Sunday, May 30, 2010
Baja California in 1949
This is an interesting old movie of what Baja California looked like in 1949. It was made by Silas Johnson, who was a sailing mentor to our good friends in San Diego. It is a gem both because of the rare footage and the post-war style. The introduction at the film archive says:
Johnson is another "lost filmmaker", who worked out of Coronado, California. This film boasts beautiful color footage of old Baja, before Pemex stations lined the Cuota and Libre. Hunt travels from Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas, enchantingly stopping at the waterless village of Magdalena Bay, Tortuga Bay, and the vineyards at Santo Tomás.
These spots are familiar to cruisers and Baja HaHa participants. A larger version can be found here at the Academic Film Archive of North America.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Toucan Circles the Farallones
One plucky sailor from Berkeley, Bobby Arthurs, sailed his intrepid Albin Vega, Toucan, in the Single Handed Farallones Race last weekend. It took him over 15 hours to complete the 52 odd miles and then a couple more to get back to his slip. Below is a video he made. Great job, Bobby.
farallones race sss video (better quality)
Uploaded by bobbyarthurs.
farallones race sss video (better quality)
Uploaded by bobbyarthurs.
Labels:
Bobby Arthurs,
Single Handed Farallones Race,
Toucan
Friday, May 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Jester Challenge Preview
70.8% has a nice post on the Jester Challenge. This is an Atlantic, single handed race for small boats.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Never Ending Winter
It is raining again today in the Bay Area after two day of fresh SW winds. On the long range weather picture, there is a significant low approaching from the North next Sunday and Monday. Prior to that there may only be five knot winds outside the Gate. I am looking for a window to get in the qualifying cruise. I believe that AJ on Second Verse went out this week, which is beginning to look like a good move.
Labels:
AJ Goldman,
marine weather,
qualifying cruise,
Second Verse
Friday, May 7, 2010
Harmonica Man of Jefferson County
Here is a story from our new home in Jefferson County, Washington. Check out the Andy Mackie Music Foundation.
Labels:
Andy Mackie,
Harmonica Man,
Jefferson County
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Men Who Stare at SSBs
I found a nice writeup dating back to the 2006 race today. It is titled Singlehanded TransPac and the Art of Psychological Warfare written by Rob of Tiger Beetle. It makes it clear that we heavy cruising boats have a major advantage - luxury. Some of us can have steaks, showers, and standing head room. Better yet, we can talk about it during radio checks. Of course, payback comes when the fast guys get to lie on the beach and whine about how long it is taking us to finish.
Progress?
I am getting near the end of the work. Down to niggling details such as tightening and lubricating things, trying to find the last ten pairs of my wife's shoes and throw them overboard. Stuff like that.
A bunch of the racers still need to do their qualifying cruise. Rob Tryon will lead us out of the Bay on the 15th for a four or five day jaunt. This will be two hundred miles out and back. This will tell me what was not tightened and lubricated properly. I will have about a month to make amends and batten down the hatches.
Do you know how many packages of ramen you can put in place of a pair of shoes? Imelda Marcos could have fed the nation. You don't have to boil them as long either.
A bunch of the racers still need to do their qualifying cruise. Rob Tryon will lead us out of the Bay on the 15th for a four or five day jaunt. This will be two hundred miles out and back. This will tell me what was not tightened and lubricated properly. I will have about a month to make amends and batten down the hatches.
Do you know how many packages of ramen you can put in place of a pair of shoes? Imelda Marcos could have fed the nation. You don't have to boil them as long either.
Labels:
2010 Single Handed Transpac,
preparations
Still Voting for the Boat?
The contest where Adventuress could win $100000 and maybe spend it in Port Townsend is still running. Your vote can help. She is only 2% ahead of the next competitor. Go to VoteForTheBoat.com or check this prior post for details.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
SHTP Weather and Tactics
Skip Allan, the winner of the 2008 Single Handed Transpac, is leading a discussion of weather and tactics for Hawaiian races. The thread of the discussion can be found here.
Garbage Island
Toxic Garbage Island Episode 1 from VBS.TV on Vimeo.
Video from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The full show can be found here.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Safety Inspection
Maitreya had her safety inspection yesterday. She is still missing a few minor items - a couple charts, a compass deviation card and some belt and suspenders tie downs for the companion way and drop boards.
Thanks to Rob Tryon for coming over and spending the time doing this. Thanks to the race committee in general for being there to answer questions and keep moving everything forward. I believe that Bob, Rob and others have taken on pretty much a full time job to get this done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)