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were inside the channel. Without that light, I believe we would have stopped racing out of concern that there may be datum error on the chart plotters, we had mistaken a traffic light for channel light, or something else that could have put us onto the rocks with assured loss of boat and probably crew. I, for one, do not believe lighthouses are out of date, and I know many other sailors and professional mariners who feel the same. Tom Dick Eau De Vie, Beneteau First 42s7 Honolulu

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As mentioned before, the lighthouses aren't being taken out of service, it's just that the Coast Guard is relinquishing control of them to the GGNRA. With regard to boats having to race through a double hairpin at night to finish at Nawiliwili, it's hard to imagine how much a lighthouse helped. We remember being there for the finish of the first Pacific Cup, and many of the skippers were confused trying to come in — even though they were no longer racing.

Jack London Square April 18-22

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⇑⇓THE OVERWHELMING MYSTERY OF EXISTENCE With regard to the January Changes titled Pyramid Blues At Lake Atitlan by Antonia and Peter Murphy of the Pt. Richmond-based Mariner 36 Sereia, I have a few observations and questions of ordinary madness. 1) Contrary to what Antonia claims, several restaurants in San Marcos do serve meat. I like the one in the town square near the school. Of course, you would have to dine with the locals. If they were there for a month — sorry, 28 days — they would have seen these places. But if they had seen the restaurants, they would have had to contrive another excuse to kill the turkey — and possibly forgo the indulgent advertisement for themselves. 2) Las Piramides Meditation Center is best enjoyed by those who are interested in personal growth. In addition to the known benefits of yoga and meditation, Las Piramides further offers explanations of tarot, numerology, astrology and more. It's quite the grab bag — kind of like a college survey course. I find these subjects provide an expanded vocabulary to lend expression to the perception of life in the face of the overwhelming mystery of Antonia, seen having just cut a clump of hair off existence. So prior to a passage, always makes us laugh. even just on an aesthetic level these subjects are satisfying. As a supposed novelist, Antonia might be interested in that kind of mind expansion. Or perhaps not. 3) Chati, the principal spiritual teacher, who owns and operates the center, is a kind, funny, knowledgeable Mayan. She is involved with community affairs, and she’s initiated progressive projects in the community that benefit others. She never pushes her beliefs, she just shares them. While not all of my beliefs are reflections of hers, I could see her value to the community and her deep involvement in a committed life. It certainly provides for a great contrast to Antonia’s paean