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Scuttlebutt Updates
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Archived NewslettersSCUTTLEBUTT 1570 - April 27, 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, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere. GUEST EDITORIAL The piece about Kevin Hall's practice methods (very long sessions of downwind sailing--Scuttlebutt 1568) was interesting and showed some clearly different methods for practice. But this technique of massing long hours of continuous practice at a single thing violates some very well-known principles from the scientific field of human motor learning, in which we conduct research. Long-duration, repetitious practice (so called "blocked practice") as opposed to very short sequences of highly changing contexts (so called "random practice") is strongly beneficial for performance during practice (which we might expect), but is detrimental for performance on later Tests of Retention (which is a surprise). In fact, the results in retention tests are just reversed from those seen in the practice phase: random practice is better for learning (i.e., retention) than blocked practice. Now, the ultimate goal for someone such as Mr. Hall is not simply to facilitate performance during his practice sessions downwind, but rather to facilitate performance on some later test of retention (e.g., racing in the Olympic trials). If so, then the practice method he used (long hours of continuous downwind sailing) is far from an optimal use of his time. This sounds counter to common sense and counterintuitive. It is. But, this principle has been shown in literally dozens of studies dating from 1978 when John Shea and Robyn Morgan first published their research. These studies have used laboratory skills and real-world skills, highly skilled learners and novices, cognitive and motor tasks, kids and adults. The scientific evidence is solid, and this is one of the established principles of human learning. The generalization from this work is this. It is clear that maximizing the number of repetitions of a skill (here, the number of waves surfed) is critical for Olympic success. But the repetitions should be done without repetitiveness. (The only exception seems to be in situations where the learner is a rank novice.) Practice lots, but vary the practice from repetition to repetition. As Dave Ullman told us decades ago, "maximize time in the boat," but now we know that this time should be spent with a mixed variety of tasks, minimizing repetitiveness. Those interested might consult one of our recent books (Schmidt & Wrisberg, 2000, Motor Learning and Performance; Schmidt & Lee, 1999, Motor Control and Learning; both are published by Human Kinetics Publishers, Champaign, IL). These give complete explanations and references for these principles. Here's a question to see if you were paying attention: In practicing jibes, how many consecutive jibes should you do in a row before switching to another task (like tacking)? Hint: One. - Dr. Richard Schmidt (RASchmidt_HPR@Comcast.net) and Dr. Tim Lee (Scapps@McMaster.ca) AUDI STAR WORLDS Gaeta, Italy - Unlike the April storm clouds and 26 knot breezes of Sunday, Monday was a picture perfect day with broken clouds forming off the mountain ranges of Formia and Naples bringing with it, a shifting breeze that peaked at around 20 knots before fading to a consistent 14 knots. A clean start by all competitors saw the 103 boats get away with the major contenders huddled down at the pin end of the line on a long starboard leg into the shoreline of Formia to pick up the first shift. The day belonged to the Netherlands team of Mark Neeleman and crewman Peter van Niekerk who, from the starting gun, sailed into an unprecedented lead that at times topped 1 minute. Freddy Loof and Anders Ekstrom stormed through the fleet with outstanding boatspeed to claim a second place and the overnight lead in the championship. Peter Bromby from Bermuda was to top North American boat taking third place while Paul Cayard bounced back from Sunday's OCS to finish eighth. The winners of Sunday's race, Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell fell out of the top ten with a finish of 22. - Excerpts from a story by Magnus Wheatley, full story: www.yachtsandyachting.com/ Standings after two races 1. SWE Frederik Lööf & Anders Ekström, 5 points 2. NED Mark Neeleman & Peter Van Niekerk, 11 3. BRA Torben Grael & Marcel Bastos Ferreira, 11 4. IRL Maxwell Treacy & Anthony Shanks 11 5. IRL Mark Mansfield & Killian Collins, 18 Event website: http://www.starworld2004.com/ THE CHOICE IS YOURS! The 2005 Ultimate Sailing Corporate Calendars. Put your corporate logo on the deluxe wall calendar or the new Ultimate Sailing desk top calendar. 10% early bird discount if you order before April 15. Details available at http://www.ultimatesailing.com/corporate.html RUSSELL (Laurie Fullerton caught up with three time America's Cup helmsman Russell Coutts on Monday afternoon in Newport, R.I. after a press conference was held to officially launch the UBS Trophy Regatta in June. Following are a few of the quotes from that story attributed to Coutts.) "I would say that on that September day 21 years ago that Australia II beat Dennis Conner to win the America's Cup, and Cup racing left Newport, it really opened up an opportunity for New Zealand," he said. "With the event moving to Fremantle in 1987, it really helped us enter into Cup level racing. The timing was great for me and I had the opportunity to get into it which I probably wouldn't have had if it stayed in Newport. "It is great to come back to the place where there is so much history behind this event. I think I will be driving at least a few of the races. I would like to and I look forward to sailing here. These are expensive boats to just put in the water and go sailing, we want to win. So, we are going to be trying very hard to beat Oracle and they are going to be trying very hard to beat us. People who come to this event shore side are going to see America's Cup racing at its best." - Laurie Fullerton ALINGHI The Alinghi design team is once again behind closed doors. The challenge - how to build another winning boat. With Valencia confirmed as the venue for the America's Cup 2007, the designers have a general idea of how a new boat will require to be modeled for the prevailing weather conditions at that location. Back at the drawing board, structural ideas are under investigation. Also underway is the setting up of tools - primarily software - that will be used in the design process as well as ensuring certain improvements at the tank testing site to improve test accuracy over the previous time. The scheduling and planning of tank sessions that may be required to complete testing is in progress and with luck, the design team will start work on modeling the boats for testing during 2004, with the goal to go to tank testing some time in mid-2004. The priority is designing the hull lines and the first step is to generate geometries for analysis using CFD (computational fluid design), essentially numerical simulation of the fluid movement around the hull and a more efficient tool to use than scale models. When the design team is satisfied with the hull line designs, it's off to Canada for tank testing. Between 10 and 20 models of about 8 meters in length (the length limit for tank testing models is restricted by terms in the rules governing the America's Cup), will take the plunge during an intensive tank testing workout. The models are run in the tank at different speeds and angles to test drag and lift in different simulated conditions. The results from these tests help to build a picture of the perfect hull and based on these results a VPP - Velocity Prediction Program - is run, a race modeling program that provides an impression of boat performance. TheVPP process simulates weather conditions and what the statistical chances are, more or less, of how the boat will perform. - Alinghi website, full story: http://www.alinghi.com/en/news/index.php?dest=206 GOING, GOING, GOING . . . The Sausalito Challenge's stab at selling itself on eBay wasn't a success - unless you count publicity. Sausalito Challenge officials, the subject this week of national television spots and print and broadcast stories around the world, are confident they will find the right sponsor. "Using the eBay format has given us front row seats to CEOs worldwide," said co-founder John Sweeney of Tiburon. "It's a sample of what we can create for our (America's Cup) sponsor and proof that we lead the way in innovative ideas in our sport on and off the water." As of 6:30 p.m. Friday when the auction ended, three companies from France, Japan and Switzerland had bid the sponsorship price up from a minimum of $18 million to $20 million, he said. However, that was still not enough to match the $26 million needed to buy exclusive sponsorship for the team's run in the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia, Spain. "It's a three-year marriage between a team and a sponsor," said co-founder Tina Kleinjan of Belvedere. "We want to make sure the company we choose is for the long haul." She and Sweeney said they expect to engage in private talks in the coming weeks with the bidders. - Keri Brenner, Marin Independent Journal, www.marinij.com/Stories/0,1413,234~24407~2106059,00.html ANTIGUA RACE: THE SHORTS CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. The big race is on between the maxi's and sleds. Looking around you see the crews ready for the races in their Camet Sailing shorts. Now is the time for you to get on the Camet web page to view the different models of shorts and colors available. The 3000, Bermuda, Aruba, Cargo, Women's 3000 and Ocean shorts are all made out of the fast drying breathable Supplex (UV 40+) and with the Cordura seat patch to hold the foam pad to help you get through those long hours on the rail. Coolmax shirts, Mylar bags, Rashguards etc. http://www.camet.com TROPHEE JULES VERNE By midday Monday, Geronimo was no more than 1,300 sea miles from the line as the crow flies, but when we take account of her obligatory detour to 50° North, the total distance left to cover is more like 1,500 nautical miles, which will require her to average over 15 knots to claim the Jules Verne Record. Despite the fact that Geronimo keeps all non-biodegradable waste on board, she is still lighter by around one tonne of consumables after 60 days circling the globe, and is therefore much livelier. Day 60 Update: Geronimo covered 314 nautical miles in 24 hours for an average speed of 13 knots. - www.trimaran-geronimo.com/ NEWS BRIEFS * Olympic Sailing Week Hyères, France (April 26) - Sailors and racing committees were ready to spend the day ashore after a weather forecast predicting poor sailing conditions. Luckily, the "Meteo" was wrong once again. By early afternoon, the wind was still very light but settled and most classes were racing under a bright sunshine. Current top U.S. finishers: 49er: 7. Wadlow/Spaulding; 470 Men: 21. Foerster/Burnham; 470 Women: 28. McDowell/ Kinsolving; Europe: 16. Gaillard; Laser: 20. Mendelblatt; Mistral Men: 36. Wells; Tornado: 2. Lovell/ Ogletree; Yngling: 8. Barkow/ Howe/ Capozzi. - http://www.ussailing.org/ Event website: http://hyeres.ffvoile.net/ * A new website has been launched for the UBS Trophy Regatta that will showcase America's Cup style match racing between old rivals Team Alinghi and Oracle BMW Racing in Newport, Rhode Island, between June 19-26. The site will also provide information on media accreditation for working press who plan to attend the regatta. The site will feature a photo gallery, daily race results, plus background information by John Rousmaniere, America's Cup writer and historian. A notice-board located prominently on the homepage will provide last minute updates on the racing and other activities. - www.ubstrophy.com * The Olympic Sailing Committee of US Sailing has unveiled a new website to provide detailed information on the US athletes who will compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions this summer. Once the Olympic Sailing Competition starts, from 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 the latest information direct from the Agios Kosmas Sailing Centre, including mark by mark roundings, weather information, results and photos. New website: www.ussailing.org/Olympics/OlympicGames/2004/ * The Laser recently passed another landmark when they issued building plaque number 180,000. The boat has come a long way since its humble beginning as an "off the beach fun boat" The original concept was the result of a telephone conversation between the first builder, Ian Bruce, and designer Bruce Kirby. During that conversation Kirby sketched the lines on a scrap of paper which were very similar to the final production boat. - www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=6937 * GBR Challenge, the British America's Cup Team, has signed a Design Software Technology Partnership with UGS PLM Solutions. This is the first time in America's Cup history that such a strategic partnership has been involved in the core design and development of America's Cup boats. UGS PLM will also be the exclusive provider of product lifecycle management products and services to provide planning and race configuration data for the British-based team. GBR Challenge will join companies such as Formula 1's Jaguar Racing and British American Racing (B.A.R.) as one of UGS PLM's technology partners. - www.gbrchallenge.com * With deep regret the ISAF reported the passing away of Mr Kenjiro Matsuda, the Managing Director of the Japan Sailing Federation. Mr Matsuda passed away suddenly on Sunday 25 April, aged 69 years old. Alongside his role as Managing Director, Mr Matsuda was also the Chairman of the Olympic Sailing Committee of the Japan Sailing Federation. BOOM WALKING See if you can you find the lady walking on the boom of Mirabella V in the photos we've posted on our website? To help you with the scale, remember that if Mirabella V tried to get into San Francisco Bay, the mast would hit the Golden Gate Bridge eighty (80) feet from the top. BTW - If you find the lady in the photo, she is Kristen Heisenbuttle, who works at Doyle Sails and was a technical consultant throughout the designing and building of the sails for Mirabella V. http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/04/0426mirabellav/ SAILING SPECIALS AT WEST MARINE Save 15% on Lewmar winches with their winch trade-in, April 29-May 31.- http://www.westmarine.com Test sail a new Hunter Sailboat during their Go Farther Faster Sales Event April 29-May 9 and get a free West Marine Gift Card, up to a $200 Value. Sign up at your nearest Hunter Dealer.- http://www.huntermarine.com 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 Graham Kelly: I was interested to see Bob Kiernan's comment (S'butt 1569) on the ebay auction of a sponsorship for the America's Cup. The benefit of ebay is that it exposes esoteric goods to a world-wide market, whether my aged uncle selling WW II pilot's gear, a sponsorship opportunity for the America's Cup, or a sailor's son selling old Mount Gay hats. In the case of our friend John Sweeney's Sausalito challenge, the ebay auction has been accompanied by a goodly amount of publicity. That is good for John Sweeney, and good for the America's Cup. Mr. Kiernan may be offended at the temerity of the offer, and a certain group of sailors might agree that it is "tacky" to offer sponsorship opportunities on ebay, but most sailors would agree that a tacky sponsorship deal is better than sitting on the sidelines. And the reference to the Sean Reeves case in the same issue shows that the days of the crooked pinky in the America's Cup are pretty much over. As much as we might admire the myth of gentility, devout yachting history buffs will tell us that the America's Cup has long been something of a rough and tumble affair, even in the days of the Morgans and Vanderbilts. So let's hear it for ebay. It's a great way to stimulate demand for undervalued and overlooked items. I hope the Sausalito Challenge finds its market. * From Peter Sherwood: After hanging up my bailing bucket I was promoted and moved into the dry comfort of the coach boat. In serving 3 years as the Sailing Master of the school I observed several thousand more capsizes at very close range. A lighter crew's mast rises more slowly giving more time for the water to drain, usually (seen this many times) draining the mast completely by the time the tip leaves the water. I estimate that 3 liters would be the maximum amount of remaining water for an average weight crew. One cannot argue that a heavier crew, will right the boat more quickly, trapping more water, but surely this is of little concern to a heavy crew? In any case, once the mast passes through horizontal any remaining water immediately rushes down towards the heel. This increases the righting moment, as the heel of the keel stepped mast is below (or on the crew's side) of the centre of buoyancy. The effect of this movement of water is quite noticeable if one watches closely. I do agree that a capped mast is a dangerous thing unless ALL voids are filled to prevent flooding with water. The other, (and in my opinion more preferable) option, is to remove the cap to allow fast draining from the tip and attach a plastic bottle. They are extremely effective, completely removing all possibility of inverting, something that a foam filled mast will never achieve. * From Alexander Bruce: What's going on? Well over a day has gone by since the NOSA Newport to Ensenada Race's trophy presentation, but their 'official' website still has nothing posted on the page labeled "2004 Race Results". Nothing! NOSA gave away a ton of trophies Sunday, but there is nothing on the website to indicate who won them. And when you go to the 'Press Release section' of their website, the top posting proudly proclaims that, "Lexus signed a three-year agreement to become the Official Automobile Sponsor" - but no information about the race whatsoever. Huh? I wonder if the NOSA officials are embarrassed that the only story about their race on the ISAF website - and a bunch of other sailing websites around the world - is a rather self-serving press release issued by one of the competitors. Probably not - I suspect they aren't even aware of it. THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS There is way more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra-type medications than Alzheimer's research. By 2020, there may be a huge elderly population with melon-shaped breasts or never-ending erections, and no recollection of what to do with either of them. |
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