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Scuttlebutt Updates
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Archived NewslettersSCUTTLEBUTT 2066 - April 5, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.POT HOLES In the past 24 hours it’s all change out on the race course for the Volvo Ocean Race fleet, with Bouwe Bekking and his crew on movistar moving from last place to first. Every other team seems to have had their fare share of good and bad luck though, changing positions hourly. As darkness begins to fall on the Volvo Ocean Race fleet, it becomes more difficult to see the patches of wind on the surface and the clouds above which suck the wind away. “These are very tricky conditions, especially during the hours of darkness,” explains Mike Sanderson from ABN Amro One. It has been a very difficult 48 hours for the fleet with a series of pot holes in the road, caused by big wind shadows due to the very large clouds that have developed in the region. The fleet is battling through a disintegrating cold front, and this will be the story for the next 100 miles or so. Big thunder clouds have been scattered randomly around and passing too close to windward of them is very dangerous as this is where the wind holes occur. The fleet is deviating off course weaving their way through this cloud minefield, whilst still trying to work their way north. Movistar (Bouwe Bekking) is making the best of their good fortune, with a healthy lead of 23 nautical miles. It is possible that, should they break away from these trying conditions and make it to the trade winds first, the movistar team could romp away from the rest of the fleet. Consequently, the chasing pack is trying to keep in touch as best they can to prevent movistar from escaping and everyone is very keen to score the points on offer at the scoring gate at Fernando da Noronha. Tonight the entire fleet has made gains on movistar, whose average speed is the lowest in the fleet. -- http://www.volvooceanrace.org Volvo Ocean Race Positions at 2200 GMT Tuesday 1. Movistar, Bouwe Bekking, 4376 miles to finish 2. Pirates of the Caribbean, Paul Cayard, +23 miles 3. Brasil 1, Torben Grael, +28 miles 3. Team ABN Amro Two, Sebastien Josse, +28 miles 3. Team ABN Amro One, Mike Sanderson, +28 miles 6. Ericsson Racing Team, John Kostecki, +29 miles CENTERPIECE David Chipperfield is the architect selected to design the as yet un-named building that will be the centerpiece of the America’s Cup Park. The building will host the Foredeck Club hospitality area, along with a public restaurant and café, Louis Vuitton and America’s Cup stores, and lead into the America’s Cup Park. Located at the edge of the Port America’s Cup, alongside the new canal leading to the northern race course, the Chipperfield’s building is in a prime position with views over both the race course area and the Port itself. The building will be open in time for the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts 10 & 11 beginning May 11. Following is an excerpt from an interview with Chipperfield posted on the America’s Cup website” “It’s a strange building in a way because it doesn’t have a precise function like a railway station or a housing project. It’s a place that has to be a meeting place during the America’s Cup and a hospitality area and a lot of other things. They wanted something exciting where people could congregate to watch the racing and enjoy the America’s Cup. So the idea of using the building to create shaded platforms was important. It has to be place where you can stand outside as much as inside. You’re here to look out at sea and that’s where I put the emphasis. You’re continuously aware of the long view to the sea and on the other side the view into the port. “This is a project out of all normal time realities. The fact that it looks like it will be finished in time is going to be one of the wonders of the world. We’ve had to make big decisions and very clear decisions on the run. In some ways the time factor became inherent in the building. It’s not a fussy building, but rather a big idea. We’re doing a project in one year that should take at least two years.” -- Complete interview: http://tinyurl.com/q8eee THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER RACE “I always loved sailboat racing. There was nothing else that I would rather do. To line up on the starting line and then play the game is what it is all about. To succeed, you must stick with the sport for a long time. There is always another race, so don’t get down on yourself, whenever things turn against you. The ultimate reward is the one, which we all will gain, that is if we play it fair and square. It is the friendship and respect from other people, from all over the world. I wouldn’t want to trade any of them, for any victory, that I have been fortunate enough to achieve. Remember, it is only a game and there is always another race.” – Star Gold Medal crew Magnus Liljedahl, http://www.quantumsails.com/products/onedesign/cni.asp?NID=578&CID=5 RACING RULES QUIZ True or False? You are allowed to wear clothing for the purpose of increasing your weight as long as the total weight of your clothing and equipment does not exceed the limit specified in your class rules. (See answer later in this issue.) DRY ARMOUR - SERIOUS GEAR FOR THE SAILING ATHLETE DryArmour.com products are absolutely awesome. Technical apparel has exploded and moisture management products are leading the sales in the garment industry like never before. The new PermawiK, DryGuard & Dryshirt™ sales are off the chart. Now your company, yacht club, institution, or event can offer these unique and remarkable products to customers and sell out as well! Private label graphics available. Call us or view online for product info, or to learn more about becoming a dealer or distributor for this remarkable product: 1(800) 354-7245 or (562) 594-8749 international, http://www.dryarmour.com HYBRID POWER OFFSHORE The diesel-electric hybrid as an auxiliary power source for sailboats has moved from the laboratory into the water. Though still in early development, it has advantages including fuel efficiency, ease of handling, responsive motor control, low sound levels, immediate-use capability, and, on some systems, power regeneration. I have a Solomon Technologies motor and a Glacier Bay genset on my 43-foot Tom Wylie–designed sailboat, Prestissimo. I finished Prestissimo's sea trials in April 2005 and cruised about 3,000 miles in four months—sailing offshore, in coastal waters, and through the ICW. Hybrid systems always have a fuel-powered generator and an electric motor. Some systems connect the generator directly to the motor while others use it to charge a bank of batteries, which then run the motor. Each approach has advantages. While the direct connection is simpler, it sacrifices some of the hybrid’s primary advantages. -- Brief excerpt from a comprehensive story on the Sail magazine website by Joseph Huberman, http://sailmag.com/features/Huberman/ MOLLY CARAPIET For the last four years, Molly Carapiet has done most of her sailing on Long Island Sound as a member of the Yale sailing team. Last year she became one of less than 10 women ever to be named All-American in co-ed sailing. In all, she's earned four All-American awards (three women's and one co-ed) during her college career. In November, Carapiet won the ICSA/Vanguard Single-handed North American Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii, topping Paige Railey, the world's No. 1 ranked sailor. In addition she helped the Yale Bulldogs to the national title in her sophomore year and a second-place finish as a junior. "It's highly unlikely that anyone in North America has spent more hours in a boat than she has over the last eight years," said Yale sailing coach Zach Leonard. "She really enjoys practicing and racing so she does it a lot. She has good work habits, which help her to keep improving and not to waste time, but most importantly, she has a pretty steady attitude that allows her to compete at close to her potential a lot of the time." Carapiet played soccer, volleyball and basketball growing up but elected to focus on sailing when she got to Marin Catholic High School. "Playing those other sports taught me how to be on a team, which is important in sailing because it is simultaneously a highly individualized and team sport," she says. ~ Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity, full story: http://yalebulldogs.collegesports.com/sports/c-sail/spec-rel/032806aaa.html NEW ARRIVAL Alinghi’s new boat SUI91 arrived in Valencia early Tuesday morning. The first of two new boats to be built for the 2004-07 campaign left Décision boatyard in Vevey on Thursday to be trucked 1,230 km overland to Spain. Grant Simmer, Alinghi managing director and design coordinator was relieved to see the boat tucked away safe and sound: “We now have quite an extensive work program to ready the boat for sailing and we will introduce the boat into our testing program once we have finished with several other test priorities.” Meanwhile the sailing team continues with the two boat testing program out of the Alinghi base with SUI64 and SUI75. -- http://www.alinghi.com SPECIAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY PRICING ON REMOTEVISION B&G is offering special pricing on its revolutionary RemoteVision in honor of its 50th Anniversary. Experience wireless control of your Hydra or Hercules system with this advanced handheld remote. You can do everything possible with the Pilot Display, Full Function Displays and more. View system data including boat speed, wind, depth or heading. Alter course a few degrees or conduct emergency maneuvers. And you can do all of this - and much more - from anywhere onboard. It’s our anniversary, but you’re getting the present! For more on this offer, contact your local dealer or call Simrad at 425-778-8821. TED HOOD: THROUGH HAND AND EYE Ted Hood built a 12-foot sailboat of his own design when he was just 15, and he has been doing pretty much the same thing ever since. Hundreds of his boats on the water today, and his sails on every America's Cup defender from 1962 through 1977. Mr. Hood has long been known for letting his accomplishments do most of his talking, but now he has written a lavishly illustrated, large-format autobiography with Michael Levitt, the New York Yacht Club's communications director. The illustrations, most of them photographs, show everything from Mr. Hood's childhood home in Marblehead, Mass., and his family's sailboats to America's Cup racing and the luxurious sailing yacht he designed for IBM chief Thomas J. Watson Jr. It's clear from Mr. Hood's story that, unlike many who've entered the treacherous waters of the boating game, this talented sailor is also a savvy businessman. - G. Bruce Knecht, The Wall Street Journal, http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/books/links/th VIDEO OF THE WEEK Check out the short online video, “How Not To Tow A Boat.” The option provided to stranded boater in the video is typically not available to most boaters ... which turns out to be a good thing. Very funny! Send us your suggestions for next week’s Video of the Week, and thanks to Tim Dick for tipping us on this one: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/#media NEWS BRIEFS * With 18 boats officially entered, the Vic Maui Committee is increasingly focusing its attention on logistics. To kick-off the events, the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club will be hosting a Vic Maui Luau on Saturday, May 13. The party will feature live Polynesian entertainment, luau-style food, and mai tai’s. There will also be fun and games for the kids. This is a great opportunity for 2006 race participants to meet fellow competitors and past race alumni. The Pre-Race BBQ will be held at Royal Victoria Yacht Club on Friday, June 30. * The Valencia Sailing website has some photos of the new TP52 Mean Machine. The boat was built in Wellington, launched in Auckland two months ago and is now in Valencia, where she arrived last week together with NZL-84. Five sailors from Emirates Team New Zealand will be the core crew during the 2006 Breitling Medcup. They are Ray Davies, Stuart Bettany, Jonathan Macbeth, Tony Rae, and Joe Allen who will sail with owner and skipper Peter de Ridder. In addition, Vasco Vascotto and Nacho Postigo from Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia will be part of the crew. -- http://valenciasailing.blogspot.com/ * Ten days into the Asian record circuit, Ellen MacArthur’s 75-foot trimaran B&Q left Dalian at 09:01:53 GMT Tuesday to start third leg from Dalian to Qingdao – the Olympic sailing venue for 2008 Beijing Games. This leg is the shortest leg of the entire eight-week circuit - only 265 miles. B&Q crew aiming to establish record number four in under 24 hours. Ellen and crew made decision to depart Dalian a day earlier than to take advantage of forecasted strong northerly winds. -- http://www.asianrecordcircuit.com * A new website has just been launched for the 44-foot light displacement high performance one design that Russell Coutts designed together with naval architect Andrej Justin. The boat features a removable stern scoop with a two-piece mast, both developed to provide for easy transportation, assembly and winter storage. The RC 44 will be produced by a limited number of licensed builders. -- http://www.rc44.com COMPOSITE MARINE AT CHINA BOAT SHOW - STAND E628 Composite Marine International (CMI) produces both series and custom composite yachts 5 – 25m, sail and power, for mainly third party clients. Located in Thailand, their partners include world leaders Cobra International and Green Marine. The company has extensive new facilities, a professional workforce, and now offers new build opportunities. http://www.composite-marine.com ANSWER TO RACING RULES QUIZ False. Rule 43.1(a) says very clearly that you are never allowed to wear clothing for the purpose of increasing your weight. This rule cannot be changed by class rules. -- See how well you really know the new 2005-2008 racing rules -- there are 99 more questions like this; check out the Racing Rules IQ Test. -- www.SpeedandSmarts.com EIGHT BELLS Dale Shipporeit, worked with America3 on the shore crew and was one of the winners of the most valuable team players awards that A3 used to give. He spent hours and hours lying on his back covered in fairing compound dust, sanding and fairing keel bulbs. He had a most pleasant demeanor and disposition, always with a kind word. No job was too hard, too long or too difficult for Dale. His work certainly contributed to our success. He died from complications when having heart surgery. He was a sterling individual with a big heart and a huge smile. We’ll miss him. -- Peter Wilson LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. And please save your bashing, and personal attacks for elsewhere. For those that prefer a Forum, you can post your thoughts at the Scuttlebutt website: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi) * From Dennis Bartley: (Re Scuttlebutt 2065 which stated: 'On Wednesday of next week, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06. This won't ever happen again (Unless you are able to wait for another hundred years).' While you might have to wait 100 years for that time/date to happen again here in the USA, you'll only have to hang on until the next month. In Europe, dates are often written day/month/year. * From James A. Gretzky, NA, Co-Designer and Project Coordinator, Heart of America Challenge (edited to our 250-word limit): As Chris Erickson pointed out in ‘Butt 2065, the key point to remember concerning the 1887 America’s Cup Deed of Gift is that it is not the Yacht Club that must be located on the Arm of the Sea but rather an “Annual Regatta” of the Yacht club. It is this criterion that was used to validate the Swiss challenge for the 2003 Match. The issue of the legality of Chicago Yacht Club’s Challenge for the America’s Cup has been misstated as coming from a change of the Deed of Gift. This was not the case. Chicago was admitted after a Petition was made to the New York State Supreme Court by the Royal Perth Yacht Club for an Interpretation of the 1887 Deed. The supporting documentation supplied by the Chicago Yacht Club included records of the application of Admiralty Law on the Great Lakes. Indeed the finding was that the Great Lakes are considered an Arm of Sea and, therefore, the Chicago Yacht Club met the requirements of the Deed of Gift. In order to insure that a challenger doesn’t force the event under the terms of the Deed (remember the big-boat-catamaran mismatch?), the use of the hip pocket challenge is now used. A potential Defender will have a letter in hand from a friendly Challenger as their winning boat crosses the finish line. In essence, the key terms of the next match will be in place at the conclusion of the current match. * From Brian Hancock: There is an amazing sailing accomplishment currently underway. Dee Caffari has sailed her 72 foot yacht Aviva Challenge 22,000 miles alone the wrong way around the world and is now out of the Southern Ocean heading back to the UK. I don't know Dee but I do have some idea of how brutal it can be to sail a yacht that size, alone, upwind through the Southern Ocean. We have all become a bit numb by the various around-the-world races, records and self promoted hoopla in the sailing press these days, but this is one incredible adventure. What's also interesting is the innovative way her story is being told through podcasts, and now a unique tracking system using Google Earth. I admire her courage and I am inspired by her bravery. I hope to be on the dock when she arrives safely back in the UK. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION "The key to being a great actor is sincerity. Once you can fake that, everything else is easy." -- Variously attributed to George Burns, Groucho Marx and Sir Laurence Olivier. Special thanks to Sailing Pro Shop, B&G Instruments, and Composite Marine. |
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