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Scuttlebutt Updates
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Archived NewslettersSCUTTLEBUTT 1541 - March 17, 2004Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. EVEN BETTER THAN HOPED FOR A 24 hour record claim of 467 nm for a singlehanded monohull was lodged by Alex Thomson with the WSSR in December 2003. On examining the documentation, the World Sailing Speed Record (WSSR) Council was unable to agree, and thus ratify, this distance. It was therefore necessary to examine carefully all the position reports together with the relevant calculations. As a result the WSSR can now announce that the new 24 hour record is 468.72 nm, an increased distance of 1.72 nm over that which was claimed. The details are: Alex Thomson, GBR; AT Racing; Open 60; North Atlantic; 11th - 12th December 2003; 468.72 nautical miles; 19.53 knots. - John Reed, Secretary to the WSSR Council. - http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/ COVERING THE OLYMPIC GAMES The start of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens, Greece is drawing ever closer, and today ISAF launched a microsite dedicated to delivering the latest information and news up to and including the Sailing event at Athens 2004. A specific news section, which links from the front page of www.sailing.org, will bring users the latest general Olympic news from the Greek Capital, as well as all the hot news on Olympic Qualification, IOC news and National selection and Olympic Trials news from around the globe. Once the Olympic Sailing Competition starts, with the Laser boat draw on Tuesday 3 August, right up until the final day of racing on Saturday 28 August, and the Closing Ceremony on Sunday 29 August, ISAF will bring you up to the minute mark roundings, weather information, results and photos - right from inside the Agios Kosmas Sailing Centre. Apart from almost real time news and results, the microsite contains all the information you could want about the Olympic Games. From a detailed history of Sailing at the Olympics, details about the host city and country, the sailing venue, the field of play, classes, equipment, officials, qualification, and documentation; all is available on the Athens 2004 microsite. - ISAF Website, http://www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=6643 ISAF Athens 2004 Microsite: www.sailing.org/olympics2004 Athens 2004: www.athens2004.com IOC Website: www.olympic.org CONGRESSIONAL CUP Gary Jobson will be almost a year late for a date at the Long Beach Yacht Club, but his role as a longtime competitor and TV commentator at the Congressional Cup will be recognized with the presentation of an honorary Crimson Blazer on the eve of the 40th annual match race sailing classic. The Crimson Blazer is customarily awarded to the winning skipper. Former winners Peter Gilmour of Australia (1988), Terry Hutchinson of Annapolis ('92) and Gavin Brady of New Zealand ('96, '97) are competing this year, but there also is an illustrious list of honorary winners. The Meet the Skippers Dinner on Monday, April 19, the night before five days of racing commence, will be three days shy of the date last year when Jobson received a diagnosis of lymphoma---the day he was scheduled for a speaking appearance at the club. Since then Jobson, 53, has received intensive chemotherapy and, late last year, a stem cell transplant that he described as "the hardest thing I have ever endured in my life." The Congressional Cup resumes the 2003-04 Swedish Match Tour after a winter's hiatus since the Nippon Cup in Japan last November. Gilmour, the 2001-02 champion, currently leads the standings, with Brady seventh. Other competitors include Ed Baird, St. Petersburg, Fla., ranked third in the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) match race rankings; Scott Dickson, Long Beach; Allan Coutts, Cameron Appleton and Kelvin Harrap of New Zealand; Jes Gram-Hansen, Denmark, and Mattias Rahm, Sweden. - Rich Roberts, www.lbyc.org JUST THE FACTS Which RIB is for you? What's the difference and what's similar? Sometimes it's hard to get just the facts...straight answers, real honest comparisons. Raider RIBS have been everywhere you race from Americas Cup campaigns to Key West to the Big Boat Series. You have seen Raider RIBS, but what sets them apart? Here are a couple facts: Fact One - Raider RIBS are built using hand laid laminate solid GRP hulls; Fact Two - Raider RIBS feature a Deep-V with 23-26 degree deadrise. More facts coming soon. Call 1-877-7RAIDER or make your own comparison at http://www.raiderboat.com AMERICA'S CUP HALL OF FAME The Board of Trustees of the Herreshoff Marine Museum (Bristol, R.I.), has announced the addition of four new members to the Selection Committee for its America's Cup Hall of Fame, which meets annually to choose the new inductees to the America's Cup Hall of Fame: - William Collier (United Kingdom) is a leading yachting historian and has written widely about designers and boatbuilders who have produced boats for the America's Cup. His books include Charles E. Nicholson and His Yachts, The Beken Album, and William Fife, Master of the Classic Yacht. - William H. Dyer Jones (United States) crewed on a 12 Metre in the 1967 America's Cup defender trials and went on to chair the New York Yacht Club Race Committee for the 1983 match (won by Australia II). Jones later served as Commodore of the New York Yacht Club as well as a member of the America's Cup Arbitration Committee for the 1992 and 1995 Matches. He served as Regatta Director of the Challenger Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, in both 1999-2000 and 2002-2003. He is Regatta Director for the 2007 America's Cup regatta in Valencia, Spain. Jones is co-author of The 12 Metre Class, the definitive history of the yachts that raced for the Cup from 1958 through 1987. - Peter Montgomery (New Zealand) is one of the world's best known yachting journalists. For many years Montgomery has provided national and international radio, television, and print coverage of many grand prix sailing events, including the America's Cup. - Bruno Troublé (France) raced aboard the French entries in the 1977, '80 and '83 contender series for the America's Cup. In 1983 he created the Challenger Series for the Louis Vuitton Cup, which he has managed for many years with special attention to the media. Troublé and Louis Vuitton will play a prominent role in the 2007 America's Cup regatta in Valencia. As the skipper of the 1980 challenger France 3, he becomes the third member of the Selection Committee who commanded a boat in Cup competition, joining F. E. (Ted) Hood and Robert W. McCullough. The full America's Cup Hall of Fame Selection Committee is as follows: B. Devereux Barker, III (Chairman), John S. Burnham (Vice Chairman). Henry H. Anderson, Jr. (former Chairman), Bruno Bich, Dr. William Collier, Edward I. du Moulin (former Chairman), Halsey C. Herreshoff, N. G. Herreshoff, III, Frederick E. Hood, George F. Jewett, Jr., William H. Dyer Jones, Bruce Kirby. Stanley Livingston, Jr., Robert W. McCullough, Elizabeth E. Meyer, Peter Montgomery, David M. Philips, John Rousmaniere (former Chairman), Olin J. Stephens, II, Bruno Troublé, David B. Vietor, William G. Winterer. - Media Pro Int'l FOR THE RECORD * Although the West wind has returned and Cheyenne is again making speed in the 15-19 kt range heading straight for the Cape, the news this afternoon is not all good. Another piece of Cheyenne's mainsail track, this time up near the top of the 143' mast, has parted company. The latest breakage of the rail that holds the mainsail to the mast occurred early on Tuesday, the 39th day of Cheyenne's Round The World Sailing record attempt, and represents one more hurdle for Steve Fossett and his crew of 12 to overcome after Sunday's repair to Saturday's similar damage at the first reef point. This time the full repair will await the first slowdown in waters after Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands. - http://www.fossettchallenge.com * Day 19 - 48 hours of sailing with one eye on the instruments and the other on the radar screen. The Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran is hammering along in fog so thick you could cut it with a knife, near two large icebergs and doubtless many smaller ones as well. The 11-man crew's 19th day ended with over 540 nautical miles covered at an average speed of 22 knots point-to-point. Their lead over the current record has now risen to 770 nautical miles. In the first half of Day 20, Geronimo covered 252 sea miles in the fog at a reduced and more prudent average speed of 21 knots. Better visibility would allow the crew to increase speed again, since growlers are detectable only by eye with binoculars. - http://www.trimaran-geronimo.com CHEYENNE AND MUSTO Steve Fossett, skipper of the 125' maxicat Cheyenne, has chosen Musto foul-weather gear to protect himself and his crew during their Round The World record-breaking attempt. Cheyenne watch captain Brian Thompson: "Its been brilliant how dry we have remained, even in the rough conditions.... our smock tops with latex dry suit seals have really worked perfectly, normally I might have had to change base layers because they have got damp, but nothing has got past the seals yet thanks to Musto!" You don't need to sail a maxi catamaran to experience Musto. Give it a try next time: http://www.musto.co.uk ROUND THE WORLD Challenge Business has announced that Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) headquartered in San Diego, California has signed on as the latest corporate sponsor in the upcoming Global Challenge round-the-world yacht race. The SAIC-sponsored yacht will compete against 12 other teams in the 10-month race that starts on October 3, 2004 from Portsmouth, UK. This is the fourth Global Challenge Race since its inauguration in 1992. Skipper, Eero Lehtinen of Finland and his 17 Crew Volunteers will sail the SAIC yacht. SAIC is the US's largest employee-owned research and engineering company, providing information technology, systems integration and eSolutions to commercial and government customers. SAIC engineers and scientists work to solve complex technical problems in national and homeland security, energy, the environment, space, telecommunications, health care and logistics. With annual revenues of $5.9 billion, SAIC and its subsidiaries, including Telcordia Technologies, have more than 43,000 employees at offices in more than 150 cities worldwide. "We're delighted that a company of SAIC's calibre and worldwide reputation has agreed to become one of our sponsors and participate in the event," said Sir Chay Blyth, executive chairman of Challenge Business. "I'm sure that their involvement will add a new dimension to this exciting race." - http://www.saic.com / http://www.challengebusiness.com/global NEWS BRIEFS * The GBR (America's Cup) Challenge confirmed that they have reserved space at the Real Club Nautica Valencia and have appointed Michael ten Bokum to manage logistics on behalf of GBR Challenge in Spain. The team is working closely with Real Club Nautica to progress the development of the site and are currently finalizing layout plans and aim to have a presence in Valencia from this summer onwards. www.gbrchallenge.com/ * Team Kan-Do, the Chesapeake Bay entry in the Volvo Ocean Race Round the World 2005 - 2006, announced the selection of Farr Yacht Design, Ltd. and North Sails as their supplier partners for the boat design and sail development of their Volvo Ocean 70. Based in Annapolis, Team Kan-Do is America's only announced entry in the VOR. Syndicate founders John Alden and Patrick Bischoff made the decision to work with the local boat design and sail making teams after fielding proposals from other groups around the world. - www.Kan-Do.com * Between the BVI Spring Regatta and Antigua Sailing Week, Nautor's Swan has scheduled the ClubSwan Caribbean Rendez-vous in the British Virgin Islands. The Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda will be at the heart of the April 12 - 17 event, with Jost van Dyke and Cooper Island among the cruising destinations. For those with a more competitive spirit, there will be a fun race 'Round Virgin Gorda Island.' * Correction: We printed an error in 'Butt 1539 concerning the final results of the recently completed Bacardi Cup. The top five should have read: 1. Afonso Domingos & Bernardo Santos, POR, 24; 2. Ross Macdonald & Mike Wolfs, CAN, 37; 3. Colin Beashel & David Giles, AUS, 47.5; 4. Howie Shiebler & Will Stout, USA, 49; 5. Peter Bromby & Lee White, BER, 52. Complete results: http://www.starclass.org/search.cgi?Action=view&Event_id=428 LOOK GOOD = SAIL GOOD North Sails has a wide variety of awesome sailing gear including UV-protective shirts, convertible nylon pants and even a "float coat" for your dog! Tell us you saw this ad in Scuttlebutt (use the comments box) to receive a free gift with online order. http://na.northsails.com/an/an_catalog.taf LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Mark Rasmussen, Hobart Tasmania: Ben Lexcen not in the hall of fame??? How can this be? Surely his influence is still being felt in AC design. (Do any AC boats get built without some type of appendage on the keel?) Surely he and John Bertrand showed the world that the "un-winnable" was in fact very winnable. As a result, the AC has become a multi nation event of global status. How can he not be one of the greats? Here in Australia, his name is still synonymous with the sport and with the pursuit of excellence and innovation. "Winged Keel" has become part of the nation's vernacular. My mum once bemoaned her lack of grandchildren thus. "Son, the right girl for you is going to have to have a wet suit and a winged keel!" Make of that comment what you will! * From Rob Mundle: You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out why Ben Lexcen isn't in the America's Cup Hall of Fame. Obviously it has to do with one particular person who's blocking Ben's entry because he still can't get over the fact that the Cup was lost to the very innovative Australia II in 1983. Ben's absence actually makes a mockery of the title 'America's Cup Hall of Fame'. I'm sure if those who have been elected to the HoF cast their own vote then Ben would be included. Maybe that's what should happen. Let's put politics and bad sportsmanship aside and make the HoF worthy of its name. * From Brian Hancock: Leaving Ben Lexcen out of the Americas Cup Hall of Fame cheapens the efforts and accomplishments of all those that have already been inducted. * From Stewart Sumpton: Although one-design sailing is on the rise, dinghy sailing in the States is on the decline. The "sportboat" phenomenon has decimated dinghy participation. Is this because we are becoming a plumper less physical country? It could explain the low turnout at many of the Olympic Trials events. * From Doug Pope (re Peter Fredricks' letter about coverage of "the boring Round the World record attempts"): The beauty of the sport/ pastime of sailing is that it can appeal to such a wide variety of interests. I potter about the lake on my Sunfish, race my T-10 in PHRF, cruise the occasional long weekend, and race one-design when the opportunity presents it's self. Personally I have no interest in the AC but devoir all news about open 60 mono's and multi's. The beauty of Scuttlebutt is that we all get a bit of what we want. Lighten up Mr. Fredricks. There's room for everyone. * From Michael Leneman (re Peter Fredricks' letter): Gee, it depends on who you sail and hang with. My group of friends could care less about Cayard gossip (yet we don't complain). We were all talking about the repairs to Cheyenne and love the coverage of these attempts. Mr. Fredricks shows his prejudice by calling these boats under-designed. The attempts are certainly not poorly planned and since when was 500 miles/day poor performance. It's a big world with all types of sailing - enjoy what you wish and scroll past the rest. * From Glenn McCarthy: The Star Class weight rule does not discriminate. It has not prevented any sailor from participating. Some butthead's are blowing this out of proportion. The weight rule applies only at a few championships (fleet qualifications, districts, continental, worlds & Olympics). There are no weight limits at any other regattas or club events, not even at the recently completed Bacardi Cup. In the case of the few championships where the weight rule does apply, a 275-pound Skipper can sail with a crew that weighs a maximum of 192-pounds. A 275-pound Crew can sail with a skipper that weighs a maximum of 110 pounds. The formula is a sliding scale (not a simple summation of skipper and crew's weight) because another rule allows the crew to have a hiking harness (skippers can not have a hiking harness) and a crew's weight provides more leverage for keeping the boat upright, which is known to be faster. Everything here indicates that a 275-pound person is fully eligible to compete in all Star Class racing. 69.6% of the class membership approved this rule. The class is open to all shapes and sizes at all times. What this rule accomplished on the water is very positive. The distance from the 1st place boat to the last place boat on the racecourse has compressed noticeably. Everyone feels like they have a much better chance at placing on these championship courses that are required to be no less than 10 n.m. long. * From John Sherwood: Nine nations represented in the top ten of the Star Bacardi Cup! Speaks to the balance in the class and portends a most interesting Olympics. * From Talbot Wilson (edited to our 250-word limit): As a member of the National Offshore Council and the Offshore Committee and a participant at US Sailing's Spring meeting in committee discussions about IRC in the USA, I came away believing that the US Sailing Executive Committee now has the authority to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the RORC, the yacht club that owns and operates the Musto IRC Rule through their 'for profit' company Seahorse Rating Ltd. The actual contract must still be negotiated. The Executive Committee of US Sailing agreed to sign the MOU and enter into contract negotiations which would call for US Sailing to simply administer the rule in the US, US Sailing would act, according to a US Sailing representative who had been active in the negotiation, "only as a pipeline" through which applications, fees and certificates would pass. The actual content of the Memorandum of Understanding, already signed by RORC, was kept secret from committee members and apparently kept secret from all but executives and staff of US Sailing. The Offshore Committee only passed a resolution authorizing US Sailing to investigate "processing (IRC) certificate information and collecting fees for IRC in the US and for review of (IRC) versus existing programs." The Offshore committee neither endorsed nor condemned the proposal for US Sailing to administer the Musto IRC Rule, but wanted the board to do more extensive research on the impact of this rule on major events in the USA and on existing handicap or rating rule fleets. THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM If you jog backwards, will you gain weight? |
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