LETTERS level than do normal visitors. Further, our bonds with friends, family, and each other were strengthened. And last but not least, our Spanish improved greatly, as on a daily basis we had to listen to it and speak it correctly for our own well-being. We want to thank everyone for their love and support — we'll never forget you! And for all you cruisers who anchor in high-traffic areas, our advice is to light your boat up like a Christmas tree. April Rollins Soñadora, Catalina 36 Dana Point April — We suppose that you can thank your lucky stars that you were in Mexico, where the legal system seemed to have worked properly, and not Clear Lake, California, where D.A. Jon Hopkins probably would have tried to prosecute you for being responsible for the accident. We often anchor Profligate on the north shore of Banderas Bay, usually at Punta Mita, but also off La Cruz. When we do, we take April's advice, and really light up our boat. That includes the masthead anchor light, of course, but because it's not at eye-level for nearby dinghy and panga operators, that's just the beginning. We also leave a light on in the main salon which, because Profligate's a cat, can be seen from all around. In addition, we also turn on a light in each hull, which shows through to the outside from at least two ports per side. Lastly, we put garden-style solar lights on each bow and each transom. Given the amount of nighttime panga traffic going in and out of the panga marinas at both Punta Mita and La Cruz, lighting your boat up "like a Christmas tree" is important. By the way, we also use the same lighting scheme at Catalina, where boat operators can be just as reckless. We don't want to come across as an old grouch who whines about safety all the time, but another area in which mariners aren't careful enough is with illuminating their dinghies at night. You are absolutely reckless — and operating illegally — if you don't have a bright light on your dinghy when you're moving at night. Think it's not important? It's been a few years, but a cruiser in his dinghy was killed after a hit and run by a fishing panga at Punta Mita. And as we reported last winter, a couple that were going ashore in their unlit dinghy at St. Barth to celebrate their just-completed circumnavigation, were run down by a big shoreboat for a megayacht. The woman was badly injured, the man was killed. It's also very common to see unlit dinghies rushing around off popular Catalina destinations at night. Please folks, you're playing Russian roulette. Have a light and wave it around so it can be seen from all directions. ⇑⇓A MODEST PROPOSAL I have a modest proposal for the Lake County D.A. Jon Hopkins and his staff, who seem to be having trouble with the concept of what a safe speed would be for a boat on a lake on a moonless night. Since they apparently think that 45 to 55 mph would be a safe speed, we think they should have Deputy Perdock take them out for a night run. Thanks for not letting this one go. Tom Farr La Crescenta Tom — Great minds must think alike, because several days before we received your letter, we wrote the Latitude Safe Speed Challenge that appeared in the September's Sightings. The challenge would require D.A. Hopkins and Deputy Perdock to zoom around Clear Lake on a moonless night at 45 to 55 mph while various members of their families were aboard sailboats Page 70 •
Latitude 38
• October, 2007