KIAPA NUI
IN LATITUDES now been in the Islands seven years, but just haven't been able to figure out how to leave. After all, the weather is great, the water is clear and warm, and the many anchorages are almost always deserted. We now return to the Islands from our home in Mexico every summer, and spend the five months exploring the Islands. Although many of our anchorages are repeats, we have always been able to find a couple of new ones nearly every year." Latitude thinks a lot of cruisers would be interested in a book titled Akauahelo's Guide to Hawaiian Island Anchorages. The early forecast for the 2015 hurricane season in the Atlantic/Caribbean calls for one of the least active ones in decades. According to scientists at Colorado State University, which is nowhere near the ocean, there will be seven named storms, three hurricanes, and one major hurricane — the latter meaning Category 3 or higher. The 30year average is for 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Hurricane forecasting is notoriously
inaccurate, so we encour age readers not to put too much stock in this forecast. As far as we know nobody makes detailed hurricane forecasts for the Eastern Pacific (Mexico) hurricane season because: 1) Almost all of the hurricanes head out to sea, and 2) There are so many hurricanes every year. We're glad to learn that Peter and Susan Wolcott, who have cruised the South Pacific with a Farr 44, a Santa Cruz 52, and a M&M 52 catamaran, are heading that way again, this time aboard Kiapa Nui, the Looping 48 catamaran they've been restoring. "Our new-to-us cat is a pretty interesting design by a Frenchman who employed a couple of tricks that we think are pretty remarkable." the Wolcotts write. "She's low because she's bilgeless, with accommodations very low in each hull. She's not a hot-rod, but so far
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The Looping 48 catamaran 'Kiapa Nui' is the fourth boat that the Wolcotts have taken to the South Pacific. Two monohulls, two cats.
we've liked her. We got down to the Sea of Cortez in November, and have been painting the boat at Puerto Los Cabos. With no more excuses, we hope to make the Marquesas by May." Easter Sunday was especially festive at Tenacatita Bay, Mexico, as federal officials removed fences that for five years had blocked public access to popular Tenacatita Beach at the northwest part of the bay. Prior to the abrupt and highly
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STEERING THE DREAM May, 2015 •
Latitude 38
• Page 119