Latitude 38 March Edition: Racing, Cruising, and Profiles

On January 31, 2026, 277 of 303 registered boats sailed out onto San Francisco Bay for the Singlehanded Sailing Society’s (SSS) Three Bridge Fiasco, representing 31 classes including 10 one-design fleets; entries competed doublehanded and singlehanded across PHRF and one-design divisions, putting a spotlight on fleet logistics, crew allocation, and start-line traffic management around the bay’s choke points.

March issue: on-deck stories and race logistics

The March edition of Latitude 38 bundles race analysis, personal voyages, and campaign news that matter to sailors and marina operators alike. Coverage ranges from tactical debriefs of the Three Bridge Fiasco and midwinter regattas to a candid cruising memoir and an update on a young Olympic campaign in the Nacra 17 class. The issue also includes community letters, local sightings, classifieds, and gear notes relevant to owners, charterers, and captains preparing for the spring season.

Feature summaries

Notable departments and race calendar

The Racing Sheet highlights season openers and regatta logistics: Scott Easom’s take on the Three Bridge Fiasco, the Bill Bennett Cup Etchells regatta at San Diego Yacht Club, and early stops in the California Dreamin’ Series. Reports indicate several fleets and yacht clubs already in active competition as spring approaches, affecting marina berth turnarounds, race committee staffing, and local provisioning demand.

Letters, sightings and club updates

Readers’ correspondence ranges from philosophical notes on Moitessier to tactical Fiasco strategy. Sightings include feature coverage such as "Under the Same Canopy" and recognition like a Tall Ship Award for COTS’ Alan Olson. Club news includes recruiting and leadership changes, Lockerroom Cruise Notes, and community activities that influence local boating calendars and berth reservations.

Local distribution and retail logistics

Before street distribution, staff checked stock levels at waterfront outlets. At Marotta Yacht Sales the magazine was available dockside, while Sausalito Books by the Bay reported a low remaining inventory and manager Jeff Battis requested more copies to meet reader demand. These retail touchpoints reflect the physical flow of print media to marinas and bookstores frequented by sailors and cruisers, and illustrate how seasonal interest affects in-person pickup and local foot traffic at marinas and waterfront shops.

Practical takeaways for charterers and boat renters

• Fleet readiness: Early-season regattas accelerate maintenance and provisioning cycles for charter fleets and private owners alike.
• Crew planning: Singlehanded and doublehanded divides in events highlight the need for clear crew roles on charter boats and private day-sails.
• Local knowledge: First-hand stories, like the Folkboat owner’s lessons around Seal Rocks and Fort Mason currents, emphasize the value of experienced skippers and local pilotage for safe charter operations.

Historical context: how this issue fits into bay sailing traditions

The Three Bridge Fiasco and similar late-winter events are embedded in the Bay Area’s sailing calendar, drawing club racers, singlehanded sailors, and day-sailors to test offshore skills before summer cruising. Over decades, these events have influenced local racing culture, spurred innovations in singlehanded tactics, and supported the growth of one-design fleets. Publications like Latitude 38 have long served as a connective tissue for the community—reporting race outcomes, profiling up-and-coming skippers, and cataloguing used-boat sales and gear changes that matter to racers, charter operators, and yacht brokers.

How this shapes future seasons

Consistent coverage of regattas and campaigns helps clubs plan regatta calendars and marinas anticipate peak demand. Profiles of Olympic hopefuls such as Hoel Menard joining Sarah Newberry Moore in the Nacra 17 class also attract attention to high-performance multihull sailing, potentially driving interest in foiling charters and youth training programs in the region.

Practical resources and classifieds

The issue’s classifieds and gear pages remain a resource for those buying or selling boats and equipment. Listings in the "Classy Classifieds" section affect local brokerage activity and private sales, and they often include everything from small daysailers to larger cruisers—information useful to charter companies, yacht brokers, and owners monitoring market movements.

Community corners worth noting

• Club leadership interviews and staff changes that influence regatta policies and local event planning.
• Reader-submitted cruising notes that can alter popular anchorages and charter itineraries.
• A mix of technical write-ups and human-interest stories that inform both competitive sailors and leisure renters.

In summary, the March issue of Latitude 38 offers a compact briefing on spring racing, cruising mishaps that teach seamanship, and community news that affects marina operations and charter availability. For sailors, charterers, and prospective renters the issue provides operational intelligence—racing schedules that affect berth availability, tales that underscore the value of experienced captains, and classifieds that can lead to boat purchase or sale opportunities.

For those planning charters, day sails, or longer cruises in these waters, this edition is a useful snapshot: from the tactical lessons of the Three Bridge Fiasco to profiles of competitive sailors and the classic allure of Folkboats. If you’re thinking about yacht hire, boat rent, or booking a charter for sun, sea, and clearwater cruising, the coverage here will help inform choices about destinations, marinas, and local activities. GetBoat.com is an international marketplace for renting sailing boats and yachts, probably the best service for boat rentals to suit every taste and budget; it remains a handy place to search for charters, compare yacht options, and plan boating activities like fishing, yachting, and family days on the water.