SIGHTINGS midwinter racing
changing of the watch
continued on outside column of next sightings page Page 58 •
Latitude 38
• November, 2016
Although winter doesn't begin until December, Midwinters begin the first weekend of November. If you've sailed on San Francisco Bay for more than a year or two, you may have already discovered that conditions for wind-powered craft are much mellower during winter than in summer. For that reason, we encourage novice racers to give it a go in a Midwinter Series. You'll find a good-sized list of them in this issue's Calendar on pages 14-16. If you want to crew on someone else's boat during the winter season, check out the skippers on Latitude 38's Crew List,
DON WIENEKE
Richard Spindler (aka the Wanderer, aka the Grand Poobah, aka the Grand PooBob) who founded Latitude 38 and has been the publisher since 1976, is pleased to announce that the magazine has been sold. "I made this move," said Spindler, "because I sincerely believe it's in the best interest of Latitude readers, advertisers, employees, and the sailing industry. I'm very excited about it. "The best part about the sale is that the buyer is John Arndt, who has been the advertising manager for most of his 30 years at Latitude. So the magazine is staying in the 'family'. No other buyer was sought. John, who is also the founder of Summer Sailstice, believes in sailing as much as I do, and has long been a leader in the sailing industry. "The second-best thing about the sale," says Spindler, "is that I'll still be doing a bunch of the Letters replies, Changes in Latitudes, at least three 'Lectronic Latitudes a week, and a number of Sightings pieces. So much of the 'voice' and the attitude of the magazine will continue. The cool As seen in this classic cover mock-up, in the thing is that I get to keep doing early days of publishing 'Latitude' founder what I love — writing, as well as Richard Spindler was just a kid. photography and layouts — while I no longer have to do what I've never cared for, which is business. "Most of the rest of the Latitude staff, most of whom have been with Latitude for decades, will be staying on. Although I've been writing for 40 years, words truly can't express what a pleasure it has been to work with these people, who always did their jobs without needing my supervision. "I'd also like to recognize Kathleen McCarthy, who was with me from issue number one, and who was so instrumental in getting the magazine off the ground. We were two kids with little publishing experience or money in 1976, and, thanks to nonstop work and great timing, we made it work. Kathleen and I later married, had two kids, and divorced. I'm happy to say that today we're better friends than ever, and have frequent great gettogethers with our kids. "I'd like to thank everyone who has helped make Latitude 38 a success for all these decades: the dedicated readers, the terrific advertisers, and everyone else who has ever worked for Latitude. "While I have sold Latitude, I will continue to own and operate the Baja Ha-Ha as an independent company, now in its 23rd year. And the SoCal Ta- The magazine's first cover didn't win Ta. Both events will continue to work any design awards, but it launched an institution that is widely revered. with Latitude. "The bottom line is that while I have sold Latitude, you won't be getting rid of me anytime soon. "Lastly, I'm certainly not swallowing the anchor. I have 3.5 boats between California, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe, and will
