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ON THE DOG WATCH
September, October 2007
We are now in the middle of the hurricane season here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico:
18-23 September. Hurricane IVO seemed to go out to sea as a Category I storm and then turned back toward the southern tip of the Baja where it dissipated.
29 September to 2 October. Juliette was a relatively short-lived tropical storm that took a northwesterly track about 300 n mi off the Pacific coast of Mexico, its center passing between Socorro and Clarion Islands.
15-23 October. Kiko was a tropical storm that threatened the southwestern coast of Mexico before turning westward and dissipating over the open ocean. We were sure it was going to turn into a hurricane and pass right by us, but it never did.
Otherwise, September and October have been pretty quiet—no boat deliveries to do this time of year gives me time to do the other thing I love so much--finish some of my writing projects.
Sailing and Writing
I was chairman of the committee of ex-pat writers that helped to organize the first Puerto Vallarta Writers Weekend Workshop in 2006. Our speaker was Jeffrey Marks, a mystery writer and friend of mine, talking about writing and marketing the “genre novel.” This year, 2007, the chairman was my good friend and editor, Dan Grippo. He had Karen Blomain, Alex Grattan, and Susan Page, talking about the "writer's life". In 2008 the chairman for the Weekend is my good friend and fellow author, David Lyons. He has lined up Dan Poynter to talk about "self publishing". If any of you sailors out there are interested in writing, we would love to have you join us in February 2008. I would like to reach out to more writers who might be cruising on their boats in Mexico. The website is: www.pvwg.com
 My first novel, SHORE LOSER is a "beach read"--pure boating entertainment--nothing too cerebral. If you get a copy and like it, tell your friends and write a review on Amazon. If you don't like it tell your enemies. I'll be interested in what you think. www.doug-danielson.com/ShoreLoser
I think the version of SHORE LOSER that finally got published is a much better read than the earlier manuscripts. I had it favorably reviewed by no less than three publishers, only to be rejected by their Senior Editors (who were obviously not sailors) when it got down to the final decision. After wasting four years trying to go the traditional route, I decided to self publish in 2007. Right now sales are brisk and things are good. However, I'm still not giving up my day job. I get too much good material from doing deliveries--and there is a little voice inside me that keeps reminding me I shouldn't get too far away from the sea--and I've still got more books to write.
Interesting how life works. SHORE LOSER takes place during the '95 America's Cup in San Diego, and OneAustralia has a bit part in SHORE LOSER when they accidentally help my protagonist, Jake Mortensen, catch the bad guys during the start of the Louis Vuitton.
Of the four IACC boats I helped Vallarta Adventures bring to Mexico, the two Australian boats are AUS 29 & AUS 31, Syd Fischer's boats. AUS 31 was the boat the Australians used to replace AUS 35 when it sank during the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals in '95. The two boats later went on to sail in the Young Australia 2000 campaign. Read more
My son, Mike, and I just finished refurbishing both boats here in PV, and put them in the water at high tide the first week in October. It was kind of a "family" thing--you can tell from the pictures--like father, like son, like grandson. Mike has continued to work with the Australian crew to tune up and prepare the boats for charter work.
 That's me, the old guy in the blue shirt at the helm of AUS 29 as we are lowered into the water.
 Mike and Merik hooking up the travel lift to pick up AUS 31
 Mike and Merik at the helm of AUS 31 as they are lowered into the water.
 Both boats side by side in Marina Vallarta. Really fun stuff--the whole family got into the act.
Since SHORE LOSER came out, rumors and scandal are making the rounds at SDYC, and within the San Diego yachting community, over my fictional account of the '95 America's Cup. Thanks to the friendly folks at Downwind Marine and Seabreeze, I got to fuel the firestorm during the weekend of Oct. 19-21 with two book signings in San Diego. It was great fun! Pat Rains helped with a mention in her column in The Log.
Oct 19, Friday, 1400hrs to 1600hrs at Downwind Marinewww.downwindmarine.com
Oct 20, Saturday, 1400hrs to 1600hrs at Seabreeze Books
www.seabreezenauticalbooks.com
 Doug and San Diego Yacht Broker, Wayne Jones at SeaBreeze Nautical Books.
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Newsletter Archives2005
- March - Rediscovering The Once Forgotten Middle
- May - Bringing The Boat Back From Mexico
- July - New Regulations for Private Vessels Moving From Port To Port in Mexico
- August - Six Yacht Deliveries
- October - 26 October to 3 November 2005, M/Y HERCULES, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Ventura, California
| | 2007 |
- September - October - Sailing and Writing
| | 2008 |
- August - 29 July to 5 August 2008, M/Y ORIANA, Mazatlan, Mexico, to San Diego, California
| | 2009 |
- January - April - three very different yacht deliveries.
| | 2010 |
- October - Climbing the Hill: “Rounding the Cape.” and Climbing the Hill: “Up to Mag Bay, then on to San Diego.”
| | 2011 |
- September - SEFERINA: “Astoria, OR, to Port McNeill, BC.”
- December - BELLALOU: “Tortola to Florida.”
| | 2012 |
- May - ENSENADA, THE EASIEST PLACE TO CHECK INTO MEXICO
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- May-June - WHAT A LIFE: “Newport Beach, CA, to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.”
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