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4/26/19 4:09 PM
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Special Stuff
In This Issue...
Issue #27 Summer 2019
Page 19
Page 49
Jessie & Luke Cruise Morocco
Panama - A Cruiser’s Paradise
Page 58
Page 76
BVI Share The Sail
Sailing Nomad
Page 96
Page 102
Prepping for Passage
I Am Not a Sailor Girl
Page 130
Page 136
Fishy Business
Angles of Perplexity
Page 140
Page 146
Selling Up or Sailing On
Searching for Zorba Subscription Info on Page 82-83
W W W .L AT S A T T S . C O M
pg 07-10 TOC- editedbyKatie.indd 1
Latitudes & Attitudes 7 5/1/19 4:32 PM
A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.—W. Winchell
This editorial ran in the very first issue of Latitudes & Attitudes, March, 1997. So ya gotta add 20 years to the times referred to therein, but the feelings have not changed. This is what Latitudes & Attitudes is all about! By Bob Bitchin Cruising, what a concept...to put all of your worldly belongings on a sailboat, haul up some canvas, and sail off into the sunset. Everybody dreams of doing it, but only a very few are ever really crazy enough to cast off the lines. This publication is dedicated to those of us who are just crazy enough to live this lifestyle, those of us who cram our lives into an area just a tad larger than the average jail cell, point a vessel toward the open sea, and truly believe that, with just the wind at our backs, we will actually see landfall on the other side of the horizon...those of us who have found the reality in our dreams. Some 20 years ago, I sailed out of San Francisco aboard a topsail square-rigged schooner called Stone Witch. Built and captained by my mentor, Alan Olsen, she had no motor, sported four 22-foot oars as her auxiliary power, and ran under kerosene running lights. We hauled the anchor by hand and raised the sails without winches. We drank tepid Kool Aid, lived off of canned corned beef, and loved every damned minute of it. And I fell in love with cruising. Now I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I am not a purist. I enjoyed my initiation to cruising, but I learned from it. Times change and people do, too. Now my favorite saying is, “I cannot recommend decadence as a way of life, but it works for me.” People who substitute storage (or even bathtubs!) for engines are a few bricks short of a full load in my book. As I said, my first cruising was done the hard way, but in the intervening 20 years I have gone full-tilt in the other direction. Such luxuries as a TV, VCR, SSB, radar, autopilot, and microwave are just the beginning. The man who invented the watermaker is a deity in my book, as is the man who came up with GPS. Solar panels fill my batteries so my icemaker won’t
14 Latitudes & Attitudes pg 14 Editorial - Final.indd 1
let me down—there is nothing like the sound of ice tinkling in a glass at sunset as you cross the equator. The days of tepid Kool Aid have passed— and good riddance. For almost 20 years I have lived aboard sailing vessels and cruised well over 75,000 miles. In just the past five years I have had the pleasure of sailing some 45,000 miles to the most beautiful places in the world. During this time, I have shouted “I hate boats” a thousand times, sailed with idiots and geniuses, seen poverty and riches, and have been fortunate enough to join the family of cruising sailors—that stupid breed of human that spends weeks at sea in heavy weather, with water dripping into every orifice, and actually has a smile on his face as he enters a storm-swollen harbor. To those who have never done it, you just can’t explain what it’s all about, and to those who have lived it, no explanation is needed. Latitudes & Attitudes has a special meaning for sailors. Sailing the lower lats is what we live for, and attitude is all important. Quoting another cruising mentor of mine, Dr. Larry Hazen, who sailed off some 13 years ago for a “three-year cruise” and is still out there, “Attitude is the only difference between an ordeal and an adventure.” Latitudes & Attitudes is dedicated to this family of crazies, and to the way of life we live. The idea was born during a hundred nights at sea and nurtured in small gatherings on beaches around the world. Input from cruisers met in far flung ports has become a reality, and Latitudes & Attitudes is that reality. Welcome aboard. This is your magazine. It is not published by Daddy Warbucks Industries or Acme Conglomerate Publishers. There’s just me and a couple of cruising friends. If you like it, let me know, and if you don’t, tell me why. w w w . L at s A t t s . c o m
4/26/19 12:32 PM
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The Who, What, Where, Why and When is Becoming
M
any of you already know the story of Latitudes & Attitudes. But, for those who don’t know the history, I will attempt to fill in the blanks without boring you. The Start Latitudes & Attitudes Magazine was the #1-selling marine title on the newsstands for the majority of its 15-year history. It was started in 1996 by me, Bob Bitchin, and my wife, Jody, with a little help from Keith
Out of sight of land the sailor feels safe. It is the beach that worries him. - Charles Davis
First Issue of Latitudes & Attitudes The first issue of Lats&Atts went on sale March 3, 1997. It became an instant hit with cruisers and sailors all over the world. “Bandit” Ball, editor of Easyriders, and Bob Clark, creator of Street Chopper, Trucking, Hot VWs, VW Trends, and a large number of other magazines. Jody and I had just returned from cruising the world and wanted to create a magazine to let “regular boaters and cruisers” know they were not alone, that not all who owned boats were rich, and that many people worked on their own boats and cruised the waterways of the world. Growing to Radio & TV During its 15 years, Lats&Atts, as it became known by its readers, grew. First it was a ship’s Latitudes & Attitudes TV In 2003 we partnered with Darren O’Brien to create Lats&Atts TV. The show aired for 5 years on cable TV with a total of 65 episodes.
16 Latitudes & Attitudes
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store, then a clothing line, then a radio station. Finally, in 2004, it became a network television show that aired for five years and 65 episodes. In 2011, Jody and I decided it was time to sell our creation, finish building our Shannon 52 that was under construction in Bristol, Rhode Island, and sail off into the sunset once again. The Bitchin-Shannon Global 52 The plan was to create the world’s best cruising vessel and we partnered with Shannon Yachts, Harken and Furuno. The boat was never finished! The Plan An offer was made and accepted. We moved to some land in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (yes, where the 2018 “Paradise” fire took place, missing us by about 2 miles) and started making plans to cruise. But, unbeknownst to us, the new owners had no plans to actually pay us. Over the next 90 days, the magazine was shut down, the TV show discontinued, the website and radio show shut down, and the bank accounts emptied, while the credit cards were all maxed out. I filed bankruptcy at 68 years of age. It looked pretty bleak. But then a little over 700 Lats&Atts readers reached out and sent $250 each to start a new magazine. We are forever grateful to our “Founders.” Thou Shalt Not... Now here’s the thing. There are three things you should never do. 1) Start any business at 68 years of age; 2) Start a print magazine in the age of the internet; 3) Start anything in the marine industry in the current economic situation. w w w .L at s a t t s . c o m
4/26/19 12:34 PM
First Issue of Cruising Outpost After losing what we thought was everything, almost 700 of our L&A readers sent in $250 each to become “Founders.” We did all three. Within a year the new title, Cruising Outpost Magazine, became the #1-selling print marine publication on the newsstands nation-wide. But people (mostly the staff!) still missed the original Latitudes & Attitudes. It was Charles Tobias, an old friend from Tortola who owns Pussers and has Marina Cay, who came to our rescue. While sitting in his office on The Man Who Brought Back L&A
Our friend, Charles Tobias. He is the man who made it possibe to get the Lats&Atts name back, from his office in Tortola in the BVI.
Tortola one afternoon, he asked if we’d gotten the trademark back. Not knowing the legalities of such things, I said I thought we couldn’t. We had signed a bill of sale, essentially giving the title over to the new people. We’d been told that the only way to get it back was to sue the new buyers. But, as it turned out, they’d left the country for Central America and already had a large number of judgments against them from previous “deals,” the largest of which was for over $3 million. Charles picked up the phone and called his lawyer in Washington D.C. Within a matter of minutes, Latitudes & Attitudes was back in mine and Jody’s control. That was a little while back, in 2017. We brought back some of the old logo clothing and sayings, but had to give a lot of thought on w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
pg 16-17 What's Goin' On - Final.indd 3
whether to bring back the title or not. After all, Cruising Outpost was doing pretty well, and was, once again, the #1-selling marine title on the newsstands. On a recent Share The Sail event (which was created by Lats & Atts!) we were standing at the entrance to Corsair’s on Jost van Dyke. It was for Share The Sail Flotillas We created the Share The Sail to introduce people to the cruising lifesyle by taking them out cruising. What a concept!
a party, and a couple asked one of the participants what it was all about. She said, “We are here with Cruising Outpost’s Share the Sail.” The couple replied, “What’s Cruising Outpost?” She told them it was the same as the old Latitudes & Attitudes. “Oh yeah!” they exclaimed. “That’s a great magazine. We’ve heard of that.” It was at that time the decision to go back to Latitudes & Attitudes was made. Don’t Ye Worry Lads & Lassies – Subscriptions Carry Over to the New “Old” Title Your subscription to Cruising Outpost will carry forward with Latitudes & Attitudes. There will be no change in schedule, no change in subscriptions. And our Founders Circle, who made all this possible, as well as Charter subscribers, will remain Founders and Charter Members forever. If it wasn’t for them, you would not be reading this! Things Don’t Really Change Here we are, Bob Bitchin and Jody 23 years ago, creating the first issue of Latitudes & Attitudes aboard our boat, The Lost Soul.
Latitudes & Attitudes 17 4/26/19 12:34 PM
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Jessie & Luke
Cruise Morocco ats valkink-Ye
e By Jessie Z
We read as much as we could about sailing to Morocco. Too much. In fact, I wish I hadn’t read a thing. It was equivalent to searching WebMD when you are concerned about your health: All signs pointing towards danger. It’s incorrect. w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
pg 19-23 Jessie & Luke in Morroco - Final.indd 1
Latitudes & Attitudes 19 4/26/19 12:36 PM
J essie & L uke I place my fingertips on either side of the concrete wall and position my feet on the indicated area above the hole. I squat down to the original way humans were created to defecate. Apprehensive about my balance and blood flow that’s been cut off below my knees, I go. It’s a miracle how perfect the angle is. It goes into the ground without a noise. I use the water spigot and bucket provided to “flush.” I stand, proud, and exit the room with the hole in the ground. I am at a police station in Morocco. Luke and I have just sailed here. We read as much as we could about sailing to Morocco. Too much. In fact, I wish I hadn’t read a thing. It was equivalent to searching WebMD when you are concerned about your health: All signs point towards danger. It’s incorrect. Most of it. We had our concerns about sailing to Africa. There was the language barrier, attracting unwanted attention, being a bunch of western blondes on a beautiful sailing ship who sailed without insurance. I wasn’t confident I had the correct papers for Tato the cat. And, I was entering a country as a female captain, where many females still have to be given permission to drive a vehicle. I had my concerns, and I knew I was going to make my mother very nervous. Getting knocked down off the coast of Portugal had resulted in two months of grueling boat yard work. Important repairs had to be made before sailing to Morocco, and ultimately to cross the ocean again. For example, building a brand new rudder. Finding the right materials and tools took twice the time we expected it to. We did not get splashed back into the sea until just before the new year. Itching wildly for the next challenge, our hearts were set on Morocco, despite the lack of reliable information. We wanted an experience, not a tropical island. We plotted approximately 350 nautical miles across the Straights of Gibraltar, marking our way in little Xs on our NV Charts over flat seas and tailwinds accurately forecasted from MAZU. Marking these charts is a navigator’s greatest joy. Progress appears slow at first;
20 Latitudes & Attitudes pg 19-23 Jessie & Luke in Morroco - Final.indd 2
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C ruise M orocco but, centimeter by centimeter, the Xs create a path, and as the days pass this visual becomes deeply satisfying. Eventually, these charts become precious souvenirs, antiques hanging on walls, inspiring nostalgia and pride. This short passage to Morocco gifted us desert sunrises with densely saturated reds and oranges. Infinite stars encouraged your mind to wander into an alternate universe. Contrails of phosphorescence were stirred up by visiting dolphins each night. It was, without question, the most beautiful passage I have ever sailed. After waiting a few miles off the coast for sunrise, we pulled into Essaouira, a bustling fishing port and unknowingly touristy town. We were the only sailboat. A man waved us over to a cement wall, speaking to us in French, which none of us speak. He wants the captain to come with him, right now. I climb up the ladder with my paperwork and he shifts his head in confusion. I follow two “guards” to the Harbor Master’s office, reluctantly walking away from my husband and home. We walk, and walk, and walk, until I follow a man through a corridor to a simple office cooled by cement walls and soft light. He speaks no English, and pushes some French paperwork in my direction. I fill out three sheets of paper work to my best ability, knowing that he likely won’t be able to read what I write. I pay him in euros and he accepts, even though their currency is dirham. The Harbor Master sends me to the Coast Guard station. I fill out three more sheets of the same paper. The Coast Guard sends me to the Police station, where I fill out three more sheets of the same paper. Three offices within the same block, and a dozen broken-English conversations later, I find myself in the room with the hole in the ground. This is adding up to be an epic cultural experience. We want to go to the desert. I ask several different men in different kinds of uniforms if it is “safe” to leave our boat unattended. Don’t google this question. This tactic is exactly the same as looking up several weather forecasts and choosing to trust the one you like the most. Three completely separate men, tell me as long as w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
pg 19-23 Jessie & Luke in Morroco - Final.indd 3
Latitudes & Attitudes 21 4/26/19 12:36 PM
Lats& Atts Scutt lebutt
New Law Boosts Catches
Exempted fishing permits, or EFPs now allow NOAA Fisheries to temporarily exempt certain vessels from fishing restrictions to test new fishing gear or methods. The trial period also helps NOAA Fisheries determine whether to adopt these changes on a larger scale and create new regulations based on the results. The test has allowed the fleets to catch almost 14-million pounds of fish in 2018 while still protecting salmon and other species.
36 Latitudes & Attitudes /pg 26-41 Scuttlebutt - editedbyKatie.indd 12
Trump Gives Away Free Boat!
It doesn’t matter what side of the aisle you are on, this is funny. While President Trump was touring the areas of North Carolina that had been affected by Hurricane Florence, he stopped to comment on one homeowner’s fortune. Looking at the homeowner’s garden, in which a yacht had washed up, Trump remarked, “At least you got a nice boat out of the deal.”
Okay, Keep It Clean!
What detergent do sailors use? Tide!
w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
4/30/19 3:51 PM
Lats& Atts Scuttl ebutt
A 300’ True “Green” Sailboat
Philippe Briand has unveiled the latest sailing yacht concept to come from his London-based design studio: the 300-foot sailboat with a traditional sailing rig. The 1,550-ton ketch was created to outperform other sailing megayachts on the water Unlike the growing number of sailing megayachts that are effectively motor-yachts with sails, the SY300 is a sailboat in all aspects. Being fully wind-propelled, she would be a leader in the new wave of “green” superyachts. Her hydrodynamic efficiency means more power could be harnessed through underwater turbines to charge the batteries on board. In the best conditions a maximum speed over 20 knots would be reached . Potentially, if 50% of the energy is captured, it will be the equivalent of that produced by a 500 kW generator, while maintaining around 15 knots.
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info@jalapenocharters.com ~ 775-742-6976 ~ www.jalapenocharters.com w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
/pg 26-41 Scuttlebutt - editedbyKatie.indd 13
Latitudes & Attitudes 37 4/30/19 3:51 PM
Lats& Atts Scutt lebutt
Hey! I Knew That
People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. Isaac Asimov
The latest on sailboat sales?
Analysis of the U.S. sailboat market from the National Marine Manufacturers Association indicates that sales rebounded in 2018 to a four-year high. Production was up 6.8% to 3,826 sailboats in 2018.
Nautical Trivia Answer (For question on page 26)
Cannon balls used to be stored on the ship in piles on a brass frame that was known as a “monkey.” Cold weather would make the monkey constrict and the cannon balls would come rolling off when it was “cold enough to freeze the balls off a monkey!”
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4/30/19 12:08 3:51 PM PM 4/23/19
Lats& Atts Scutt lebutt
Wanna See boot?
boot, (yes, it is spelled with a lowercase “b”) which means “boat” in German, is the largest boat show in the world. It has been put on in Düsseldorf, Germany for the past 50 years. It is held at the Messe Center, with over 2.3 MILLION square feet of display space. boot 2019 set a new record, with almost 2,000 exhibitors from 73 countries and displays covering 2,368,000 sq. feet of stand space. Nearly 250,000 water sports fans (boot 2018: 247,000 visitors) came to Düsseldorf from over 100 countries. We have been lucky enough to visit this show for two years. Wanna go? We are working with the folks at boot to bring more of a US presence to the show. If you are interested in visiting boot, which runs from January 18th to the 26th, send an email to: bob@ LatsAtts.com. If there is enough interest we will try to put a group together to see the 2020 show.
Hairy Situation
“I saw a chap with a big bushy beard earlier.” “Was it a naval beard?” “No, it was on his chin like everyone else.” w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
/pg 26-41 Scuttlebutt - editedbyKatie.indd 15
Join Lats&Atts In Dusseldorff For
boot Jan. 18-20th
The Worlds Largest Boat Show Latitudes & Attitudes, working with the folks at boot have made arrangements for our readers to join us at this unbelievable show. Over 2,000,000 sq, ft. of boats, gear and water related goodies that cruiser’s need to know about, all in one beautiful location.. We have arranged for a group hotel where we will all stay, in the heart of Beautiful Dusseldorf. We will be there for opening day, and our group will be greeted by a member of thr staff, who will answer questions and help us get the most out of our visit. Join Bob & Jody & other Lats&Atts readers at this once-in-a-lifetime event. The show has provided us with a travel agent to help book flights, and have reseved rooms for us as well.
Want to know more?
It’s Easy, just email us we’ll send you all the info!
Jody@Latsatts.com
Latitudes & Attitudes 39 4/30/19 3:51 PM
42 Latitudes & Attitudes /pg 26-41 Scuttlebutt - editedbyKatie.indd 18
w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
4/30/19 3:51 PM
Lats& Atts Piracy Repor t ACTIVE PIRACY REPORT from the ICC: A Narrative of the Most Recent Attacks April 24, 2019 at 0215 UTC - Lagos Anchorage, Nigeria: Three robbers in a small craft approached and boarded an anchored tanker. Duty AB on routine rounds noticed the robbers near the cargo tank and notified the officer on watch. The alarm was raised, PA announcement made, and the crew mustered. Hearing the alarm and seeing the crew alertness, the robbers jumped overboard along with their hose and escaped in their boat. The incident was reported to a naval patrol boat. Nothing was reported as stolen. April 26, 2019 - Puerto la Cruz Anchorage, Venezuela: The duty officer noticed on the CCTV an unauthorized person on the forecastle and raised the alarm. Hearing that the crew was alerted, the robber escaped. A security search of the vessel showed ship’s properties stolen from the forecastle store. April 21, 2019 at 0900 UTC - 270 nautical miles southeast of Mogadishu, Somalia: A fishing vessel underway was approached by two suspicious small boats. The captain noticed the boats and raised the alarm. Other nearby fishing vessels responded and chased the suspicious boats away. April 19, 2019 - Buenaventura Channel, Colombia: A boat with eight to ten people onboard approached a container ship under pilotage which they attempted to board via the rigged pilot ladder. Duty lookout noticed the boat and raised the alarm. Crew mustered near the pilot ladder resulting in the boat aborting and moving away.
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www.betamarinewest.com w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
/pg 26-41 Scuttlebutt - editedbyKatie.indd 19
Latitudes & Attitudes 43 4/30/19 3:51 PM
Welcome Back to the BRITISH VIRGIN
ISLANDS The Islands Are Back & They Are Better Than Ever! By Bob Bitchin, with additional photos from Chuck Delabio, Debbie Kolod, Drew Gober, Joe Jablonowski, Kimber Hamilton, Ty Abston, Wayne Anselmo, and Jody Lipkin
We put on a Share The Sail every year. But, this year’s Share The Sail in the BVI had a secret agenda. We organized it to help bring people back to the BVI to show the world the islands were once again open for business after the horrific hurricanes that smashed them two years ago. Our group staggered in from all over the world over the period of about four days. While we waited for our fellow cruisers, Jody and I were lucky enough to have our very good friends Tommy and Sharon Brownell cruising the area on their beautiful Hylas 54, Distant Star. Like good friends, they offered us a place to stay as we awaited the day of boarding the boats. For a couple days we sailed over to Norman Island and acted as if we were leisurely cruisers, all the time putting out fires for the upcoming event. You may not believe it, but organizing ten boats for seven days can be a fulltime job! As it happens, Jody’s 60th was on February 1st, and we were in Nanny Cay, so an impromptu party was organized with old friends from the islands and new friends from the Share The Sail. It was held at Peg Leg’s and it was a complete success. About twenty people gathered to help her celebrate the day. It was a beautiful night, with perfect weather, and a lot of good friends!
58 Latitudes & Attitudes pg 58-65 BVI Share The Sail - Final.indd 2
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On the day we were to board the boats, people gathered at Scrub Island, about a mile off of Tortola. Then the difficult part started. The provisions had all been ordered and were to be aboard and stowed by 3:00 p.m. for our 5:00 p.m. boarding. By 6:00 p.m. that evening no provisions had appeared. Then, the crew of the Drew Boat noticed a couple of Boston Whalers loaded with boxes of supplies tied to one of the docks. They took a closer look and saw “Bob Bitchin” written on the boxes and, below that, “The Drew Boat,” “The Eric Boat,” etc. They were our supplies. Only God knows how long they had been sitting there. Bedlam ensued as we tried to decipher what boxes went to which boats. Once the boxes had been settled, a few small discrepancies popped up, like the full complement of food for the boat that had a family with a young child consisted of potato chips, bread, and beer. Lots of beer. In all, it turned out that about one-third of the food ordered was not there. Little things were missing, like the 18 gallons of drinking water for the Bob Boat, which had 11 people on board. The morning of our supposed departure, we waited as the crew of Dream Yacht Charter walked the skippers through the Celebrating Jody’s 60th at operations of the boats. Peg Leg’s in Nanny Cay Eventually we got through it, as the boats traded supplies so the ones who’d received their full complement of supplies shared with those that did not. The crews spent the evening in the Scrub Island Resort where the Dream Yacht Base is now located. It’s a great place to hang, with hot tubs, swimming pools, and great beaches. In the morning, about half an hour after the briefing, another boat from RiteWay on Tortola showed up, with more of our provisions. Island time, right?
Night before leaving Scrub Island Marina
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Latitudes & Attitudes 59 4/29/19 2:27 PM
Welcome Back to the Diving on the Indians
Partying at Corsairs on Jost Van Dyke
The voyage was then on. The Share The Sail boats headed to the Baths on Virgin Gorda. The weather was as perfect as it could get, and there were even open moorings! The new system there is you cannot land a dinghy on the beach, but rather have to tie your dinghy to the buoy line and swim 100 yards to shore. The Baths are one of the most beautiful areas of the BVI. Huge granite boulders lay jumbled on the beach, creating caves and small, private beaches. The feeling of paradise was quickly lost when we started hearing an alarm go off on the Bob Boat. The search was on. Now I gotta tell ya, on the new 52-foot Lagoon, there are more little nooks and crannies than on a Thomas’s English muffin. The base on Scrub Island sent out a couple guys who eventually found an overheating solenoid under one of the berths. After about an hour, people returned to the boats. We decided to motor around to the north and into North Sound. When the Bob Boat arrived, Tommy Brownell was there waiting for us. He then introduced us to a very interesting guy. His name is Gumption, and he is an entrepreneur who runs a glass bottom boat. Here’s what was interesting: Richard Branson on Necker Island heard that he’d built this boat and was taking people out on excursions, and then using the money to help fund the school. So Branson loaned him enough money to buy a proper boat. Over the next couple years he ran his glass bottom boat tours, and paid him back in full. Branson was so impressed that he gave him access to Necker Island for his tours. He is the only one authorized to access Necker and the zoo, etc., on the island. Most of our crew jumped into his tour boat and he took them on a quick tour, showing them turtles and all the sea life in the area. It was most
Relaxing at Monkey Point
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BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS kewl. You can look him up on Facebook. His name is Gumption. Great tour! Soon we had a little Superbowl party to get to. Six additional boats joined our four-boat flotilla, and we had about 90 people for the party. The folks at the Leverick Bay Resort had set up around ten tables on the beach for each boat—and even had “reserved” signs for each boat in our group. To ensure our viewing pleasure, they set up a large screen (a bedsheet between two poles) and a projector for the game. It seemed they had a connectivity problem, and there was almost a mutiny. But, just as the game started, they got it figured out. The outcome of the game was good for the majority of the cruisers that were there, as most were from the East Coast! That night was beautiful. After the game, people gathered on their boats, watching the stars, and just enjoying the great weather. We were loving it. Rumor had it there was a Polar Vortex or something like that back home, and most of the U.S. was packed in snow and ice. In the morning, most of the boats headed out for our next stop, Anegada. It was a 13-mile sail, with light winds and calm seas. Of course on the Bob Boat, we had a little adventure. As I’ve always said, the difference between an ordeal and an adventure is attitude. And our “adventure” consisted of hitting the starter button only to find our batteries were dead. This was a little odd, as we had been running the generator and charging a lot in the evening. And of course, this happened the morning before we were to get started. We then found out that on this particular boat, they had removed the charger for some maintenance. Oops! Once again we awaited the arrival of our friends from the Dream Yacht Charter base. They found that a cable between the battery and the alternator was cut, and the battery was as dead as a sail-cat on Highway 95. They replaced the battery and once again we were on our way.
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Hank Scmitt from Offshore Passage Opportunities joined the sail
Jeff and Debbie Kolod at the Baths
Latitudes & Attitudes 61 4/29/19 2:27 PM
Welcome Back to the
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Superbowl Sunday Party at Leverick Bay on Virgin Gorda The ladies holding up the rock at the Baths The sail to Anegada was great. Perfect weather, energy (and youth!), long walks along the shore, which is littered with conch shells. perfect wind, perfectly calm and even seas. Once in the anchorage on Anegada, You see, when a conch is harvested, you are not supposed to throw the shells people headed to shore, where Jody had The ladies of back into the sea, as it will keep the arranged for transportation to Cow Wreck s/v Jester conchs away. So there are hundreds of Beach on the North Shore. beautiful conch shells lining the beach. Cow Wreck is one of those places that has made Anegada a “must After a few hours enjoying the peace and serenity of one of the most see” in the BVI. It’s a beautiful beach protected by a reef about a half-mile beautiful beaches in the world, we boarded the open bus back to the out. The waters are clear and calm, and the white sand beach stretches for Anegada Reef, where we had a party arranged for that evening, with Isabella miles without anything to interfere with Stefania and Eric Stone live on stage. the beauty. The Cow Wreck Bar and Grill serves Isabella and her family are sailing with us on the Bob Boat, while Eric Stone and his friend up some great burgers, lobster fritters, and conch ceviche. The afternoon was spent swimming, Gary Haas were skippering another boat. laying on the beach, and for those with a bit more That night was as beautiful as it could get. Perfect weather, and the folks at the Anegada Reef
Kayaking in White Bay on Jost Van Dyke
The crew of the Bob Boat pulling into Monkey Point
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Isabella Stefania gives Gumption a shirt before going on a tour off of Virgin Gorda
Surfing the Bubbling Pool on Jost Van Dyke, near Taboo
Hotel had set up tables for the almost 90 people in the anchor by hand. That was some real adult fun, our group. Each table was set for each boat, and right? Most definitely NOT! the food had all been pre-ordered, with free Once up, we pulled my feet out from rum punch for all. under the pile of chain and headed out. We Happy hour started at about learned later that there was a “lock out” 5:30 p.m. with Eric Stone opening switch, that we didn’t know about, and with some great music. Then, at it had been tripped. Aaaaagh! 6:30 p.m., Isabella took over the The winds were pretty good, so stage. They were great! we went to haul up the sails. Another When it came time for dinner oops! It seems that not only was there they joined us at the tables, and a no power to the windlass, there was disc jockey took over. After dinner the also no power to the winches. Isabella and Eric dancing got hot and heavy, and the It was then decided we’d on Anegada sand dance floor was crowded all night motor back to the base at Scrub long. Everyone was up and the conga line Island, and see what could be done. was long and wavy! It was there we learned about the lockBeing true cruisers, the party ended out switch! at “Cruiser’s Midnight” (about 10 p.m.) and folks Oh, yeah, did I mention the watermaker also headed back to their boats, some to continue their was inoperable, and our tanks were going dry? It party, and others to get some sleep. seems the toilets used two gallons of fresh water In the morning, the crew of the Bob Boat each time one was flushed. As our boat was a sixheaded over to The Big Bamboo for some snorkeling cabin boat with six heads...well, I think you can and a bite of lunch. Some of the best snorkeling on see where this was heading, right? the island can be found on that area of Anegada. After less than half an hour, most of the We spent the day enjoying the cruising lifestyle. problems had been fixed (it seems that, if you know That means laying about, reading, swimming, and what the problem is, it’s easy!!) and we were once generally enjoying life. again headed out. The folks at Dream Yachts were In the morning it was time to head for Jost on top of it right away! Van Dyke for another party. I know, party, party, party. We motored around to Monkey Point for some What could go wrong? swimming. Monkey Point is one of our favorite spots The answer to that question was answered in the islands. The water is crystal clear, and it is when we hit the windlass button to raise the anchor. great snorkeling. Oops! As we left we hoisted the sails, and had a No power to the windlass. After a few minutes great two-hour sail to Jost Van Dyke, sailing right past spent searching once again for the problem, we Sandy Cay, which has to be one of the most beautiful did what most cruisers do. We gave up and hoisted little islands in the world. w w w . L at s A t t s . c o m
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Latitudes & Attitudes 63 4/29/19 2:27 PM
What’s Out There?
Cruising Monohull
The Oceanis 46.1 follows the design of a large cruiser: the popular Beneteau OC51.1. This new model is comfortable, easy to sail, and easy to handle. The owner’s cabin features an island bed with a shower room and an en-suite head. You’ll find generous headroom inside this forward berth as well as in the two aft guest rooms. Above deck, she features a large cockpit and deluxe table to accommodate friends and family and double wheels that make sailing a breeze. There’s a single step down from the cockpit to the swim platform which is equipped with a sturdy swim ladder for easy access to the
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Bene te au Oce anis 46.1
sea. The running rigging is led aft to well-placed winches, allowing the skipper to sail single-handedly. The Harken and B&G gear confirms this boat is built to stand the heavy seas, and to be just as easily handled in light winds. There are a number of layouts, depending on whether your preference is cruising, racing, or setting sail with the whole family. Shown below is what Lats&Atts considers the best for cruising! However, there are options for up to 5 cabins and a taller mast for racing.
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Ge t all the facts:
www.Beneteau.com
Beneteau O ceanis 46.1 LOA 47’11” LWL 43’5” Draft Shallow/Deep 5’93” / 7’9” Beam 14’9” Displacement 23,356 lbs Power 57 hp (80 hp option) Fuel 53 USG Fresh Water 98 USG Mast Height 66’8” Latitudes & Attitudes 69
4/26/19 10:40 AM
What’s Out There?
Cruising Catamaran
The McConaghy MC50 may be the smallest of the MC Cats, but she still has an impressive strength-to-weight ratio. The boat features a dual-helm position to offer the best line-of-sight forward making her an ideal choice for those new to multihull cruising. The wide saloon is a spacious living area with large windows and fully-retractable glass doors to the aft. With an open galley, this Cat is well-suited to socializing and family living. The attention to detail allows living space to be maximized. These Cats give you strength as well as performance and are available from 50 to 90 feet. Perfect for cruising!
70 Latitudes & Attitudes
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McConaghy MC50
Ge t all the facts:
www.McConaghyBoats.com
McConaghy MC50 LOA 50’2” LWL 49’2” Draft Board Up / Down 3’3” / 8’10” Beam 26’2” Sail Area 150m2 Power Two 57-hp Yanmar Fuel 132 USG Fresh Water 158 USG Mast Height 86’ w w w . L at s A t t s . c o m
Latitudes & Attitudes 71
What’s Out There?
Power Cruiser
The North Pacific 45’ Pilothouse has a spacious, full-beam salon, raised pilothouse with great visibility, two staterooms, and a fully-covered aft deck. The bow has a plumb design to increase the amount of useable space in the staterooms and has plenty of storage. A near walk-around queen in the master makes this a nice master stateroom. There’s alson an en-suite head. The hull design allows for higher top-end speed and excellent fuel economy. For those looking for a comfortable power cruiser, this could be the answer.
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North Pacif ic 45
Ge t all the facts:
www.NorthPacificYachts.com
LOA LWL Draft Beam Power Fuel Fresh Water Holding Tank Dry Weight w w w . L at s a t t s . c o m
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NORTH P ACIFIC 45
45’10” 41’5” 4’6” 13’8” 355 hp Cummings Diesel 400 USG 300 USG 65 USG 34,000 lbs
Latitudes & Attitudes 73
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By Chris, Key Largo sunset at Upper Keys Sailing Club
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Underway! Ever wondered why people love the boating lifestyle? Well, here in the Underway section, folks from all over the world give an insight into what it’s really like out there. If you have a photo you think tells a good tale, why not send it to us? We prefer you send a digital pic, in as high resolution as you can. Tell us who took the pic and where it was taken. We will probaby throw it into our “digital pile” and pull it out someday. We won’t send you any money, but you will be famous worldwide! Email to: Underway@LatsAtts.com.
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Latitudes & Attitudes 85 4/25/19 11:35 AM
By June Sage, sailing MaliaLynn, a Rafiki 37 designed by Stan Huntingford, on San Francisco Bay
A sunset sail on Sweet Liberty, off the Old Naples, Florida pier, waiting for fireworks. Tess, Suzy and Tbo in their 4th of July tanks
By Joe Fema of s/v Wildevaart, St Vincent
Mark and Bridget Cosans in Toronto, Canada
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By Greg Sage, Pacific North West
By Robert Holden, S/V Tenacity in Graciosa in the Canary Islands
By Kim Aaboe, working in the Arctic, sailing in the Caribbean, s/v Gaia II, Arctic Bay, Nunavut, Canada
By Stephan Barry, Morgan City
Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of their birthplace
By John Butler, San Diego, CA
Steven Meckstroth in Virgin Gorda’s North Sound before the hurricanes W W W .L AT S A T T S . C O M
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Latitudes & Attitudes 87 4/25/19 11:35 AM
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Preparing for Passage
Things we have learned along the way
By Suzy Carmody
Preparing for an ocean passage can be quite daunting— even the most experienced sailor never gets complacent about the complexity and importance of the task. Safety, sustenance, navigation, and weather all require careful planning starting several weeks in advance. Over the last ten or more years, Neil and I have made six ocean passages as well as numerous extended cruises aboard Distant Drummer, our Liberty 458 sloop. We have crossed the Pacific from New Zealand to Alaska via Hawaii and French Polynesia and have crisscrossed the Tasman Sea three times. I thought it might be w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
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Latitudes & Attitudes 97 5/1/19 10:07 AM
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interesting to share some of the considerations and preparations that we go through prior to setting out on an ocean voyage. Long-Lead Items In writing this article I assume that the vessel in question is in good order, regularly maintained, and ready to go sailing. It is worth checking everything over a couple of months before the planned departure date and starting a checklist sooner rather than later. Some of the issues which come up may be “long-lead” items and can take weeks to get sorted out. Some things that are easily overlooked include: checking that the sails, rigging, halyards, and sheets are in sound condition; making sure that the certifications for the EPRIB and other safety equipment are up to date; checking that the First Aid kit and grab bag are complete; testing that the radios and communications (sat phone and Sailmail in our case) are working; and ensuring that the genset and watermaker are operational. Other items not related to the boat—but require the application of a little grey matter ahead of time— include monitoring the weather, navigation and route planning, confirming the Customs and Immigration requirements at the destination, and checking radio nets and schedules, if you use them. I flag these items here but I shan’t go into any further details in this article. Above Decks When preparing the above deck areas for an ocean passage there are two important aspects that we bear in mind: the first is to get w w w .L at s a t t s . c o m
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the center of gravity of the boat as low as possible. Anything that is not essential on deck is stowed aft or below decks. The decks are cleared of all jerry cans, bicycles, surf boards, and other toys. These, along with a myriad of other miscellanea, are packed onto the forward bunk and tied down. We use a halyard to maneuver our 40kilogram anchor back to the aft deck to allow the boat to cut cleaner into heavy seas and at the same time taking some of the weight from the bow, and then tie it down good and tight. The second (and probably more important) aspect is being set up for rough weather. We rig the storm sail on a second track on the mast so it is ready in case it’s needed, and then we lash it securely beside the mast. When waves come over the deck gear moves around and can be washed overboard. We make sure anything left on deck is well fastened down and tied with a couple of extra hitches, for luck! We rig the jack lines along the deck and replace our six dorades with their screw-in covers to help clear the deck and prevent possible leaks below. Engine Although we try to minimize our engine use during a passage, we don’t want to be stuck without the donk (“engine” in the US) when we really need it. In addition to the usual maintenance routines, such as changing the oil and replacing the oil and fuel filters, we make a thorough inspection of the all the engine bits, including checking all cooling, fuel, and hydraulic hoses and clamps and running a spanner over the bolts. We make sure we have plenty of consumables such as spare belts, fuel filters, w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
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Latitudes & Attitudes 99 5/1/19 10:07 AM
Tell Your Wives I’m By Erin Carey
Some of my earliest memories are of accompanying my father to the lake in the town in which I grew up. It was an inland lake, no bigger than a couple of football fields, brown in color, and not particularly scenic. This lake did not entice me to pursue a life of sailing. There was nothing glamorous or exotic about dinghy racing, as far as I was concerned. I suffered a nearbroken nose from the boom one faithful Saturday afternoon, an afternoon when I would have rather been at the mall, shopping with my friends. I remember tagging along with my Dad to learn to sail lessons, my dad the teacher and I the puppet, demonstrating capsizing and tacking, white zinc
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pasted across the bridge of my nose. I was more interested in the boys at the club than I was the sailing, but I dared not tell my father that. “Sailor girl” was the name the other school kids would call me. Unfortunately, it was said as an insult, which made me even less enthusiastic about heading to the lake each week. In hindsight, the name was far from insulting, but it’s funny as a kid what you deem to be upsetting; if only I’d had the confidence to embrace it. But, as a 13-year-old girl, sailing was the last thing I wanted to be doing with my weekends. I liked shopping and makeup, dancing and fashion. Eventually, w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
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Not a Sailor Girl!
Dad stopped inviting me or insisting I come, and I breathed a sigh of relief that my weekends spent sailing were behind me. Life went on and afternoons on the lake became a distant memory. I grew into a young woman and met my future husband Dave when I was 19 years old. I had a successful career in the public service and Dave and I moved to Adelaide, where we had three boys. Life was great. We worked hard, had a beautiful house, and traveled often. We drove nice cars; the kids went to private school. However, as the years passed, we couldn’t help but feel we didn’t quite have the right balance—after all, we only saw w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
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each other for a few hours each day. Surely this wasn’t how things were meant to be? It was a regular Tuesday evening when we finally fell into the couch after a long day’s work. Mindlessly scrolling through Netflix, Dave came across a documentary that he thought sounded interesting. I paid little attention knowing I would no doubt be asleep within minutes. Ninety minutes later, the credits rolling in the background, our eyes were wide, our mouths even more so. We eventually pulled our focus away from the TV to look at one another, aware that we were both thinking the exact same thing. It was a crazy idea. The most insane idea we’d ever had,
Latitudes & Attitudes 103 5/1/19 10:09 AM
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and not by a small amount. It was so crazy, in fact, we were embarrassed to say it out loud. After all, we weren’t sailors, we’d never even owned a boat—what made us think we could sail around at least part of the world? I wasn’t sporty or particularly fit, I didn’t enjoy camping or roughing it, and I hated being uncomfortable. I wasn’t a fan of sand on my skin; going to the beach often left me itchy and sunburnt. Swimming was not my forte, not to mention the fact that I didn’t even like sailing as a youngster. Who was I kidding? What I did love was traveling. And the idea of sailing from country to country appealed to me. I also enjoyed a challenge, and this certainly fit the bill. Dave was extremely handy and switched on, an aircraft technician by trade, so I had no doubt he could handle the boat side of things. But me, what could I bring to the table? Two years passed by in a flash, and we worked towards our goal tirelessly. We bought a yacht sightunseen in the Caribbean, and left early one summer morning to fly to the other side of the world to begin our new life. I had numerous moments of fear and doubting in those two years, worried that I wouldn’t enjoy living on a boat. After all, I wore high heels and a face full of makeup to work each day. I colored my hair every six weeks, and I liked designer handbags. Would I really enjoy the boat life? As luck would have it, I needn’t have worried. Oh, what a life it was. The freedom was addictive; being the master of our own time, being able to do what we wanted, when we wanted to, was exhilarating. Our family bond grew as we discovered new lands, ourselves, and each other. I found a love for writing and used our tight budget and lack of funds as motivation to push myself into my new career. I was challenged and inspired like never before. We were surrounded by our tribe; people
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we would meet for an hour would feel like lifelong friends. Things that once used to matter to me no longer seemed important, and I enjoyed worrying less about what others thought. I embraced the natural look and didn’t miss the corporate world one bit. My husband found that boat life suited him perfectly and the kids thrived. A two-year sabbatical turned into us selling the house and cruising indefinitely, unable to return to the life we once lived. So, to all the women reading this article, or to the men whose wives are worried they’re not cut out for sailing, take it from me. I too didn’t feel sailing was for me. I disliked it as a kid and, until that fateful night when we watched Laura Decker’s documentary, I had no desire to sail as an adult. I’m still not a fantastic sailor, but I’m learning every day. Of course, there are things I miss out here, like hot showers and owning a car, but when I’m helming the boat in open waters with the spray in my face and the breeze in my hair, I can tell you this: I absolutely love living on the water! Sailing is only 10% of this lifestyle; 90% is exploring and meeting new people, discovering different ways of life, and discovering yourself. Take it from me, you don’t have to be a “sailor girl” to love sailing!
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Latitudes & Attitudes 105 5/1/19 10:09 AM
It Is Never Good to Throw Anything into the Wind By Gregory A. Larsen
It was the summer of 1987. It was my wife and I’s first time cruising into Canada, with Nanaimo being our northernmost destination. Additionally, it would be the first cruise on our newly acquired and refurbished Cal 25. We acquired our Cal 25, Wind Witch II, knowing it had sat neglected for many years. Therefore, it needed a ton of work. Most of the weekends during the winter and spring of 1987 were spent working on the boat leading up to prepare for our summer cruise. I worked on it so much that I hadn’t sailed the boat hardly at all prior to leaving for our trip to Nanaimo. We left Tacoma, Washington on Thursday night right after work. On our first night we motored to Eagle Harbor and spent the night tied up at our yacht club’s outstation. The next day we motored up the inside of Whidbey Island, through the
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Snohomish Slew and then spent the night at Capa Santa’s marina in Anacortes. We continued north the next day, mostly motoring due to lack of wind. I was really hoping to do more sailing. Eventually we reached Canada, and cleared customs at Bedwell Harbor. Finally we got a light breeze and lazily sailed through the Gulf Islands. We arrived at Silva Bay late in the afternoon. The anchorage was full of boats swinging on their hooks therefore we had no choice but to tie up to the dock in Silva Bay. In those days, it cost $35 for a 25-foot boat to tie to the dock. That was a lot of money back then for our little boat, but there was a perk. They gave us $35 in script money to use at the restaurant and/or store. Since we had already eaten dinner in the restaurant prior to getting the script money, we decided to use the script money to buy stuff in the marina’s small store. We bought w w w .L at s a t t s . c o m
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From $175/night!
LEARN TO SAIL! a package of bacon to go with the eggs we already had and a few other odds and ends. With the last of our script money, I bought a half-gallon of vanilla ice cream. We went back to the boat and had a big bowl of ice cream, topped with the blackberries we had picked next to the resort. Keep in mind, we had to eat all the ice cream since we only had an ice box. After gorging on ice cream, we both retired for the evening. It didn’t take long to go to sleep with the help of the gentle rocking of the boat. The next morning when we woke up, I cooked a big breakfast of greasy bacon and eggs. This was the day we were supposed to meet my parents in Nanaimo. It was a sunny, cloudless, windy day. The wind was building from the north. We had two choices for how to get to Nanaimo: we could head through Dodd Narrows or sail into the stiff northerly up to Nanaimo via the Straits of Georgia. The slack tide for Dodd Narrows wasn’t going to be until late in the afternoon. We decided we would get to Nanaimo sooner if we sailed there via the Straits of Georgia. This decision was also influenced by the fact that I had yet to sail our Cal 25 in anything but a light breeze. The wife listened to my reasoning and said, “Okay.” I’m sure she did not realize what was in store for us sailing into the stiff northerly. For that matter, I wasn’t prepared for what was to happen either. The wind was brisk, and had been blowing all morning, well before the sun came up. This led to some nice big swells rolling down the straits. These swells were rolling right into the northern w w w .L at s A t t s . c o m
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Latitudes & Attitudes 111 5/1/19 4:24 PM
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112 Latitudes & Attitudes pg 110-127 L&A Lifestyles - editedbyKatie.indd 4
As soon as I threw the green, smelly, disgusting slime overboard it was picked up by the wind and quickly blown right back into my face entrance into Silva Bay. We motored into the swell at full throttle with our little eight-horsepower Evinrude outboard. The bow was diving under from the waves as each roller raced through the narrow cut that connects Silva Bay to the Straits of Georgia. With the waves threatening to get us wet, my wife and I put on our foul-weather gear. You could tell it was going to be a rough, windy, wet ride up the strait to Nanaimo. We slowly made our way into the straits as we motored against the swells. Once outside the bay and in the straits with lots of leeward room, we raised the sails and headed across the straits on port tack, right into the strong northerly winds. Our little boat sailed beautifully into the wind and waves. Every so often a really big wave would roll by, causing the bow to dive under the wave as it rolled under the boat. As the bow of Wind Witch II plunged into the wave a gush of green water would roll down our flush deck. The water would race along the deck and then cascade off the back edge of our cabin top, where it would dump the load of water into the cockpit. Additionally, when the wave slapped the hull it would send a plume of green water up into the air and then the wind would blow it right into our smiling faces. I was in heaven, enjoying a great heavyair sail on our Cal 25. I was rocking and rolling to the rhythm of each wave. I was one with the boat, even though the boat felt like a bucking bronco. I was really enjoying my first big, windy sail on our new little boat. My wife, on the other hand, started turning as green as the water. I told her to go below and lay down on the cabin floor. This would be the place with the least amount of movement. I suppose it was understandable that my wife was getting seasick. It wasn’t just the greasy breakfast she had before leaving, or the rough conditions, but she was also five months pregnant with our first child.
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+PLUS+
It didn’t take long for my wife to feel sick to her stomach. She asked me for a bucket, which I got out of the cockpit locker and threw down to her. She immediately got sick into our bright red bucket. After emptying her bacon-and-egg breakfast into the bucket, she handed it to me. Here I was, sitting on the weather rail with a bucket of puke in my hands. Just the smell alone was making me nauseous. I decided to throw the slimy upchuck overboard. I was on port tack heading out into the strait, steering with my right hand and holding the puke bucket in my left, contemplating where to toss the smelly bucket’s contents, while making sure I didn’t fall off the boat. Clearly if I tossed it to the low side it would probably land in the cockpit somewhere. Plus, I might lose my balance and fall to the low side or possibly overboard. I decided to lean over the high side and throw the contents overboard. Good plan, right? No!!! As soon as I threw the green, smelly, disgusting slime overboard it was picked up by the wind and quickly blown right back into my face and upper chest. This caused me to gag. I almost threw up myself right there. Luckily, this is the closest I’ve ever come to getting seasick. The next few waves that slammed into the boat eventually flushed the disgusting mess off my face and rain gear. This day taught me a valuable lesson. It is never good to throw anything into the wind.
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Latitudes & Attitudes 113 5/1/19 4:24 PM
140 Latitudes & Attitudes
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Selling Up or Sailing On by Jessica Lloyd-Mostyn
The end of downwind routes poses the classic question: “Do we keep going or is it time to sell?”
From trying to sell a boat on a deadline in a foreign land, to wanting to trade up to a bigger boat, or even friends desperately wanting to bring an end to a cruising dream turned sour, we know plenty of sailors ready to swallow the anchor. But, more inspiring perhaps, are those who find that a different kind of cruising, an expanding family, or a radical change of plans isn’t halting
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Selling Up or Sailing On
Selling a boat in New Zealand their cruising ambitions and are already planning their next sailing season. There is a well-known but rather negative saying about boats warning that there are only two days of happiness when it comes to boat ownership: the first is the day you hand over the money to buy your yacht, the second is the day you sell her. Our own family sailing is certainly not a cruise with a finite end point in sight. But there are countless boaters out there who travel with much more of a plan in mind and, while sailing west from the UK along many well-trodden tradewind paths, we’ve come across a wide range of strategies to peoples’ cruising. Many have made savvy choices about places where they can buy a sound, bluewater boat cheaply and then sail it across to somewhere where they
Adapting the boat to sail with small fry
can sell it for a great profit. The trick of making this kind of plan work is to really know your markets to reap the most of the price advantages of buying in a stagnant one and selling in an active one. We saw many examples of this when crossing the Pacific, coming into contact with a number of people who had bought boats in the USA or Mexico with a view to selling them some 7,000 miles on in Australia and New Zealand after enjoying a season or two in the South Pacific en route. Of course, there are some concerns to negotiate with this type of scheme. You’d need to research the rules regarding import and sales tax associated with selling a foreign yacht. There is also the question of how compatible it is with the local infrastructure for things like electrical voltage and liquified petroleum gas refills and fittings. A
Sailing on, wing and wing
Time for a little maintenance
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At anchor in the Bay of Islands 110-volt boat may be less appealing to buyers in Australia. Another point to consider is all of the stuff accumulated on board. Any boat that has sailed long distance as a liveaboard will have made good use of all of the available space for provisions, kits, souvenirs, and all the other trappings associated with everyday life. This may make for a boat that seems quite cluttered, so you may want to consider paying for separate storage for these items away from the
boat, shipping things home, or even selling some items off. But a buying and selling plan to bookend your sailing goals doesn’t have to go hand-in-hand with ocean crossing or long passages. It’s increasingly common for people to fly out from their home countries in order to buy a yacht in a foreign location, cruise in a particular area, and then sell abroad and return home. This option is popular in the always More boats for sale in New Zealand
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The 50th Anniversary
The World’s Largest The Facts of the Show 2,368,060 sq. ft. 250,000 attendees 2,000 exhibitors Over 100 countries
It all started when boot Show Director Petros Michelidakis asked us if we’d come and cover the 50th Anniversary of boot, the World’s Largest Boat show held in Dusseldorf, Germany every year. He didn’t have to ask twice. A couple years ago he’d invited me to go, and ever since I did, my wife Jody has been on me to go back. It took us about 20 hours of travel time to get there from California, but as soon as we arrived we were in “show mode,” energized by the atmosphere in the exhibition halls. This nine-day event hosts visitors from all over the world, and we owe the fact that we were there to one of our sponsors, NV Charts. We are the only magazine this Germany-based company advertises with in the U.S. So, they helped us with a place to stash our gear, and to get a cold drink and relax during a show that could be exhausting without a home base. Other than the fact that we probably hung out PHOTOS
FROM
154 Latitudes & Attitudes pg 154-156 BOOT Dusseldorf - editedbyKatie 2
THE
EARLY YEARS
there a little too much, they always made us feel right at home! The first boot Dusseldorf took place at the old exhibition grounds on Fischerstrasse in 1969, and it has grown ever since! At that time they had a total of 116 direct exhibitors, seven of which were international, and almost 34,000 visitors. In 1980, boot welcomed its strongest employee: the 84-tonne “Big Willie” that lifts yachts up to a total weight of 100 tons out of the Rhine and brings them into the show. In 1987, boot had 100,000 visitors at the exhibition on one day for the first time. The show just kept growing! The year 1994 was an eventful year for boot: it celebrated its 25th birthday and Monaco, their partner country, arranged a royal visit from Prince Albert. As a gift for the exhibition, Prince Rainier presented an 18th-century anchor, which adorns the tank between Halls 1 and 4 still today. AT
BOOT
,
AS
IT
GREW
TO
BECOME
THE
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y
t
of boot Dusseldorf
Boat Show
By the Numbers Largest Boat Displayed 135 feet Total Aisle length 10.5 miles Over the years the show grew, and grew, and grew some more! On this, the 50th Anniversary, they had an estimated 250,000 people from over 100 countries! The location for boot is at the Messe Center. The place is amazing. It has over twomillion square feet of floor space. If you were to walk down every aisle you would be walking about 10.5 miles! And the show doesn’t just celebrate boats. It celebrates everything water-related. From mega-yachts over 100 feet long (yes, they are indoors, in the mega yacht building!) to power cruisers, all boats are represented. There are three buildings dedicated to sailboats alone! The displays are also pretty amazing. Boats are “floating” in a sea of glass beads, or actually in the water, in an indoor booth! And that’s not all. They have a full-sized wave machine that allows for world-class surfers to show their talents! LARGEST
BOAT
SHOW
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IN
THE
WORLD
!
Latitudes & Attitudes 155 4/26/19 1:00 PM
SailTimer Wind Instrument Look, Ma! No Wires! Air-links to NMEA!
Masthead wind instruments use no wires to run. It’s Plug and Play simplicity.
The Sailtimer App showing wind speed and direction SailTimer made the first masthead anemometer that could transmit directly to smartphones. It is wireless and solarpowered, so no wires to install down the mast. It uses a unique wind cup design where the cups turn into propellers when sailing heeled over, allowing them to maintain equal accuracy. The new SailTimer Wind Instrument uses the replaceable battery as a balance inside the nose cone, with a carbon-fiber pointer arm to further reduce weight. There is an accessory called the Air Link that receives the Bluetooth transmissions and wires into NMEA
electronics. When paired with the free SailTimer tacking app, sailors can get a quick and easy display of their optimal tacks. When used with a Bluetooth speaker, you can put your phone away so it’s safe and dry, and simply hear when wind speed, wind angle, or boat speed change by more than set amounts. This preserves battery power, reduces heat in your phone or tablet with the screen off, and keeps your hands and eyes free for sailing. For more info you can go to their website: www.sailtimerwind.com.
Simple battery replacement
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SiOnyx Aurora
At Last! Color Night Vision That’s Affordable
Below shows the difference between other popular cameras and the Aurora.
The new Aurora fullcolor night-vision monocular The SiOnyx Aurora is the World’s first water-resistant Day/Night Camera. It's the only hi-definition, color action-camera with true day and night imaging. Made for boaters and first responders, this camera is ideal for boating, nature watching, hunting, and other night-vision activities. Color night vision gives you the power to capture all the excitement when other cameras can’t. It also delivers high-quality daytime color recordings. Use your mobile device to control your Aurora remotely, to view what your camera is seeing, and easily share captured moments with friends and family.
It captures images using ultra low-light night vision, even with little to no moonlight or starlight. And it’s capable of doing this using either color or monochrome lens. It shoots video and connects to your smart devices using WiFi or USB 2.0 and uses a standard Micro SD 4-32GB memory card. It is water-resistant and features a rechargable Lithium-ion Battery Oh yeah, and it is IOS and Android compatable. This is something we feel every boat should have on board; for safety and to capture fun events at night. For more info you can go to www.sionyx.com.
Every sailor knows not to enter an unknown anchorage after dark if it’s possible to enter during daylight. But now you can feel perfectly safe entering a harbor at twilight, with these full-color night-vision optics!
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Scrubbis Hull Cleaning Kit Easy-to-Use System Saves Time and Money
The cleaning brush comes with handle tenders The new Davis Scrubbis Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit from Davis Instruments allows a boat owner to easily remove algae, marine life, and waterline scum from almost any vessel while standing on the dock or deck, or even seated in a dinghy. It’s a marine product that actually pays its owner back. The magic of the Davis Scrubbis system is its unique buoyant cleaning head. Once pushed down the side of the hull, its 4.4 pounds of flotation lifts it back up. Since it doesn’t need undue pressure or rapid back-and-forth motion, it’s not a backbreaking chore. Designed for fresh or saltwater, the 5-inch diameter by 16-inch wide cleaning head is made of a durable foam-like material,
so it won’t remove toxic and expensive antifouling paint. Soft cleaning fins take care of most accumulation. For stubborn areas, the head can be flipped to reveal a stiffer fin. With its 43-inch to 86-inch telescoping aluminum handle, and 43-inch extension tube added, Davis Scrubbis has an impressive 12-foot reach to easily clean most remote areas. An accessory product called Waterline Brush features soft cleaning fins on one side and a replaceable scrubbing pad on the other for cleaning brown waterline stains that accumulate just above the waterline on most boats. This new unit is from the folks at Davis Instruments, and if you’d like more info, go to www.davisinstruments.com.
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The Beer Gardens was the perfect place for the party
S Eric Stone with guitarist Eric Ellis rocked the evening
Our volunteer ticket sellers enjoying a perfect evening!
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The lucky winners of the Sunsail BVI Charter
aturday night at 6:30 p.m. about 250 cruisers gathered to celebrate the cruising lifestyle with many of the exhibitors at the show. There were piles of half-pound burgers, cheeseburgers, and pressed-chicken or veggie sandwiches, along with chips, and, of course, plenty of free beer! The event was broadcaste live on Pyrate Radio, hosted by popular disc-jockey Barbarossa and Latitudes & Attitudes founder, Bob Bitchin. Isabella Stefania opened the show. Then Eric Stone took the stage with guitarist Eric Ellis, who plays in a great local ZZ Top cover band. There was raffle for the grand prize, a weeklong charter in the BVI from the folks at Sunsail, one of our original partners in these cruising parties from over 20 years ago! It was a perfect evening in Miami, with temperatures in the low 80’s and the sky clear and full of stars. The party was a big success, and we look forward to doing it again next year!
It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better. - Sir Francis Drake
Miami International Boat Show Cruisers’ Party 2019
The food at this year’s event was the best ever!
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Boat People
Meet some folks who have managed to make a lifestyle out of most people’s dreams. Boat people can be found on oceans and seas scattered around the globe. They can be spotted easily. They are the ones who have a glazed look in their eyes as they scan the horizons. Here are a few we’ve seen. Have you seen any lately? If so, email a photo and information to: Submissions@LatsAtts.com
Murat Albayrak is our biggest fan in Turkey. When we bumped into him at the Dusseldorf Boat Show he told us he sails a Hanse 455 out of Istanbul after learning how to sail in Berkeley, CA. He’s been reading our stuff for almost 20 years now!
This is Mark Cosens. Yes, he looks a little crazy here. He must be, since he volunteered to help us at the Toronto Boat Show. He lives in St. Thomas, Ontario with his wife and son, and they plan on cruising whenever they get the chance.
Brittany Foreman says she sails a lot in the British Virgin Islands and Tortola. She and her husband sail on an Oceanis 43. She has an ROI Coastal Skipper license, and they both are working on their Offshore Skippers license now.
Kimber Hamilton is a real sailor! She worked in the BVI selling boats, has worked with Sea Shepherds, ran a catamaran out of San Diego, and has managed to generally spend the vast majority of her life having fun, surfing, and sailing.
This is Remi sailing aboard Las Lunas in San Francisco Bay. She was our ticket-puller at the Pacific Boat Show in Richmond, CA last year. She did a pretty good job, so we figured if she shows up again this year, we’ll let her do it again!
Norm Plotkin grew up sailing on his dad’s Creekmore 30 in South Florida. He has sailed out of Bellingham, WA to Desolation Sound, and has been an avid sailor all of his life. He is also a member of the Cruising Outpost Founders Circle! Thanks Norm!
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