October 2009 eBook all pages (free PDF, 36.6 - Latitude 38
October 2009 eBook all pages (free PDF, 36.6 - Latitude 38
October 2009 eBook all pages (free PDF, 36.6 - Latitude 38
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35' Harbormaster Houseboat, 1980<br />
$33,000<br />
30' Island Gypsy, 1982<br />
Fly Bridge Trawler. $59,500<br />
40' Buchan Sloop, 1958<br />
$19,500<br />
Page 64 • <strong>Latitude</strong> <strong>38</strong> • <strong>October</strong>, <strong>2009</strong><br />
since 1968<br />
Yacht Sales<br />
40' Kayot Pontoon Houseboat, 1973<br />
$16,900<br />
31' Flybridge Silverton, 1978<br />
$12,000<br />
26' Columbia Sloop, 1970<br />
$5,900<br />
• FULL SERVICE BOAT YARD AND DRY DOCK:<br />
Haulouts up to 60 tons, expert fiberglass and metal<br />
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• PARTS and SERVICE<br />
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PO Box 520, Bethel Island, CA 94511<br />
(925) 684-2330<br />
www.marineemporium.com<br />
LETTERS<br />
long as you take the normal precautions, you shouldn't have<br />
any problems with crime.<br />
You confuse us when you say you're going to sail south<br />
of the Canal, but then seem to suggest that you'll be doing it<br />
on your way to Venezuela and the Lesser Antilles. If you sail<br />
south of Panama, you'll pass the Pacific coast of Colombia on<br />
your way to Ecuador. The Pacific coast of Colombia is not only<br />
remote, it's largely lawless. Some cruisers were attacked there<br />
a year or so ago while anchored out, and think they only survived<br />
because their shouts attracted the attention of another<br />
cruising boat that just happened to be nearby. This is not the<br />
safest place.<br />
If, on the other hand, you're talking about the Caribbean<br />
coast of Colombia, you shouldn't have any problems at the<br />
San Blas Islands or Cartagena. The last time we were there,<br />
the coast between the two was a no-man's land. Lots of folks<br />
in the San Blas can give you the current info. A few years ago<br />
there were a number of violent incidents against cruisers — including<br />
some Ha-Ha vets — on the coast of Colombia between<br />
Cartagena and Cabo Velo. You should consult with the big cruising<br />
community at Cartagena before deciding whether to stop.<br />
We assume you're aware that the passage from Cartagena to<br />
Cabo Velo is frequently one of the nastiest upwind passages<br />
in the world of cruising, particularly between mid-December<br />
and June. And it's not very easy the rest of the year either, so<br />
make sure you gird up for it.<br />
Lots of cruisers still go to Venezuela, but violent incidents<br />
have been on the rise, particularly in the eastern part of the<br />
country. There's no convenient place to put a boat on the hard<br />
for hurricane season that is south of Venezuela, so we'd recommend<br />
either a marina in the area of Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela,<br />
or at Trinidad. While Trinidad is north of Venezuela, it's still<br />
south of the hurricane zone.<br />
No matter where you go, your greatest security risks will be<br />
while you're ashore. Nonetheless, we suggest that you always<br />
be vigilant along the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela.<br />
⇑⇓WE'RE PRETTY SURE WE AGREE WITH YOU<br />
In a recent 'Lectronic there was a piece about the Delta,<br />
with a photo of boats anchored in Middle Slough. The far<br />
boat looked like a Searunner trimaran, which is the kind of<br />
boat I own.<br />
Having established a connection, I know you've run many<br />
Delta articles in the past, but here is how it works now. I go<br />
to maps.google.com and drill down to see what I want to see.<br />
The point is, I want to orient myself on a map/chart, so I look<br />
for 'waypoints' — places that were mentioned in the article<br />
— on Google Maps. That's the way it works these days, not<br />
just for me, but for any internet-savvy person.<br />
Name Withheld By Request<br />
Bay Area<br />
N.W.B.R. — We're a little bit confused about what you're<br />
recommending, but we're enormous fans of Google Maps and<br />
Google Earth. In fact, some of our favorite 'sailing porn' is using<br />
Google Earth to revisit anchorages we've been to around the<br />
world.<br />
Ever since Google Earth came out, we've recommended that<br />
cruisers heading to Mexico — and other places — print out a<br />
color aerial photo of each anchorage they might want to visit.<br />
Such aerial views are great safety aids in that they correct inaccurate<br />
'chartlets' found in many cruising guides, and give a<br />
great over<strong>all</strong> idea of the lay of the land and possible dangers.<br />
So, of course, mariners should use Google Earth to help plan and<br />
enjoy their sailing adventures in the Delta and elsewhere.
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