Trans Pac winds pick up – few leads change

The 35 foot Relentless is still the overall leader as well as having a big lead in Div 6. She is 1231 miles from Oahu at L 135.43.

Charisma still leads Div 7 and is 1277 miles out and at L 135.47.

Div 4 is now leg by Bengal 7, 1388 miles out and yesterday’s leader Relentless  SC52 is now 25 miles behind Bengal.

Criminal Mischief must have had an interesting night.  It is now the clear frontrunner in Div 3 and is only 1305 miles from Diamond Head.  Its also in the lower latitudes where most of the other boats are eventually going to have to be.

Division 5 is where the race is  tight.  There are four boats in the lead and all within 10 miles of one another.  Allure, Passion, Horizon and Mighty Tongaroa.  Passion and Horizon are within a mile of each other.

All the Div 1 boats are far behind Alfa Romeo and Magnitude 80 and magnitude 80 is 120 miles behind Alfa Romeo…but Mag 80 is a little  lower and that may help her tonight.  Alfa Romeo is 1521 miles out at 130.45.

And lastly is Div 2 and there we have two boats, Alchemy and QEX both reporting Latitude 126.46 which makes them both 1742 miles from shore.

Some of the boats have blogs that can be found at Trans Pac’s site but several attempts at Alfa Romeo’s site…give us nothing but promo’s for the autos and nothing about the boat.

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Seal Beach Bunnies A Bugaboo

Leisure World rabbits might be fun for some but for others they are a pain.  Coyotes and hawks love them for breakfast and dinner…but Leisure World is a little short on hawks and coyotes are even less welcome than the rabbits.

Seal Beach’s top cop says “No” to shooting them…even with a pellet gun.

So what can be done?

Read the entire story in the L.A. Times at http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rabbits7-2009jul07,0,6345474.story

Trans Pac update – weak winds at front of pack!

The weather for the leading boats is a disappointing high. The big boats that left Saturday are taking a more southerly route to try to get more wind so they will probably have faster  starting days than those that left earlier in the week.

Not all the websites can be updated daily….after all there are some more important tasks to take care of….but we’ve included two below. Surprisingly Pegasus, with a small crew, is doing a pretty good job on their updates. Pegasus was making 14 knots last night in pretty big seas…much faster than most of the reports. They reported longitude 121.27 so there are several boats far in front and many behind….but if they can keep the 14 knots up they’ll soon be among the front runners in their class.

The 35 foot Relentless (Div 6) is still the overall leading boat. It is 1503 miles from Diamond Head at Latitude: N 23°56.336′ Longitude: W 130°47.99′ Last report 4:53 ago and it is considerabley south of other boats and getting better winds at present.

Close 2^nd is 57’ Charisma, Division 7 leader 1520 miles from finish at Latitude: N 26°27.448′ Longitude: W 130°38.626′.

Cipango is 1660 miles from finish and is lead boat in Division 3 at Latitude: N 26°43.989′ and Longitude: W 128°3.387′.

A second Relentless, the 52’ Santa Cruz, and Bengal 7 are in a virtual tie leading Division 4, 1679 miles from Hawaii at Latitude: N 27°36.228′ Longitude: W 127°47.595′. Four hours since last report and they appear to be sailing in sight of each other. Great excitement for those crews.

Passion, a 50” Santa Cruz, leads Division 5 and is 1704 out at Lat N 26°25.667′ and Long W 127°12.642′ but all the class 4 and 5 boats are very closely grouped and undoubtedly leads will change in the coming days.

The big boats are still in relatively strong winds and far behind at this juncture, however, two of the race favorites, Alfa Romeo and Magnitude 80 are within 40 miles of each other and neither has reported in recently. (Could it be they don’t want to give each other any important information?)

Pegasus Last Report – July 6, 8:00 AM PST,

Course 219° T, Speed 14 Knots, Lat 31° 18′ N, Lon 121° 27′ W

“Mark and I split the night. I stood watch until 2 am, Mark took over until sunrise. We are both wet, cold, battered by waves, yet happy as can be: We sailed fast and smart.

At one in the morning we put up the big Genoa, cracked the sheets and stood on 14 to 16 knots. Fast in the night. We saw lights from racers ahead of us, then on our beam, then behind us, Then no more.

I saved a life last night. I was hit on the chest by a giant flying fish. I looked at it flapping in the dark amidst the fluorescent krill brought on by the large waves submerging the boat periodically. So, I made a dive for the fish on my way, hit the auto-pilot switch, grabbed the fish, felt a violent right turn, and I got washed to leeward by a wave. Bloodied nose, bruised knee. The pilot didn’t engage. But I saved the fish. I wasn’t going to eat it. It was a male so no Tobiko. Now this fish has quite a story to tell his fellow fish. Mark slept down bellow through all of this.

Pushing hard for the record after a wild, wet and exhausting night.”

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Lynx’ Last Report – Day 6 July 4, 2009 (Written July 5^th)

Kate’s Blog

“Today was another lazy day. The wind picked up for a little while this afternoon, but now (at 21:30) it has died again. It sounds like boats are starting to drop out of the race and turn on their engines so as not to run out of food before they reach Hawaii. I hope that it doesn’t come to that for us.

On a happier note… If I had to pick a theme for today I think it would be “just dance.” Holly told us a little story about a couple of boys that were out for a day-sail. They got into a disagreement, but the mom came over and said “don’t fight, just dance.” And they did! And we have as well, all day long. Holly, Christine, and I had a little dance party in the galley this afternoon (perhaps inspired by the sugar rush from the 4th of July cake…) and we’ve all been bouncing around ever since. I even heard that our First Mate, Sam, pranced down the deck earlier!

In addition to the cake, we shot off a canon in celebration of the 4th. It was a pretty awesome sound and sight to have a canon go off in the middle of a dead calm Pacific Ocean. Afterwards did some dancing to 1812 Overture (which, I think, is extra appropriate aboard Lynx.) Happy 4th of July everyone! We would also like to send out a Happy Birthday to Holly’s mom and my Aunt Renee.”

(ed.note) Lynx is an escort boat.

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Check keep in touch at www.whatsupinsealbeach.com

Mr. Cuddles

This affectionate gentleman has lived a life on the road, but he is now ready to settle down.

 Mr. C. does have some arthritis in his hind legs, so he is on medication. But it doesn’t seem to slow him down much, he still has lots of spunk! A little too much spunk for him to share a home with other kitties, as his tough-guy attitude surfaces. But he is a sweetheart with people. Mr. Cuddles would love to cuddle with you through his golden years. 

Free Beach Buggy Rides Start July 6!

The new, FREE Beach Buggy will be rollin’ into neighborhoods this summer starting July 6th! The buggy runs from Monday through Friday. All riders must possess a Beach Buggy pass that may be obtained by signing a Hold-Harmless waiver at City Hall. Riders must be between 8 and 17.
Schedule
Buggy Stop             Pick Up     Pick Up     Drop Off     Drop Off
————                ——-        ——–       ———-       ———
Centex Homes         10am           12pm          2:55pm     4:30pm
Heather Park           10:10am     12:10pm     2:45pm     4:25pm
Bluebell Park           10:20am     12:20pm    2:40pm     4:15pm
Edison Park             10:30am     12:30pm     2:30pm     4:05pm
McGaugh School     10:45am     12:45pm     2:15pm     3:50pm
Marina Park             10:55am     12:55pm     2:05pm     3:40pm
Seal Beach Pier         11:05am     1:05pm     2:00pm      3:30pm

Frequently Asked Questions and Rules
1. All passengers must possess a Beach Buggy Card. To obtain a card, parents must
submit a signed waiver. No one may ride without a card.
2. Riders must be between 8 and 17 years of age. Only parents accompanying
children with a bus pass are allowed on the bus.
3. Children must be ready to board/ depart the shuttle when it arrives at
designated stops. The buggy will not stop at any location other than
designated stops.
4. Passengers must remain seated at all times.
5. No eating or drinking aboard the bus.
6. No surf boards over 4 feet in length.
7. No bikes or skateboards on the bus.
8. All passengers will obey the driver and attendant during pick up, transport, and
delivery. The driver or attendant may assign seats if necessary.
9. We reserve the right to terminate shuttle rides for disruptive children.
10. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. No fighting, arguing, swearing, or
physical contact with other passengers.
11. The Beach Buggy is not responsible for lost items.
12. The Beach Buggy/City of Seal Beach is not responsible for any child once they
exit the bus.

For more info go to: http://www.ci.seal-beach.ca.us/parksandrec/beachbuggy.html

What happened to the men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Every time I read the text below I’m amazed at their bravery and commitment. I doubt very much that I could have done what they did.

There are two great lines from movies that say it right when it comes to Freedom.

In Braveheart – William Wallace.
“All men die, but all men don’t really live…FREEDOM!”

In Saving Private Ryan-Private Ryan as an old man at the end  of the movie kneels at the gravesite of the character played by Tom Hanks, and thanks him for the life and freedom Hank’s efforts gave him. He asks his wife to reconfirm, in front of the grave, that he has lived up to his promise.  “Honey tell me that I have been a good man.  Tell me that I have lived a good life.  Tell me now so that he can hear it.”

Now read the following and think about what we owe our forefathers.

OF THE 56 SIGNERS….

-Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

-Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

-Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

-Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?

-Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

-Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

-Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

-Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

-At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

-Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

-John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from  exhaustion and a broken heart.

-Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more.

Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: “For the support Of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes,  and our sacred honor.”

They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn’t fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn’t. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It’s not much to ask for the price they paid.

On July 4^th remember that freedom is never free! ….and also remember the brave men and women who literally “gave their all” for us…. you and me and our kids!

Tell the Feds what to do about tobacco!

I want this job!

Trans Pac Update for July 3

July 3

Charisma is leading Division 7 @ longitude 124.25

Relentless is leading Division 6 @ longitude 123-09

So far we don’t have information on where the larger boats are but we do know they are hurrying to a high pressure area……so it will take a while for them to get there. 

Doubt there will be any record times this year.

For more updates go to http://www.transpacrace.com/docs/2009racedocs/Standings09/TP09.S02.TXT

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49 Yachts ultimately will be testing one another with the slower boats first off the start line. Some craft have been sailing for three days and others are yet to leave.

On Thursday, “Relentless”, a 53 foot Santa Cruz52 captained by Viggio Torbensen of Dana Point, was leading the pack with a 10 mile lead over “”Lynx” one of the largest boats in the race.  Lynx is a square rigged “tall ship” ship so it will need some very strong winds to be competitive.  Lynx is captained by Jeffrey Woods.

The Trans Pac is a handicapped race so the yachts do not all leave at the same time. 

Boats that have not left yet include previous winners; “Pyewacket” Roy Disney, Captain, “Ragtime” Chris Walsh, Captain.   “Magnitude80”  captained by Doug Baker is Whats Up in Seal Beach’s sentimental favorite since we’ve known Baker a long time and he’s a local guy.

The largest ship in the fleet is the 100 foot “Alfa Romeo” captained by Kiwi Neville Crichton. In a ideal race the first two boats to cross the finish line at Diamond Head, Oahu would be in sight of each other…but that is seldom the case.  The vagaries of the winds play a large part in who has the winning boat.  We’ve known captains who. when the found  good winds, would report their position each evening as somewhere other than where they were.  A little risky if an accident should occur….but winning the Trans Pac is a prize that is highly sought.

For more info and to follow the race for the next 10 days go to: https://event-manager.compete-at.com/Manager/event/entryList.do?eid=332 or http://www.transpacrace.com/

Got a bike? Here’s some great trails

If you’re a biker….the pedaling kind… here’s a group of L.A. best bike rides.

Not surprising Seal Beach is the end spot for one of the best paths in Southern California.

For the complete list and whole story go to: http://www.examiner.com/x-9524-LA-Cycling-Examiner

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