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Scuttlebutt Updates
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Archived NewslettersSCUTTLEBUTT 2574 – April 14 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. ARE KEELBOATS OUT OF THE 2012 OLYMPICS? This was the headline in Scuttlebutt 2471 (November 8, 2007) leading into the meeting at the ISAF Annual Conference where the events for the 2012 Olympics would be decided. The ISAF Events Committee, which had been tasked with recommending to the ISAF Council the events to be used for the Olympic Sailing Competition, had just submitted their list, and keelboats were not included for either the men or the women. The Events Committee was affectively ‘the experts’ and their recommendation was intended to help inform the Council’s decision. By all accounts, it appeared as if the Star and Yngling sailors at the 2008 Olympics would be enjoying the end of an era. Of course, we all know now that the ISAF Council paid little attention to the Events Committee recommendation, and went about voting for those events that served the voting members’ personal agendas. However, now that the international sailing community has convinced ISAF that a review of the selected events is in order, the ‘buttheads were asked last week what their preferred event list would be. Guess what… the ‘butthead’s list of events is the same that the Events Committee had initially submitted. In case those with a vote at the ISAF Mid-Year meeting are listening, here is the list of preferred events… AGAIN: Men’s Events (only six events get chosen) 1. Two person dinghy 2. One person dinghy 3. Windsurfer 4. Multihull 5. Two person dinghy - skiff 6. One person dinghy - heavy ------------------------ 7. Keelboat 8. One person dinghy - skiff Women’s Events (only four events get chosen) 1. Two person dinghy 2. One person dinghy 3. Windsurfer 4. Two person dinghy - skiff ------------------------ 5. Keelboat 6. Multihull Link to complete poll: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/08/0403 EMBRACING DANGER AND DISCOMFORT With all the dreary news in international sailing these days -- the interminable America's Cup onshore wrangling and the usual pre-Olympic legal intrigues -- there's an upbeat development, as well. The Volvo Ocean Race is back, replete with peril and derring-do plus a competitive new U.S. entry. Sometime this month, Rhode Island skipper Ken Read will splash his rakishly fast new 70-footer in Boston Harbor and begin training a team of 10 in Newport, R.I., for the start of the world's most challenging round-the-world race this fall. The boat is called Puma, after the athletic gear manufacturer sponsoring it. Seven Volvo 70s leave Alicante, Spain, on Oct. 8, bound for South Africa, India, Singapore, China, Brazil, Boston, Ireland, Sweden and Russia. The fifth leg, from Qingdao, China, to Rio de Janeiro, will test offshore racers as they rarely are tested. It's 12,300 nautical miles, up to 40 days at sea, deep into the frigid Southern Ocean to round the world's scariest headland, Cape Horn, as fast as humanly possible. Why would anyone embrace such danger and discomfort? "In a lifetime," says Read, 46, a veteran helmsman with three America's Cups and countless inshore regattas on his résumé, "there's just so many 'round-the-buoys races you can do before you go insane. Then, all of a sudden you're racing around the world in a boat that can do the speed of a car without even trying. -- Washington Post, read on: http://tinyurl.com/4aeo66 => Curmudgeon’s Comment: The Puma team hasn’t been too eager yet to turn their campaign into a publicity event, not yet disclosing crew lists or design features, so it was a bit of a breakthrough for Read to provide author Angus Phillips with the first tour of the boat that’s in the final stages of construction. LEARNING TO FLY by David Schmidt, SAIL Magazine Sailing a multihull is just like sailing a monohull, right? Wrong. If that was the case, there is simply no way that Alinghi would have flipped Foncia, the high-octane ORMA 60 that the team had been using as a training platform for the 33rd America’s Cup, which will be a Deed of Gift Challenge between Golden Gate Yacht Club’s BMW Oracle Racing (BOR) and Societe Nautique de Geneve’s Alinghi. Currently, the “where” and the “when” are being wrangled in Justice Cahn’s courtroom, but for the first time in months there is a glimmer of hope: The sailors have taken to the water aboard multihulls, giving Cup enthusiasts a glimpse at the exciting, and unorthodox, match-racing event that will constitute the next Cup. But what is so different about multihull sailing that requires some of the best sailors in the world – men like Russell Coutts, Brad Butterworth, James Spithill, and Ed Baird — to rethink how they sail? -- Read on: http://sailmag.com/racecourse/0408LearningToFly DEBUTS TODAY The new 2008 Luxury Performance Collection from Kaenon Polarized http://www.kaenon.com is bursting with original frame designs in fresh colors. Inspired by the greatest racers on the planet, for both men and women, Kaenon Polarized has once again defined Luxury Performance. Exclusively featuring our patented SR-91 polarized lens that allows you to see what others cannot, SR-91 is the iconic differentiator on the race course. Butterworth calls them “magic!” Others call it “crack for your eyes.” Experience the difference in Kaenon Polarized. Always available in Rx. Kaenon Polarized. Evolve Optically. Locate an authorized dealer nearest you at http://www.kaenon.com ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY EIGHT NOTES (AND COUNTING) Olin Stephens turned 100 years on April 13, 2008, and the ‘buttheads have been enjoying the celebration cake and the big birthday card that is posted online. As of our publication date, there have been 138 notes posted to Olin, and the link will remain active forever for those that arrive fashionably late to the party. Here are a few of the comments so far: * Thank you for designing the Lightning....the best one-design class in the world. What a fantastic boat and class which has endured now 70 years. * As a young couple we owned an S&S30 which we sailed far and wide. Whilst in NY, we rather cheekily phoned the S&S office to ask some questions about the boat. We were amazed and delighted when you yourself were put on the line to answer everything with great clarity and patience. We have been 'brand loyal' ever since! * You have encouraged and educated me in invaluable ways. I consider your autobiography my manual on how to conduct myself as a yacht designer, and your book of Lines as one of my primary sources of inspiration. Thank you for all that you have given me. I hope that you have a wonderful birthday. => There is plenty of space left on the card to post your sentiments: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2008/04/happy-birthday-olin.html STAR WORLDS Miami, FL (April 13, 2008) -- With less than four knots of wind, the Race Committee at the Star Worlds Championship at Coral Reef Yacht Club waited, reset the start line, and waited again for the wind to pick up. It was the third day of the event, with the first two days dominated by Mateeusz Kusznierewicz/ Dominik Zycki (POL), who had rolled off two firsts in the one race per day format. The storyline from Saturday was how one fourth of the 104-boat fleet had earned the black flag starting penalty, so when the winds edged up to a shifty seven knots almost an hour and a half later, the fleet started safely with only four boats tagged as OCS. The Polish team took a beating on this day, coming in 44th, and will need to wait until the completion of the fourth race before they are able to drop their worst score. That won’t come until Tuesday, as Monday remains a reserve day, and it is currently the consistency of John MacCausland/ Kevin Murphy (USA), who finished eighth today, and Iain Murray/ Andrew Palfrey (AUS), who took a fifth place, that finds those two teams at the top of the results. As for the top rankings from today, it was all past World Champions in the top three, with two-time winner Xavier Rohart/ Pascal Rambeau (FRA) taking the gun over defending champion Robert Scheidt/ Bruno Prada (BRA), with 2006 winner Hamish Pepper/ Carl Williams (NZL) in third. -- Event website: http://www.starworlds2008.com Preliminary results (Top ten of 104) 1. USA, John MacCausland / Kevin Murphy, 15- 4- 8, 27 points 2. AUS, Iain Murray/ Andrew Palfrey, 11-11-5, 27 3. ITA, Diego Negri / Luigi Viale, 3-3-25, 31 4. JPN, Kunio Suzuki / Daichi Wada, 9-15-10, 34 5. USA, Mark Mendelblatt / Mark Strube, 2-6-32, 40 6. CAN, Ross Macdonald / Steve Mitchell, 25-9-7, 41 7. SWE, Fredrik Loof / Anders Ekstrom, 27-8-9, 44 8. POL, Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Dominik Zycki, 1-1-44, 46 9. FRA, Xavier Rohart/ Pascal Rambeau, 26-21-1, 48 10. USA, Carl Buchan/ Jamie Buchan, 31-7-12, 50 Results: http://www.starworlds2008.com/ResultsFiles/Star_Worlds_2008.html Video: http://www.sailing-tv.tv/sailingtv.html FRENCH TROOPS ATTACK SOMALI PIRATES (April 11, 2008) Helicopter-borne French troops swooped in on Somali pirates Friday after they freed 30 hostages from a yacht, seizing six of the hijackers and recovering sacks of money -- apparently ransom paid by the ship's owners. The pirates had boarded the 288-foot French luxury yacht a week ago, capturing its mostly French crew off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden. Pirates seized more than two dozen vessels off the Somali coast last year. Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin, chief of staff of France's armed forces, said the pirates released the hostages after negotiating with the ship's owner. That phase of the operation was calm, with no weapons fired, he said. The hostages were brought to safety and the pirates went ashore. After the pirates were on Somali territory, a French attack helicopter chased a vehicle carrying some of them, firing to destroy its engine, the general said. There were conflicting reports about what happened next. -- Washington Post, read on: http://tinyurl.com/3enejn DON’T LET THE TAX MAN GET YOU DOWN!! Team One Newport brings you tax relief! Buy 24 Henri Lloyd Atmosphere tees and get your 2 color design screen printed for FREE! Buy 24 really cool Fast-dri Pique Polos or Fast-dri Tech Caps and get your boat name and sail number (or logo) embroidered for FREE. Even better, buy 12 or more jackets and get your boat name or logo on those! Start preparing for the Bermuda and Mac races early and let Team One Newport help save you a little money! Hurry because offer expires May 15th. Call 800-VIP-GEAR (800-847-4327) or visit http://www.team1newport.com WEST COAST MORNING LIGHT PREVIEW Oakland, CA - Strictly Sail Pacific, the largest sailboat show on the West Coast, will host a special preview of select scenes from the yet-to-be-released film Morning Light on Thursday, April 17. The film is the real-life adventure story of one of the youngest crew to compete in the legendary Transpacific Yacht Race, an offshore sailboat race between Los Angeles (California) and Hawaii. This is the first time a West Coast audience will have an opportunity to view scenes from this film, produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pacific High Productions and due to be released on October 17, 2008. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/3fjkfo Show dates are Wednesday, April 16 to Sunday, April 20 at Jack London Square. The Morning Light preview will be held April 17th from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Waterfront Plaza Hotel (Spinnaker Room). The preview is open to Strictly Sail Pacific exhibitors and ticket-holders for Thursday's show. Here are details on discount show tickets: * US SAILING members will enjoy a discount of two tickets for the price of one for all of the upcoming Strictly Sail and SailFest events in the next year. -- http://www.ussailing.org/promotions/strictlysail.aspx * Scuttlebutt readers are able to buy discount tickets for all dates of the Strictly Sail Pacific show through a special link set up on the Scuttlebutt website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/banners/strictlysail SAILING SHORTS * The 2008 Fort Lauderdale to Charleston Ocean Yacht Race, set to start April 23rd, has been postponed and will be rescheduled for 2009 at a time that is consistent with Charleston Race Week and the Charleston to Bermuda Race. This event marks the rebirth of a race that originated in 1968 and ran for 10 years. The race traditionally starts just outside of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and finishes just outside of Charleston Harbor. The race record of 33hr:28min:56sec was established in 1974 by Phantom, a C&C 66 owned by Ralph B. Ryder Jr. Event website: http://www.fortlauderdalecharlestonrace.org * Miami, FL (April 12, 2008) -- American boats took the top two spots at the 33-boat Farr 40 Pre-Worlds that finished Saturday. In winds that ranged from 8 to 13 knots over the two day event, William Douglass’ Goombay Smash was the winner with Rod Jabin’s Ramrod in second, while 2006 and 2007 World Champion Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino (ITA) finished in tenth place. Competition for the 2008 World Championship will begin Wednesday, April 16th and continue through Saturday, April 19th. Schedule, entries and crew lists can be found at the event site: http://www.farr40worlds.com CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar EIGHT BELLS Toledo, OH -- John H.C. Thompson, Jr., 59, a power boater who fell in love with the sport of yacht racing and worked to ensure smooth sailing for events on Lake Erie and Lake Huron, died of cancer last Tuesday in his Sylvania home. “He was like a guru,” said Donald Wood, a longtime friend who worked with him on the annual Mills Trophy Race on Lake Erie. “He was held in high esteem. “He held many positions in [race] management,” Mr. Wood said. “I can’t think of any individual who did not have kind words for John Thompson.” Mr. Thompson was a former general chairman, logistics chairman, and chairman of Put-In-Bay operations for the Mills race. He was a key player in reviving the race in 1981 after a hiatus of three years, said Mr. Wood, who has been a Mills chairman and race operations chairman through the years. Mr. Thompson was a past commodore of the Toledo Yacht Club and of the Western Lake Erie Cruising Association. He was a past president of the Inter-Lake Yachting Association trustees and was a past association yachtsman of the year. -- Complete story: http://tinyurl.com/3vgra9 HEADING TO CHINA While the U.S. SAILING Team prepares for the Olympics, their support RIBs are already packed and China bound. As the Official RIB of the U.S. SAILING Team, RIBCRAFT reaffirms its commitment to the sport and its sailors. Ranging in size from 15' to 30', RIBCRAFT has all your support boat needs covered. http://www.ribcraftusa.com 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 George Schirtzinger: (re, story in #2573) This lawsuit is not going to enhance the reputation of lawyers or boaters. The change from MTBE to ethanol came out of the solons in Congress. Not only that, but as another payoff to the trial bar, Congress refused to indemnify MTBE manufacturers from lawsuits when they mandated ethanol, so the manufacturers stopped as fast as they could, which was much faster than the ethanol infrastructure could be built up. This lead to shortages and price hikes, which of course were blamed by Congresscritters on the oil companies. I read car magazines and the incompatibility of ethanol with some components in fuel systems was well publicized. I don't know where boaters were or what was in boating magazines at the time. I find it incredible that there was some kind of plot by the oil companies to deceive boaters. As to oil company profits, what is important is the profit rate on sales, not the dollars. Oil companies are averaging about 9% by this measure, whereas Microsoft is about 25% and the S+P 500 average about 8%. Their profit dollars are huge because their sales dollars are huge, not because they are gouging. Since 2000, IIRC, FTC has done 34 investigations of gasoline pricing and found no malfeasance. Accusations about price gouging make good news copy, but are dishonest, since I can't use stronger words. * From Kenneth Redler: In response to Peter Harken's claim in 'Butt 2572 that the Finn should be in the Olympics because of all the great sailors that have come from the class, then why not have the Optimist in the Olympics. No other fleet has graduated more great sailors than the Optimist. If "producing the best of the best" is a criterion for being an Olympic class, then the Optimist is clearly a shoo in. In addition, by not having a pram in the Olympics, ISAF is clearly stating that blunted bow boats are not part of the "established" sailing community. Gaff rigged boats are so dissed by ISAF, that many of the "acceptable" classes have to resort to disguising their gaffs by using a full length top batten. This is an outrage! More sailors have sailed prams than all the other boats combined, and yet they are not a part of the Olympics... unbelievable! It's time that all sailors lobby their ISAF representatives and tell them that we demand there be an event in the Olympics for one person dinghy - pram - light - youthful. Of course once prams do make it into the Olympics, ISAF will most likely select the Naples Sabot.... * From Mick Christensen, San Diego: As a semi-ancient mariner (raced a 470 when it was a 'brand new' boat), I am sympathetic to the decision making process that reviews and recommends change in the sailing portion. In many other Olympic events, change and technology are equally important. Ever compare a 2008 bow to what was used in the earliest archery events? While I am sure that the boats have evolved over the years, they still must adhere to one design principles. What I believe makes the Finn and Star produce so many world class sailors is he fact they have been Olympic classes for so long. I doubt seriously anyone who says Finns produce better sailors. Olympic events should (and do) contain sailing events that are for individuals, male and female, small teams (doublehanded) and larger teams. What particular vehicle they use for those groups can change. I think it needs to have some aspect of stability - you can aspire to be an Olympic sailor 8 or 12 years from 2008 and have some assurance that the boat you (and your teammates) are practicing on will be there. * From Brian Raney: (regarding the Glenn Selvin’s comments in #2573) 1) Entry to the Laser US Olympic Trials was limited to 33 boats due to the equipment being provided (see point 3); 2) My six-year-old Laser isn't in the dumpster, and is as stiff as the day I bought it; 3) Like your carbon wing mast? It means you're not sailing true one-design. And true one-design allowed for the Lasers/ Radials to be provided equipment, not a mix and match of sails and spars and hulls. I've got no beef with the Finn sailors I know, and think it's a fine boat. Been tempted to play in one at times. Please don't drag the Laser into your rant, though. * From Richard du Moulin, Fales Committee (retired), US Naval Academy: (re, story in #2571) Midshipmen at the US Naval Academy need sea-time aboard grey ships, and dinghy racing is a great sport fitting for the Academy, but sail training (ocean racing and passages) provides the basic skills and judgment that every commissioned officer needs. Aboard a sailboat with a small team, the Midshipman is given immediate responsibility and learns hands-on navigation, seamanship, leadership and boat handling, forming a basis for a successful naval career. Aboard the smaller vessel, the Midshipman usually gets more responsibility than on a bigger ship. About 35 years ago, the US Navy had a series of ship handling mishaps resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of damages and many lives lost (one was a collision of a carrier with a destroyer). I recall the Navy followed up with a fleet-wide seamanship test which had a surprising finding that officers with Academy sailing program experience did significantly better than other officers. That "discovery" served to re-invigorate funding for sail training. Today the daily cost of a ship, and the cost to train an officer, is higher than ever. Sail training is a very smart investment for the Navy. * From Gordon Livingston: (re, letter in Issue 2573) This is a gratuitous insult that has no place in Scuttlebutt. French sailors have demonstrated their competence and courage many times over. Shame on Mr. Bieberbach for writing it and on you for running it. * From Don Goyette: Fred Bieberbach. Jr.'s gratuitous slur (in #2573) on French Commandos -- and probably by extension all things French (sound familiar as in "Freedom Fries"?) -- was in exceedingly poor taste and I'd have thought below Scuttlebutt's level. * From Chris Ericksen: I'm sorry, but I found the letter by Fred Bieberbach, Jr., printed in 'Butt 2573, in very bad taste. I believe I have a generally conventional sense of humor and recognizes anyone's right to say what they want, regardless how Francophobic it may be, but I found the comments neither humorous nor edifying. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION “The taxpayer. That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.” -- Ronald Reagan Special thanks to Kaenon Polarized, Team One Newport, and RIBCRAFT. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
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