Zac Sunderland runs for cover from tropical storm

4:22 AM Fri 19 Jun 2009 GMT

'Tropical storm threatening Intrepid, now headed into Manzanillo' .

A disturbance in the eastern Pacific is expected to develop into the season's first tropical storm and it's forcing Zac Sunderland to sail for shelter at the Mexican port city of Manzanillo.

Sunderland, 17, who is on the last leg of an around-the-world solo adventure, and poised to become the youngest sailor ever to circumnavigate, had hoped to make it home by the end of the month but will spend at least four days in Manzanillo and that will delay his arrival at Marina del Rey until perhaps the first weekend in July.

Zac's mom said he wanted to continue on a course for Cabo San Lucas but that could be perilous. 'He needs to duck for cover. He has got to get into a harbor; there's no question about it,' said Surfline's Sean Collins, a forecaster who monitors conditions in a region that he says is becoming increasingly active.

The organizing storm is expected to veer to the north and ultimately the northeast toward land, perhaps making landfall near Puerto Vallarta, which is 130 miles north of Manzanillo.

The red patch in the bottom graphic shows the disturbance, which features strong winds and thunderstorms. It's southwest of Manzanillo and trailing Zac's 36-foot Intrepid, which presently is taking wind on the nose.

Stay tuned for updates...

by Pete Thomas, LATimes