LETTERS
THE BAY'S BEST-KEPT SECRET UNSURPASSED FACILITIES
STEVE BAKER
Ultra-wide slips and innovative concrete docks with round fingers. Beautiful restrooms and showers, and plenty of parking.
CONVENIENCE
All slips feature double 50amp 125/250V power, free dock box, DSL phone line, and pumpout at every slip. Parking, WiFi and ice are complimentary.
LOCATION
STEVE BAKER
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Westpoint Harbor is close to San Francisco and San Jose airports, and minutes from historic downtown Redwood City. At 50 acres, Westpoint Harbor is one of the largest recreational marinas in Northern California, and enjoys more than 300 sunny days per year.
“Westpoint Harbor is a one of the friendliest harbors we’ve ever kept 'Illusion'. From the first day, we were welcomed into its warm supportive community of sailors and power boaters. Conveniently close to home and easy, all-tide access to the Bay makes this a perfect place to re-fit and enjoy the South Bay sunshine. Thanks to Westpoint for their incredible support for the America’s Cup video testing.” – Stan and Sally Honey
www.westpointharbor.com 650 224-3250
1529 Seaport Blvd., Redwood City, CA 94063 Page 56 •
Latitude 38
• July, 2011
for free, too! More recently, we've been in La Paz, which is the friendliest and most helpful community we've ever encountered. We've developed many close friendships. On January 25 last year, I injured my back to the point that I was actually paralyzed. When we called Dr. Tuchmann, a local doctor, he not only came to our boat to check me out, but he absolutely went into overdrive to see that I would recover. The doctor determined that I needed to see an orthopedic surgeon, so he brought Dr. Mondragon, one of the top Charlotte and Steve Baker have surgeons in Mexico, out to loved cruising Mexico . . . our boat to examine me! To make a long story short, I had an MRI to confirm what they suspected was wrong. So they set up a surgery team of three doctors and assorted nurses to see me through six hours of complete back reconstruction surgery. I have since fully recovered, and my back is in better condition than before the surgery. What an absolutely fantastic and unbelievably positive experience — at probably one-tenth of would it would have cost in the States! Based on my experience, the medical care in Mexico is fantastic, and puts U.S. medical care to shame. As a case in point, all the doctors I've seen in Mexico — including specialists in Guadalajara — have had us put their numbers in our cell phone so we can reach them personally, any time of day or night. And they have answered their phones each and every time we've had reason to call them. The doctors have also called other doctors to make appointments for me. I could go on and on about the quality of care. Another high note of cruising in Mexico has been our adopted family. Actually, it's a family in the fishing village of San Evaristo 55 miles north of La Paz — and they adopted us. We generally spend December, January and February in San Evaristo, and make a monthly trip to . . . on a Catalina 27! La Paz for supplies. Our adoptive family there made us the godparents of their newest child. We have been truly honored! We want to thank everyone at Latitude 38, and especially the publisher, for having fueled the dream for many of us with the writing in Latitude, and encouraging us that we 'can do it', no matter if our boat is large or small. We know you'll say "gashaw", but it's true. We are loving cruising in Mexico, and plan to continue. Steve & Charlotte Baker Willful Simplicity, Catalina 27 Sausalito Steve and Charlotte — Gashaw. But thank you very much for the kind words. ⇑⇓U.S. HEALTH CARE COMES SECOND TO NO ONE I have read different reports in Latitude comparing medical care in foreign countries to that in the United States.