LETTERS Ha-Ha Crew List Party and elsewhere. 4) Don't think that every skipper is looking for experienced crew. Some skippers prefer a mix of experience and novice crew to prevent the 'too many cooks' (skippers) aboard syndrome. If all goes well, I will be on a catamaran heading for Hawaii next month, again courtesy of the Latitude 38 Crew List. Rudi Boekamp Pangaea, Pacific Seacraft 37 Honolulu, HI Readers — Sign-ups for the 2016 Ha-Ha will begin in early May. The event itself will start from San Diego on October 31, one week later than it has in the past. ⇑⇓ A GOOD SELECTION FOR THE HA-HA We think this year might be the one in which we do the Baja Ha-Ha. We are considering purchasing an Irwin 43 or the 52, and are wondering if either one is a good selection for the Ha-Ha. Josh Rosenthal Los Angeles Josh — Irwins have enjoyed a generally good reputation over the years. So as long as the particular Irwin you like was in good condition, we think she'd be fine for the Ha-Ha. Irwins tend to be a little more oriented toward comfort than performance than some boats, but that's not a bad thing.
In central Marin, convenient to Delta & Golden Gate Family owned & operated since 1948 • Best Rates this Side of the Bay – Friendly Staff • 25' - 65' Berths Available • Boat Yards Nearby • Surge and Wind Protected – Out of the Fog • Convenient Location – Warm and Sunny • Whole Foods & Trader Joe's Nearby
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lowrieharbor@sbcglobal.net 40 Pt. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael, CA 94901 Office Hours: M-F 9:30-4:30
www.lowrieyachtharbor.com Page 40 •
Latitude 38
• April, 2016
⇑⇓ SHE DROVE ON THE BEACH 55 YEARS AGO Latitude asked which of the Lapworth 36s ran aground just north of Bahia Santa Maria during a race to Mexico many years ago. Here's the story: It happened in April 1961, 55 years ago, during the firstever Los Angeles to Mazatlan Race. There were nine entries, including Dick Lerner's S&S 38 Gamin from Newport Beach. It was actually Gamin, not a Lapworth 36, that went on the beach. Naturally none of the boats had electronic navigation back then, and Gamin's last visual fix before disaster was near Cedros Island. On the fourth night of the race, Gamin was running under spinnaker on port jibe, steering 135 degrees, thinking they were well offshore. But in the darkness they ran aground nine miles north of Cabo San Lazaro. As many now know, there is a strong onshore current set in this vicinity, and the coast is low, sandy, and difficult to distinguish from the water. Crewmember Dick Fenton described what happened when Gamin hit the beach: "Then all hell broke loose. We heard a roaring behind us at what seemed terrific speed and high over our hull. A crewmember shouted, "My God, we're on a reef!" Then we hit! Two quick jolts and Gamin was free. "Thank God," we thought, "we've bounced over the reef and back into deep water." But then she hit again with a tremendous crash. One huge wave picked her up, held her high in the air for a moment, then threw her violently into the hard bottom. Another breaker did the same. Then another. The noise was terrific. "Gamin began to come apart. The mast came down with a crunch, and huge pieces swung through the darkness on wire shrouds. The main billowed into the water, then was flung back into the boat with a mad fury. Breakers came incessantly, high overhead, and filled our throats with water, twisting us from side to side in the narrow cockpit and wrenching our arms." At dawn the shipwrecked crew struggled ashore and identi-