October 2009 eBook all pages (free PDF, 36.6 - Latitude 38

PHOTOS J. INNIS KIRKLAND
SIGHTINGS
Page 78 • Latitude 38 • October, 2009
the wrath of jimena sequoia yc’s
During the last 10 years, the waters off the Pacific Coast of Mexico
and the Sea of Cortez have been roiled by 82 tropical storms (sustained
winds of 34 to 63 knots) and 69 hurricanes (sustained winds
in excess of 64 knots). That’s a lot of big blows. As a general rule,
they tend to form down by the Mexico-Guatemala border, then head
northwest to their death partway to Hawaii. Unlike hurricanes in the
Atlantic/Caribbean, Eastern Pacific hurricanes and tropical storms
generally head away from land and population centers.
There are exceptions, however. During the summer, almost all
cruising in Mexico takes place in the Sea of Cortez. Over the last 10
years, cruisers in the Sea have been threatened by five hurricanes or
their tropical storm remnants: Juliette (‘01), Ignacio and Marty (‘03),
John (‘06), and Norbert (‘08). Early last month, Hurricane (and later
continued on outside column of next sightings page
On 09/09/09, Sequoia YC hosted the
4th Annual Give Something Back fundraiser
benefiting the Peninsula Youth
Sailing Foundation, the Marine Science
Institute, and both girls’ and boys’ Mariner
and Sea Scout programs.
This special race was started four years
ago by club member Ted Hannig, who decided
he didn’t want gifts on his birthday.
He’d always found the boating community
helpful, particularly in his own youth,
so he wanted to give back instead. With
help from the generous members of the
Sequoia YC, this hugely successful event