derer is that the couple, now in their 70s, have been out cruising for 17 years now. Time really does fly when you're having fun. The Queensland coast of northeast Australia was hit by Tropical Cyclone Debbie, a Category 4 and the strongest to his Australia in 40 years, on March 2930. There was tremendous destruction to boats and marine interests. Unfortunately, Debbie smashed its way through the Whitsunday Islands, Queensland's famous sailing and tourist destination, with winds exceeding 140 miles per hour. She left a trail of destruction on Hamilton Island and the mainland towns of Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour and Proserpine. Boaters from the famed sailing destination — which may be familiar to Pacific Puddle Jumpers — are now facing the daunting task of salvaging vessels from damaged marinas and harbors. Let Debbie be a warning to all cruisers about to leave their boats in Northern Hemisphere tropical zones that boats need to be put away with the assumption that they will be hit by a tropical storm. We're pleased to report that while
Jack van Ommen of the Gig Harbor, Washington-based Nadja 30 Fleetwood made it 'around the world in 80 years'. Originally he planned to make it around in less than 80 years, but what's a month? Jack didn't start cruising until after he was 60, but he's now visited 60 countries with his boat. One of the countries he visited recently, and will soon return to, is Cuba. We'll have more from Jack in the next issue. For a change of pace, Jason and Vicki Hite of the Long Beach-based Caribbean 50 Volare, now completely repainted and looking beautiful, go to the movies in La Paz. "We just got back from seeing Rapido y Furioso 8," reports Jason. "What a great movie! I wouldn't pay US prices to see it in a crowded theater, but at the Cinemex Platino here in La Paz, with the Barcoloungers, it's just $3.25 a person. I'd probably spend all summer in the
LATITUDE/RICHARD
IN LATITUDES
The amazing Jack van Ommen has not only cruised to 60 countries after age 60, he's done it on a very small budget. Yes, you can do it!
theater if I wasn't on a boat! The Rock is a great action star, probably my favorite since Arnold Schwarzenegger." You know how you're always supposed to run your diesel under load to ensure its long life? Especially if it has a turbocharger. Well, Steve Schmidt of the SC70 Hotel California, Too tells us that in the last 20+ years, he's almost always used his Yanmar 75, with a turbocharger, for nothing but charging batteries. Almost never for propulsion.
JUST FINISHED DREDGING LOCH LOMOND MARINA SAN RAFAEL
(2) 46' Covered Slips Available • (1) 50' End Tie
www.lochlomondmarina.com May, 2017 •
Latitude 38
• Page 123