Sailing history from the Scuttlebutt Archives

Here are some moments stored in the Scuttlebutt archives…

2008- 5 years ago: It came as a shock when the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) had decided at their 2008 Annual Meeting in November that a kite-powered craft could not be recognized as the holder of the outright world sailing speed record. Considering that in October, three kiteboarders had eclipsed the mythical 50 knot barrier, with their speeds endorsed then by World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) as the outright records, this ISAF ruling caught the kiteboard community off guard. What followed was extensive debate, and now a reversal from ISAF with the December 7, 2008 announcement that they will now support a decision by the WSSRC to ratify a claim for the Outright World Sailing Speed Record by a Kite-board.

2003- 10 years ago: “I don’t feel under any pressure, to be honest with you, when I do events – I really don’t care who wins. I make a point of not looking at the results. I don’t want to even have a chance that subliminally I will make a decision based on what I have seen in the results. We’re all friends out there and it’s a pretty small community, it’s not that I don’t want to p*ss somebody off, it’s just that I really don’t care. It’s not hard to be impartial if you don’t give a sh*t. I have been around long enough now so that the sailors know I’m impartial, because they have seen it. I mean even if you tried to be biased, how would you do it? All it takes is one shift and the guy is f***ed anyway?” – Peter Reggio, professional race officer

1998- 15 years ago: The San Francisco Yacht Club challenge for America’s Cup 2000, America True announced its 1998-1999 team roster in Auckland, New Zealand. From the beginning, America True was committed to forming the first active coed team for an America’s Cup campaign. The roster: David Armitage – trimmer, Carl Barkow – grinder, Liz Baylis – cockpit, Gavin Brady – afterguard, John Broadhead – grinder, Greg Burrell – grinder, Merritt Carey – foredeck, John Cutler – afterguard, Leslie Egnot – afterguard, Steve Gruver – trimmer, Kelvin Harrap – trimmer, Patrick McMath – mast, Katie Pettibone – trimmer, Dawn Riley – captain, John Spence – mast, David Stevenson – foredeck, Mark Strube – grinder, Tucker Thompson – cockpit, Larry Turner – foredeck