congratulations to the lone finisher on Sunday, Rick Waltonsmith on his 44-ft 39-rated trimaran. — andy newell

PHRF 2 — 1) CruzSea Baby, Beneteau 10r, Brian Turner; 2) Twelve Bar Blues, J/105, Hugh Westermeyer; 3) Ahi, Santana 35, Andy Newell. (4 boats) MULTIHULL — 1) Round Midnight, Explorer 44, Rick Waltonsmith; 2) Greyhound, F-22, Evan McDonald/David Scott; 3) Caliente, Explorer 44, Truls Myklebust. (3 boats) SHS (Single or Doublehanded) — 1) Plus Sixteen, Olson 911, Paul Disario/Maggie Neef. (1 boat) YRA DRAKE'S BAY 2, 8/23 PHRF 1 — No finishers. (7 boats) PHRF 2 — No finishers. (4 boats) MULTIHULL — 1) Round Midnight, Explorer 44, Rick Waltonsmith. (3 boats) SHS (Single or Doublehanded) — No finishers. (1 boat) Full results at www.jibeset.net

YRA DRAKE'S BAY 1, 8/22 PHRF 1 — 1) Talisman, First 40, Mark English; 2) Bacchanal, JPK 11.80, Ron Epstein; 3) Mudshark, Express 37, Dante Branciforte. (8 boats) Page 70 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

Swiftsure 2026: A Flood Current Warmup for RBBS Two-and-a-half weeks before the Rolex Big Boat Series (RBBS) kicked off, many of the regatta's competitors sailed in St. Francis Yacht Club's (StFYC) 2026 Phyllis Kleinman Swiftsure Regatta. Named in honor of the late Sy and Phyllis Kleinman, and their racing yacht Swiftsure, the regatta is the dress rehearsal for RBBS, with many of the courses that will be used for the RBBS tested out in Swiftsure. Forty-six boats competed in the event across four divisions. There were two one-design classes, the J/105 and J/88 fleets, and two handicapped

classes, the ORC and PHRF fleets. Each fleet sailed six races, three on each day. The ORC, PHRF and J/88 fleets afforded each competitor one drop, while the J/105 fleet didn't have a drop. By far the biggest fleet was the J/105 class, with 23 boats racing. The class was won handily by Randy Hecht's team aboard Niuhi (SFYC). Winners of three of the past four J/105 North American championships, the Niuhi team was dominant at Swiftsure, finishing with just 13 points from six races, a full 21 points ahead of secondplace Blackhawk (SFYC), skippered by Ryan Simmons. "The sailing conditions Saturday and Sunday could not have been more different," Hecht tells Latitude of the weekend's racing. "On Saturday there was a 2-knot flood [current] and the wind at 235 degrees starting off the face of Alcatraz in a modest breeze with big velocity changes and shifts. The game was to start at the pin and sail to the beach on one tack and then work the southerly shifts to the weather mark. We were at the pin the first two races and finished second in each. The third race was windy and saw the ebb working well out into the Bay, so the usable race course became much wider and playing the shifts was key. We finished fourth, fighting back from a second-row start at the boat. "Sunday was entirely different, with the wind direction starting at 185

FELIX WEIDLING

MACY DEAM

FELIX WEIDLING

SHEET

Clockwise from upper left: Though pictured starting in the second row here, 'Niuhi' (blue) was dominant in the event, finishing with almost one-third the points of the second-place J/105; The 'Reverie' team with the Phyllis Kleinman Swiftsure Cup, awarded to the winner of the ORC fleet; John Arens' sleek new ride.

degrees in 10 knots of breeze," Hecht says of the second day of racing. "Going to the beach in the flood was not going to work because the angle on starboard tack did not get you to the [current] relief fast enough. The game was to work the shifts up the middle of the Bay and work toward the shore when the wind got to 200 degrees or more. We won the first two races using that approach. The third race was started in 20 knots of breeze and the wind at 240 degrees with early ebb covering about half the course. There were regular 20-degree shifts that we worked while getting into the ebb and after. We finished third in that race to win the regatta. "This regatta was won on positioning the boat correctly at the start and working the shifts and velocity lanes correctly," Hecht says in closing. "Having more boat speed was not really an important factor after getting away from the starting line, with a wide lane to work with. Our teamwork in making decisions was our secret sauce for success in this regatta." With the win at Swiftsure, the Niuhi team heads into RBBS (which will have been sailed by the time of publication) and the J/105 North Americans in Seattle on a high note. The 11-boat ORC division was much closer, with just two points separating

first and second. The class (and the Phyllis Kleinman Swiftsure Cup) was ultimately won by John Arens and his team aboard Reverie (CYC). While the boat name is not new, the boat is for Arens and his team. They had long been racing in a J/109 of the same name (in which they won the 2025 J/109 North American Championship in Chicago). The newer edition of Reverie is a sleek, red J/111. "Aside from celebrating the legacy of Phyllis and Sy Kleinman, the Swiftsure Regatta serves as a tune-up and measuring stick for us as the Big Boat Series approaches," Arens tells Latitude. "We're still early on the learning curve with the J/111, especially in the breeze… The high point was just staying resilient. We sailed our worst race of the regatta in the last Saturday race, but we came out with two bullets on Sunday morning that really were our best efforts so far with this boat. "The J/111 is a different animal from the J/109," Arens continues. "J/109 Reverie was a great platform for this crew to learn how to sail together. That boat was all about tracking well upwind, especially through chop and maneuvers, and sailing deep downwind angles. J/111 Reverie is lighter, faster and much more powered up — particularly downwind. With the breeze

up, things happen quickly! The Reverie crew have sailed together for more than six years and we're having a lot of fun learning the new boat. Winning PKS was a good sign that we're making progress." Arens and the team finished with a net total of nine points. After back-toback second-place finishes in races one and two, Reverie finished seventh in race three (which would become their drop). Arens and team came out firing on day two of the event, winning races five and six and finishing third in the final race to edge out Daniel Brousseau and his team aboard Tangaroa (StFYC), a J/109. The six-boat J/88 fleet was won by Brice Dunwoodie's Ravenette (StFYC) team, finishing with a net total of eight points. Of note, five of the six J/88s competing won a race. The PHRF division consisted of five Express 37s and one other boat, and Michael Laport's team on Golden Moon (StFYC) took first, winning four of six races. — fritz StFYC PHYLLIS KLEINMAN SWIFTSURE REGATTA, 8/29-30 J/105 — 1) Niuhi, Randy Hecht, 13 points; 2) Blackhawk, Ryan Simmons, 34; 3) Donkey Jack, Justin Oberbauer/Rolf Kaiser, 44; 4) Ne*Ne, Tim Russell, 47; 5) Mojo, Jeff Littfin, 51. (23 boats) October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 71

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AMY STELLATO

Funky, Fluky and Fast at the Jazz Cup Put the cellphones down — how can you compete with a gorgeous late-summer day on San Francisco Bay and a 26-mile glide up to and under the Carquinez Bridge alongside more than 60 spinnakers? "The 38th Jazz Cup, cohosted by the South Beach and Benicia Yacht Clubs, was a great success, with all boats starting on time in 1012 knots of wind near Southampton Shoal," said Dave Corbin, South Beach Yacht Club rear commodore. Racers rounded and set a spinnaker at mark one, approximately .75 miles from the start, then settled in for a downwind run on Saturday, September 5. Competition was split into nine starts, mostly by PHRF, with one nonspinnaker, one multihull and the special BYC-SBYC Jazz Cup divisions. Line honors go to David Schumann on multihull Bottle Rocket, whose run outperformed the next-to-finish by nearly an hour. "Although I've sailed other boats in the Jazz Cup, this was the first time we entered our Seacart 30 Bottle Rocket in the race," said Schumann. "Winds were pretty light and temperatures were warm, making it a pleasant day for a sail to Benicia. We had the last start but managed to catch and pass the fleet at the Brothers. From there, it was smooth sailing as we extended our lead and were first to finish at 2:54 p.m. and elapsed time three hours and four minutes." In the spinnaker division, Richmond Yacht Club member Ben Landon tapped local knowledge and took his Thompson 23 Flight Risk over the line first. "It was a fluky kinda race, with many holes and ribbons of ebb making it a challenge. The fleets ahead all rounded Southampton, set kites, and headed to Red Rock. Being RYC beer can locals, we jibed almost immediately

ERIK SIMONSON / H20SHOTS.COM

J/88 — 1) Ravenette, Brice Dunwoodie, 8 points; 2) Inconceivable, Steven Gordon, 12; 3) Speedwell, Tom Thayer, 14. (6 boats) ORC — 1) Peregrine, J/120, David Halliwill, 9 points; 2) Reverie, J/111, John Arens, 12; 3) Tangaroa, J/109, Daniel Brousseau, 13. (11 boats) PHRF — 1) Golden Moon, Express 37, Michael Laport, 6 points; 2) Spindrift V, Express 37, Lisa Wilson, 8; 3) Expeditious, Express 37, Bartz Schneider, 13. (6 boats) Full results at www.stfyc.com

MARTHA BLANCHFIELD

THE RACING

Clockwise from top: An armada of racers makes its way toward Benicia on a beautiful day; To the victors go the Jazz Cup; Red Rock in sight!

and steered toward Richmond for more pressure and less ebb. That was really where we won the race; by the time we got to the Brothers we had a pretty good lead," says Landon. "Going under the Carquinez Bridge gave us a scary moment when our spinnaker halyard cleat gave up during a big puff and the kite ended up in the water for a minute. Thanks to amazing crew work, we got it up and running again pretty quickly." Non-spinnaker division accolades were earned by Free and the Bilafer family, plus Jim Carlsen. Hoping to claim the Funky Trumpet trophy were 22 boats in division X. For a second year in a row Benicia Yacht Club's Beneteau 311 Living Happy earned it, with corrected time 4:24:30. Stepping in for owner David Stellato (who was unable to participate this year) was interim skipper Adam Paul. Wife Amy Stellato shared, "David has created a fantastic culture for his sailing program. He has excellent and experienced sailors he could rely on, and they led the team to victory. Credit for the win goes to both David and Adam." Benicia YC contenders also claimed the first three positions in the two-club rivalry, with a 1-2-3 sweep by Living Happy, E Ticket and Noble Griswold, then Swift Ness and Reuben Rocci. Living Happy also placed third in division J and fifth overall in the spinnaker fleet. E Ticket also won in division H, while Swift Ness won in division E. South Beach top performers included Mike

and Lorianna Kastrop on Goose, which nabbed second in division K, and Todd McPherson of Curie sailing to third for division H. Long-running sail events almost always have competitors who can share stories about race traditions. Take for example the crew on the Catalina 30 Goose, who have tallied seven sweet wins over the years (non-consecutive). Action wouldn't be so delicious without them, according to organizers. Goose likes to share the story thusly: "We were on the way to the 2001 starting line when we heard the SBYC committee boat hailing the shore team on the race channel. They had left their lunches ashore and couldn't return due to imminent start of procedures." Goose crew looked over their own provisions and decided donation of a package of Oreo cookies might help, so they tossed it over when checking in. "Goose went on to win the '01 Jazz Cup for the first time," says Mike Kastrop. "Every year since, we preserve the tradition to drop off our 'good luck charm' to the committee boat." The annual 26-mile downwind Jazz Cup has been held since 1989. The aptly named Funky Trumpet trophy, crafted from an actual musical horn, is a perpetual. In order to win and take it home, a race vessel and crew must be represented by either host South Beach Yacht Club or Benicia Yacht Club. Rivalry began as a friendly challenge between the two clubs and quickly grew

AARON LEE

SHEET

Clockwise from left: All smiles aboard 'Murano'. A tight battle both downwind and atop the standings at Ballena Bay between 'Three Boys and a Girl' (left) and 'VIVA' (right). Knarr 144, 'Fifty/ Fifty', is one of several Knarrs with a new owner. The team raced their first event at Ballena Bay.

into a signature sailing roundup. The name comes from the Benicia Jazz Festival; in earlier years, sailors would arrive in the harbor just as the festival was getting underway, which created a lively celebration of music, community and spirit of competition. The festival no longer exists, but the name and tradition live on. The 2026 race was sponsored by Bruehol Benicia Brewing, Benicia Marina, Rubicon Yachts and volunteers from Benicia and South Beach Yacht Clubs. — martha blanchfield SBYC/BYC JAZZ CUP REGATTA, 9/5-6 NON-SPINNAKER — 1) Free, S&S 30, Bilafer Family/Jim Carlsen; 2) Chesapeake III, Alerion Express 28, James Fair; 3) Sobrante, Catalina 309, Paul Descalso. (4 boats) SPINNAKER — 1) Flight Risk, T650, Ben Landon; 2) Bloom County, Mancebo 31, Elliott James; 3) Tenacious Cuttlefish, J/24, Brandon & Addison Mercer; 4) Living Happy, Oceanis 311, Adam Paul/Amy Stellato; 5) Anemone, Santana 22, Hank Lindemann; 6) Greyhound, Viper 830, Zhenya Kirueshkin-Stepanoff; 7) Downtown Uproar, J/24, Darren Cumming; 8) Special Edition, Wilderness 30, John Ross; 9) E Ticket, Moorings 38, Noble Griswold; 10) Arcadia, Mull/ Nash Hybrid, Gordie Nash. (59 boats) MULTIHULL — 1) Bottle Rocket, Seacart 30, David Schumann; 2) Tri Jolie, Corsair 880, Rafi Yahalom. (2 boats) Full results at www.regattanetwork.com

Knarr Class Builds Momentum at Ballena Bay Yacht Club Fresh off five San Francisco-based Knarrs competing in the 56th International Knarr Championship in Norway (with one of them winning it), the San Francisco Bay Knarr fleet built on that momentum in the East Bay at Ballena Bay Yacht Club (BBYC). Eighteen Knarrs competed in five races across two days, the biggest turnout for the fleet in several years, with several Knarrs that hadn't raced in some time making appearances, and several recently minted owners in the fleet making their regatta debuts. Racing was tight at the top, with Don Jesberg's VIVA (SFYC) ultimately winning with 11 points from five races. Just one point behind in second place was Chris Perkins and Hans Baldauf, racing on Three Boys and a Girl (StFYC), with 12 points. VIVA finished third in races one and two, and won the final race of the day on Saturday. After a rowdy pirate-themed party on Saturday night, VIVA finished third in race four and won race five to win the event. Rounding out the podium in third was Russ Silvestri, racing aboard Niuhi (StFYC), while the boat's owner, Randy Hecht, was winning the Phyllis Kleinman Swiftsure Regatta in his J/105 of the same name (covered earlier in the Racing Sheet). VIVA is the third different Knarr to win a regatta this season in three

different events (the first two Knarr regattas of the season were canceled due to dredging issues at the San Francisco Marina West Harbor entrance). Jon Perkins and Kurt Hemmingsen's Kulani (StFYC) program won the first event of the season at Sausalito Yacht Club (and won the 2026 IKC in Norway). Three Boys and a Girl won the Woodies at St. Francis Yacht Club, and now VIVA makes for the third regatta winner in three events. The fleet has three more events on the calendar for 2026. "The weather was perfect, the winds were moderate, and the fleet turned out strongly, 18 boats!" Jesberg tells Latitude of the racing. "It came down to the last race for the top three boats; any of the three, with a strong last race, would capture the win! [We] got forced out to the left side of the race course to keep close to Chris Perkins. That was very fortunate as a big left shift allowed [us] to round the weather mark first and extend the lead throughout the rest of the four legs. It all came down to how Chris would finish: Third or better and he wins, fourth or worse and we win. Chris finished fifth, and Russ finished the race with a ninth. "It was great to have all the boats tied up at one location in Ballena Bay on Saturday night, and a pirate-themed party was a big success that evening," Jesberg says of the weekend as a whole. "This has been a strong year for the Knarr fleet. Several new teams have bought boats and made it to the starting line for the first time during this weekend's regatta. The 'word on the dock' was, 'why don't we have all our races in fun venues like Ballena Bay?' The Knarrs remain one of the most competitive racing fleets on S.F. Bay. As we say, 'it's not the boat, it's a lifestyle.' " While the top of the fleet was tight as ever, much of the excitement about the regatta had to do with the boats that turned up for the event that hadn't been racing as much in recent years, and the new Knarr owners racing in their first-ever Knarr events. One of those new owners is Peter Curzon, who recently purchased Knarr #144 Fifty/ Fifty (StFYC), and raced in the event: "We couldn't have asked for better conditions in our first Knarr regatta," Curzon tells Latitude of the event. "It October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 73

was our second-ever time sailing Fifty/Fifty. To say we were green was an understatement. The line was packed with 18 boats. Many brought decades of experience, including multiple world champions and an Olympic medalist. We admired the leaders ahead of us and were competitive in the back third of the fleet — an accomplishment for our intrepid crew. "The fleet exceeds expectations on and off the water," Curzon continues. "It's obvious why the fleet has thrived for 60-plus years. Everyone welcomed our boat, shared rigging and trim tips, and expressed genuine excitement to see Fifty/Fifty campaigning again. After racing, we celebrated over drinks, dinner, and a pirate-themed party. The racing, the camaraderie, and the boat itself were superb. I know of three other buyers circling Knarrs right now. It's no surprise why." — fritz BBYC KNARR INVITATIONAL, 8/29-30 (5r/0t) 1) VIVA, Don Jesberg, 11 points; 2) Three Boys and a Girl, Chris Perkins, 12; 3) Niuhi, Russ Silvestri, 19. (18 boats) Full results at www.bbyc.org

Mercurys Sail 75th Labor Day Regatta The 75th Labor Day Regatta upheld its reputation as one of the Mercury Class's premier events, drawing 17 boats to the starting line and welcoming several sailors back to the fleet. Patrick Whitmarsh returned to the Mercury class aboard Dave Morris's recently acquired Mercury #504, while Mark Chandler brought out #524 and Greg Dair returned with #575. Sailing conditions were demanding throughout the weekend, with a puffy, shifting breeze that kept both the sailors and race committee alert. The sea swell, combined with the lighter breezes, challenged even the best helmsmen. Race One: Mike Burch and Don Whelan led for most of the race, but Greg Dair and Kaelyn Ibold passed them at the final leeward mark. After Burch fouled Dair and completed penalty turns, he dropped to fourth, with Dave West and Patrick Whitmarsh moving ahead. Race Two: Similar conditions tested the fleet, with crews constantly moving onto and off the rail. Greg Dair handled Page 74 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

PATRICIA MCALEER

THE RACING SHEET

Beautiful light-wind conditions for the Mercury class at Stillwater Cove. Inset, left to right: Patrick Witmarsh and Dave Morris, the victors, with PRO Dick Clark.

the conditions well and went on to win the second race. Race Three: Bill Schopp and Dave Shoemaker, sailing #572, broke away at the start and led the fleet around the course. Mike Burch challenged them on the run to the finish, but Schopp held him off for the win, while Tom Priest and Scott Jenson sailed a strong race to secure fourth. At the end of the first day, Greg Dair and Kaelyn Ibold led the standings with two first-place finishes. Race Four: The racing became even more unpredictable as positions shuffled throughout the fleet. Patrick Whitmarsh and Dave Morris stayed consistent to win the race and build a strong lead in the series, while John and Michael Ravizza sailed well to finish second. Race Five: The final race brought more changes in the standings, but Mike Burch won the start and sailed away to a commanding victory. Greg Dair recovered from a difficult Race 4 to finish second, while Whitmarsh slipped to eighth but retained a two-point margin over Burch to win the series; Andy and Marie-Odile Goodman also finished the regatta strongly in Races 4 and 5. Congratulations to Patrick Whitmarsh and Dave Morris on winning the 75th Labor Day Regatta. Saturday night's dinner on the pier was another highlight of the weekend,

with excellent weather, a great meal from the chef, and entertainment from the Lanzafame Band, including their new song, "Kelp Fly Blues," written by Chip Wood. Special thanks go to the Stillwater Yacht Club, Dick Clark, Chip Wood, Jack and Patti McAleer, and Richard Beach for their contributions on and off the water. — don whelan STILLWATER YC 75TH LABOR DAY REGATTA, 8/29-30 (5r/0t) GOLD — 1) Tiger, Patrick Whitmarsh/Dave Morris, 17 points; 2) Jade, Mike Burch/Don Whelan, 19; 3) Chance, Greg Dair/Kaelyn Ibold, 21. (6 boats) SILVER — 1) Magic, John Hansen/Ken Bodiley, 34 points; 2) Tabooma, Bradley Schoch/ Tommy O'Hara, 42; 3) Death & Glory, Mark & Liz Chandler, 45. (11 boats) Full results at www.mercury-sail.com

SeqYC OPEN 5.70 NORTH AMERICANS (5r/1t) OPEN 5.70 — 1) Dixie, Felix Oehme, 4 points; 2) Altair, Samantha Chiu, 8; 3) Hummingbird, Andrew Lesslie, 10. (6 boats) PHRF — 1) Frequent Flyer, Farr 30, Stanleigh Phillips, 4 points; 2) Flying Green Dragon, Tartan 3500, Hans Spanjaart, 7; 3) Sea Breeze, Catalina 36, Ian Brosnan, 12. (3 boats) Full results at www.jibeset.net VYC CICERELLO, SMITH AND VAN DOLSON PERPETUALS (4r/1t) A SPINNAKER — 1) Kentucky Woman III, Etchells, Bob Paedon, 3 points; 2) Joker, J/35, Elvin Valverde, 7; 3) Aerie, CS36, Mark Littlefield, 8. (6 boats) B SPINNAKER — 1) Lean Times, Islander 36, Dale Anderson, 3 points; 2) Flying Lion, Islander 36, Richard Leijonflycht, 6; 3) Adventure, Catalina 36, Steven Strunk, 10. (4 boats) C NON-SPINNAKER — 1) Kon Tiki, Cal 2-29, Dan Karonis, 4 points; 2) Wings, Albin Ballad 30, Jerry Halterman, 5; 3) Florence Ann, Cal 2-27, Max Gertes, 9. (4 boats) Full results at www.jibeset.net FINN PCCs & STAR PITCHER REGATTA, CORONADO YC, 9/11-13 (5r0t) 1) Pa, Bob Martin, MBYC, 13 points; 2) Beverly, Rob Coutts, MBYC, 18; 3) White Crayon, Robert Kinney, NHYC, 20. (13 boats) Full results at www.coronadoyc.org

BOX SCORES BYC BIG WINDWARD LEEWARD REGATTA, 9/12 PHRF 1 — 1) High & Dry, Santana 22, Igor Polevoy; 2) Zeehond, Newport 30 MkII, Donn Guay. (3 boats) OLSON 25 — 1) O'Mar, David Scott; 2) Falkor, Zack Parisa. (3 boats) MOORE 24 — 1) Firefly, Joel Turmel; 2) Mooretician, Peter Schoen; 3) Bluebird, Ryan Georgianna/Ludwig Ward. (7 boats) PHRF 2 — 1) Red Cloud, Farr 36, Don Ahrens; 2) Humble Vandal, J/92, Rhett Smith; 3) Ergo, Express 27, Chris Gage. (8 boats) PHRF 3 — 1) Chao Pescao, J/105, Paolo Juvara; 2) Shark on Bluegrass, J/99, Falk Meissner/Andy Goodwin; 3) Yellowfin, J/105, Dick Maclay. (7 boats) PHRF 4 — 1) Swift Ness, J/111, Nesrin Basoz; 2) Jubilant, J/112e, Kevin Wilkinson; 3) Invictus, Sunfast 3600, Nico Popp. (6 boats) MULTIHULL — 1) Bottle Rocket, Seacart 30, David Schumann/Trevor Baylis; 2) Greyhound, F-22, Evan McDonald; 3) Caliente, Explorer 44, Truls Myklebust. (5 boats) Full results at www.jibeset.net

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SFYC WOSSER CUP (9r/3t) J/105 — 1) Niuhi, Randy Hecht, 6 points; 2) Box of Rain, Bill Melbostad/Charles Pick, 16; 3) Streaker, Greg Arkus, 16. (6 boats) NON-SPINNAKER — 1) Topgallant, Tartan Ten, Carl Flemming, 9 points; 2) Abba-Zaba, Tartan Ten, Ross Tibbits/Michelle Farabaugh, 10; 3) Althea, Alerion 28, Chris Herrmann, 18. (14 boats) SPINNAKER 1 — 1) Peregrine, J/120, David Halliwill, 6 points; 2) Lonestar, Beneteau 10R, Madeline Morey, 15; 3) Mr. Chocolate, Saffier 37, Stephen Stroub, 17. (6 boats) SPINNAKER 2 — 1) Oriole, Bird, Lachlan & Jock MacLean, 6 points; 2) Fjaer, IOD, Richard & Mark Pearce, 16; 3) No Name, RS21, Andrew Picel, 43. (13 boats) Full results at www.sfyc.org ILCA CHAMPIONSHIP, TAHOE YC, 9/12-13 (3r/0t) ILCA 4 — 1) No Name, Francesca PloumenMortensen, 3 points; 2) No Name, Olivia Ellis, 8. (2 boats) ILCA 6 — 1) No Name, Steven Schmidt, 4 points; 2) Triggered, Asher Baurley, 5; 3) Bondo, Chris Cooke, 11. (7 boats) ILCA 7 — 1) Fast & Furriest, Julian Soto, 4 points; 2) Eat Sleep Hike Repeat, Al Sargent, 9; 3) No Name, James Baurley, 10. (12 boats) Full results at www.tahoeyc.com

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SCAN FOR QUOTE October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 75

WORLD Art Hartinger of 'Pied-a-Mer', of Jack London Square and the Encinal Yacht Club, shares his experience of chartering in the Caribbean with his wife and friends. Circumnavigating the Island of Martinique Last year we took a Moorings 46 cat from Guadeloupe to Martinique, visiting Dominica along the way. I realized I had not really explored Martinique, and our last anchorage there, Grand Anse d'Arlet, was superb, with great snorkeling, turtles and a beach lined with cafés. I vowed to return and explore a bit more. We chartered a Lagoon 42 from Dream Yacht Charters (DYC) based in Le Marin in the south part of Martinique. I am pleased to report that we saw many turtles, hundreds of flying fish, dolphins and more. These are our trip notes. We were a crew of six. My wife Yumi Wilson and I were joined by good friends Brian and Lis Walter from Los Angeles, and Tomek Stec and Paulina Karbownik from Warsaw, Poland. We met earlier and had a wonderful meal at a restaurant in Trois-Îslets called L'Antares — off-the-charts great food by a couple (he cooks; she works the front of the house). There is a Carrefour market less than a mile away from the DYC base. We had rented a car from Europcar from the airport (Fort-de-France — FDF), and returned it to Le Marin. The marina at Le Marin is about a 45-minute drive from FDF. But having a car made provisioning easy. They simply asked that we deposit the keys in an envelope through a

slot across the street from the marina at the Europcar office. We boarded the boat on May 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. Our boat was Violet, and it looked to be in great condition, very new with a generator, AC, inverter, watermaker, freshwater toilets, four cabins and everything working. The program called for an overnight; then we would receive a briefing the next morning and shove off approximately noonish. For the dinner before shoving off from Le Marin, I highly recommend Pizza Steff across the street from the marina. Very casual but excellent pizza. On May 3, our tech Maurice showed us the boat. I must give him a shoutout. I have done many, many charters, and this was by far the most thorough and informative checkout. We shoved off about 1130 for about a 10-mile easy sail up to Grande Anse d'Arlet. This was a good shakedown to make sure everything was working and we understood all boat systems. The main halyard was twisted, so we couldn't get it up quite right, but we fixed that later with the anchor down. While everyone was chatting about where we wanted to go, etc., we settled upon going all the way around the island, and we were now committed to going clockwise. The windward side of Martinique has a mess of reefs, but the charts showed good anchorages, so we decided to go for it. By rough calculation, the distance around the island is

ALL PHOTOS ART HARTINGER

about 112 miles. For the record, given our upwind slog on May 5 (see below), you might consider going counterclockwise! On May 4, we decided our destination would be St. Pierre, but en route we turned into two little bays on the south side of the large main Fort-deFrance Bay. One was called Anse Noire, and the other Anse Dufour. The boat had great nav electronics, but I always supplement with my own Navionics and also Navily. Navily turned out to be a great addition because it essentially gives commentary from other cruisers about their experiences. As with any social media review, you have to read it with a grain of salt, but we found it useful. The majority of comments on Anse Dufour speak about local fishermen yelling at cruisers about this and that, but we decided to ignore this admonition and cruise in. This is a small bay, but with only two boats there, it seemed easy. I dropped the hook behind two boats, but oops, no grab. Sure enough the local fishermen began yelling at us, and I think this is just sport for them. (It helps to be hard of hearing in these situations.) Yumi and I decided to stay on the boat and drop our crew off for snorkeling. We then cruised Violet over to Anse Noire to take a peek. I love Anse Noire (having spent the night there in 2012), and there were only two boats at anchor, so it would have worked for us to anchor there as well.

Below left to right: Some of the crew running an errand; Brian and I (left) with the owner of L'Antares, an excellent restaurant; Tomek harvested a coconut on Loup Garou. Now just need to open it.

Page 76 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

OF CHARTERING

The boat checkout at Dream Yacht Charters was painless.

The gang from left to right: Art, Yumi, Brian, Lis, Tomek, and Paulina.

We motored back in and picked up the crew. There was slight drama, as one boat proceeded to scold me for really no reason. I scolded him right back with a smile, and the crew safely came aboard. We were off to St. Pierre! This was about a 15-mile or so sail in 15-plus-knot winds — a beautiful reach. I had last anchored in St. Pierre more than 15 years ago, and it was a tricky anchorage with a steep and quick dropoff from shore. We learned from Navily that they had installed mooring balls, all of which were reservable. I did reserve one on the way, and when we arrived there were dozens empty and no one around to assist with the mooring. I have always found it somewhat challenging to pick up a mooring ball (without a pendant) from the bow, so we opted to launch the dinghy and do it the old-fashioned way. We never did see anyone come to collect money or say hello. The crew went in at one point and tried to pay at the marina, but no one was around to collect. So yes, sorry, I owe for the ball! St. Pierre was an interesting place to walk around, and after taking the dinghy in to empty the trash, we strolled through town to a little spot on the beach called Tipi Beach for a snack and beverages.

On May 5, our intended anchorage was way around the tip to a place called Havre de la Trinité, or Baie des Raisiniers. This proved to be our longest and toughest day. When leaving St. Pierre and rounding the top of Martinique, there is no other decent anchorage. So you have to commit to this slog. But before rounding the top of Martinique, we stopped at an absolutely lovely lunch spot called Anse Couleuvre, adjacent to Îlet La Perle. This place is spectacularly beautiful, and some commentators on Navily aptly described it as reminding them of Jurassic Park. We anchored down in a bay entirely to ourselves — just the way I like it. There were some people on the beach, but no other boats. After some good snorkeling, we weighed anchor and made our way around the top of Martinique. With the wind on our nose and time at issue, I opted to motor — 25+ knots of wind and big waves meant bang, bang, bang. I even thought to turn back, but the crew was game to get this done.

Within a couple of hours, we had the anchor down in calm water in Baie des Raisiniers/Havre de La Trinité. There were a few boats, but none remotely close, and no charter boats. This was a serene anchorage and it felt so good after the rough passage. Tomek and Paulina are fantastic chefs, and we enjoyed one of many great meals. May 6: We weighed anchor in the morning and sailed to a very beautiful and isolated day anchorage called Baie du Trésors. You have to negotiate some reefs, but they are quite visible and Navionics is very accurate. We dropped anchor in a stunning isolated bay, and had lunch. There was one other boat about 400 yards away, but otherwise we were alone. We decided to sail over to a tiny "island" called Loup-Garou — a quintessentially Caribbean tiny spot of sand with about 10 palm trees, a white sand beach all around, and no other boats. Tomek harvested some coconuts, and we were treated to fresh coconut water later that evening. After snorkeling It looked like mostly locals at Grande Anse des Salines.

October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 77

WORLD OF CHARTERING and jogging around the island for a bit of exercise, we weighed anchor and headed to our next anchorage, off Îlet Oscar and Îlet Thiery. There seemed to be some excursion-type activities happening on Oscar, but we dropped the hook and had good holding. May 7: There is a snorkeling "trail" between Oscar and Thiery, and in the morning we took the dinghy over to explore. We then weighed anchor and decided to drop the anchor at an outside reef called Caye Pinsonnelle. Clear water and more good snorkeling, a spectacular spot. But we needed more wine and dish soap, so we weighed anchor and motored over to Le Vauclin. Again we anchored alone, but this was an exposed anchorage. Yumi and I stayed on the boat while the others went in to do some shopping. When they came back, conditions were favorable, and we decided to anchor back out at the reef,

A beautiful Martinique anchorage.

this time off of Cayes Pariadis — another stunning anchorage where we were again the only boat. May 8: We had good snorkeling before we weighed anchor again and headed to our next destination, Grande Anse des Salines. This would be a good spot to get into Le Marin the next day to refuel and turn the boat in by the 0900 deadline. There was a bit of ambiguity whether anchoring in this bay, Grande Anse

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Page 78 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

des Salines, is permitted or is "interdit." This beach is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean (it is beautiful but I disagree that it is the "most beautiful"), and there were lots of visitors on shore. But there were no other boats at anchor for the evening. I decided to stay for the night after we walked the beach and pondered a bit. We had no problems, and the anchorage turned out to be calm and lovely. May 9: We weighed anchor about 0700 and motored into the fuel dock. There were no issues, and the DYC program requires boats to call from the fuel dock and a crew then comes out and takes the boat back in. This is luxurious, as I have little interest in negotiating a local and complicated mooring system, designed to stack in boats. This was another great cruise, and we are already planning our next! — art hartinger

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October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 79

CHANGES W

ith reports this month from Salt Whistle's continuing adventures in Mexico; catching up with old pal Marc Hightower after 30+ years; Part II of cruising aboard Mendocino Queen for 35 years; and a locker ful of tasty Cruise Notes.

SALT WHISTLE

Salt Whistle — Catalina 34 Rob and Dawn Simonds Mexico Was Supposed to Be a Stop On the Way Richmond Four years ago, we wrote in these pages about finally doing something Dawn and I had talked about for years:

For the foreseeable future, Dawn and Rob are perfectly happy spending maňana in maňanaland.

taking Salt Whistle out the Golden Gate and turning south. We were experienced sailors, but when we finally hung that left turn, we quickly learned that we were novice cruisers. There is a difference. The 2022 Baja Ha-Ha was a great way to make that transition. The HaHa organization, along with the experienced cruisers around us, did a remarkably good job of laying out what to expect and what we needed to know as we made our way south and settled into cruising Mexico. Four seasons later, we're better sailors, and we're very different cruisers. Many of the folks we met in the first couple of years have moved on. Some continued south and through the Panama Canal. Others turned west and crossed the Pacific. New boats have arrived, and these days we occasionally find ourselves on the other side of those early conversations — offering advice about anchorages, weather, repairs and the countless other things Page 80 • Latitude 38 • October 2026

you learn only by doing. We have now broken enough things, fixed enough things, and made enough mistakes to sometimes have a useful answer. We originally assumed we would move on, too. The Panama Canal was part of our loose plan, followed by the Caribbean. But one of the things we've learned about cruising is that you don't have to decide where the entire adventure is going before you start. And you don't have to leave a cruising ground until you want to. For now, we don't want to. One reason is simple. Mexico keeps Salt Whistle relatively close to our home in Northern California and, more importantly, to our family. The farther away we contemplated taking the boat, the more complicated the logistics became. At this point in our lives, adding another ocean to the logbook isn't worth making family harder to reach. But that isn't why we're "settling" for Mexico. In fact, we don't feel we're settling at all. One of the surprises has been discovering just how many different versions of Mexico there are to cruise. The northern reaches of the Sea of Cortez are dramatically different from the southern Sea. Cross to the mainland and things change again. Continue south toward Oaxaca and Chiapas and you're in yet another environment. The weather changes. The water changes. The terrain changes. So does the sea life. Even the way you cruise changes. After four seasons, there are still plenty of anchorages we haven't visited and places we'd happily return to. And some of our best adventures haven't involved sailing at all. We've traveled inland to Mexico City and through the Copper Canyon with friends we met cruising. We've explored Guadalajara. Those trips have become as much a part of our Mexico experience as the anchorages and passages. That's something we didn't anticipate when we left San Francisco Bay. We thought of the boat as the adventure. Instead, Salt Whistle became a way to get us to the adventure — and

sometimes the adventure starts after we've docked her and headed inland. Cruising friendships have worked the same way. People we first met because their boat happened to be anchored near ours became people we've traveled with, shared meals and boat problems with, and stayed close to even after their boats headed in another direction. Salt Whistle has provided plenty of other education. Stuff still breaks. That hasn't changed since our first Latitude

GRETCHEN HARTKE

ALL PHOTOS SALT WHISTLE EXCEPT AS NOTED

IN LATITUDES

Above: 'Salt Whistle' underway. Top left: Carnaval parade at Zihuatanejo. Center top: Dolphins put on a SeaWorld-quality show off Isla Coronado. Center: This hotel balcony looks out over Copper Canyon. Top right: Rob and Dawn (right) with traveling companions Bev and Kevin of 'Island Summers', whom they met at the 2022 Ha-Ha, at the Teotihuacan pyramids north of Mexico City.

38 piece, when we were stuck in La Cruz waiting for a refrigerator repair. Over four years, we've accumulated an amazing amount of information about the boat. What fuses should we carry, and what do we already have on board? Is the heat exchanger approaching the end of its useful life? Our freshwater pump is leaking — where

did we stow the spare pump and seals? Which fuel filter fits the engine? What maintenance is coming due? Some information was in notebooks, some in manuals, some in spreadsheets and some existed only in my increasingly unreliable memory. I went looking for an app that would keep all of it in one place and couldn't

find quite what I wanted. So I built one myself: MyBoatWorks. I've gotten good reviews from cruisers who have tried it, and I've incorporated many of their suggestions to make it better. Of course, building an app wasn't part of our cruising plan, either. Maybe that's the point. For years, like a lot of Latitude 38 readers, we imagined the grand sailing adventure as something involving a very long voyage. Cross an ocean. Go through the Canal. Keep going. There is nothing wrong with that, and we love following the adventures of friends who have done exactly that. But most sailors have lives ashore, too: families, homes, responsibilities and other things that matter. The choice doesn't have to be between crossing the Pacific and never leaving the dock. There's lots of satisfying "in between." Four years ago, our question was, "If not now, when?" So we left. We didn't know exactly where cruising would take us, although we thought we did. It has taken us around Mexico, inland with friends, through countless boat projects and, unexpectedly, into building an app. Along the way, we stopped feeling that we needed to keep sailing farther simply because that was once the plan. People still ask us where we're going next. For now, there's no place we'd rather be than Mexico. We've learned we don't need to decide what comes after that. — Rob 8/31/26 Find out more about MyBoatWorks at https://myboat.works. (Please note that we have not downloaded or used this app ourselves.) Free Bird — Montgomery 17 Marc Hightower Reelin' In the Years — Part 1 Tennessee Marc Hightower first appeared on the Latitude 38 radar when he showed up at the very first Sea of Cortez Race Week in spring 1984. He stood out even then — not for being young, good-looking and adventuresome — weren't we all back then? — or even for being a singlehander. What set him apart was his boat, the bright-red Montgomery 17 Free Bird. Anchored amid a fleet of October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 81

CHANGES 70-some other cruising boats, at first glance, Free Bird seemed almost like somebody's oversize sailing dinghy. But this was no plaything, or some crazy guy sailing a marginal daysailer on a lark voyage. Marc was a serious sailor, and Free Bird was a serious longdistance cruising boat, ingeniously compressed into a small package. We were intrigued to say the least. After Race Week, we stayed in sporadic contact as Marc made his way south along the coast from Mexico into Central America — mostly by himself but with the occasional company of equally adventurous young women. At the time, we recall he had his sights set on getting the boat to the Caribbean, and keeping going. Several articles by and about him appeared in these pages over the next few years. The last we heard in the late '80s, he had put Free Bird on a trailer and was getting her towed across Guatemala for more cruising in the Caribbean. Then comms dried up. In those days before smartphones, Starlink and social media, that's the way it often went. We long wondered what became of him. Ironically enough, the internet finally provided answers. By complete chance, we came across a post on the Montgomery Boats website showing Marc and Free Bird — reunited in Rio Dulce, Guatemala, this past March after almost four decades apart! There was also a short report from the man himself, still adventurous and adventuring at age 68. "The new owner, Hector Zachrisson, saved her from an ignominious fate of being cut up and converted into a barge for hauling material," he wrote. All the cruising gear had been removed, he noted, and the boat has been converted into more of a daysailer. Hector had done an amazing restoration job, right down to a new set of sails. "He was kind enough to allow me to take her out sailing," wrote Marc. "It's like we were never apart. She handles beautifully and is a joy to sail." We had to know more. We were able to re-establish contact with Marc to see what he's been up to for the past lifetime-and-a-half. It's been a bit like catching up with Phileas Fogg after that 80-days thing. And well worth sharing with readers, starting at the start. Marc grew up in Huntington Beach Page 82 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

but went to high school on Catalina, where he learned to sail on Lasers, and raced against other schools in Lido 14s. While in high school, he read Robin Lee Graham's book Dove (about the then-16-year-old's mostly solo voyage around the world) and "decided that's what I wanted to do after high school." His energies from then on were focused on achieving that goal. By the time he was in his early 20s, Marc was working for Jerry Montgomery, who was designing and building his line of pocket cruisers at Montgomery

Marine Products in Costa Mesa. One day, Carlos Aragon walked into the shop with a tall order. Famous at the time for solo-sailing a 15-ft Finnclass dinghy from Acapulco to the Marquesas in 1978 (yes, he really did that), he was looking for a boat for his next adventure: breaking the record for the smallest boat to sail around the world singlehanded. At the time, that record belonged to John Guzzwell, who soloed the 21-ft yawl Trekka around the world in the mid- to late-'50s. Carlos thought a reinforced version

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY MARC HIGHTOWER

IN LATITUDES

of the Montgomery 17 would be the ideal boat for such a mission. Jerry assigned Marc to be project manager. "So began work on what Montgomery dubbed the World Cruiser 17," recalls Marc. The main work at the initial phase involved strengthening and stiffening the hull and deck of a production 17 with extra bulkheads and fore-andaft stringers. Somewhere along the way, Carlos backed out of the project. By then, Marc had fallen in love with the boat, but "being an essentially broke 20-something,"

Left: Marc aboard 'Free Bird' back in the day. Top left: Back at the helm after 36 years. Top center: This shot shows some of the upgrades to the boat, including Dorade vents, teak companionway hatch and hood, Bomar forward hatch, and lifelines. You can also just make out the bridge deck in the cockpit (under the dog's feet) that joined the two benches together for a shallow "flush" cockpit except for a small footwell near the tiller. Top right: 'Free Bird' after Hector's amazing restoration. Note that he removed the bridge deck and most cruising gear. Above right: 'Free Bird' with the mast down in Guatemala, ready for the crosscountry trip to the Caribbean.

couldn't afford to buy it. But where there's a will, there's a way. In a somewhat convoluted arrangement involving Carlos, a smaller boat, a sailing friend and a magnanimous boss, Marc worked out a win-win deal for all involved. And Free Bird was his. Then began the next phase of the evolution: oversize rigging; dual headstays and backstays; beefed-up and relocated chainplates; a chain locker and bow roller; oversize cleats with aluminum backup pads; aft pulpit and lifelines (stock boats came only with a bow pulpit); control lines led to the cockpit; Dorade vents; and the biggie: a completely redesigned cockpit. "I took the boat out on a shakedown cruise to Catalina and a wave broke

over us and I stood there in calf-deep water waiting for it to drain," remembers Marc. "We tried adding a couple of extra drains out the transom, but it still wasn't enough. Then I went to a lecture by Robin Graham and he talked about how he cut the cockpit out of Dove and decked it over." That seemed a bit extreme for Free Bird, so Marc compromised, raising the seats and installing a bridge deck between them that made a shallow, "flush" cockpit all the way across except for a small footwell aft. This modification not only allowed the boat to shed water more efficiently, but afforded enough room below for a large aft berth, as well as storage for the deflated Avon dinghy. Rounding out the gear package were a windvane, autopilot, Bomar forehatch, VHF radio, cassette player, two small solar panels that kept the batteries topped up, and a sorta-sometimessemi-dependable British Seagull outboard. Marc took off from Dana Point in fall 1984 and headed south, thinking at the time that he was going to do his own version of Dove's solo circumnavigation. It wasn't long before he changed his mind. "I ended up enjoying spending more time at each location," he recalls. "I think that one can get too focused on just sailing around the world as a goal and miss the real joy of learning about places and the adventures along the way." It was in Cabo that he heard from other cruisers about that first Sea of Cortez Race Week. So he sailed over to Isla Partida to check it out. (Sea of Cortez Race Week — later known as Sea of Cortez Sail Week — was created by Latitude 38 founder Richard Spindler. It ran for 10 years until the creation of the Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally in 1994. The 32nd edition of that event starts next month.) After Race Week, Marc did what many Mexico cruisers still do: use La Paz as a base for winter cruising, and head north to spend the summers in San Carlos. Over the next five years, he explored much of the Sea and mainland. Unlike many cruisers, Marc had to earn his keep, so he found work October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 83

CHANGES where he could — on boats, assisting with haulouts, and occasionally finding a position as captain or crew on charters. There were also times when he would leave Free Bird and go back to the States for several months of work to replenish the cruising kitty. By 1989, he was in Yelapa, housesitting for a friend "in a really cool palapa on the water with Free Bird anchored nearby." It was there that some sailing friends told him about this place they had fallen in love with called Rio Dulce, on the Caribbean side of Guatemala. "So in 1989, I left Puerto Vallarta and sailed down the coast of Mexico for Guatemala. This time I was accompanied by a friend, Carol Carstensen. We pretty much just harbor-hopped down the coast and were able to anchor most nights with only a few overnighters along the way. "It was pretty smooth sailing the whole way until the Gulf of Tehuantepec. We checked the weather and it was supposed to be good. But the first night, the wind hit with a vengeance, and we sailed by our depth sounder, staying just offshore with a roaring wind blowing off the beach." When Free Bird finally sailed into Puerto Quetzal, on the west coast of Guatemala, it had only been five years since the place opened as a modern container ship port. "They had no facilities for a small sailboat," says Marc, "so I was made a guest of the Guatemalan navy and directed to anchor down at their end of the port." — Marc and Latitude/JR 9/7/26 Next Month — Crossing Guatemala on a trailer, charter work in Florida, taking to the skies in a vintage biplane, and another new-to-him Montgomery boat. Mendocino Queen — Downeast 38 Allen and Kate Barry Final Debrief — Part 2 San Francisco In Part 1 of Allen and Kate's story last month, we followed the couple from the time Allen bought the boat in 1987, to when they sailed out of San Francisco Bay in 1993 for Mexico, to when they finally arrived back in the States almost 11 years later, in Florida in 2004. This month, we wrap up the final "debrief" of their 35 years and 75,000 Page 84 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

miles aboard Mendocino Queen. Upon arrival in Florida, we needed money again so went to work, first at West Marine in Fort Lauderdale and later at Bluewater Books and Charts. We lived aboard and arranged our work to allow for a lot of closer-tohome cruising. Once we got back on our feet financially, we began our East Coast cruising in the Bahamas, and soon after began annual trips up to New England. We based in Newport during the summer months, and made many trips to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Cuttyhunk and Block Island. We represented our employers (West Marine and Bluewater Books both had stores in Rhode Island) at many boat shows from Newport down to Miami. Annapolis was one of our favorites.

MAKING AND MANAGING MONEY As outlined in Part 1 of our story, we started out running charters aboard Mendocino Queen out of San Francisco, and later in Mexico. We kept up with some additional chartering in other countries. Other ways we replenished the cruising kitty: • We worked as private English language tutors in Hong Kong. • In New Zealand, we worked in a café making sandwiches and cappuccinos for tourists. Allen also helped a man build his house while we were there. • In Guam, Kate became the director of the Cancer Clinic of Guam, and Allen worked as an engineer and diver on a commercial vessel. Our work in Guam was most profitable — very high pay, very low expenses. We worked there al-

most two years and saved enough for the next 10 years. • Once back in the States, we worked for West Marine and Bluewater Books and Charts. • Also, to help stretch whatever budget we had at the time, we always lived below our income. We did all our own maintenance: rigging, diesel, sail repair, etc. We often used tidal grids for bottom work rather than travel lifts at boatyards. One of the major side benefits of working someplace is that you naturally become more a part of that community. This often led to a rich connection to the community. As just one example, we became such good friends with the café owners in New Zealand that they flew to Fiji to spend a couple of weeks sailing with us.

Biscayne Bay was in our backyard so we cruised there and down the Florida Keys to Key West and farther west to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson. After six years of work on the East Coast, we sailed from Beaufort, North Carolina, to the Virgin Islands and set up a home base in Christiansted Harbor

on St. Croix, which included purchasing a mooring there. The next couple of years, we cruised all the Eastern Caribbean countries, spending hurricane season in Grenada and making repeat visits to Antigua. Antigua Race Week was great. One year, Allen crewed on a classic yacht,

ALL PHOTOS MENDOCINO QUEEN

IN LATITUDES

Above: Getting cozy in the "Queen's chamber." Left: East Africa-style haulout. Left top: 'Mendocino Queen' at Mtwapa Creek, Kenya. Far left: Home are the sailors — Allen and Kate. Top center: Climbing the 699-step Jacob's Ladder in St. Helena (they paved over the 700th). Top right: Allen captioned this, "The best transportation in Asia."

and another year we both volunteered on the race committee boat. We had access to most of the festivities associated with Race Week. Allen raced our sailing dinghy but won no trophy. When we left the Caribbean for the last time, we sailed from Antigua to Bermuda, stayed a month, then sailed onward to Maine. On our return south, we stayed a year in Charleston and two years in St. Augustine. Continuing south, we ended up in Book Key Harbor, Florida Keys, in 2015. This became our final homeport. We began a routine of sailing the Bahamas from mid-April to mid-July each year, and taking other side trips around the

Keys. During COVID, we spent a lot of time in the "back country" of the Keys — the islands and reefs and mangroves on the west (Gulf) side of the Keys. In 2022, we made our final Bahamas trip, much of it in the Jumentos and Ragged Islands, one of our favorite, most remote and least-populated (80 at last count) areas in the Bahamian island group. We sold Mendocino Queen in December 2022, and bought a two-bedroom condo on the Intracoastal Waterway, 25 miles south of St. Augustine. Most days we have breakfast on our third-floor lanai and watch the rowing sculls from a local club glide by. Lots

of fishing boats are out daily and there is a steady stream of powerboats and sailboats heading north or south on the waterway. Manatees, dolphins, ospreys and herons are regular visitors. Why did we move off the boat? It was our time. We were ready for a change. We are still healthy and active, hiking, biking, and swimming. But the physical work of maintaining and operating an active cruising boat is considerable. Although Allen didn't complain much about raising and resetting anchors in squalls; or bleeding a diesel engine in a pitching, 110-degree engine room in the dark; or getting his fingers jammed in a preventer during a unplanned jibe; or winching the engine up off the mounts for one reason or another; or jumping overboard with knife in hand to cut away lines from a fouled prop — or a thousand other little things that require a certain degree of strength, agility and endurance … not to mention a body that heals quickly from all the minor traumas of voyaging … time catches up with all of us. Allen turns 80 this year and needs a break. The memories are rich. The cruising community is kind and generous. The people of our planet are overwhelmingly good people with a strong urge to connect and converse. We have been welcomed into homes in many places and made to feel a part of these communities, especially on islands. We also help where we can, contributing our talents or skills to the community. For us, even the bureaucracies were mostly pleasant adventures. Formalities with customs, immigration and port authorities varied widely in terms of the time it took to complete formalities and how many offices you had to visit to complete the process. The noteworthy thing is the level of professionalism and integrity possessed by almost every official we dealt with worldwide. With one or two exceptions, there was no overcharging or soliciting bribes or requesting gifts. Most officials were personable, friendly people who seemed to enjoy their interactions with travelers. I still wake up some nights imagining I feel the snubber has come up tight and the anchor chain is taut, causing the boat to jerk. Sometimes I still get up to go on deck and check the weather and the ground tackle. — Allen 6/17/26 October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 85

JAMES JONES

Cruise Notes • "After cruising the Salish Sea, the Sea of Cortez, the Everglades and the Florida Keys, Sweethaven has returned to Mexico," writes Noreen Light of the Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 that she and Myron Hotinger have been seasonally cruising aboard for several years. (For more on their Mexico cruises, see the May, June and July 2024 Changes in Latitudes columns.) Noreen reminds us that part of the "sweetness" of the Flicka is that when they're done exploring one cruising ground, they put the boat on a trailer and head to the other side of the country for a new adventure. "Nothing goes to windward like a boat on a trailer," she notes. In spring 2025, Sweethaven departed Indiantown, Florida, for a trip up the Intracoastal Waterway to Chesapeake

ALL PHOTOS SOUNDHAVEN EXCEPT AS NOTED

CHANGES

Left: Noreen and Myron. Above: 'Soundhaven' sails the PNW. Top: 'Sweethaven' in the slings in San Carlos. Right: Sleeping seal on the swim ladder in the Salish Sea.

Bay, the first leg of a possible Great Loop. They didn't get far. "By the time we got to St. Augustine, we turned to each other and said, 'Are you having fun?' 'No. Are you?' 'Let's go get the trailer!' 'Let's go back to the Sea of Cortez!'"

And that's what they did. Sweethaven is currently in San Carlos awaiting their return this fall. In the meantime, Noreen and Myron have just returned to Olympia after a six-week cruise in the Salish Sea on their other boat — and summer home — Soundhaven, an Island Packet 32. "We had a glorious journey through the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands, visiting with seals, watching orcas, and anchoring right behind the world-famous Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC," says Noreen. "Life is good and we are so grateful to be out on the water!" • Marie-Cécilia Duvernoy and Yalçin Özhabe of the formerly Berkeley-based Ericson 38 Tire-Bouchon are currently sailing Yalçin's home waters of Turkey.

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IN LATITUDES Left: Marie-C, who is from France, met Yalçin, who is from Turkey, at Cal Sailing Club in 2019. They sailed south together in 2021 on 'Tire-Bouchon' (above) and across the Atlantic in 2023.

lines, and your boat ends up in shallow waters, which can be quite nerveracking in the beginning." (instagram@ teambouchonsailing) • Doing a Baja Ha-Ha had been a goal for Pip and Jill Zinman of the Alamedabased Jeanneau 42 Touché ever since they bought the boat in 2012. But it wasn't until 11 years later that they finally were able to join the rally. Afterward, they enjoyed Mexico for another few months, returning home in February 2023. They've been cruising closer to home since then. "Since our return from Mexico, we delight in cruising the Bay as much as ever," says Pip. "We use many of the

upgrades we did for the Ha-Ha, like a whisker pole on the mast and folding prop. We even use the watermaker when we cruise the Delta when we head there with the Encinal Yacht Club's cruising group. "It's also fun to reminisce with our Encinal members who have enjoyed their own Ha-Ha rallies." Being at home in the Bay also means Pip and Jill and Pip are cruising Jill can spend closer to home these time with their days. grandson, and become more involved in their community. Jill is now the president of the Fremont Washington Health Volunteer League, and Pip is enjoying serving the sailing community as a member of the Encinal YC Board of Directors. Pip admits it does "feel TOUCHĖ

PHOTOS TIRE BOUCHON

"We've spent our last year in the Eastern Med," says Marie-C. "The winters are still a bit rough for our tastes (as we spend them onboard), but the summers are fantastic, with turquoise waters and plenty of protected bays. In Turkey, we are currently in the region where Yalçın learned how to sail in college, and I can fully understand why it made him want to live this sailing life. The water quality here is also incredible, which finally explains for me the high standards he's had for water clearness throughout our trip! "His family came sailing with us for a week and we had a blast. We are also finally getting the hang of Med anchoring — bays are quite deep, and to [optimize use of available space] boats anchor close to the shore and stern-tie to rocks. You have to jump in or dinghy to shore in order to tie stern mooring

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October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 87

CHANGES IN LATITUDES PHOTOS WHIRLWIND

like we're cheating on our beloved Touché when we've done bareboat charters to Tahiti and Greece. We assure her we're looking forward to returning to Mexico as much as she is." • "Whirlwind and crew have sailed farther into the South Pacific," writes Maurisa Desheemaeker of the Seattlebased Alajuela 38 she shares with husband Mike and kidniks Russell and Josea. "We're currently in New Zealand. So far, we've spent the bulk of our cruising and boatwork time in the Bay of Islands. As well as being completely beautiful, the BOI has top-notch boat services for projects big and small. We recently put a new hardtop over the cockpit and are in the process of sewing a full enclosure. Extended cruising has definitely impressed upon us the value of this added topside weatherproof space. We are excited to enjoy this added space as we cruise the rest

Left: Mike and Maurisa (top and bottom) with Josea and Russell. Top: 'Whirlwind'. Bottom: "I sent this picture of New Zealand sheep because no story of New Zealand is complete without some sheep:)"

of New Zealand and beyond." • From the Latitude Wayback Machine comes this still-relevant Cruise Note from July 1991: Simone Scialdo, a 21-year-old woman from Bellevue, Washington, boarded a ferry from Brindisi, Italy, to Patras, Greece, with friends. One of them was Larry Wellborn, a fellow she'd met a short time before and hit it off with. During the

trip, Wellborn playfully lifted her up on the ferry's railing, and she began to fall over. In an attempt to save her, Wellborn went over, too. The couple fell 40 feet into the water, unnoticed, and the ferry sailed away. Uninjured, the two began swimming toward an island, but soon realized it was too far away. They then jokingly spoke of wedding plans to keep their spirits up. After about six hours, Scialdo somehow managed to take a nap. When she awoke, Wellborn was gone. His body had not been recovered. Believing that she "wasn't ready to die yet" — which is the feisty sort of attitude that has seen a lot of people through tough situations — Scialdo managed to keep afloat for another 11 hours until she was rescued by an Austrian yacht that just happened to come by. The morals of the story: 1) No matter how bad things look, don't ever give up. And 2) Be careful when fooling around on boats. Still words to live by.

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QUESTIONS? (415) 383-8200 OR CLASS@LATITUDE38.COM DINGHIES, LIFERAFTS & ROWBOATS 13 FT BANSHEE UNKNOWN YRS. Choose from three available boats! $900. Fair Oaks mmartorana4@gmail.com (650) 9240504

15 FT WEST WIGHT POTTER 15 1996. Good condition, well equipped, ready to sail, 2.3 Honda motor, electric motor, battery, galvanized trailer. Text communication preferred. $4,500 OBO. Gilroy, CA preacherplumber@gmail.com (408) 205-0201

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MARINE SAFETY 78-PERSON OPEN LIFEBOAT. Thirty ft. long x 10-ft beam x 4.33 ft deep. Fiberglass construction, Fleming gear. Good used condition (refurbished). Boat is located in Oakland, CA. g.levin@uscombustion.com (208) 7255781 https://tinyurl.com/2wyd2n3v

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23 FT BEAR CLASS SLOOP 1946. ‘Renegade’, Bear #35, is a classic 1946 Nunes-built Bear-class wooden sloop, ready to sail away today. She has received extensive professional boatwright work to maintain her in excellent condition as she approaches 80 years afloat. A recent haulout included a refinished bottom, fresh antifouling paint, and newly painted topsides, deck and cabin top. Her North Sails are in good condition, and the active Bear one-design fleet offers excellent racing and daysailing on San Francisco Bay. ‘Renegade’ is also featured in Dave C. Bacon’s 2018 nonfiction sailing memoir, Sailing From Behind the Curve. Berthed in Berkeley, with insurance and registration current. Best offer to someone committed to preserving and sailing this piece of maritime heritage. $4,500 OBO. Berkeley hans@bearboats.com (415) 487-8676 https://bearboats.org

24 FT J/24 1981. This is US 4260, in great condition,. New bottom paint, and a custom lightweight aluminum trailer. Sails are in good condition. Boat is $4000 and trailer is $1500. Can be sold together or separately. $4,000. Valley Springs, CA bonitamarine@gmail.com (209) 772-9695

18 FT MALBEC 2020. Trailerable. Tohatsu 6hp Sail Pro outboard. Sail or motor on lakes, Bay and ocean with centerboard up or down. Boat is in excellent condition. Sells for $40K new. Price $10K firm. $10,000. Pleasant Hill sahealey@comcast.net (925) 323-7693

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October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 89

20 FT SANTANA 2002. #923, in excellent condition, ready to race or cruise. Includes 2002 DHM trailer, full interior cruising package, full boat cover, mast carriers, 3 genoas, 2 mains, 2 spinnakers, 1 jib. Ready to sail today! $8,000 OBO. Folsom s20sailboat-reply@yahoo.com (916) 534-8458

24 FT J/24 1980. ‘The Other Woman’ – beautiful Tillotson J/24, Point Richmond, ready for her next adventure. Complete suite of sails, newer/used main (excellent) condition, and 2018 Tohatsu (6 hp), very low hrs (under 150), recently tuned. Extensive refurbishments, new nonskid deck, newer battery/ trickle charger (extra, as desired); new foredeck hatch, stainless hatch rails, means you can sail/race with complete confidence. Crew up, or singlehand this beauty. Current tags (12/2027). Cleanest J/24, full-package deal, you’ll find. $6,900. Point Richmond jwnewhall@att.net (510) 999-2049 https://tinyurl.com/5y7kjfjh

23 FT BENETEAU FIRST 235 1987. Wing keel, hull #42. USA-made. Fully contained pocket cruiser. Three sails: main, 85% jib, 150% genoa. Rigged for bluewater sailing from the factory. 2011 Mercury 9.9hp Big Foot long-shaft engine, 40 hrs est. Sleeps four. Cherry wood, mahogany, teak below deck. Porcelain head. Nav station. Gimbaled alcohol stove/icebox/sink. Two Danforth anchors. Call Kingston Wulff. $5,000. Folsom Lake Marina, Folsom, CA kwulff1963@att.net (775) 772-5637

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23 FT ERICSON 23 MK II 1979. Great condition, many upgrades. Very clean, fun boat. I’m relocating. Many upgrades. Jib, spinnaker, ground tackle. All new running and standing rigging, with trailer and new 5000 lb axle. Text or call Alan. $2,500. Stockton isailonu2@gmail.com (209) 753-8172

19 FT YAWL 1996. Rare Caledonia yawl, designer: Iain Oughtred, built in the US by Geoffrey Saylor, 1996. Length 19 ft 6 in, beam 6 ft 2 in, draft 12 in with retractable centerboard up and 3 ft 6 in down. Original Egyptian Dacron mainsail and mizzen, with rigging. #11 Fortress anchor; fixtures from Bristol Bronze; Silva compass; okoume high-strength laminated lapstrake hull; 4-stroke Honda 2hp (inboard, well-mounted); 216 lbs lead ballast; hinged rudder for tidal moorings; 4 rowing stations; seats 5; 4 13-ft light cedar oars by Barclay Sound; boat trailer; bow and stern lockers; air chambers provide additional safety. Fine woods throughout. In dry shed storage last 10 years. Wooden boat craftsfolks will enjoy the details. Annual haulouts; good care history. Descriptive booklet on request. $18,000 Price Firm. Sebastopol, CA rf-s@f-sc.com (415) 290-8226

22 FT MACGREGOR 22 1978. Great boat for family, swing keel, sleeps 5, good sails, 7 1/2 hp outboard. Trailer has new tires and rims. Good interior cushions. Ready to go. $2,500. Valley Springs, CA bonitamarine@gmail.com (209) 772-9695

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23.9 FT MOORE 24 1980. ‘Maiden’ is currently in Pensacola. FL. Chg of plans req. sale. She is in great shape, dry-sailed by current owner for last 21 years. Incredible race record in SoCal, Overall winner ULDB class 40-mi LB-DP race 4 yrs in a row (2009-2012) She was completely refurbished at Ron Moore’s shop in 2003 and was the last boat Gary “Gar” Tracy worked on, where he installed the sliding hatch upgrade, replaced all the 3/8″ wood in forepeak with 1/4″ marine grade plywood and full interior refresh. Davis Inst.1000 electric air dryer always on when on 2003 Trail-Rite galvanized trailer. No mildew. Full Ullman PHRF inventory. Class + OS spin and Ayso. Addl pics by request. Full price if we meet halfway; $14k you pick up in Pensacola. $16,000. Pensacola, FL ocnbrzz@yahoo.com (714) 725-0208

27 FT CAL 3-27 1984. New boat is forcing quick sale! This clean example of a Cal 3-27 is a great Bay boat and a ton of fun to sail! Many repairs and upgrades over the last three years including a Yanmar 1GM with new cylinder head and mixing elbow. Many more details and pics at URL. Make me an offer! Located in Emeryville, CA. $2,000 OBO. Safe Harbor Emeryville markus66@gmail.com tinyurl. com/3393ps69

20 FT FLICKA 20 1985. With new Triad trailer. $32,000. Monterey, CA eriknelsonstudioinfo@gmail.com

27 FT ALBIN VEGA 1973. Sweet sailing, set up for singlehanding. All lines led aft. Vegas are well regarded bluewater-capable pocket cruisers and rated highly in John Vigor’s Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere. They have made multiple circumnavigations, rounded the Horn, and have been sailed to Antarctica. She has undergone a serious refit with the intention of cruising: new standing and running rigging, new Profurl furler, Anderson self-tailing winches, electrical panel; has been rewired. She has a reinforced mast bulkhead, reinforced companionway drop boards, half-inch Lexan storm windows, tabernacle mast and solar panel. Located Monterey. Description and gear list available. $12,000. Monterey craigwhirt@yahoo.com (831) 402-0837

25 – 28 FEET SAILBOATS

28 FT CAL JENSEN MARINE 1968. Somewhat rare Cal 28 flat top. Original owner. Bottom job Nov 2024. Passed value and condition survey May 2026 with replacement value of $6,200. Great cruising or family boat. Sixfoot headroom. Sleeps six. Standard galley with working Mariner alcohol stove. Fifteen-gallon freshwater tank. Fifteen-gallon holding tank. Well maintained reliable Universal Atomic Four engine with 750–800 hrs and freshwater flush. Working Moor depthsounder and knotmeter. Two marine VHF radios, one with GPS. Airguide compass. Sail inventory good. Oversize rigging for S.F. Bay. The hull is in good shape. The deck shows signs of wear. Selling only because I’m in my senior years. $5,500. Loch Lomond Marina, San Rafael, CA 2webspin@comcast.net (415) 453-2700

25 FT CAPE DORY 1977. Sloop rig. Full keel, new jib. Docked at Safe Harbor on Harbor Island, San Diego. New Tohatsu 5hp outboard mounted in a lazarette locker. Text or email. $11,900. San Diego capedorydaysailer@gmail.com (562) 579-1523 https://tinyurl.com/4v6fyrcs

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25 FT NORDIC FOLKBOAT 1958. OPEN TO SLIP PARTNERSHIP OFFERS. Sturdy wooden sloop — outboard engine. $1,500 +/or slip partnership. S.F. Marina West Harbor maxime@dmgdesignsf.com (415) 810-8704

26 FT FRISCO FLYER CLASS 1960. Teak wooden sloop built by Cheoy Lee. Large cabin and cockpit. Aluminum mast and boom. A great sailboat for a day on the Bay or the weekend. Very good condition. Asking $6,900 OBO $6,900. Richmond, CA stefroche916@gmail.com (916) 3030457

30 FT NEWPORT MK II 1979. Newly painted bottom in March. Volvo Penta diesel that is not working — candidate for electric engine conversion or liveaboard. Owned since 1994 and have complete maintenance records. Have additional sails that would consider selling separately, including new custom asymmetrical spinnaker, $1,000; regular spinnaker, $400; 135 jib, $500. $5,000. Alameda ironsteve12@gmail.com (925) 490-3318

30 FT MOORE 1985. Hull #4 modified with carbon mast and 9-ft sprit, and 8-ft lifting keel with bulb. All mods professionally completed. Two outboards, B&G instruments, life raft and mount, double-axle trailer. SoCal PHRF 30. Inventory: Ullman main and 140 good shape. A1 and A1.5 Quantum kites like new. A3, 0.6 poly runner, two #3 headsails in good shape. Additional inventory of kites and beer-can mains/ jibs included. Reach out for more info, must sell. $15,000. Dana Point, CA defsailor@gmail.com

25 FT WD SCHOCK HARBOR 25 2008. Handsome Bay boat. Deep 5-ft keel, 1,900 lbs lead, stands up to the afternoon westerly. Self-tacking jib, folding prop, easily singlehanded. Eight-foot cockpit, four berths, real head. Very clean. Bottom paint, engine serviced. $32,900. San Francisco mbarcus@gmail.com (415) 316-2953

29 – 31 FEET SAILBOATS 30 FT FISHER MARINE. Year not on documents. Project. Very reasonable to right person. Great sea boat. Charleston, OR kovexair@gmail.com

30 FT ISLANDER 1982. This sailboat is in a slip at the Santa Cruz Harbor. It is located in the back harbor where it is more peaceful. It comes with a tabernacle to go under bridges. It’s a very reliable boat and has been maintained. I moved from SC to Murphys and don’t have the time for her. $14,000. Santa Cruz Harbor lgnanny@yahoo.com (408) 409-3285

Hull Cleaning/Anodes/Props/Inspections Fast Bottoms Prompt, professional service for Bay Area boaters since 1994

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2,000 GOOD USED SAILS! Listed at minneysyachtsurplus.com More info? email: minneys@aol.com

30 FT SABRE SAILBOAT CRUISER, BETA MARINE DIESEL ENGINE. 1981. Located at the Coyote Point Marina in San Mateo. It has a Beta Marine 20hp diesel engine with low hrs. Solid boat, just needs a little TLC. local sale only, email for inquires, photos. $10,000. 1900 Coyote Point Dr, San Mateo, CA 94401 SabreBoat@sonic.net

29 FT ERICSON 30+ 1985. Well kept. Great sailing. Summer use on Tahoe 20+ years. Wheel steering. Solar. AutopilotRaymarine EV-100. M-18 diesel. Roller furling headsail, Schaeffer furler. Galley. Head. Three cruising sails (North). Extras. Ready to view/launch. No trailer. $19,750. West Shore Lake Tahoe vabjrmd@gmail.com (530) 416-1183

30 FT KNARR 1983. ‘Penelope’ and her transferable upwind slip next to the Golden Gate Yacht Club in the San Francisco City Marina are for sale. Knarr US 132 was built in Vejle, Denmark, 1983 at Borresen by longtime fleet member. This boat is a fiberglass example that has had consistent upgrades and always has been a top performer in the fleet for decades; have won countless races. The mast was upgraded to aluminum with the fleet several years ago and all rigging was completed by GC. The epoxy rudder, rudder stock and Billet rudder head were all replaced four years ago with work completed by KKMI. The winches have been moved forward. Multiple sets of sails, ready to continue winning races. $29,500. San Francisco Marina c.griffith@ggsir.com (415) 672-3263

30 FT OLSON 30 1982. ‘Hot Betty’ formerly Point Richmond, CA, now Ventura Yacht Club. Owner career change leading to sale. Sail #67537, Hull #PCX3001700479 Pacific Boats. Complete unqualified survey October 2023 by SAMS Marine Survey, report #7265223A: “Rare to find a vessel in this fine Bristol quality condition.” Ballenger double-spreader mast, rod rigging. All running rigging replaced 2024/25. Mast step/jockstrap new 2020. Four Barient 10 winches rebuilt. Electronics upgraded: 2 LiPo 750-amp batteries, solar charger, autotiller Tacktick suite. 3hp Nissan gas and 5hp Mercury propane outboards. New VC Baltoplate bottom paint, 45 days in water. Everything retrofitted for extensive offshore racing. Carrier EJ dual-axle trailer, sandblasted, painted, rewired, new bearings hubs, new tires in 2024. CA registered. $14,999. Ventura Yacht CLub george@wilbanksfamily.org

30 FT YANKEE ONE CLASSIC WOODEN RACING SLOOP 1949. Master Mariners award-winning sailboat designed by William Starling Burgess and Stone-built. ‘Flame’ was totally restored in 2015. Varnished wood hull. Roller furling. Stainless outboard bracket. 2 spinakers. All new stainless rigging. More photos available. Complete survey in 2023 available. “A Sailor’s Saiboat.” Recently shown at the Master Mariner’s Wooden Boat Show. $39,900 OBO. Richmond stefroche916@gmail.com (916) 3030457

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30 FT KNARR 1960. Built in Norway. Var nished. Aluminum mast and boom. Two suits of North Sails, two outboards. Stuff. Good racing record. Berthed in S.F. Yacht Club Harbor. $15,000. Belvedere, CA georgerygg@gmail.com (415) 596-6296

32 – 35 FEET SAILBOATS

33 FT RANGER 33 1974. Summer Sailstice mothership. Atomic 4, running. Bottom paint in 1/25. Folding prop. Good electronics: wind, depth, speed. Nice stereo. USBs with A and C. Interior cabin lights. $14,950. Alameda wesleyinunez@gmail.com (510) 5895530 https://tinyurl.com/3se64p4z

32 FT CATALINA 320 1996. Excellent condition. Second owner since 1999. Cruised and sailed in S.F. Bay and the Delta. Great family boat. New sails in 2022 with very low hrs since. Westerbeke diesel 920 hrs. Hauled out and bottom painted in June 2025. New Batteries in 2024. No damage, no Catalina smile or gap with keel. Comes well equipped for Bay Area sailing and California Delta cruising. Selling for my parents due to father passing away. More images available upon request. $45,000 OBO. SFYC Belvedere, CA d1.davidm@gmail.com (435) 901-1013

35 FT FANTASIA 35 MK II 1979. In very good condition and ready to go. Most all systems upgraded including standing rigging and lifelines. Abovedeck Maxwell windlass, Profurl 4200 genoa furler, ComNav autopilot, Vector AIS, Dometic fridge in updated galley and full stand-up workroom are just some of the features that make so much in a 35-ft boat. Ten-inch pillow top mattress! Runs great! ComNav Commander P2 color autopilot, Octopus hydraulic steering ram, Blue Sky charge controller, new lifelines (2018), new rigging (2018), New Found Metals stainless ports, Garmin chartplotter, Vesper SP160 antenna splitter, Vesper XB-8000 AIS, Standard Horizon AIS/ GPS VHF w/remote handset in cockpit, Iverson freestanding bimini, lazy jacks, transom hoist. $39,000. Isleton CA carey.shine@gmail.com (541) 973-9562 https://tinyurl.com/ypssa9ue 32 FT GULF PILOTHOUSE SAILBOAT 1980. Stout offshore sailer, strong diesel eng. With full electronics, modern wheel autopilot, radar, built-in battery charger, hot water. Moved out of state. First 10K takes. 15-yr owner. Call Dennis for pics. $10,000. Long Beach darordennis@hotmail.com (562) 5373720 34 FT DEHLER 34 1985-1986. German/ Dutch racer-cruiser. Tiller. Yanmar diesel (<2000 hours) Updated rigging, fresh deck paint. Transferable dock. Parking next to the baseball arena. Same owner the past 20+ years. Can start as a partner with a buyout option. $19,000. South Beach Harbor, San Francisco (650) 670-5300

36 FT NELSON MAREK 36 MODIFIED 1999. Fitted with carbon Hall swept-back rig, Antrim-designed bulb keel and Larry Tuttle rudder for fingertip control. Great PHRF racer with Easom rigging for either symmetric or asymmetric spinnakers. Could be a great Pac Cup boat. Many sails in good shape. I am downsizing. $45,000 OBO. Richmond Yacht Club Quiver28@gmail.com

39 FT BENETEAU OCEANIS 393 2002. After years of paying slip fees, insurance, and maintenance on a boat that simply hasn’t been used enough, the owner is ready to let it go. MAYARI has been a great boat when used and has been recently sailed. NO OWNER FINANCING! Desirable two-cabin, two-head Beneteau Oceanis 393 with a bright, spacious interior, large salon, full galley, navigation station, two wet heads, large cockpit, swim platform, generous storage, and smooth-running diesel. Hot water works. Priced to sell at $69,500. Full description and photos: tinyurl.com/ c3c2bxtv$69,500. Berkeley Marina captbohn@gmail.com

37 FT TRIPP JAVELIN 38 1961. Showcased by Capt. Q on Boat Fools Sailing YouTube; “A Rare Classic.” Built in Holland, well maintained, many modern upgrades—Leisure Furl boom, full-batten Hood main, with Harken electric winch, new Hood 100% jib, Easom standing rigging replaced 2022, Yanmar 3HMF diesel, and more! $45,000. San Rafael WitzConslt@aol.com (415) 897-9466

38 FT CATALINA 38 1986. This Sparkman & Stephens/Frank Butler design is a classic performance racer/cruiser. Recent upgrades include: a new Gori folding prop, new sails, new lazy jacks and new sail cover in 2024. Other recent upgrades include new standing rigging, new electric panel and new batteries. $37,500. Port San Luis, CA athenasail@yahoo.com (805) 295-6377

36 – 39 FEET SAILBOATS 38 FT SIRENA 1983. Surveyed at $59k, in 2020, $39k in 2026. Two spinnakers, 3 mains, 2 jibs, genoa, excellent Volvo diesel, new dodger, sail cover. Needs some running rigging, gauges and a sailor! $35,000. Portland marvinsannes@msn.com (503) 8516055

36 FT CS 36T 1982. Super deal! Solid coastal cruiser. Beta Marine 28hp 1500 hrs. Super-dry interior. Comes with many extras. Must sell quickly due to illness. $20,000. Marina Bay, Richmond, CA nicolaigstoll@gmail.com (707) 364-

39 FT TAYANA 37 1979. Well-kept Bob Perry-designed Tayana 37 sloop rig (1979) with many modern upgrades. Perkins engine, new electrical system and instruments, with solar and wind power. $40,000. Alameda, CA scottiemauricia@outlook.com (505) 480-8179 https://tinyurl.com/bd8x63yb

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40 – 50 FEET SAILBOATS

37 FT CREALOCK 37 1980. Veteran cruising cutter with wind vane steering, tiller autopilot, dinghy and outboard, life raft, VHF, HF marine/Ham, wind generator, 50 hp Yanmar, refrigerator, propane stove and heavy-duty cruising sails. Age forces sale. $25,000 OBO. Eureka, CA allingforeman@gmail.com (510) 5070209

38 FT AERODYNE 38 2003. Fast and fun racer-cruiser setup for daysailing on the Bay, YRA racing (PHRF is 48) or bluewater. Outfitted with a Forespar Leisure Furl boom (a $40k option) allowing the sail area and performance of a fully battened mainsail with the convenience of a furler, which makes hoisting, reefing, and dousing the main very easy from the cockpit with a Harken 2-speed electric winch. A large cockpit is great for daysailing with a group, or an aggressive racing crew. Includes two spinnakers. Full galley, head with shower, bow stateroom, stern bunks, well equipped nav instruments. Yanmar 27hp model 3GM30FC. $79,000 OBO. South Beach Harbor (B30) spencer@deepdarksee.com (650) 9220400 https://tinyurl.com/mt82sksj

39 FT CAL 39-2 1977. ‘Sea Star’ is a veteran racer in San Francisco Bay with many championships. She’s ready to win more! Full suite of sails and also cruising gear. Currently based in the Delta for freshwater fun, she’s ready to go back to racing in the Bay or beyond. See full details at tinyurl.com/ buyseastar, which includes links to more photos, inventory and videos. This is a boat for racing, but could be a cruiser with some modification. Email bob@bobwalden.com. *** PLEASE*** do not suggest getting a “boat history report”—save us both some time. $37,000 OBO. Stockton, CA bob@bobwalden.com https://tinyurl. com/buyseastar

38 FT CATALINA 38 1980. The boat you’ve been waiting for! Sparkman & Stephens/Frank Butler Catalina 38. Fine lines and superior performance! Many upgrades! Yanmar 3GM30 diesel, new upholstery, new dodger, mainsail and wheel covers, Raymarine autohelm, chartplotter, AIS receiver and instruments, Standard Horizon, Matrix VHF, 2 anchors, windlass and 150-ft chain, Isotherm refrigeration, 4 12-volt batteries, new electrical panel and more! $35,000. Alameda, CA gmwill2301@aol.com

37 FT PEGASUS NEWLAND 360 1992. ‘Pegasus’, a custom Newland ULDB veteran of many singlehanded and crewed Hawaii races, is for sale. Very good condition, carbon/foam-cored hull and deck, new custom Sjoberg carbon mast, carbon and aluminum spinnaker poles, Harken winches, Sailmon instruments, autopilot, B&G chartplotter, B&G VHF, internal Wi-Fi network, 4-person life raft, aluminum anchor, extensive sail inventory including new main, jib top, #3, symmetrical and asymmetrical chutes, Yanmar 2GM diesel, new batteries, racing and cruising propane stoves, stereo with on-deck speakers, PHRF and ORR rating certificates, last haulout February 2026. 95% ready for Pac Cup inspection, including paper charts and Transpac-length dock lines. Regrettably, illness forces sale. $65,500. Richmond Yacht Club stephenlewis1900@gmail.com (559) 217-9644

36 FT SWAN 36-2 1989/90. Proven and just returned from a 3,000-mile Puerto Vallarta round trip. B&G instruments, autopilot, solar, radar, Starlink, inverter and more. Decks showing age. Ready for Baja HaHa ‘26. $77,000. S.F. Bay Area kilbrid3@gmail.com (650) 288-8839

39 FT CHEOY LEE OFFSHORE 40 1971. ‘Moshulu’, designed by Phillip Rhodes, built by Cheoy Lee, Hong Kong. Heavy-displacement full-keel yawl; 39.75 ft LOA, 10.75-ft beam, 6-ft draft, two cabins, five berths. Hull, epoxy deck and teak cockpit excellent; varnished coamings, hatches and soles excellent. Mainmast, boom and standing rigging replaced 2008. Thirteen new stainless steel opening ports. Harken roller furling, Garhauer traveler, Barient two-speed main winches and Arco two-speed secondary winches. Yanmar 3JH2 37hp diesel (1,100 hrs), Max-Prop feathering prop, lithium-iron-phosphate house and starter batteries (2023), ProMariner 40 amp charger. Furuno chartplotter/radar, AIS 350 receiver, Simrad autopilot. Force 10 stove/oven, Maxwell rope-to-chain windlass. USCG documented. See URL for photos, full specs. $49,000. Paradise Cay Marina, Tiburon, CA bob@epoindexter.com https://tinyurl. com/2tjnbvvb

39 FT KETTENBURG K-40 1960. ‘Zephyrus III’ is one of 40 ever built — hull #11 of the iconic K-40 class. Built 1960 at Kettenburg Boat Works, San Diego. Philippine mahogany on steam-bent oak. Lead keel. Spruce spars. She’s a proven, fun, enjoyable coastal cruiser and local regatta performer with genuine offshore pedigree: second in class, 1965 Transpac; fourth overall, 1965 L.A.-Mazatlán. From 1997 to 2026, her owners invested 2,000plus hours and a recent $50,000 in a 2023 South Coast Shipyards refit. Yanmar diesel w/450 hrs. Elliot Pattison sails. Profurl furling. She’s not a project. She’s ready for a new caretaker — after 30 years of same-owner stewardship. Contact Alan Peterson. $35,000. Alamitos Bay, Long Beach apeterson@go4tpg.com (949) 4668616

43 FT HANS CHRISTIAN 1983. ‘Sovereign’. This once-loved beautiful ketch-rigged classic needs a dedicated new owner to bring her back to her prime. Equipped with Mercedes Benz diesel engine, new batteries with only 2,274 engine hrs. Original sails, including newer spinnaker, have all been stored off the boat and are in good condition. Boat is moored in Portland, Oregon. Recent survey available, more photos upon request. $70,000 OBO. Portland, OR jan.petrella@gmail.com

40 FT KETCH 1949. A classic boat and charming cruiser currently sailing in Wrangell, AK. Regular haulouts have been done to maintain bottom paint and topsides. Needs cosmetic varnish and paint projects inside and out. Unda is a double-ended wooden cruising ketch custom designed in 1938 by Aage Utzon, the Danish naval engineer and father of the Sydney Opera House architect, Jørn Utzon. Some history of the boat from previous owner can be found here: https://woodenboat.org/boat/unda/ (2018 Wooden Boat Fest). $30,000. Wrangell, Alaska meghannwelsh@gmail.com (510) 4955995 https://tinyurl.com/y7bkj9cr

42 FT VAN DE STADT REBEL 42 1977. English-built boat, sailed across the Atlantic shorthanded with no problems. Great sea boat. New standing rigging and lifelines 2024, Perkins 4.108 diesel with BorgWarner V-drive, regularly maintained, works great. New slab-reefing mainsail 2022 and six foresails. In great sailing condition, needs modern electronics. Electric Lofrans windlass and self-tailing 44 Lewmar cockpit winches. Hydraulic steering with wheel. Recent lead acid batteries. Gimbaled gas cooker with oven. Manual and electric bilge pumps. $25,000. Channel Islands Harbor, CA philip.vaughan@gmail.com (626) 4758522 October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 93

50 FT HUDSON FORCE 50 1978. Reduced 45k or best reasonable offer: Center cockpit ketch set up for comfortable living aboard. Spacious interior, solid cruiser, 80hp Ford Lehman good sails. Lower teak decks removed for easier maintenance. Price: $45,000. Berkeley, CA Tcparfitt@yahoo.com (707) 861-2954 4 0 F T S A N TA C R U Z 4 0 1 9 8 3 . For sale in Fiji. Watermaker, solar, fridge, dinghy hoist, bimini, anchor windlass, new paint. Stored in cyclone pit — pit reserved through 2027. $200,000. Vuda Marina, Fiji SVMetaphor@proton.me

33 FT AMERICAN MARINE 1962. Custom motorsailer built by American Marine in Junk Bay, Hong Kong, in 1962. Carvel planked with teak, copper rivets, Apitong frames. Teak pilot house. Mahogany transom. Spruce mast. 40 hp Ford diesel engine. Lovingly maintained. $25,000. Richmond cory.lancaster@gmail.com

51 & OVER SAILBOATS

52 FT DUFOUR 52.5 GRAND LARGE 2011. Extensively refurbished with new North Sails jib, new flaking main, gennaker, spinnaker, staysail, new bimini and dodger, refinished teak decks, low 855-hr Yanmar 4JH4-HTE engine, bow thruster, autopilot, new bedding, power winches. Boat is in pristine condition. Sail the PNW and Alaska for a year and then bring it back to California salestax-free. Call 360-410-2244 or email Robert Hepple. $289,000. Blaine, WA bhepple@proton.me (360) 410-2244

CLASSIC BOATS

50 FT SHARPIE 2006. Partnership — ‘Sarah’, 38 ft LOD/50 ft LOA wood gaff yawl. ‘Sarah’ is a wood replica of a 19th century Sharpie, built in San Rafael over a period of 8 years and launched in 2006. A gaff rig centerboard yawl, spartan accommodation below: a sailor’s boat. Engine and rig recently upgraded. Slips available now at both Santa Cruz and Moss Landing harbors; Monterey mooring in progress. Seeking a partner drawn to the boat, who can bring time and enthusiasm, and enjoy the ownership of such a spectacular boat. Santa Cruz Forest.roberts@gmail.com (831) 7068574 Page 94 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

44 FT FELLOWS & STEWART ISLAND CLIPPER 1946. In the water and structurally sound for her age. Several maintenance, repair and refinishing projects are required to return to sailing condition. Needs repowering. Available without a purchase price under a range of options, with the intent that the new owner’s funds can be used for her upkeep. Good fit for a wood boat enthusiast with strong sailing skills and moderate DYI wood boat repair, maintenance and finishing skills. See website for more details and contact info. Richmond https://www.sfnirvana.com/blog

46 FT FELLOWS ‘STEWART YAWL 1931. ‘Cheerio II’, 1931 46-ft yawl, formerly owned by actor Errol Flynn. Three-time winner of her class in the Newport to Ensenada Race; first to finish in the 2024 McNish Classic Yacht Race; winner of “Best Represented Theme” in the 2025 Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival. Google “Cheerio II” for photos, videos, and articles about the boat, a SoCal classic! Recent survey available. $65,000 OBO. Channel Islands Harbor jmcnish@earthlink.net (510) 846-4178 https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1648083162524074

MULTIHULLS

POWER & HOUSEBOATS

44 FT OUTREMER 38/43 1998. This proven bluewater cruiser recently completed a successful New Caledonia/New Zealand/Tahiti/Hawaii/San Francisco passage. Featuring a 1-ft bow extension (beam 21 ft), full Willis/ Hydranet sail inventory, new covers and Harken 40 electric winch. Sleeps 5. Extensively upgraded (2022–2023): Rigging restepped/tuned, new running rigging, running backstays. B&G electronics (plotter, radar, autopilot), EPIRB, life raft. New halyards, reefing lines, mainsheets. 415W solar panel, 110V/240V battery charger. Portable Rainman watermaker, Pramac 220V generator. New Lewmar hatches, poly fuel tanks. 3D Tender w/2023 Suzuki 6hp outboard. Twin 1998 Volvo MD2020B diesels and control panel need work. Priced as is. Possible repairs forthcoming. 2024 survey available. $150,000. San Rafael, CA mxjarrett@gmail.com

25 FT RANGER 25 SC 2016. Immaculate condition, fully equipped, turnkey ready and priced to sell. The perfect blend of classic tug styling, modern comforts, and efficient cruising. Lovingly maintained and lightly used, ‘Sea Spirit’ has been meticulously and professionally serviced. Volvo Penta D3 150 diesel, only 400 hrs, hull speed up to 20 knots, Garmin 7612 chartplotter, radar, depth, Autopilot, VHF, TV, AM/FM stereo, bow and stern thrusters w/wireless remote for easy docking; solar panel, AGM batteries and inverter, propane cooktop, refrigerator, microwave, fully enclosed head with standup shower, fuel efficient (2.5 gal @ 8 knots). $114,500. Loch Lomond Marina, San Rafael jimcolesailor@gmail.com (415) 5196250 https://tinyurl.com/msfxz369

27 FT STILETTO 27 1979. High-performance Stiletto catamaran with 2 berths, multiple sails, 10 hp Tohatsu motor with galvanized telescoping trailer and power winch. Dry-sailed all over Southern California, Lake Powell, Ensenada and out to Catalina and San Clemente islands. Newport Beach mooring available at market cost if desired. Very light and strong epoxy honeycomb and pre-preg construction. A very fun boat to sail! $20,000. San Clemente toknkok@aol.com (949) 933-4530

26 FT CUSTOM CATAMARAN 2000. ‘PAJA’, a custom-built catamaran, fun to sail and kept in fresh Delta waters for 25 years. Corecell construction, aluminum crossbeams. 2023: new bottom/barrier paint; running rigging. $15,000 OBO. Rio Vista, CA PETER@THEALLENSITE.COM (916) 538-1530 34 FT SEARUNNER TRIMARAN 1988. Epoxy/wood, lovingly maintained by original builder/owner. Cutter, full sails, Yanmar diesel, bimini, autopilot, wind vane, radar, chartplotter, solar, new gel batteries, 12V fridge, watermaker, 12V windlass, Bruce anchors, chain, rode. Equipped for cruising. $40,000 OBO. Mazatlan, MX shazamtri@yahoo.com (406) 291-8118

PARTNERSHIPS

BENETEAU 473 PARTNERSHIP IN PACIFIC MEXICO/BAJA. Great opportunity to cruise Mexico. Plug-n-play. Third partner wanted, 2004 Beneteau 473. Cruise-ready. This season San Blas to Manzanillo. Next season plan to return to Sea of Cortez. Davits, dinghy, outboard, solar, Starlink, dive gear, electric winch, two heads (one electric), radar, Westerbeke 63 hp diesel with 2,400 hours, folding prop, separate shower in head, fridge/freezer, well outfitted and maintained. 1/3 ownership $50,000. New bottom paint fall 2025. Documented, surveyed, insured. Contact Greg (415) 407-0491, grw@gwilson. com. $50,000. Barra de Navidad, MX grw@gwilson.com (415) 407-0491

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GEAR PAGE?

BUY/SELL

FREE for Gear Under $1,000

PROPERTY FOR SALE OR RENT DELTA MOBILE HOME FOR SALE. 1984 mobile home in a small, quaint 45-home park. 2 bdrm. 2 bath. Completely remodeled. Almost everything is new. 1248 sq. ft. situated in a park directly across from the Spindrift Marina. Enjoy dining at the Spindrift restaurant, only about a 75-foot walk. Reduced rent for the first 12 months, at $514. Normally $674. Also receive 12 months of free berthing directly across the street. A fisherman’s dream! $160,000. Isleton/Delta graywolfproperties@yahoo.com (509) 671-4009

BERTHS & SLIPS SLIP FOR RENT. 40-foot boat slip for rent at Pier 39 on D dock. In the heart of San Francisco. Amenities include showers, laundry, security systems, dock box, electrical hookup, discount on parking. Friendly marina staff! $525. Pier 39 fvdh1949@gmail.com (206) 321-3730

SAN FRANCISCO BAY BERTH FOR SALE. 45-foot berth for sale, 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath townhouse attached. Beautiful view! Protected from the wind. Ideal water for paddle boarding, swimming and kayaking. Rarely available. For sale by owner. $2,000,000. Alameda, CA teresajones818@proton.me (510) 3069291

PRICE REDUCED 50% 50 FT SLIP ON THE SEA WALL WITH ALCATRAZ AND GG BRIDGE VIEWS!. Price Reduced 50%. 50-ft x 18-ft slip on the coveted Pier39 G Dock. Move in immediately. Don’t miss this opportunity for some of the best views and most convenient slip on the San Francisco Bay! The slip is protected by the sea wall and offers easy access in/out launching across from Alcatraz. $7,500. Pier 39, San Francisco bserling@yahoo.com

AWESOME 50 FT SLIP PIER 39 SAN FRANCISCO. For sale: Stunning city views, 15-ft+ beam, 50-ft length. New cleats, dock box, power pedestal, and hose management. Perfectly located for entire Bay Area coverage and beyond. Very easy access, great maintenance team, parking, and more. $24,000. Slip G-32, Pier 39 Marina greg.rossmann@gjrcap.com (650) 740-0263

EMERY COVE BOAT SLIP FOR RENT. Berths for rent. Emery Cove Yacht Harbor 35-ft = $472.50/month C dock and 40-ft = $540/month E dock. Dockominium-run marina in Emeryville. emerycove.com. Brandnew docks, aluminum with Ipe wood deck, brand-new restrooms, beautiful grounds and just dredged. Great location center of S.F. Bay. Emeryville, CA studio6161@icloud.com http://www. emerycove.com

REDWOOD CITY MARINA SLIPS AVAILABLE. Slips 30′-75′ at great rates! Amenities: parking, bathrooms, laundry, pump-out, free wi-fi, keyless entry. Guest berths also available. Call for availability. 451 Seaport Court, Redwood City, CA 94063 crevay@redwoodcityport.com (650) 306-4150 http://www.redwoodcityport. com/marina

JOB OPPORTUNITIES PRIME GLEN COVE MARINA BOAT SLIP FOR RENT. Rare first-slip location with easy in/out access and simple docking — ideal for a sailboat or yacht. #222, 55+-ft x 15-ft. Located in secure, gated Glen Cove Marina with power, water, gated parking, laundry, clean restrooms and more. Enjoy quick access to the Bay and Delta from a convenient, well-maintained marina. Pet-friendly. $650/month. Possible liveaboard option for an additional fee. Great location, access, and a premium slip position! $650. Glen Cove Marina katiehenrich@hotmail.com (707) 3197268

MECHANIC WANTED. Berkeley Marine Center is seeking a marine engine mechanic to work with a variety of projects, including gas/diesel engine repairs and repowers. Work may also include electric conversions. Mechanical aptitude and some experience required. Call or email Cree. Berkeley, CA info@berkeleymarine.com (510) 8438195 http://www.berkeleymarine.com SEEKING MECHANIC. For charter boat with older gas engines. Looking for someone to help maintain and repair older GM 350 engines. Sausalito 4brianb@gmail.com (828) 400-7632 https://www.union-island.org/

SEEKING CAPTAIN WHERE TOURISM MEETS REAL BOAT HANDLING. Want adventure? Interested in taking your RHIB boat handling skills to the next level on San Francisco Bay? Do big waves scare you? Good. Get paid to stop being scared while giving guests the experience of a lifetime. Bay Voyager captains run fast, maneuverable 12-passenger RHIBs throughout the Bay. We’re looking for captains with strong (or willing to train) boat handling skills, situational awareness, and personality. Ideal candidates: Enjoy telling stories. Speak a second language. Former USCG or military experience a plus. Available weekends. Requirements: USCG captain’s license. If you’re the kind of captain who looks at whitecaps and thinks, “This is going to be fun,” we’d like to hear from you. $40. Pier 39 charles@bayvoyager.com (510) 6121251 https://bayvoyager.com/ SEEKING EXPERIENCED BOAT CARETAKER/OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE. Looking for someone practical, detail-oriented and experienced to help my father keep up two vessels in S.F./ Emeryville as he gets older. Responsibilities would include: 1) overseeing maintenance and refit projects; 2) coordinating with yards and subcontractors; 3) identifying issues proactively; 4) ability to tackle small but important detail work that often falls through the cracks at yards, including hands-on maintenance and troubleshooting; 5) opportunities to captain or crew these vessels depending on experience. One vessel needs a haulout here soon, and liveaboard accommodation may be available during the yard periods, so I’m open to someone from out of town! ateece16@cmc.edu (510) 604-7071 EXPERIENCED SAILBOAT RIGGER WANTED. Rig shop in business for over 30 years is looking for an experienced rigger to add to our team. Excellent pay is available depending on rigging knowledge. Send a description of your rigging/boat work experience Sausalito southbeachriggers@gmail.com (415) 331-3400 JOIN OUR TEAM OF INSTRUCTORS. Spinnaker Sailing in Redwood City is looking for ASA-certified sailing instructors to teach out of our Redwood City Marina location. Part-time, flexible schedules, midweek and/or weekends. Please contact Rich or Bob by phone or email. Redwood City Marina office@spinnakersailing.com (650) 3631390 https://tinyurl.com/y7b2587w

LATITUDE 38 ’AMBASSADOR’;. Latitude 38 is seeking an “Ambassador.” The ideal candidate is a sailor based in the SF Bay Area, is friendly, outgoing, well-organized and a self-starter with excellent communication skills. They are someone who can work independently as well as manage a team of volunteers. An ambassador encourages enthusiasm, understands the scope and goal of a project and is able to appreciate, respect and organize a team of volunteers to execute a project with efficiency and eagerness. This is an ideal position for someone who is financially secure and looking to stay active and social, and is excited to be part of our vibrant sailing community. Meet and greet the great people who help us distribute the magazine. Read about a few of them here: www.latitude38.com/lectronic/meet-great-people. Email Penny with AMBASSADOR in the subject line. This is a volunteer position. SF Bay Area Penny@latitude38.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

SAIL SAN FRAN CHARTER BUSINESS. Rare opportunity to own an established San Francisco Bay sailing charter business and ‘Hawks Nest’, a beautiful 1999 Hunter 410 (41-ft). Turnkey sale includes yacht, LLC, website, 5-star Google and Yelp presence, customer database, transferable phone/email, branding and charter assets. Stable, spacious and easily singlehanded, ‘Hawks Nest’ is ideally suited for six-passenger charters and private sailing. Significant growth potential with minimal outside marketing to date. Potential to continue an established relationship with a premier waterfront residential community, including complimentary slip and resident customer base. Owner retiring/relocating. Seller financing may be available to qualified buyer. Contact Rob. $89,500. Tiburon, CA (Marin County) rob@sailsanfran.com (720) 236-5633 https://sailsanfran.com October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 95

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

PLAN YOUR MEXICAN GETAWAY NOW. At the gorgeous Cielo Y Mar condos. Located in Punta Mita, 35 minutes from Puerto Vallarta, available to rent from private owner. On the beach, 10 feet from the water, they offer spectacular views of ocean and mountains, the biggest infinity pool in the area, an endless beach, great surf breaks, great fishing, tremendous views of whales, bird life and the islands. While uncrowded and tranquil, just a five-minute walk to several waterfront restaurants. Choose from a spacious, beautifully furnished one- or three-bedroom unit, or an amazing two-story penthouse with lovely shade trellis on the top floor. To reserve, call or email Dona de Mallorca. puntamitabeachfrontcondos@gmail. com (415) 269-5165

PREPARE FOR THE BAJA HAHA!. Rainman watermaker, electric model. 37 gph capacity!! $3,800. Portable generator 4.3 kW $325. Viking 6-person Oceans life raft, canister $3,300. 2022 Achilles 310 aluminum-hull inflatable dinghy with Yamaha 20hp outboard $8,900. Berkeley dktalton@gmail.com

SCANMAR MONITOR WINDVANE STEERING UNIT. System serial # 5122 0697, 316 stainless construction. This unit is complete and in great condition. I removed it from my Tayana 37 to make room to hang a dinghy off the back. I have the unit in Santa Rosa, CA. It’s available for local pickup, delivery or shipping depending on location, etc. I have lots of pictures to help with your installation. $3,200. Santa Rosa, CA espinozagreg7@gmail.com

NON PROFIT DONATE YOUR BOAT. The Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors strives to make sailing accessible to people with disabilities. BAADS is always on the lookout for donated boats to support its mission. Help an all-volunteer organization while receiving a charitable tax deduction. boatdonations@baads.org (415) 5329831

GEAR

SAILRITE ULTRAFEED LSZ SEWING MACHINE. LIke-new Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ sewing machine with table. Many extras included with sewing machine totaling over $1K. $1,850. Napa, CA. singlestac@sbcglobal.net (707) 8153404

Page 96 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

ANDERSEN ELECTRIC WINCHES. Three new Andersen stainless 12V electric winches. One 52ST-E1 w/12V electric compact motor. New. Still in original factory boxes. New $5,776, sale price $3,770. Two Andersen 72ST-E1 with 12V electric motors. New. Still in factory boxes. Retail price $9,200 ea. or $18,400 pair. Sale price $11,960 for the pair. $15,730. San Diego HarryT1952@yahoo.com (858) 9676212 SEEKING SMALL INBOARD ENGINE FOR SAILBOAT. I am desperately seeking and happy to pay good dollars for a single- /twin-cylinder inboard saildrive marine engine for 26-ft Lake Tahoe sailboat. The perfect engine would be a 1980s MR2-50S, which was a Volvo Penta Saildrive with a 7.5 Honda twin-cylinder gasoline outboard powerhead. Total weight was 80 pounds. Any condition acceptable. Can repair/ rebuild/replace engine if necessary. Seeking saildrive unit, engine, and mounting bed. Old single- /twin-cylinder Volva Penta, Yanmar, Beta would be considered. Would be happy to personally pick up anywhere in western USA. Also happy to pay any “finder” fees as well! Happy to trade for 9.9 Honda long-shaft outboard in excellent good condition. Email Gary. Western States CaliforniaKiwi49@frontier.com (916) 337-7029

MISCELLANEOUS

TRYING TO LOCATE

JIM DEWITT ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING. This beautiful Jim Dewitt painting was a gift to my wife as a wedding present in 1987. The wife has gone but the painting remains. The painting “Into the Light” was taken from a photograph of the SV ‘Speedwell’, built for Carl Strom, commodore of the Aeolian Yacht Club, for Thomas Jennings commodore of the Corinthian Yacht Club from 1904–1906. The picture has some minor heat–related damage, which is reparable. Jim DeWitt’s paintings of this type are for sale for prices in excess of $15,000, which makes this painting a rare buy. $7,500. fool4flotsam@gmail.com (530) 9998655

LOOKING FOR 24 FT PIVER TRIMARAN ‘NO NAME’. We’re former owners of the plywood 24-ft Piver trimaran that sailed around the world in the ’70s. The boat’s last known location was San Diego. We’d appreciate hearing from anyone who might know the whereabouts of ‘No Name.’ wolfinds@mindspring.com ‭(415) 806-3334‬

CREW CREW POSITION FOR BAJA HAHA. Retired carpenter looking for adventure. I am looking for a crew position for the Baja Ha-Ha. I have some ocean experience, some racing experience and speak a little Spanish. I can help with boat prep and expenses. Thanks! S.F. Bay Area michael.s.121@att.net (707) 354-4326

SUPPORT LOCAL SAILING COVERAGE WITH ONE-TIME OR MONTHLY DONATIONS HERE!

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HAULOUT • Marine Travelift 25 tons • Marine railway 70 tons • Storage in adjustable steel cradles • Fenced Yard • Travelift 50T & Amphibious mobile trailer 50T • Services of our tug for towing safety assistance and interventions PAINTING • Topsides, hull, bottom, varnish • Brush, roller, spray MECHANICAL WORK • Inboard, outboard, diesel, gas • All brands REPAIRS • Electrical repairs • Refrigeration installation & repair • Fiberglass & woodwork • Welding, steel, stainless, aluminum SAIL LOFT • Sail repairs, biminis, dodgers, covers STORE • International, Pettit, Epiglass, Devoe • Spares • Fill U.S. gas cylinders DO-IT-YOURSELFERS WELCOME! BoatUS Cooperating Marina

B.P. 1111 Uturoa Raiatea 98 735 Polynésie Française Tel: (689) 40 600-545 ~ Fax: (689) 40 600-546 ~ VHF 68 Web site: http://www.raiateacarenage.com ~ email: raiateacarenage@mail.pf Facebook : Chantier Naval Raiatea Carenage

ADVERTISERS' INDEX 36 Degrees..................................... 30 www.36degrees.nz

Danard Marine Products.................. 30 www.danardmarine.com

Hydrovane...................................... 29 www.hydrovane.com

Antioch Marina............................... 53 www.antiochca.gov/antioch-marina

DeWitt Studio.................................. 88 www.jimdewitt.com

KKMI - Full Service Boatyard.......... 100 www.kkmi.com

ATN................................................ 23 www.atninc.com

Division of Boating & Waterways...... 99 www.dbw.ca.gov

Lind Marine..................................... 15 www.lindmarine.com

Baja Ha-Ha Sponsor Page........... 62.63 www.latitude38.com/headingsouth

Doyle Sails San Francisco..................16 www.doylesails.com/loft-san-francisco/

List Marine Enterprises..................... 27 www.listmarine.com

Berkeley Marina.............................. 19 www.berkeley-marina.com

Emery Cove Yacht Harbor................ 57 www.emerycove.com

Llewellyn Marine Supply.................. 49 www.llewellynmarine.com

Berkeley Marine Center................... 25 www.berkeleymarine.com

Fisheries Supply Co.......................... 86 www.fisheriessupply.com

Marchal Sailmakers......................... 23 www.marchalsailmakers.com

Boat Yard at Grand Marina, The........17 www.boatyardgm.com

Gianola Canvas Products................. 78 www.gianolacanvas.com

Marina de La Paz............................ 26 www.marinadelapaz.com

Boatswain’s Locker........................... 28 www.boatswainslocker.com

Grand Marina................................... 2 www.grandmarina.com

Marina El Cid.................................. 66 www.elcid.com

Brisbane Marina.............................. 48 www.brisbaneca.org/marina

Helmut’s Marine Service.................. 24 www.helmutsmarine.com

Marina Puerto de la Navidad........... 30 www.islanavidad.com

Cruising Yachts................................ 52 www.cruisingyachts.net

Hood Sails......................................... 5 415-332-4104

Marina Riviera Nayarit.................... 18 www.marinarivieranayarit.com

Page 97 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

October, 2026 • Latitude 38 • Page 97

RY OF

aser

69 19, 2023

Eight Bells

Donald Meybin Wilson OBITUARY We Murad recently lost sailor, chemist, and famNaser was known for his ability to ily man Wilson createDonald moments ofMeybin intense excitement, bitter(2/24/398/28/26) at the age ofinside 87. jokes. DonHegrew defeat, and hilarious was a up in San master both smiles Diego and onat causing the beaches ofandLagroans Jolla—site of endeared him to allhis youth. many asimultaneously, handsomewhich snapshot from who had the pleasure of playing with him. He studied Chemistry at Harvard on a Naval R.O.T.C. scholarship and spent his postgraduIn lieu of flowers, please join us for a final ate years submarine USS Spinax. Algameon nightthe in Murad Naser's honor. We will thoughcelebrate encouraged to laughter, continue his naval career his life with camaraderie, and maybe submarine, a few royal flushes. on a newer nuclear he retired after 4 years as a Lieutenant Commander. After spendpeace, dear Murad Naser. Your ing timeRest at inthe Woods Hole Oceanographic memory will live on in the hearts of those Institution and the University of Washington, who shared countless rounds of fun with you. he transferred to the Ph.D. program at the University of California, Berkeley where he built spectrometers and met the love of his life Joan Wilson, to whom he was married for a mere 58 years. Don was into boating, particularly sailboat racing on the San Francisco Bay. He began crewing a Knarr “Woody”, then bought and skippered Folkboat #72 (“George A”). In one particularly unfortunate upwind leg, Don, Joan and Pat Holt realized that they were not making forward progress against the flood, tacking up and down the City Front until they could no longer see the fleet.

Born: February 24, 1939 Departed: August 28, 2026 In another race, Don and Joan left the Berkeley Marina and headed over to the GGYC for a race. In heavy seas they only made it to Treasure Island before Joan had to call a taxi to make it to City College in time to teach her class. Don had his first collision when he port-tacked Sam Whitesides, a gentleman who later put his arm around Don and said with a wry smile, “Have you paid

your premium, Son?” However, Don was a quick study. He found his lifetime friend and crew Brock De Lappe and made his way up the Folkboat ranks winning his first season championship in 1978, when the two series leaders decided to take each other out in the final race. Don was fleet President the same year as the first Folkboat International Regatta at the Golden Gate Yacht Club. The Danes and Germans skunked the fleet, but Don finished as the top American at 10th. Later Don raced a baby-blue, fiberglass Andreason Folkboat from Denmark he christened “Windansea,” after the San Diego surfing beach. He then fulfilled a long-held ambition by racing for years with an all-Wilson crew including David (Skipper-In-Waiting) and Daniel (Man-About-Foredeck). Don was also an accomplished research chemist with a specialty in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy who was a fixture at conferences long after his retirement. His son Dave (also a scientist) received nuanced critiques on his grants and patent applications: “Dave, I don’t see any intellectual property here.” He was also many things beyond our beloved “Spectroscopist at Sea.” He was a lawyer (passing the California and Hawaii Bar Exams as a hobby in his 50s), comedian, fitness buff, outdoorsman, and dog lover. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He has been and will continue to be loved dearly by those he has left behind.

ADVERTISERS' INDEX – cont'd Marine Servicenter............................ 6 www.marinesc.com

Quantum Pacific............................... 75 www.quantumsails.com

Modern Sailing School & Club.......... 27 www.modernsailing.com

Raiatea Carenage Services.............. 97 www.raiateacarenage.com

The Moorings.................................. 79 www.moorings.com

Richard Boland Yacht Sales.............. 56 www.richardbolandyachts.com

NAOS Yachts...................................61 www.naosyachts.com Napa Valley Marina........................ 13 www.napavalleymarina.com Outboard Motor Shop..................... 25 www.outboardmotorshop.com Owl Harbor Marina......................... 29 www.owlharbor.com/

www.starboardmarinesurveyors.com Svendsen’s Bay Maritime................... 4 www.sbm.baymaritime.com Swiftsure Yachts............................... 21

Richardson Bay Marina.................... 24 www.richardsonbaymarina.com

www.swiftsureyachts.com

Rubicon Yachts................ 7,8,9,10,11,12 www.rubiconyachts.com

& Monterey Bay.............................. 20

Ullman Sails San Francisco

San Francisco on the Bay................. 28 www.sfonthebay.com/list-38

www.ullmansails.com

Shearwater Sailing...........................31 www.shearwatersailing.net/

www.vhby.com

Paradise Village................................. 3 www.paradisemexico.com

Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors/SAMS....................................... 26 www.marinesurvey.org

Punta Mita....................................... 87 www.baja-haha.com

South Beach Harbor........................ 22 www.sfport.com/southbeachharbor

Punta Mita Beachfront Condos.......... 79 www.latitude38.com

Spaulding Marine Center................. 57 www.spauldingcenter.org

Page 98 • Latitude 38 • October, 2026

Starboard Marine Surveyors............ 66

Ventura Harbor Boatyard................. 66 Westwind Precision Details................31 www.boatdetailing.com Whale Point Marine Supply.............. 14 www.aceretailer.com/whalepoint Yachtfinders/Windseakers................ 49 www.yachtfinderswindseakers.com

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