Latitude 38 Magazine

05/28/2026

San Francisco Bay is famously windy. It was true when the windsurfing worlds came to San Francisco in July 1983, and it was true during this past weekend’s Master Mariners Benevolent Association Memorial Day Regatta. It was also sunny, and there’s no better weather combination for sailing and classic-boat races than wind and sunshine.

San Francisco Bay's famous wind combined with bright sunshine to make a classic weather combination for the annual Master Mariners Regatta.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day we honor the men and women who have served and sacrificed in defense of our country. On this weekend in particular it was inspiring to see so many boats flying our nation’s flag during the annual Master Mariners Benevolent Association Regatta. We’ll share that story and more photos later in the week, but for today, we say, “Thank you,” to those who fought and gave their lives for our country.

On this Memorial Day weekend it was inspiring to see so many boats flying our nation's flag during the annual Master Mariner's Regatta.

05/23/2026

We have received a number of emails and comments with questions from readers about West Marine’s recent decision to go through a Chapter 11 reorganization. CEO Paulee Day assures vendors and customers they are not going out of business and says, “Chapter 11 is a legal process that will allow us to restructure by reducing our debt and putting us on a more sustainable financial footing.…”

West Marine's Chapter 11 bankruptcy is intended as a temporary setback while they continue a restructuring of the business.

05/21/2026

Sometimes you have to make fun of a bad situation. That’s what a group of Bay Area sailors decided to do after work on Monday, May 18, with a “Bring Your Own Shovel” party at the entrance to the San Francisco Marina West Harbor.

Several Bay Area sailors got together at the Marina West Harbor Entrance beach for a "Bring Your Own Shovel" party.

05/19/2026

The Sausalito City Council has denied a request by Bridgeway Marina owner Cameron Razavi to lease tidelands* beneath the neighboring marina at Pelican Harbor. The council’s 4-0 vote, taken at a special council meeting last Thursday, May 14, means Razavi’s proposed $13.4 million purchase cannot go ahead.

A 4-0 vote taken at a special council meeting last Thursday, has halted the proposed $13.4 million sale of Pelican Harbor Marina.

05/18/2026

Tragedy first struck a sailor in Southern California when he lost his boat on the shores of Santa Rosa Island, and then again when his rescue flare set the island on fire. SFGATE reported that when the sailboat hit the shoreline on Santa Rosa Island on Friday the captain set off a flare, which lit an unintended grassfire that has now spread to over 10,000 acres of the 50,000-acre island.

A stranded sailor whose boat ran aground on Santa Rosa Island accidentally lit a fire when their rescue flare hit the island.

05/16/2026

Catching up on some LATITUDE 38.

05/15/2026

The May cover of LATITUDE 38 features a photo taken by Erik Simonson of h2oshots: “SF Bay Singlehanded Sailing Society Round the Rocks racers seeking tide relief and breeze through Raccoon Strait.” It turns out that the boat closest to the lens was skippered by Lex Bland. Lex sent us his story about the race.

Skipper Lex Bland wrote to tell us about the race he was in when photographer Erik Simonson captured our May issue cover photo.

05/13/2026

Can you name the biggest park in the Bay Area? If you guessed San Francisco Bay, you’re right. The Bay Area is blessed with numerous beautiful parks on land, but the biggest single park in the middle of the Bay Area is the Bay itself. It almost wasn’t so. Can you believe it?

San Francisco Bay is the biggest park in the Bay Area, and one of the least recognized and most under-appreciated.

05/12/2026

We’re off to a fresh start of a well-loved rally. The upcoming 32nd annual Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally is keeping the tradition of the magical autumn ride south down the coast of Baja with a fleet of living-the-dream cruisers, while also adding some fresh salt to the rim of the margarita glass. The fresh start begins with nine-year Ha-Ha veteran Chuck Skewes as the new Grand Poobah.

In a serendipitous twist, it turns out that Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart has an interest in sailing and has granted the Baja Ha-Ha the right to use the “Steal Your Face” logo and Grateful Dead art on this year’s Baja Ha-Ha gear. With the launch of the 2026 Baja Ha-Ha, Chuck is offering a FREE Grateful Dead hat to anyone signed up by May 15, in addition to the $50 off the registration that applies to everyone who signs up by June 1.

Sign up for the 2026 Baja Ha-Ha by May 15 for a FREE Grateful Dead Ha-Ha hat, and by June 1 for $50 off your registration.