Locked Out?

Hello all,
I'm sure everyone is aware by now that Mr. Bitchin took on a partner in the magazine a while back.  Some of us did not take to the new owner right away and pushed hard against the trade.  But it went through.  We have a very exciting story to tell about the rocky transition to new ownerdom and all of the great drama that has followed (you couldn't make this stuff up).  Leading up to today.  Today, we find ourselves locked out of the office.

Please know that Latitudes & Attitudes is not dead.  We will get it back.  Until then, I will continue running Share the Sail, more stable now that Janeen and I run it independently - another dramatic story of new owner embezzlement.  And Bob will be running his pet projects because he can't sit still (and so he can pay his bills).

All these details, stories and more, coming soon.  Add your name to our email list here:
captainwoody@gmail.com

Thanks,

Captain Woody

Cabo Boating

Headed to Cabo to move a boat up to San Diego.  Check capwoody on twitter for position updates.

---
sent from droid

Grenadines StS Adventure Pix

Just back from an awesome trip with 60 of my newest friends.  8 boats for 10 days through the southern caribbean.  Standby for info on our next adventures.  Pix:
http://www.facebook.com/events/215381901913954/

Kayaking with Blue Whales

Kayaking with the Blue Whales in Redondo Beach, CA off King Harbor.  Yep, a little bumpy.

Woody Tracker - Paradise Cove, Malibu, CA

Woody Tracker
Latitude:34.01781
Longitude:-118.78207
GPS location Date/Time:11/10/2011 15:38:41 PST

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34.01781,-118.78207&ll=34.01781,-118.78207&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Delivering a nice Beneteau 47 with Alex from San Pedro to Channel Islands Harbor.  Easy smooth short cruise.  Great food.

WoodyDena Tracker - Two Harbors, Catalina, CA

WoodyDena Tracker
Latitude:33.44299
Longitude:-118.49797
GPS location Date/Time:10/13/2011 14:19:57 PDT

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.44299,-118.49797&ll=33.44299,-118.49797&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

WoodyDena Tracker - Little Harbor, Catalina, CA

WoodyDena Tracker
Latitude:33.38058
Longitude:-118.48392
GPS location Date/Time:10/12/2011 11:13:56 PDT

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.38058,-118.48392&ll=33.38058,-118.48392&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

WoodyDena Tracker - Approaching Catalina, CA

WoodyDena Tracker
Latitude:33.47982
Longitude:-118.54535
GPS location Date/Time:10/11/2011 13:32:58 PDT

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.47982,-118.54535&ll=33.47982,-118.54535&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

WoodyDena Tracker - Off Redondo Beach

Headed for a week in the islands and Latitudes & Attitudes Cruiser's Weekend.

WoodyDena Tracker
Latitude:33.80889
Longitude:-118.42053
GPS location Date/Time:10/10/2011 11:46:57 PDT

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.80889,-118.42053&ll=33.80889,-118.42053&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Enviro Notebook for Livaboard Magazine (2)

As Livaboards, clean water is especially important to us.  We live on it, swim in it and drink it.  We should have a say in how clean it is.  
We are living in a fascinating time.  Yes, there is a divide between people in our country over different things.  But there is a place where we come together, time and time again.  We feel strongly about having clean air and water to keep our families healthy and our national treasures flourishing.  Livaboards and shorebound alike want our lakes and rivers and coastal waterways to be clean and healthy - places to enjoy for generations to come.  77 percent of Americans say, “Congress (should) let the EPA do its job.”  63 percent of Americans say “the EPA needs to do more to hold polluters accountable and protect the air and water,”  (source online:  bit.ly/mUoG1Z  and more here: pollingreport.com/enviro.htm).
We are seeing a great battle being waged.  On one side are those of Us who want to keep the air and water clean.  On the other are powerful corporate interests demanding to profit at the expense of our health.  But what can we-the-people do in the face of such odds?  I've learned there is a lot we can do.

1) Check out the website:  www.getmoneyout.com and sign your support.  It returns democracy to Us voters.

2) How you spend your money determines how companies act.  Defund polluters by not buying their products. When you can, buy natural and organic products.  Some of the best boat cleaners now are plant based (I'll list some green boat products in a future installment).   Re-use and recycle when you can.

3)Vote.  And contact your representatives.  Let them know that you don't agree that corporate pollution is more important than your families health.

From:  http://huff.to/ogrA8R  -  “Water makes up 60% of our body, 70% of our brain, and 80% of our blood; clean water certainly DOES matter. And who can argue against everyone's right to clean water for swimming, drinking, and fishing?
It turns out that some members of Congress DO take exception to that statement. In fact, Congress lately has been hell bent on eviscerating a hallmark piece of American environmental legislation -- the Clean Water Act. This law, which serves as a model for environmental legislation world wide, has been responsible for revitalizing streams, creeks, rivers, lakes, and bays across the nation, including iconic waterways like the Hudson River, which -- due to catastrophic pollution -- was a national laughingstock in the 1960s. The Clean Water Act is the most effective tool we have to protect our right to clean water. And now the Act is under assault.
You may know that this July, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2018, which would strip EPA's powers to set national clean water standards and set up a race to the bottom for polluter friendly states to court irresponsible industry. H.R. 2018 is the most audacious attempt by Congress to gut the Clean Water Act and attack our right to clean water. Communities across the country are rallying to ensure the Senate isn't as short-sighted as our representatives.”
Who voted for this assault on our health you ask?  The list is here:  http://bit.ly/r2SJy3.  If your rep is on it, please contact him/her and let them know that you don't approve.  To contact your reps go to:  govtrack.us and click on 'Members of Congress'.  Then punch in your zip code.
Let's keep our waters clean.  Our children and their children deserve the best we can give them.
Captain Woody - Quality, Balance and a Clean Wake

Mountain and Harbor Wildlife

Cabin Kitchen Interior Tear-out

At the mountains, it is spectacularly beautiful as usual.  Mostly blue skies but cool thunder storms that last only a few hours.

Been chucking out nuts (organic of course) for the squirrels and chipmunks.  As with the ducks in the harbor, this plan has backfired.  They've been tapping on the window where I sleep in the morning.  Just caught a chipmunk on the dinner table poking at my bag of nuts.

I was staying on Dena's boat when she was away.  Seems she had broken rule one and fed the harbor ducks.  Had to endure the hull tapping late one night.  Couldn't figure it out at first.  Took a few runs at shooing before they'd stay away.

But you're here for sailing adventure.  So let's get back to it.  Just posted the next installment of our 48' Tayana Honduras Adventure:
Column 136 for Lats & Atts

The Straights - Tracker

WoodyDena Tracker
Latitude:48.39421
Longitude:-122.96465
GPS location Date/Time:08/14/2011 11:22:28 PDT
Message:Just checking in.
Click the link below to see where I am located.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=48.39421,-122.96465&ll=48.39421,-122.96465&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Sucia Island - Tracker

WoodyDena Tracker
Latitude:48.76082
Longitude:-122.90659
GPS location Date/Time:08/10/2011 17:12:40 PDT
Message:Just checking in.
Click the link below to see where I am located.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=48.76082,-122.90659&ll=48.76082,-122.90659&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Anacortes, The Adventure Begins - Tracker

WoodyDena Tracker
Latitude:48.50361
Longitude:-122.60361
GPS location Date/Time:08/10/2011 10:56:41 PDT
Message:Just checking in.
Click the link below to see where I am located.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=48.50361,-122.60361&ll=48.50361,-122.60361&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Q&A Cruising Interview

You can see mine and many other cruising interviews here:

http://interviewwithacruiser.blogspot.com/2011/06/10-questions-for-low-key.html

Tahiti StS Pix

 Crazy Beautiful Water and Reefs off Raiatea

 A crazy explorer we found that had fashioned his own shoes
to better traverse the motu

 Another day in paradise ... Tahaa

Velvet Clams

Everyone likes sea slugs

When two sailboats meet

Blowfish, slummin' for snax

Coconuts anyone?

What the anchor is supposed to look like

Copra Drying

Someone likes paradise

What the dinghy painter is not supposed to look like

Ancient Marae on the original settlement island Raiatea

Tahitians would go on to settle Hawaii

Tahiti StS Pix

Tahiti Share the Sail was awesome. Some pix:

Anchored off Tahaa

Sue's Deck Fluff - 'Skipper' Mike

The Fleet

En route Bora Bora

The Fleet off the Motus of Bora Bora

Tahiti Share the Sail Intro (133)

I am of the good fortune to be writing to you from the island paradise of Tahiti. I am sitting in a room overlooking a turquoise lagoon. I am here because 70 of our reader friends were kind enough to sign up for Lats & Atts Tahiti Share the Sail and International Party. It is they that have made it possible for a few Lats & Atts crew, like myself, to come this far to join them in cruising some paradise. So thank you, Tahiti Shailors. There will be a feature story next month with all the details of our Tahitian cruising adventure. But first, how about some background.

Paradise means different things to different people. When I hear the word paradise, French Polynesia is what I think of. The islands have all of the ingredients: warm clear air and water, majestic land, exotic natives, and an ancient sailing culture. For me paradise is a temperate place. A place where climate and culture require minimal clothing. Warm also describes the people. As you treat them well you receive the same. Of course, paradise should have a history of welcoming explorers who have crossed oceans to discover it.

Paradise might also include white sand islets and live coral reefs to provide for and entertain us. And the center island should be jagged and dramatic. No rolling hills here, that's too easy. The land in paradise is steep and challenging, a breeding ground for waterfalls and adventure.

The weather is real. It doesn't sprinkle, it rains. It doesn't rain all of the time but when it does, it comes down thick, if only for a few minutes. That's in the cool season. In the other, the odd cyclone sweeps through to clean things up and to provide the humans with some perspective. With much rain, the land only knows green.

And wind. There would be a constant breeze, always there, like a good friend. A wind that keeps things moving, keeps things fresh, keeps things cool. A familiar wind that has fed a thousand years of sailing culture.

Paradise should not be so easy to get to or remain in, that it is overused. And it should not be overbuilt by profiteers. The French keep their islands remote and disabused. Paradise has a lot in common with French Polynesia.

And last, paradise would have great local dancing representing stories and feats of ancestors. We arrived in Tahiti as the great Heiva (say hay-va) event was ramping up. From my Tahiti Tourism info:

“During these celebrations, local dancing and singing performances as well as sports competitions and games take place over the course of the month. The first explorers, who arrived by sailing ship, noted the importance of these manifestations and the great fervor that the Polynesians had for these festivities. Later condemned and stifled by Christian missionaries, these extravagant displays of art and revelry have managed to re-emerge in the 21^st century. More than just a simple festival, the Heiva I Tahiti has become a time of artistic sharing, technique, folklore and the symbol of a culture proud of its past.”
“Verdant valleys, azure skies and turquoise lagoons, everything here whispers legends of the “ma'ohi” people who discovered these crumpled lands, where the “uru” (breadfruit), the “fei” (wild banana), and the “taro” (tubercle) thrive ... these generous islands whisper to us, 'Maeva', Welcome...”

We stepped off the plane to the fragrant warmth you only find in the tropics. The moist air carries the scent of frangapani. No need for covered boarding ramps here, just amble down the wheeled steps onto the tarmac. We were greeted at the entrance by ukelele's played by seated barefoot brown people in brightly colored shirts. Beautiful vahines offered us each a Tahitian tiare flower, small and fragrant, to put over an ear.

After customs, Tahiti Tourism met us and placed lei's around our necks and whisked us off to the Intercontinental. The first night I shared a room with skipper Adam, the purveyor of a Chicago bar where Jody spends her birthday every year. We got caught up on stories, sailing and otherwise, over a few glasses of Jack rocks.

Adam shipped out first thing in the morning. Him and Bob and Jody had over-water bungalows in Raiatea to get to. That was also where we would soon meet the boats. I had been pretty busy the last month with StS and other projects. So I was ready for some pre-cruise downtime. After a swim in both the sprawling pool and the salt water lagoon, I stretched out in a lounge chair to catch some rays. I figured I should at least look the part of someone who had spent 5 months at sea last year.

Eric Stone and his lovely Kim were my next roomates. Kewl, bunkin' with rockstars. They had a car so we hit town. I exchanged money, got a local sim for my phone and a bought a black pearl on a necklace (don't tell Dena, it's a surprise).

Back at the room we three busted out our food finds and Frog wine and had potluck on our over-water balcony while the island of Moorea faded in the orange sunset. And we had plans. There was Tahitian dancing that night by the pool. I laid down for a quick nap before the big event (claiming jet lag more then age, if that's ok). I woke around 9pm to a Tahitian beat and Eric and Kim passed out on the other bed. We'd have to catch the show the next night.

Eric and Kim left early the next morning on a circumnavigation of the island by car. I went back to work by the pool. And I explored the grounds. I imagine having an eco resort someday and I appreciate the different ways paradise is offered to the visiting traveler.

We did catch the local dancing that night. It was incredible. It wasn't just some local music and a few dances the way I'd seen it before. This was a story played out for us like an opera or a ballet. It was local music and dancing with some narration in both French and English. The live music was made by hard working 'musicians' on ukes, skin drums and hollowed out logs. The dancing was hip shaking, foot stomping, and flowing arms artfully portrayed by young glowing tan bodies.

Late that night I borrowed the car and picked up Dena at the airport. Our old friends Glen and Sherry were on her flight, they too were joining us for our Tahitian sailing adventure. We dropped them at their hotel and finally returned to ours. At o' too early we woke up poor Eric and he dropped us back at the airport.

In Raiatea, Dena and I found our slightly less palatial accommodations via Suzuki Samarai wagon with outdoor seating. Max was our French host. Our pension was a little single-wide high on the hill with a tiny swimming pool. It was clean and the view was spectacular, so we were happy.

I texted Bob that we were on island and they came and got us in his car. Bob, Jody, Adam, Dena and I went adventuring through the hills and valleys and shorelines of Raiatea. We ended up back at their over water bungalow for an off the deck swim. Nice. Two bungalows down was Doug and Wendy and friends from what would later be named 'the naked boat'.

The next morning we got to the base where the work began. After, checking in and filling out paperwork at both Tahiti Yacht Charters and Sunsail bases, doing chart briefings and boat checkout, and directing 6 dozen people into the right boats, the hard work ended and our fun began.  

Tahiti Info and Links

Just hanging out poolside on Papeete. We've got a 10 boat Share the Sail for Latitudes & Attitudes starting Monday. Looking forward to that.

Info on Share the Sail:
http://www.seafaring.com/magazine/shareTheSail.php

Info on Bloody Marys, host of our big mid charter party:
http://bloodymarys.com/

Info on our band:
http://boatsongs.com/

Quality of Living Aboard - Living Aboard Magazine

Most people would agree that living on a boat is pretty low impact, environment-wise. I would argue that living on a boat is not just cleaner but also a higher quality experience than a land based existence.

Land life never seemed quite right to me. I was raised in a nice home and have lived in nice apartments. All that extra space seemed wasted. So I did as my fellow sheep had done and filled the empty spaces with stuff the TV told me I needed. It did make me feel better.

Just out of high school, a friend and I bought a 23' boat with a cuddy cabin to use on the weekends. I remember being envious of the people we met on the dock who lived on their boats. It seemed like a less encumbered way to be. I started to camp out on our boat. I learned that I liked it. Five boats and tens of thousands of ocean miles later … I still like it. After a long trip moving other people's boats, I still enjoy returning to our little home on the water.

For some, the transition from land to sea is not an easy one. They struggle to let go of their junk. They first rent a garage sized storage unit. Over the years they scale down to a 5x5 – oh, that was me. Others find that their stuff was their identity. Ponderous questions plague them, “Will my friends still like me when I don't have more pairs of shoes then them?” If not, I say, they're not very good friends.

The simplicity of life aboard is a highlight for me. I go shopping with my land-locked friends who have homes and families and outsized vehicles. We look at recliners and giant TV's and I'm as excited as they are. Doubly so, because I don't have to figure out how I'm going to pay for any of it. None of that crap would fit on the boat. When I want my hi-def TV to be bigger I just move the laptop a little closer – voila. Anchored out, the girlfriend and I can sit in the cockpit, chillin' in our recliner, er, beanbag, and bring the entertainment system out with us. Same show, just more flexible and efficient.

Mix some spare time with idle hands and see what you get. At one point, the boat and I found ourselves living on savings, tied up to a place where the beer was expensive. That's when I learned how to brew beer onboard. Hallelujah! How was it? Two words: Awe some. More recently, the girlfriend started a mini farm on the boat. I'm not sure what she's going to do when that avacado plant becomes a tree.

Living in a water front community means, that at least along the shore, the land is pretty flat. And that makes it good for bike riding. Weeks go by that I don't visit my poor car. Our bikes have baskets and we shop, run errands, and get places on the bikes. The fact that we're also getting some light exercise is simply a bonus.

We both travel for a living. Since everyone wants those kinds of jobs, they don't always pay well. A lower income works out fine for us. We live on a boat so we have a fraction of the expenses of our friends. We're surrounded by million dollar homes with landscapers and security systems and owners with 60 hour work weeks. Same as our large homed neighbors, we have a two minute bike ride over to the beach. The difference is that you can find us there, playing volleyball and soakin' up rays, at noon on a Tuesday.

Bored with where you're living? No need to bother with boxes and a moving van. Just untie, scoot off and tie up somewhere's else. Home is where your boat is. We're fortunate to have internet onboard. Fortunate, I say, because I can do all of my non-travel work from home. The marina has wifi but we can also get good fast service through the cell phone now. With our loose schedules and the mobile internet, we can take off mid week and cruise our home over to the island without losing touch with our income generators. They do keep a desk for me at the office, 10 minutes by bike, but I don't make the commute very often.

A guy moved onto our dock about a year ago. He had the high pressure job, the tall expensive blonde girlfriend and probably a big shiny car though I don't get out to the parking lot much. He also had the workin-fo-da-man frown. Well, things didn't get better for him right away. The girlfriend quickly figured out that she couldn't live in the confines of a boat and departed unceremoniously. Next to go was the high pressure part of the job. Without land life expenses he learned he could live with less income. They transferred him to a position where he could work less and work from “home”. And that's when he lost the frown. You should see him now, a year later, walking on the docks with a big smile on his face. He'll tell anyone who'll listen about how he used to wear a suit everyday and, “Have a look. I'm in sweats and a T-shirt!” We know, we've known for years.

A vast portion of society has decided that quantity is everything – bigger house, bigger car, bigger kids ;). As live-aboards we are part of a great experiment. We have made a conscious decision to live as if Quality counts more than quantity. Good for you and good for Us.

Captain Woody

Quality, Balance and a Clean Wake