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Scuttlebutt Updates
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Archived NewslettersSCUTTLEBUTT 2543 – February 29, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. MCKINNON-TUCKER STAYS ON COURSE FOR BEIJING Marblehead, MA - Maureen McKinnon-Tucker’s orders are clear: No pity parties. “I don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me,” she said, maintaining an attitude she adopted not long after a freak fall from a seawall more than a dozen years ago left her with a permanent spine bruise that requires her to use a wheelchair for mobility. So, rather than pity, we’ll call it “concern,” with an ample does of amazement. You see, McKinnon-Tucker is facing a series of choices and challenges more profound than many of us will ever experience. In mid-January, McKinnon-Tucker and her sailing partner, Nick Scandone, were in Miami, further establishing their credentials as the odds-on favorites to strike gold (for the U.S.) at September’s Paralympic Games in Beijing. McKinnon-Tucker and Scandone had won four out of five races at the Alex Cavalgia Bluewater Classic Regatta, a performance just as dominating as their effort to secure the right to represent the country at last October’s U.S. Paralympic Trials in Newport, R.I., where they amassed an insurmountable lead and were able to skip the final two races. The thrill of the Miami victory would quickly fade with a pair of calls home to check her 2-year-old son, Trent. The family had been concerned that Trent was not eating or drinking and may have been dehydrated from a stomach bug, so Trent’s grandparents had taken him to North Shore Children’s Hospital. In the 10 minutes between when he was admitted and McKinnon-Tucker called back, things took a shocking turn. Trent had stopped breathing, and doctors noticed a “blown” eye pupil, indicating a problem with the brain. He was evacuated by helicopter to Boston while Team USA Coach Betsy Alison rushed McKinnon-Tucker and her husband to the Ft. Lauderdale airport to catch the first flight home. Doctors removed completely a malignant brain tumor in the rear of Trent’s brain. He recently finished his first round of chemotherapy — with minimal side effects, McKinnon-Tucker was happy to report — and radiation will follow to ensure that his pituitary gland, too, is cancer free. Once the immediate fears and concern for the family subsided, thoughts for many of McKinnon-Tucker’s supporters turned to whether Trent’s cancer would end his mother’s quest for a gold medal. At least for now, the answer is no. -- Read on: http://www.wickedlocal.com/marblehead/news/x257796563 “URGENT” BATTLE BETWEEN RYA & ISAF by Andy Rice, SailJuice Blog Good news, but also a lot of bad news, for sailors who want to see a re-vote of the slate of 10 sailing Events being lined up for the Olympic Regatta in Weymouth 2012. To recap, it was during the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) November 2007 annual meeting where the Men’s Keelboat won a narrow vote over the Multihull, and the Women’s Match Racing just edged out the Women’s Skiff. SailJuice was not a fan of either of these outcomes, and reported on the eleventh-hour a change in voting procedure, a cunning move that was led by Charley Cook from US SAILING, whose agenda was to see the keelboats remain in the Games. (Fair play to you, by the way, Charley. I don’t agree with what you did, but you were there to do a job for your country.) The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has since led a campaign to get the voting re-opened, and made a submission to ISAF to have a re-vote take place at the mid-year meeting. Last week the ISAF Executive Committee sat down in Switzerland to discuss what ‘urgent’ matters should be discussed at the mid-year meeting which takes place in Qingdao this May. Most of the urgent matters were over relatively trivial issues, but the one that engaged them a bit more was the RYA’s submission. The Exec referred the matter to ISAF Constitution Committee (chaired by David Lees and vice-chaired by a certain Charley Cook) to get a definition of ‘urgent’. The Constitution Committee debated, did not come to a unanimous conclusion, but ultimately deemed the RYA’s submission as non-urgent. -- Read on: http://sailjuiceblog.com/2008/02/27/urgent-battle-between-rya-isaf * Curmudgeon’s Comment: This is a good read for those who are engaged in the subject. For those on the fringe, I will share that while the topic of changing the slate of 2012 Olympic events might be addressed at the November 2008 meeting, it is likely too little too late. Also, Scuttlebutt has attempted to contact ISAF on this very same subject during the past week, of which we have received no response. INTERNATIONAL MULTIHULL COUNCIL IS FOUNDED By Nick Dewhirst, Secretary General, IMC The decision of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) to exclude any Multihull Event from the 2012 Olympic Games has shown that we cannot entirely rely on others to promote our interests, so that there was a need to establish our own organisation to do so. As there is no representation for Multihulls within ISAF, either formally through a Multihull Committee, or informally, through the interests of individual Councillors, national multihull associations from several leading ISAF Member National Authorities (MNA) have jointly founded the International Multihull Council. The founder Members are the National Multihull Associations of Australia, Great Britain, Netherlands and United States and are represented on the Executive Committee by Paul Pascoe (AUS) as President, John Williams (USA) as Vice President, Nick Dewhirst (GBR) as Secretary General, Edwin Lodder (NED) as Treasurer and Rod Waterhouse (AUS). For additional information: IMC background information and future plans IMC Meeting Minutes - February 12, 2008 IMC Constitution Go to Scuttleblog: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2008/02/imc RECORD SETTING AT THE 2008 ST. PETE NOOD Congratulations to father and son, Spike and Brad Boston, for setting the record for the most fleet wins at the St. Petersburg NOOD Regatta. Spike on "Frequent Flyer" won the S2 7.9 class, his fifth consecutive fleet title at the regatta. Brad and his crew on "Honour" won the Ultimate 20 class, to also set a record for five consecutive fleet titles. Also with Doyle sails, Damian Emery and his J/105 crew on "Eclipse" and Justin Scott and his Viper crew won their classes. Now is the time to call your local Doyle loft and start winning; visit http://www.doylesails.com QUOTE / UNQUOTE Editor, columnist, television/radio host, and novelist William F. Buckley died on February 27, 2008 at age 82. In a classic interview with Rush Limbaugh, Buckley comments on why he sails: "I sailed the sailboat as a result of a gradual acknowledgment of the coefficient of work over-against satisfaction. The kind of work you need to do in order to maintain a sailboat, to sail it competently as I did three times across the Atlantic, once across the Pacific, requires an investment of certain ergs of energy, and those ergs of energy give you, classically, ergs plus pleasure." -- http://sailing.about.com/b/2008/02/27/ergs-plus-pleasure.htm WHAT CONSTITUTES A 'WORLD' CHAMPIONSHIP? ‘Butthead Steve Pyatt was curious about how a class or event gains the “World Championship” title. He noted that last week in Australia there was both the JJ Giltinan International 18ft Skiff Championship, which isn't a World championship, and 11 categories of Laser Masters World Championship going on (not to mention all the various youth and different rig categories and so on elsewhere). He questioned whether it is because the skiff event, the pinnacle of skill and technology in centreboard sailing from around the globe, wasn’t a World championships as they only get around five countries to the start line at that level. But he also observed how some of the categories at the Laser Masters Worlds only have one country competing (the host nation) and most only have around six countries of which most are predominantly from the host nation and two other countries, so effectively only three countries. In short, Pyatt asks, “How come these types of events can call themselves 'Worlds' and the winners 'World Champions' from such a narrow field of the 234 (235 with Kosovo?) countries in the real World?” To help clarify the matter, ISAF Director Luissa Smith replies, “Every ISAF Class (both International and Recognized) is automatically (subject to notification requirements) entitled to hold one annual World Championship. However, to maintain that right to hold a World Championship, the class has to meet certain criteria (see ISAF Regulation 18.2(a)) and meet average minimum participation requirements (see ISAF Regulation 182(b)). “In addition, an ISAF International Class may hold one gender, age or discipline defined World Championship (youth, team racing, etc), and up to two Women's World Championships (if the class normally races in separate men/women fleets) and provided that one of the Women's World Championships is exclusively dedicated to youth. “In addition ISAF grants World Championships to Radio Sailing, Disabled Sailing and Offshore. The detail of this policy can be found in ISAF Regulation 18.1 through to 18.11. The ISAF Regulations are available online at http://www.sailing.org/regulations or to go to the specific regulation at http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/2008_Part4-[4817].pdf” * Curumudgeon’s Comment: Clear as mud. Next? CANADIAN HOPES IMPROVE AT TORNADO WORLDS Auckland, New Zealand (February 28, 2008) - Now past the mid way point at the 2008 Tornado World Championship, Yann Guichard and Alexandre Gaebler of France still hold the lead. Following the abandoned day on Wednesday due to light airs, the forecast wasn't promising for Thursday either, but fabulous sailing conditions and warm, sunny skies allowed for the 51 boat fleet to start on time with a north easterly breeze building through the afternoon to around 12 knots. Following the first race of the day, Canadian's Oskar Johansson and Kevin Stittle held the overall lead momentarily, however, the French were quick to fight back in the afternoon race, plus with the discard provision kicking in, they took back the lead. Defending world champions Darren Bundock and Glen Ashby (AUS) were the big movers of the day, shifting up to second overall, rolling an 8-1 to be just six points adrift of the leaders. Only a point behind the Aussies are the Canadians in third overall, with Americans John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree scoring a 3-16 to move up to tenth overall after their previous problem plagued day that earned them a painful 29-52/DNF. Four races remain, with the weather calling for 10-15 knot northeasterlies Friday and 20-25 knot northerlies for the final day on Saturday. -- http://www.tornado.org/html/event_details.asp?EventID=169 RECORD FLEET FOR STAR BACARDI CUP Miami, FL - “Drinking from the Bacardi Cup is as good as drinking from the Fountain of Youth,” quipped American John Dane III, who won the prestigious Star Bacardi Cup Regatta in 2006. The 57-year old, Dane who will be the oldest of 400 sailors at the 2008 Olympics, returns for what he believes is his 10th Bacardi Cup with his son-in-law and Olympic crew, Austin Sperry. Sponsored in full by Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. and co-hosted by the Coral Reef Yacht Club and the U.S. Sailing Center in Miami, FL, six days of racing will begin Sunday, March 2nd on Biscayne Bay in Miami, FL and conclude Friday afternoon. A record Star fleet of at least 115-boats have entered, with all of the winning Bacardi Cup skippers dating back to 1994 and many of the winning crew to be racing in this year’s event. Among the entrants are Olympians from Brazil, Great Britain, China, Portugal, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Germany, and Sweden, and along with Olympic hopefuls and class regulars, the fleet will be using the Bacardi Cup as an excellent tune-up event for the 2008 Star World Championships that will be held in Miami in April. -- http://www.bacardicup.com LEARN THE CIRCLE DANCE , THE LEFT SHIFT,... ... the Lead Push and other match racing tactics. Scheduling is now underway for 2008 North American Match Racing Clinics. The series is derived from the WIMRA (Womens Internationall Match Racing Association) clinics offered world-wide in 2007 using a curriculum created by Dave Perry and Liz Baylis. Your club or fleet can host a 2 or 3 day clinic. To host (or attend), contact Bill Gladstone at North U. mailto:Bill@NorthU.NorthSails.com, 800-347-2457, or http://www.NorthU.com NEW YORK TO SAN FRANCISCO RECORD SET (February 28, 2008) After setting out from New York on January 16th, the 110-foot maxi-multihull Gitana 13 crossed the finish line of La Route de l’ Or, situated just off the infamous island of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay shortly after sunrise. After 43 days 38 minutes at sea, including a forced five and a half day period where the team was waiting out a storm at Cape Horn, Lionel Lemonchois and his nine crew improved on the reference time held since 1998 by Yves Parlier and his men by 14 days 2 hours and 43 minutes. The maxi-catamaran in the colours of the LCF Rothschild Group covered the 14,000 miles, which separate New York from San Francisco, at an average speed of 15.88 knots, with the final record time awaiting approval from the World Sailing Speed Racing Council. Commenting on the record, skipper Lionel Lemonchois said, “We did it for the very fact that no maxi-multihull had ever tackled it and I wanted to be the first to attempt it… I hope this will give others the idea and the drive to set off on it. The route is riddled with obstacles and tricky passages to negotiate. Furthermore it’s very long!” As for what is next, Lemonchois replied, “Our next objective is the record from San Francisco – Yokohama (held by Geronimo with a time of 14 days 22 hours 40 minutes), with an intended departure in three to four weeks' time.” -- http://www.gitana-team.com/en/gitana10/homepage.asp SAILING SHORTS * (February 28, 2008) Onboard Educación sin Fronteras, Barcelona-born sailor Albert Bargués and French yachtswoman Servane Escoffier sailed into home waters this morning at 06:55:02 GMT as the final finisher of the Barcelona World Race in 5th place, after an epic 108 days 18 hours, 55 minutes and 2 seconds, sailing a total distance of 27,892 miles at an average speed of 9.45 knots! Along with with winner Paprec-Virbac 2, there were the only two teams to complete the Barcelona World Race without stopping - a huge accomplishment for the oldest boat in the fleet by two generations. -- http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org * The Moore 24 'Le Flying Fish' will be among the entrants in the double-handed division of the Pacific Cup 2008, the 2,100-mile race in July from San Francisco to Hawaii. Sailed by Jean-Philippe Sirey and Stephane Plihon, they are working with the all-volunteer non-profit foundation Sailors on a Mission, and hope to use the event to help in the improvement of health care for children and to raise awareness for the endangered oceans through sailing adventures. Full details at http://www.sailorsonamission.org/content/view/14/33/ PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include images from the Tornado Worlds, the Star Bacardi Cup, the finish of Gitana 13 in San Francisco, the delivery of Optimists to an organization 50 plus year olds, Ernesto Bertarelli receiving an award in Italy, some really cool powerboats in Miami, and some ancient mariners in New Zealand. If you have images you would like to share, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor. Here are this week’s photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/0229 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 Robert H. Goff, Jr.: (regarding Issue 2542 story on Calif tax laws) Ask Rhode Island what happened when the federal tax came down on the Boating Industry and then what happened when RI changed the sales tax on boats. * From Michael Kennedy: The "Luxury Tax" passed by Congress inn the 1970s killed off most of the California boat building industry. Mexico has been building marinas at a fast clip and I would almost suspect their hand in this tax proposal if I didn't know that the California state government is perfectly capable of ruining the economy with no assistance. * From Ian Bruce: In response to Bill Canfield, St Thomas VI in Issue 2542, the impression that ISAF has made the switch back to the Int 420 for the Youth Worlds needs some clarification. ISAF does NOT make the choice of boat to be used in their Youth Championship, a practice that confuses and surprises many. The choice of boat is left entirely up to the local Organizing Committee (with the approval of their National Federation). The choice of boat then becomes yet another political decision in our sport based on what that country thinks is best for its own sailing agenda. The cost of the boats is not an issue as they are supplied by the manufacturers FOC with only the freight being picked up by the OC. The choice then comes down to what Class they choose to support in their own country. ISAF, in their Regulations, mandate the use of either the 29er or the Int. 420 but they do not make that choice. If there is not a strong fleet of one boat in the country, they will pick the other, as is the case in Denmark this summer. My guess is the attendance in the 29er disciplines this summer, after the successful event in Kingston last summer, will break all entry records. * From Jim Champ: (regarding Bill Canfield’s letter in Issue 2542 concerning the doublehanded boats to be used at the Youth Worlds) The youth worlds are likely to be swapping between both the International 420 and the 29er classes for a few years. The reason is simple - which boats can the local sponsor/ supplier more readily re-sell after the event (because the event supplies the boats). In some areas, 420s can scarcely be given away anymore, while in other areas the 29ers are not popular. CURMUDGEON’S FUN FACTS This year – 2008 – is a Leap Year, and February 29 is the big day that occurs only every four years, in years evenly divisible by 4, such as 1988, 1996, 2008 or 2016 (with the exception of century years not divisible by 400, such as 1900). Why does this occur? Although the modern calendar counts a year as 365 days, a complete revolution of the earth around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. Every four years, an extra twenty-four hours have accumulated. For three of the years, February has 28 days, but on the fourth year one extra day is added to that calendar to keep the count coordinated with the sun's apparent position. And that day is February 29th. Special thanks to Doyle Sailmakers and North U. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
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