Latitude 38 Magazine

10/27/2025

I get a big laugh every time I look at this fishy photo of Larry. It was taken when we were sailing down the Red Sea in late August. Clothes had definitely become redundant due to temperatures in excess of 110 F (43 C) and 98% humidity. Fish was delicious! How about sharing your favorite cruising fish photo.

10/27/2025

America's Cup winner, Rolex Big Boat Series winner and SailGP founder with Russell Coutts, Larry Ellison is also the world's richest sailor. All his sailing success started in a Lido 14 on San Francisco Bay.

How did this happen? As he said, "I've had all the disadvantages necessary for success. He's proven it with Oracle, with sailing and now taking giant steps into media with his son, David Ellison, by purchasing Paramount Pictures, CBS Newsand owning TikTok may be on the horizon. We're glad to see another Bay Area sailor join us in the media business.

Regardless of money, being a sailor is a sure way to enjoy a rich life.

Of the ten richest people in the world, five are West Coast sailors. Larry Ellison, who once sailed the Lido 14, is one of them.

10/26/2025

Fast, shapely, elegant and still formidable on the race course, Mari-Cha III was and still is one of the world’s most impressive yachts, writes Yachting World’s ex-editor, Elaine Bunting.

We ask top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our time. Elaine Bunting nominates the Maxi Ketch Mari-Cha III.

Created to break records, this Philippe Briand design was built in 1997 for American Bob Miller.

Mari-Cha III seized the outright monohull transatlantic record in 1998, the big ketch crossing the finish line at The Lizard on 24 October 1998 in 8d 23h.

She claimed a fistful of record passages, including, in 1999, the fastest ever from Sydney to Hobart.

Sailing the 630-mile course in 1d 18h at a then-phenomenal average of 14.75 knots, but often hitting 30 knots.

Refitted with a 3m taller mast, she now races in some of the big superyacht regattas.

The development of batten cars, halyard locks, outhaul claws, and square-top mains has increased the amount of canvas she can carry.

Maxi Ketch Mari-Cha III stats rating:
- Top speed: 32.45 knots
- LOA: 44.7m
- Launched: 1997
- Berths: 13 (8 guests)
- Price: US$3.4m
- Adrenalin factor: 70%

10/21/2025

Dave Wilhite recently did his own SF Bay Singlehanded Sailing Society Longpac - just on his own. For the fun of it. He did it aboard his Dragonfly 1200 'Symphony' from Dragonfly Trimarans. A quick 400-mile round trip into the Pacific and back. Nice work, Dave.

General Sailing Northern California Racing Racing Santa Cruz YC Hosts 2025 Mix and Match Regatta By Sydnie Moore | October 20, 2025 | Santa Cruz | 0 The Mix and Match Regatta (AKA Jack and Jill) has been successfully rebranded to encourage more inclusivity and participation of Santa Cruz Yacht Club....

10/18/2025

The Don Trask International Masters Regatta is happening this weekend at the San Diego Yacht Club. Bill Menninger Newport Harbor Yacht Club currently in first place. Don Jesberg from San Francisco Yacht Club not far behind in third and Tracy Usher from St. Francis Yacht Club is currently in fourth. Two more days of racing.

San Diego Yacht Club honors Don Trask on the eve of the 42nd annual International Masters Regatta.

10/16/2025

Are you an 'Upper Class' sailor? Moore 24's are certainly part of the upper class. So are members of the J105 Fleet 1 San Francisco. So are WASZP sailors. Santa Cruz 27 National Class Association members are certainly way upper class. What class are you part of? SF Bay Folkboat Association

How does sailing help you join the upper class? And we're not talking about social standings, just sailboats.

10/12/2025

In our October letters column, SoCal sailor Barbara McKenna talked about moving to California in 1974, starting sailing with two months on Catalina Island and now owning her eighth sailboat. An amazing journey. How has your sailing story unfolded?

Thanks to all these companies who support the local sailing community and Latitude 38 with their advertising in our current issue.

10/08/2025

Coming soon in the November issue of LATITUDE 38’s Letters, we have two letters proposing what we can only call extreme environmental views on opposite ends of the spectrum. One take proposes prohibiting motoring in a sailboat in the name of environmentalism; the other take proposes to cull the pod of orcas that have been “playing with”/”attacking” sailboats in the Mediterranean.

However, the thrust of this ‘Lectronic Latitude is not to excessively give in to base emotions and illicit outrage to fill out Letters. Rather, we’re wondering if these respective hot takes might help us thread some kind of radically rational middle ground.

We have long maintained that despite the polarizing rhetoric, as sailors, we all fundamentally agree that we love the ocean and are interested in its stewardship. We’re willing to bet that the authors of the following hot takes are against dumping oil and trash into the water. In fact, we’re willing to bet that no matter where any sailor stands on the environmental spectrum, they believe that we should have clean air and water.

So we agree on some fundamentals! Isn’t the rest just a matter of degree?

Despite the polarizing rhetoric, as sailors, we all fundamentally agree that we love the ocean and are interested in its stewardship.

10/08/2025

10/08/2025

Who are these guys and what boat do you think they want to be sailing this year?

Current News General Sailing Maritime History West Coast Sailing Youth Sailing Call of the Sea Celebrates Its 20th Gala Gathering By Call of the Sea + Latitude | October 6, 2025 | San Francisco Bay Area | 0 “What an unforgettable evening at the Call of the Sea Gala!” That’s the report from Cal...

10/07/2025

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