at St. Martin because of this cadre of petty tyrants whose greatest joy in life apparently comes from making the lives of others as miserable as their own. No wonder so many mariners either don’t check in at all or take their boats and money to the French side of the island. While the customs and immigration folks at Tortola in the British Virgins aren’t as bad, there are many problems there, too. For example, when one woman recently tried to check in from another country, two officials repeatedly yelled conflicting instructions at her regarding which window she needed to go to next, and yet another pretended not to notice she was spraying bug spray in her face. Fortunately, the woman was rescued by yet another official, this time a kind, friendly and humorous gentleman who was as out of place as Al Gore at a Tea party convention. As they say, you only get one chance to make a good first impression, so why do so many islands in the Caribbean permit all their officials to make such bad ones for them, resulting in untold lost revenue and jobs? "I've been running non-stop from Mexico to Monterey to Malaysia," writes
LATITUDE/RICHARD
CHANGES
The amenities at the Raffles Boatyard in Singapore are definitely first class. But you have to pay to play.
David Addleman of Monterey, who owns the Cal 36 Eupsychia and X X, the Santa Cruz 50 he recently purchased in Malaysia. "I finally read all the way thru the March issue while literally watching
SCHOONMAKER POINT MARINA
the paint dry on the bottom of X here at the Raffles Boatyard in Singapore. So far it seems like a first-class operation — with prices to go with it. I singlehanded Eupsychia from La Cruz to Monterey in 13 days and nights. It was so tough leaving the cruiser social scene in La Cruz that I implemented the technique the publisher of Latitude calls 'the Newport Ditch' — which is just suddenly disappearing. If anybody's feelings were hurt, I know they'll get over it soon. And I'll be back someday. Singlehanding Eupsychia home involved a moderately rough trip, but was nonetheless a great experience. Surprisingly, I had the worst weather of the trip right out of Banderas Bay. It was the windy stuff right on the nose that allowed the Puerto Vallarta Race fleet to finish in record time. But thanks to some unusual westerlies, I even managed to do some sailing up the coast of both Baja and California. It was espcially nice to be able to sail after the cutlass bearing went clunk-clunk off Big Sur." "Once back here in Malaysia," Addleman continues, "I singlehanded X the 12 miles from Danga Bay to the asphalt
"Sausalito's Finest Marina"
• IN SAUSALITO •
Call the Marina Office for more information
415•331•5550 FAX 415•331•8523 www.schoonmakermarina.com
160 Berth Marina in one of the most beautiful spots on the Bay
85 LIBERTY SHIP WAY, #205 SAUSALITO, CA 94965
• Visitor berths • Guest moorage able to handle yachts up to 200 ft. • Dry storage • Waterfront Offices • Three-ton Hoist • Windsurfing • Deli • Beach • Rowing • Kayaking • Yacht clubs always welcome
or check our web site at
Page 164 •
Latitude 38
• April, 2010