Orcas Island

The family wanted a summer vacation and I get to go too. Gone until July 28th.

Fluffy fluff

Every day the Scuttlebutt editors question the stuff they we are sent and ask, "Is this news or promotional?" Today there was a big press conference with the BMW ORACLE Racing team, with press releases distributed afterwards stating how BMW and ORACLE Racing were very pleased to announce the renewal of their partnership in BMW ORACLE Racing.

This is great, though I suspect the team would survive if BMW walked away. The bigger thought though was in how we didn't recall in all the previous years of this union, that these two entities made such a grand moment out of this renewal.

So is this news, or just PR folks filling a quiet moment with some fluff. Hmmm...

Ken Read - the skiier

Our search engines track down some of the top names in our sport and send us stories for us to consider. Nobody’s name gets more hits than Larry Ellison, but Ken Read might possibly be next on the list. However, the PUMA skipper isn’t active on the internet for his sailing prowess. There is another Ken Read in Canada (above left) who enjoyed a very successful career in skiing, and since 2002 has been the President of Alpine Canada, the National Sport Organization for alpine skiing in Canada. This guy gets a lot of press, and we hear all about it. However, there is good news on the horizon… he has just retired from his position at Alpine Canada. Hopefully, he can sustain a lower profile now so that we can focus on only the sailing Ken Read.

Russell's alliances

Russell Coutts has his alliances. He is tied to the RC 44 class that he launched. He has been a spokesman for SLAM gear (he was also the face of Quantum sails and Omega watches). Now he is the CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing, so it was only a matter of time until all these entities began to merge. Here are the latest announcements:

SLAM is now the official gear of BMW ORACLE RACING
BMW is now the official car of the RC 44 Class Association.

We desperately want to assume that these alliances are padding Russell’s wallet. Fame and fortune can be a bonus for any sport, and Russell’s success is brightening the spotlight. While it is no more realistic for a little leaguer to become a pro baseball player, then is for a junior sailor to become an ACUP skipper, the possibility is what fuels the imagination and burns the fire of desire.

Russell can talk the talk and walk the walk. Good on ya!

Ernesto and Tiger

The Tiger Woods and Ernesto Berterelli comparisons have started. They both are good at kissing the prize, but now we learn that Tiger Woods is on course to become the first billionaire athlete, according to Forbes Magazine. The magazine noted that Tiger will be joining Ernesto on the billionaire list, though Switzerland's richest man and champion sailor accumulated his fortune outside of his sport. Nothing new there, as we already knew that golfers can earn money at about the same clip as sailors can spend it.

But the comparisons don't stop there, as they both are members of another club... the hot, blond, former model wive club. Plus they hang out at swanky clubhouses. We are now standing by for photos of Tiger and EB sailing and golfing together. Can't wait!

Chinese propaganda

The Olympics coming to China has provided the country’s heavily controlled media with the opportunity to sugarcoat and sell the place like used car salesmen. However, the recent algae outbreak in China has challenged even their savviest wordsmiths. They are now pitching that the outbreak was not a result of pollution and poor water quality but rather due to increased rainfall and warmer waters in the Yellow. They claim that it will be cleaned up by July 15th, and that the government would try to block algae from floating into the Olympic sailing area by installing in the sea a fenced perimeter more than 30 miles long.

Perhaps the most reassuring statement coming from Big Red is this: “We will make all our efforts to finish this job,” said a propaganda official in Qingdao, who asked not to be named because of the political delicacy of the issue. “Now, forces from the entire province have become involved.” Oh good, the Propaganda officials are now onsite providing us information. Very reassuring!

Above items excerpted from NY Times article.

Photo courtesy of EyePress, via Associated Press

Stepping Up

Scuttlebutt was copied to this email that was sent to US SAILING:

I strenuously objected to the proposition of mandatory membership. Now that the mandatory bit has been dropped, I've renewed my membership, and want to step up to the plate further. What needs are there for volunteers at US Sailing?

My experience is not terribly deep when compared with the volunteers described in the press. I have some experience in small boat training, having been the coach for the New Bedford High School Sailing Team, with the requisite Level One and Level Two US Sailing certifications. I have some experience in race management, and have a Club Race Officer certification. I also have some experience in boat building, having grown up in a cruising boat building family, as part of Edey & Duff, Inc.

If there are any areas in need of volunteer effort that could make use of my experience, please feel free to contact me. - Ian Duff.

Very green

Maybe the widely reported algae problems in China are part of a brilliant marketing campaign to coincide with a recently announced sponsorship arrangement for an entrant in the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race. The Green Team, led by skipper Ian Walker, has now revealed that they will now be called The Green Dragon Team after securing title sponsorship from a syndicate of Chinese companies. The team already holds strong Chinese links with construction of the boat taking place in China at McConaghy Boats in Zhuhai, making it the first Volvo Open 70 boat to be built in China.

A Message by George Carlin

Following George Carlin's death last weekend, the CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS in Scuttlebutt this week have been honoring Carlin's wit. This is a bit long, but it does show the depth of Carlin's character:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend any hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?