LATITUDE / RICHARD
LETTERS
⇑⇓DISCO BALLS, MAYBE — STROBES, NO For many years masthead strobes were recommended — by the West Marine catalog, for example — as an important navigation aid for sailboats with standard running lights. They were to be used to prevent collisions. Yet last season I was reprimanded by the Coast Guard for having a strobe on my 40-ft sailboat. Can you tell me if the Coast Guard was right? If so, when did masthead strobes become illegal on boats equipped with standard navigation lights? Tom Bobas San Francisco
Keep ports open in the rain • Air out cabin and head • Maintain visibility • Install easily, without tools • Enjoy life aboard more often
Tom — If somebody in the Coast Guard told you it was illegal to have a strobe on your mast, we think they goofed. According to the Coast Guard's FAQ on navigation, while in inland waters, strobes are a recognized and legal indication of an emergency. Be aware, however, that Rule 36 of the International Rules says that the use of strobes is to be avoided in international waters. That's because many navigational aids use strobes or flashing lights, and if you turn yours on, you could confuse other mariners. But if your boat is sinking and you turn on your strobe to let people know where you're going down, we don't think anybody is going to bust your chops. Back in the '80s, we used to have a strobe light on top of the tricolor on our Freya 39. But that was before GPS, reliable and energy-efficient radar, reliable EPIRBs, and all the other electronic miracles. We don't have a strobe on Profligate's mast, nor do we see the need for one.
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Latitude 38
• December, 2009
We also know that Mexico's coasts are far less developed than those of the United States, and that for those with boats, there are still thousands of miles of undeveloped coast. The plan to cover the coasts of Baja with luxury hotels, golf courses, marinas and airports was called The Nautical Stairway. It was a massive failure. Yo u m i g h t The original 'Bridge to Nowhere' at the oft-failed dealso note velopment site Puerto Escondido. that after more than a quarter of a century of trying to turn Loreto and Puerto Escondido into a tourist haven, it's still a flop. Speaking of Hurricane Rick, which initially posed a major threat to Cabo, it not only made a hard turn east, but then headed a bit south, too. The result is that while Puerto Vallarta didn't feel any effect, Punta Mita, 12 miles to the west, was lashed with 50-knot winds for 15 hours.
In a typical month, we receive a tremendous volume of letters. So if yours hasn't appeared, don't give up hope. We welcome all letters that are of interest to sailors. Please include your name, your boat's name, hailing port, and, if possible, a way to contact you for clarifications. By far the best way to send letters is to email them to richard@latitude38.com. You can also mail them to 15 Locust, Mill Valley, CA, 94941, or fax them to (415) 383-5816.