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Scuttlebutt Updates
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Archived NewslettersSCUTTLEBUTT 2233 – November 30, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with support provided by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). QUESTIONING KOSTECKI (Ericsson has primed its campaign for the 2008-'09 Volvo Ocean Race by signing veteran skipper John Kostecki and designer Juan Kouyoumdjian. Sailing World magazine connected with Kostecki while he was in California for the Thanksgiving holidays. Here are some excerpts of their interview.) Sailing World: You're getting started early this time. Was this assignment something you were actively pursuing as soon as the last race ended? John Kostecki: I was always in contact with Ericsson, even before the last race ended. It's more my style to get involved from an early stage. It's a great opportunity for me to be in this position with an early start and a fully funded campaign. SW: Is this return to the Volvo a sign that you've now found your niche in the sport? JK: I don't know about that. The Volvo Ocean Race is one of the premier events in our sport. It's also incredibly fun sailing, especially the new 70s, as long as they hold together. I don't know if this is my niche or not, but it's going to be my life for the next two or three years. SW: This campaign could knock you out of the next two Cups, since there seems a strong possibility the winner next summer won't wait the customary 3 or 4 years between Cups. Do you still have the desire to do more America's Cup sailing? JK: That would be disappointing if I couldn't do the America's Cup. It's not the end of the world. The last campaign that I was involved with didn't really work out well for me. This was a great opportunity to get involved with Ericsson at an early stage and I didn't want to miss that opportunity. SW: A few years ago Juan seemed like a bit of a maverick in the world of yacht design. People weren't quite sure he'd ever succeed. That's obviously changed quite a bit now. JK: Well I think the last Volvo Race kind of showed that he's one of the best designers in the world. SW: How important is it that he's working only for your team in the next race? JK:The most important thing for us is that to have him very involved with the team, and that's one of the few reasons why we got Juan on board. He really wanted to work with one team, then he could get the most out of the design and not only be involved with the design, but some of the other aspects of the campaign. -- Read on for the full interview: http://tinyurl.com/yg78bt MUMM 30 WORLDS (Miami Beach, FL - Nov 29, 2006) Opening day of the Mumm 30 World Championship had picture perfect conditions. Sailors on 30 boats from nine countries were treated to Florida sunshine, good breeze and some great surfing waves. All races were four leg windward-leeward races, with 1.75-mile legs. The easterly wind ranged from 14-20 knots, starting out light in the morning and building during the day, with stronger puffs on the left, backing slightly early afternoon. -- Full report: http://www.mumm30.org/content/view/109/46/ Preliminary Results (protests pending) 1. (IRL) Mammy, Diarmuid Foley, 8-1-1, 10 pts 2. (FRA) Twins, Erik Maris, 5-2-3, 10 3. (USA) Sixx, Tom Lihan, 2-4-6, 12 4. (NED) Mean Machine, Peter deRidder, 1-3-10, 14 5. (USA) Groovederci, Deneen Demourkas, 7-8-2, 17 SAILING FOR FUN? (Nov 29, 2006) The Mumm 30 World Championship regatta starts today, yet there is an interesting undertone. I support the ISAF rankings of sailors and enjoy sailing with teams that have a mix of amateurs and professionals. Depending on the boat the blend is different. I would prefer sailing with this blend of Cat 3's (professionals) and Cat 1's (amateurs or good sailors sailing for fun) than sailing with all professionals. For what ever reason the stakes are getting higher and owners are pushing the interpretation of the rule and getting many more paid professionals on board yet with a Cat 1 status. At this regatta it is a joke how many boats have on paper Cat 1 sailors that are making big money in many different ways. Some guys are listed as employees of the owner’s business and others are paid really high per-diem (expense money) per day. I feel bad for the owners that want to play by the rules and in the Mumm 30 class the rule states only two of the crew can be paid. The owners have to take control and ultimately determine what they want their racing to be: A game of who has the most money, or who wants to sail with great sailors for fun and one or two professionals that are assisting in the fun. -- Wally Cross, http://tinyurl.com/yhpad6 "FASTEST SAILS ON THE PLANET", PERIOD! The 2007 racing season is fast approaching. Is your sail inventory ready? International Grand Prix, to highly competitive One Design, or just local Club racing, Ullman Sails has the right sail design technology and fabric selection to deliver the "The Fastest Sails on the Planet". Ullman Sails new "FiberPath" sails are arguably the lightest, strongest string load-bearing sails available! "FiberPath" is stronger for its weight, and delivers superior longevity compared to the alternatives. For more information on "FiberPath", or to get a quote on the "Fastest Sails on the Planet", contact your local Ullman Sails loft and visit http://www.ullmansails.com US SAILOR OF THE WEEK (The US Sailing ‘Sailor of the Week’ recognition goes to Steve Manson, who is a prime example of how the sport can change people’s lives. Here is the report.) Steve Manson has only been sailing for a few years, but it's pretty safe to say that sailing has forever changed his life. Steve was a high school student in Baltimore, MD, when he signed up for a program that ended up taking him to the Downtown Sailing Center, Baltimore's community sailing center, to help clean sailboats and learn to sail. It didn't take long for Steve to develop a passion for the sport and spend as much as time as possible on the water. By becoming a sailing instructor at the Center, he was able to share his enthusiasm with others who may not have had an opportunity to spend time on the water if it hadn't been for the Center. When Roy Disney's Morning Light program was taking applications for young sailors to participate in the documentary film about the youngest team ever to compete in the Transpac Race from LA to Honolulu, Steve just knew he had to apply. Since then, he has flown on a plane for the first time in his life (to attend the try-outs in California, paid for by Mr. Disney), met other sailors from around the country with a similar passion for the sport, and has been selected out of over 500 candidates to participate in the Morning Light program. He is now destined to travel and sail even more. Steve's story is an example of what all community sailing centers strive for: reaching out, building character, and helping new sailors help themselves to achieve success in life. Way to go Steve! -- http://tinyurl.com/yem6aj TRIVIA QUESTION Prior to American Jud Smith winning the 2006 Etchells Worlds, what North Americans had held the same title in the past ten years? (Answer below) VELUX 5 OCEANS (Nov 29, 2006) Bernard Stamm, the defending champion at the head of the Velux 5 Oceans, celebrated his birthday today on Cheminees Poujoulat. Having passed over the Kerguelen Islands, a mandatory waypoint, Stamm, now 43, is on an easterly heading towards Fremantle. The Swiss skipper currently has 1,761 miles still to sail to the finish of leg one and is expected to arrive early next week. Responding to Kojiro Shiraishi’s gains yesterday, Stamm is back on pace and again setting the fastest speeds within the fleet, clocking an average speed of close to 14 knots over the last 24 hours. The conditions and forecast look favourable for Stamm, who is hoping he can hitch a ride along the passage between the high pressure systems all the way to Fremantle. Mike Golding and Alex Thomson, have managed to secure the broken sections of mast on the deck of Ecover. The pair is still 48 hours south east of the shelter of (South Africa’s) Table Mountain and decision time for Golding in the Velux 5 Oceans. -- Velux 5 Oceans race website: http://www.velux5oceans.com EIGHT BELLS Mary Etchells, the only woman to win the Star Class Worlds, died in Easton, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay, on November 28, 2006. In 1944 she and her husband, Skip Etchells, began winning races in the Star Class, which included the Western Hemisphere Championship and the North American Championship, culminating in the World Championship at Gibson Island in 1951. Their partnership started when Skip asked Mary as a college girl to crew for him in his homemade dinghy at the Larchmont Yacht Club. After they were married, they moved to California where Skip, a naval architect, built their first Star, Shillalah. Equally as competitive as her husband, Mary and Skip made a formidable team. He once boasted, "Mary can hike out as far to windward as any crew in the class. She can hook one foot on the cockpit coaming and virtually disappear over the side." Those were the days before hiking straps and crews were mobile ballast. Mary especially remembers racing in the strong easterlies on their home waters of Long Island Sound. The Etchells never went anywhere sightseeing unless there was a boat involved. They sailed up and down the East Coast and in Nassau, but Cuba was Mary's favorite venue. The Cup of Cuba was awarded to them as winner of the 1950 Havana Midwinter Championship. The conditions were so windy they couldn't hold the series at the yacht club but raced around a large boat anchored in the middle of the course opposite Morro Castle. After one race a maid at the yacht club thought Mary had been brutally beaten by somebody, but Mary explained that those black and blue marks were the result of crewing for her husband in the Havana regatta. The Etchells settled in Old Greenwich, Conn. where Skip formed his own company and became the star builder of Stars. The Etchells’ amazing performance includes winning five Noroton Race Weeks, three 1st District Atlantic Coast titles, the 1950 Bacardi Cup in Cuba and the 1951 World’s Championship. Mary wants to encourage more women to crew in Stars. At one time she planned to donate a prize for women, but Commodore Paul Smart talked her into donating the prize which goes to the winning crew of the World's Championship, a trophy which to this day has never been won by another woman. -- Complete story: http://www.starclass.org/artman/publish/article_40.shtml WITH A WARM BREEZE, FROSTBITING OR BY THE FIRE? Where are you spending the Holiday season? Regardless of the location, every sailor wants to be wearing Mount Gay Rum gear. So if you are looking for a Holiday gift, get all your shopping done by calling the source of Mount Gay Rum gear, Lands’ End Business Outfitters at 800-490-6402. You’ll find Mount Gay Rum apparel and gear that all sailors have on their Holiday lists this year - jackets, polos, bags, fleece items and more. For information on the Mount Gay Rum Brand, go to http://www.mountgay.com SAILING SHORTS * US Sailing members have until Thursday night 11:59 p.m. Eastern (Nov. 30) to submit their nomination for US Sailing's Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards. Since US Sailing first created the Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards in 1961, the biggest names in American sailing have been honored with the distinction. In January 2007, the newest winners will be announced. Nominations can be submitted here: http://www.ussailing.org/awards/rolex * The fourth annual Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association Coaching Colloquium & Winter Meeting is to be held January 8-14, 2007 in Park City, Utah. The event is open to anyone with an interest in college sailing, with full details on the College Sailing website: http://tinyurl.com/yhykyw * The Scuttlebutt poll concerning the length of time it takes to conclude Rule 69 hearings in the US will continue through Thursday, but the early voting and comments lean heavily toward a need to speed things up or, as this voter noted, “Justice delayed is justice denied.” Place your vote and comments here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/06/1128 TRIVIA ANSWER After being a four-time bridesmaid at the Etchells Worlds, Jud Smith kicked the monkey off his back last week to win the 2006 Worlds. Prior to Jud’s victory, there had been three other North Americans that had held the title within the past ten years: Ken Read, 2003; Vince Brun, 2000; and Dirk Kneulman, 1998. -- http://www.etchellsworlds2006.org/Images/Brochure/pastwinners.pdf LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From John Harwood-Bee: So Richard Clarke (in his letter in Issue 2232) despises the gutsy heroes of the Velux etc, bemoans the lack of 'inspiration' for himself, and then cites the most boring mind numbing event, the Americas Cup as his ideal. Sorry Richard your protests don't add up. If we leave it only to those who afford Maxi's and AC yachts you will soon realise that there is no chance for you to sail ' inspired' around the globe. I realise that for some the "money no object" owners and their highly paid professional crews offer an appeal akin to F1 motor racing. Finely tuned machinery, delicately balanced, shrouded in secrecy and paranoia , (and with respect, probably way outside yours or my budget ) for events over a few hours or at best a couple of days. How can this compare with the rugged determination and guts of frequently under funded, nevertheless dedicated 'endurance' guys such as RKJ, Golding, Thomson, et al. who do it for fun. They are the 'Le Mans' drivers of the Oceans and like 90 % of 'Le Mans' pilots they frequently use their own money to support the trip. Each to there own Richard and I agree that the Olympics need looking at. However please don't denigrate these adventurous, spirited men and women. If you want to be truly inspired and thrilled at the same time, sign on with one of the 'G' class cats for the next RTW race or record attempt (but remember to take lots of spare underwear). * From Jerry Cann, Director of Marketing, Pacific Seacraft Corp: (re lead story in Issue 2232) Planet Solar’s objective is to achieve the first round the world sea voyage powered by solar energy. Well excuse me, but wasn't Magellan's voyage the first. Technically, every pure sailing ship or yacht is solar powered! * From Tom Donlan: I hope it's not too curmudgeonly to note that wind is the result of solar energy, so "Sun 21" and "Planet Solar" will not be the first solar powered vessels to cross the Atlantic or travel around the world. Those honors belong to Leif Ericsson or Christopher Columbus and to Antonio Pigafeta and the other survivors of Magellan's fleet, respectively. On an even more curmudgeonly note, it will be a very long time before any photovoltaic vessel approaches the energy efficiency or reliability of a clipper ship--yet we don't use those anymore. Solar stunts such as these merely demonstrate the need for a lot more technology development. * From Mark Steinbeck: When Brian Welch said (in Issue 2232), "Imagine a golfer carrying a pro's bag in a tournament, then running up at the awards ceremony and grabbing the trophy as though he or she were the one that played the game!" he demonstrates a lack of appreciation of the fact that sailing is a "team" sport. I'll wager that Tiger Woods will usually win no matter who his caddy is, but even Russell Coutts can't win with a clueless bowman and bad trimmers. The Racing Rules of Sailing refer to "a boat", and "a boat had her crew", or even "a boat and her owner" but I don't find any reference to "helmsman" that gives the person steering the boat any special status above the rest of the crew. After all, the quarterback of the team that wins the Super Bowl isn't always the MVP. Why should the one who steers the boat necessarily get all the credit? * From George Bailey: If a majority of the members in a class wants to allow paid or unpaid pros or quasi-pros to crew or helm, that's up to them. If I do not like it, I will join a class that does not allow it. If those (classes) become history, the will of the majority has spoken. But this seems unlikely. I have been wondering how this would work with Lasers, though. Who gets the trophy when my hired gun wins in my boat? But I guess that's the limiting case. Still, rules can be altered to accommodate any combination of possibilities. Which just brings us back to, what does the majority of the class association want? * From Richard Collins, San Francisco, CA: Interesting article (in Issue 2230) re windsurfing at yacht clubs, or the lack thereof. At Stamford Yacht Club and American Yacht Club located on western LIS, I recall prior to my moving to the left coast that overzealous water cops took pride in busting kids who exceeded the 5MPH speed limit windsurfing in the inner harbors. That killed the program real quick. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION 1976: Passing the drivers' test 2006: Passing the vision test This issue of Scuttlebutt provided by Ullman Sails and Mount Gay Rum Gear. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
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